Catholic life december 2017

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Catholic Life Publication of the Diocese of Sale

December 2017

ISSUE 202

The Christ is born This issue highlights

What are you doing for Christmas?

- Page 2 Trinity Families donations - Page 3

AT this busy time of year when our mailboxes are bombarded with pamphlets extolling Christmas gifts and our shopping centres become crowded and noisy, it is worthwhile to step back for a few moments and remember that what we really should be celebrating is the birth of Jesus in a stable in Bethlehem about 2000 years ago. Imagine the joy of Mary and Joseph as they look at their child laid in the manger.

- © 123RF Stock Photo

Trinity Families gives over $1.4 million THE latest disbursement of funds from Sale Diocese charity Trinity Families takes its assistance given to charities supporting families to more than $1.4 million.

Each year for the past 12 years it has allocated earnings from its trust fund to projects within the geographic area of the diocese.

Executive officer Colin Coomber said today that the philanthropic nature of Trinity Families meant that it still had the $2 million which was initially raised from the Catholic community.

Having this amount invested meant that Trinity Families could continue to support vital programs even in difficult

Trinity FAMILIES

financial times when annual appeals would struggle.

He said that even though earnings in the past year had been reduced because of low interest rates on investments, Trinity Families had still been able to give $109,750.

The money was shared between nine worthy charities running programs assisting families in the region.

“From the outset we have recognised that there needs to be strong support for counselling for those who cannot afford to pay commercial rates for such services.

“CatholicCare was a major recipient of funds this year, specifically to maintain counselling from its offices in

Sale and Pakenham.”

Mr Coomber said there was a growing need for rehabilitation services for those with drug and alcohol dependency and so Trinity Families had supported Remar Australia at Nyora and the proposed Hope Restart Centre at Lucknow, near Bairnsdale.

Many families were struggling to put food on the table and, as in recent years, there was a focus on supporting charities which had to assist these families.

Baw Baw Combined Churches Food Relief at Warragul, Theodora’s Cheerful Givers at Morwell, and Melbourne-based FareShare were all funded.

Mr Coomber said FareShare was changing the way other charities dealt with feeding the needy.

It supported 19 other charities and agencies in the diocese, by delivering over 80,000 meals a year into our region for the local services to distribute on a needs basis.

He said other charities supported by Trinity Families this year were Olivia’s Place, Warragul, for a family mentoring program, A Better Life for Foster Kids to provide basic support for foster children and OTIS Foundation which had established a timeout facility for breast cancer patients in Wonthaggi.

Major works at Narre Warren - Page 3 Voluntary Dying Bill disappointing - Page 8

500 years since Luther protest - Page 10

Think of all the families you can help

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

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

Page 2 - Catholic Life, December 2017

What are you doing for Christmas this year?

HAVE you ever had this experience? Your computer, without any warning, suddenly goes on the blink? Or maybe your phone suddenly freezes up and no matter what you push nothing seems to respond?

Surely first-world problems, right enough, however, the advice given to remedy this is to simply to restart, or reset your computer or phone. This assumes of course that you might know how to do this.

Many people are already asking me, “What are you doing for Christmas?” and then with a wry smile continue, “Hmm guess you’ll be busy in Church”.

What are you doing for Christmas?” is an important question, and its response is as varied as the number of people who answer it.

Yet there is something about the way we answer that question that shows how important Christmas still is in our lives.

To answer that question is a little like taking that advice we are given when our computer or phone plays up.

Christmas is a season, not just a day. It is an opportunity to reset our lives and concentrate on what really matters.

It is a time when most Australians make incredible efforts to be

with family; to celebrate faith and share gifts and food. It is a time to make sure we place God at the centre of our lives.

After another full year that has seen things, including some heated debates about important issues in our society, and I’m sure each family have had their difficult moments, it is more important than ever to reset things in this hopeful God-centred way.

To once again look at things through God’s eyes.

When we remember why it is that we go to such lengths to make sure we can answer that question about what are we doing for Christmas, properly, we must eventually see that it is Christmas is about God’s love being made visible in Christ Jesus that makes all the difference.

It is the joy that makes our life complete; the knowledge that allows us to know in whom we have placed our hope. It is not a thing; not ultimately a set of creeds, but Jesus Christ, Son of God and Son of Mary.

Earlier this year I came across the following short story by Henry Van Dyke, called,A Short Christmas Sermon: Keeping Christmas. I offer this to you as a Christmas Reflection.

“It is a good thing to observe Christmas day.

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

The mere marking of times and seasons, when men agree to stop work and make merry together, is a wise and wholesome custom. It helps one to feel the supremacy of the common life over the individual life. It reminds a man to set his own little watch, now and then, by the great clock of humanity which runs on sun time.

But there is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.

Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the

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foreground; to see that your fellow-men are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness – are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children; to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open – are you willing to do these things

even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world – stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death – and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas.

And if you keep it for a day, why not always?

But you can never keep it alone.”

So however you might answer the question, “What are you doing for Christmas?”, and I hope you’ll be busy in church too, may you and your families and loved ones this Christmas be renewed in faith by God-with-us, Emmanuel Jesus Christ.

It is almost certain that one day our computer will go on the blink, our phone might freeze up, but it is equally certain that, when we reset our lives in God, all things can be renewed in Him. May we keep Christmas with joy this year and may its celebration inspire all of us to be in peace and “glorify the Lord with our lives.” + Bishop Pat O’Regan Bishop of Sale

Youth ministry DAVID HASTIE General Manager

JOHN GALBRAITH Consultant

MARK RIDDLE Consultant

ALLAN WORTHY Consultant

GP1464493

THE Australian Catholic Bishops Office for Youth and the Diocese of Parramatta will host the Australian Catholic Youth Ministry Convention at Rooty Hill RSL from September 21-23, 2018.

The ACYMC will explore the call of Pope Francis to ‘Open New Horizons for Spreading Joy’ and going out to the peripheries to support young people in finding their place in the world.

Bishops Delegate for Youth, Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher OP, and shared his hopes about the fourth ACYMC. “The ACYMC is an important resource for the Church in Australia. It provides a unique formation and training forum for those who support and minister to young people. In the Year of Youth, our work with young people has a renewed focus. I look forward to listening to the ACYMC attendees and carrying their voice directly back to Pope Francis and the Synod Fathers,”

Archbishop Fisher said.

ACYMC is expected to gather over 500 attendees from across Australia, who minister with young people in a variety of settings including parishes, schools, religious orders, communities, dioceses, universities and Church organisations.

Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, Bishop of Parramatta, has also shared his excitement about hosting the ACYMC and responding to the needs of young people in Australia.

“Hosting the convention in Western Sydney provides a unique opportunity to tap into the rich diversity of our diocese. I look forward to the opportunity to discern the vision and strategies required to reach young people in Australia.

“The feedback from the recent national youth survey has challenged us to address more confidently the issues of mental health, drugs, alcohol, relationships, and the digital world,” Bishop Long said.

Catholic Life, December 2017 - Page 3

Major reconstruction at Narre Warren church A MAJOR $3.4 million reconstruction of the church and parish office complex at Narre Warren is progressing well and is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year.

The development will provide seating for a congregation of more than 900 people at peak periods such as Easter and Christmas.

When completed it will be the largest capacity church in the Sale Diocese.

The church at Our Lady Help of Christian parish has previously been enlarged several times since it was constructed in 1981 and named the Chapel of Living Waters.

At that time the rapidly growing parish was only 18 months old, having been carved out of Berwick parish as the Melbourne metropolitan area started to expand into Gippsland.

The church was enlarged in 1998, the sanctuary and altar area enlarged in 2005 and a further major extension in 2008 enabled seating for just over 600 people.

The current reconstruction retains most of the original building but the roof has been lifted and the sanctuary has

been moved from the south west corner to the northern end of the building.

This enables doors at the rear of the church to open into the narthex to accommodate larger congregations and then further open into the parish centre if required.

Parish priest Fr Brendan Hogan said the reconstruction had caused major disruption for the past 12 months but with the end in sight, he thanked parishioners, school parents and staff at both the parish and school for their understanding.

The parish had 22,000 Catholics and the numbers attending Masses every weekend had continued to grow.

He said the project would provide better facilities for parishioners and staff, and if work continued without disruption, it should be ready to hand over in the middle of February.

The first stage last year had been to remove the parish office, the former Yallourn presbytery which was moved to the site in 1980 and in recent years was plagued by white ants.

The parish staff had been in the temporary office ever

PARISH priest Fr Brendan Hogan inside the stadium-sized body of the church which will seat more than 900. since and as work began on the church at the start of this year, Masses were moved into the adjacent Don Bosco Primary School hall.

Fr Hogan said the temporary office would be converted back into meeting rooms and the old church entry area would become a separate small chapel dedicated to Our Lady for private devotions.

The new parish administration area at the rear of the church would feature an open plan office for staff, a meeting room and several individual offices for priests and deacons.

He said an exciting feature of the development was the stations of the cross which would be mounted on 14 large vertical concrete slabs. Eight of these would lead into the church, five would be inside and the final station would be in a reflection garden.

Fr Hogan said the garden would contain memorial plaques including that of former parish priest the late Fr John Allen.

Healthy fundraising option TRARALGON - The sun was shining for St. Michael’s Primary School’s recent Walkathon, providing comfortable walking conditions for all the children.

There were three courses. The first around the outskirts of the school for the senior grades 3-6, the second around the asphalt area for the grade 1/2s and the third in the grass area for the Preps.

As a fitting end to such an energetic activity the children were able to enjoy some delicious fresh fruit, kindly donated by Woolworths.

Acting deputy principal Jenny Hanrahan said “Whilst this day does have a fundraising focus, I would suggest that the sense of community that is apparent on this day is equally as important as the funds we make.

“To the many parents and friends who volunteered in some way to the organisation and smooth running of the walkathon, a very big thank you.

“Whether the volunteers were engaged in cutting up fruit for the hungry walkers, supervising the laps the children completed or even getting physical and walking the laps with the children – we once again witnessed St Michael’s Primary School community working as one.

Thank you to those who came along and supported us on the day and to the families who supported this fundraiser through their generous donations.”

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Page 4 - Catholic Life, December 2017

Less stressful gift-giving

Butt out

THE Vatican has banned the sale of cigarettes to employees in the city-state from the start of next year, toughening previous restrictions on smoking.

In 2012 the Pope banned smoking in offices and public spaces in the Vatican but still allowed the sale of cigarettes to current and retired staff.

The new measure has been introduced because Pope Francis says the Holy See cannot contribute to an activity that damages the health of people.

Better look again WE fielded a complaint last month from a concerned person who wanted us to join him in complaining against a chain store which featured in its brochure, what he said, was a picture of Santa groping a women’s breast.

We were surprised that a national chain would stoop so low in the current, heightened environment of calling out such people following the highly publicised Hollywood incidents. We suggested some avenues he could use to make a complaint.

When we finally managed to get a brochure a couple of weeks later we discovered that close examination shows Santa is holding a red tumbler which he is tapping on a glass of red wine held by the woman at chest height in front of her red

By Colin Coomber

apron.

Nothing untoward in the shot. A heavily tattooed gent wearing nothing but a mankini in the same picture is probably more offensive.

Misguided CAN’T believe that in the United States there is an organisation encouraging people to build “nesting boxes” for feral cats to keep them warm during winter.

Considering the harm feral cats do to native wildlife, I would have thought eradicating them would be a much higher priority.

It won’t be too many years in Australia before all councils require pet cats to be either kept inside or in an outdoors enclosure.

Thank you

FINALLY, a big thank you to all our contributors, advertisers, printing staff, deliverers and readers.

Without you Catholic Life would not be as successful.

We hope you all have a very happy Christmas and New Year.

SOME people are organised when it comes to Christmas giving.

They have a list drawn up months in advance and purchase their presents whenever they see them come on special.

Annoyingly, these types like to sit back and gloat come this time of the year – they have all the gift shopping finished and the presents wrapped.

Most people are just starting to think about what to buy and it can be really stressful because the gift-giving thing coincides with planning Christmas lunch, ordering turkeys, hams or crayfish, writing Christmas cards, getting a Christmas tree, putting up the festive lighting and attending what seems to be a never-ending run of breakups.

No wonder Christmas has been recognised as the most stressful time of the year.

But let me help by making a few suggestions which will make gift-giving less stressful.

Give time

Buying a gift for an elderly person is often difficult but one of the most valuable things to them is time. Perhaps you can write a card promising them so many hours of your time each month. It may be to mow lawns, weed the garden, iron, clean or

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

just to spend time visiting them.

It may be the best present they receive this year.

Give chores

One you could encourage your children to consider is making up a voucher book giving the parents s o m e specials like promising to cook a meal, look after younger siblings so the parents can have a night out, do some ironing, help with cleaning etc etc. With a bit of thought, a teenager could come up with a book of monthly vouchers that will be appreciated.

Give knowledge

If you are into craft maybe you can gift a few one-on-one lessons. Maybe you can help someone by showing them your yoga, Pilates or gym basics so they won’t feel absolutely lost when they start public classes.

A living gift

Not one for the last minute as this takes some time. If you have a green thumb consider striking some cuttings of rosemary, mint, parsley and basil and putting them in small seedling pots. If you are a gardener, you are sure to have some lying around. Another idea is to strike some rose cuttings in pots, see them through one season and then give them as gifts the next.

Up to now the suggested gifts have cost you nothing but there are some cheap gifts.

Home dinner

How about giving a special dinner or lunch? Perhaps their favorite roast, a bottle of wine and a tasty dessert. Many older people no longer go to the trouble of cooking what was the traditional Sunday lunch but you can provide it, either at their house or yours.

Op-shop gifts

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.

Every town has at least one op shop full of pre-loved items. If you know someone well enough, you will know that they have certain likes and dislikes. If they like drinking tea out of nice cup and saucer, then give them one from the op shop. If they collect ornaments there are shelves full of them to choose from. And what about a good hardback book if they like reading. Don’t pretend the gift is new – proudly tell people it is a recycled gift.

Make a gift

If you can cook make a batch of biscuits, slices or even a small Christmas cake. Put them in a nice tin or container (op shop again). Alternatively if you are into making jams, sauces, pickles and chutneys, give them a jar or two of your special produce with a homemade Christmas label.

Again if you have some talents in the craft, sewing or woodworking field you can make a simple gift.

An outing

A good gift for an older person who no longer drives is to gift them a full day outing. Drive them to places of significance to them and stop along the way for a picnic lunch with a thermos of tea or coffee, just like they used to do in younger days.

A market gift

If you don’t have the time or wherewithal to make gifts, use the talents of others by shopping at a local Sunday market or even garage sales.

There are plenty of reasonablypriced items available that can make good gifts.

Now we move up slightly in cost but there is an opportunity to give gifts which don’t have an impact on the planet by ending up in landfill at the end of their useful life.

Tickets

What about giving a ticket or two to a local theatre company production. It is not high theatre season at the moment but you can make your own voucher for a local show in a few months time and then buy the tickets later when they become available. What about going with the person to make a night of it?

A sporting gift

Similarly shout someone out to a match down at the MCG. Older people lose confidence in driving themselves or catching trains to matches, so go with them for a day outing. If cricket or tennis is their thing, then there are plenty of opportunities in the coming month.

Donation

Finally, for the person who has absolutely everything and doesn’t want a present, how about making a charitable donation in their name and giving them a card advising them of the gift.

It would certainly be appreciated by Trinity Families, Caritas, Catholic Mission, Centacare or St Vinnies.

Hopefully, we have given you some ideas and we are sure you can come up with others which you can tailor to specific people. Christmas gift giving does not need to be commercial no matter how much the television advertisements and colorful brochures tell us otherwise.

Catholic Life, December 2017 - Page 5

Charities get to benefit from diocesan charity NINE charities operating in the Diocese of Sale have shared almost $110,000 in funding from Trinity Families.

This brings the total amount distributed over the past 14 years to $1.4 million.

Cheques were presented to the charities by the Catholic Bishop of Sale, Pat O’Regan in Warragul on November 10.

Recipients were: • Baw Baw Combined Churches Food Bank, Warragul, $5000.

• OTIS Foundation, timeout accommodation for breast cancer patients at Inverloch, $4750.

• CatholicCare, family counselling at Pakenham and Sale, $50,000.

• Remar Australia, Nyora, residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation, $7500.

• FareShare Australia, extension of meals for the needy program into other areas of Gippsland, $6000.

• Theodora’s Cheerful Givers, Morwell, food for disadvantaged families and breakfast club, $2000.

• Olivia’s Place, Warragul, mentoring program for families, $13,000.

• A Better Life for Foster Kids, Gippsland-wide program to provide basic needs for foster children, $6500.

• Hope Restart Centre, Bairnsdale, new alcohol and

REPRESENTATIVES of the nine successful charities with Bishop Pat O’Regan after the presentations at Sion House. drug rehabilitation centre, $15,000.

This year there were 17 applicants for funding who sought more than $260,000.

Funds can only be made available to other charities with proof of deductible gift recipient status who run programs which aid families in the defined area of the cities of Casey and Latrobe, and shires of Bass Coast, Cardinia, Baw Baw, South Gippsland, Wellington and East Gippsland.

An invitation to share Silent Night

THE Silent Night Invitation is a wonderful chance for readers to make a difference this Christmas.

It is a joint project of Catholic Super, the St Vincent de Paul Society and singing artists Natasha Pinto, Gary Pinto and the singing priest Fr Rob Galea.

The Silent Night Invitation is an opportunity to support the Vinnies Christmas Appeal by downloading a brand new version of Silent Night available via iTunes and Spotify; donating directly to the appeal, or by inviting others to participate in the campaign.

The new arrangement of the popular Christmas hymn has been produced to mark to 200th anniversary since it was written in Austria by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics written

by Joseph Mohr.

All artists proceeds from the sales on iTunes and Spotify will go to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal.

The recording was released this week at the Lights of Christmas opening night at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney.

The three artists are also performing at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival which is currently taking place in Sydney.

Catholic Super chief executive officer Frank Pegan said Christmas was a beautiful time of the year, though the truth was that many Australian were living in poverty.

National president of St Vincent de Paulo Society

Graham West said supporting the initiative was easy.

“Just visit www. silentnightinvitation.com. au and choose whether to download the song or donate to the Vinnies Christmas Appeal directly. I encourage you to please share the invitation to others to do the same.”

Natasha Pinto has a passion for Neo-Soul and R&B music and has recently supported Brandy and toured with Boyz II Men and K-Ci and Jojo.

She is a regular performer at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival and has just released her second EP to critical acclaim from producer Rob Fusari, who has also produced for Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Whitney Houston.

Gary Pinto is an ARIA award winner and multi platinum recording artist. He has written songs for Australian artists including Guy Sebastian, Mr Timothy, Anthony Callea, Christine Anu, Jimmy Barnes, Jade McRae and American soul singer Taylor Dane.

He co-wrote the World Youth Day anthem with Guy Sebastian, wrote the song Mary MacKillop and is currently performing with Jimmy Barnes, Tina Arena and Guy Sebastian’s touring bands.

Fr Rob Galea is a priest serving in Sandhurst Diocese.

He has a large international following, regularly playing to international conferences and in 2015 he was a contestant on X-Factor.

BISHOP Pat O’Regan presents a cheque for $50,000 to CatholicCare’s Gippsland Family Relationships Programs manager Mark Tanti and senior manager for South East and Gippsland Lisa Cook.

To advertise in Catholic Life Phone 5622 6688

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Page 6 - Catholic Life, December 2017

The Light of the Word THE Creation story is very dramatic. The Spirit moves across the abyss, all is darkness and chaos.

Then God brings light into the world and everything is changed.

Darkness and light carry important messages in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Darkness evokes everything that is against the ways of God, the things we want to hide: wickedness and sin (Proverbs 2:13 ), being judgmental about others (Exodus 10:21), the actions we want kept in the dark, what we are afraid to be open about (Psalm 88:12).

Light is the first of the Creator’s works. The world is in darkness and chaos rules without it. Then God says “Let there be light” and God’s creative and loving presence comes to life.

Then Jesus comes. “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

The light has come into the world in a very, very potent way. Love has triumphed over hatred, life has conquered death, light has dispelled the darkness. Jesus is the light who shows us the way.

We go through some pretty dark times and sometimes it can seem as if the bad has the edge on the good.

Watching the nightly news can be very depressing. So can reading the newspapers or

R

Cathedral secretary Kath Bird retires eflections

by Jim Quillinan magazines. As the line in the song goes, good news never makes a paper sell.

Darkness seems to be pushing out the light at times, conflicts and wars, hatred and divisions, suspicion and lack of empathy or generosity, lack of respect for the most basic and precious gift of all, life. There is darkness everywhere.

Leonard Cohen has a great line in one of his last songs: “You want it darker. We kill the flame.”

Jesus caused a fuss, he was ‘inconvenient’ and some didn’t like what he was saying or doing. Kill the flame, some thought and it will all go away.

So they put Him to death.

As Jesus suffered through his last hours, darkness again covered the earth. But he and his message of love and peace, justice and the acceptance of others, forgiveness and reconciliation didn’t go away.

They work to overcome the darkness once again.

At Christmas time, we are reminded to focus on Jesus, the light, the flame, the source of our inspiration and actions.

When we focus on other things, when we lose sight of His

message, we lose the light and it gets darker.

Over the years there have been many who have tried to kill the flame.

The emperors put many of the early Christians to death in the hope of killing Christianity. Others have been martyred throughout the ages – Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated because he would not shut up, many Christians in the Middle East have been put to death.

Sometimes we can get caught up in all sorts of things, and lose the light in our lives.

In our faith life, for example, we can focus on the rules, who is acceptable and who is not and we lose sight of the whole point of our faith. Jesus. We distort his real message or ignore it.

If we want it darker, put out the flame of faith in our lives.

If we want the light, follow the star this Christmas and focus on Jesus, think of this extraordinary act of love, that the Son of God became one of us in the most humble of circumstances.

Focus on the message of love that Christmas invites us to make real in our own lives.

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

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

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

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

✄

SALE - The retirement of respected Sale parish secretary Kath Bird provides us with the opportunity to reflect on the remarkable contribution she has made to the efficient, organised and smooth running of St Mary’s Cathedral Parish office.

Kath began work at the Cathedral office in 2000 as a temporary employee filling in from time to time but progressed to being appointed secretary.

She retired last week after more than 13 years in the job.

During that time she has worked with 17 priests and three bishops.

Among her many duties Kath also prepared the Holy Oils, used for the various ceremonies of Baptism, Confirmation, anointing of the sick etc., for the whole diocese.

Priests would collect these and take back to their parishes after the Mass of Oils.

With her many years working

in the parish Kath was a mine of information on any number of subjects pertaining to parish life.

Her ability to locate obscure information, facts and figures was second to none, and like all parish secretaries across the diocese, she could always juggle her duties at a moment’s notice to produce booklets for funerals or ceremonies.

Over the years as the technological changes in office equipment kept advancing, Kath faced each new computer, photocopier, telecommunications system as a challenge to be met with a firm determination to be mastered and used to her advantage in becoming even more efficient.

Indeed the priests Kath worked for became reliant on Kath’s ability to keep everything running smoothly and in an orderly fashion.

The new parish secretary is Clare O’Brien.

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Catholic Life, December 2017 - Page 7

Who were the Three Wise Men?

New report confirms vast Catholic sector workforce

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THE Three Wise Men or Magi appear only in Matthew’s Gospel and there has long been debate in theological circles about the origins of these mysterious travellers.

The common answer has always been Persia, which is roughly modern day Iran, but this is now being challenged by an American priest who is a theologican and religious historian.

There is no Biblical reference for their names but tradition tells us the three men are considered to be kings Melchior, Caspar, and Balthazar.

Fr Dwight Longenecker believes that the use of the word “magi” has led people astray for centuries.

Magi is derived from the Greek word magos, which derived from a Persian word for Zoroastrian philosopherastrologer-priests who were active six centuries before Christ.

He believes Matthew used the term as a generic one to describe any wise man, astrologer or magician.

Longenecker believes it is more likely the Magi came from the kingdom of Sheba, nowadays thought to be the Yemen on the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula.

Archeologists are increasingly agreed that the ancient and powerful kingdom of Sheba was located at the Southern tip of the Arabian peninsula, and that its reach extended deep into Eastern Africa.

The three gifts of the magi indicate an origin in Sheba since the kingdom was known firstly for its vast wealth from the gold mines of Africa, secondly, the Boswellia tree from which the gum that is used to make frankincense is tapped is native only to the Arabian peninsula and Somalia. Thirdly, the Commiphora tree, from which the resin to make myrrh is derived, also grows only in the Arabian peninsula.

The Kingdom of Sheba therefore grew rich on these three unusual, rare and precious commodities: gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Longenecker acknowledges that Persian wise men may have brought the gifts sourced from Arabia but adds it makes more sense for the travellers to bring

the best gifts and produce from their own region.

There is also an Old Testament link to this practise as the Queen of Sheba brought rich gifts of gold and spices when she came to pay homage to Solomon. (I Kings 10:2).

Longenecker says there was an established trade route along the Arabian Peninsula through Gaza to the Mediterranean ports.

He dismisses as unlikely an alternate theory, based on an Eighth Century manuscript, which suggests the Magi who travelled from the east may have originated in India or China.

Longenecker has published a new book Mystery of the Magi: The Quest to Identify the Three Wise Kings which is available from Amazon in hard copy or eBook.

MORE than 220,000 people work in Catholic organisations across the country, a new report has found, confirming the Catholic Church’s place as one of the largest employers in Australia.

Bishop of Bunbury Gerard Holohan, Bishops’ Delegate for Employment Relations, said those working in Catholic ministries – small and large – are carrying on the work of Jesus.

“The Catholic Church in Australia today continues the mission of Christ to humanity.

This includes its organisations which minister to the poor and the sick; to the elderly and those struggling to find work; to indigenous people and the homeless,” he said.

“There are organisations ministering to immigrants and refugees; those needing school and tertiary education; those addicted to drugs, and their families; those preparing for marriage and those needing marriage counselling; those needing the range of pastoral care services and those needing ‘time out’ from the stresses of today’s pressures.”

The new report, Our Work Matters, was launched last week at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney.

The document, produced by the Pastoral Research Office of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, is the most comprehensive report of

Bishop Holohan its kind.

Bishop Holohan wrote in the publication’s foreword that the new research confirms the Church’s vast contribution to Australian society.

“We now have a clearer understanding of when and where Church organisations operate and what impact they have on systems and services, communities and individuals,” Bishop Holohan said.

“The survey findings help us see how notions of the common good, human dignity, solidarity and a preferential option for the poor can be made real through our people and organisations.”

Bishop Holohan said lay people are now overwhelmingly leading the way in Catholic health and aged care, education, social services and other

organisations are carrying on the work of religious women and men and clergy.

The report found that 77 per cent of those who work for the Catholic Church are women, and that education, health and aged care account for 84 per cent of those working on behalf of the Church.

“As we face the challenges of this new millennium, the survey provides encouraging data about thriving Catholic organisations that work at both the centre and margins of a rapidly changing society,” Bishop Holohan said.

“Knowing who we are and what we do is essential to growing and renewing Catholic organisations.”

Our Work Matters is available for download at www.accer.asn. au

Reminder SCHOOLS who have conducted events to raise funds for the diocesan charity Trinity Families are reminded to forward the funds before the end of the school year.

We are aware of a couple of schools which have held events but the funds have not been forthcoming.

Please send them as soon as possible after your event as we need to invest the money to get a return which is then available to assist charitable projects in the region.

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

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

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

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

Page 8 - Catholic Life, December 2017

Bishop disappointed in Voluntary Dying Bill THE Bishop of Sale Pat O’Regan has expressed disappointment in the passing last week of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill through the Victorian Parliament.

He said parliament’s decision was deeply regrettable and most disappointing for it facilitated assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Victoria was the only place in the world this year to have legislated for euthanasia and assisted suicide – almost 50 other places had, this year, rejected such legislation.

“Sadly, assisted suicide and euthanasia expose the most vulnerable in our society and undermine centuries of care and clinical practice. Experience in other countries clearly demonstrates that Victoria is now at the beginning of a dangerous pathway where more and more people’s lives will be placed in jeopardy.”

Bishop O’Regan said Catholic health and aged care providers across the state would continue to accompany those who faced death, always striving to provide the best care

to them and their loved ones.

Assisted suicide and euthanasia were not part of their practice and were incompatible with the provision of quality palliative care.

He said the diocese would strongly advocate that the Victorian Government honors its promise of increased palliative care, particularly in regional areas.

“At the same time, I call on the Government to substantially increase the funding for palliative care so that all Victorians requiring this care

are aware of its availability and have access when the need arises.”

Pope Francis had recently said that palliative care was “proving most important in our culture as it opposes what makes death most terrifying and unwelcome: pain and loneliness.”

Bishop O’Regan reminded all people, health professionals and patients alike, that no one should ever be compelled to act against their conscience – the Church in Victoria would continue to strongly assert that

right.

He said he was grateful to our parishioners who joined the many voices including doctors, nurses, carers, lawyers and politicians who actively campaigned and advocated with passion and conviction for the defeat of this legislation.

“At this critical time in the history of the State of Victoria, I pray for a renewed commitment of all Victorians to the sick, oppressed, marginalised and vulnerable of our society,” he said.

Vinnies or St Vincent de Paul - What’s it all about?

By Trevor Fogarty THE largest volunteer organisation in Australia, and probably the world, is known as the St Vincent de Paul Society.

It began in France in the early 1800’s and has been operating in Victoria since 1854.

Its Mission states: The St Vincent de Paul Society is a lay, Catholic organisation that aspires to live the Gospel message by serving Christ in the poor with love, justice and joy, and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society.

At the grassroots level of the society are “Conferences”.

These conferences are usually parish or town based and they exist to meet the challenge of providing a “hand up” rather than a “hand out” to those people in the community who find themselves in hardship circumstances.

In East Gippsland there

are five conferences, while South Gippsland and Latrobe Baw-Baw each have seven conferences.

Typically these conferences have Catholic members, but frequently non-Catholic people who share our vision are welcomed and work alongside them. All who work on welfare issues are volunteers.

Through a variety of means, conference members hear about people who are in needy circumstances.

Conference members, working in pairs, make contact and either go to visit them in their home, or make an appointment to meet with them at a convenient centre.

Their circumstances and needs are investigated and a plan is drawn up to help alleviate the immediate problems, and guidance is given for future action.

Sometimes one visit is all that is needed but often problems

exist for an extended period.

Assistance may simply involve provision of a shopping voucher or food parcel, but may be far more complex relating to outstanding bills and accommodation problems, etc.

Additionally the stock in the Vinnies’ shops can be used to assist any shortfalls in a welfare case.

No assistance is beyond the scope of what the society can attempt. This work truly embodies Jesus’ command to love one another.

But it takes money to alleviate many people’s problems.

That’s where the Vinnies shops come into the picture.

They are the public face of the

CRANBOURNE - The sun was shining and so too was the generosity at the St Vinnies Fair.

The students from St Peter’s Secondary College West Campus, alongside the students from St Agatha’s Catholic Primary School organised and participated in a mini Fair, held to raise funds for St Vincent de Paul.

The St Peter’s VCAL students organised and prepared many stalls ranging from a sausage sizzle, fairy floss and popcorn to games and a photo booth for the primary students to enjoy.

It was great to see both schools from the St Agatha’s Parish come together for such a worthy cause.

Students relished the opportunity to participate at the fair and by all accounts, everyone had a great time.

Thank you also to the parents

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The total funds raised was $1100. This will go a long way in supporting families in

our community and displays authentic example of how Catholic social teaching occurs within our schools.

STUDENTS enjoying the fun of the fair.

We have the faith to carry our members to where they need to be for their life-long financial peace of mind.

With care & dignity we serve South Gippsland and Phillip Island (03) 5672 1074 Fax: (03) 5672 1747

items for anyone on a restricted budget. Secondly, the profit from the sale of goods is then passed on to the local conference to finance their work with the needy. This is a winwin situation for all involved.

The society is always on the lookout for volunteers.

Do you have the time, and the interest in joining the valuable work of SVDP? If so, are you interested in working in a conference or a Vinnies’ shop?

Why not contact your local St Vincent de Paul Society and discuss the possibilities.

You could even get more out of volunteering than you imagine.

St Vinnies fair at St Peter’s

Scott and Sharon Anderson

Main Office: WONTHAGGI/INVERLOCH 176-178 Graham Street, Wonthaggi, 3995

society.

These shops are run quite separately from the conferences, but still under the umbrella of the SVDP Society.

They’re usually run by a paid manager and volunteer staff.

They receive donations of used clothing, furniture, white goods, books, kitchenware and knickknacks from the generosity of the wider community.

These items are supplemented with a range of Vinnies branded items that includes bedding, kitchen essentials and some clothing. These are sold at very low prices which has two benefits.

Firstly, the Vinnies’ shop is a source of cheap, essential

Industry super fund returning all profits to our members

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Catholic Life, December 2017 - Page 9

Is the Christmas season a stressful time for you?

By Carmel Sparkes MANY of us need to make decisions about how we spend Christmas Day or the Christmas period.

This can be a source of stress, depending on our particular circumstances and experiences.

Where do you spend Christmas day? How far will you need to travel?

Who will you spend the day with? Who will you invite to your home?

How do you juggle the needs of your family and your extended family?

How do you manage the needs of children and adults in a family that has experienced separation and divorce?

How will you cope with tensions and conflict in family relationships?

How will you bear the absence of loved ones who have died, or who are missing for other reasons?

How do you cope with feelings of loneliness and isolation?

Then there are decisions about what you need to do.

Do you need to shop? What should you buy? How much should you spend? Do you need to talk to your family about making changes to gift giving?

What food will you need to

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buy? What do you need to do to get the house and garden ready?

How will you fit in end of year commitments for work or school or social groups or church groups?

What you say to yourself affects how you feel, and how you feel affects how you behave. So you can ask: What is beyond my control?

What is within my control?

I have responsibilities at Christmas time, BUT I can be realistic about how much time, money or energy I have to spend and I can make choices.

I cannot control the behavior

of other people who create conflict, BUT I can control my response to these people. I can control how I speak to them and about them and how I behave towards them.

I feel stressed BUT I can find a way to minimise stress and remind myself what Christmas is about. I can decide how I want people around me to remember this Christmas.

For information about counselling for individuals, couples and families or for Post Separation Parenting courses, ring CatholicCare Gippsland 1800 522 076.

Family gathering THE National Association of Catholic Families held its third annual conference in Belgrave in September.

The Belgrave Heights Convention Centre, set on a large property among trees with space to camp, for those who wished to brave the elements, provided a great setting for the three day conference. There were about 40 families in attendance.

It began with the National Evangelisation Team and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, as well as a talk on parenting by Steve and Annie Lawrence for the adults.

There was also a family rosary in which different families took turns to lead the decades.

The Blessed Sacrament was present in a makeshift chapel, allowing for the possibility of overnight adoration.

On Saturday there were talks

by Fr Andrew Grace on the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Fr Paschal Corby on marriage and the natural law, and Peter Stevens on a campaign for clean feed internet, as well as more activities with the NET for youth.

Bishop Peter Elliott celebrated Mass later in the day and gave a homily on St Jerome and also on the family, explaining how families should be in one sense monastic; fortresses against the attacks of the world, and safe places to learn the faith, while also being like yeast; working to bring the truth of the Gospel to the world in which they live

by their witness.

In the afternoon there was some free time, during which some watched the AFL Grand Final while others played on the playground or spent time socialising.

After dinner there was a candle-lit rosary procession around the campgrounds with a statue of Our Lady of Fatima, accompanied with the singing of “Ave Maria...” after each decade.

Many of the children carried their candles in hand-made candle holders they had made earlier in the day. This was followed by a family bush dance with live music performed by members of some of the families.

It was great fun, with nearly everyone joining in with what is truly a unique experience these days; parents down to young children (and everyone in between) all dancing together to the same music.

On Sunday there were two talks by Andrew Mullins; one for the parents and another for the youth.

There was also a very powerful talk by James Parker (a former gay rights activist) on Truth and Lies; Why redefining marriage destroys society.

Anna Krohn spoke to the youth on Why We Believe What We Believe, and Steve and Annie Lawrence gave them a talk as well.

The closing Mass was celebrated by Fr Paul Newton.

Page 10 - Catholic Life, December 2017

500 years since Luther’s protest and Reformation

By Colin Coomber NOT so many generations ago Catholics would have been shocked to think that the Church would be celebrating the anniversary of the Reformation, a time when Catholic beliefs were challenged and overthrown as new churches were established outside the influence of the Vatican.

The Reformation was initiated on October 31, 1517, by a German theologian and Augustinian monk Martin Luther who challenged Pope Leo X’s granting of indulgences to help build St Peter’s Basilica in Rome Luther nailed a sheet of paper with his 95 Theses on the University of Wittenberg’s chapel door. These heavily criticised the indulgences that popes could grant to the people to cancel out penance for sins.

Copies of the paper quickly spread through Europe and struck a chord with many others and so the Church was forced to act to stop the growing acts of defiance.

Luther was ordered by the Pope to recant his Theses but he said he would not recant unless scripture proved him wrong.

He went further, stating he didn’t consider that the papacy had the authority to interpret scripture.

Luther continued to lecture and write and in 1519 he publicly declared that the Bible did not give the Pope the exclusive right to interpret scripture, which was a direct attack on the authority of the papacy.

Finally, in June 1520, the Pope had enough and issued an ultimatum threatening Luther with excommunication.

Luther’s response was to publicly burn the letter and so in January 1521, he was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.

In March 1521, Luther was summoned before the Diet of Worms, a general assembly of secular authorities at Worms, Germany.

Again, Luther refused to recant his statements, demanding he be shown any scripture that would refute his position.

The Diet banned Luther’s writings and declaring him a “convicted heretic.” This made him a condemned and wanted man. Friends helped him hide out at the Wartburg Castle.

While in seclusion, he translated the New Testament

from Latin into the German language, to give ordinary people the opportunity to read God’s word.

Though still under threat of arrest, Luther returned to Wittenberg Castle Church, in Eisenach, in May 1522 to organise a new church, Lutheranism.

In 1525, Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora, a former nun who had abandoned the convent and taken refuge in Wittenberg. Together, over the next several years, they had six children.

Luther’s defiance of Rome gave confidence to other dissidents across Europe, many of whom were supported by princes and an aristocracy which was disillusioned with what they saw as Papal interference.

Another instigator was John Calvin who led another group of what became known as Protestants and new churches formed throughout Europe.

Luther’s greatest influence was in northern Europe, while Calvin’s influence was responsible for breakaway groups notably in Scotland, Switzerland, Hungary and the southern parts of Germany.

England joined the breakaway from Rome in 1534 when Henry VIII decided to form the Church of England with himself as the head. That decision was based not on theological argument but because the Pope refused to allow him to divorce Catherine of Aragon and marry Anne Boleyn who he hoped would bear him a healthy male heir.

Dozens of new churches formed in the early years of the Reformation and while most failed to survive, their adherents eventually formed into the main Protestant Churches as we know them today.

The Catholic Church was forced to react by holding the Council of Trent to counter the effects of the Reformation.

The Council took place from 1545 and 1563 and the deliberations of the Church leaders in attendance drew a line in the sand for Christians.

If you followed the statements you could be considered a Catholic, otherwise you were a dissenter or Protestant.

Luther argued that a person could be justified by faith alone, while the Council ruled this belief to be a heresy and that you could be justified by good works.

Protestants rejected the

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MARTIN Luther defiantly nails Reformation.

Apocrypha which included ancient Jewish writings and the books of the Bible such as Maccabees, Tobit, Judith, Wisdom and Ecclesiasticus which were not part of the Jewish Old Testament.

Basis for some Catholic teachings such as purgatory, prayers for the dead and salvation by good works are found in the Apocrypha so the Council damned anyone who rejected it and ruled there were two forms of revelation of God – scripture and traditions of the Church.

The Council also confirmed belief in purgatory and transubstantiation, the conversion of bread and wine into the actual body and blood of Christ.

While indulgences were never an official part of Catholic teaching, the Council called for reform of some practices and damned anyone who said they were useless or that the Church did not have power to grant

his 95 Theses to the door, sparking what became known as the them.

The Council also decreed that a marriage was only valid if it was before a priest and two witnesses and in the case of divorce, the innocent party could not remarry if the other was still alive.

Another decree dropped the Julian calendar and adopted the more accurate Gregorian calendar which is in use by most of the Western world today.

Interestingly, while the decisions of the Council of Trent have been further defined over the centuries, they have never been revoked by the Church and have been reaffirmed by Vatican II and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Following the Council of Trent the Lutherans and Catholics main sticking point was the doctrine of justification – faith versus works – but in recent years this has been laid to rest.

After decades of dialogue, the two faiths merged their views

on salvation in 1999 when they signed a joint declaration.

Its key passage reads “By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping us and calling us to good works.”

The World Methodist body signed on in 2006 and earlier this year the World Communion of Reformed Churches, representing Congregational, Presbyterian, United, Uniting and Waldensian Churches, signed the accord.

The Anglican Communion is anticipated to sign in agreement soon.

So after 500 years, the matters which led to the Reformation are slowly being discussed and new accords signed between the Christian churches which are reaching out to one another in ecumenical discussions.

Traralgon ecumenical day TRARALGON - An ecumenical service commemorating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation was held at St Michael’s Catholic Church.

A morning prayer service was also held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, and Vespers at St Michael’s.

The main commemorative service was attended by a small congregation which included former Anglican Bishop of Gippsland Bishop Arthur Jones, who now lives in Traralgon.

During the prayers of intercession which were led

by Mike Hansen, members of the congregation came forward to place a flower in a bowl for each intercession which had special meaning for them.

The flowers were symbolic of Luther’s rose, a design used

by Luther on his various works from 1520.

The service was conducted jointly by Gippsland Lutheran pastor the Rev. Tony Castles and Traralgon parish priest Fr Francis Otobo.

Lavalla College’s senior choir led singing throughout the service.

UNITED in giving a blessing at the Reformation commemorative ceremony are Traralgon parish priest Fr Francis Otobo and Lutheran pastor the Rev. Tony Castles. Behind them is a copy of Luther’s Theses.

A MEMORIAL flower is placed during the service.

Catholic Life, December 2017 - Page 11

Moe wears red for Daniel

New bishop named THE Pope has announced the appointment of a new Bishop of Wollongong.

He last week appointed Fr Brian Mascord, currently Vicar General of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, to be the fifth Bishop of Wollongong.

He replaces Bishop Peter Ingham whose resignation was accepted by the Pope, but will continue on as apostolic administrator until the ordination of his replacement.

Bishop-elect Mascord was born and raised in Newcastle.

After being educated in Catholic schools, he gained a Diploma of Teaching at the Catholic College of Education

in Castle Hill, spending six years teaching in a Catholic primary school.

He later continued his studies at St Patrick’s College, Manly, and was ordained for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle in 1992, where he has spent his entire priestly ministry.

Bishop-Elect Mascord has served as vocations director since 2007 and has been Vicar General since 2012. He is currently a member of the National Council for Clergy Life and Ministry.

A date for the episcopal ordination has not yet been confirmed.

Archbishop Prowse publishes a book STUDENTS Mia, Georgia, Hollie and Alyssa are all happy to be dressed in red for a good cause.

MOE - St Kieran’s Primary School staff and students participated in ‘Day for Daniel,’ on October 27, a wellbeing day involving classroom activities focusing on child safety awareness.

The school was a sea of red as staff and students dressed in red and made a gold coin donation

for this worthy cause.

The school raised $112 for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation which was established in 2005

by Denise and Bruce Morcombe following the tragic abduction and murder of their 13 year old son Daniel, in December 2003.

The Year 5/6 students enjoyed a live online broadcast and

made history by being part of Australia’s biggest child safety lesson.

Bruce and Denise Morcombe shared strategies with students to help promote safety.

The students learnt how to Recognise, React and Report unsafe situations.

FORMER Bishop of Sale, now Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Christopher Prowse has written a book of reflections.

Set Pools of Silence in This Thirsty Land : Contemplating the Silenty Presences of God has been published by St Paul's Publications.

It is a small book of a little over 60 pages and has been broken into 15 chapters or

reflections.

These come from the archbishop's personal spiritual journals.

As he explains in the introduction, he writes down his experiences when he encounters a person or situation which enables him to see Jesus in his life.

He decided to publish these thoughts when he realised others may also benefit.

What worked for Grandad might not work for you WE are to some extent, slaves to our upbringing.

Our tastes reflect our experiences and our values are usually similar to those with which we were raised.

We tend to reflect our parents and their place. We mostly (according to surveys) even vote the same way.

One of the interesting features of this is that even if we rebel in our youth, the older we get the more like our parents we become. Not just because of similar values but there is a conservatism that comes with age.

This is no different when it comes to investing.

Australia has had compulsory superannuation since 1992 and now the children of those who first started with this are working and also have their own superannuation.

Yet most superannuation is still held in the “default” option of the fund and few younger people take the real time to know what is happening.

Many people still believe that what worked for Dad, or Granddad will work for them.

Unfortunately that isn’t the case. Things do change.

And without comprehending that change, or adapting to it, people will lose out on what they will need through their life and won’t have a great a retirement as they may have hoped.

Many things have changed, from investment time frames to life expectancies; from availability of information to an explosion of choices

DOLLAR$ & SENSE with David Wells

of investment products, and everything in between.

What we can do today is mostly unrecognisable from 50 years ago.

Take life for instance. My grandfather left school at 12 years and worked until he was 70. Unfortunately like so many of his time he died at 72. He worked for 58 years to fund two years retirement.

My older brother started working at 20 and retired from teaching at 55. He worked 35 years and his life expectancy gives him another 27 years after that. He’s got a few to go, yet. He’s lucky to have a state funded superannuation, but many others of his age don’t.

My grandchildren may start working at 24 after their education and may retire in their mid-fifties, but a girl born now has a life expectancy of nearly 94 years. That’s 40 years of retirement, possibly.

And average shareholding times have dropped enormously.

In 1966 the average holding time was more than eight years and now it’s a matter of months and the trend is continuing.

Property investments have changed, too, and more and more people have used property as an investment so that the turnover of domestic residential

property is at an all time high.

In Granddad and Grandma’s day it wasn’t uncommon to live in the same house all their lives – and their parents probably lived in it before them. Other families rented all their lives, too.

And our interest rates are at historically all time lows.

What worked in those days doesn’t work the same way anymore. Things are different.

Short term views are dominating investment strategies views and I don’t see that changing, and yet our required investment returns are now higher for longer. And that means we all have to do things differently than our parents did, or do.

There’s a real longevity risk that our money may depart before we do. Yes, we can guarantee things with an annuity but the returns on these are really almost miniscule.

Term deposits in the bank don’t keep up with inflation and tax combined so as we get older we’re forced to take higher levels of risk to attain the necessary rewards that we need to maintain even a modest lifestyle, unless we have been successful with our investment before then.

There are many ways to do

this and in a future article I will discuss some of them.

There are ways to engage with professional investment managers at a very moderate cost, and there are many investment products to help.

Separately Managed Accounts give the best of both, Exchange Traded Funds give cheap exposure to sectors and markets that were previously unattainable and property syndication is available for as low as $25,000, so there are many choices available.

What we shouldn’t do is

think that what worked for Granddad will work for us. A Model T investment portfolio can’t compete with a modern Mercedes.

Think about it – does your portfolio need a retune?

• This report is intended to provide genera advice. In preparing this advice, David Wells and Shaw and Partners did not take into account the investment objective, the financia 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.

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

Page 12 - Catholic Life, December 2017

Caritas joins Rohingya appeal CARITAS Australia welcomes the announcement by Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, of a Myanmar Bangladesh emergency appeal, launched

by Australia’s leading aid agencies.

Eight of Australia’s major humanitarian organisations have issued a joint plea for urgent funds to help nearly a million people who have fled violence in Myanmar’s Rakhine State.

Over 600,000 people who identify as Rohingya, mostly women and children, have fled to Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh since August 25.

This is in addition to the over 200,000 Rohingya refugees who were already in Bangladesh. Shelter, blankets, food, clean drinking water, sanitation and health care are urgently needed.

Under the appeal, which is supported by the ABC, the Australian Government will match donations to Australian Red Cross and Australia for UNHCR up to a total of $5 million.

It is also working closely with the other agencies participating in the appeal, including Caritas, to respond to the crisis.

Caritas Australia’s chief executive officer Paul O’Callaghan, said he supported the Foreign Minister’s effort to galvanise the Australian community.

“This support provides lifesaving help for the hundreds of thousands of people in desperate need.”

Caritas Bangladesh has already been responding to the immediate needs of the refugees by providing food items such as lentils, salt, sugar and cooking oil, as well as basic cooking utensils, to over 29,000 families.

Executive director of Caritas Bangladesh, Francis Atul Sarker, said Caritas has reached about one-third of the population of new arrivals – but that much more help is needed.

“We are facing the threat of an epidemic because people are living in such dire circumstances. Without clean water and sanitation an outbreak of cholera could easily occur.”

Caritas Bangladesh has deployed experts in health, hygiene, sanitation, education and child protection into the camps, so that aid is focused on the most urgent cases.

To donate, visit the http:// w w w. a b c . n e t . a u / a p p e a l s / or Caritas Australia’s Asia

Quick calendar

What’s on & when

RAJIDA Begum, 30, holds her still-unnamed 14 day old baby, who was born in a rice paddy as Begum fled the Burmese army.

Emergency Appeal webpage, http://www.caritas.org.au/ rohingya or call 1800 024 413.

Caritas is part of the CAN DO Consortium (Church Agencies Network Disaster Operations), comprised of Caritas Australia, Act for Peace, the Adventist

Development and Relief Agency Australia, Anglican Board of Mission, Anglican Overseas Aid, the Australian Lutheran World Service, Transform Aid International (Baptist World Aid Australia) and UnitingWorld.

Recognising 90 years

Email your events to catholiclife@sale.catholic.org.au or phone 5622 6688 2 – Easter Monday Public DECEMBER 7-9 Australian Catholic Youth Holiday 8 – Divine Mercy Sunday Festival, Sydney 8 - Solemnity of Immaculate 9 – Annunciation of the Lord Conception 16 – Second term begins 22 – Term 4 ends (Note: 19 – Valley Region meeting, Catholic primary schools may St Michael’s, Traralgon, noon end term earlier) 25 – Anzac Day Public 24 - Christmas Eve Holiday 25 - Christmas Day 26 - Boxing Day MAY 26-30 – 4th Cricket Ashes 8 – East Region meeting, Test, MCG Lakes Entrance, 10am 26 - Feast of St Stephen, First 13 – Ascension of the Lord Martyr 16 – West Region meeting, 26 – Sale Greyhound Cup 27 - Feast of St John, Apostle Narre Warren, 10.30am 20 – Pentecost Sunday and Evangelist 28 - Feast of the Holy 24 – Our Lady Help of Innocents Christians 31 - New Year’s Eve 27 – Trinity Sunday 31 - Feast of the Holy Family

2018

JANUARY 1 – New Year’s Day 1 – Mary Mother of God 7 – Epiphany 8 – Baptism of the Lord 15-28 – Melbourne Open tennis, Melbourne Park 20 – Lang Lang Show 26 – Australia Day public holiday 28 – Neerim District Country Show 30 – Term one begins 31 – St John Bosco

FEBRUARY 2 – Presentation of the Lord 2 – Start of AFL women’s season 10-11 – Korumburra Show 13 – Shrove Tuesday 13 – East Region meeting, Omeo, 10am 14 – Ash Wednesday (Beginning of Lent) 14 – Valentine’s Day 15 – Valley Region meeting, St Kieran’s, Moe, noon 24 – Foster Show 28 – West Region meeting, Cranbourne, 10.30am

MARCH

BARRY AND ANNETTE LETT

Funeral Directors

Barry and Bradley Lett offer care, compassion and service with dignity for the people of Gippsland.

Caring and personal 24-hour service.

Prepaid and prearranged funeral plans available.

67 Macarthur St., Sale 3850

(03) 5143 1232

INVERLOCH branch of the Catholic Women’s League has recognised a milestone for Pat McGrath who turns 90 this month.

She has been a member of the branch for more than 40 years and is still active in branch matters.

Pat was presented with an orchid on behalf of the branch

by Judy Thomas, whose husband grows orchids.

3 – Warragul Show 3 – Australian Guineas 8 – St John of God 8-9- Traralgon Pro-Am Golf 10 – Australia Cup 11 – Stoney Creek Cup 12 – Labor Day Public Holiday 17 – St Patrick’s Day 17 – Pakenham Show 19 – St Joseph 22 – Start of AFL season 25 – Palm Sunday 25 – Melbourne Grand Prix, Albert Park 29 – Holy Thursday 29 – First term holidays begin 30 – Good Friday 31 – Easter Vigil 31 – Public Holiday

APRIL

1 – Easter Sunday

JUNE 3 – Body and Blood of Christ 8 – Sacred Heart of Jesus 9 – Immaculate Heart of BVM 11 – Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday 21 – Valley region meeting, Morwell, noon 24 – Nativity of John the Baptist 29 – Sts Peter and Paul 29 – Second term holidays begin

JULY 3 – St Thomas 16 – Term three begins

AUGUST 6 – The Transfiguration 8 – St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 14 – East Region meeting, Bairnsdale, 10am 15 – Assumption of the BVM 16 – Valley region meeting, Yarram, noon 22 – Queenship of the BVM 22 – West Region meeting, Nar Nar Goon, 10.30am 25 – Pakenham Horse Show

SEPTEMBER 21 – Third term holidays begin 27 – St Vincent de Paul 28 – AFL Grand Final Eve Public Holiday 29 – AFL Grand Final 29 – Turnbull Stakes 22-Oct 2 – Royal Melbourne Show NOTE: School holiday dates can vary from school to school depending on in-service days, student-free days etc.

Important sporting events, local agricultural shows and festivals are included so these dates can be avoided if necessary when planning parish or school events which may be affected.

Catholic Life, December 2017 - Page 13

world news ...

world news ...

Papal donation of Lamborghini is applauded

By Marta Petrosillo

POPE Francis inspects the Lamborghini that was donated to assist charitable causes. © Aid to the Church in Need

IRAQ - “Christians were deeply moved by the gesture of the Holy Father,” said Chaldean Catholic Patriarch of Babylon Louis Raphaël I Sako to Aid to the Church in Need.

Pope Francis has promised to donate a part of the funds raised from the auction of a special edition Lamborghini Huracan to charities including ACN. The Holy Father recently received the sports car as a gift.

Pope Francis would like to use some of the proceeds from the auction to support Aid to the Church in Need’s project for Christians returning to their villages on the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq.

“By now I have become used to Francis’s surprises,” the patriarch added. This gesture “perfectly embodies Christian charity through concrete

deeds.”

It was widely reported

by Iraqi media and closely followed, particularly by the Christian community.

“It is not the first time that the pope has made a gesture like this to show us that he is close to us. He has not been able to visit us yet, but sometimes a humanitarian and spiritual presence is more important than a physical one.”

The news about this additional support from Rome has come at a very delicate time for the Nineveh Plains. Tensions in the area have intensified after the Kurdish independence referendum.

“At the moment, the situation has calmed down and there is an openness towards dialogue.

However, Iraq needs more. It will be necessary to separate church and state and implement

a new concept of citizenship, which entitles every Iraqi to the same dignity, irrespective of his or her religious affiliation.”

In the meantime, ACN’s project continues to encourage displaced persons from Iraq to return to their Christian villages on the Nineveh Plains.

“We would like to show that the Christian religion is still here in this country.

Our presence is crucial for the members of all religions.

Because Christianity represents an element of tolerance that has the ability to counter violence.”

A fundamental teaching of Christianity is the forgiveness of enemies and persecutors and the active pursuit of peaceful coexistence.

In order to achieve this, the patriarch has called for further support in word, deed and joint prayer.

Appeal launched to aid the Rohinhya refugees

Chinese remove religious images

BANGLADESH - Pope Francis launched an appeal last week for the refugees of the state of Arakan (Rakhine) in Burma.

Recalling the situation of the “Rohingya” persecuted minority, without pronouncing the word, he appealed to the international community to take “decisive measures” to resolve the “grave crisis” underway.

On the first day of his visit to Bangladesh, a few hours after landing, the Holy Father went to the Presidential Palace of Dhaka, where he met with the country’s authorities, with representatives of the civil society and of the diplomatic corps.

He pleaded, before them, for the cause of the Rohingyas, without mentioning them. In fact, the name of these Bengalispeaking Sunni Muslims, who live in the northwest of this state, is very controversial.

OFFICIALS in China’s eastern Jiangxi province have replaced religious images displayed by Christian families with portraits of the country’s leader Xi Jinping.

Images have been posted on WeChat showing Yugan county local government officials removing images of the cross and other religious subjects.

The message from officials said Christians involved had “recognised their mistakes and decided not to entrust to Jesus

The Burmese Government has prohibited use of “Rohingya” and has also asked the diplomatic community not to use it.

The Pope said “In the course of the last months, the spirit of generosity and solidarity, characteristic signs of Bangladesh’s society, has been observed very vividly in its humanitarian momentum in favor of refugees that have arrived en masse from Rakhine state, giving them temporary shelter and satisfying their elementary needs to live. This result was obtained with many sacrifices. It was also done before the eyes of the whole world.”

“No one of us can fail to be conscious of the gravity of the situation, the immense cost imposed by human sufferings and the very numerous precarious conditions of life of our brothers and sisters, the

Hindus protesting INDIA – Hindu nationalists in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradeth have been marching through streets waving burning torches and denouncing Christian missionaries.

They claim local authorities have not acted on their complaints that missionaries have been violating a law which restricts religious conversions.

The protesters plan an indefinite strike in front of a Catholic-run orphanage.

Hindu protests earlier this year in the region led to the closure of another Catholic mission and orphanage over a land title dispute.

The district has 5000 Christians among its 2.3 million people, 92 percent of whom are Hindu.

Christian leaders have claimed the state has tacitly supporting the nationalists who are pushing to establish a Hindu-only nation in India.

majority of whom are women and children, gathered in refugee camps,” stressed the Pope.

He appealed to the International Community “to take decisive measures in face of this grave crisis, not only by working to resolve the political questions that have led to this massive displacement of people but also by offering immediate material assistance to Bangladesh, in its effort to respond effectively to the urgent human needs.”

In his address to the Burmese Authorities, two days earlier, the Pope pleaded for “a peace founded on respect for the dignity and the rights of every member of the society, on respect for all the ethnic groups and their identity, on respect for the State of Law and a democratic order that enables each individual and every group – no one being excluded – to offer their legitimate contribution to the common good.”

but to the Party.”

More than 650 religious images had been removed and replaced with 450 portraits of the Communist leader.

Nearly 10 percent of the million impoverished people in Yugan are Christian.

It has been predicted by church leaders in China that what was occurring in Jiangxi province would be repeated around the country in coming months.

No more mums and dads ENGLAND – The terms ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ will be removed from Catholic school admission forms in England and Wales following a complaint that the terms discriminated against gay and step-parents.

The Office of Schools Adjudicator which settles disputes on behalf of the government upheld the objection of a parent who wished to enrol a child in a London Catholic primary school.

The parent has been asked

to fill in a form which left spaces for the names of ‘Mother/Guardian’ and ‘Father/ Guardian’ and had argued that the forms discriminated against separated, gay and step-parents.

Following the determination, more than 2200 schools have been instructed to revise their forms.

According to reports in British media some have already replaced ‘Mother’ and ‘Father’ with ‘Parent 1’ and ‘Parent 2’.

Pope's call to welcome refugees POPE Francis has called on the United States to welcome more refugees and urged those who are welcomed to respect the laws of the country.

“To all people I ask: take care of the migrant who is a promise of life for the future.

“To migrants: take care of the country that welcomes you; accept and respect its laws and walk together along that path of

love.”

The Pope issued his call during a live video conversation with teenagers from around the world who were participating in a program of the international network Scholas Occurentes.

During the event, broadcast on a Spanish-language network in the United States, the host asked the Pope for comments regarding immigrants to the US.

The Pope pointed out that he was the son of immigrants and that if it wasn't for people helping his father who arrived at age 22, he would not be here today.

He pointed out that the Bible was clear “Receive the migrant, receive the refugee, because you too were a migrant and refugee in Egypt. Jesus was also a refugee; they wanted to cut the little child's head off.”

Page 14 - Catholic Life, December 2017

For the Young and Young at Heart Time for a laugh

THERE was a Christian lady who lived next door to an atheist. Every day, when the lady prayed, the atheist guy could hear her.

He thought to himself, “She sure is crazy, praying all the time like that.

Doesn’t she know there isn’t a God?” Many times while she was praying, he would go to her house and harass her, saying “Lady, why do you pray all the time? Don’t you know there is no God?” But she kept on praying.

One day, she ran out of groceries.

As usual, she was praying to the Lord explaining her situation and thanking Him for what He was going to do.

As usual, the atheist heard her praying and thought to himself, “Humph! I’ll fix her.”

He went to the grocery store, bought a whole trolley load of groceries, took them to her house, placed the bags on the front porch, rang the door bell and then hid in the bushes to see what she would do.

When she opened the door and saw the groceries, she began to praise the Lord with all her heart, jumping, singing and shouting everywhere!

The atheist then jumped out of the bushes and told her, “You old crazy lady, God didn’t buy you those groceries, I bought those groceries!”

At hearing this, she started running down the street, shouting and praising the Lord.

When he finally caught her, he asked what her problem was.

COLOUR in this picture. If you like you can paste the finished work onto She said, “I knew the Lord would some card and stand it next to your Christmas tree if your family does not provide me with some groceries, but I have a nativity set. didn’t know he was going to make the devil pay for them!”

Christmas crossword

ONE day the zookeeper noticed that the orangutan was reading two books - The Bible and Darwin’s Origin of Species.

Surprised, he asked the ape, “Why

are you reading both those books?”

“Well,” said the orangutan, “I just wanted to know if I was my brother’s keeper or my keeper’s brother.”

SPOTTED outside a church: “Honk if you love Jesus. Keep on texting while you drive if you want to meet him.”

Q: Why do kangaroos hate rainy days?

A: Because their children play inside.

Q: What kind of music do kangaroos listen to?

A: Hip Hop Q: What does a dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac do?

A: Stays awake all night wondering if there really is a Dog. TWO men are stranded on a deserted island.

One despairs, but the other one claps him assuredly on the back and says, “Don’t worry, they will definitely find us, and soon.”

“Really? Why do you think so?”

“I owe the tax office five years’ worth of taxes.”

TWO guys were fishing and began discussing what happens when they have an argument with their wives.

One says “Arguing with the wife is a lot like trying to read the Terms of Use on the internet. In the end you just give up and go ‘I Agree’.”

A SCIENTIFIC study discovered that women with extra weight usually live longer than men who point it out.

Corny Christmas jokes Q: What do you get if you cross Father Christmas with a detective?

A: Santa Clues!

Q: What is a lion’s favorite Christmas carol?

A: Jungle Bells.

Q: What nationality is Santa Claus?

A: North Polish

Q: What did Adam say the day before Christmas?

A: It’s Christmas, Eve!

Q: What’s Santa’s dog’s name?

A: Santa Paws!

Q: What’s as big as Santa but weighs nothing?

A: Santa’s shadow!

Q: What’s a dog’s favourite carol?

A: Bark, the herald angels sing

Q: What is Santa’s favourite pizza?

A: One that’s deep-pan, crisp and even Q: What do Santa’s little helpers learn at school?

A: The elf-abet!

Q: How come the Christmas Q: How much did Santa pay for his alphabet only has 25 letters? sleigh?

A: There is Noel.

A: Nothing, it was on the house!

AS a little girl climbed onto Santa’s lap, Santa asked the usual, “And what would you like for Christmas?”

The child stared at him open Q: Why does Santa have three mouthed and horrified for a minute, then gasped, “Didn’t you get my garden plots up at the North Pole?

E-mail?”

A: That way he can hoe, hoe, hoe!

Q: Why are Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen always wet?

A: Because they are rain deer.

Catholic Life, December 2017 - Page 15

Classifieds prayer

St Michael's LOTE learning

prayer

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

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

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

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

It has never been known to fail.

Publication must be promised.

public notices GRADE 3/4 students, Thomas and Angus in Italian attire.

VOCATIONS

wanted known

Priests & Deacons

Your will be done

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

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

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

If you need more information on bequests contact: PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820 Ph: 56 22 6688

If so please contact

Fr Michael Willemsen 5152 3106

ABN 51 486 581 500

vocations@sale.catholic.org.au

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TRARALGON - St Michael’s Primary students recently celebrated LOTE week.

The week began with students watching a performance called Le Vacanze. Monday was also dress up day.

On this day the children and staff came dressed in something linked to the school’s LOTE country – Italy.

Throughout the rest of the week the children were involved in making and eating Pinocchio face biscuits, fruit people, pizza and focaccia.

Each student in the school was then able to sample some gelato with a variety of flavors to choose from.

When asked what they enjoyed most about LOTE week, Grade 2 student, Hayden said, “I liked the show because it was funny and I liked making the fruit people.”

Nakeisha from Grade 2 replied, “I liked the parade because I saw all these new costumes different from grade 1 and I liked the show, it was funny when the man was on the plane and at the beach!”

Train bridge to beat floodwaters FORMER Sale resident and St Mary’s parishioner, Marcus Hill, is researching for a second book about Gippsland during World War 2.

He was intrigued to discover that, after a night out in Sale, RAAF personnel often returned to their base in West Sale by walking the 8km journey along the Sale to Melbourne railway line. And that included crossing the Thomson River on the long railway bridge.

Recently he has found that the traffic was not all one way.

Bill Henebery of Fulham can recall occasions when the Thomson flooded the old causeway between Wurruk and Sale, and he was obliged to walk the “straight and narrow” with his father to get to Easter ceremonies at St Mary’s.

“In those days it was the only way people coming from the west could beat the floods,” Bill commented. “But at least we did it in daylight – not after a night out in Sale!”

Give some depth to your advertising dollar!

We are the only newspaper other than metropolitan dailies to deliver from the outer eastern suburbs, through Gippsland to the NSW border.

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Page 16 - Catholic Life, December 2017

Sacred Heart students in community project MORWELL - Sacred Heart Primary School was contacted

by Neighbourhood Watch Safer Community group this year, and were asked if they would participate in a community based project.

Sacred Hearts art teacher, Mrs Haylock said the project was based around one of the four seasons.

The Grade 6 students designed their mural around the season of winter.

The students, with the

guidance of Mrs Haylock have designed, painted and completed the mural, which hangs in the Morwell railway underpass.

The opportunity for such a project has allowed the Grade 6 students to not only take ownership of their work but also ownership of a public space.

They have also help improve the connection between the platform and the underpass.

Students received a trophy to mark the achievement.

THE proud students from Sacred Heart - (Back from left) Chris, Anne, Phoebe, Cianna, Hayley (Middle) Nyamal, Lisa, James, Lucas and (Front) Nyagal, Angel, and Blayde

Please donate to our diocesan charity

Trinity Families.

Serving the families of our diocese.

Details at www.trinityfamilies.org.au

THE mural which can be found in the Morwell railway underpass.

Catholic Life Sale

Catholic Life wishes all its readers, contributors and advertisers a happy and holy Christmas

May you and your families be kept safe over the festive season.

We ask you to take time during this busy period to visit your local church to give thanks for the birth of Jesus, the Saviour who came into this world.