Catholic Life March 2012

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Catholic Life

Publication of the Diocese of Sale

Jubilee postmark for diocese - Page 3

ISSUE 159

Priest’s motorcycle passion - Page 5

March 2012

Salesian celebrates 50 years - Page 6

Diocese growth headache THE Diocese of Sale is experiencing a period of massive growth but with it comes the associated headaches of funding the developments.

There is an unprecedented demand from parishes and schools for funding through the Sale Catholic Development Fund.

Diocese business manager Jeff Davis said today that loans from the CDF to parishes and schools have more than doubled in less than a year.

In April 2010, loans from the CDF to parishes and schools amounted to $28 Million but today this had jumped to nearly $65 million.

He said the increased demand had forced the CDF to borrow money from other Catholic Development Funds across Australia because its deposits were not big enough to service the ever-increasing demand for new schools, refurbishing older ones and increased parish projects.

Mr Davis said many people were unaware where the money came from to build new schools.

Parishes had historically been the beneficiary of generous parishioners or purchased land on which all of our primary and secondary schools had been built.

Today, capital grants provided by government allowed the building process to start but despite this help from the government, a parish or secondary school still needed to contribute a large proportion of the cost.

He said this contribution must be borrowed by the parish or school to allow the new school or refurbishment project to reach completion.

Your gift will go on giving

This was where the CDF joined in the partnership between governments, parishes, schools and diocese.

Mr Davis said the Catholic community had deposited around $10 million with the CDF but for the CDF to be able to continue to fund the growth and expansion of schools it needed to increase its deposits.

“We are therefore asking parishioners to give serious consideration to investing with the CDF.” He said investors received a competitive rate of return on their investments which were guaranteed by CDPF Ltd, a company set up by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference for this express purpose.

“Most importantly you will making a significant contribution to Catholic education in our diocese. Investing in the CDF is one simple way in which you help further mission PRINCIPAL Tim Hogan and the St Peter’s College captains in front of the new Cranbourne East campus. of the church.”

Leggy redhead keynote act A VIVACIOUS redhead with arguably the longest legs in Australian show business will be the keynote act at a cabaret ball to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Sale Diocese.

Rhonda Burchmore will perform at the anniversary ball at Kernot Hall, Morwell on April 27.

Burchmore is one of Australia’s premiere entertainers of stage and screen and is widely regarded as one of the best performers Australia has produced.

She will perform with her three-piece backing band during the old-style all-inclusive cabaret ball.

When you donate to the Bishop’s Family Foundation you can be assured that the money will be assisting families in need for many years to come. Donated funds are held in a trust account to go on earning interest year after year. It is the income from these investments which have led to more than $700,000 being given to organisations running programs to assist families.

Send tax deductible donations to Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 508, Sale, 3853 Phone 5144 6132 for more information

Music for the evening will be provided by the 16-piece big band Bandera, formerly known as Sophisticated Swing.

During the night there will be various auctions, silent and loud, of items such as a gold fob watch, a Louis Vuitton bag, a website development package, paintings and wine.

Tickets for the evening are $125 a head which includes all food and drink.

Proceeds from the evening will aid the St Mary’s Cathedral restoration fund.

Tickets are available from all parish offices across the diocese.

Page 2 - Catholic Life, March 2012

Lent 2012 - “Repent and believe in the Gospel”

D

ear Friends in Christ, we have now begun our Lenten journey to the great Easter mysteries of our faith. We do this by recalling our Baptism.

Once again we “repent and believe in the Gospel.” (Mk.1:15)

SACRAMENT OF PENANCE Regarding the importance of the Sacrament of Penance (Confession) in our spiritual lives, may I draw your attention to a wonderful encounter the Holy Father had in recent months.

Benedict XVI visited the Roman District Prison of Rebibbia.

In an unprecedented dialogue with the prisoners, a question and answer session took place.

One question from a prisoner and the answer from the Pope are a great teaching for us all as we consider going to Confession during this Lent. (You will find the full text on Page 10 in this issue of Catholic Life) The prisoner asked why going to a priest seeking absolution for our sins is necessary when God surely absolves us if we turn to Him seeking absolution in the privacy of our homes. This is a question many ask. Have you ever asked this question?

Here is a summary of the Pope’s answer.

The Holy Father’s first point was that if we sincerely ask God’s

To God’s People in the Catholic Diocese of Sale forgiveness, he forgives us. When in repentance we seek “forgiveness of God, who is the Good, he gives it to me.”

Then the Pope quickly adds a second point that follows from the first. “Sin is not only a personal, individual thing between myself and God. Sin always has a social dimension, a horizontal one. …

I have damaged the communion of the Church … I have sullied humanity…. Thus this second dimension of sin, which is not only against God but concerns the community too, demands the Sacrament … it is an expression of the goodness of God because it shows me also concretely … I have received pardon and I can start anew.”

The Pope is so wisely teaching us of the two dimensions of reconciliation. “Thus,… hold onto these two dimensions: the vertical one, with God, and the horizontal one, with the community of the Church and humanity. The absolution of the priest, sacramental absolution, is really necessary to absolve me of this link with evil and to fully reintegrate

Bishop’s steady progress BISHOP Emeritus Jeremiah Coffey continues to make steady recovery from surgery and then a stroke.

After almost three months in the hospitals in Melbourne and Bairnsdale, he has now

DIOCESE OF SALE

moved to nursing care at Eastwood Nursing Home in the new Bairnsdale subdivision of Eastwood.

He is well enough to have had a few outings from hospital prior to his release.

Catholic Life

PO Box 183, Sale. Vic. 3853 Phone: (03) 5144 6132 Fax: (03) 5144 3855 catholiclife@sale.catholic.org.au www.sale.catholic.org.au

me into the will of God.” Let us all ponder on this important teaching of the Holy Father and act on it. Please take advantage of participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation in your parish in these Lenten days before Easter.

Find out when the Sacrament will be celebrated in your parish and make it a priority to attend.

This is a vital way of entering into the penitential dimension of Lent.

No matter how long ago you went to Confession – go this Lent! I invite you to do so. It will be a door through which you enter with the Church universal into the death and resurrection of Jesus in a deeper way as Easter approaches.

A further teaching on Lent from the Holy Father can be found in his 2012 Papal Lenten Message.

As above, the social dimension of sin is explored amongst other important themes.

THE RECEPTION OF HOLY COMMUNION In recent times the manner in

which we receive Holy Communion at Mass has been discussed in the Diocese of Sale and beyond.

The manner of receiving the Eucharist has varied over the centuries. For many years now Holy Communion is permitted to be received in Australia either on the tongue or on the hand. This continues to be our practice.

Whether we receive Holy Communion on the tongue or the hand, we must attend to this sacred moment with an attitude of the utmost devotion. We are receiving the Real Presence of the Our Lord, Jesus Christ. All danger of irreverence is to be avoided.

Especially during this Lent, let us all attend more carefully to our reception of Holy Communion. May it truly be a “com-union” with the Lord Jesus and each other.

NEW CATHOLICS Let us pray, too, for all who will become Catholics through the RCIA in these weeks in the Diocese of Sale. There are many. The Holy Spirit is alive amongst us.

Let us surrender to the GRACE of the Holy Spirit at all times.

May God bless you and your families, + Bishop Christopher Prowse Catholic Bishop of Sale

World Day of Prayer hosted LET Justice Prevail was the theme of the World Day of Prayer ecumenical service celebrated at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, last Friday evening.

It was hosted by the Catholic Women’s League of Sale.

Latrobe alley V uneral F Services

This year the focus was on the women of Malaysia and the prayers for the service were prepared by them.

Similar services were held in more than 170 countries with an estimated three million people participating.

In Malaysia they rejoice and praise God when Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and other traditional religions can be found in the same family and community.

Malaysians and their leaders are becoming comfortable with

their multiple identities and it is their prayer that all races, ethnic groups and religions will work together for religious harmony.

They pray for a just and integral development for everyone, knowing the women of all races and classes face discrimination and violence in their society.

This World Day of Prayer presented a unified voice to express their concerns to God. The theme Let Justice Prevail can be found in the words of Psalm 33.

Editor: Colin Coomber Published monthly except January.

Deadline for advertising copy and editorial contributions for next issue is Tuesday April 10.

Issues distributed free through parishes and schools from April 18.

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

Printed by Express Print, Morwell.

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Catholic Life, March 2012 - Page 3

Super-talented performer to ‘rock the kazbar’ FROM television to the big screen, musical theatre to opera, cabaret to the stage, there are few entertainment mediums that multi award winning Rhonda Burchmore has not embraced with her wide ranging talents.

Throughout her career Burchmore has made a distinctive impression on audiences with her dazzling dance steps, superb comic timing, effervescent personality and her stunning voice.

Now Gippsland fans have a chance to see her live at the 125th jubilee cabaret ball at Kernot Hall, Morwell on April 27.

She is a major star in Musical Theatre appearing in productions such as Sugar Babies (Australia and West End) and Stop The World I Want To Get Off with Anthony Newley.

She has starred in Song And Dance, They’re Playing Our Song, Lend Me A Tenor, Iolanthe, Die Fledermaus, An Evening With Sondheim, and the title role of Annie in Annie Get Your Gun.

David Atkins, featured Burchmore in his 1987 hit Dancin’ Man, and then went on to write a role specifically for her in his tap musical, Hot Shoe Shuffle.

She has also starred in Aladdin, Cinderella, Guys & Dolls, Stephen Sondheim’s Into The Woods and the 2000 and 2008 production by The Production Company of Mame.

She has played lead roles in Urinetown, Tomfoolery, RESPECT The Musical Journey of Women and she will forever be remembered for her Green Room nominated role of Tanya in Mamma Mia. More recently Burchmore was cast as Boyka in the Glynn Nicholas and QPAC production of Eurobeat. In January 2010 Burchmore starred as the Drowsy Chaperone in the MTC production of The Drowsy Chaperone with Geoffrey Rush and a stellar cast and also in 2010 she performed the role of Celia in the critically acclaimed Calendar Girls.

Her first feature film, The Wedding Party, opposite Steve

Jubilee postmark is a diocese first A TEMPORARY commemorative postmark celebrating 125 years of the Diocese of Sale will be in use at the Sale Post Office during most of May. The diocese is the first in Australia to ever have such a postmark and it is expected to be keenly sought by philatelists.

First day of use will be Friday, May 4 and it will only be available by request at the counter of the post office in Cunninghame St., Sale.

It will remain in use until the end of May and is then expected to be made available for preservation in the diocese’s archives.

The postmark has been organised by keen stamp collector Fr Michael Kalka, who is parish priest of Kew, and he intends to be in Sale on the first day to get some envelopes stamped.

The postmark was designed

by Mark Todd of Australia Post

and features a bishop’s mitre.

Fr Kalka said May had been chosen because it was in that month 125 years ago that the diocese was excised from Melbourne Archdiocese.

It was unusual for a commemorative postmark to be used for a whole month but permission had been granted

by Australia Post because May was the month dedicated by the Catholic Church to Mary and she was also the patroness of the diocese.

Nuncio to open Sion House headquarters APOSTOLIC Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto will officially open the new headquarters of Sale Diocese in September.

He has accepted the invitation to travel to Warragul to bless and officially open Sion House on September 12.

The Nuncio, representative of the Pope in Australia, last came to our diocese for the installation of Bishop Prowse in mid2009.

Construction works at the former Sion convent in Warragul

have now entered the third and final stage and are due for completion on May 18.

The old double storey building has been extensively renovated and when completed will include a lift.

Work is progressing on the main double storey northern extension.

It is anticipated that all diocesan staff, currently in offices scattered across the diocese, will move into Sion House in early June.

Rhonda Burchmore Bisley was also released in 2010.

With the release of her autobiography Legs 11 Burchmore has been touring Australia last year both promoting the book and performing in her cabaret show with the same title.

She performed for the Rugby World Cup VIP’s in Auckland and in November this year she was the guest of honor on APT’s cruise from Prague to Amsterdam.

Burchmore has released four albums, performed for US Pres-

ident Bill Clinton, sung the National Anthem at the Melbourne Cup and the Australian Grand Prix and was the entertainment ambassador for the 2004 Greek Paralympics.

It’s not all about the money!

Can you help us fulfil the mission the Church in this way?

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

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

So you see it’s not just about the money Phone 5144 4311

cdf@sale.catholic.org.au

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, March 2012

The Church needs more theologians, says Jesuit

Page 3 girls IN case you are wondering, Catholic Life has not decided to follow the long-established trend of Rupert Murdoch and his sometimes shocking English tabloids by publishing girlie photos on page 3.

While entertainer Rhonda Burchmore can now add to her list of credits that she was our first P3 girl, don’t expect to see too many more in the short term.

And while talking of redhaired female entertainers, the concert by the fabulous “Flower of Scotland” Marion Martin which was advertised in this paper late last year has been rescheduled.

The concert Hips, Harmony and Hitler was to be held in Sale in October but had to be cancelled.

Word is Martin will be back in Sale in May. Watch for the details.

Martin performs as Gracie Fields, Marlene Dietrich and Carmen Miranda, three of the songstresses who bolstered morale during the dark days of World War 2, and the show has been highly popular with seniors all over the country.

Slippery snake FARMER from out Mirboo North way received a frantic phone call from his sister who lives just down the road, asking him to come and get rid of a “yellow-bellied black snake” she had spotted in grass near her home.

Brother duly arrived, expecting the snake to be gone, but was told it hadn’t moved from the spot where she had first seen it.

A closer inspection revealed the offending creature to be no more than a discarded banana

By Debra Vermeer skin.

It may be time for some new spectacles!

Long tenure FULL marks to Adrian Corkeron of Narre Warren who spotted an error in our last issue on the story about closure of the Catholic Church at Bruthen.

He noted that the article stated Bishop Corbett opened St. Anne’s Church in 1892, and then later on it stated he blessed it in August 1982 - 90 years between opening and blessing.

No, the grey-bearded bishop did not hang around for that long – It appears we transposed the 8 and 9 when typing up the story.

We would love to say we put the error there to check if people were reading the article, but that’s not the case.

Reminds us that a priest told us recently that many years ago he used to deliberately put an error in the Sunday bulletin and his parishioners used to keenly search for it.

He continued the practice when he went to another parish but after some weeks no-one has mentioned the errors and so he asked why.

The response – “We were being polite. We just thought you couldn’t spell.”

And as for us: despite the best attempts to correct spelling erors they sometimes slip through.

We would not hide them so that avid readers can find them.

Would we?

Yarram, Foster administrator EPISCOPAL Vicar Fr Peter Kooloos has been placed in charge of Yarram and Foster parishes.

Bishop Christopher Prowse appointed him as administrator in addition to his duties as parish priest of Leongatha and Korumburra.

To assist with the added workload, newly Indian priest Fr Sabu Adimakiyil VC has been located in Leongatha.

Nigerian priest Fr Joseph Abutu is also living at the Leongatha presbytery and between them, the three priests will now serve most of South Gippsland.

Foster and Yarram parishes were administered by Vicar General Fr Peter Slater and served by priests from Sale and Traralgon, following the departure of Fr Jacob Thadathil late last year.

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THE Church needs theologians to effectively expound the Word of God in the third millennium with fresh language and new images, because where theology is weak, the Church will not be healthy, according to distinguished Australian theologian and biblical scholar, Fr Gerald O’Collins SJ But, Fr Gerald said that these fresh approaches must include a commitment to rigorous scholarship, including the study of ancient languages.

Born in Melbourne, Fr Gerald earned his PhD from Cambridge University and spent 33 years teaching at the Gregorian University, Rome, where from 1985-1991 he was also Dean of Theology.

He has been a visiting professor at universities in Ireland, the UK, the US, Australia and other countries. Fr Gerald has authored or coauthored 60 books and is a much sought-after lecturer and presenter at universities around the world.

The Jesuit scholar was the keynote presenter at a Summer School for The Broken Bay Institute in January, where he spoke on the topic of Access to Jesus as part of a ‘Faith, Revelation and Theology’ unit. He was joined by a team including one of the youngest theologians in Australia, 25-year-old PhD candidate, Dan Fleming, a BBI faculty member.

Fr Gerald said he was happy to be back in Australia, after many years living and working overseas, and to be getting out and meeting so many different people engaged in the study and teaching of theology.

“I’ve been everywhere – Bendigo, Lismore, Western Australia and other places – and you get fresh audiences wherever you go,” he said. “I’m often talking to people in education, in schools, and I’m really full of admiration for what they’re doing.

“I also did an eConference with BBI (Jesus the Christ in 2010) and that was wonderful. You’re reaching thousands of people doing that - it seems very worthwhile.

“And the people I’m working with here (at BBI) are much closer to ordinary people and educationalists, so I’m very interested to hear what’s on their minds. And I can pass on to them things I’ve learned and gleaned in the last few years,” he said.

One area of current international scholarship that he has been sharing with his students is the eyewitness testimony of the Gospels.

“After all, Jesus died and rose about 30 AD – well Peter doesn’t die until the 60s,” he said. “Some of them died earlier and some of them died later, but these eyewitnesses, they’re controlling the tradition. They’re saying, ‘no, you’ve got it wrong, I was there’ or ‘yes, you’ve got it right’. And some of these were minor eyewitnesses like Bartimaeus, somebody who was cured by Jesus. Why was he named in the Gospels? He was named really because he told that story. Or Simon of Cyrene, he could tell that section of the Passion story – that seems to be the reason why their

Fr Gerard O’Collins SJ names are there.

“So there’s a lot of interesting work being done on eyewitness testimony. I feel I can pass on things about Jesus scholarship, what’s happening there.”

Reflecting on the changes he has seen over the decades, Fr Gerald said one of the big positive moves has been the opening up of theological study to more people.

“Well, far more women are studying it, and many more lay people in general, so that’s a major change. Because theology was mainly a study for people aiming to become ordained priests – and now all sorts of different people from different walks of life are studying it, so there are a lot of pluses there,” he said.

“And I think theology is much more aware of the world, of the global village. You can’t do your Christian theology without thinking of Judaism too and Islam and so forth. I mean theology today is often taught along with the study of religions.”

Fr Gerald welcomed the modern pastoral application of theology but urged students not to overlook the more rigorous academic pursuits that underpin good scholarship.

“The one thing I suppose I’m a bit concerned about is, that about 50 years ago people were willing to spend a lot of their life in libraries, learning the languages, the ancient languages and the modern ones.

And really, I don’t think there are as many willing to do that now,” he said. “I can understand that. They find it so tough that they want to

have some pastoral ministry in their lives and so forth - a theology that’s practiced and preached. But we have to have the other people that know Aramaic and Hebrew very well and the other ancient languages, and read Spanish and German and French, otherwise it’s not the full picture. That’s a concern of mine, that tough scholarship - and that very often involves languages - is falling away.”

But, he said the growth in people studying theology was good news, because the need for theologians was as strong as ever.

“The Church needs theologians - it needs all kinds of things - but where theology is weak I don’t think you’re going to have a healthy church,” Fr Gerald said.

And, he said, theology had to keep moving forward, while always grounding itself in scripture and tradition.

“People talk about Vatican II changing things, well it did, but some of those changes were retrievals. The Second Eucharistic prayer is retrieved from the 3rd century, it’s the earliest Eucharistic prayer that we have. Those changes are often beautiful, wonderful retrievals.

“But theology that is just repetition is no real theology. I mean we have to expound the Word of God in the third millennium with fresh language and new images. The best of theology has been like that.”

A prolific author, Fr Gerald has more books in the pipeline, including a book on Vatican II and other religions, which is due to be completed later this year and published in 2013. He has also written the first volume of his autobiography, A Midlife Journey (to be published around June 2012 by Connor Court Publishing), and has co-edited a book on Christ with a group of scientists and theologians.

To advertise in Catholic Life 5144 6132

Catholic Life, March 2012 - Page 5

Childhood passion to be a priest and ride a bike

By Colin Coomber THE spark which led Fr Frank Young to the priesthood was not an inner call from God but the turning over of a motorcycle engine.

He recalls the time when as a young child on the family farm at Cloverlea, south of Darnum, he was enthralled by the Warragul parish priest visiting on a motorcycle.

He declared to his parents as the priest rode away that he wanted to be a priest so he could ride a motorcycle.

Both wishes were eventually fulfilled – getting as motorcycle licence and then being ordained a priest by Bishop Arthur Fox at St John’s Church, Trafalgar.

For many years the motorbike continued to be his preferred mode of transport, weather permitting, but failing health in recent years has slowed down the number of rides he has.

His gleaming black 900cc Kawasaki Vulcan with leather saddle bags sits in his garage next to the car but he hopes to find more time for occasional rides.

Fr Young retired on New Years Eve after 41 years in the priesthood and has decided to settle in Maffra where he was spent the past 11 years as parish priest, his longest stay in any parish.

He laughs as he recalls his childhood reason for wanting to be a priest, but said the notion of being ordained never really left him at any stage through his school years.

“The only time I had any doubts was when I saw the priest sweating under all his

vestments during Mass on an extremely hot day, and I wondered whether I’d be able to cope with the heat of so many layers of clothing.”

Fr Young was raised on the family dairy farm at Cloverlea and attended the primary school there before spending about six months at St Therese’s Primary at Yallourn.

Grades five and six were with the Marist Brothers at Warragul before he became a boarder at St Patrick’s College, Sale, for his secondary schooling.

He went straight into Corpus Christi Seminary at Werribee where he spent four years before the seminary was transferred to Glen Waverley where he spent another four years prior to ordination.

Fr Young said he still recalled his ordination Mass frequently, particularly words said by Bishop Fox – “Love what you do and do what you love.”

He said he had tried to live by the quote from 2 Corinthians which featured on his ordination cards “I will gladly spend myself and be spent on your soul’s behalf.”

For the past 41 years he had worked in building relationships with people in his parishes and serving their needs.

“I came to serve them, not to be served.”

Fr Young said the most satisfying thing was being accepted by people as both an individual and a priest.

He enjoyed being part of their journey as a friend and to the little ones, he had tried to be the image of Jesus for them.

He way a priest treated children was important because the

Bishop off to Indonesia BISHOP Christopher Prowse is off to Indonesia next week as a member of the Australian delegation to the sixth Regional Interfaith Dialogue.

He was invited to participate by then Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd.

The event which runs from March 12-15 is being sponsored by Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines.

Delegates have also been invited from Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, East Timor, Fiji, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

The Australian delegation of 10 is being led by former Am-

bassador to the Vatican Tim Fischer and secretarial support is being provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The four day dialogue will be in Semarang, Java and has the lengthy theme Strengthening Collaborative Communities to Promote Regional Peace and Security: Interfaith in Action.

As well as plenary session there will also be some sightseeing including trips to a Confucian monastery, the Grand Mosque of Central Java, Museum of Islamic History, a Buddhist temple, and an Immanuel Protestant Church.

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NEWLY retired Fr Frank Young found God through the desire to ride a motorbike. priest was their link with Jesus the Maffra and Heyfield par- are being served out of Sale and a good experience usually ishes two weeks ago and will with Dean of St Mary’s Catheled to a lasting relationship with shortly move from the Maffra dral, Fr Andrew Wise as adminthe Church. presbytery to a home in town. istrator of three parishes.

Fr Young was farewelled by Meanwhile the two parishes

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.

Page 6 - Catholic Life, March 2012

Bairnsdale priest celebrating his golden jubilee BAIRNSDALE – Celebrating the golden jubilee of his priesthood later this month is Fr Joe Pulis, SDB, a Salesian priest based in Bairnsdale.

The quietly spoken priest has been at Nagle College, Bairnsdale, since 1996 where he has co-ordinated the study of languages.

Although he turns 80 later this year, he still plays an active role in the school where he teaches Japanese and Italian to senior classes.

For the past three years he has taught Japanese part time and helped students in senior classes with their conversational Italian.

Fr Pulis was born in Sliema, Malta in 1932 and his early faith formation involved several different religious orders.

He lived in a Franciscan parish, went to Mass every day with the Carmelites, attended a De La Salle Brothers school and attended the Salesian Oratory from about seven to age 16 after which he came to Australia.

He said he found the Salesian charism to be caring and loving and he liked the way the priests were always working to inspire students, so it was the Salesians to whom he was drawn.

At the invitation of superior of the Salesians in Australia, Maltese-born Fr Joe Ciantar, he arrived in Australia in 1948 to study with the Salesians and eventually join them.

His parents and two brothers came a year later and his father, who had joined the Royal Air Force in World War 2, was able to serve out the final year

in Australia.

Fr Pulis entered the novitiate in 1951 and made his religious profession 60 years ago in January 1952.

Following this he studied philosophy and teacher training in Australia, before being sent to Italy at the end of 1958 to study theology and he was eventually ordained a priest there on March 25, 1962.

He returned to Australia and taught at Salesian College, Chadstone until the end of that year and did a pastoral course which involved assisting on weekends at Yallourn and Trafalgar.

His teaching career took him to various Salesian schools around Australia but it was while at Chadstone from 19821996 that he realised the need for more Australians to learn Japanese.

He introduced the language to the school and obtained another degree majoring in Japanese Language and Asian Studies.

His role was reversed when he taught English to Japanese students at the Salesian Polytechnic in Tokyo during 1994.

When he arrived at Nagle College he was the LOTE coordinator and taught Japanese full-time until 2002 when his role became more part-time.

Fr Pulis said the most satisfying part of his 50 years as a priest was the relationships he had been able to foster with young people.

“It inspires me to do the good that I can with them and in response they grow in themselves and that is life-giving for me.”

Say to Jesus “Jesus, I know you are the son of God who has given your life for me.

I want to follow you faithfully and be led by your Word.

I place my trust in you and I put my life into your hands.

I want you to be the power that strengthens me and the joy that never leaves me.”

- Benedict XVI August 21, 2011 from homily, concluding Mass, World Youth Day, Madrid

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Take a journey into the deep RELIGION, we are told by many sceptics, provides simple answers to the difficult questions, an easier way of dealing with the uncertainties that assail us all in life.

Those unwilling or unable to relinquish his or her scepticism, they say, are left with the more difficult task of living with the struggle to establish some basis of meaning in life without the comfort of religious formulations.

Rather patronisingly, they assert, it makes life so much easier if we belong to a system that requires continual worship of the deity that created us and who gave us a set of dogmas and instructions, so we really don’t have to find meaning or purpose – that is already defined for us.

Faith is far more than following a set of instructions, obeying the rules, putting up with hardship and sorrow in the hope that things will be better in the Afterlife.

Believing is tough! Not only does it take courage to literally put one’s faith and trust in another, to embrace the mystery of God, it is a call to the service of others, a call to work for justice, a call to reconcile, a call to be stewards of creation.

It is a call to work to make this world a better place, responding to Jesus’ teaching that He came so that we might have life and have it more abundantly – here and now.

Jesus could be pretty uncompromising in what He asked of us.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38-42) In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those

Reflections

by Jim Quillinan who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.” (Luke 6:27-31).

What a challenge! It confronts us with the question ‘why?’ Why should we do all that? Surely prayer and fasting is enough? It’s not.

Faith is not just about following rules and learning formulations, as our critics would have it, but a journey to develop a sacramental vision, a journey into mystery, a call to step out into the deep.

We respond to Jesus’ call because faith is a way of life, a way of seeing the world, a different way of seeing what happens each day, a different way of seeing each other.

Because Jesus became one of us, and one with us, when we look at each other we see God’s face.

As Jesus said, when you visited the sick or those in prison or fed the hungry, you did it to me.

Faith calls us to another way of seeing, another way of living.

Every day, we sense something of God’s presence in everything that happens and in God’s creation around us.

The reign of God has already come, Jesus said, God’s saving presence is already here, even in the dark times.

What an extraordinary claim.

People in Jesus’ time found it difficult too – weren’t the Romans still in control? Weren’t they still oppressed, wasn’t corruption pervading the rulers and even their own religion? God’s saving power is already at work, Jesus said, not in the future but right here and now.

What an extraordinary challenge

– to see the face of God in those around us, in those who love us and care for us but in those who challenge us, those who do not like us or even work against us.

We are asked to turn the other cheek, even to them.

Faith calls us each day to have courage and journey ‘into the deep’.

When Jesus told his disciples to throw out their nets over the side after a long, tiring and fruitless night of fishing, He asked them to trust him, to have faith, to act without certainty, without knowing all the consequences.

There is no safe way of being a Christian, no easy way to follow Christ.

It takes courage to respond to Jesus’ invitation to step out into the deep, to get beyond our comfort zone, to look beyond ourselves, beyond the formulas and dogmas no matter how important they may be and turn the other cheek, to give when it really hurts, to visit the lonely, the sick, the poor, those whom society may have rejected, to try to see the world through other’s eyes.

So when people look at us today, what do they see? People of imagination and courage? People with a compelling story which is told in word and in action?

Not a gullible people, as our critics would have, looking for certainty, looking for the easy way out but people who have experienced the presence and love of God and want to share it with others and people who join in the astonishing prayer of the father of the epileptic boy who prayed, ‘I believe, help my unbelief’ (Mk9:24) but also people who have heard Jesus’s words to Jairus before he raised his daughter, ‘Do not fear, only believe’ (Mk 5:36).

Catholic Life, March 2012 - Page 7

Salesian bishop is appointed to Perth vacancy THE appointment of Melbourne Auxiliary Bishop Tim Costelloe SDB as the next Archbishop of Perth leaves two

vacancies for bishops in Melbourne Archdiocese.

The other vacancy was caused the installation of Bish-

op Les Tomlinson as Bishop of Sandhurst last week, replacing Bishop Joe Grech who died 14 months ago.

Bishop Costelloe, 58, will be installed as Archbishop of Perth at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth, on March 21.

He replaces Archbishop Barry Hickey who reached the compulsory retirement age of 75.

Bishop Costelloe was born in Melbourne and was ordained a Salesian priest by Archbishop Sir Frank Little in 1986.

He was ordained an auxiliary bishop for Melbourne in June

2007.

The latest two vacancies created in Melbourne by having two auxiliaries promoted to other dioceses adds to the large number of bishops positions in Australia awaiting appointments by Pope Benedict XVI. Wilcannia Forbes Diocese has been waiting several years since the shock resignation of Bishop Chris Toohey but delays there could be caused by discussions on the viability of the NSW outback diocese.

Already turned 75 are Bishop of Ballarat Peter Connors, Archbishop of Brisbane John

Battersby, and Archbishop of Hobart Adrian Doyle.

On top of these Toowoomba is vacant following the forced resignation of Bishop Bill Morris last year.

Two more bishops to reach retiring age this year will be Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett of Lismore and Bishop Brian Heenan of Rockhampton.

From 2013-16 nine more bishops will reach retiring age including Archbishop of Sydney Cardinal George Pell and Archbishop of Melbourne Dennis Hart.

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Page 8 - Catholic Life, March 2012

A challenge ahead in analysing Gonski report I WRITE this in the midst of turbulent political times.

The Prime Minister has just won a spill of leadership in the Labor Party and, thus, in our government. Who knows what the political landscape will look like by the time this article is being read in Catholic Life?

It is a pity that this turmoil has coincided with the release of the most serious study into school funding that we have had in decades.

It has been quite apparent that Catholic Education, along with all other sectors, were nervous about possible outcomes this report might bring. As it turns out, Mr Gonski and his panel have produced a report that provides an interesting theoretical model but one that will need very careful scrutiny. Indeed, it may prove difficult for Catholic

schools.

He has acknowledged the fact that education is about far more than NAPLAN results; he has respected Catholic and other Government schools; he has respected our strong and effective systems; he has addressed disadvantage across many aspects of life and he has offered the promise of putting an end to the “us” versus “them” debate.

He has, however, left a large number of big questions unanswered. Just how the various elements of his formula will be calculated remains of critical importance.

There are still questions, too, about how future funding increases (indexation) will be built in. Most importantly, he has not addressed precisely how national and state governments would come together in

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with Talking Peter Catholic Ryan Education new ways to share the cost of improving education throughout the country. Nor did he suggest how governments might find the $60 billion (in 2009 dollars) over 12 years that he believes necessary for our system to be “fixed”.

He did, however, provide us with a theoretical framework on which to build. That framework is something that we have never had before in Australia. It carries great potential.

The report would have left significant challenges, even for a strong and stable government.

It is a great pity that it now runs the risk of being lost in the smoke of a leadership battle, though, as I said, that smoke may (or may not) have cleared by the time you are reading this.

But, politics and details aside, the report contains much of which we, as Catholic schools can strongly identify.

His acknowledgement of the strength of the Catholic sector and its current structures is welcomed. Our schools, too, are very much in line with his call for a constant improvement of student outcomes.

Reflect On Your Life

On page 21 of his report he writes “Australian schooling needs to lift the performance of students at all levels of achievement, particularly the lowest performers … for Australian students to take their rightful place in a globalised world, socially, culturally and economically they will need to have levels of education that equip them for that opportunity and challenge.”

That aim is high on the agenda of every one of our Catholic schools.

The report also provides us with a strong emphasis on equity and gives a high emphasis to the need for fair funding for students with disabilities wherever they are at school.

On another level, the Gonski report reminds us that, although it has been required to concentrate on things that can be easily measured, education is about far more than test results.

The report says “the panel recognises that education is about much more than [test results]. In Australia, schools aim to promote the intellectual, physical, social, emotion-

al, moral, spiritual, acetic and wellbeing of young people as well as ensure the nations ongoing economic prosperity and social cohesion.

Many parents consider that while providing outstanding education must be the key focus of schools, the ability of the school to foster these broad outcomes is also important. (page 19) There are many other such positive and encouraging passages, passages that fit so comfortably with Catholic Education and philosophy that defines “the development of the human person, in the light of Christ, is the goal of the Catholic school.”

The Gonski report has been a long time coming, it is an important piece of work with many positive elements. It provides a framework on which we might move forward.

It provides potential for a much stronger funding structure that will lead to improved outcomes across the board. But, certainly there are elements that need much further study. But, it would be a pity if we were not given the opportunity to see it working because of the amount of political smoke in the air around us.

Children learn origins of Shrove Tuesday

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SR Elizabeth Roberts MFIC talks to Grade 5/6 students at St Gabriel’s Primary School about Shrove Tuesday and Lent.

TRARALGON - Children in Year 5/6 at St Gabriel’s were recently visited by Sr Elizabeth Roberts MFIC to discuss the significance of Shrove Tuesday and the beginning of the important season of Lent.

Students heard of the traditions of Shrove Tuesday including times when cupboards were ‘shriven’ of sugar, eggs, milk and fats in preparation for Lent, the season of penance and fasting.

The children were treated to pancakes with all the toppings to celebrate Shrove Tuesday.

Catholic Life, March 2012 - Page 9

Newest school campus opens in growth corridor

By Regina T Abraham CRANBOURNE EAST – The newest secondary college campus in Sale Diocese has been officially opened and blessed.

The new campus of St Peter’s College, sits in a beautiful new estate of Selandra Rise at Cranbourne East.

There was a good attendance from the principals of the neighboring Catholic colleges and parish priests from the west end of the diocese, showing their support The conception for this project in 2002, initially had a plan to have a campus for the year levels seven to 10. This plan was developed when Fr Herman Hengel was the canonical administrator of St Peter’s and the late Terry Feely was principal.

The land was purchased in June 2010, during the time of Fr Andrew Wise and the first stage works began a few months later.

Some of the plan highlights of this new venture were environmentally sustainable building concepts and the utilisation of these concepts in the classroom environment.

There is also an environmental focus which included the use of natural light, use of natural ventilation, water harvesting, recycled water, solar energy and internal light sensors.

The construction ensures that there is a smooth flow in the building from one learning area to another for the convenience

of the students.

A historic batch of Year 7 students started on February 3, 2011 at the main west campus before moving to the Cranbourne East campus at the start of term four.

The opening and blessing function was arranged to perfection, with Liz Hanney as master of ceremonies. The students exhibited their extraordinary talents entertaining the crowd with their singing, including some songs written by students.

The official party for the opening on February 24 were Bishop Christopher Prowse, Member for Holt Anthony Byrne, MHR, canonical administrator and parish priest Fr Denis O’Bryan, director of Catholic education Peter Ryan, college board chairman Robert Carboon, principal Tim Hogan, campus head James Roberts, and school captains, Skye Brennan and Tyson Tifere.

Bishop Prowse in his homily was very inspiring to the students, drawing repeatedly on the school motto, “Be not afraid�

He gave the students the example of their school namesake and patron St Peter the Apostle, who, as long he had his eyes fixed on Jesus, could walk on water.

Jesus led us today, he said, in the person of the bishop and priests.

He said, “May this statement of faith that we are mak-

Faith

...

THE official party pictured after the blessing and opening. ing today; the opening of a new and principals and their show of school here in this pioneering solidarity. suburb, be a statement that we He also acknowledged the want to plant Christ in all that late Terry Feely for all his work we do and say. We are Catholic on this project. missionaries.

Mr Byrne mentioned that he “We want to bring the fra- was a recipient of the Catholic grance of Christ in to all that education system and it gave happens here. We want this pre- him the set of values that helped cious seed of faith to be grown him with his decisions throughand transform our humanity out his life. and our culture into something He was happy to see this proworthy of the Gospel of Jesus. ject come to fruition and he “New suburbs and Austral- considered it an honor to be at ian life will become sterile and the opening. ultimately boring without the Mr Hogan acknowledged religious dimension of life and the 150 years of the Catholic we are totally certain and con- Church of St Agatha’s at Cranvinced that without Christ life bourne and the two parishioners is diminished and humanity is from the original church who threatened.� were present at the 150 year Mr Ryan said that this was a celebrations. significant project with potenHe acknowledged the piotial for much more. He appreci- neering work of Bishop Corbett ated the presence of the priests and Bishop Lyons in the estab-

Learning

...

lishment of schools and also acknowledged the work of Mr Feely.

He was grateful for the direction given by Bishop Prowse both spiritual and practical wisdom.

Mr Hogan gave praise to the contributions of the Catholic Education Office, the community of St Peter’s and their parents since 1987, the City of Casey, the architects Smith and Tracey and the school leadership team led by James Roberts and the business manager Phillip Mustey who assisted in so many ways for the project to be completed.

He called upon the students to take these opportunities offered to them and in turn to give back to the community.

Growth

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Page 10 - Catholic Life, March 2012

Pope Benedict’s clear teaching on absolution The Pope responded “Yes, you are asking me an important and true question. I would say two things.

“The first: naturally if you kneel down and with true love for God pray that God forgives you, he forgives you. It has always been the teaching of the Church that one, with true repentance – that is not only to avoid punishment, difficulty but for the love of Gods – asks for forgiveness, he is pardoned by God. “This is the first part. If I

honestly know that I have done evil, and if love for goodness, a desire for goodness is reborn within me, repentance for not having responded to his love, and I ask forgiveness of God, who is good, he gives it to me.

“But there is a second element: sin is not only a ‘personal’, individual thing between myself and God. Sin always has a social dimension, a horizontal one.

“Even with my personal sin, even if perhaps no-one knows it, I have damaged the comGPYR MDFT3784_CL

THE Pope has given a clear teaching on the absolution of sins in an answer to a question from an inmate at an Italian Prison he visited.

The inmate, Gianni, said he was taught that the Lord sees and reads inside us and he wondered why absolution was delegated to priests.

“If I asked for it on my knees alone in my room, turning to the Lord, would he absolve me?

Or would it be another kind of absolution? What would the difference be?”

munion of the Church, I have sullied humanity, And therefore this horizontal dimension of sin requires that it be absolved also at the level of the human community, of the community of the Church, almost physically.

“Thus, this second dimension of sin, which is not only against God but concerns the community too, demands the Sacrament, and the Sacrament is the great gift in which through confession, we can free ourselves from this thing and we can really receive forgiveness in the sense of a full readmission to the community of the living Church, of the Body of Christ.

“And so in this sense, the necessary absolution by the priest, the Sacrament, is not an imposition – let us say – on the limits of God’s goodness, but, on the contrary, it is an expression of the goodness of God because it shows me also concretely, in the communion of the Church, I have received pardon and can start anew.

“Thus I would say, hold on to those two dimensions: the vertical one with God, and the horizontal one, with the community of the Church and humanity.

“The absolution of the priest, sacramental absolution, is necessary to really absolve me of this link with evil and to fully reintegrate me into the will of God, into the vision of God, into his Church, and to give me sacramental, almost bodily, certitude: God forgives me, he receives me into the community of his children.

“I think that we must learn how to understand the Sacrament of Penance in this sense: as a possibility of finding again, almost physically, the goodness of the Lord, the certainty of reconciliation.”

Serra Golf Day in April

DEFENCE FORCE CHAPLAINS GO WHERE YOU’RE NEEDED

THE annual Serra Golf Day and dinner will be held on April 2 at Sale Golf Club, Longford.

Serra Club members and Catholic religious will compete for the Fr Frank Carroll Shield which is expected to be hotly contested as always.

Individual honors for the best overall score of the day will be rewarded with the Neville McLeod Plaque.

Although originally a Catholic event, in recent years clergy from other denominations have been encouraged to join in and so the Catholic and non-Catholics contest the Jeremiah Coffey Perpetual Trophy.

There will also be individual events for Serrans, Friends of Serra, Ladies, Catholic religious and non-Catholic religious.

The golf and dinner that evening is presented free to clergy and religious and it is not essential to attend both events.

A light lunch will be served at 11.30am, followed by a shotgun start at 12.15pm.

Golfers wanting to participate should contact Reg Carmody 5144 3349 or 0427 443 349, or Alan Wyatt 5143 0454 or 0409 449 104.

Catholic Life, March 2012 - Page 11

St Agatha's parish heralds 150 years

By Regina T. Abraham CRANBOURNE - St Agatha’s Parish celebrated 150 years of the Catholic Church in Cranbourne in a very grand manner.

The celebration began with Mass and at the start, Fr Denis O'Bryan introduced the parish community to siblings Frank Bolch and Pat Stanley, who were baptised in and were members of the original weatherboard church of St Agatha’s (1861-1929).

At the opening of the second brick church in 1929 on High St., Frank was only nine and his sister Pat was five.

The community gave them a warm welcome and everyone was thrilled to have met the “Parish Treasures”.

At the end of Mass the whole community processed, carrying the decorated statue of St Agatha around the church and into the new and bigger school hall.

The parish has always celebrated the Feast Day Mass followed by a multicultural lunch.

This year too, the various groups representing the people of Samoa, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Africa, Mauritius, Italy, Poland and Australia, hosted stalls featuring their culture and served the cuisine of their country.

THE anniversary cake featuring pictures of the three St Agatha's churches.

The stalls fed over 600 people with plenty of food left over to take home.

The youth put on a play dramatising the life of the St Agatha to honor her and make her suffering for Christ known in the community.

A highlight of the day was having Pat Stanley and Frank Bolch cut the celebratory cake and answering a few questions on the memories they had of the old churches on High St. The Filipino community entertained the crowd with a bamboo band.

The day was a pleasant and welcoming one for all, especially the visitors to Cranbourne.

The spirit of St Agatha’s still is, as it was 150 years ago, with a strong sense of community and people generously sharing their talents and time; a people who are proud to be part of a Church that is enriched with a history of 150 years.

FRANK Bolsch and Pat Stanley cut the 150th anniversary cake.

The brother and sister were baptised in the original St Agatha's Church.

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CRANBOURNE youth who dramatised the life of St Agatha for the celebrations.

What happens when your financial adviser leaves?

THE financial advisory industry is notoriously mobile, with advisers changing firms regularly, and firms coming and going, too. This is especially so in the bigger cities, but not so prevalent in country towns.

Here you will see more often that the financial planning business changes licences, and deals through a different group.

It is in the cities where there is far greater scope.

In any dealing and advisory relationship there are three parties – the client, the adviser and the advisory form or licensee.

The interwoven relationship provides the basis for the client success, or otherwise.

I have said in earlier articles that the level of service provided is rated as a greater factor that the cost by clients in them judging their adviser. But is this service driven by the adviser of the firm? In reality it’s a combination of both.

This raises the question, though, for clients of what to do when their adviser changes firms. Do they follow the adviser or do they stay with the firm?

What will be best for them and what is their obligation to either party?

Unless a client has signed a contract to have their administration done for them by the licensee or has a platform administration fee involved with a notice period or cancellation fee - and there are some – then the client is free to do what they choose.

At this point the investor must decide who’s the driver of their success, or otherwise. Is it the adviser or is it the licensee? To be realistic, I believe in most cases it’s the adviser, but not always.

An investor must look at their relationship. Are they equals?

Does the adviser care about them as people and who has provided the most or best opportunities?

Does the investor feel comfortable with the adviser and do they, all things being equal, want to go to the trouble of moving to a new licensee? Do you want to find a new adviser anyway?

The third side of the triangle is the licensee themselves. Does the investor know of them? Very importantly are they reputable?

DOLLAR$ & SENSE with David Wells

Do they have the resources to provide the necessary services to a suitable standard?

In share broking a licensee’s research can be a distinguishing feature, although it doesn’t take much time for research to filter throughout the industry. In tight times as they are now, is the licensee financially sound?

Many advisory businesses are being forced to merge due to tougher markets and financial reserve requirements.

However good your adviser is, he’s backed by the licensee who’s responsible for your money.

So what do you do when your adviser lets you know he’s moving to another licensee and wants you to move with him?

You listen to his reasons for moving and whether the move is amicable (it is sometimes) and you assess the new licensee and whether they will allow your adviser to provide a better or similar service.

If the answer is yes to these then there’s no reason to stay with the licensee and you should put up with the paperwork. After all, financial advice

is a personal thing and if you like what you’re getting from your adviser, keep getting it.

All through this process, it’s very important to remember that it’s your money and your choice, so don’t be pressured.

If you have a good adviser he won’t pressure you and hopefully the adviser to whom you’ve been allocated by the old licensee won’t either, but don’t bank on it.

Do your research and make an informed decision to stay or go. In most cases clients move with their adviser.

At some stage in their investing life, the average investor will face this choice. My longest serving client has faced it a few times, and I thank him for his loyalty.

• This report is intended to provide general advice. In preparing this advice, David Wells and RBS Morgans did not take into account the investment objective, the financial situation and particular needs of any particular person.

Before making an investment decision on the basis of this advice, you need to consider, with or without the assistance of an adviser, whether the advice is appropriate in light of your particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances.

• Do you have investment questions?

• Do you want advice that's tailored for you?

Feel free to call David Wells with NO obligation.

1800 658206 (03) 86445400 Level 28, 367 Collins St MELBOURNE 3000 RBS Morgans Limited (ABN 49 010 669 726 AFSL 235410) A Participant of ASX Group Professional Partner of the Financial Planning Association of Australia

Page 12 - Catholic Life, March 2012

Same-sex marriage Bill survey is hard to locate

By Colin Coomber THE House of Representatives is seeking public comment into the two controversial same sex marriage bills currently before it.

The standing committee does not want written submissions but is taking public comment until April 20 via an on-line survey.

And the survey is almost impossible to find on the House of Representatives website and so potential respondents must either type in the 124 character web address or click on a hyperlink on an email.

One could be excused for wondering if the standing committee doesn’t really want the survey to be found, knowing that the topic is a polarising one which could create a deep divisions between supporters and opponents of gay relationships.

The survey is not a simple yes-no questionnaire which can be easily answered because respondents need to have some knowledge of the Bills.

They are asked to provide reasons for their responses and provide comments on the legal implications of the Bills, so some homework is recom-

mended.

Two private members Bills were tabled in parliament on the same day last month.

In the first, Greens MP Adam Bandt and Independent Andrew Wilkie seek to amend the Marriage Act 1961 to remove discriminatory references based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and allowed marriage regardless of sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.

In the survey it is referred to as the “Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2012 (Mr Bandt)”.

The second Bill was put forward by NSW Labor backbencher Stephen Jones who seeks to amend the Marriage Act 1961 to enable same-sex marriages to be recognised at law the same as a traditional marriage, and places no obligations on a minister of religion to solemnise a same-sex marriage.

It is referred to in the survey as the “Marriage Amendment Bill 2012 (Mr Jones)”.

It will help readers to know something of the official position of the Catholic Church before responding.

The official position of the Church on same-sex marriage is not a new teaching, but it does

Central Catholic Bookshop 322 Lonsdale St., Melbourne (Next door to St Francis Church) Visit our Website at www.catholicbookshop.com.au

Browse through our range of books and sacramental and religious gifts, or search for specific items by author, title or keyword.

Open seven days Phone and mail orders welcome. Credit cards accepted.

Phone (03) 9639 0844 custserv@catholicbookshop.com.au

An ideal gift and a keepsake Three Springtimes: A stunning pictorial record of St Mary’s Cathedral Sale, the Mother Church of our Diocese, by Sale historian Peter Synan.

Proceeds from your purchase will aid the cathedral restoration fund.

Hardback with dust cover available from the Catholic Development Fund, Sale, Catholic Bishop’s Office, St Mary’s Cathedral parish office and selected bookshops for $40. (Mail orders incur an additional $15 post and handling charge)

r e q u i r e some explanation and pastoral reflection.

The family is well-accepted as the bedrock of society; it comes first and society follows; this has been the case for millennia. Marriage is the formal public institution of the family, fostered as such quite deliberately by the State for very sensible reasons.

Marriage provides the State with a sound and reliable formal structure for the loving procreation and careful nurturing of its future citizens.

Marriage is also a personal institution. It is the exclusive,

permanent, loving relationship and commitment between a man and a woman open to the natural possibility of procreating and raising children. It has a two-fold purpose: mutual affection and support, and the natural procreation and care-filled raising of children.

It is easy to understand why same-sex couples committed in love to a long-term and exclusive relationship would wish to share in this experience. However, extending the understanding of marriage to same-sex couples would break down both the public and the personal institutions of marriage that have stood throughout time; indeed, marriage would lose its meaning.

Whilst the Church is sympathetic to same-sex couples who wish to seal their commitment to one another in marriage, the very object of their aspirations would evaporate in their act of obtaining it.

And where else may this lead? Would the law eventually oblige: teaching homosexual preference and lifestyle in schools? Requiring ministers of religion to perform same-sex marriages? Or Church-based adoption agencies to facilitate adoptions for same-sex couples?

Extending marriage to include same-sex couples would unjustly discriminate against opposite-sex couples who are married. However, legislation that marriage is between and man and a woman does not discriminate unjustly against same-sex couples.

So that readers who wish to respond can avoid having to type a complicated and lengthy URL address, we have created a link from our diocese website www.sale.catholic.org.,au.

Click on “Same-sex Marriage Survey” in Quick Links at the foot of the page and you will go straight to the survey.

A journal to aid your prayer life A LIGHT FOR MY PATH, Scripture Prayer Journal, by Fr Ken Barker MGL, published and distributed by St Paul’s Publications, ringbound, 250 pages, rrp $19.95.

THERE are many daily scripture journals around but they are usually based on a particular season or daily Mass readings.

This publication is put together by the founder of Missionaries of God’s Love, an emerging congregation in the Australian Church.

He is well-known as a conference speaker, particularly in areas of charismatic renewal and the Young Men of God Movement.

The initial vision for a prayer journal came as a request from young people but he has produced this book which can be used by everyone, young or old, male or female, a beginner or seasoned follower of scripture.

To follow the book is a 30 week Lectio Divina journey and can be used by individuals or groups.

The book is divided into four sections The Good News, Growth in the Spirit, Disciple of Christ and Witness to Christ.

Those who use it are encouraged to prepare by calling to mind the presence of the Lord, to read the short passage slowly several times and to find a word of phrase that speaks to theme.

They are then asked to reflect deeply on the phrase and to allow it to open dialogue with God. Finally they are asked to write in their journal how the word connects with their life or maybe pen a prayer.

It is well laid out, easy to follow and as such would be ideal for those seeking more reflective and spiritual input into their lives.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF ST TERESA OF AVILA, translated and edited by Edgar Al-

Talking about Books lison Peers, published by Dover Publications, distributed

by Rainbow Books, paperback, 300 pages, rrp $19.95.

IT IS often said that modern Catholics have lost touch with the saints of old and should seek to know more of their stories.

This autobiography was first published in 1946 as part of the larger The Complete Works of Saint Teresa of Jesus (Sheed and Ward Ltd, London.)

St Teresa was a revered Carmelite mystic who lived during the 1500s.

She was beatified in 1614 and canonised in 1622 in a ceremony which included canonisation of other great saints Ignatius of Loyola and Francis Xavier.

The great thing about this book is that it is written by the saint herself and so delivers an intimate link to the great saint.

She recounts her childhood in Spain, her education, her physical afflictions and times of spiritual crisis, many visions and mystical encounters.

Her reasons for embracing the contemplative life are explained as is her theology on the four-part process of ascent of the soul from a mental prayer to divine rapture.

A mystic has a way of looking at things which is sometimes said to be “not of this world”, and so this book gives a special insight into her way of thinking, her moods, raptures and mental trials.

The book will serve as an introduction to her other writings which include Life, Foundations and Interior Castle.

Next to the classic Don Quix-

ote her works still among the most popular prose in Spain.

NOAH’S ARK: THE STORY OF THE FLOOD AND AFTER, by E. Boyd Smith, published by Dover Publications, distributed by Rainbow Books, paperback, 98 pages, RRP $26 THIS book is a reprint of one of the best examples of the early 20th century children’s book illustrator, E. Boyd Smith.

The familiar Bible story of Noah’s Ark is married with Boyd’s humorous tale of the aftermath - including his astonishing explanation for the extinction of the dinosaurs!

There are delicately colored full page paintings on every spread.

Smith established himself as a leading illustrator for the young after the successes of his first two books The Story of Noah’s Ark and The Story of Pocahontas and Captain John Smith.

Book about Noah’s Ark are published virtually monthly but if you had to select one for young readers this is it.

The words are simple and suitable for being read aloud as a bedtime story.

The great thing about this book to capture imaginations is that it goes on beyond the Biblical story.

The second half of the book it deals with the trials and tribulations of the animals as they try to settle into a new life, dividing themselves into meat and grass eaters and generally having trouble with their neighbors just as before.

Catholic Life, March 2012 - Page 13

Death of stalwart a big loss to St Kieran’s parish MOE - St Kieran’s Parish, Moe, lost an ardent supporter with the death on January 12 of Peter John Ryan following serious illness during the past 12 months.

He used his skills and talents to assist many groups within and outside the parish such as chairman of St Kieran’s pastoral council for many years; attending working bees over five

decades where he was usually first to arrive and last to leave; driver of Vinnie’s Soup Van in Moe and other areas of service; mentoring community youth and Sudanese families; designed and built aids for blind children; rebuilding and restoring all manner of horse-drawn vehicles at Old Gippsland Heritage Park; board member of Latrobe Valley Village; coach-

ing children in various sports where his emphasis was always on the importance of “having a go.”

Mr Ryan served on the tribunal of the Latrobe Valley Football League for many years and during his life actively participated in football, basketball, tennis, golf and bowls.

He was born in 1937 at Mildura and grew up with two

The miracle of O’ Cebreiro O’ CEBREIRO is a small village in isolated high country just over 100 kilometres from Santiago.

The spot has been occupied since ancient times, but this tiny hamlet 1293 metres atop the Cebreiro Pass into Galicia owes its fame to the Eucharistic miracle which occurred there in the 14th century.

Tradition has it that a weary priest was celebrating Mass in the little village church one winter´s day.

A peasant from a nearby village, having fought his way to the top of the mountain through a fierce snowstorm in order to attend Mass entered the church just as the priest was performing the consecration.

The priest insulted the peasant’s faith and ridiculed him for having come all the way to the top of the mountain in such severe weather in order to witness a “non-existent miracle”.

At that very moment, the bread and the wine on the altar were literally transformed into the flesh and blood of Christ.

I passed through O’Cebrero and made a point of stopping to see the wonder of the chalice and paten. It is astonishing that these articles could have been kept safe for so long, over 700 years.

Standing alone in the side chapel where they are still preserved I was struck by the literal simplicity of the miracle.

How does one make sense of this event for today’s world?

My mind drifted back to the evening prayer the night before at a little village called La Faba some 6km from O’ Cibreiro... for me, it is here that the real miracle of the Body of Christ took place and helps me make sense of the 14th century story.

Late in the afternoon, a Franciscan monk arrived to lead night prayer in the rebuilt church next door to the parish albergue.

The bells rang in the Spanish mission-styled bell tower and many of the pilgrims gathered for vespers.

The priest handed out the Gospel passage from Matthew about hiding one’s light under a bushel and being the salt of the earth. I took the English version and was more than prepared to read it out at the appropriate time.

After a few introductory prayers in Spanish and some quite time for personal reflection, the priest indicated that he wanted four volunteers to move forward to the front.

Thinking these four were the people to read the Gospel pas-

TRARALGON parishioner Michael Hansen continues his diary of his experiences on the famous Camino pilgrimage from France to Santiago de Compostella in Spain.

sage I promptly walked to the front and sat in a pew with three other pilgrims facing the rest of the group.

To my surprise the priest suddenly produced a large bowl, towel and pitcher of water. He bent and poured warm water over the foot of the pilgrim on the end of the line, massaged

and toes. I dried off his foot and bent and placed my lips on the skin of his instep.

A kiss is such a simple yet profound action.

Rarely have I felt such a strong connection with another person, and he a complete stranger.

Perhaps this is the deep truth

THE mountain village of O’ Cebreiro on the Camino. the toes, sole and arches gently and thoroughly, towelled the foot down... then kissed it.

It was not just a cold, symbolic kiss but a full embrace: foot held gently in two hands and the head lowered slowly and lips firmly planted.

The action passed down the line and the woman next to me washed my calloused and smitten foot and then gently towelled it down.

I turned to the young Spaniard on my left and did the same to him. His foot was somewhat swollen and his big toe nail was black. He winced once or twice as I massaged his heel

of the miracle of O’ Cebreiro ...

God is made flesh in the power of simple self giving actions: the breaking of bread, the pouring of wine and in the washing and kissing of feet.

For where is God but in the transforming power of human endeavour! All our desire for wholeness is blessed and confirmed by God and our ritual actions bristle with the Spirit of the Holy One. Nothing we do with a clean heart is lost but gathered together in a rich sign of Christ’s presence as gracious gift to our human potential.

Be of good heart for the Lord is present.

brothers and two sisters at nearby Annuello.

In his early working life on farms and shearing sheds, Mr Ryan’s thirst for knowledge led to night studies whilst raising a young family and he qualified as a local government building surveyor in the Latrobe Valley for many years. In later life he conducted his own insurance assessing business before retirement in 2001.

He is survived by Pat, his wife of nearly 52 years, and children Toni, Christopher, Jacinta, Joanne, Lisa and Nick.

A daughter Rebecca pre-deceased him.

Joining the Knights of the

Southern Cross in 1965, Mr Ryan led by example and held many branch executive positions including chairman of Moe branch on three occasions.

For a number of years he served as district chairman of Gippsland branches, and as diocesan state councillor which involved monthly visits to Melbourne to attend state council meetings.

Mr Ryan lived his life by his values of honesty, integrity, humility and was held in high regard throughout the community as was evidenced by the overwhelming attendance at the Requiem Mass in St Kieran’s and funeral at Moe Cemetery.

Passionate public speaker dies, age 92 THE death has occurred of a West Gippsland woman who was well-remembered as a passionate, articulate and community-minded speaker.

Cecilia Spain (nee Baillie) died of a stroke at Box Hill Hospital on January 30, just three weeks short of her 93rd birthday.

She was a great public speaker who was heavily involved in community activities in Iona, Koo Wee Rup and Pakenham.

She was one of 11 children, and followed her father Thomas’s love of music and community involvement.

She was a local church organist, religious education teacher for surrounding schools and was a leader in the Country Women’s League for many years.

She worked in retail in Melbourne during World War 2, then moved to Sydney in 1942.

She married Thomas Spain in 1947 and the couple moved to Bunyip in 1950 to start dairy farming.

After more than 20 years dairy farming in Iona and Pakenham South, the Spains retired to Tooradin in 1980 and then later to Pakenham about 1994.

Mr Spain died in 1998 and Mrs Spain moved to Cranbourne to live independently in a granny flat at her daughter’s home.

As a member of the St Agatha’s parish, Cranbourne, she was well known for her forthright opinions on religion, politics, her beloved Hawthorn Football Club and could found up late at night watching the tennis.

Mrs Spain maintained a high quality of life right up until her death, having travelled widely overseas.

As she played the organ right up till her health began to fail.

She thrived on the company of people and conversations recalling childhood adventures.

Late last year she moved into care at Nazareth House in Camberwell.

The Requiem Mass at St Joseph’s Church, Iona,was concelebrated by Brisbane Auxil-

Cecilia Spain iary Bishop Joe Oudeman and parish priest Fr John Allen.

The Oudeman and Spain families were neighbors and friends when the bishop was a teenager A highlight of the funeral were two Irish pipers at the service and graveside Cecilia’s musical heritage was demonstrated by members of her family preforming all the music at the service, including a rendition of Danny Boy by niece Serun.

Mrs Spain is survived by her children Richard, Trina, Michael and Stephen, 15 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren.

Centenary of St Ita’s, Drouin DROUIN - To mark the occasion of this, St. Ita’s Parish Drouin will celebrate Mass on Sunday, June 3 at 10.30am.

This will be followed by lunch in St Ita’s hall.

Any former parishioners or relatives of families who have lived in Drouin and friends are invited to attend. Please put this date in your diaries.

For further information please call the office at St Ita’s Drouin on 5625 1430 or the parish office in Warragul on 5623 1642.

I do not fear tomorrow for I have seen today

Page 14 - Catholic Life, March 2012

Nicholas Chevalier exhibition showcases Gippsland THE first comprehensive exhibition of the paintings and sketches of Nicholas Chevalier was held at the Gippsland Art Gallery, Sale, from September to November last year.

It was collected and arranged

by Simon Gregg, the Curator at the gallery. For the exhibition Chevalier’s works were assembled from a wide range of sources, including the Sale Gallery’s own collection of his works.

To accompany the exhibition Simon Gregg has written a book, Nicholas Chevalier: Australian Odyssey, published by the Sale Gallery, which reproduces most of Chevalier’s paintings and sketches, including his Gippsland ones, with commentary and catalogue.

For the first time we can get a sense of Chevalier’s work as a whole.

Nicholas Chevalier, of Swiss and Russian background, studied painting in Europe before coming to Victoria in 1855.

He visited the western goldfields, and then decided to stay, establishing himself as an artist

Gippsland History with Patrick Morgan based in Melbourne, but travelling extensively. Chevalier was an accomplished linguist and musician, with a charming and cultivated personality.

He moved to London in 1868, as he had by that stage received many royal and other commissions.

Chevalier introduced the new technique of chromolithography to Australia, a technique of reproducing paintings in color in books. An album of his most important paintings, reproduced as chromolithographs, was published in Melbourne in 1865 during his Australian sojourn. In addition his sketches were often adapted as engravings in illustrated journals and magazines.

Like his contemporary Eu-

gene Von Guerard, Chevalier painted scenes around Melbourne, in the Western District, among the Australian Alps, and in Gippsland. It is the latter which interests us here.

Chevalier’s first forays into the countryside to paint were in the environs of Melbourne. In 1858 he went on an excursion from the Dandenongs to the Baw Baw mountains with Von Guerard and the young explorer and naturalist Alfred Howitt, later a major Gippsland figure.

Howitt described Chevalier on this trip: “Chevalier - carpetbag slung like a knapsack - possum rug in front - leather bag with sketchbook - with shot and powder - grey woollen jumper, cloth trousers - old lace up boots.”

Nagle celebrates leadership BAIRNSDALE - Nagle College celebrated the 2012 Leadership Mass on February 15.

The first of the college Masses for the year brought the college community together to celebrate the commencement of the school year.

The community witnessed the induction of the student leadership team and all Year 12 students as leaders; welcomed all students and staff who have joined Nagle College for the first time in 2012, and to acknowledge the 2011 VCE academic awardees.

The celebration began with the entrance into Presentation Hall of the 2012 Year 12 students followed by an introduction and welcome by principal Neville Powles.

Mr Powles welcomed the members of the Nagle community to his first official function as the new principal, and introduced the theme for the Year 12 Class of 2012 – ‘Together we journey on a path of hope’.

The full celebration of the Eucharist was led by the principal celebrant, Bishop Christopher Prowse and assisted by Bairnsdale parish priest Fr Peter Bickley, assistant Fr Mark Godridge, and Nagle teacher Fr Joseph Pulis SDB. At the conclusion to Mass the student leadership team and the house leaders were inducted as leaders and presented with their badges of office. They were also presented with a candle as

PRINCIPAL Neville Powles (left) with Monash Prize recipient for 2011 Jake Goodluck, and Professor Alan Lawton from Monash University Gippsland. a symbol of the college motto ments of the Year 12 class of “Let Your Light Shine”.

2011.

The students joined in the folStudents who achieved the lowing leaders’ commitment: highest study score above 40 ‘As the Year 12 class of 2012 in their VCE subject were prewe commit ourselves to em- sented with the Dux of Subject bracing this stage of our jour- Award. ney and all the challenges and These were Joshua Bolitho, joys along the way. We ask for Rachael Milligan, Lance HamGod’s guidance and strength to mond, Darcy St John, Peta encourage us to walk together Wright, Michael Howden and inspired by the teaching of the Lianna Beeching. College dux Lord. Nurture us and give us for 2011 was Lianna Beeching hope, courage and faith as we who achieved an ENTER score aspire to live to our full poten- of 97.15. tial and be the best that we can Finally, the Monash Prize for be.’

2011 Year 11 Academic ExcelThe second part of the leader- lence, valued at $1000, was preship gathering was to recognise sented to Jake Goodluck. and congratulate the achieveMerit certificates for this award were also presented to Lauren Chila, Amanda Emonson and Jessica Jager. These were presented by Professor Alan Lawton, Deputy Head, Faculty School of Business and Economics at Monash University in Gippsland.

The leadership celebration concluded with a vote of thanks by the 2012 college captains, Edward Long and Caitlin Rettino.

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‘DARGO Valley Gipps Land’ by Nicholas Chevalier.

They reached the headwaters Von Neumayer wrote that of the LaTrobe River. Cheva- the Wentworth field “had been lier’s painting ‘Gipps Land quite abandoned, there remainBush’ and the sketch ‘Forest ing but two men in some gully Glade, Gipps Land’ came from or other near.”

Other goldfield scenes dethis trip.

Chevalier made a number of picted include the discovery of trips to the Mornington Penin- a quartz reef, and diggers damsula and Cape Schanck. Paint- ming a creek in their search for ings from these trips included gold.

At Dargo he painted three dramatic depictions of Castle Rock, Cape Schanck, Pulpit scenes, the best known of Rock, Elephant Rock, and the which is ‘Dargo Valley’, and nearby Barker’s Bluff. In a some sketches.

At Dargo the party was more relaxed landscape style is ‘Tea Trees and Creepers, Cape pleased to meet the explorer of Gippsland, Angus McMillan.

Schanck’.

Chevalier’s most extensive Von Neumayer noted: “From trip to Gippsland was made him I gathered most valuable from November 1863 to Febru- information respecting Gippsland and especially respecting ary 1864.

He was accompanied by the tracks in this part of the Georg Von Neumayer, a Ger- country.”

On their way back to the coast man scientist and meteorologist, and an assistant. A London Chevalier painted Lake Welcritic later wrote that Chevalier lington and produced a sketch travelled “over the unexplored ‘Entrance to the Gippsland primeval forests and mountain Lakes’. At Port Albert Chevaranges of Gippsland, return- lier left the others and walked ing with a large collection of by himself towards Corner Inlet sketches and drawings which and Wilson’s Promontory. He supplied him with an almost got lost on one occasion and inexhaustible fund of materials nearly perished.

In spite of these perils, his for subsequent pictures.”

The party made slow progress output was undiminished. He at first in entering Gippsland painted Corner Inlet, Sealers through the boggy lands around Cove, Waterloo Bay and Refthe Tarwin River. They passed uge Cove, and on the coastal through Traralgon on their road the paintings Agnes River way to King’s Snake Ridge and Franklin River.

He eventually reached the run at Rosedale. Von Guerard had painted a well-known im- Tarwin River; here he got into age of this run in 1861. At this trouble crossing the river on a stage Chevalier painted ‘Bush horse, being swept downstream at Rosedale’ and ‘Mount Baw and nearly drowning. From the Tarwin River he left Gippsland Baw from Snakes Ridge’.

The party then moved on by the same route as he had towards Sale, where Cheva- entered it. He returned to Mellier produced the sketch ‘Red bourne, arriving in mid FebruBank on the Avon River’. They ary.

Previously we did not realmoved north to the Donnelly’s Creek gold diggings, where ise how extensive Chevalier’s Chevalier drew a sketch of the Gippsland output had been, and how impressive it is. town.

For instance I find the Corner At Mt Useful in the mountains he completed three paint- Inlet paintings, which I had not ings, the best known of which known of before, outstanding.

Chevalier presents Gippsland is ‘Ferntree Gully, Mt Useful’.

Chevalier’s party then vis- as a serene landscape, with its ited the Macalister River valley, natural wilderness in harmony where he produced the paint- with the recent European overings ‘McAlister (sic) Valley’ lay.

We are all in the debt of Siand ‘Waterfall on the Serpenmon Gregg and the Gippsland tine Creek’.

Moving back south from the Art Gallery for this original mountains the party arrived at contribution to the appreciation Bushy Park; nearby Chevalier of our region. painted ‘Gipps Land Alps from Simon Gregg Nicholas Boisdale’. After painting the Mitchell River at Bairnsdale, Chevalier: Australian Odysthey moved into the mountains sey, 2011, Gippsland Art Galagain, where Chevalier com- lery, 68 Foster St, Sale, 3850, pleted one of his best known $19.95, postage $10. works ‘Wentworth River Diggings’.

Catholic Life, March 2012 - Page 15

Filipinos celebrate St Nino

Quick calendar

What’s on & when March

SALE – Filipino communities from across Sale Diocese gathered in Sale last month to celebrate the feast of St Nino of Cebu.

The feast is one of the most celebrated in the Philippines and is normally held on the third Sunday of January but the local community has moved celebrations out of the school holidays and to a time when more people can attend.

The 9.30am Mass on February 5 was filled to overflowing as the Filipino choir led the liturgy. Members of the Bayanihan Circle singing group from the local Sale community were joined by other groups from across the diocese.

Many people chose to wear traditional costumes.

At the Mass celebrated by Bishop Christopher Prowse, many statues of St Nino were brought forward and placed in the sanctuary.

After Mass a lavish spread of foods was put on for parishioners in the cathedral gathering area and then the Filipino community gathered in the Sale Bo-

tanic Gardens for an afternoon of singing and dancing with each group performing something for the entertainment.

Santo Niño de Cebú (Holy Child of Cebu) is a celebrated Roman Catholic statue of the Child Jesus venerated by Filipino Roman Catholics.

Claiming to be the oldest

religious image in the Philippines, the statue was originally donated by Ferdinand Magellan to Rajah Humabon and his wife Humamay in 1521.

It is believed to be originally made in Belgium, and is highly similar to the Infant Jesus of Prague.

April

DANCERS in traditional dress ready to perform in Sale Botanical Gardens as a statue of St Nino of Cebu is carried forward (left)

Bishop’s Diary March 7 - Meeting of Victorian bishops, Melbourne, 3pm.

March 8 - Meetings of Catholic Theological College and Corpus Christi College seminary, Melbourne.

March 9 - Mass and lunch for religious of diocese, St Mary’s Cathedral, 11am.

March 11-15 - Interreligious dialogue, Indonesia.

March 16-18 - Parish visitation, Lumen Christ, Churchill.

March 21 - Installation of Bishop Tim Costelloe SDB as Archbishop of Perth.

March 23 - Primary religious education coordinators conference, Rawson, March 23-25 - Parish visitation, St John’s, Trafalgar.

2 – Schools Clean-Up Day 8 – St John of God Memorial 9 - Mass for religious of diocese, St Mary’s Cathedral, 11am 12 – Labor Day public holiday 14 – West region meeting, St Patrick’s, Pakenham 10.30am 17 – Solemnity of St Patrick (St Patrick’s Day) 19 – Solemnity of St Joseph 20 – CWL regional conference, Korumburra 21 – World Forestry Day 21 - Installation of Bishop Tim Costelloe as Archbishop of Perth 22 – World Water Day 23 - Primary School religious education co-ordinator’s conference, Rawson 24-25 – 80th celebrations at St Joseph’s School, Trafalgar 26 – Annunciation of the Lord 27 – Reflection afternoon for diocesan staff, Warragul 28 – Ride to School Day 30 – First term holidays begin 31 - Catholic Charismatic Renewal teaching day with Bishop Prowse, Warragul

March 25 - Mass to celebrate 80th anniversary of St Joseph’s School, Trafalgar, 10.30am.

March 27 - Year 12 leadership group meeting, Warragul, 10am March 27 - Reflection afternoon and inspection of Sion House, Warragul, for diocesan staff.

March 29 - CWL east region conference opening Mass, Lakes Entrance, 9.30am.

March 30 - Attend Catholic Education Office inservice, Warragul.

March 31 - Catholic Charismatic Renewal teaching day, Warragul.

April 1 - Passion Sunday Mass, Sale April 2 - Serra Golf Day dinner, Longford.

April 3 - Chrism Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale,

11am.

April 4 - Mass for inmates at Fulham prison.

April 5-7 - Easter Tridiuum services at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale.

April 8 - Easter Sunday Mass, Sale April 11 - College of Consultors and Council of Priests meetings, Sale April 14 - 10th anniversary Mass, Tarwin Lower, 5pm.

April 15 - Divine Mercy Sunday, St Agatha’s, Cranbourne, 10.45am

1 – Passion Sunday 2 - Chrism Mass, St Mary’s Cathedral, 11am 6 – Good Friday 6 – Holy Places Collection at Good Friday services 7 – Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil 8 – Easter Sunday 9 – Easter Monday public holiday 10 – Deadline for April Catholic Life 11- Council of Priests and College of Consultors meetings, Sale 12 – Valley region meeting, noon 14 - 10th anniversary Mass, Tarwin Lower, 5.30pm 15 – Divine Mercy Sunday, Cranbourne 10.45am 16-20 – Sale Diocese clergy retreat 16 – Second term begins 18 – Catholic Life published 18 - Diocesan Finance Council meeting, Sale 18 – World Heritage Day 24 – Central region meeting, St Joseph’s, Warragul, 7.30pm 24 – Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting, St Michael’s, Traralgon, 10am 25 – Anzac Day 27 – Grand cabaret for Cathedral Appeal featuring Rhonda Burchmore, Kernot Hall, Morwell 29- Collection for Education of Seminarians Bursary Fund 29 – Good Shepherd Sunday 30 – Australian Catholic Media Congress, Sydney

May

Bishop’s Family Foundation Appeal month 1-2 - Australian Catholic Media Congress, Sydney 3-10 – Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference plenary session, Sydney 7 – Deadline for May Catholic Life 8 – East region meeting, Lakes Entrance, 10.30pm 11-18 – Bishop Prowse leading Catholic Education Office retreat to Rome 13 – Mother’s Day 14-20 – National Volunteer Week 15 – Heart region meeting, Sale Chapter House, 4pm (tbc) 16 – Catholic Life published 20 – Ascension of the Lord 24 – Solemnity of Our Lady Help of Christians 26 – National Sorry Day 27 – Pentecost Sunday 28-31 – Bishop Prowse at Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania meeting, New Caledonia 31- Feast of the Visitation of BVM

June 3 – Trinity Sunday 3 - Centenary celebration of first St Ita’s Church, Drouin, Mass 10.30am followed by lunch 4 – Deadline for June Catholic Life 5 – World Environment Day 10 – Solemnity of Corpus Christi 11 – Queen’s Birthday public holiday 13 – Catholic Life published 15 – Solemnity of Sacred Heart of Jesus 16-17 – St Vincent de Paul Appeal for the Poor 16 - Memorial of Immaculate Heart of Mary 24 – Solemnity of Nativity of John the Baptist 26 – Central region meeting, St Ita’s, Drouin, 7.30pm 29 – Second term holidays begin

July Peter’s Pence Collections 1-6 – Bishop Prowse’s personal retreat 4 – South region meeting, Leongatha, 11.15am 9 – Deadline for July Catholic Life 16 – Term three begins 18 – Catholic Life published 27 – Schools Tree Day 29 – National Tree Day

August Centacare Gippsland collection month 6 – Transfiguration 6 – Deadline for August Catholic Life 7 – East region meeting, Bairnsdale, 10.30am 8 – Solemnity of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop

Page 16 - Catholic Life, March 2012

A Page for Youth ‘Always be joyful in the Lord’

(Phil 4:4)

Pilgrims not tourists planning for Brazil WYD

By Beth Doherty BRAZIL’S most well-known tourist attraction is the huge Christ the Redeemer Statue in Rio de Janeiro on top of Mount Corcovado.

A striking symbol of the world’s most populous Catholic country, its situation and placement has a message to convey.

Mount Corcovado where the statue is placed is characterised by a rich side with mansions and palm trees, and a poor side which is a hill-side slum, heavily populated by Brazil’s poorest living in dilapidated houses.

In the 1990s, photojournalist Mev Puleo attributed travelling on an air-conditioned tour bus to see the statue as a catalyst for her conversion. She peered out the window and was suddenly starkly aware of the sheer inequality she saw before her.

As a committed Catholic, she couldn’t reconcile this inequality with her faith.

“Suddenly, the chair was too soft, the air conditioning was too pleasant, and the scenery too

breathtaking. Her eyes glanced upward to see Jesus standing with his arms stretched wide in the gap between comfort and fear.

“She feared that though Jesus had been lifted above both sides, it seemed that he had only become a convenient way to avoid looking at the needs of the poor from the comfort of affluence. So, Mev made a decision that day: she decided to change the world”. (http://thefaithlab.info/?page_id=36) The Christ statue is very much representative of Brazil, and indeed the Catholic Church. It is a symbol of the Church wishing to reach out her arms to all, rich or poor, to unite themselves with Christ.

Fortunately as Australia looks to the next WYD 2013, conditions of security and safety seem to be well and truly covered by the authorities. One Australian Bishop who has just returned from the Rio remarked of feeling quite safe during his time and that the city is “very attractive” and “full of life”.

For the fifth consecutive WYD, Harvest pilgrimages has been selected by the Australian Bishops as the Official Tour provider for World Youth Day Brazil and preparations have commenced for what might be the largest Australian contingent to leave our shores for a

ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL, SALE is in urgent need of restoration to return it to its former glory as the Mother Church of Sale Diocese.

An appeal is currently under way to raise funds for these important restoration works and to make some improvements. The first stage has been completed but much work still needs to be done.

Please donate generously to the Cathedral Appeal either at the special collection being taken up in parishes later this month or by filling in the form below

St Mary’s Cathedral Sale Appeal Post to: Reply Paid 508, Sale 3853 (No stamp required) Please accept my gift of $

towards the Cathedral Appeal

Name ..........................................................................................................

Address ...................................................................................................... ...............................................................Postcode ....................

Method of Payment (Please place X in relevant box) Cheque

Money Order

Mastercard

Visa

Card number _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

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Expiry date _ _ / _ _ Signature ..........................................................................................

single event. Harvest has been working for 21 years now and offer invaluable expertise in planning and preparing groups for a pilgrimage adventure they will never forget.

Brazil’s World Youth Day (which will take place from July 23-28, 2013) will be one of the largest projects they have ever undertaken and will no doubt, bring challenges not seen by European, American and Australian World Youth Days. Perhaps the experience would only be rivalled by Manila’s World Youth Day which saw over four million pilgrims attend the final Mass.

This said, it will likely be a true, deep and conversional type of pilgrimage for those who attend. The Catholic Culture of the country of Brazil and its South American neighbours will give it a powerful authenticity also. It will be instructive, challenging, and perhaps just what young Australian Catholics need.

Managing Director of Harvest Pilgrimages Philip Ryall is committed to giving pilgrims an authentic Christian experience as they travel to World Youth Days and preparations were underway before pilgrims even left Madrid last year.

The catch phrase “pilgrims not tourists” is frequently used, and says much about the vision that Harvest has for passing on the faith.

“South America holds a unique appeal that will draw our youth into a deeper encounter with the people, faith and cultural realities that they experience. Whether it is rebuilding a church in a poor area of Lima, praying at the Jesuit missions of Posadas or witnessing God’s creation at the Iguasu Falls, all roads will lead to the one sacred highpoint in Rio where the Holy Father will join with hundreds of thousands of youth from every tribe and nation”, he said.

Pilgrims should not expect first-class air travel, but they should expect to be moved beyond their wildest dreams.

They shouldn’t expect luxury sleeping quarters, but should expect to be warmed by the love of Christ made manifest around them.

“For us, it is not just about being a tour operator – in fact, logistics are only a very small part of what we do. We provide pilgrimage journeys that integrate the opportunity to see the world through the eyes of faith”, said Philip.

Interested in being part of the largest gathering of young people on the planet? Well stay tuned because over the next few months the Diocese of Sale will be inviting you to join us as we prepare for World Youth Day 2013 in Rio de Janeiro!

Surviving and thriving THERE are many issues to consider as a youth minister – human resources, child safety issues, and how to get both practical and spiritual support in your role.

The Victorian Catholic Youth Ministry Network aims to provide the opportunity for professional development, formation and networking for those in leadership roles in youth ministry in Victoria and would like to invite you to their first session of 2012. Hear tips from the experts on how to not only survive but thrive as a youth minister!

The “Surviving as a Youth Minister” session will be held Tuesday March 27 from 12.30pm-3.30pm at the Thomas Carr Centre, 278 Victoria Pde, East Melbourne and is free.

Paul Salmon will present “Youth Minsters as Employees”. He has been involved in youth ministry since 1981.

Fr Chris Ryan MGL will then lead an important discussion on “Supporting Yourself Spiritually and Pastorally”.

During 2007-2008, he was the coordinator of the pilgrimage of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon throughout Australia in preparation for WYD08.

Finally, Maria Kirkwood will lend share her expertise discussing “Child Safety and Risk Assessment Considerations”.

She has spent 37 years in Catholic education as a teacher, principal and administrator. For the past 18 years she has provided advice and support to the on a wide range of pastoral and professional standards issues as well as having management of staff groups.

In July this year she will move to the Diocese of Sale in preparation for taking up her new position as director of Catholic education in November.

Prior registration is essential.

Please RSVP to Teresa Wilson at the Archdiocesan office for Youth on 9412 3322 or aoy@ cam.org.au .

Catholic Life, March 2012- Page 17

For the Young and Young at Heart Time for a Laugh WE must have at least one Irish joke seeing St Patrick’s Day is coming up next weekend ...

THE French President is sitting in his office when his telephone rings.

“Hallo, Mr Teacozy!” a heavily accented voice said. “This is Paddy down at the Harp Pub in County Clare, Ireland. I am ringin’ to inform you that we are officially declaring war on you! We voted to reject the Lisbon treaty!’

“Well Paddy, my name is Sarkozy,” he replied. “How big is your army?”

“Right now,” says Paddy, after a moment’s calculation, “there is myself, me Cousin Sean, me next door neighbor Seamus, and the entire darts team from the pub. That makes 11.”

Sarkozy paused. “I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 100,000 men in my army waiting to move on my command.”

“Begorra!” says Paddy. “I’ll have to ring you back.”

Sure enough, the next day, Paddy calls again. “Mr Sarkozy, the war is still on. We have managed to get us some infantry equipment!”

“And what equipment would that be Paddy?” Sarkozy asks.

“Well, we have two combine harvesters, a bulldozer, and Murphy’s farm tractor.”

Sarkozy sighs amused. “I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 6000 tanks and 5000 armored personnel carriers. Also, I have increased my army to 150,000 since we last spoke.”

“Saints preserve us!” says Paddy.”I’ll have to get back to you.”

Sure enough, Paddy rings again the next day. “Mr Sarkozy, the war is still on! We have managed to get ourselves airborne! We have modified Jackie McLaughlin’s ultralight with a couple of shotguns in the cockpit, and four boys from the Shamrock Bar have joined us as well!”

Sarkozy was silent for a

minute and then cleared his throat. “I must tell you, Paddy, that I have 100 bombers and 200 fighter planes. My military bases are surrounded by laserguided, surface-to-air missile sites. And since we last spoke, I have increased my army to 200,000!”

“This is an interestin’ development,” says Paddy, “I will have to ring you back.”

Sure enough, Paddy calls again the next day. “Top o’ the mornin’, Mr Sarkozy! I am sorry to inform you that we have had to call off the war.”

“Really? I am sorry to hear that,” says Sarkozy. “Why the sudden change of heart?”

“Well,” says Paddy, “we had a long chat over a few pints of Guinness and packets of chips, and we decided there is no way we can feed and house 200,000 prisoners of war.”

Tough Easter wordfind JESUS BARABBAS MOUNT OF OLIVES LAST SUPPER ETERNAL LIFE GOOD FRIDAY PONTIUS PILATE CRUCITY CROSS GOLGOTHA SIMON TOMB JOSEPOH SANHEDRIN PASSOVER GATHSEMANE JUDAS CAIAPHAS MARY MAGDALENE HE IS RISEN SEE if you can find all the words listed in this wordsearch.

THREE old timers were sitting on a park bench.

One says “It’s windy”, the second says “No it’s not it Thursday.” And the third says “I am too. Let’s have a drink.”

DURING a visit to the doctor, a man asked him, “How do you determine whether or not an older person should be put in an old age home?”

“Well,” he said, “we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the person to empty the bathtub.”

“Oh, I understand,” said the man. “A normal person would use the bucket because it is bigger than the spoon or the teacup.”

“No” he said. “A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?”

ON her first visit to the zoo, a little girl spent a long time in front of the stork cage.

“Mum,” she said. “He must be getting old. I don’t think he remembers me.”

Send us your work AS we mentioned last month we have decided to rest the concept of a colouring contest for a while to give some of our talented young readers the opportunity to showcase their drawing skills.

Many of our primary and secondary students do remarkable work which is rarely showcased outside of the school environment.

We would like to bring some of that work to our readers and teachers.

Hopefully we will be able to show a few works each month

It will be difficult to reproduce large, detailed works but smaller drawings and paintings will be suitable.

Secondary students who are compiling portfolios obviously cannot send originals but clear photographs or scanned copies will be suitable.

Send works to Catholic Life Art, PO Box 183, Sale, 3850 or email a high resolution JPG to catholiclife@ sale.catholic.org.au. Ideally works should be scanned or photographed at 300dpi and all JPG email attachments should be send original size.

THREE racehorses were standing in a stable bragging to each other one day.

The first horse boasts “I’ve been in 59 races and I’ve won 35 of them.”

“That’s nothing,” says the second horse.

“I’ve raced 97 times, and I’ve won 78 of them!”

The third horse joins in: “Well, I’ve raced 122 times and I’ve won 102!”

Just then, the horses hear a voice say, “I’ve got you all beat!” The horses look down

and see a greyhound. “I’ve raced over 200 times, and I have NEVER lost!”

The horses look at the dog in amazement.

One of them says “How about that! A talking dog!”

Page 18 - Catholic Life, March 2012

world news ...

Pope Benedict XVI passes milestone: 6th oldest Pope POPE Benedict XVI last week passed John Paul II in becoming the sixth oldest pope in the history of the Church, completing 84 years, 10 months, 2 weeks and 1 day.

The ranking only looks at the popes elected since the year 1400, because there are no precise records that existed beforehand.

Those pope that were older than Benedict XVI include Innocent XII and Pius XI, who both died at 85 years old, Clement X was 86, Clement XII lived to 87, and topping the list is Leo XIII, who served as pope until he was 93.

The day may have had an historical significance for the Church, but Benedict XVI passed it quietly making his spiritual retreat in the Vatican.

Pope Benedict Despite being nearly 85 years old, the pope has maintained a busy schedule ever since his election in 2005.

Although he has recently

A glimpse of early Christian burials ARCHAEOLOGISTS and authors of a new book published in late February have revealed that they have literally “unearthed” new information which may provide an unprecedented glimpse into Christianity’s earliest days, reports The Inquisitr.

The Jesus Discovery: The New Archaeological Find That Reveals the Birth of Christianity says that in a “nearly intact” first-century tomb located below a modern condominium building in Jerusalem, a team of archeologists led by Simcha Jacobovici has found ossuaries - bone boxes for the dead - bearing engravings that could be the earliest evidence of Christian iconography in Jerusalem.

The tomb has been dated to before AD 70, so if its engravings are indeed early Christian, they were most likely made by some of Jesus’ earliest followers, according to the excavators.

One of the limestone ossuaries bears an inscription in Greek that includes a reference to “Divine Jehovah raising someone up” - the earliest archeological evidence of “faith in Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.”

A second ossuary has an image that appears to be a large fish with a stick figure in its mouth. The excavators believe the image represents the story of Jonah, the biblical prophet who was swallowed by a fish or whale and then released.

“If anyone had claimed to find either a statement about resurrection or a Jonah image

in a Jewish tomb of this period I would have said impossible - until now,” James Tabor, professor and chairman of religious studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and one of the excavators, said in a news release issued by the university.

The excavators acknowledge the discovery and their interpretation are likely to be controversial.

A documentary is being made for Discovery Channel.

made some changes to save energy, such as now receiving bishops in a group, and he now crosses St. Peter’s Basilica using a mobile platform to help him support his heavy robes.

Despite holding the sixth place in the list of papal longevity, the pope continues traveling and making plans for the future.

This month he will visit Mexico and Cuba. He’s also preparing a trip to Lebanon in September, and in 2013 he will attend World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Also, in October, he will open the Year of the Faith, to remember the Second Vatican Council. It’s a year of many ambitious events and ceremonies, the pope is also preparing a document to help explain its importance.

Syrian Catholics living in fear SYRIA - Catholics in Syria are so fearful of losing their lives at any moment that they say farewell to each other at the end of every Mass, the Archbishop of Damascus has said.

The Tablet reports Maronite Archbishop Samir Nassar told the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need that the country is locked in a “murderous stalemate” that is “stoking the fears of the faithful, who say goodbye to each other at the end of every Mass, so uncertain are they of a continuing future.”

He said some priests were so affected by the insecurity that they were “quietly” fleeing to calmer regions.

world news ...

Washington bishops against law allowing same-sex marriages UNITED STATES (Zenit) Bishops of Washington State are speaking out against a new Bill which, barring the success of a referendum, will legalise same-sex marriage in that state this coming June.

The Bill, which was signed into law by the Washington governor Christine Gregoire two weeks ago and changed the definition of marriage from a “civil contract between a male and a female” to “a civil contract between two persons.”

The objective of the Bill is to “end discrimination in marriage based on gender and sexual orientation in Washington, to ensure that all persons in this state may enjoy the freedom to marry on equal terms.”

Shortly after the Bill was introduced in January, Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle, Bishop Eusebio Elizondo of Seattle, Bishop Plase Cupich of Spokane, and Bishop Joseph Tyson of Yakima published an official statement opposing the Bill’s attempt to redefine marriage, stating that such an attempt is “not in the public interest.”

“Marriage,” they stated, “is certainly about the public recognition of a relationship between a man and a woman which carries certain rights and responsibilities for the two adults. But, it is much more.

Marriage in faith and societal traditions is acknowledged as the foundation of civilization.

It has long been recognized that the stability of society depends

on the stability of family life in which a man and a woman conceive and nurture new life.

“In this way, civil recognition of marriage has sought to bestow on countless generations of children the incomparable benefit of a loving mother and father committed to one another in a lifelong union.”

Moreover, the definition of marriage as being between a man and a woman is not one founded solely in religion.

“Upholding the present definition of marriage does not depend on anyone’s religious beliefs,” said the bishops, but rather “defining marriage as ‘a civil contract between a male and a female’ is grounded not in faith, but in reason and the experience of society.

“It recognises the value of marriage as a bond of personal relationships, but also in terms of the unique and irreplaceable potential of a man and woman to conceive and nurture new life, thus contributing to the continuation of the human race.

“A change in legislation would mean that the state would no longer recognise the unique sacrifices and contributions made by these couples, thereby adding to the forces already undermining family life today.”

The new law which redefines marriage to include same-sex partnerships will come into effect next June, unless enough signatures from supporters of marriage are gathered for a referendum for November’s ballot.

Nuns working against forced marriages NIGER - “We show what children can achieve through education and what forced marriages mean for them,” is how Catholic nun Sr Marie-Catherine Kingbo, 58, describes the pastoral work of her order in Niger, in western Africa.

Together with 16 other nuns, this Senegal native operates a health and nutrition centre near Maradi, in the southern part of the country.

This initiative benefits the inhabitants of around 80 villages.

During a visit to the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need Sr Kingbo reported that the predominately Muslim population welcomes the order’s efforts.

Niger is approximately one sixth the size of Australia and has almost 16 million inhabitants. Over 90 per cent of the people are Muslims, with Christians making up around

0.4 per cent.

Sr Kingbo and her fellow nuns belong to the Fraternity of the Servants of Christ. They live in Maradi, the capital of the region of the same name, in a rental flat that is much too small.

The health and nutrition centre, which is currently open only two days a week, is 36km away. Around 800 people visit the centre every day.

As Sr Kingbo explained, “Twelve of our sisters are postulates or novices and still in training. That is why we can only keep the centre open part of the time right now.” The centre mainly cares for patients with minor complaints, mothers, pregnant women and children. The nuns also distribute food.

As among the rural population it is traditional to marry as children, the sisters place a

Sr M.-Catherine Kingbo

high priority on education and information. They educate the parents about the health and social consequences for girls as well as boys.

For example, premature sexual intercourse can cause incontinence in girls, which can result in their being cast out by their families. The adolescents

are then left with literally nothing.

As the nuns strive to avoid conflicts because of their educational efforts, explained Sr Kingbo, they informed the village elders in advance.

At a meeting with 24 headmen and imams, they were welcomed with the words, “You are simply bringing love.” The sisters are accepted in the rural regions, and their work is appreciated. Sr Kingbo noted that animosity had only been encountered in the cities.

The Diocese of Maradi supports the initiative of the Fraternity of the Servants of Christ.

A building for the nuns is to be constructed soon.

Bishop Ambroise Ouédraogo convinced Sr Kingbo to take up pastoral work in Niger in 2006.

At present, sisters from six African nations belong to this order.

Catholic Life, March 2012 - Page 19

Classifieds wanted known

wanted known

bingo

for sale

tradesman

Let’s leave something for those in need

VINTAGE/RETRO furniture restored by volunteers in a community learning partnership of GEST, St Vincent de Paul Society, Lifeline Gippsland, Rotary Club of Moe and LCHS. 50 Della Torre Rd., Moe. Open Tuesdays and Wednesdays 9am -3pm. 0409 175 574.

Sacred Heart School

SAFE. Commercial, fireproof, 56cm x 52cm x 74cm, combination lock, $1500. No offers. Removal at own expense.

SUZUKI CARRY VAN, registered, no RWC, 1988, g/c except for blown head gasket, Reg: UQR-472. Phone 5174 2525 for either.

INSIDE/OUT BUILDING INNOVATIONS. All home improvement works. New and facelift kitchens, bathrooms, painting, tiling, plastering, decking, pegolas and all plumbing works with compliance certificate. Pensioner discounts.

No job too big or too small.

Contact Stephen 0403 314 835.

TRY our new Photo classifieds. Make your advertisement be a strandout. Just $10 more to include a colored photograph.

Bishop’s Family Foundation If you are making or updating your will, you may consider leaving a bequest to the Bishop’s Family Foundation.

The Bishop’s Family Foundation has produced some easy-to-read booklets explaining bequests which may be an advantage to read before seeing your solicitor to prepare or update your will.

Copies may be obtained by phoning Pat on 5144 4991 Do it today and sleep easy knowing you have done your part.

public notices

BINGO Every Friday

Morwell RSL Club, Elgin St., Morwell

Join our Giant Easter Party Friday, March 30 Giveaways Eyes down 11am. Ticket sales 10.30am Now 55 games at 20 cents per game.

Further details phone 5134 8484 or 5133 7221 (AH)

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

If so please contact Diocesan Vocations Director

ESTEELE stainless steel cookware. Heavy duty with copper bases. As new condition. Two frypans, egg poacher insert, five pots, lids for all pieces. A bargain at $200 the lot. Phone 0424 955 891.

Fr Darek Jablonski 5996 1985

WINE CABINET, brand new, still in box. Electronically temperature controlled, holds up to 30 Bordeaux 750ml bottles. $800. No offers. Phone 03 5174 2525.

vocations@sale.catholic.org.au

Catholic Life

Classified Ads 1, 2, 3 step advertising 1...Fill in form, one word per square

2... Check cost at right hand side

3...Post form with appropriate amount.

Please send cheque or money order with advertisement to:

CATHOLIC LIFE CLASSIFIEDS CATHOLIC MEDIA GIPPSLAND PO BOX 183 SALE VIC 3853 $10 minimum for first 24 words.

Add $1.20 for additional six words or part hereof

Local link for Columban honored in Pakistan

COROMAL CARAVAN Excel 542 Pop Top 17’ 18”, 2007.

Used once. Tandem independent suspension, front kitchen, central dining opposite three seater lounge, two siungle beds, inner spring matresses, roll out awning, full annex, a/c,gas/ electric stove/grill and many extras. $29,990. Phone 03 5134 4876 or 0407 511 115.

for sale

VOCATIONS

COLLECTOR CRICKET BAT. Signed in black biro by 12 members of 1987 Victorian Sheffield Shield side including Ray Bright, Dav Whatmore, Tony Dodemaide, Merv Hughes, Jamie Siddons, and Paul Hibbert. Full sized GreyNicholls bat. Bargain at $75.

Phone 0407 213 328.

Closing date for next issue is April 10, 2012

Add a photo for just $10 more!!

$10.00 min $11.20 $12.60 $13.80 $15.00

Name: ...........................................................................................................

Address: ....................................................................................................... ........................................................... Phone: ...............................................

Boxed display classifieds are also available at $7.70 per column centimetre.

Please phone Catholic Life on 5144 6132 if you are having difficulty calculating cost of an advertisement.

Fr Robert McCulloch PAKISTAN’S highest civillian award has been given to a Columban priest who is an occasional visitor to our diocese to see a sister living in the Bairnsdale area.

Fr Robert McCulloch of the St Columbans Mission Society has been awarded the Sitara-eQuaid-e-Azam, the highest civilian award that can be given to foreign nationals with the citation: “For services to Health, Education, and Inter-Faith Relations.”

Fr McCulloch has been in Pakistan for over 30 years. He was chairman of the St Elizabeth Hospital’s Administrative Council which provides quality medical services to the people of Hyderabad and rural parts of Sindh.

He set up the first home-based Palliative Care unit in Pakistan which provides care for cancer patients who are terminally ill.

He initiated projects, in 2007, to provide educational, spiritual, moral and personal formation for 150 Catholic boys and young men in Hyderabad.

His other major contribution includes taking steps to preserve the tribal language of Tharparker, known as Parkari Kohli, by engaged experts who turned this spoken language into a written language.

During the floods of 2011 he arranged to provide food and medical treatment to over 1000 families in Southern Pakistan and arranged construction of shelter for the flood victims.

Fr McCulloch now resides in Rome after taking up an appointment as the Procurator General for St Columbans Mission Society in late 2011.

Page 20 - Catholic Life, March 2012

NNG preps get buddies

Warragul school growth spurt

WARRAGUL - St Joseph’s Primary School has had some fantastic developments and growth recently and they are ready to begin a new year with vigor and strength in 2012.

The school, under the guidance of principal Dom Ryan has really gone ahead over the past 5 years and is experiencing a big increase in student numbers.

St Joseph’s has grown from 260 to 380 students over the past 5 years, with an increase of 35 students alone for 2012!

They have added a number of new classes and this year they have four new staff members.

Nine years ago St Joseph’s had a school size of 228 students with 10 classrooms, this has now increased significantly 16 classrooms and many THE six new preps with their Grade 6 buddies at St James Nar with new facilities including a new Nar Goon. hall and kitchen, great new liNAR NAR GOON - Six prep their new classroom, meet their brary, a bigger staffroom and students began their school- new teacher and their grade one lots of new learning areas.

St Joseph’s is really embracing years at St James Primary classmates. ing the development and growth School, Nar Nar Goon this year.

The day began with an inter- in their area and are looking They joined the current grade esting roll call where the stu- forward to having many excitones in the Prep/One classroom dents were able to use the in- ing and valuable learning expewith their teacher Emma Pow- teractive whiteboard to ‘check riences with their students this derham. themselves in’ to the class. year.

As the bell rang, Hannah WaFollowing recess the students terhouse, Caitlin Strong, Adam watched a story on the interacMotta, Chase Parker, Jack Ty- tive whiteboard called Me and ler and Rhys Van Dord waved My Cat written by Satoshi Kitagoodbye to their parents and mura and read by Elijah Wood. TRARALGON – St Michael’s headed into the classroom.

By the end of the day there were Parish enjoyed having Bishop Christopher Prowse pay an ofNo tears were shed as all the some very tired faces! ficial visit last month. preps were very eager to see Bishop Prowse spent time

ST Joseph’s new school captains Sam Fennell and Gemma Wall in front of our whole school display of individual feet for each student as they show us their new iPads.

The use of technology is very students with huge amounts of prominent at St Joseph’s this interactive, exciting and handsyear with the implementation on learning opportunities. of an iPad program. Four grade The students and teachers of 5/6 classes have each student St Joseph’s are really looking using an iPad to support their forward to growing and devellearning. oping this year as they journey There is also an interac- together through 2012. tive white board in each room which is providing our younger

Parish appreciates bishop’s visit

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It is the Catholic Church’s most successful Child’s bible ever!

Bolivia

Simple in design and yet profound in its Z`TIVSPJ ZPNUPÄJHUJL [OL VSP]L^VVK YVZHY` OHUKTHKL PU )L[OSLOLT I` *OYPZ[PHU MHTPSPLZ Z[Y\NNSPUN MVY Z\Y]P]HS are also available for a donation of $7.00. All proceeds will go towards the work of Aid to the Church in Need for the poor and persecuted Church worldwide.

with students and staff at St Michael’s and St Gabriel’s Primary Schools - getting to know the staff.

The school communities were pleased and excited to welcome the bishop to their classrooms, playgrounds and staff rooms.

Bishop Prowse also found time in his busy day to meet with student leaders at Kildare and St Paul’s campuses of Lavalla College and to meet with the staff of all three Lavalla Campuses.

Along with saying Masses during the weekend, the bishop also met with parishioners in the various nursing homes in the town.

He had the opportunity to meet with many parishioners during his time in the parish, most frequently over food and a cuppa.

It was a marvellous experience for parishioners, getting to know the bishop a little better, and an honor to welcome him to the parish.

Welcome to the Church

This inspiring book can also teach the -HP[O OLYL PU (\Z[YHSPH! ^P[O `V\Y MHTPS` NVKJOPSKYLU VY PU `V\Y WHYPZO VY ZJOVVS The Child’s Bible is a perfect gift for JOPSKYLU NYHUKJOPSKYLU ULWOL^Z HUK UPLJLZ LZWLJPHSS` [V THYR H -PYZ[ /VS` Communion. The Bible complements the catechism and children’s rosary booklet also published by ACN and available via our website.

BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED THROUGHOUT 48 Bible stories from the Old and New Testaments Available for a donation of $7.00 A lovely gift idea!

Cath Life Sale

BISHOP Christopher Prowse chats to a young RCIA candidate following the Rite of Election at St Mary’s Cathedral on February 26. More than 70 people will come into the Catholic Church in parishes across Gippsland during the Easter vigil Masses. This is an increase of almost 20 since last year.