Catholic life feb14

Catholic Life Publication of the Diocese of Sale

Free

ISSUE 180

February 2014

Charitable fund relaunch

DIOCESAN administrator Fr Peter Slater (right) and Trinity Families executive officer Colin Coomber launch the new name.

TRINITY Families is the new name for what was previously known as the Bishop’s Family Foundation.

It is being relaunched this week in an attempt to revitalise the Diocese of Sale’s charitable arm by moving it more into the wider community.

It was established 12 years ago by Bishop Jeremiah Coffey to serve the needs of struggling families in the area covered by the diocese.

In that time it has successfully raised more than $2 million dollars from the Catholic community and the return on invested funds has meant more than $1 million has been able to be handed out to charities providing programs to assist families.

The name Trinity Families was agreed to by Bishop Christopher Prowse prior to his appointment to the Archdiocese

of Canberra and Goulburn following a review into operation of the charitable fund.

As part of the revitalisation, he appointed Colin Coomber as the part-time executive officer and charged him with raising the public awareness of what has become Greater Gippsland’s biggest charity.

Businesses across the diocese will all be encouraged to make annual donations so that the trust fund can grow and more struggling families can be helped.

Mr Coomber said the old Bishop’s Family Foundation had been highly successful because of the way it had been set up.

The aim was to establish a large trust fund to earn enough income so that other charities did not have to be continually raising funds.

“To that end we have been highly successful because we have been able to

Trinity FAMILIES

provide over $1 million, but if we had been able to meet all the requests for funding, we probably could have given away three times that amount.”

He said Trinity Families would have a higher profile than the previous entity and would also eventually take on an advocacy role whereby it would assist other charities in making submissions to governments for funding.

Mr Coomber said there were hundreds of charities collecting funds in the region but it was unfortunate that these funds often never returned to provide assistance in the area in which the funds were raised.

Trinity Families raised the money in the Greater Gippsland area and only funded charities providing services in Greater Gippsland.

He said many organisations collecting funds in Gippsland purported to be charities but did not have deductible gift

recipient status and so donations to them could not be claimed on tax.

People would be disappointed to learn that sometimes more than half of their donations disappeared in advertising, wages and even bonuses to collectors who were paid a percentage of the money they took.

Trinity Families would continue to be supported in the background by the Catholic Church and all donations received would be paid into the trust fund to earn more money for distribution.

Mr Coomber said Trinity Families operated in the area covered by the Cities of Casey and Latrobe, and the Shires of Cardinia, Baw Baw, Bass Coat, South Gippsland, Wellington and East Gippsland.

Trinity Families is in the process of setting up a new web site which will allow people to make secure on-line donations.

A new name but a million reasons to keep your charity local.

We ask you donate generously to help grow our charitable fund so we can help more families.

Page 2 - Catholic Life, February 2014

In this Issue

Newborough welcomes new priest Page 5 Special Mass for families who have loss Page 5 Medjugorje convert to speak here Page 6 Moving into new school is delayed Page 7 Two Josephites leave diocese for Melbourne Page 8 Project Compassion Appeal Page 9 Celebrating St Valentine’s Day Page 12

A Time of Transition in the diocese OUR diocese finds itself without a bishop. Since Bishop Christopher Prowse took up his appointment as Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn in November of last year we have begun a time of waiting for the announcement and arrival of our next bishop of Sale.

It is a time of waiting, of transition. How long will it take?

Who will be appointed? These are questions we can’t answer though we trust that the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, is working at the matter on behalf of Pope Francis.

We will know in due course.

Some years ago I heard some thoughts on the question of being in transition. While these thoughts were intended to apply to an individual’s personal experience they suggest some elements that might be useful to our communal experience as a diocesan community during these months.

The first thing to note is that transition is not just an empty time of waiting; it is a time of movement for us. We can do it well or poorly.

Basically I learned that transition consists of three different phases or stages. It starts with an end; it moves through a time of neutrality; and it leads to a new beginning.

“Start with the end” I heard. That sounds odd but it simply means that we should give time to what has come to an end.

Bishop Prowse was with us for a little over four years. The end of his time in our diocese began with the announcement of his appointment to Canberra and Goulburn. That was last September.

That announcement was quickly communicated to parishes and schools. There were news items in the media. There were the farewell functions in various parts of the diocese. Many of you had the chance to express your farewell to him. Some of you went to Canberra for his installation there.

But there is more to the end than that. This is a time to reflect on events and developments in our diocese during his time here.

The increase in the number of priests from overseas who are working here is one of those developments. We had some before he came but Bishop Prowse himself acted to bring clergy from India, Sri Lanka and Nigeria. Many of you have met one or more of these priests. Bishop Prowse established connections between our diocese and the diocese or religious congregation concerned.

He has also welcomed seminarians from other countries too and we look forward to the ministry of these in time.

The relocation of the diocesan offices from Sale to Warragul is another legacy of Bishop Prowse. I think I can say the priests were ready for that initiative but it was the bishop, after taking advice, who made the decision.

A further initiative is the pastoral plan, Finding Home in Jesus.

This year’s emphasis on family prayer is the first stage of that plan. Many, if not all of you, would have the prayer card that has been printed.

All of these took place during the four years of Bishop Prowse’s ministry in Sale. We do well to look back on those initiatives as signs of his presence here.

I understand of course that you may have your own memories of something he said or did. The first stage of transition includes that looking back over those memories. That’s something that needs to be done before moving through the central stage. I hope to share some thoughts on that in a future article.

Fr Peter Slater Diocesan Administrator

Retreat opportunity for VCE students

By Cassie Gawley UNWIND is a retreat for Year 11 and 12 students who are currently undergoing their VCE studies.

The retreat aims to provide an overnight escape from the busy and hectic lifestyle of VCE by providing an opportunity for these young people to reconnect with their faith, make some new friends and have some fun.

During VCE, the stresses of study, future planning, assess-

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

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

ments and prerequisites can be so overwhelming to students, that faith gets pushed to the side.

It is important for young people to nurture their relationship with God during all parts of their lives, particularly the difficult ones.

During Year 11 and 12 it is imperative that students are looking after, not only their physical but also their mental

Latrobe alley V uneral F Services

wellbeing, and this retreat will give students some helpful tips on how to look after themselves during this period.

Unwind will be held from 5pm on Friday April 4 until 4pm on April 5 at Rawson Village, Pinnacle Drive, Rawson, at a cost of $30 per person.

The Youth Ministry Office is

currently trialling a new online registration system, so to register please visit this website www.trybooking.com/EECM If you have any questions about Unwind, or feedback about the online registration system, please contact Cassie Gawley via email cassieg@ sale.catholic.org.au

Milestone for Mgr Allman TRARALGON – Mgr John Allman will next month celebrate 50 years since he was made a Prelate of Honor by the Pope.

The Papal Honor in 1964 entitled him to be called monsignor.

In 1990 he was also awarded the highest Papal Honor, the Prothonotary Apostolic, and is currently one of eight priests in

Australia to have that award.

Mgr Allman lives in retirement at O’Mara House in Traralgon.

He was ordained by Bishop Richard Ryan in 1951 and has the record of having served under six of the diocese’s eight bishops, mainly in leading roles as either Vicar General or Dean of the Cathedral.

Editor: Colin Coomber Published 6 times a year Deadline for advertising copy and editorial contributions for next issue is Monday, March 24 Issues distributed free through parishes and schools from April 2.

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Catholic Life, February 2014 - Page 3

Trinity Families - What’s behind the name?

TRINITY FAMILIES was chosen by Bishop Prowse from among several names suggested during a review of the charitable fund.

He liked Trinity because of its religious connotations and Families tied in with the focus of his pastoral plan.

The word Trinity means three and the operation of Trinity Families is a three step process.

The first step involved the generous donations received from people and organisations, the second the secure investment of those funds to earn the

best possible income and thirdly, sharing that income with other registered charities providing programs for families.

In 2005 a Monash University study into the Bishop’s Family Foundation recommended changing the name of the organisation because the word Bishop identified too closely with the Catholic Church and alienated the 75 per cent of people who were non-Catholics.

They suggested a name change would stop confusion with the annual Bishop’s Family Appeal promoted by the An-

glican Bishop to raise funds for Anglicare Gippsland.

Trinity Families is now a registered name of the Catholic Diocese of Sale which operates the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale Charitable Fund and all donations of $2 or more enjoy full tax deductibility.

The logo features a light blue geometric symbol known as a triquetra.

This Celtic knot predates Christianity but has long been used in the Church to signify the Trinity. Interestingly, the triquetra features on the stained

glass door of the former Bishop’s House in Sale, albeit in an inverted position.

Bishop Prowse likened the top loop of the triquetra to a

bishop’s mitre and the two lower loops to his outstretched arms.

Widespread support is needed to boost trust fund TRINITY FAMILIES is in the process of setting up a stand alone Web Page which will enable people to securely make donations by credit card or direct debit.

Once the necessary links are established with bankers, donors will automatically receive their receipt on-line which they can then print off and use for tax deductions.

Getting the name registered caused some delays and then the Christmas break has also

hindered development on the website.

Trinity Families will continue to allocate funds annually as did the Bishop’s Family Foundation.

Calls for applications from charities operating in Gippsland and the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne will be made mid-year and funds will be allocated in September or October.

It is intended to become more pro-active by identify-

4WD trip to the Gippsland Alps A FOUR wheel drive trip to Miller’s Hut near Mt Wellington, north of Heyfield, will be held on February 28 to March 2.

Vehicles will leave Newry on the Friday night and return on the Sunday.

It is planned to have a day trip out to the Sentinels to look out over Lake Tarli Karng and to the Gable End of Mt Wellington to look out over Miller’s stock route.

It is hoped that Fr Jeff Klenjans will again be along for the trip and he will celebrate Mass on the mountain.

There is no cost to participate as the trip is self catering but some places are available for those who do not have four wheel drive vehicle. In their case a donation towards sharing

fuel costs would be appreciated.

Vehicles should meet at St Ita’s Church, Hastings St., Newry at 5.30pm on February 28 for a 6pm departure which will enable participants to arrive at the hut and set up camp before dark.

Enquiries, including what to bring, should be made to christadwyer@bigpond.com or Don Dwyer on 0428 556 636.

ing needs not being met in the region and discussing this with established charities to see if they can extend their programs with the held of Trinity Families funding.

Meanwhile, much is going on behind the scenes and it is intended to set up several regional sub-committees to assist with fund-raising and promotion in the wider community.

The annual May appeal will again be held in Catholic parishes and this year parishion-

ers will be asked to consider making pledges to give an annual donation for the next three years.

Schools within the Sale Diocese will be asked to ensure that Trinity Families receives support in fund-raising efforts before giving to non-Catholic charities.

The business community will also be appealed to for support with the estimated 10,000 businesses in the region being all asked to contribute $100 a year

to support charitable works which actually benefit the region.

Larger businesses and multinational companies operating here will be asked to consider larger donations.

Donations can be sent to Trinity Families, PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820. Those wishing to make direct deposits should call 5622 6688 for details.

The internet donations service is not expected to be fully operational for several weeks.

It’s not all about the money!

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Have you got money invested elsewhere that you could consider investing with the CDF? If you are able to help why not give the CDF a call or email and see how easy it is.

You will be rewarded with: • A competitive rate of return on your investment; • The security of investing with the Catholic Church; and, • Most importantly you are making a contribution to furthering the Catholic faith and education in our diocese.

So you see it’s not just about the money Phone 5622 6699

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

Page 4 - Catholic Life, February 2014

Great supporter

THIS issue of Catholic Life is the first of the new twomonthly publishing schedule.

We have tweaked design only slightly for this issue but you can expect to see more changes in coming issues.

Our regular features are continuing except for the Gippsland History column written by Patrick Morgan of Boolarra who has decided to end the series.

Patrick began writing for our forerunner, the old Sale Catholic Life back in the late 1980s, and continued until it closed down in 1995.

When we started this publication in November 1997 we invited him on board and we can’t recall him missing an issue.

We would like to publicly thank him for his services of keeping people informed about their history.

Puzzling signs

SOLAR powered electronic fire danger signs have appeared around Gippsland for this summer.

What we can’t understand is why signs continue to show a green low fire danger rating on 25 degree days when the surrounding grassland is tinder dry and rural fire restrictions apply.

Surely, during summer the lowest the reading should go is ‘high’, just like it used to with the old manually operated

National Liturgy Conference marks resurgence of hope signs.

There are still three more categories including ‘catastrophic’ above high to cater for those 40 degree scorchers.

Man of the Year

HAS a Pontiff ever had such a high public profile as Pope Francis?

Time magazine Man of the Year, front cover of Rolling Stone and even the ‘SuperPope’ graffiti which appeared in Italy.

The general public, Catholics and non-Catholics alike, have embraced this man for his openness and willingness to move the Church into doing something to help those in poverty.

Attack on Christ

ADELAIDE Fringe Festival has caused some furore for staging a show called Come Heckle Christ.

The SA Premier, organisers and sponsors say they can’t pull the show which is reported to be offensive to Christianity.

Imagine the response if the show was called Come Heckle Mohammed!

SOME 600 Catholics gathered from Australia and New Zealand, including 2 delegates for the Diocese of Sale, celebrated the heart of their faith over 15 to 18 January 2014 at the Lift Up Your Hearts National Liturgy Conference, at the joint Wollongong venues of St Mary Star of the Sea, College and Xavier Conference Centre.

Participants included Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paul Gallagher, Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Brisbane, Bishop Peter Ingham of Wollongong, Bishop Peter Elliott of Melbourne and Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett of Lismore.

Liturgy, which is the Catholic Church’s name for its public worship, was the theme of the Conference, and keynote speakers including Fr Jan Michael Joncas, United States priest and renowned composer and liturgical theologian, helped participants break open the Mass as “source and summit” of Catholic life.

Another keynote speaker, Dr Clare V. Johnson, theologian, author and senior lecturer at the Australian Catholic University, Strathfield, reflected on the importance of music in worship, urging participants to identify sacred music treasures

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

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

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

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

A CANTOR leading the Psalms workshop during the conference.

- Photograph by Daniel Hopper, Diocese of Wollongong.

of “inestimable value.”

When asked why there was such interest in this event, to the extent which registrations had to be closed off early due to a “full house,” conference convener Mr Paul Mason said, “I believe the interest stems from a resurgence of hope in the Catholic Church, perhaps due to the ‘Francis Effect.’”

Pope Francis has captured the imagination of Catholics and non-Catholics alike in his down-to-earth living out of Jesus Christ’s mission of love and service to the most in need.

Conference speakers, including Archbishop Mark Coleridge, reminded delegates that worship does not make sense if it is divorced from the world’s concerns. Catholics are called to serve all people, particularly those most in need, with the very word “Mass” stemming from the word “mission,” to be sent.

Participants experienced many workshops and talks on topics - such as styles of sacred music, inclusion of indigenous and multicultural expressions of worship, and the joys and challenges of providing worship in rural communities without a priest. Mass was celebrated daily in St Francis Xavier Cathedral, a wonderful party on Wednesday night honoured the golden jubilee of a landmark document on the liturgy at the Second Vatican Council.

At the conference dinner, Dr Tom Elich, a Brisbane priest, was announced as recipient of the inaugural award for Outstanding Contribution to Liturgical Renewal. Bishop Peter Ingham, of host Diocese, Wollongong, observed: “Much has changed in the last 50 years, even in what we eat!

Many of the meals we enjoy today through the benefits of multiculturalism were not even recognisable words in the

past. The same is true in our worship. Much has changed, and we are still on a journey, staying faithful to Jesus Christ, yet remaining relevant to our changing context.”

It is incredible to consider the changes in Catholic worship over the last 50 years.

Where once Mass goers experienced Latin, today’s church predominantly offers Mass in the language of the people.

Even the conference itself is an expression of this change.

Fifty years ago, liturgy was the primary province of clergy.

Today, the majority of the participants at the conference were lay women and men, with many drawn from rural settings, with many lay women and lay men involved in significant ministries during the Masses held throughout the week.

Keynote Dr Louise Campbell, director of the National Liturgy Office of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference, urged participants to continue to “Lift up our hearts!” She echoed the sentiment of many delegates who were strong in praise for the presentations, hospitality, organisation and marvellous volunteers.

• This article used with the permission of the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong www. dow.org.au

Family camp cancelled

CAMP Nazareth which was to be held next month at Trafalgar East has been cancelled.

The family camp was part of the Year of Family Prayer initiative but with the move of Bishop Prowse to be Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn and youth coordinator Jess Denehy leaving to take up a position with Melbourne Archdiocese, organisation was too difficult.

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

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

Catholic Life, February 2015 - Page 5

Newborough welcomes new parish priest NEWBOROUGH - The Catholic Parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary has embraced the new year by welcoming a new parish priest, Fr Harry Dyer OMI. Fr Harry will lead St Mary’s Parish Newborough and St Kieran’s Parish in Moe. Newborough had previously been served by diocesan priests but now comes under the care of the Oblate of Mary Immaculate priests who have looked after Moe. This means where possible the parishes will work together in celebrating the Catholic story while still preserving and honoring each parish’s unique tradition.

Fr Dyer is a past Provincial of the Oblates and has a close affinity with the area as he was born in Newborough and at-

tended St Mary’s Primary School when he was a young boy.

This week the parishes also welcomed Fr Paul Smithers OMI who will act as assistant priest.

For the past few years the Oblates have been served in Moe

by Fr Bernie O’Brien who has moved to the Oblate parish of Sorrento.

A spokesperson from the Newborough parish said “This is a time of change. We look forward to working positively with St Kieran’s Parish to further develop the Catholic communities of Moe, Newborough and Yallourn North.”

A similar welcome service took place for Fr Dyer at St Kieran’s Moe on the Saturday night.

AT the welcoming ceremony at Newborough are Diocesan Administrator Fr Peter Slater, visiting Oblate priest from Madagascar Fr Johnny, new parish priest Fr Harry Dyer OMI and Provincial of the Oblates Fr Leo Mifsud OMI.

Special Mass for families who have suffered loss HAVE you suffered the loss of a child by miscarriage, abortion, still born, illness, suicide, crime or accident?

If so, you and others are warmly invited to Mass for Families to be held on the Feast of the Annunciation Tuesday,

March 25 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Pearson St., Sale at 7pm, with Rosary preceding at 6.30pm.

A light supper will follow.

This invitation extends not only to parents, but also siblings, grandparents – all extended

family and friends - everyone is welcome.

The Mass for Families will be offered for those effected by the loss of a child and to remember, offer thanks and celebrate the life of all God’s children gifted to us, whom we know

by Holy Scripture are all lovingly created and consecrated

by God “‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you came to birth I consecrated you” (Jeremiah 1:5) and proclaimed by the Church “Human life is sacred because from its beginning it involves the creative action of God and it remains for ever in a special relationship with the Creator, who is its sole end.” CCC 2258 This Mass is an initiative

for the Year of Family Prayer

by Action for Life - a newly formed pro-life, pro-family group which serves the parishes and communities of the Heart Region which encompasses Sale Cathedral and Maffra parishes and communities by promoting a culture of life and love

in presenting the truth, beauty and goodness of life, marriage and family, within the teachings of the Catholic faith.

Enquiries should be directed to Elaine on 5144 2762, Marianne on 5147 1019 or email: actionforlife1@gmail.com.

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Page 6 - Catholic Life, February 2014

Medjugorje convert speaking tour to our diocese A RENOWNED international speaker on Medjugorje Wayne Weibel is coming to Australia next month and his speaking tour will include Warragul, Narre Warren and Sale.

His visit was instigated by a Neerim East woman Julie Powell who was so entranced by one of Weibel’s first books that she became a Catholic.

Weible too was a non-Catholic in 1985 when he decided to write a newspaper article about the apparitions in BosniaHerzgovina mountain town of Medjugorje.

Wayne Weibel It was while viewing a video tape of the apparitions that he felt a strong message within his heart to write about the events and spread the message of reconciliation with God. After writing a series of articles and spending a great deal of time in prayer, he sold the four newspaper he owned so he could devote his time to spreading the Medjugorje message.

In 1986 he wrote an eight page tabloid Miracle at Medjugorje and initially printed 3000 copies to distribute. More than 125 million copies have now been distributed around the world in several different lan-

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Weibel has now authored nine books on his experiences, including Medjugorje: The Message (1989) which Mrs Powell read and became overwhelmed with the message from Our Lady.

Like Weibel, she decided to become a Catholic and went through the RCIA program.

However, Weibel emphasises that the message coming from Medjugorje is for all faiths not just for Catholics, or for that matter Christians.

When Gippsland-based devotees were looking for a suitable speaker to visit Mrs Powell suggested Weibel and after making contact he agreed to visit.

He arrives in Australia on March 1 and his first talk will be at St Joseph’s Church, Warragul, immediately after 9am Mass on March 2.

On Monday, March 3, he goes to Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren, where there will be praise and worship at 7pm, Mass at 7.30pm and Weibel’s talk at 8.15pm.

He will be at St Peter’s Church, Clayton, at 10am on March 4, and then St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, on March 5 for a talk after 7pm Mass, followed by a light supper.

His tour then takes him to Bendigo, Mooroopna, Shepparton, Albury, Wodonga, Wagga Wagga, Camberwell, Fawkner and Bulleen. Full details of these visits can be obtained from Mrs Powell at chris.jul@ bigpond.com or 5628 1343.

The Medjugorje apparitions are yet to receive official sanction from the Holy See, but like many other officially accepted apparitions, such approval can take decades.

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AN aerial view of Medjugorje featuring the Catholic Church and the large outdoor gathering area constructed for the thousands of pilgrims who visit every day. seers, and today three of them back to God. been denounced by the local still receive apparitions.

The Congregation for the bishop, and before he became The message has consistently Doctrine of Faith concluded its Pope Benedict XVI, Cardibeen one of peace and that God study of the Medjugorje claims nal Joseph Ratzinger also exhas sent her as an act of grace last month and is believed to pressed doubts as to the veracand to encourage people to re- have made a report to Pope ity of claims. At one stage the turn to God. Francis.

Vatican urged Catholics not to Since 1981 more than 50 milThe study looked at the ex- make pilgrimages to Medjugorlion people have travelled to periences of those visiting the je because the supernatural exMedjugorje and left there spir- site, weighing evidence and periences could not be verified itually and strengthened and assessing claims and counter- but still devotees have flocked renewed. claims including those of a for- there in the millions every year.

Many bring back stories of mer Vatican exorcist who said Wayne Weibel leads several miraculous healings of body, the visions were the work of the pilgrimages from the United mind and spirit, supernatural devil.

States to Medjugorje and the signs and deep conversions News of the apparitions have Holy Land every year.

Lent creates opportunities THE Judean wilderness is an extraordinary place – it is the area immediately south of Jerusalem where Jesus is believed to have roamed during the 40 days before He began His public ministry.

By day it is very, very hot.

Goat tracks criss-cross its steep hills and ravines. There is little or no vegetation and precious little shade. The rocky and unstable soil means that a sure foot is needed. By night it is very cold. Like any other desert, it is very, very dry.

At first nothing seems to be alive, nothing moving until the eye that has been rid of other distractions begins to see the shepherd and the sheep, then another flock, then another.

After some time of quiet you begin to realise that you are not sitting on rocks and sand but grass, perhaps not as we are used to but it is still sustenance for the animals in this place.

There is shade in the deep valleys and, although many of the goat tracks lead nowhere, there are other, wider tracks which wind their way around the sides of the ravines.

After some time of quiet and stillness, one can see that even in this harsh environment, there is life! But it takes time – otherwise it just appears as harsh wilderness.

This is one place where the words of the psalmist to “Be still and know that I am God” become very real.

Lent gives us the opportunity to be rid of other distractions – to look again at our lives and our world with the eyes of faith.

Lent is a reminder that we

Reflections

by Jim Quillinan do need to see with other eyes, that we do need to restore our vision, to look for those things which bring us life, which build community, which restore relationships, harmony and justice in our own lives and in the community in which we live.

Lent, one website confidently proclaims, comes from the Germanic word for springtime.

Another says that the English word ‘Lent’ comes from the early Anglo-Saxon word meaning to ‘lengthen’ as Lent comes at a time when the hours of daytime are ‘lengthening’ with the approach of spring.

That is a great time in any year – winter is over and the promise of warmer days becomes real.

New shoots herald the return of life to many plants.

It’s the opposite here in the Southern Hemisphere as the days shorten and the coldness of winter begins to set in. That is a reminder that we find God in the good times and in the bad, in the sun as well as the shade of our lives, that every season brings hope and renewal.

The season of Lent challenges us to find out own wilderness places, firstly those places in our minds and hearts where we can Be Still and come to know and feel the presence of God. It

challenges us to open ourselves to God. At this time, in the words of the prophet Hosea: God says: ‘I will allure her into the wilderness and speak to her heart’ (2:14).

Lent is a time to allow God to speak to our hearts. It is sometimes in the barrenness, in the wilderness times of our lives that God is waiting, opening our hearts to those who are in desperate need, the one billion poor, the 17 million refugees, the marginalised, the lonely and the lost.

It offers us the opportunity to open our hearts to the times and places of wilderness which so many people experience today, to those who have lost hope and meaning, those who suffer from violence and hostility, those who feel unwanted and are struggling just to survive.

Lent is not a season for looking only at ourselves but on how we connect with others who are made in God’s own image and likeness, those we are called on to love as Jesus did, and what stops us from doing that.

Lent challenges us to stop and ask: Where do I find God in my life today? How am I responding to God’s call to care for others, for God’s creation?

Catholic Life, February 2014 - Page 7

New school is delayed

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CRANBOURNE EAST - Unexpected delays over the school holidays have meant that the diocese’s newest primary school St Thomas the Apostle was not able to open for the start of the school year.

However, the 130 students enrolled for 2014 have begun classes in the hall at St Agatha’s Primary School, Cranbourne.

They are excited about the impending move to the new school which

should take place before the end of this month.

Principal Brendan Marrinon said it was unfortunate that the students were not in the new school for the start of the year but the delays were beyond his control.

He said the 130 students were enrolled across all class levels and it was expected that the school would grow rapidly over the next few years as the Cranbourne East and Clyde North area

continued to grow.

St Thomas the Apostle School will eventually be part of a new parish with a church and presbytery already planned for adjoining land.

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Page 8 - Catholic Life, February 2014

Two stalwart Josephite Sisters leave our diocese and an altered dynamics in society.

However, her core values of kindness, caring, helping and always making everything seem effortless had not changed.

Sr Christina was always available to assist children, families, people with health problems, older people, the homebound, new parishioners migrants and refugees in the wider community.

Mrs Tuck said Sr Christina was the closest person that we would know as a “saint among us�, and she was an exemplar of her congregation and a model of who we should be if we were to follow Jesus.

Sr Rose Wood has been an icon at St John’s Parish, Koo Wee Rup, where she has faithfully served the community for 31 years.

She came to the parish in 1983 and spent her first seven years teaching at St John’s Primary School following which time her role became predominantly pastoral work within St John’s Parish, which includes the townships of Koo Wee Rup, Lang Lang and Tooradin and the surrounding districts.

Her ministry has seen her welcomed into many homes. Her empathy for others, sense of humor and unwavering devotion to the Essendon Football Club has guided many a conversation and brought smiles and laughter to many faces.

She also earned a reputation as a bit of a practical joker and was even known to dress up to pull some jokes on some of the parishioners.

Sr Rose was instrumental in the success of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and Baptism programs, Lenten Groups, Liturgy team, RSJ Associates, Parish Pastoral Team, St Vincent de Paul Society, and providing sacramental

SR Rose Wood, 31 years at Koo Wee Rup. education to students of government schools and visiting the housebound, sick and elderly.

Although taking things much quieter in recent years, Sr Rose remained in ministry to the elderly, the sick and to the residents of Killara Hostel at Koo Wee Rup. She was always been a great supporter of parish functions and loved a chat and cuppa after Mass on Sundays. Sr Rose regularly joined the staff for morning tea at St Johns Primary school and provided great insights into parish life for the school community.

Parishioners, family and friends have proudly come together to celebrate many achievements with Sr Rose over the years including a surprise 70th Birthday party to which she was lured unknowingly by the call of duty to a needy parishioner, a large gathering to celebrate her Golden Jubilee, and an Australia Day Award recognising service to the people of Koo Wee Rup. The parish farewelled her at Mass and morning tea last Sunday

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KOO WEE RUP - Two well-known Josephite Sisters have left Sale Diocese to live in Melbourne.

Sr Christina Scannell and Sr Rose Wood left their convent in Koo Wee Rup last weekend and are now living in Hawthorn.

Irish-born Sr Christina has spent most of her religious life in Gippsland.

She was one of seven Irish girls recruited by the Josephites and so after the novitiate and teacher training in Sydney she spent 1971-72 years teaching at Sacred Heart School, St Albans, which in those days had a multicultural blend of 1400 students from prep to Form 4 (Year 10).

She moved to Yallourn in 1973 where she found less than 100 students.

After two years there it was off to Wonthaggi for two, Orbost for six, Newborough for five and finally to Sacred Heart School, Morwell where she was principal for six years.

After her mother suffered a serious stroke, Sr Christina returned to Ireland to nurse her until her death five years SR Christina Scannell packing boxes prior to last weekend’s move. later.

Sixteen years ago the late Fr Joe Flynn, people.

Her cheerful manner, smile, Irish then parish priest of Pakenham, invited her to take up the position of parish jokes, sense of humor, care and support pastoral worker and so she returned had endeared her.

Mrs Tuck said Sr Christina was well to Australia and had been serving the known for her two walking speeds - fast parish in that role since then.

In Melbourne, Sr Christina will be and faster - and for the way in which helping out at the 91 bed nursing home she recruited assistance, even from run by the Josephites at Hawthorn East, unwilling parishioners who could never taking residents to appointments and quite say no to her.

Sr Christina was rarely far from the doing their shopping.

Pakenham parish farewelled her on parish, even on her days off and she had given great support to the priests over February 2.

At the farewell, parish representative her time.

She said that Sr Christina had proved Marie-Therese Tuck spoke glowingly of St Christina’s contribution to parish to be very adaptable to changing times life and how she had influenced so many with family life now being more complex

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Catholic Life, February 2014 - Page 9

Annual Lenten Appeal

Maristely’s story: a flower in the favelas of Brazil “Men and women of all times and all places desire a full and beautiful life ... a life that is not threatened by death but that can mature and grow to its fullness.”

- Pope Francis THANKS to the generous support of people from around Australia, communities like Maristely’s can enjoy a full life.

Caritas Australia’s partner, the Movement for the Defence of Favela Residents, is working to improve life and living conditions within Maristely’s community, and in 40 other favelas in the city.

Maristely, 18, lives in a favela (slum) in São Paulo, Brazil with her family.

Like Maristely, one in every seven people in the city of São Paulo lives in a favela.

Dark and cramped, favelas are filled with irregular, self-constructed houses.

When Maristely was growing up, her family’s house, like many others, was made of cardboard and had no electricity, water or connected sewerage.

Favelas are often built on land that no one wants to live on due to threats of floods, landslides, or their proximity to roads and train lines. And many locals face daily discrimination from the wider population.

“Outside the favela, we are socially excluded. When people ask us where we live and we tell them, people look down on us,” said Maristely.

From the 1950s, Brazil experienced one of the largest population movements in history when an estimated 20 million people, looking for a safe and secure future, moved from rural areas to the big cities. Many found themselves living in favelas, including Maristely’s family.

But with dense populations, limited space, a lack of available jobs, constant threat of eviction and widespread poverty, favela life is difficult.

Caritas Australia’s partner, the Movement for the Defence of Favela Residents (MDF), is changing lives across 40 favelas in São Paulo.

“The role of MDF is to work with families so they are aware that they can advocate for improvements where they live,” said Maristely.

As all people have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives, MDF educators regularly visit favelas to engage with the local people and address the challenges of favela life. Now a young leader with MDF’s Youth Empowerment Program, Maristely is working to promote peace, improve access to basic facilities and increase citizens’ awareness of their rights and dignity.

Through MDF, Maristely’s family, along with thousands of others, now has access to clean water, electricity and connected sewerage, leading to a reduction in respiratory and skin diseases, and better overall health. Her family also has a certificate of home ownership which provides greater security for the household. Thanks to this legal protection, they can no longer be evicted.

Across the favelas, up to 70 percent of families experience violence in the home; MDF is working to decrease these levels, as well as youth and gang violence, and drug use among community members.

“In this community there was a lot of violence, especially against women and young people,” said Maristely. “When I was younger we could hardly leave the house. There were a lot of young people using drugs. We had to stop playing on the streets because there were police cars driving very fast. We were very scared.”

This culture of violence is closely linked to a lack of self-esteem. MDF attendees participate in sessions which address their identity, favela history, and the challenge of being counter cultural in a community affected by drugs, gangs, violence and unemployment.

This program is empowering people like Maristely to challenge prejudice and make their voices heard. The participants engage in media and social media workshops, radio and television interviews, peace rallies and environmental care. The program promotes peace so young people can attain education and employment; rather than joining local gangs.

“Maristely is a flower who has bloomed in the middle of the favelas,”

Lenten visitor in our diocese A SPECIAL Lenten visitor from Caritas Australia’s head office will be tour various schools and parishes in Sale Diocese next month to promote Project Compassion.

Shaun Carroll has been Supporter Care Coordinator at Caritas Australia since joining the agency two years ago following a career in the corporate sector.

Seeing first-hand the benefit of Caritas Australia’s programs in Nepal, Mr Carroll is passionate about his work and enjoys sharing his commitment to social justice with Caritas donors and supporters across the country.

He is inspired by the everyday generosity of the Australian community and says he gets to see the best of people as they donate their time and money in support of Caritas Australia’s life-changing work.

He will be in this diocese from March

15 to March 22.

The official launch of the 2014 Project Compassion will take place at St Francis Xavier College’s Beaconsfield campus at 11am on Shrove Tuesday, March 4.

Project Compassion is Caritas Australia’s annual fundraising and awareness-raising appeal that links thousands of Australians in solidarity with the world’s poor to help end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity in the most vulnerable communities.

Running for six weeks of Lent each year, Project Compassion is an extraordinary, ongoing demonstration of the faith, love and the generosity of Caritas’s caring supporters.

Caritas Australia’s staff work with our dedicated partners, inspiring program beneficiaries, and compassionate supporters to promote peace and justice in the world’s most marginalised communities.

said Getúlio, MDF Youth Empowerment Coordinator.

“Being a part of MDF has given me awareness of my dignity as a person, and critical thinking. I have learnt a lot about the problems we have in our society. I know that to live in a favela is nothing to be ashamed of … because of my perseverance, I live in a better place and we are recognised for that,” said

Maristely.

Your donation to Project Compassion is helping Caritas Australia end poverty, promote justice and uphold dignity.

To donate, support or fundraise for Project Compassion 2014 please visit our website at www.caritas.org.au/projectcompassion or phone 1800 024 413.

Page 10 - Catholic Life, February 2014

Getting started in share trading - The first step ONE comment I hear quite often is “I don’t have any money – I don’t need a share broker”, to which I usually reply “If you don’t have any money, then you really need a share broker”.

It tends to reinforce the fact that getting started is really the hardest step.

I’ve talked in this column about investing now ever since I started writing it. But many people don’t have the capacity or knowledge to start investing by themselves or some just don’t know where and how to start.

For someone who has advised investors for more years than I care to count, I still take real pleasure in speaking to people with just a small amount, and helping them start on their way.

I don’t work with property and getting started there is expensive. In country towns a home buyer, if they have an adequate income, can need from $50,000 to more than $150,000 as a deposit for their home.

It’s not so simple just to save that amount, especially if there’s a family and only one income.

The answer never lies in just saving in a savings account or term deposits, if it’s unlikely that the target won’t be reached in a year or so.

The interest rates paid by banks and tax that needs to be paid will mean that the gains generated quite probably won’t keep up with house prices. The

DOLLAR$ & SENSE with David Wells

“deposit gap” just gets wider, and wider.

If you’ve a young family and want to guarantee a choice of education for your children in the future, how do you generate the investments to cover possibly tens of thousands of dollars in fees a year?

I never recommend taking out an Education Fund program in any circumstances. High fees and restrictions mean that you can do better yourself.

If you already own a home and want to grow your wealth, without excessive debt, how do you establish a diversified investment portfolio? People say that you need $5000 to start but that’s not true at all.

Putting your money in the bank won’t really help you get ahead. You need to start investing, and saving isn’t investing.

But how do you do it?

Buying shares directly with small amounts of money can be expensive, as it means that you will need to use an on-line broker with no advice and no-one to use as a sounding board.

It also means that you may not end up with a portfolio

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that’s adequately secure. Generally portfolios developed like this are unbalanced and are a bit like Topsy.

When investing directly the bigger the investment you can make the better – better returns and lower costs help ensure that. But you don’t have that money available.

The simplest and I feel the best approach is to invest in a diversified, Australian Share Fund. The normal minimum amount is usually from $2000, so it’s findable, even if it isn’t easy.

The real secret to doing this

successfully is to keep adding to it on a regular basis. There are funds that will allow you to start with as little as $1000 if you agree to make regular monthly payments of $100 or more.

So you can start small and grow steadily, with moderate fees and own part of a diversified portfolio. You get told what’s in it and you can track it’s progress. It will help you learn about investing, too.

Previous articles have touched on the draw backs of managed funds but to get started there’s nothing simpler or easier, and it doesn’t require debt.

The share market over time has always beaten property into second place, especially on an after tax basis. Even now with the property recovery making headlines, shares have made more than twice as much over the last year. So it’s worth using

shares to get started.

Build your assets. Use the growth to invest directly as the fund increases (you can redeem in multiples of $500) or to get a deposit for your home faster than saving in a bank.

Use a managed fund to grow the funds for your children’s education by starting a fund and depositing any family allowances.

You don’t need, or want, a specialist fund – you just need a basic, Australian Share Fund of the common or garden variety.

Bear in mind that if you create a fund with your child’s name as the designation, this may be an implied trust for the benefit of the child, not for your personal use.

If you want any more information on these funds feel free to contact me through the editor.

First Syro-Malabar eparch OVER the last decade Australia has welcomed thousands of Indian Catholics of a large Eastern rite known as the SyroMalabars.

Most of the India priests who have served in this diocese have been of the Syro-Malabar rite which is in full communion with Rome.

Syro-Malabar Catholics, also called “St Thomas Christians”, trace their origins and faith to the missionary efforts of St Thomas the Apostle, who landed at Kodungallur in Kerala, India, in 52 AD. With a shortage of priests in many dioceses, many Australian bishops have also pioneered bringing to Australia Syro-Malabar priests and Sale Diocese was among the first.

In the hope of providing a permanent presence and pastoral care to Syro-Malabar Catholics, the Pope has established the new Eparchy of St Thomas the Apostle of Melbourne (Australia), and has appointed Bishop Bosco Puthur as its first “Eparch”.

The formal establishment of the new diocese for Australia and the installation of the first Eparch will take place on March 25 at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne, in the presence of Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry, Apostolic Nuncio to Australia Archbishop Paul Gallagher, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference Archbishop Denis Hart, and many bishops and people of God. Archbishop Hart said, “I welcome Bishop Bosco Puthur as the first Bishop of the St Thomas Catholics in Australia, and I look forward to working with him as a colleague in Melbourne, while he has care of his brothers and sisters through the whole country.”

Fr Francis Kolencherry is a Syro-Malabar priest residing in the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. He has been appointed Vicar General of the new eparchy.

“The Catholic Church considers that the advent of new cul-

Bishop Bosco Puthur tures, and new rites of liturgy can only add to the richness of the Church in Australia”, said Fr. Francis.

“Today the total number of Syro-Malabar Catholic faithful in Australia is approximately 40,000, spread across 18 active communities.”

“Preparations are well underway to receive and install Bishop Bosco Puthur, and his appointment is a source of joy among the Syro-Malabar faithful in Australia.”

Bishop Puthur was born on 28 May 1946 in Parappur, India.

He has a Licentiate in philosophy and studied at the Pontifical College Propaganda Fide in Rome, where he gained a Licentiate and Doctorate. He speaks English, Malayalam and Italian.

Bishop Puthur has served as a

Rector and Lecturer at a number of Indian Seminaries as well as directing a Liturgical Research Centre in Kakkanad.

He has worked as Vicar General of the Archeparchy of Trichur, Kerala, and has extensive parish and pastoral experience.

Bishop Puthur was consecrated Bishop on 13 February 2010, and has served in the curial office of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly.

The Syro-Malabar Church is the second largest of the 22 Oriental (Eastern Rite) Catholic Churches in full communion with the Church in Rome, and one of four having in common the East Syrian Liturgical tradition. It is a Sui iuris (i.e. autonomous) Church governed by a Synod of Bishops headed by a Major Archbishop.

While the majority of Roman Catholics belong to the Latin Rite, the Eastern Rite provides a unique dimension to Catholic heritage and spirituality.

Each of these communities profess the same beliefs and they are all united as one Church, yet differences in culture, language and geographical location, over time, have influenced the expression of their faith.

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Catholic Life, February 2014 - Page 11

Quick calendar

Will your gift BE USED WISELY?

What’s on & when FEBRUARY

18 – Central Region meeting, 7.30pm, Trafalgar 18 – East Region meeting, 10.30am, Omeo 25 – Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting, 9.30am, MacKillop Room, St Michael’s, Traralgon 27 – Valley Region meeting, noon, St Michael’s, Traralgon 28 – 4WD weekend leaves Newry 6pm

MARCH 4 – Launch of Project Compassion Appeal 5 – Ash Wednesday 10 – Labor Day public holiday 12 – South Region meeting, 11.15am, Leongatha 14 – Valentine’s Day 17 – St Patrick’s Day 19 – St Joseph 24 – Deadline for April Catholic Life 25 – Annunciation 25 – Mass for Families, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, 7pm, preceded by Rosary 6.30pm

APRIL 2 – Catholic Life published 4 – 1st Term holidays begin 4-5 – Unwind retreat for Year 11 and 12 students, Rawson 6 – Daylight saving ends (turn clocks back 1 hour) 13 – Palm Sunday 18 – Good Friday 18 – Annual collection for Holy Places 19 – Holy Saturday Easter Vigil 20 – Easter Sunday 21 – Easter Monday public holiday 22 – 2nd Term begins 24 – Valley Region meeting, noon, Morwell parish centre, Wilson St 25 – Anzac Day public holiday 25 – St Mark 27 – Canonisation of John Paul II and John XXIII 27 – Divine Mercy Sunday 29 – St Catherine of Sienna

MAY Trinity Families appeal month (formerly Bishop’s Family Foundation) 11 – Mother’s Day 11 – Education of Seminarians Bursary Fund collection 13 – East Region meeting, 10.30am, Lakes Entrance 20 - Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting, 9.30am, Room 58, Sion House, Warragul 20 – Central Region meeting, 7.30pm, Warragul 24 – Our Lady Help of Christians 26 – Deadline for June Catholic Life

JUNE 1 – Ascension 4 – Catholic Life published 6-7 – Emmaus Spirituality Centre promotional weekend 8 – Pentecost 9 – Queen’s Birthday public holiday 11 – South Region meeting, 11.15am, Leongatha 15 – Trinity Sunday

19 – Valley Region meeting, noon, St Kieran’s church meeting room, Moe 22 – Corpus Christi Sunday 24 – Nativity of St John the Baptist 27 – 2nd Term holidays begin 27 – Sacred Heart of Jesus 29 – Sts Peter and Paul 29 – St Vincent de Paul annual Mass for the Poor Appeal

There are many worthwhile charitable appeals but unfortunately there are others which give little value for your hard-earned donation. Some of the larger, legitimate charities regularly spend more than half of what they raise in promotion which also erodes the value of your giving.

JULY Peter’s Pence collection month 5 – St Thomas the Apostle 14 – 3rd Term begins 22 – St Mary Magdalene 31 – St Ignatius of Loyola

Many organisations appealing for your help do not have Australian Tax Office Deductible Gift Recipient status and therefore you cannot claim a tax deduction.

AUGUST Annual CatholicCare appeal 5 – Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting, 9.30am, MacKillop Room, St Michael’s, Traralgon 6 – The Transfiguration 8 – St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 11 – Deadline for August Catholic Life 11 – St Clare 12 – East Region meeting, 10.30am, Bairnsdale 12 – Central Region meeting, 7.30pm, Drouin 15 – The Assumption 20 – Catholic Life published 21 – Valley Region meeting, noon, Lumen Christi Hall, Churchill 27-28 – Catholic Women’s League state conference, Warragul Arts Centre 28 - St Augustine of Hippo

Trinity Families invests your donations wisely and uses the proceeds to support programs which aid families in this region. Struggling families need to access services such as drug, alcohol, family and relationship counselling, youth services, family support, bereavement support, suicide prevention, emergency accommodation, assistance for at-risk adolescents – and the list goes on!

Trinity Families is there year after year, providing much needed finance to charities which run programs for our needy families.

So far we have distributed more than $1 million to the cause.

SEPTEMBER 7 – Priests’ Welfare Foundation annual Father’s Day collection 7 – Father’s Day 13 – St John Chrysostom 14 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross 19 – 3rd Term holidays begin 21 – St Matthew 27 – St Vincent de Paul 27 – AFL Grand Final

Please donate generously to Trinity Families.

Trinity FAMILIES

or phone 5622 6688 for details of how to make a direct transfer of funds

OCTOBER 1 – St Therese of Lisieux 4 – St Francis of Assisi 5 – Daylight saving begins (turn clocks back 1 hour) 5-19 – Extraordinary Vatican synod on the family.

6 – 4th term begins 6 – Deadline for October Catholic Life 15 – Catholic Life published 15 – St Theresa of Avila 18 – St Luke 19 – Mission Sunday Appeal 22 – South Region meeting, 11.15am, Leongatha 26 – Valley Region meeting, Noon, St Mary’s Church meeting room, Newborough 28 – Sts Simon and Jude

NOVEMBER 1 – All Saints 2 – All Souls 4 – Melbourne Cup public holiday 9 – Dedication of the Lateran Basilica 11 – Remembrance Day

Send your donations to: Trinity Families, PO Box 1410 WARRAGUL 3820

All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale Charitable Fund ABN 51 486 581 500

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Page 12 - Catholic Life, February 2014

St Valentine's Day a celebration of loving couples THIS Friday is a popular day for those who are romantically minded. In our secular society, many people are unaware that St Valentine’s Day is based on a legendary saint who was believed to have been a priest living in the third century in Rome under Emperor Claudius II. It is said that St Valentine was martyred for performing secret weddings against the decree of the Emperor.

It was his compassion for young couples in love that earned him the title of patron of lovers.

In the Catholic Church we celebrate not only the love shared by those couples among us, but also the love of the Great Lover, Jesus Christ, who invites us to join him in an everlasting covenant, an eternal love union that is reflected in the love of each and every dedicated married couple.

Many parishes across the diocese held short celebrations last weekend as a prelude to St Valentine’s Day in which couples were blessed and in some cases married couples renewed their wedding vows.

St Valentine’s Day is a popular event in the secular community with a vast commercial industry backing it, particularly for florists. More flowers are purchased on Valentine’s Day than any other day in the year.

It is worth remembering however, that St Valentine was a real person who apparently had quite a heart for young couples. When the Emperor Claudius II banned all weddings so as to more effectively recruit single young men into his army, Valentine risked his life to marry young couples in secret. He used his resources to shed light into the despair of these desperate couples.

We know that as a sacrament, marriage also is a light;

it illuminates an aspect of God that is fundamental to our understanding. Marriage helps us to ‘see’ the loving intimacy between the Father, Son and Spirit.

It is a great mystery, but we can start to understand it, by reflecting on the union between a husband and wife.

Marriage is a gift from God and God calls you to be a ‘light to the world’ – a beacon of hope witnessing to the reality of the intimate union of Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the living manifestation of Love and source of all love in the world.

That’s why it’s so vital for us to acknowledge the significance of marriage in our community. It’s also important for couples to be committed to deepening their love and understanding of their sacrament. One way to do this is through developing a habit of couple prayer.

It’s not easy to make time for God in our busy lives, especially when you have young children. And if it’s hard to make time for personal prayer, it’s even harder to make time for couple prayer.

However, I really want to encourage you to try it.

Your couple prayer time doesn’t need to be long or complicated – even just the Lord’s Prayer a few times a week is a start. Then gradually increase it.

The saint behind the day a small mystery ST Valentine is a bit of a mystery and while the experts agree that he existed, it is possible that there may have been several Valentines who were martyred in the early days of the Church and their stories may have been woven into one.

The most popular theory is that Valentine was a Roman priest martyred during the reign of Claudius II. He was arrested and imprisoned upon being caught marrying Christian couples and otherwise aiding Christians who were at the time being persecuted by Claudius in Rome.

Helping Christians at this time was considered a crime. Claudius took a liking to this prisoner – until Valentine tried to convert the Emperor – whereupon this priest was condemned to death.

He was beaten with clubs and

stones; when that failed to kill him, he was beheaded outside the Flaminian Gate. Various dates are given for the martyrdom or martyrdoms: 269, 270, or 273 AD. A slight variation to the story describes St Valentine as the former Bishop of Terni, a city in southern Umbria, in what is now central Italy.

While under house arrest he is said to have restored the sight of a judge’s adopted blind daughter. The judge freed all the Christian inmates under his authority, and was baptised as a Christian.

In this version the emperor again took a liking to Valentine until the conversion attempt which led to Valentine being executed outside the Flaminian Gate on February 14, 269.

There were at least four other people called Valentine who

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were martyred in the early days of the church, including a female Valentina who died in Palestine in 308.

Whoever he was, Valentine really existed because archaeologists have unearthed a Roman catacomb and an ancient church dedicated to St Valentine. In 496 AD Pope Gelasius marked February 14 as a celebration in honor of his martyrdom.

This was also the day that the Roman honored Juno who was their goddess of women and marriage. The annual Lupercalia festival began the next day and it was a custom for boys to choose a girl’s name from a jar and she would accompany him for the festival. This often led to romantic liaisons.

In the early days of the festival naked youths used to run through the streets with whips but this custom appears to have subsided by St Valentine's era.

Lupercalia was one of the oldest Roman festivals and was originally associated with the she-wolf who suckled the twins and founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus.

In the early Church, Christian celebrations were often aligned with similar pagan celebrations in an attempt to stamp out the ingrained old religions and superstitions.

It can be seen from this that that the fortuitous date of St Valentine's death and his as-

sociation with marrying young couples that he was a natural to be forced into the calendar to replace Juno and the Lupercalia festival.

Queen is off to meet Pope Francis QUEEN Elizabeth will meet Pope Francis for the first time when she visits Rome in April as a guest of the Italian president, Buckingham Palace has announced.

The Queen and her husband Prince Philip will have an audience with the Pope after attending a lunch hosted by President Giorgio Napolitano during the one-day visit on April 3.

It will be the first time that the Queen, who is head of the Church of England, has met the Roman Catholic leader since he was elected in March last year.

The trip was announced the day after it was confirmed that the Queen will make a state visit to France to mark the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings on June 5-7.

The 87-year-old monarch and her 92-year-old husband have sharply reduced their overseas trips in recent years, allowing heir-to-the-throne Prince Charles and other royals to represent them.

Whatever other good things he may have done have been forgotten in time but it his association with love and marriage that continues to this day.

Death of father of Sr Mercy in Nigeria THE death occurred in Nigeria last month of the father of Sr Mercy Akoh, a Sister of the Nativity based in Cranbourne.

Edward Akoh died on January 25 and Requiem Mass for the repose of his soul was offered at Cranbourne on January 30.

Sr Mercy is one of the three Nigerian sisters in Cranbourne and has been there for the past six years.

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Catholic Life 5622 6688

Catholic Life, February 2014 - Page 13

world news ...

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Catholic charity rushes aid to help the people of Aleppo

By John Pontifex WOUNDED, destitute and sick people in one of the cities worst affected by the conflict in Syria are to receive emergency aid from an international Catholic charity amid worsening reports of crisis as winter bites deep across the region.

The aid packages totalling $290,000 being sent out by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) this week will provide medical help for the wounded, repairs to the war-damaged homes of Christians and basic aid – heating, food and rent money for people on the breadline.

This latest emergency help means that, since the Syrian crisis broke nearly three years ago, ACN urgent aid for the region has now topped $4.1 million – one of the largest aid packages of its kind since the charity began in 1947.

Amid continuing dire reports from Syria, ACN pushed through this latest aid after a desperate S.O.S. appeal from Bishop Antoine Audo of Aleppo, who described “the bombing of many Christian homes” and the urgent need to help “many wounded people” in his city, in the north of the country.

Working under Bishop Audo’s authority, Aleppo-based Sisters of Jesus and Mary are being entrusted with $140,000 to help up to 500 families in urgent need of gas and electricity for heating and cooking as well as rent money, medical assistance, food and clothing. A further $77,000 will fund repairs to war-damaged homes, shops and other businesses of Christians in Aleppo who are determined to stay in the country.

Bomb-blasted windows and doors are being given top priority for repairs.

At Bishop Audo’s request,

another $77,000 is going to help wounded people receiving treatment at St Louis Hospital, Aleppo.

In her letter of last week requesting ACN help, Sr Annie Demerjian from the Sisters of Jesus and Mary described the urgent need to increase help for suffering families both in Aleppo and in another northern Syrian city, Hassake, also receiving aid from the charity.

At a time of increasing reports of a widespread breakdown of schools and employment in Aleppo with bombing of factories and key services, Sr Annie said: “We feel the massive need to carry on providing assistance to our Christian families threatened with the loss of morale.

“The assistance will enable us to erase the families’ pain.”

This aid for Aleppo comes on top of earlier ACN aid sent through the Jesus and Mary Sisters a year ago.

Since then, the help needed has drastically increased and the number of people receiving emergency assistance from the Sisters has more than doubled.

Appealing to ACN for help, Sr Annie wrote: “Unfortunately, life has become very expensive due to the lack of materials, particularly energy. To obtain gas and diesel fuel, especially in the harsh winter, is like a dream.”

Echoing the words of Bishop Audo, she said that a key aim is to help Christians to stay in the region.

She said: “Despite the dramatically difficult situation, people still do not want to leave their homes.

“So that they are not forced to emigrate, we are trying to help them survive until hopefully this present crisis is overcome.”

Thanking ACN for its help, Sr Annie wrote: “Many people

Hint that Pope may visit Philippines MANILA - A Vatican cardinal visiting the Philippines on behalf of Pope Francis as a gesture of consolation and spiritual closeness to the population after super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) has raised hopes of a papal visit to the country.

Cardinal Robert Sarah, president of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum, said during a Mass in Leyte, one of the hardest-hit areas, that Pope Francis had said to him: “You go now because I might be going there also.”

The super typhoon hit the Philippines in November last

year.

The Pope has donated an initial US$150,000 in emergency aid through Cor Unum, and sent Cardinal Sarah to the Philippines to visit the areas affected

by Yolanda, and to extend more assistance for rehabilitation efforts.

According to recent reports

by Caritas Philippines/Nassa, the typhoon caused over 5500 deaths, more than 26,000 injuries, and almost 2000 missing persons. Around 3,8 million people, belonging to more than 851,000 families, were left homeless.

in Aleppo and Hassake, particularly women, children and elderly are expecting us – as workers of Christ – to give a helping hand.

“Without your help, we cannot alleviate their suffering in this misery that we actually undergo in Syria.”

A SOUP kitchen set up by the Church to help destitute families in war torn Syria © ACN

Pope praises consecrated life VATICAN CITY (Zenit) - During his weekly Angelus address, Pope Francis reflected on the importance of those in consecrated life, saying that a Church without sisters is unimaginable.

The Day of Consecrated Life coincided with the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple. The Pope told the faithful gathered in St. Peter’s Square that the Gospel, which recalls this event, “constitutes an icon of the gift of their life made by those who, by a gift of God, assume the traits of Jesus as virgin, poor and obedient.”

“This gift of ourselves to God regards every Christian because we are all consecrated to him through our baptism,” he said.

“We are all called to offer ourselves to the Father with Jesus and like Jesus, making a gener-

ous gift of our lives, in the family, at work, in service to the Church, in works of mercy.”

The Holy Father highlighted the lives of religious, monks and consecrated laypersons, who by their vows, belong to God and give witness to Him. He underlined the precious contribution of religious and consecrated persons, and that they are needed to foster a just and fraternal society.

“There is great need of these presences that reinforce and renew the commitment to spread the Gospel, Christian education, charity toward the neediest, contemplative prayer; the commitment to human formation, the spiritual formation of young people and of families; the commitment to justice and peace in the human family,” he said.

“But think about what would happen if there were no sisters in the hospitals, sisters in the missions, sisters in the schools.

Think of a Church without sisters! You can’t. They are this gift, this leaven that moves the People of God forward. These are great women who consecrate their life to God, who advance the message of Jesus.”

Before reciting the Angelus, Pope Francis urged the faithful to pray for those who are contemplating entering religious life, especially young people.

“We must pray that many young people answer “yes” to the Lord’s call to consecrate themselves totally to him in view of a disinterested service to their brothers, of consecrating their life to serve God and their brothers,” he said.

Growing demonstrations in favor of traditional families PARIS, Lyon, Brussels, Bucharest, Madrid, Warsaw and Rome saw demonstrations last week in favor of marriage and the traditional family and against further relaxation of abortion laws.

The mainstream media largely ignored the marches despite tens of thousands of people turning out in some of the cities.

Police said 80,000 people took to the streets of Paris; the organisers, La Manif Pour Tous (Protest for Everyone), estimated the crowd to be far higher and closer to half a million.

At least 20,000 are reported to have marched in Lyon.

The French protesters are opposed to a raft of policies under President Francois Hollande including last year’s law allowing same-sex ‘marriage’, legislation in favor of medically assisted procreation techniques for lesbian couples and in vitro fertilization, and an experimental school program aimed at combatting gender stereotypes.

Beyond France, the protesters were also marching against the Lunacek report on equality with regards to sexual orientation and gender identity. The report

calls for a new EU action plan to combat ‘homophobia’, and demanding that lesbian and gay rights should now be considered human rights. It also calls on the European Commission to promote “equality and nondiscrimination on grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity throughout its youth and education programmes” The movement against such policies has quickly grown across Europe since La Manif Pour Tous held its first march in January 2013 – an event which also drew vast crowds.

The organisation now has an office in Rome, and the protest in Rome’s Piazza Farnese coincidentally took place on the same day as Italy’s Day for Life (during his Angelus address yesterday, Pope Francis reminded those present of the day which had the theme “Generating the Future” and encouraged those committed to the defence of life from its conception to its natural end).

At the Rome rally, Jacopo Coghe, director of La Manif Pour Tous Italia, said they had gathered “to affirm that we will not be instruments of violence

and destruction.”

“We will defend the family, paying in person if necessary,” he said, adding that it filled him with “pride and courage” to see so many young people and families present. “This is the only possible future for Italy and France,” he said.

“The family is being targeted within the European Parliament, where laws that do not take into account the reality are being approved,” he continued.

“So I would like to tell MEPs in a loud voice that Italy also defends the family and marriage between a man and a woman and strongly rejects the Lunacek plan.”

He added: “We Italians, also moved by your example and by your courage, are mobilising to defend these values, we continue to support each other in this line of defence, because only the union between a man and a woman can form a stable construct that is the family, the place par excellence of solidarity and acceptance“.

Drawing on the enthusiasm of the protests, Coghe said he had “bags of hope for the future of Europe.”

Page 14 - Catholic Life, February 2014

For the Young and Young at Heart Color in the family of deer

Time for a Laugh

A TEXAN farmer comes to Australia for a vacation.

He meets an Aussie farmer and gets talking. The Aussie shows off his big paddock of wheat and the Texan says, “Oh! We have wheat fields that are at least twice as large”.

Then they walk around the farm a little, and the Aussie shows off his herd of cattle.

The Texan immediately says, “ We have longhorns that are at least twice as large as your cows”.

The conversation has, meanwhile, almost died when the Texan sees a herd of kangaroos hopping across the paddock. He asked, “And what are those”?

The Aussie replies with an incredulous look, “Don’t you have any grasshoppers in Texas”?

kitchen door, about 5m away. ”Honey, what’s for dinner?”

Again there is no response.

So he walks right up behind her. “Peg, what’s for dinner?’

“For Pete’s sake, Bert, for the FIFTH time, CHICKEN!”

THE seven dwarfs went off to work in the mine one day, while Snow White stayed at home to do the housework and cook their lunch.

However when she went to the mine to deliver their lunches, she found there had been a cave-in, and there was no sign of the dwarfs.

Tearfully she yelled in to the mine entrance: “hello is anyone there. Can anyone hear me”.

A voice floated up from the bowels of the mine: Q. Why did the emu cross “Australia will win the the road?

World Cup soccer” A. To prove he wasn’t a “Thank God” said Snow chicken!

White “at least Dopey’s still BERT feared his wife Peg alive” wasn’t hearing as well as Q. What do you call a she used to and he thought she might need a hearing boomerang that doesn’t come back? aid.

A. A stick!

Not quite sure how to approach her, he called the family Doctor to discuss AN old Australian battler the problem. The Doctor lies dying in his bed. He calls told him there is a simple over Shirley, his faithful informal test the husband wife of 60 years, and says, could perform to give the “Shirl, when we started out, Doctor a better idea about tried to buy a business in the depression, went bust: you FOR a chance to win a prize from Catholic Life, children are invited to colour in the picture above her hearing loss.

“Here’s what you do,” said were with me” and send in their entries by mid March. The winner will be announced in our next issue on April 2. the Doctor, “stand about “Oh, yes, Bruce”, she says.

15m away from her, and Then the war started, I in a normal conversational joined up, and was sent to Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Age . . . . . speaking tone see if she the front line, where I lost hears you. If not, go to 10m, my legs. You stayed with Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . then 5m, and so on until you me.” get a response.”

“Oh yes, Bruce” she says.

That evening, the wife “Then, came home, School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . was in the kitchen cooking couldn’t get a job, due to dinner, and he was in the my disability, and bought a Send entries to Catholic Life Colouring Contest. c/- PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820. den. He says to himself, farm.”

‘I’m about 15m, let’s see what happens. Then in a “Oh, yes, Bruce”, she says. normal tone he asks, “Honey, “The farm flooded, then just when we got over that, what’s for dinner?” there was a bushfire, and No response.

THIS month’s winner is So the husband moves then the drought, which ISABELLE VALENTINE closer to the kitchen, about wiped us right out: you still who is a student at Trinity 10m from his wife and stayed with me.”

Catholic Primary School, repeats, ”Peg, what’s for “Oh yes, Bruce,” Narre Warren South.

“Now here I am, in Her colouring-in of Santa dinner?” excruciating pain, about to in his workshop was a Still no response. spectacular effort.

Next he moves into the die, useless and you’re still We will visit the school in dining room where he is with me.” the next couple of weeks to about 5m from his wife and “Yes Bruce.” deliver the prize to Isabelle. asks, “Honey, what’s for “Shirl.”

Good luck with the contest “Yes, Bruce?” dinner?” this month everybody!

JAIME Little from St Brigid’s, Officer, shows off a prize she Again he gets no response. “I’m beginning to think won late last year colouring in Mary and the baby Jesus.

So, he walks up to the you might be bad luck!”

This month’s prize winner

Catholic Life, February 2014 - Page 15

Natural Family Planning course

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

THANK YOU ST JUDE. O Holy St Jude Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need.

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VOCATIONS Priests & Deacons

THE Australian Council of Natural Family Planning with Broken Bay Institute will develop an online tertiary level unit Foundations in Human Fertility to be launched later this year.

ACNFP President Sharon Young believes the course will

wanted known Candles for Special Occasions

Baptisms, Weddings, Memorials, First Holy Communions, Anniversaries, any other special occasions.

Contact Carol 5668 7219 candlesforspecialoccasions@gmail.com

Your will be done

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

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

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

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

If so please contact Diocesan Vocations Director

Fr Darek Jablonski 5133 8132

READERS please note that published prayers reflect the beliefs of those who place the advertisements. Catholic Life makes no judgement on whether these beliefs are in accord with the established theological and canonical accords and we ask readers to judge for themselves, especially in regards to suggested fulfilment of requests made in these prayers.

vocations@sale.catholic.org.au

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be a wonderful opportunity to create awareness of natural fertility.

“Training as a natural fertility practitioner with ACNFP counts towards a higher degree through the BBI and the Council is also planning a number of exciting new initiatives for 2014”, she said.

The ACNFP also discussed its support for a major fertility conference to be held later this year in Melbourne involving the three major natural fertility methods available in Australia today, and the John Paul II institute.

This collaboration will provide a high quality conference and attract international speakers.

Other issues discussed by the executive included the ACNFP’s online services for Natural Fertility Planning (NFP) clients. The website provides services where couples can register to learn NFP for avoiding or achieving pregnancy at www.acnfp.com.au.

Natural Fertility Planning is a means of achieving or avoiding pregnancy by coordinating a couple’s love making with the natural fertility cycles of their body.

Modern scientific understanding of the human reproductive system ensures that these methods are as effective as the contraceptive pill. However, because they are natural they don’t come with any of the side effects often attributed to many contraceptive approaches.

“Couples these days want healthy and natural alternatives to contraception for managing their fertility and this is what Natural Fertility Planning provides”, said Mrs Young.

“By seeing an accredited educator of Natural Fertility Planning couples are able to use an approach that is equal to or better than many of the contraceptive approaches currently available.”

ACNFP is responsible for training and accreditation of Natural Fertility Educators across Australia. ACNFP is funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing and has an official liaison with the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

Couples wishing to learn NFP to avoid or achieve pregnancy can contact their nearest centre by calling 1800 114 010 or visiting http://www.acnfp.com.au.

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Page 16 - Catholic Life, February 2014

Commendation for St Peter’s College building THE Sr Rosemary Graham Building at St Peter’s College’s, Cranbourne East campus, has won a commendation in 2013 industry awards for outstanding school facilities.

The building was opened late last year by Bishop Christopher Prowse.

The commendation was at the Council of Educational Facility Planners International awards for the Victorian chapter.

The judges’ citation for the Year 7 and 8 building noted the building comprised year level learning communities designed as flexible and adaptable spaces spilling out to collaborative learning commons with areas for individual instruction and small performances.

The building included an innovation hub for integrated learning with specialist areas for media studies, wood tech-

nology, drama and visual arts, a gallery for exhibitions and displays, and an outdoor learning performance space.

The design utilises different materials and colors to delineate learning areas with moveable walls to create a variety of meeting areas and small group discussion spaces.

The school considers that the facility has far exceeded its expectations.

CWL pilgrimage STUDENTS at work in the flexible learning spaces of the highly commended building.

Help Religious Sisters - the unsung heroines in the Church! hey smile, they heal, they teach, they comfort. Around the globe Catholic religious sisters quietly perform their dedicated and heroic service without remuneration and barely even noticed by the wider world. But in order to help others, they themselves also need to be helped, for although they are ministering angels to so many, they themselves still need their daily bread and a roof over their heads.

T

Sr Lucia a religious sister from Italy rendering assistance to the poor in Ethiopia

Each year the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) supports over 9,000 religious sisters in every corner of the globe.

Many religious congregations turn to the charity for help, not least for the formation of their precious new vocations. While many congregations in the Western world have few or no new vocations and even seem to be dying out, in other parts of the ^VYSK [OL YLSPNPV\Z JVTT\UP[PLZ HYL ÄSSLK ^P[O `V\UN HUK ZTPSPUN faces.

THE Catholic Women’s League of Victoria and Wagga Wagga is making a pilgrimage through Spain and Portugal from October 10-30.

This pilgrimage is incorporating the General Assembly of the Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations in Fatima.

Escorted by an experienced bi-lingual guide and an Australian chaplain Fr Tony Shallue PP of Myrtleford with CWL liaison officer Sylvia Neaves.

It will be a spiritual journey featuring Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Ignatious of Loyola and the way of St James enroute to attending the General Assembly in Fatima.

This is an exciting opportunity for CWL members and friends to travel in the footsteps

of the great Spanish saints and a considerable part of the Camino to Santiago de Compostela.

From there they head south to Fatima, Portugal, the revered Marian site, for the WUCWO General Assembly, which will be held from October 21-28 and then arriving back in Australia on October 30.

Catholic Women’s League members are invited to attend the General Assembly but pilgrims need not be membersthey can proceed on to further travel after a short visit to Fatima or return directly to Australia. Deposits to hold a place are payable by April 10.

Full details are available from Sylvia Neaves, email: f.sneaves@wideband.net.au or phone 5147 2629.

Friends share wedding joy

ACN also helps those sisters active in the charitable apostolate, relieving them of the daily burden of supporting themselves while they also care for the poorest of the poor, whether in the slum quarters of the great cities, in the vast expanses of the Amazon rainforest, or in the remotest regions of the African Savannah.

It is vital that the indispensable work of religious sisters in Christ’s Holy Catholic Church and throughout the missions worldwide continues. Religious sisters are the unsung heroines in the Church. ACN is therefore proud to help them in their efforts to make the world a better place, even just a little.

The average grant ACN gives to support a religious sister or novice is $300 – but whatever you can afford will be enormously appreciated. ACN forwards the donations directly to the religious superiors in charge of the religious communities and congregations.

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Catholic Life Sale

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Some of the young and vibrant Dominican Sisters from Ho Chi Minh City that ACN supports The Papal rosary designed by the Vatican rosary makers will be sent out to all those who assist this cause and tick this box.

AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED...a Catholic charity dependent on the Holy See, providing pastoral relief to needy and oppressed Churches

SUBIN Danile looks through his wedding album with parishioners from St Vincent’s, Loch.

LOCH - When Subin Daniel returned to his home town in India to marry his fiance, Princy he invited workmates from the Korumburra hospital and friends from St Vincent’s Catholic Church, Loch.

Because of time and financial constraints his invitation could not be accepted. However, following Subin’s return, parishioners from St Vincent’s decided to conduct their own

wedding celebrations after Mass on January 5.

The most unusual element of this celebration was a missing bride!

Princy, Daniel’s wife was required to return to Saudi to complete her nursing studies.

Daniel is expecting that she will join him in Australia within 6 months.

Parishioners gave Daniel a blanket as a wedding gift.