Catholic Life - May 2011

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Catholic Life

Publication of the Diocese of Sale

Chancellor’s silver jubilee - Page 8

ISSUE 150

Catholic Education Week - Page 12

May 2011

New horizons for sister of 50 years - Page 13

Blessed Pope John Paul A CROWD of more than one million people flocked to Rome to witness the beatification of Pope John Paul II on May 1.

Cries of “Sainthood now” echoed around St Peter’s following the service conducted by his successor Pope Benedict XVI, a replay of what occurred after Pope John Paul died in 2005.

Sadly most of the western world missed media coverage of the historic event which was overshadowed by the Royal Wedding in London the day before and then the announcement of the killing of terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden by United States troops in Pakistan.

These two international mega-news stories limited coverage of the beatification to a few lines in most newspapers.

Pope John Paul was the second longest reigning pope in history and is widely credited for bringing about the fall of Communism in his native Poland and the rest of Europe.

It was fitting then that May 1 was chosen for the day on which he would be honored with beatification as it was once the date of the traditional May Day parades in Communist nations.

It was also the day he chose for the Divine Mercy devotions, the first Sunday after Easter.

Pope John Paul beatified and canonised more saints in his 26 year pontificate than any pope before him and it is fitting that this great man is being referred to a John Paul the Great.

Church sources believe it is only a matter of a few years before another miracle is approved and he will be canonised.

• A three page feature on Blessed John Paul in on pages 9-11 in this issue.

BLESSED Pope John Paul II as many remember him - a young Polish Pope who worked tireless for peace and evangelising the world.

Help restore St Mary’s Cathedral Bishop Christopher Prowse has launched an appeal to raise up to $1 million to restore and enhance the Mother Church of the Diocese of Sale.

Please be generous in your giving.

Send donations to Cathedral Appeal, Reply Paid 508, Sale, 3853 * Credit card form can be downloaded at www.sale.catholic.org.au. Fill-in on line, print, sign and post.

Page 2 - Catholic Life, May 2011

Easter joy can promote more religious vocations DEAR Friends in Christ, We have now entered into the joyous liturgical Easter season.

Throughout May and beyond our readings at Mass concern the personal encounter of the Risen Lord with the early Church. Our experience of the Easter Jesus is at the very heart of Christianity. It gives us joy and hope. We experience the Risen Jesus most especially in His Church and the sacraments.

A special gift to us all this particular Easter has been the Beatification of Blessed John Paul II on May 1, 2011. What a great gift he is to the Church and society in general.

In this edition of Catholic Life you may wish to read my personal tribute to him.

One lasting gift of Blessed John Paul II is the increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life that his life inspires. He has certainly inspired my vocation.

Every now and again people ask me why I became a priest. Especially young people ask this question. To encourage vocations to the priesthood and religious life in the Diocese of Sale I wish to share with you the answer I try to offer to this question.

When I scrutinise my own motives for joining the seminary my mind inevitably doesn’t go to something necessarily pious but to a place. Of all places it is a cemetery.

For many years, from Grade 3 to Year 12, I used to walk to the school

To God’s People in the Catholic Diocese of Sale from home by the cemetery. If I was running late I would make a short cut through the cemetery. It might save up to 5 or 10 minutes.

At first I was reluctant to go through a cemetery. It seems a scary thing to do for a young person in primary school. However, as I got older I noted that I was going through the cemetery to and from school regardless of whether I was running late or not.

I do recall that very often on a beautiful day I would often stop in the cemetery and sit on one of the garden park benches that they have there. I did not know it at the time, but as I now look back I would say that I was praying, and praying quite deeply. I was simply enjoying the peacefulness and “dead calm”(!) of the area.

As you could imagine, walking through the cemetery over a 10 year period I became familiar with a lot of the names on the tombstones. I also noted that some of them had died at a very early age.

You never think, when you are a young person, that you could die.

But when I looked at some of the names and dates of birth and death

on the tombstones I noted that some had died even younger than I was then.

Once again, when I look back on it I do feel that this has had a big effect on my life. It made me realise that life is very short.

Sometimes in upper secondary school when I sat down on the park bench in that cemetery I do recall participating in a strange mental activity.

As I was thinking about what I should do with my life, I do recall asking my “friends” in the tombs what advice they would want to give me! I do recall asking “If you could speak to me what would you advise me to do with my life?” I imagine their answer would be very short and to the point - “Don’t forget you are going to die one day!”

It was with that sort of answer rumbling through my mind and heart I began to think of the priesthood. Isn’t it incredible!

Some people are led to the priesthood and other walks of life because they felt God calling them! I felt God calling me to the priesthood via my imagined mutterings of those who had already died and were bur-

ied in a cemetery!

I really felt the Lord’s hand at work in all this later on in my life when I was in the seminary.

We would often be schooled into the principles of spiritual discernment from the Catholic heritage.

One such exercise, coming particularly from the Ignatian Tradition, is that you are to imagine your life before you and that death was imminent.

In that experience of the shortness of life you are to ask yourself what are your true priorities in life. When I heard of this I felt I had already done that over many years in a slow and subtle but profound way on my walks to and from school through the cemetery.

Later in my life I have often returned to this cemetery. It helps to give me perspective and helps me to realign my priorities.

More recently I have come across a sermon of Blessed John Henry Newman which struck me as a good summary of all that I’ve said above.

He said in one of his homilies for us always to remember three things: that life is short; that death in certain; that eternity is long.

What a strange man I am! I have found such wisdom in a cemetery!

Where do you find the wisdom of the Easter Jesus in your life? + Bishop Christopher Prowse Catholic Bishop of Sale

New book being written about St Patrick’s College A BOOK on the history of the former St Patrick’s College, Sale, is being written by renowned Sale historians Peter and Ann Synan.

It will be published in time for the 90th anniversary of the college next year.

St Patrick’s College was established in 1922 by Bishop DIOCESE OF SALE

Patrick Phelan who had expressed the desire to provide a quality secondary education for the young Catholic boys in Sale Diocese.

The college opened with 22 boarders and 40 day pupils, originally taking in Grade 5 and 6 students as well as secondary students.

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

It continued until 1976 when it stopped taking boarders and was amalgamated with Our Lady of Sion College to form a three campus Sale Catholic College, now known as Catholic College Sale. (A short-lived separate John XXIII Campus for Years 11 and 12 was created next to St Patrick’s)

Latrobe alley V uneral F Services

The book takes in the period from 1922 to 1976 and the authors, with the assistance of former principal Br Majella Fitzpatrick, are gathering memorabilia and short anecdotes from former students and their families.

Correspondence and offers of information and photographs should be directed initially to Br Majella at majella@ccsale. catholic.edu.au.

PICTURED at right: Br Majella outside the front of the former St Patrick’s College, Sale

Editor: Colin Coomber Published monthly except January.

Deadline for advertising copy and editorial contributions for next issue is Monday, June 6 Issues distributed free through parishes and schools from June 15.

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

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Catholic Life, May 2011 - Page 3

Annual appeal month to aid Bishop’s Family Foundation INDIVIDUALS, organisations and companies across Sale Diocese are being urged to donate generously to the annual appeal for the Bishop’s Family Foundation.

May has been set aside as the month where schools and parish organisations try to hold one event to raise money for the foundation.

Envelopes for donations have been placed in all parish churches across the diocese which enable people to donate by credit card, cheque or cash.

These can be placed in the collection plate or sent in to the foundation.

All donations of $2 or more

are tax deductible.

Almost $700,000 has been distributed to organisations providing services to families in Sale Diocese since the foundation was established 10 years ago.

The initial plan was to create a self funding philanthropic trust and to that end, every cent donated to the foundation is still held in its trust fund.

It is only the earnings from investments which is available for distribution to charities each year.

The foundation has not yet reached self sufficiency and so needs an annual injection of funds to cover for inflation

Evangelisers visit

PHILLIP and Margaret Moloney (centre) with Len and Rosemary Armistead, Newborough,at one of their sessions.

EVANGELISERS Phillip and region, to the Valley and finishMargaret Maloney visited 11 ing in Bairnsdale and Lakes Enparishes in Sale Diocese during trance. last month’s visit, holding 13 The Maloneys, with their prayer meetings and teaching great love of the sacraments, days. the word of God and strong in Their theme for this visit was, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, pro‘Equipping people spiritually posed the gospel of the salvafor the challenge of this age’. tion in Jesus Christ.

They drew on Bishop ChrisThey spoke with courage and topher Prowse’s ‘Finding home conviction of the love and merIn Jesus’, pastoral letter, in cy of God, the blessings of the drawing people into the word Church and to strengthen peoof God with teaching and this ple of faith while calling into leads to becoming open to the belief those in doubt. love of the Holy Spirit.

The meetings were supported Their visit started in Iona in by Catholics young and old, late March, stayed in the west- people from other churches and ern region with one of the meet- a number who had not been in ings at the new prayer group in such a gathering before.

Pakenham, then to the southern

eroding the true value of investments.

The model created in establishing the foundation is one which is the envy of many other charities which have to rely on annual fundraising appeals to survive.

The Bishop’s Family Foundation has no staff as the staff of various diocesan agencies are involved in the day to day operations as part of their daily duties.

When the annual disbursement of funds is made, no money is available to individuals as only charities and organisations with tax exempt status can apply for funding for specific projects.

Organisations applying for funds need to allocate the funds towards projects in the Gippsland and outer eastern Melbourne suburban area.

Full details about the foundation and projects funded in the past is available on the diocese Website www.sale.catholic.org. au.

Needy families need your help Please give generously to the annual May appeal to assist

Bishop’s Family Foundation Donation envelopes available at Masses or send your donation to: Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 508, Sale, 3853

From the Mountains to the Sea CDF is supporting our Parishes, Schools and Catholic Communities

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The Catholic Development Fund Serving the Diocese of Sale Telephone: (03)5144 4311 Email: 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, May 2011

Ask ‘What ought we be?’

Miracles happen

PRINCIPAL of St Patrick’s Primary School at Pakenham Mick O’Brien is a man who can admit he was wrong.

At the official opening of a new multipurpose stadium at the school last month, he recalled that when he first came to the school he was shown plans for the future development of the school.

The rear of the block was earmarked for a gymnasium and he declared “That will never happen!”

Mick was glad to be proved wrong courtesy of a global financial crisis which prompted the Federal Government to pour millions into new multipurpose halls and libraries as part of the Building the Education Revolution.

Pollie praise

WHILE on the Pakenham opening it was great to hear local Federal politician, Liberal Russell Broadbent heap praise on the Labor government for putting funding into schools.

He said it was fantastic to see what had been done at dozens of schools across his electorate.

He knew what they were like before the fund injection and really appreciates the changes.

Full marks for an honest appraisal without the political point-scoring which some politicians wish to engage at every opportunity.

Just checking

CHILD who had knocked some skin off his knee in a playground accident sought

some comfort from the teacher on yard duty who brushed off the gravel and declared the injury minor.

The Grade 2 then dumbfounded the teacher when he casually inquired whether she had a Working With Children Check.

150 on the clock

HARD to believe it but this issue of Catholic Life is the 150th since we republished the newspaper as a free.

The original Sale Catholic Life was closed down in 1995 because it was unable to cover production costs and in the end had a circulation of less than 2000 copies.

We started this publication in November 1997 as a free tabloid distributed through parishes and schools.

More than 15,000 copies are distributed every month and our advertising support covers the cost of production and distribution.

Under editor Colin Coomber, Catholic Life has won 17 awards or commendations including best regional publication several times at Australasian Catholic Press Association and Australian Religious Press Association conference.

Thanks to our readers, young and old, who have been part of our journey.

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IN his book, What Makes Us Tick, Hugh Mackay lists a number of key motivators – the desire to be taken seriously, the desire for ‘my place’, for something to believe in, to connect, to be useful, the desire to belong, for love, for control, form more and so forth.

We are driven by powerful forces, we do things and sometimes we don’t understand why.

We pursue goals and ambitions, we succeed, we fail, we rejoice and despair.

Ultimately, each of us chooses to live a certain way – what makes us tick is not blind obedience or, on the other extreme, the rejection of any standards in the pursuit of happiness or personal satisfaction, no matter what the consequences.

In reality, we are motivated by deep yearnings, aspirations and often confusing questions that sometimes seem to defy answers. That is part of being human.

Some years ago the Congregation for the Clergy published a very wise and valuable document entitled, The General Directory for Catechesis.

If the Catechism of the Catholic Church is the ‘what’ of our faith, the details, as it were, to be handed on, the Directory is the ‘how’ it should be done.

The document says: “…the proclamation of the Gospel shall always be done in close connection with human nature and its aspirations, and will show how the Gospel fully satisfies the human heart.”

(General Directory for Catechesis #117).

The document goes on to say that: “God calls people through human heart aspirations, be they yearnings or questions that ultimately God alone can satisfy.” (CCC #33).

God’s call to friendship, to intimate and personal relationship comes through our human heart yearnings including those for lasting happiness, freedom, inner peace and goodness. Human heart questions include those about the meaning of life and suffering, personal identity and life after death.

Jesus touched the lives of many people. They came to him in great numbers, some for healing, some to hear his message, some to question, some to trap him.

Some came with open hearts, some had already hardened their hearts against him, some listened and others walked away.

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Reflections

by Jim Quillinan Hardening one’s heart is a very graphic expression – making oneself impervious to the Gospel message, closing one’s eyes and ears to the very words and actions that may help to answer the questions which cause us to be restless, searching, dissatisfied.

There is an old expression that ‘love is in the eye of the beholder’. When we see life through the eyes of love, we see so much more – we can begin to appreciate life and its mysteries, we can see the presence of God in so many things.

When our vision is cynical or jaded, jealous or bitter, we cannot fully understand, nor are we open to the wonder and awe of life and God’s love.

Like the people in Jesus’ time, we too yearn include for lasting happiness, inner peace, we yearn to be free from the things that bind us.

Our hearts and minds seek to find meaning in what happens to us – why those we love suffer – indeed, why there is so much suffering in the world. It would be so much easier, we think, if we knew things for certain, if we always knew the answers to our questions.

Yet there is so much joy and wonder if we look at life through the eyes of love, if we come to life open hearted, generous and welcoming.

Jesus’ good news touched hearts – his message spoke to the needs of deep desires of those who came to him. His stories were about healing, forgiveness, welcome.

Some heard his message, some did not. Some came to him with open hearts, some

did not. After the resurrection, some saw Jesus but others did not.

The disciples on the road to Emmaus were so blinded by their own grief, the loss of their vision as to who they thought Jesus ought to be and do, they did not recognise him.

The question in Finding our home in Jesus is an important one: What ought we do or what ought we be?

If the Gospel is to fully satisfy the human heart, we need to approach the Gospels prayerfully and with minds and hearts open to God’s message, open to how God might encounter our yearnings and questions.

The Gospels are ‘the living word of God’. If we want to encounter their message for us, their invitation to us, we must approach them with an openness to the message waiting to be discovered.

What is the Gospel, the living word of God calling us to do, to be today, at the beginning of the 21st century?

How do these sacred texts touch my yearning for meaning, for peace, how do they give meaning to my life situation today, how do they inspire me to be good news for our world today?

If we come with closed minds, ‘we have heard it all before’, ‘we know what the answer is’ approach, we will miss God’s call.

If we want to be Good News to others, we need to have courage to take paths we have not discovered before, we have to be open to Christ who wants to meet us in new ways.

Day retreat to be held at Foster FOSTER – Spiritual Gifts is the topic for a retreat being held next month at St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Foster.

The day retreat is being presented by Allan Panozza and it has been approved and endorsed by Bishop Christopher Prowse.

Mr Panozza will spend some time teaching about the gifts, and what graces they bring. He will also have some sessions focusing on practical workshops so that those present will hopefully experience some sense of how the gifts actually work.

The retreat will explore the connection between the Sacrament of Confirmation and what we refer to as “Baptism in the Holy Spirit”.

Mr Panozza has ministered widely throughout Australia and overseas, speaking at many conferences and seminars.

In 2009 Pope Benedict XVI awarded him the papal honor of Knight Commander of the Or-

der of St Gregory the Great. He is a truly spiritual person who has devoted his life to proclaiming his faith. From 1985 until the end of 2010 he worked full time as executive director for Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Melbourne.

The retreat is open to all Catholics in Sale Diocese. No prerequisites are necessary.

Whether you belong to a prayer group or you feel a calling for a deepening of your faith you will find this day spiritually uplifting and very rewarding.

The retreat will be from 10am to 4pm on June 18 at the parish centre at O’Connell St., Foster.

Bookings are required as lunch will be provided. There is no set fee, but a donation would be appreciated.

To confirm your attendance, book early and ensure a place by telephoning Eileen on 5639 4118 or email: eileentw@optusnet.com.au before June 10.

Catholic Life, May 2011 - Page 5

Diocesan development cttee Maitland-Newcastle forms for strategic planning gets new bishop A DIOCESAN Development Committee is being formed to oversee strategic planning in Sale Diocese.

Bishop Christopher Prowse is setting up the new committee which will overarch six regional planning committees.

The new organisations replace a former development group and puts a formal structure to the diocese’s need to provide the coordinated approach to capital development, particularly in setting up new schools and parishes.

The bishop will appoint members of the Diocesan Development Committee and the organisation will report back to him.

Members will comprise two parish priests, one of whom will be chairman, the diocesan business manager, director of Catholic education, one member of each of the six regional planning committees and a member of the planning staff from the Melbourne Catholic Education Office, who will have a nonvoting role.

The diocesan committee will

advise the bishop on: • A strategic plan for capital development, taking into consideration the priorities of each regional planning committee and its own analysis of demographic and other data. • Identification of emerging development issues and if these have not been recognised by the relevant regional group to request considering the issues in its schedule of priorities. • Recommendations on development projects, even when parish resources may seem to preclude such development. • Recommend to a parish that particular initiatives may be pursued, such as seeking appropriate land. • Any other matters which the bishop may refer to the committee.

The regional planning committees will comprise the parish priests of the region, principals of all Catholic schools and community members whom the priests and principals believe have relevant expertise and knowledge to assist.

Each regional group will be

Marian conference FORMER Sale parishioner Pat Clancy was instrumental in bringing the concept of a Marian conference to the Diocese of Sale.

Whilst attending a Marian conference in Melbourne together with other parishioners from the Sale Diocese, he posed the question. Why don’t we have a day to honor Our Lady in our diocese?

He moved quickly after gaining permission from Bishop Jeremiah Coffey and together with Fr Peter Bickley and others set about organising the first of our Marian conferences.

A Marian conference is open to all and is a great opportunity to come together to come to a greater awareness and appreciation of the place and role of Our Blessed Mother in the Church and the world.

It is one day in the year that

we put aside to honor Our Holy Mother and at the same time honoring her son Jesus.

It should lead to a greater devotion in the diocese to Our Blessed Lady.

This year’s Marian conference is this Saturday, May 14 commencing at 9am at St Michael’s Church Traralgon.

The program commences with Rosary at 9am, followed by adoration 9.20, Fr John Speekman talking on Our Lady’s messages 11am, procession and crowning of Our Lady’s statue 11.45am, Mass concelebrated by Bishop Christopher Prowse and priests of the diocese noon, BYO lunch 1pm, Fr Nicholas Dillon speaking on Mary, Mother and Queen of the Blessed Sacrament 2pm, Benediction 2.45pm, Chaplet of Divine Mercy 3pm, close 3.15pm.

asked to prepare a schedule of priorities for their region which may include development of new parishes, schools or campuses, expansion of existing facilities, amalgamating or deamalgamating existing parish and school facilities, realigning parish boundaries and potential alienation of property.

The groups will submit to the bishop projects for capital development which would impact on more than one parish or school, and encourage individual parishes to undertake development projects in areas with an identified need.

Projects with impact limited to one school or parish will remain subject to the approval of the bishop and, where appropriate, the director of Catholic education.

THE new Bishop of Maitland Newcastle will be ordained in Newcastle on June 15.

Sydney priest Fr William Wright has been named by Pope Benedict XVI as eighth Bishop of Maitland-Newcastle to replace Bishop Michael Malone who is retiring.

Bishop-elect Wright, 58, was born in the United States and was ordained a priest at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, in 1977.

He is currently parish priest of All Saints Liverpool in the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney.

He is also a member of the Council of Priests and is chairman of the Sydney Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Board.

His ordination as bishop will take place in Sacred Heart Ca-

thedral at 7pm, with Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell as principal celebrant.

Fr William Wright

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Page 6 - Catholic Life, May 2011

At the crossroads again with schools funding IN August 2007 the Bishops of New South Wales and ACT released a joint pastoral letter they chose to call, “Catholic Schools at A Crossroads.”

It is an interesting title. The Bishops called it “A Crossroads”, not “The Crossorads”.

They acknowledge by that that there have been crossroads before and that there will be crossroads again.

How right they were!

The history of Catholic Education in Australia is, in fact, a series of crossroads. With God’s blessing, and the hard work of many, we have been able to negotiate each of these successfully, emerging each time stronger, but different.

Our history has been a very concrete expression of our faith in the Resurrection. It is an expression of faith in that

challenging, even dark, periods have been encountered before, they have been met and new growth, new life has emerged.

Probably the first – and maybe the most important crossroads – occurred in the 1860’s.

Catholic schools had existed in Australia, almost from the time of British settlement.

These schools were usually staffed by lay people, often with little training but with very big hearts. They were not particularly well organised but they were successful in teaching both religious and secular subjects. And they were funded by government.

Those schools, however, were placed under enormous pressure when colonial governments across the country legislated that government funded education was, in future, to be

with Talking Peter Catholic Ryan Education free, compulsory and secular.

This was intolerable to Catholics. Led by the Bishops at the time, the Australian Catholic church negotiated this particular crossroads by going alone.

Bishops and Parish Priests worked tirelessly to staff those schools with nuns, brothers and priests, often recruited from Europe - especially from Ireland - but with many home grown religious, too.

Catholic schools emerged from this huge crisis fundamentally changed, but stronger.

Relive the Cathedral History in this stylish new book Proceeds from the sale of this stylish history book will aid the St Mary’s Cathedral Sale Restoration Appeal.

It is by highly-regarded Sale historian and author Peter Synan who has encapsulated the history of St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, in Three Springtimes.

This hardcover book retails for $40 and will become a keepsake. It is an ideal coffee table book, full of photographs from the earliest years of the Cathedral, through until today.

There are still plenty of copies available but to secure your copy without incurring postage and handling charges you need to attend in person.

✁

Copies are available for $40 from the Bishop’s Office, Catholic Development Fund, and parish offices throughout the diocese if attending in person.

Note: Mail order is $15 dearer.

MAIL ORDER FORM:

Send to: Diocese of Sale, PO Box 508, Sale, 3853

Please send me a copy of the book Three Springtimes.

I enclose a cheque or money order ❑ or please debit my Visa ❑ Mastercard ❑

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It took many decades to negotiate a further crossroads. The “State Aid” debate continued for years. When some funding justice was finally achieved a new relationship with government had to be forged. It was, and continues to be a challenge.

But Catholic schools have emerged again changed but again stronger.

Then in 1981 a group known as the Defence of Government Schools (DOGS) challenged in the High Court the Australian government’s right to provide funding to Catholic schools. It was a difficult time again, another crossroads. But the DOGS lost their case and again Catholic schools emerged stronger but changed being now more confident in the validity of their position in Australian society.

At roughly the same time, religious men and women who had been the backbone of our whole school system began to decline rapidly in numbers.

Lay people were required more and more to take roles in classrooms and in school leadership. Again it was a challenging situation that many felt would spell the end of Catholic schools. But the evidence is clear that Catholic schools have again emerged stronger though, again, different.

It must be acknowledged that there was an important, often unrecognised, bridging factor at work here. A great number of men and women who had spent time, often many years, as members of religious congregations but had decided that their vocation lay elsewhere, joined the staffs of Catholic schools.

They brought with them a deep exposure to Catholic teachings and tradition, a deep knowledge of the story of Catholic education and a clear understanding of the charism that drove our schools.

They formed a powerful link between religious and lay staff of schools. Now, by 2011, we are nearing the end of that bridge.

But today we face our own new crossroads. We are challenged to form new relationships, yet again, with government as funding increases. But that increase comes with ever greater demands for accountability and ever greater intervention of government in the school activity.

We are challenged to redefine ourselves, too, to articulate anew our reason for being.

Fewer of our students’ families

are involved in parish life than in years gone by. We are being called to redefine our religious purposes now in terms of mission, of evangelisation. We are called to reach out ever further to those who know but little of Jesus and his church.

More immediately now, though not necessarily more importantly, our funding is under critical threat. The Federal government has instituted a review into funding of education across all three sectors (Government, Catholic and Independent). This is known as the Gonski Review. No doubt people will have noted that it is receiving significant media coverage.

Our National Catholic Education Commission has prepared a substantial and well argued submission to this review panel.

That submission shows clearly that Catholic schools perform consistently at a high level and they do this at a significantly lower cost than do other systems.

Yet, as a result of clever campaigning on the part of certain organisations hostile to Catholic schools, the media seems to have convinced a great many people that Catholic schools are presently overfunded!

It is easy to demonstrate the facts that demonstrate the success of the Catholic system on schools.

Indeed the Commonwealth Government’s own MySchool website does precisely this.

It shows that we perform well and it shows that education in the Catholic system is provided at a far lower cost than anywhere else. However, despite these facts it is proving very difficult to convince the electorate.

When the Gonski report is presented to the government later this year, those facts will be clear but the politics will not.

This will be yet another important crossroads for us. As Catholic schools, as Catholic people, we will be called to rise to this challenge. We will be called to find new ways of being Catholic schools, ways that will see us changed but ever stronger. It has happened in the past, it will happen now, it will happen again in the future.

We are facing these and other important and very challenging crossroad experiences now, in 2011. They are not our first crossroads and they will not be our last.

We need to have confidence in our own God given gifts and capacities and in the blessing of our God, that we will negotiate these crossroads successfully, emerging, certainly changed, but also stronger. We will be ready to face even more crossroads in the future. Let each one be a Resurrection experience.

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Catholic Life, May 2011 - Page 7

Small super funds - Do it yourself or hire a trustee?

IT was interesting to note that the Federal Government recently compensated more than 5000 superannuation investors in the Trio suite of funds, for their loss because of serious fraud by the fund’s managers.

Yet there were nearly three times as many superannuation fund investors and more nonsuperannuation investors who received nothing.

The compensation payout, of more than $95 million, the largest in Australian history was made to members of APRA (Australian Prudential Regulation Authority) regulated funds, but members of Self Managed Super Funds (SMSFs) and private investors were excluded.

Bear in mind that the compensation is for fraud, not incompetency.

Why? Members of SMSF’s who must also be trustees, are regarded as having the capacity and ability to judge the worthiness of investments, regardless of their experience.

This makes the level of your adviser’s expertise and honesty very critical.

Individual investors, like their SMSF counterparts don’t qual-

DOLLAR$ & SENSE with David Wells

ify for compensation because they don’t come under APRA supervision and therefore are not eligible for this compensation. Their only recourse is through the courts.

SMSF’s are the fastest growing segment of the superannuation industry and many more individuals are establishing their own funds every week.

Some will seek professional advice and others, quite scarily, will do it on their own. Many so called professional advisers miss out on explaining this very important distinction between APRA funds and SMSF’s.

A small APRA fund allows its members to make investment decisions, within certain guidelines, but the members are not trustees and do not administer the fund. Nor are they responsible for the compliance issues of the fund, these remain

with the trustee.

The trustee is a (usually) large company that has been approved by APRA as being capable of offering this service to eligible customers.

A SMSF requires all its members to be trustees or a director of the trustee company and therefore the member assumes all the fiduciary liability.

Small APRA funds come with far more restrictive rules than the usual SMSF trust deed, and while both will fall under the normal superannuation legislation, SMSFs are regulated by the Tax Office while APRA funds and their trustees come under APRA. The two regulators do have different requirements.

An APRA trustee (and there are only a few in Australia) usually has a tighter investment

strategy than an SMSF and will enforce its compliance. It will usually take a far more conservative approach as to what is, or is not, an appropriate investment and so there will almost always be less investment choice in such a fund. This, though, is not to say that there is not enough choice.

Also an APRA fund is more expensive, if for no other reason that a member must pay for a trustee’s services. And lo and behold there is a levy to pay for compensation, currently about 2 cents for every $100 value in the fund.

APRA returns fees are significantly higher than the $150 that the Tax office charges to lodge a return, too.

The small APRA fund was available before the huge rise in the use of SMSF’s around the turn of the century but had lost a lot of popularity due to its higher cost and greater restrictions, or lack of flexibility.

Lately the APRA managers have started to fight back. An adviser can now offer small APRA funds to clients for little more than the cost of a reasonable SMSF, so why would an

investor choose one?

Mostly they’re for people who for whatever reason, don’t want to take on the responsibility of trustee. They may not be qualified or just might not want the responsibility.

Recently we’ve had clients who moved from a small APRA fund a decade ago choose to move back as they were getting older and the wife was ill. With a small APRA fund there is no need to worry about changes of trustee.

Now we also have the fact that the compensation available is significantly higher and easier to get than with an SMSF. I could add that if your adviser has control of your funds and can make decisions without your approval, then you’re at risk anyway!

• 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.

A church music workshop WONTHAGGI - A church music workshop for singers and accompanists will be held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Korumburra Rd., Wonthaggi, on May 21.

The 2011 Gippsland Church Music Workshop is expected to attact many enthusiastic singers and accompanists.

A modern building, designed ‘in the round’, the church is a great venue for such an event.

Morning and afternoon tea and a light lunch are included in the modest registration fee of $25.

Leaders for the day have donated their services.

The workshop begins with morning tea and registration commencing at 9.30am and concludes with afternoon tea commencing at 3.15pm.

The proposed program includes sessions for accompanists, including guitarists; sessions with singing guru Fay Magee, Cowes; introduction to

SINGERS try out new music with gusto at a previous church music workshop. new music recently published 14 to Marion Dewar 5662 4432 for the Catholic Church and or imdewar@dcsi.net.au written by Australian composers (suitable for inclusion in worship services for all denominations); and the first public showing of a brief history of pipe organs of Gippsland by Anthony Hahn, Sale. Registrations should be made by May

Reflect On Your Life

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Page 8 - Catholic Life, May 2011

Chancellor celebrating silver jubilee of priesthood DIOCESAN Chancellor Fr Brian O’Connor has just celebrated the Silver Jubilee of his ordination.

A late vocation to the priesthood, it was really his third career after being a tailor and dressmaker, and then manager of many departments at Grace Brothers, Chatswood.

He was ordained a priest in

St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, by Bishop Eric D’Arcy on April 27, 1986, and in recognition of his silver jubilee has received a Papal Blessing.

Brian O’Connor felt called to the priesthood soon after he received his First Communion. His failure to grasp the finer points of Latin led to him spending 18 months as a lay

FR Brian O’Connor with a Papal Blessing from Pope Benedict XVI to mark the 25th anniversary of his ordination.

brother with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart to get the idea out of his head when he was a teenager.

Returning home, he began his trade course with David Jones in Sydney, which he completed by winning best apprentice of the year award for cutting and designing in tailoring for 1960.

His world was turned upside down when in 1961 his elder brother Carl was killed in a car accident, his father died a month later while saying the family rosary, closely followed by his mother suffering as stroke which left her paralysed down the left side.

He stayed at home to look after her and his younger brothers and then began his business making men’s suits from home. “I soon found out that wouldn’t keep a rat in cheese.�

He switched to making women’s clothing and began earning a modest living.

He made a name for himself among the Sydney socialites and had a steady stream of female clients wanting O’Connor apparel.

The business grew so much he opened two shops, one after another, and employed staff, however the dual pressures of running a business and looking after his mother and brothers, began to take its toll.

After realising that he could not continue on four hours a sleep a day, he reluctantly gave up his business.

With an aunt looking after his mother during the day, he began working in factories making clothing patterns but missed the company of people.

He then decided that if he could makes clothes, it should not be too much harder to sell them.

So his second career began as a menswear salesman at Farmers at Gordon and then Grace Brothers in Chatswood.

He worked his way up to be the highest paid salesman and assistant manager in the suit department. Later he became department manager of bedspreads and blankets, and then department manager of broadloom carpet and rugs.

He finished his career with Grace Brothers as a divisional stock manager responsible for items such as sporting goods, cameras, travel good etc.

After his mother died in 1972 he found that the priesthood was still beckoning him and he applied unsuccessfully to become a priest for Sydney Archdiocese.

Bathurst Diocese accepted him and he started studies at St Paul’s Seminary in Sydney in 1981. After discussions with Bishop D’Arcy, he switched to become a seminarian for Sale Diocese.

Other Sale priests who were with him at the seminary were Bishop Michael McKenna, Fr John Speekman, Fr Manny Lomagno and Fr Tim McInnes.

Coming to the diocese after he had completed his studies, Brian O’Connor spent a few months in Bairnsdale and then Bishop D’Arcy invited him to come to Sale to become his secretary and diocesan master of ceremonies.

Later Bishop D’Arcy ordained him a deacon in Bairnsdale.

After ordination as a priest he served as assistant priest at Warragul, assistant and then administrator at Bairnsdale, and assistant at Sale before receiving his first appointment as parish priest.

Fr O’Connor was made parish priest of Omeo where he became the parish’s last resident priest and then parish priest of Heyfield-Cowwarr.

He returned to Sale in 2000 to become chancellor and look after the diocesan archives and ecclesiastical museum collection of vestments and artefacts.

Fr O’Connor said the highlight of his whole life, since his mother had taken him and his four brothers to 7am morning Mass each day, being an altar server and every stage of his life, was summed up beautifully when he celebrated Mass in the cathedral on his 25th anniversary.

The familiar words of Luke’s Gospel story of the Journey to Emmaus rung true - “They recognised him in the breaking of the bread.�

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Catholic Life, May 2011 - Page 9

Welcome Blessed Pope John Paul II John Paul the Great - Bishop Prowse’s homily

By Bishop Christopher Prowse BY any standard, Pope John Paul II (1920-2005) was a great Pope and Christian leader of the Twentieth Century.

Only recently at one of the primary schools of the diocese I asked some very young students about Popes. They were able to identify Pope Benedict XVI but were unsure about the name of his predecessor.

Indeed, some were only little babies when John Paul II died.

The years roll by so quickly.

We need to recall again the holy and wonderful life and legacy of Pope John Paul II. There is no better time to do this than now on the day of his Beatification in Rome.

Karol Wojtyla was born on May 18, 1920 in Poland. At school he was very talented at his studies. He enjoyed sports and drama. He made friends easily. His family nurtured a strong Catholic faith in him.

His mother died when he was only nine. Four years later his brother died unexpectedly. His father, a military man, was the main formative influence in his life. However, he also died when Karol was a young man.

He commented later that “At twenty, I had lost all the people I loved”.

His early adulthood was lived at the time of Communist occupation and Nazi fascism. It was such a dangerous time in Poland.

So many of his seminarian, Catholic and Jewish friends just disappeared in these tragic times.

During these times of political, moral and intellectual chaos, the future Pope developed

his keen intellect and special care for the oppressed and marginalised. He saw in Jesus, the Redeemer of us all, the source of all motivation and hope for the dignity of every human being. He placed his life under the loving car of Mary, the Mother of God, Our Lady of Czestochowa. Under Mary, he considered his life “totally yours” (totus tuus).

Celebrating his Beatification on Divine Mercy Sunday is so apt. It was originally a Polish devotion but one which the future Pope shared with the entire world. But the expression “divine mercy” beautifully summarises his great gift to the world: he was a particular expression of the divine mercy of

God on all of us.

One lasting example for me of John Paul II expressing the mercy of Jesus was the manner in which he forgave fully the man (Ali Agca) who shot him on May 13, 1981 in St Peter’s Square. It was miraculous that the Pope was not killed.

He attributed his survival to Our Lady of Fatima, who he later wrote “guided the bullet”.

I think the photograph of him forgiving his assassin in the

prison cell is one of the photos of the 20th Century. It is a perfect example of the divine mercy of Jesus being transmitted in human form.

The merciful pontificate of Pope John Paul II is given some shape by referring briefly to statistics. His 27 year old pontificate was the third longest since St Peter.

He visited 129 countries of the world, 1022 cities and delivered 3288 speeches. He visited all but 16 of the 336 parishes of Rome and made 146 visits within Italy. He wrote 14 encyclicals, 15 apostolic exhortations, 12 apostolic constitutions, 45 apostolic letters and thousands of homilies, speeches and messages. He beatified ,338 Servants of God and canonised 482 new saints The pontificate of John Paul II was great on the breath of such statistics alone. But it was great also in the depth of teaching associated with such an enormous output of teaching. Perhaps it could be summarized by saying that John Paul II travelled as a global Catholic evangelist proclaiming to the fragile world: Be not afraid! Be not afraid to open your lives and every door of society to Christ, the Redeemer of the world.

Our baptism gives us three missions to attend to in our lives: the mission to teach (munus docendi), the mission to sanctify (munus sanctificandi), and the mission of governance, or servant leadership (munus regendi). The bishop exercises these three missions in fullness.

Pope John Paul II’s legacy could be divided into these three missions. In each one he offered an extraordinary contribution to Catholic faith. Commentators of his pontificate have so much to write about his legacy in these three areas. I am sure the years ahead will intensify our appreciation of all that he has given us.

Perhaps history will show particular attentiveness to the last years of his life. In these years he physically suffered much. He became a symbol, as it were, of suffering humanity.

In his pain he seemed to gather fragile humanity under his care and carry them to God. Strangely, although popularity is not considered a Christian virtue, he seemed most popular in his twilight months before his death in April 2005. The

BISHOP Prowse, then an auxiliary bishop for Melbourne Archdiocese, visiting with an ailing Pope John Paul II. fact that millions attended his Paul the Great, continues to funeral Mass is hard to believe. groan before God the Almighty People could identify with his Father for the needs of us all intercessory suffering for the who remain here on earth. world.

Heavenly Father, may BlessIt is this aspect that surely ed John Paul intercede for us in indicates his sanctify: he was a heaven as he did when he was holy man. I recall in my years on earth. We thank you for his of studying in Rome the hon- saintly example. His was a life our of being able to attend sev- in imitation of the divine mereral of his Masses in his private cy of your Son, Jesus – a life chapel in the Vatican. poured out in the service of us He made himself so available all. Holy Spirit, help us not to to the millions who sought him be afraid on earth. out. Holiness attracts like nothMake us great missionaring else. During the silent times ies by following John Paul II’s in these rather intimate Masses example and learning from his in his chapel I sometimes heard teachings. We make this prayer him groan audibly. through Christ, Our Lord, I wondered what was happen- AMEN. ing. I believe he was groaning in intercession for the sins of • Homily given at St Agathe world to God, who is divine tha’s Church, Cranbourne on mercy.

May 1, the day of the beatifiBy his Beatification on cation in Rome this day perhaps the Catholic Church is saying that Pope John

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Page 10 - Catholic Life, May 2011

Welcome Blessed Pope John Paul II Pope was born in Poland KAROL Josef Wojtyla was born in Wadowice, a small city 50km from Krakow, Poland, on May 18, 1920.

He was the second of two sons and his mother died when he was nine.

His eldest brother Edmund, a doctor, died in 1932 and his father, who was a non-commissioned army officer died in 1941.

After graduating from high school in 1938 he enrolled in a school for drama at university in Krakow.

When Hitler’s Nazi forces closed the university a year later, Karol was forced to work in a quarry from 1940-44 and later at a chemical factory to avoid being taken to Germany with many of the other young Polish men.

In 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he began courses in a clandestine seminary run by the Archbishop of Krakow.

At the time he also became one of the pioneers of the clandestine Rhapsodic Theatre.

After World War 2, he completed seminary studies and

was ordained into the priesthood in Krakow on November 1, 1946.

Soon afterwards he was sent to Rome where he finished his Doctorate in Theology with a thesis on the topic of faith in the works of St John of the Cross.

In 1948 he returned to Poland where he worked in various parishes and was a university chaplain until 1951 when he again took up studies on phi-

losophy and theology.

He later became Professor of Moral Theology and Social Ethics in the major seminary at Krakow and in the Faculty of Theology of Lublin.

In 1958 he was appointed an auxiliary bishop of Krakow and in 1964 became Archbishop of Krakow.

He was made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI in 1967.

His ascension to the highest office in the Roman Catholic Church came as a surprise to many.

After the death of Pope Paul in 1978 and then the sudden death of Pope John Paul after 33 days as Pope, few suspected that the College of Cardinals would break 450 years of tradition by appointing a non-Italian pope.

Karol Wojtyla became the first Slavic pope in the Church’s history and his pontificate of 26 years 168 days was the second longest in history, stabilising the Church by following on from one of the shortest pontificates in history.

Tireless worker for Christ POPE John Paul II is widely regarded as a tireless witness to Jesus Christ who led an extraordinary life.

If Pope John XXIII threw the windows of the Church open to the world, it was John Paul II who took the Church out into the world.

In the 26 years of his pontificate, he became the most travelled Pope in history, visiting every continent except Antarctica, meeting political and faith leaders.

He was a Pope who embraced the new technology, welcomed the world media as a friend and seemed to know instinctively when a gesture or action would enable the media to capture the

special photograph.

Who can forget those many pictures of the younger Pope kneeling down to kiss the ground after stepping down from his aeroplane? Or the pictures of the older, suffering Pope who still made himself available to the world instead of hiding his infirmities behind closed doors as many of this predecessors would have done.

This travelling Pope visited every major country except China and Russia.

He spoke to the largest audiences in history, making 104 pastoral visits outside of Italy.

His teachings included 14 encyclicals, 15 apostolic exhortations, 12 apostolic constitu-

tions, 45 apostolic letters and five books.

Pope John Paul also greatly expanded the number of saints as he presided over 51 canonisation ceremonies at which 482 saints were officially recognised by the Church, far more than any other pope in history.

He also presided over 147 beatification ceremonies at which 1338 people were beatified.

He created 231 cardinals, presided at 15 synods of bishops, and during his time as pope more than 17.6 million pilgrims participated in his 1160 Wednesday general audiences.

He held over 1000 audiences and meetings with heads of states and prime ministers.

HANDS reach out to touch The People’s Pope as John Paul II was occasionally called.

An assassin’s target AS he entered St. Peter’s Square to address an audience on May 13, 1981, John Paul II was shot and critically wounded by Mehmet Ali Agca, a Turkish gunman who was allegedly a member of the militant fascist group Grey Wolves.

The assassin used a 9mm semi-automatic pistol, striking him in the abdomen and perforating his colon and small intestine.

John Paul II was rushed into the Vatican complex and then to the Gemelli Hospital. En route to the hospital, he lost consciousness.

Even though the bullets missed his mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta, he lost nearly three-quarters of his blood.

He underwent five hours of surgery to treat his massive blood loss and abdominal wounds.

When he briefly gained consciousness before being operated on, he instructed the doctors not to remove his Brown Scapular during the operation.

The pope stated that Our Lady of Fatima helped keep him alive throughout his ordeal.

“Could I forget that the event (Ali Agca’s assassination attempt) in St Peter’s Square took place on the day and at the hour when the first appearance of the Mother of Christ to the

poor little peasants has been remembered for over 60 years at Fatima, Portugal?

“For in everything that happened to me on that very day, I felt that extraordinary motherly protection and care, which turned out to be stronger than the deadly bullet.”

- Pope John Paul II -Memory & Identity, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, 2005, p.184 Agca was caught and restrained by a nun and other bystanders until police arrived. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

Two days after Christmas in 1983, John Paul II visited the prison where his would-be assassin was being held. The two spoke privately for 20 minutes.

John Paul II said, “What we talked about will have to remain a secret between him and me. I spoke to him as a brother whom I have pardoned and who has my complete trust.?

Agca served 19 years in prison in Italy before being deported to Turkey where he served another 10 years for a previous assassination. He had escaped from jail shortly before the attempt on the pope.

Agca converted to Christianity in 2007 and was eventually released from prison in January 2010.

Catholic Life, May 2011 - Page 11

Welcome Blessed Pope John Paul II Beatification rules relaxed Three Australian visits POPE Benedict XVI relaxed On the fourth anniverthe rules to begin the beatifisary of Pope John Paul’s cation process for his prededeath, reporters heard of cessor. a presumed miracle that Normally five years must had recently occurred at pass after a person’s death bethe former pope’s tomb fore the beatification process in St Peter’s Basilica can begin. in which a nine yearThe new pope waived the old Polish boy from five year rule “so that the Gdansk, who was sufcause of Beatification and fering from kidney canCanonisation of the same cer and was completely Servant of God can begin imunable to walk, had been mediately”. visiting the tomb with The decision was anhis parents. nounced on May 13, 2005, On leaving St. Peter’s the Feast of Our Lady of Fa- Sr Marie Simon Pierre Basilica, the boy told tima and the 24th anniversary them, “I want to walk”, of the assassination attempt on John Paul and began walking.

II at St Peter’s Square.[ In 2009, a panel of reviewers at the John Paul II often credited Our Lady Congregation for the Causes of Saints of Fatima for preserving him on that day. voted unanimously that Pope John Paul In early 2006, it was reported that the II had lived a life of virtue.

Vatican was investigating a possible Pope Benedict XVI agreed, signing miracle associated with John Paul II. A the decree which recognised that John French nun, confined to her bed by Par- Paul II lived a heroic, virtuous life and kinson’s Disease, is reported to have ex- enabled him to be called “Venerable”. perienced a “complete and lasting cure Prior to the announcement of his beatiafter members of her community prayed fication, some ecclesiastical authorities for the intercession of Pope John Paul II”. had expressed concern that the cure of The nun Sister Marie Simon Pierre Sister Marie Simon Pierre, and perhaps said “I was sick and now I am cured. I the cure of the boy who had cancer, may am cured, but it is up to the church to say not be complete and lasting, as it has not whether it was a miracle or not.” been that long since the supposed miraIn 2006, Pope Benedict XVI said Mass cles. before an estimated 900,000 people in Sister Marie’s symptoms were anaJohn Paul II’s native Poland and during lysed very thoroughly before the beatifihis homily he encouraged prayers for the cation was announced. early canonisation of John The medical miracle was given a posiIn March 2007 the Vicariate of Rome tive affirmation by the Congregation and announced that the diocesan phase of its medical and theological panels, and John Paul’s cause for beatification was at by Pope Benedict. an end.

The search is now on for a second Following a ceremony on the second miracle to pave the way for the eventual anniversary of the Pontiff’s death the canonisation of John Paul II. After the cause proceeded to the scrutiny of the beatification ceremony several Vatican committee of lay, clerical, and episcopal officials and even Cardinal George Pell members of the Vatican’s Congregation expressed the belief that canonisation for the Causes of Saints, who conducted would only be within a few short years. an investigation of their own.

He had ears of the world

which time he beatified Mother Mary of the Cross MacKillop at a special Mass, again at Randwick.

The Source The Undulating wood slopes down to the rhythm of mountain streams …

If you want to find the source, you have to go up, against the current, tear through, seek, don’t give up, you know it must be somewhere here.

Where are you, source? Where are you, source?!

Silence …

Stream, stream, in the wood, tell me the secret of your beginning!

(Silence – why are you silent?

How carefully you have hidden the secret of your beginning).

Allow me to wet my lip[s in spring water, to feel its freshness, reviving freshness.

From The Stream in The Roman Triptych: Meditations by John Paul II (2003)

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Jewish and other faiths which produced a joint statement against terrorism.

His door was always open to world leaders and this sometimes brought criticism after he was seen meeting with the likes of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Cuban dictator Fidel Castro.

His world visits took him to shanty towns and ghettos all over the world, trailed by bus loads of media who helped reveal the plight of many of the world’s poorer people.

During 2000 he pressured global financial powers to forgive part of the debt of Third World countries so they could begin the climb to financial stability.

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POPE John Paul II was a pontiff who had the ear of more presidents, prime ministers and kings than any of his successors.

He reached out not only to the Christian world, but also leaders of other religions.

His one-on-one meetings with leaders of the United States and the USSR are widely regarded as having thawed the cold war which had kept the world on the brink of nuclear war for more than 20 years.

He gave spiritual impetus to the fall of Communism in Europe.

He pushed religious teachings into the forefront of public debate, arguing that moral norms such as the sanctity of life were not optional for contemporary society.

The Pope gave the Church a world voice when he made it clear where he stood on such issues as abortion, gay marriage, euthanasia and genetic research.

He also spoke out strongly against the US-led war against Iraq, pointing out that both sides should have done more to broker a peaceful resolution.

Following the September 11 attacks by terrorists in the United States in 2001, he led a spiritual campaign against all violence in the name of religion and the following year convened a meeting of the world leaders of Christian, Muslim,

POPE John Paul II visited Australia three times, twice as pontiff.

His first visit in 1973 had been as Cardinal Archbishop of Krakow to attend the International Eucharistic Congress in Melbourne.

His seven day visit in 1986 was only the second by a Pope, following on from the 1970 visit of Paul VI. After touching down in Canberra where he performed his customary kiss of the earth, he spent the next six and half days travelling 11,360km to visit every state and territory and attending 38 official functions.

Thousands lined the streets of cities he visited, hoping to catch a glimpse of the Pope as he passed by in his famous “Popemobile”.

At Brisbane he happily accepted an offer to hold a koala and surprised gathered journalists that he continued to hold the animal as he addressed them rather than quickly hand it back after the photo shoot.

More than 200,000 people attended an open air Mass at Sydney’s Randwick Racecourse at the end of his tour.

John Paul II’s second visit to Australia in 1995 lasted just 36 hours during

Page 12 - Catholic Life, May 2011

Catholic Education Week Building on firm foundations A FREQUENTLY asked question by parents considering a school for their child is “What makes a Catholic school different from any other type?”

“The answer,” says director of Catholic education in Sale Diocese, Peter Ryan, “can be found in this year’s Catholic Education Week theme: Building on Firm Foundations.

“The foundation of a Catholic school is Jesus Christ and the building ‘tools’ we use are Catholic values and traditions.

“Having said that, it is important to note that our Catholic schools are open to all who share or who are looking for a Christian view of life.”

Catholic Education Week, celebrated in the Diocese of Sale between April 29 and May 6, is a chance for the 41 Catholic primary and secondary schools located between Narre Warren and Orbost to rejoice in their commitment to Christ.

“The two thousand staff members working in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sale are like skilled master builders,” says Mr Ryan. “On a daily basis they build on the firm foundation laid by Jesus.”

While each Catholic school has its own identity, they all share the same overarching goal: the promotion of the human person.

“The student is the centre of all our endeavours in the school,” says Mr Ryan, “recognising that it is in the person of Christ that the fullness of truth concerning humanity is to be found.”

The tagline of the Catholic Education Office in the Diocese of Sale “Faith … Learning … Growth” reflects the three fundamental core purposes of all staff working in Catholic schools.

“Faith is about bringing every student to a knowledge and love of God as revealed in Jesus Christ and mediated to us through the Catholic Church,” says Mr Ryan. “Learning is about enabling every student to learn so that he or she can lead a fulfilling life and contribute positively to the development of a healthy and just society. And growth is about enabling every student to thrive in an environment that enhances his or her social and emotional growth.”

BISHOP Christopher Prowse, Deacon Tony Aspinall and St Patrick’s Stratford principal Nick Hall with Stratford students after the Catholic Education Week Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on April 28.

Enrolments remain strong DIRECTOR of Catholic education in the Diocese of Sale, Peter Ryan, has congratulated Catholic schools for their high quality work.

“The work of our schools is reflected in continuing increases in enrolments,” he said.

“While I acknowledge that some of our communities face particular challenges that make growth difficult, overall the picture is very strong.”

Mr Ryan said that enrolments in primary schools had been proportionally greater than increases across the state.

“We have enrolled an additional 257 primary students in 2011,” he said. “That is an in-

crease of more than three per cent. It represents the equivalent of a good size new school.”

Mr Ryan said that, while increases were to be expected in the western growth areas of the diocese, there had been increases in many areas across the diocese.

“St Brendan’s in Lakes Entrance has seen an increase of 21 percent over last year,” he said, “and St Mary’s Newborough had an increase of 18 percent. This is a remarkable effort.”

Mr Ryan said that this strong growth pattern was reflected in many parishes across the diocese.

He said that there had also been strong growth in secondary schools with numbers up by 130.

“It is not surprising that increases are somewhat smaller in the secondary sector,” he said, “as our secondary schools often tend to be operating at close to capacity already.”

“Overall,” he said, “Catholic schools in our diocese now cater for 15,695 young people.”

Mr Ryan said that, “while numbers are not the sole measure of our success, they do indicate that Catholic schools are providing a quality education that is appreciated by the community.”

CELEBRATING CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK 2011 Catholic schools offer: - Faith-filled learning environments - Outstanding pastoral care - Innovative curriculum - Dedicated staff - Affordable fees To learn more about your local Catholic school, visit www.ceosale.catholic.edu.au or contact the School Principal directly.

Catholic Life, May 2011 - Page 13

New horizons in the west for Josephite sister NARRE WARREN – After spending more than 30 years of her religious life in Sale Diocese the lively Sr Doreen Dagge RSJ is leaving to become community leader in the Josephite Provincial house in South Perth.

Always one to enjoy a party, she is gearing up for a diocesan farewell on June 24.

Her farewell will take place at a Mass at Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren, at 7.30pm, followed by a supper in the adjacent Don Bosco Hall with those attending being asked to take a plate of food to share.

The farewell comes hot on the heels of celebrations to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of being professed a Sister of St Joseph in North Sydney in 1961.

Sr Doreen grew up at Newport in the western suburbs on Melbourne and was schooled by the Josephites.

She was one of five children, of which three went on to religious orders. Younger sister Therese also became a Josephite Sister and their only brother Bernard is a Columban priest who has been serving in South Korea for many years.

Sr Doreen’s association with Sale Diocese goes back to 1958 when she was a postulant living at the convent at Iona and travelling each day to Cora Lynn where she taught prep to Grade Four students.

She began her two year novitiate at Baulkham Hills, Sydney, in 1960 and then after being professed did her teacher training at Mount St., North Sydney.

She returned to Sale Diocese in 1965 to teach at Sacred Heart Primary School, Morwell, for three years and then after various positions around the state, she returned for a second time to Morwell between 1974-77.

After being out of the diocese for another year, she said farewell to her career as a teacher

and moved into pastoral work, initially with the Cathedral parish in Sale.

For four years she lived with other sisters at the Maffra convent and travelled each day to Sale.

Exciting times ensued from 1979 to 1983 when she was part of the diocese’s high successful youth ministry team, working alongside Will Hanrahan and Brendan Hogan who later joined the priesthood and

is currently her parish priest at Narre Warren.

Her work took her out of the diocese for a few years, then she returned to be one of the last sisters at the Omeo convent before it closed.

She then served six years as parish worker in Traralgon, before heading to Bunyip in 2001 where she worked in Iona-Maryknoll parish for four years.

Part of 2005 was spent overseas studying at a renewal cen-

MAJOR changes are taking place in the Church in Queensland with the forced retirement of the Bishop of Toowoomba Bill Morris and appointment of Brisbane Auxiliary Bishop Brian Finnigan as apostolic administrator.

The Vatican announced the early retirement of Bishop Morris, 68, but he has made it clear in the secular media that he has been forced out of the position.

The bishop who is wellknown for his liberal views, was accused about five years ago of advocating ordaining female priests.

This was reported to the Vatican by what he calls the “temple police”, people who go around parishes reporting to the Vatican any comments by bishops and priests who do not toe the ultra-conservative line.

The move of Bishop Finnigan to Toowoomba is an interesting one for Brisbane because

Sr Doreen said baptism meetings were like the United Nations and it was interesting to see that parents from different migrant and refugee groups were now intermarrying.

“The church is full of babies and little children. This parish is so full of life and portrays a Church which is not in decline, like it is in many other regions.”

She said the move to Perth would be difficult because she would be leaving behind her 95-year-old mother who was a resident at Mary MacKillop Aged Care in Hawthorn East.

She suspects she was chosen for the Perth role because the community ran a house of welcome for the Western Australian Province and she was renowned for having a “gift of the gab” and being a welcoming type.

She would be community leader for the 15 sisters, most of whom are now retired.

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Search on for Aussie bishops

By Colin Coomber

tre in Dublin and then she was back again to spend almost six years at Narre Warren.

Sr Doreen said her work running the diocesan youth team had been marvellous years, getting to know so many young people, several of whom went on to become priests and religious.

Interestingly many of these same young people lived in a Josephite community house which she ran in Carlton for four years from 1988 and so even, though technically out of the diocese for those years, she was always in close contact with the families.

She said some of her most enjoyable years had been the past six in Narre Warren which had opened her eyes to the magnificent multi-cultural way of life.

The parish was the largest in Australia and was home to people of more than 50 nationalities who were sharing their dreams.

Archbishop of Brisbane John Bathersby reaches retiring age this July and a prolonged absence of Bishop Finnigan could leave the archdiocese short of bishops.

The other Brisbane auxiliary is Bishop Joseph Oudemann, a Capauchin Friar, who was ordained in Sale Diocese at Iona.

The Toowoomba situation has added to the problem of finding new bishops because the Church is facing a series of retirements in the next few years.

Bishop of Armidale Luc Matthys turned 75 last year, and Archbishop of Perth Barry Hickey, Archbishop of Hobart Adrian Doyle and Bishop of Ballarat Peter Connors all reach retirement age this year.

Add to that the vacancy created by the sudden death of Bishop of Sandhurst Joe Grech and the continued vacancy in Wilcannia Forbes by the resignation of Bishop Christopher Toohey in 2009 and it means the Church is currently looking

for seven replacement Bishops in Australia.

Another 10 will reach retirement age over the next five years.

Only new bishop announced recently is Fr William Wright from Sydney who will become new Bishop of Maitland Newcastle in June after the early retirement of Bishop Michael Malone last month.

The Church has been fortunate that retired Bishop of Parramatta Bishop Kevin Manning has made himself available to be apostolic administrator at Wilcannia Forbes.

The future of Wilcannia Forbes Diocese is also an interesting one considering that the Church hierarchy is loathe to retire a diocese.

Suggestions have been made that Wilcannia Forbes, which covers most of outback NSW, be joined with Bathurst or perhaps be carved up between Bathurst, Wagga Wagga and Canberra Goulburn.

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Page 14 - Catholic Life, May 2011

The dark side of living and dying in Gippsland GIPPSLAND has had its fair share of sensational murders, neither more nor less than other regions I suspect.

The Toongabbie writer Alby Adams has published a book on this subject: With Felonious Intent: Gippsland Murders and Murder Mysteries, in which he provides clear and gripping accounts of over 30 such cases.

One of the sub-categories of this topic is murder mysteries, in which Gippsland is especially rich. These are cases where a person disappears in strange circumstances, and the reason and the culprit is never convicted, or in some cases even found. Because Gippsland is densely forested and hilly country in many places, crimes of this kind could be more easily covered up than in the flat open country of the plains.

Adams provides five examples of murder mysteries, all famous. Ballarat Harry was a prosperous goldminer, known to carry nuggets around with him, on the Omeo fields on the mid 1850s.

He got mixed up with members of the Bogong Jack gang and, after one trip away with them, never returned, but the gang’s leader, Thomas Toke, turned up with some of his possessions.

Though there were strong suspicions, there was insufficient hard evidence to charge Toke.

Toke was a suspect in a num-

Gippsland History with Patrick Morgan ber of murder cases, including that of the murdered gold buyer Cornelius Green at Swifts Creek a few years later, an incident which is also described in this book.

One overseer at the remote Wonnangatta station in the Alps was found gruesomely murdered in 1917. The other overseer had disappeared and so was suspected of the murder, but his mutilated body was found some months later in another location when the winter snows had melted.

Though there was an immense amount of speculation then and since about motives and suspects, the matter has never been cleared up.

In the late 1920s the Methodist parson at Omeo was having an affair with a young female parishioner. Some time later his wife, who had left him but returned, died mysteriously, perhaps from arsenic poisoning.

The parson was tried for the crime on two occasions, but in each trial the jury could not come to an agreement, so he was eventually freed.

The case caused a sensation at the time, not only because

he was a religious figure but because murders among the respectable strata of society are exceptional.

Margaret Clements, the Old Lady of the Swamp at Tullaree in South Gippsland, came from a once wealthy family who had made a fortune out of Walhalla gold, but had since gone down in the world.

She had sold some of her estate as she descended into genteel poverty, and used to wander around the swamps near her home until one day in 1952 she disappeared.

Decades later a body was found some distance away near the sea which was likely to have been hers, but couldn’t be absolutely proved to be so. Speculation as to who benefited from her death was rife in the district for decades afterwards, but nobody was ever charged.

The recent Jaidyn Leskie saga based on Moe, which caused enormous public interest, is well known. The infant Jaidyn disappeared one evening after being in the care of his babysitter. His body was found some months later in the Blue Rock Dam at Willow Grove. The ba-

3 MacKillop books for kids MARY MACKILLOP - THE CHILDREN’S SAINT, NEVER SEE A NEED WITHOUT DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT, and LETTERS FROM MARY, three books written by Sr Joan Goodwin RSJ, published and distributed by St Paul’s, softback, each book rrp $9.95.

OUT of the dozens of books published on Australia’s first saint, these are the first activity books we have seen.

They are each pitched at different age groups and would be ideal for students doing assignments on St Mary of the Cross MacKillop.

The simplest book Mary MacKillop - The Children’s Saint is aimed at children five to seven years and is full of colouring pages and puzzles.

There is not much more than a sentence on each page to explain a little of Mary’s life.

Letters from Mary is for children aged eight or nine and has lots of coloring pages and puzzles interspersed with imaginary letters from Mary which explain her feelings about various issues and setting up the Sisters of St Joseph.

Never See a Need Without Doing Something About It is based on the motto which Mary gave to her sisters.

This book is aimed at children 10 to 12 years and is full of inspirational stories told in simple language.

Talking about Books There are a few word searches and puzzles but the book is mainly inspirational and informative.

INTRODUCING THE NEW TESTAMENT, Third Edition,

by John Drane, published by Lion Hudson, distributed by Rainbow Books, soft cover, 478 pages, rrp $44.99.

THIS book is an authoritative book on the New Testament which has long been regarded as vital reading for students and general readers.

It might not be the ideal book for tertiary level theology students but it is arguably the most useful non-technical introduction to the New Testament that is around.

Its value as a text is underlined by the fact that it has continually been in print for more than a quarter of a century.

It is printed on high quality stock and this new edition is now illustrated throughout in full color.

There are more than 150 color photographs, maps and diagrams to ensure that the book

will be even more useful.

The book is now user friendly with a summary of each chapter in the form of a micro index at the start and a glossary of characters and common terms at the rear.

The book is interspersed with special break out articles, each with a separate index.

These have been added by the author since earlier editions to give the reader even more information about Jesus and the apostles in historical context which are so often missed in reading just the Bible text.

LULLABY AND GOODNIGHT, published by Lion Hudson, distributed by Rainbow Books, heavy board pages, rrp $10.99.

THIS push and pull playbook is of the virtually indestructible type, suitable for little children.

It has simple prayers on pages with things to push, pull and slide to illustrate the prayers and captivate the attention of pre-schoolers.

It is a delightful novelty book for bedtime reading

bysitter was charged but acquitted.

In all five of these cases there was a suspect or suspects, but, although some went to trial, no one was ever convicted.

There are other Gippsland disappearance and suspected murder mysteries which Adams does not include in his book.

In the 1840s some European settlers believed a white woman was being held captive by an Aboriginal band. She was presumably a survivor from a shipwreck. Many attempts were made to locate her but she was never found.

John Paynter, otherwise known as Bogong Jack, disappeared in the late 1850s from Omeo after the police were on his track. He is said to have gone to ground in the mountains to the north; some locals believed he was murdered.

In his book Hail and Farewell Chester Eagle describes the saga of the Wainwright family who lived a very basic life in a shanty house made from a fallen tree. The father eventually disappeared, one or more of his sons were suspects, but the mystery was never cleared up.

Two of the cases described in this book happened to have occurred near or in the small town in South Gippsland in which I live.

In one case a group of young people involved in drugs decided to eliminate one of their number. They lured him to a party and tried to kill him, but were initially unsuccessful, and it took another two attempts by different methods before the victim died. A number of the perpetrators were convicted in this case.

In our town in the 1990s the publican and his wife quarrelled a lot, and their disputes escalated. Many of the regulars in the bar were more sympathetic to the wife.

One evening after the pub closed she ran over her husband with her car as he was walking home, and he died as a result.

The motivation and precise details of the incident were in dispute, and the wife was eventually found not guilty of manslaughter and murder charges.

This book is not for the faint hearted, with its gruesome details from coroners’ and doctors’ records.

From the evidence provided in these 30 or more cases, extreme violence leading to death occurs most frequently among a distinctive section of society: those on the margins of normal community life, itinerant workers, drinkers who go on binges, the mentally unstable, the unemployed or semi-employed, people having sexual affairs which cause jealousies, those who stole gold in the early decades or used drugs in recent decades.

Most victims are known to their assailants.

The great lesson from this book is that if you live a normal sober married family life, and are employed and integrated into your community, you are highly unlikely to get into trouble of this kind.

Copies of this book are available at the Collins Booksellers at the Traralgon newsagency.

The author Alby Adams can be contacted c/- Post Office, Toongabbie, 3856.

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

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Catholic Life, May 2011 - Page 15

The feature on Blessed John Paul II has put pressure on available space and so several items have unfortunately not been able to be placed in this issue. An effort will be made to provide for them next issue.

Quick calendar

What’s on & when May 14 – Marian Conference, St Michael’s Church, Traralgon, 9am to 3.15pm 15 – RE 4 the Rabble, Fr Brendan Hogan, St Ita’s Hall, Drouin, 12.30-2.30pm.

17 – Central Region meeting, St Ita’s parish room, Drouin, 7.30pm 21 – Church music workshop, St Joseph’s Church, Wonthaggi, 9.30am 22 – RE 4 the Rabble, Fr Brendan Hogan, St Mary’s Hall, Maffra, 4.30-6.30pm 25 – West Region meeting, St Michael’s new hall, Berwick, 10.30am

June 3- Annual Peace Mass, Bishop Phelan Stadium, Sale 6 – Queen’s Birthday holiday 6 – Deadline for June Catholic Life 14 - Heart region meeting, (venue TBA), 4pm 15 - June Catholic Life published 15 – CDF Board meeting 16 – Valley region meeting, Morwell, noon.

18 – Allan Panozza retreat on spiritual gifts, St Joseph’s Church, Foster, 10am 19 – Special collection in all parishes for St Mary’s Cathedral restoration and enhancement appeal 21 – Shortest day 22 – Finance Council meeting

July 1 - School holidays begin 11 – Deadline for July Catholic Life 18 - Third term begins 19 – Central Region meeting, St John’s parish centre, Trafalgar, 7.30pm 20 - July Catholic Life published

August 1 – Ramadan begins 8 – Deadline for August Catholic Life 9 - Heart region meeting, (venue TBA), 4pm 9 – East region meeting, Bairnsdale, 10.30am 10 - South region meeting, St Laurence’s parish centre, Leongatha, 11.30am 13-21 – World Youth Day, Madrid 17 - August Catholic Life published 17 – CDF Board meeting 18 - Valley region meeting, Moe, noon.

22 – Finance Council meeting 24 – West region meeting St Michael’s new hall, Berwick,

10.30am

September 4 – Father’s Day 5 – Deadline for September Catholic Life 7-9 – Australasian Catholic Press Association conference, Adelaide 9-11 – Australasian Religious Press Association conference, Adelaide 13 – Central Region meeting, Marian Room, St Joseph’s, Warragul, 7.30pm 14 - September Catholic Life published 19-23 – Sale Diocese clergy in-service, Corpus Christ College, Carlton 23 - School holidays begin

Cross-generation partnership MOE - Owen Charles, a member of St Kieran’s parish, has very kindly volunteered his time to read one to one with the students.

Principal Jo Johnson, said ‘it is great to have such a wonderful partnership with the parish, where parishioners are involved in enhancing learning through literacy.

Mr Charles, a former secondary school principal, will be sharing books and playing games with the children.

It has also given students the opportunity to converse with someone other than their teacher and share their reading experiences.

OWEN Charles with young readers Andrew and Josh.

School celebrates Holy Week

October 3 – Deadline for October Catholic Life 7-24 – Bishop in Rome for Ad Limina meeting 10 - Fourth term begins 11 - Heart region meeting, (venue TBA), 4pm 12 - October Catholic Life published 19 – CDF Board meeting 20 - Valley region meeting, Newborough, noon.

26 – Finance Council meeting 31 – Deadline for November Catholic Life

November 1 – Melbourne Cup holiday 1 – All Saints Day 2 – All Souls Day 8 – East region meeting, Orbost, 10.30am 9 - South region meeting, St Laurence’s parish centre, Leongatha, 11.30am 9 - November Catholic Life published 11 – Remembrance Day 15 – Central Region meeting, St Ita’s parish room, Drouin, 7.30pm 23 – West Region meeting, St Michael’s new hall, Berwick, 10.30am 27 – First Sunday of Advent 28 – Deadline for December Catholic Life

December 1 – Valley Region Christmas break-up, Morwell Club, noon 6 - Heart region break up (venue TBA) 7 - December Catholic Life published 14 – Joint meeting of CDF Board and Finance Council (tentative) 16 - Primary schools breakup 25 – Christmas Day 26 – Boxing Day 31 – New Year’s Eve

JACKSON as Jesus on the donkey. Crowd holding palms (from bottom left) are Sarah, Chloe, Alex and Olivia NEWBOROUGH - St Mary’s important story and be able to presenting the story of the last School celebrated Holy Week. relate it to our lives today.” week of Jesus’ life.”

The Grade 6s planned and Principal Teresa Greenough The children presented a seled the whole school and par- said “The mission of the Catho- ries of still human photographs ish community in prayer by lic School is to help the chil- and the impact was both drapresenting the events of Holy dren know the person of Jesus matic and reverent. Everyone Week.

Christ. The Grade 6s were was very moved by the liturgy.

The liturgy began with Palm able to do this by appropriately Sunday where Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem and also included Holy Thursday where Monsignor John P. Allman PA welcomes the occasion to Jesus shared his Last Supper give an open invitation to relatives, parishioners and friends with his apostles; Good Friday to pray ‘with thanks’ for his 60 years of priesthood as he where Jesus was crucified on celebrates his Diamond Jubilee with Mass in St Michael’s the cross and Easter Sunday where Jesus resurrected, as he Church, Traralgon, on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 11.30am. said he would.

It is his invitation that after Mass you share light Religious Education Coordirefreshments to be provided in Mary MacKillop nator Trish Mulqueen said “The of the Cross Hall, Traralgon. children were honored and in It is also his request that there be no presents, only your fact privileged to lead the comprayer of thanks to God for his vocation. munity in prayer at Easter. We hoped that through our dramatiHe prays that all who read this invitation that God will bless sation people would be able to you, as you know you will be welcome. realise the significance of this

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Page 16 - Catholic Life, May 2011

A Page for Youth

‘Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith’ (Col 2:7)

Sam Clear visits

Good Youth News with Jess Denehy & Kelly Lucas

THE Youth Ministry calendar is looking both busy and exciting this month.

RE 4 the Rabble, a series of catechesis sessions for ordinary, every-day young people, will take place in Drouin and Maffra this month. Guest speaker, Fr Brendan Hogan will explore the World Youth Day 2011 theme “Planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith” (cf Col 2:7). Please join us either at 12.30pm-2.30pm, Sunday May 15 (including lunch with the Bishop) at St Ita’s Hall, 50 Victoria St, Drouin, OR 4.30pm-6.30pm, Sunday May 22 (including afternoon tea) at St Mary’s Hall, 2 Duke St, Maffra. There is no cost to attend RE 4 the Rabble and everyone is welcome so please feel free to bring friends and family.

Please RSVP to Jess on jessd@ sale.catholic.org.au or on 5126 1063 for catering purposes.

In partnership with parishes and regions of the Diocese of Sale, the Youth Ministry Office is organising a Young Teacher Reflection Afternoon in each region this month. The guest presenter is a dynamic young man, Sam Clear.

After five years working with Youth Mission Team Australia, Sam spent a year walking 29,000 kilometres around the globe praying for the unity of all Christians.

These sessions will be an opportunity for young teachers in the region to network with each other and parish staff and volunteers, spend some time reflecting on their vocation as Catholic teachers and being inspired by Sam’s amazing story.

For more information please contact your parish office.

Many of our teachers are headed to Sydney at the end of the month to get a little youth ministry training top up at the National CSYMA Teachers Conference. 2011 see’s a shift in training for staff involved in Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia.

While the practical workshops and training is important, the need for good retreat experiences and spiritual renewal is also vital for staff and this has been taken into account.

The theme for this year’s retreat/conference is ‘Capturing a heart and vision for the New Evangelisation in Catholic schools (Catholic Schools at a Crossroad 2007). The event is important for all staff teaching the CSYMA course, leading youth ministry teams and groups or supporting youth ministry in our diocesan schools. Registration forms available from the CSYMA website www.csyma. com.

Looking for something to do

with your youth group on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend? State Youth Games is an action-packed weekend of sports and activities for young people.

Approximately 3000 people camp out together, play sports all day and celebrate at night.

It is an ecumenical youth event organised by Youth Vision Victoria – the youth ministry arm of Churches of Christ in Victoria.

Youth Groups from all over the State travel for the event. To get your youth group involved in this fantastic event visit the SYG website www.stateyouthgames.com.

And a bit of a heads up for

the July school holidays: Each year the Youth Ministry Office hosts a school holiday camp for teenagers in year 7-10 at the St Joseph’s Parish Centre, Iona.

Participants enjoyed “Joyful Noise” during the September 2009 and “Cool 2 b Catholic” during the 2010 July school holidays.

Senior secondary student and young adult volunteers act as small group leaders during these camps and are a great inspiration to all involved. The 2011 Youth Camp; “Call & Response” will be held July 13-15.

Registration information and all the details will be released soon so stay tuned!

IN partnership with parishes and regions of the Diocese of Sale, the Youth Ministry Office is organising a Young Teacher Reflection Afternoon in each region.

The guest presenter is a dynamic young man, Sam Clear.

After five years working with Youth Mission Team Australia, Sam spent a year walking 29,000 kilometres around the globe praying for the unity of all Christians.

He now spends his days captivating audiences with a uniquely engaging and compelling story that has Christ at the centre of it.

Each Young Teacher Reflection Afternoon will be an opportunity for young teachers in the region to network with each other and parish staff and

volunteers, spend some time reflecting on their vocation as Catholic teachers and being inspired by Sam’s amazing story.

The Young Teacher Reflection Afternoons will be held at: • West region (St Patrick’s Parish Centre, Pakenham), 2-6pm, Monday 23 May • Central region (Marion room, St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Warragul), 2-6pm, Tuesday 24 May • South region (St Laurence’s Parish Centre, Leongatha), 2-6pm, Wednesday 25 May • Valley region (St Vincent’s Parish Hall, Morwell), 2-6pm, Thursday 26 May • Heart/East region (Chapter House, Sale), 2-6pm, Friday 27 May For more information please contact your parish office.

Meet some of the WYD2012 pilgrims ABOUT 40 young people from the Diocese of Sale have made the commitment to be part of our diocesan pilgrimage to World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, Spain this coming August.

Over the next few editions of Catholic Life we’d like to introduce you to a few of them!

Please keep these, and all of the WYD pilgrims, in your prayers. And if you see them around make sure you ask them about their WYD experience!

Andrew Ross, 19

My name is Andrew Ross, I come from Orbost in East Gippsland and went to Nagle College in Bairnsdale and graduated in 2009. I now study Arts and Commerce at Deakin University at Geelong.

I first went to WYD in 2008 when I went with the Nagle College group and stayed with other Salesian schools from around the world. This was an amazing experience for me and was great to meet so many other people my age and to pray with other people which can be rare to do so with other people my age.

I have decided to make the pilgrimage to WYD Madrid because of the amazing experience I had in Sydney. I first decided that I would go to Madrid at the end of the closing Mass in Sydney when we were leaving

Randwick race course, I felt the joy of everyone around me and what we had just experienced and I never wanted that feeling to end.

The first thing I’ve done to prepare for WYD is SAVE, SAVE, SAVE! This has been going well and I’d like to thank the parishes of St Colman’s and St Brendan’s for fundraising for my trip. Other ways I have been preparing is trying to learn some Spanish (and failing!) and learning about some of the places we will be visiting in Spain.

Praying has been a big part of the preparation for WYD and the WYD Boot Camp preparation sessions have been an important part to get to know the other pilgrims.

I’m hoping to meet lots of other Catholics like me from all other the world and to be able to have a shared experience of our faith.

I’m not really nervous about WYD because I did go to Sydney so I know what to expect but the larger crowd may be a bit daunting.

I’m most looking forward to the opening Mass of WYD which will be the start of an amazing week!

I’d like to thank everyone for their support and helping me on my journey to Madrid.

Thank you, Andrew Ross.

Saoirse Conlon, 16

My name is Saoirse Conlon. I live in Narre Warren and attend St Francis Xavier College in Beaconsfield. I decided to be a part of this pilgrimage because it was a chance to explore my faith more and I really wanted to go over to Spain!

I’m hoping that this journey will help me become more open to other religions and cultures as we meet people from all over the world.

I’m extremely nervous that I won’t be able to understand anything that anyone says, but very excited to be in Spain.

Thanks, Saoirse

ing forward to being in a new country and being around so many youth who have the same faith as me. I feel privileged to be the only person going from Churchill and I’m sure I will make friends in my travels.

Daphne Vaifale, 25

Cory Foster, 17

I’m Cory Foster, I’m 17 and I live in Churchill.

I decided to go to World Youth Day last year when I first heard it being advertised in church and other places. My older sister went to World Youth Day in Sydney 2008 and she loved it.

I haven’t been to World Youth Day before so this will be an amazing experience for me.

I have mainly been preparing for World Youth Day financially, doing fundraising in the parish and I have also been learning a bit of Spanish. I am honestly not going there with any expectations; I’m just look-

My name is Daphne Vaifale, 25 years of age and I was born in Wellington, New Zealand, and moved here with my family in 1995.

My previous experience of WYD was in Sydney in 2008.

Due to the successful event in Sydney, I knew in my heart that I had to go Spain.

I’m preparing spiritually so that my faith can grow and that I can reach out to those in need of Jesus. I am also preparing physically for the many long walks that we will be doing.

I am hoping to get close to his Holiness Pope Benedict himself and that I may shake/kiss his holy hand! I am looking forward to meeting new faces and experiencing Spain itself.

I am VERY EXCITED!! I ask for your prayers so that we may travel safely.

Thank you, Daphne

Catholic Life, May 2011 - Page 17

For the Young and Young at Heart Time for a Laugh THE road crew went out on the job but left their shovels behind.

The foreman used his mobile phone to call the boss to explain the situation and to ask him to bring the shovels when he came by later.

“OK,” says the boss “I’ll bring the shovels but you’ll just have to lean on one another until I get there.”

IF you drop a white hat in the Red Sea what does it become?

Wet

Clown colouring contest

The secretary thought for a while and conceded that should the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader turn up, he would make an exception to the rule.

The golfer responded “Well I happen to know that both Julia and Tony are in Canberra this week, so we’ll take their spots!”

WHO was the meanest chicken ever to have lived?

Attila the Hen.

LISA came home in tears and told her mother that the A TEACHER asked his teacher had yelled at her for students to write in a page something she had not done. or less their definition of the “What was it?” asked difference between igno- Mum. rance and apathy.

“My homework!”

He was forced to give an A to the student who wrote JOHN received a talking “I don’t know and I don’t parrot as a gift and much care.” to his dismay found that it would not stop swearing.

A MAN who thought he He tried to change it by was a dog went to the psy- playing classical music and chiatrist who invited him to saying polite things but the lie down on the couch. parrot’s behavior just got “I’m not normally allowed worse. on the furniture,” said the Finally, in an act of desman. peration John grabbed the parrot and threw it in the A CITY bloke was staying freezer to cool off. at a big outback station and After a couple of choice the owner suggested that he swearwords the parrot went take a couple of dogs down to the swamp and do some silent. Five minutes later John decided to let the bird shooting.

The city slicker headed out and to his surprise it off with a shotgun over his walked out politely saying shoulder and a couple of “I am sorry if my past behavior has offended you. I dogs trailing behind him.

The farmer soon heard will do everything in future some shots but was sur- to ensure I am a perfect pet.”

John was dumbfounded by prised to see the man comthe sudden turn-around in ing back after a few minutes. character and was about to “Did you get any?” called ask the parrot it being left in the farmer. a cold dark place had done “Yes. Do you have any the trick when the parrot more dogs?” asked “As a matter of interWHAT starts with E, ends est what did that chicken in with E and only has one let- the freezer say to get that sort of treatment?” ter?

An envelope.

WHAT do whales eat?

Fish and ships.

TWO visitors turned up at an exclusive Melbourne golf THE union talks had gone club and asked if they could well and the union boss play a round.

The club secretary ex- emerged from the conferplained politely that the ence to tell striking workers course was fully booked and they had been successful.

“We get a 10 percent pay there would be no way that they would be able to be fit- rise, six week’s annual leave, two hour lunch breaks, and ted in until the next day.

“You are discriminating we now only have to work against us,” claimed one on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.” man.

A voice from the men “Certainly not sir,” said the secretary. “We just do complained “What every not have any room for you.” Tuesday and Wednesday?”

“I bet if we were Julia GilWHAT do cats eat? lard and Tony Abbott you would be able to fit us in.”

Mice Bubbles.

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

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

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

Send entries to: Colouring Contest, c/- Catholic Life, PO Box 183, Sale. 3853

And who is our winner?

LOTS of great entries to our Easter colouring contest but we were mystified to find eight or nine entries for our Patrick’s Day contest to still come in this month.

Remember, to be make sure that your entry is posted back by the deadline the next issue.

Judging is normally one of the last things we do before sending the paper to the printer to allow our young artists time to do their best work.

This time make sure we get entries by June 6.

Winner of the Easter con-

test is Faith O’Connor, 8, who is a student at St Thomas’s Primary School, Sale.

It has been a while since we have had a winner from that school.

And because of Easter and the school holidays we have

not had a chance to deliver a prize to Pheobe Cunningham at Maffra.

This month’s contest is an easy one which should appeal to all the younger students after a couple of hard contests.

Col & Pal Semmens FUNERAL DIRECTORS

~Servicing Gippsland~ Maffra 5147 1954 Sale 5144 1954 Heyfield 5148 3354

Brad

Pal

Col

Our Family Caring For Your Family With 25 Years Experience

Page 18 - Catholic Life, May 2011

Spirit of Catholic Anglicans golf champions Education awards TRARALGON - Four secondary teachers, a primary principal and a school chaplain are the recipients of the Catholic Education Office’s inaugural Spirit of Catholic Education Awards.

Marian Kee and John Heatley (Marist-Sion College, Warragul), Fr Joe Pulis SDB (Nagle College, Bairnsdale), Greg Nelson (St Peter’s College, Cranbourne), Catherine Campbell (Lumen Christi Primary School, Churchill) and Roslyn Joyner (St Joseph’s Primary School, Orbost) received their awards at the Catholic Educational Leadership Dinner in Traralgon on April 29.

Earlier this year, each of the 41 Catholic schools in the Sale Diocese was invited to nominate staff members who had been inspirational in at least one of the three core educational purposes of Catholic education: faith, learning and growth.

An awards panel at the Catholic Education Office selected the six individuals who had made the greatest difference to others in their school and parish communities.

In the faith category, Fr Joe Pulis was nominated for his commitment to spreading the Good News in a way young people at Nagle College can relate to.

“Fr Joe has a presence and calmness that attracts students of every age and ability to connect with him,” his nomination reads.

“He is ever present and available and always has a listening ear. He is a person of integrity who speaks with great wisdom yet never shows judgement.”

The second recipient of a faith award is Greg Nelson, a strong supporter of the social justice programs at St Peter’s College.

“Greg has regularly attended with senior students the Mathew Talbot Soup Vans and taken up the opportunity to provide meals at Ozanam House in North Melbourne. He has also been an avid fundraiser alongside our students to raise money for Caritas and the Bishop’s Family Foundation.”

In the area of learning, Marian Kee was nominated for her contribution to student-centred practices, school improvement and social justice initiatives at Marist-Sion College.

“Marian is an exceptional educator,” the nomination reads.

“Her professionalism, work ethic, educational vision, collegial support and personal energy – all channeled to the cause of quality learning for students – are outstanding.”

The second learning award recipient is Ros Joyner who is in the fourth year of her first principalship at St Joseph’s in Orbost.

“Due to limited resources, Ros took on the role of reading recovery teacher, religious education coordinator and general curriculum support to a graduate teacher.

She initiated music lessons

for every child to increase their self-esteem. She purchased uniforms and school shoes, then enforced strict guidelines for wearing them, to build students’ sense of pride in themselves.

She sourced a bus that the school and parish could jointly purchase and, with the generous support of her husband, reconditioned it so that the children can enjoy travel for sporting and cultural events in Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale that would otherwise be cost prohibitive.”

It was John Heatley’s high standard of pastoral care that prompted a member of the Marist-Sion community to nominate him in the category of growth.

“Like a good father, John has high and realistic expectations of his students. He works tirelessly, following up immediately and thoroughly on any issues. If needed, John speaks to students directly and with compassion about where they have gone wrong. He then helps them rectify things and to stay on the right track. The students respond very well to his guidance, advice and encouragement.”

The second growth award recipient is Catherine Campbell who has been involved with Lumen Christi Primary School for 25 years.

“Catherine’s role includes visiting new families, supporting families involved in sacramental programs and other religious events, assisting families experiencing need through bereavement, sickness, separation, a new addition or difficulties with their children. Her visits rarely have taken place during work time but have generally been later in the day and on weekends.”

Director of Catholic education Peter Ryan congratulated these deserving award winners, saying “Our schools are so very blessed that these six individuals chose a career in Catholic Education.”

CONTESTING the Serra Golf Day at Sale are (from left) Cameron Croaker, Jim Turner, Leo Van Berkel and Fr Tom O’Connell.

THE Anglicans have taken the eight Catholic priests and (best score by priest from Sale DioFr Denis O’Bryan, 38 ;Neville over the mantle of being the a brother. Also playing were cese) McLeod Shield (best score of day), best clerical golfers after de- six Serrans, five ladies and 27 Rocky Toma, 41; Best Religious feating Catholic clergy at the friends of Serra.

(Catholic), Fr Denis O’Bryan, 38, annual Serra golf day in Sale While 57 golfers contested runner-up Fr Peter Slater, 35; Best last month. the various prizes, there were religious (non-Catholic), the Rev McQueen, 38, runner-up, Anglican clergy were invited 103 at the annual dinner after- Russell the Rev. John Bertram, 36; Best several years ago to participate wards.

Serran, Reg Carmody, 35, runnerin the annual stableford event The drawing of the annu- up Alan Wyatt, 35; Best friend of which is a fundraiser for the al raffle with first prize of a Serra, Rocky Toma, 41, runner-up Turner, 39; Best lady golfer, Serra club which promotes re- week’s holiday at Telopia Court Jim Marg Johns, 32, runner-up Rita ligious vocations. units in Merimbula was won by Wake, 30;Nine hole event, the Rev Since then the two denomi- Marg Butwell.

Chris Venning.

Nearest the pin: 3rd, Dallas Papnations have competed for the Golfers wanting to participate prestigious Bishop Jeremiah next year are reminded that the worth; 6th, Jim Turner; 11th, Rita 14th, Gavin Hackwill.

Coffey trophy, decided by cal- event is held on the Monday of Wake; Longest drive: 18th, Rev Rusculating the average player Holy Week, the day prior to the sell McQueen; 17th, Alan Wyatt; score of each denomination.

Mass of the Oils.

Ftriend of Serra 8th, Paul Davine; Results: Fr Frank Carroll Per- Lady Golfer 1st, Marg Johns.

This year seven Anglican Shield, Religious 256 d Not as golfer anyway trophy, Fr clergy and one Uniting Church petual Serra 159; Oils aint Oils Trophy Peter Kooloos, 12. minister competed against

CWL regional conference IONA – Twenty seven women representing seven branches of the Catholic Women’s League attended the regional conference for West Gippsland and Latrobe Valley.

It was pleasing to have three members from the newly formed Narre Warren branch present.

Iona-Maryknoll president Marcia Wilkinson welcomed everyone including spiritual director Sr Lynette Young and diocesan president Sylvia Neaves.

Branch secretaries reported on activities and as usual these showed how diligently these Catholic women work for their parishes and a variety of charities.

Val Feltham gave a report on the world wide gathering of women for the World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisation conference in Jerusalem last October.

Bernadine O’Connor told of recent action by the social questions group which seeks to give the Christian point of view

CECV meets in Warragul WARRAGUL - The Diocese of Sale was recently honored by a visit of the board of directors of the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd While the board holds monthly meetings, it conducts one meeting in each of the three regional dioceses each year. April was Sale’s turn.

The Catholic Education Commission has responsibility for distributing and accounting for government funds made available to Catholic schools throughout Victoria.

The board of directors of the company work on behalf of the four bishops to achieve this.

The four bishops of the Victorian dioceses are actually the members of the company, with the board of directors assisting

them.

The meeting was addressed

by Bishop Christopher Prowse, who congratulated and thanked members of the board for their work. Bishop Prowse reminded them that they were an important part of the missionary work of the Church, as schools are so great a contributor to that.

Bishop Tim Costelloe, one of the auxiliary bishops from the Archdiocese of Melbourne, chairs the board.

Director of Catholic education in the Diocese of Sale, Peter Ryan, is a member of the Board.

Board members commented on the beauty of Gippsland, the suitability of the Warragul premises as a location for the diocesan offices.

Mr Ryan said, ”it is a wonderful opportunity for us to share what we have here in the Sale Diocese with our colleagues in the rest of Victoria.

“We enjoy a great relationship with the other dioceses and look forward to continuing that for many years into the future.”

He added that it was clear that Catholic education in Victoria is in a very healthy state, however, he warned that the current government funding review provided many great challenges.

“I hope,” he said, “that people committed to Catholic education in our diocese will rise to the occasion and put appropriate pressure on government when the time comes.”

to politicians and the public via newspaper articles.

Monica Clark reminded everyone to listen to the CWL program on Radio 3BBR (103.1 FM) which is on every second Friday between noon and 12.30pm, and repeated the following Sunday at 11am.

Mrs Neaves congratulated all branches on their work and achievements and announced the possibility of two new branches forming this year. She emphasised the importance of inviting other women to join the league to keep it vibrant.

Guest speaker diocesan pastoral coordinator Sophy Morley spoke on forthcoming changes to the Missal and the reason for these changes.

Bishop Christopher Prowse and Fr Thomas Mannakulath celebrated Mass in St Joseph’s Church with Iona-Maryknoll members being the readers and leading prayers of the faithful.

Sr Lynette’s reflection after lunch centred on two great Australian women – St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and Sr Mary Glowery – two ordinary women who did extraordinary things because of their faith and love for Jesus.

She referred to CWL women as the “elders” with the experience and wisdom to make a difference in everyday situations with their families and in the community.

Catholic Life, May 2011 - Page 19

Classifieds public notices

Let’s leave something for those in need

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.

wanted known

bingo Sacred Heart School

VOCATIONS PRIESTS AND DEACONS Are you considering a vocation as a priest or deacon for the Diocese of Sale?

If so please contact Diocesan Vocations Director

BINGO Every Friday

Morwell RSL Club, Elgin St., Morwell

Eyes down 11am. Ticket sales 10.30am Now 55 games at 20 cents per game.

Further details phone 5134 8484 or 5133 7221 (AH)

vocations@sale.catholic.org.au

situation vacant

to help you discern God’s call

PARISH WORKER St Mary’s Parish, Newborough is seeking to meet its ministry needs with the parttime employment of a parish worker.

Teaching experience is desirable. We would be happy to negotiate with 2 people in a shared role within the parish.

The main roles would include coordinating the Sacramental program and visiting.

The position is 1½ days per week with an allowance for petrol and an honorarium being offered.

Stmarysnewb@bigpond.com or Ph: 5127 3260

YOUR advertisement could be here for just $10. It would reach an estimated 45,000 readers from Fountain Gate to the NSW border.

BAIRNSDALE – The Bairnsdale members of the Catholic Women’s League held a morning tea in friendship with local Koori women on March 25.

A happy time was spent with the three Koori women.

Everyone shared something about themselves and were entertained by some of their friends’ stories.

It is intended that the group will meet again and CWL members are to be invited to the

LOCH - St Vincent’s Catholic Church, Loch, adopted sights, sounds, aromas and fashions of Chile in order to celebrate the World Day of Prayer in March.

More than 30 women, representing 11 different organisations took on a number of speaking roles to present the service.

The World Day of Prayer, as it suggests is a day of prayer and Christian unity observed worldwide.

This year the churches shared in a service of worship that was prepared by Christian women of Chile. It reminded people of the painful memories of hardships and loss experienced by the people of Chile and how their faith, compassion and care for one another has supported them through their depths of fear and deprivation.

The Chilean women set the

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launch of a book about one of the local Koori families. CWL will provide the refreshments.

Members have also been invited to the Keeping Place and help the Aboriginal women prepare a Mass in November in honor of their elders who died in massacres in our diocese.

Members feel sure that the next gathering may involve more Koori women now that the decision has been made to keep meeting.

Chilean focus on World Prayer Day

Deacon Tony Aspinall 0414 468 692

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theme: “How many loaves have you?”

This confronting question was addressed by the guest speaker Sr Margaret Fyfe CSB who visited from Caritas Australia, Melbourne. Because she has spent a number of years in Chile she was able to develop the theme, giving some wonderful reflections on how this world has so many people who have very little and others have so much.

A feature of Sr Margaret’s talk was the presentation of the day’s Gospel reading from Mark 6:30-44. Using a Powerpoint presentation, the words of the Gospel overlaid pictures taken by her while living with Chile’s indigenous people from the arid regions of the north.

The lives and customs of these people greatly reflected the theme of the Gospel; the desolate isolation, small and close hospitable communities who spread a blanket outside their meagre homes to welcome visitors. Other members of their community supply bread and fillings to feed visitors before being welcomed inside.

An interesting number of questions followed Sr Margaret’s talk.

The theme “How many Loaves Have You?” was reflected in the church with posters made by Joyce O’Meara.

Then, from the front door to the back of the altar, brilliant red lilies decorated the Church.

Since a festive mood sets the overall tone for traditional Chilean clothing the eight ladies from the Catholic Church were dressed to complement the red of the lilies and the tone of the service.

The service commenced with a Powerpoint presentation that gave everybody background information about Chile. It was compiled by Dianne Stewart, who coordinated the service.

Ann Larkins provided the music and a beautiful solo of a Spanish hymn while Jeff Jenkins took the offering.

Bread placed on the altar and the aroma of bread cooking reinforced the theme of the service.

As a final gesture, all those involved in the service were offered a bread roll as a memento before enjoying fellowship at the local Uniting Church Hall.

Page 20 - Catholic Life, May 2011

A Crusader with a passion for evangelising with old cars big cars because of the logistics of carting around eight children of various sizes. These vehicles included a 1961 Chrysler Royal complete with push button auto, green tinted windows, two tone upholstery, tapered speedo, black duco and lots of chrome, and a range of Fairlanes.

Nowadays Paddy likes most sports orientated cars with his preference being for big chromed V8 Fords.

His passion really got a boost about five years ago when he took his family to a car show at Cora Lynn and commented to Denise that he wouldn’t mind doing up an old XM Falcon.

But seeing the Customlines and preferring them to a plain old Falcon, she asked “Why don’t you get one of these?”

Paddy jumped at the opportunity and began scouring the countryside for an old vehicle, rescuing one from a farm a few weeks later.

After hours and hours of restoration work the car is on the road.

“Restoration is a bit like the job God does on our souls. It’s a work in progress and there is always room for maintenance and improvement,” he says.

Paddy decided when he start-

ed on the car that he could use it to help further God’s works on earth.

The Crusaders will cater for people interested in Catholic fellowship, cruises, social nights, supporting and running charity events and promoting the Catholic faith using the car hobby as a drawcard.

And the car club will not just be a retreat for men either as it will cater for males and females of all ages who share a passion for cars If you have a classic car, street machine, race car, hot rod, motorbike, military vehicles or truck on the road or under construction, or even if you are just interested in getting involved in the hobby, contact Paddy on 0429 196 570.

PADDY O’Shea, Bunyip with his driving passion, a 1955 Ford Customline.

Chante’s special delivery

By Maree Chapman BERWICK - Thanks to the generosity of others, life for Chante Masset and her family has finally taken an upward turn.

After some rigorous fundraising, St Francis Xavier College presented Chante, a year 8 student, with a modified vehicle , a

Donation Form: Children Praying the Rosary - Joy, Light, Sorrow & Glory

Aid to the Church in Need …. a Catholic charity dependent on the Holy See, providing pastoral relief to needy and oppressed Churches

new Kia Carnival .

Chante‘s life took a dramatic turn in January 2010 when she suffered a swimming pool accident which left her a quadriplegic. Chante is a young girl with an incredible amount of self motivation and strength and is now bravely returning to school after spending the last 12 months in the Austin Hospital and Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre.

College principal Paul Desmond explained how the new vehicle has been modified to accommodate Chante’s wheel chair to facilitate her return to school and enable her to get back to life with her peers once again.

Being able to attend school every day without the added extra hassles of organising special transport will make life so much easier for the family. The

car was presented to her at a special surprise reception in front of family, friends, nurses and donors at the college’s Berwick campus.

Our Lady Help of Christian’s Parish, Narre Warren and Don Bosco Primary school assisted the college with the fundraising which also made it possible to have Chante’s house renovated, to provide the special facilities needed for her to return to the family home.

College Pastoral associate Rhonda O’Connor, who has maintained close contact with Chante and her family during this difficult time, praised Chante for her courage and the generosity of many who offered donations large and small together with the support of builders who willingly donated the labor and materials needed.

Cath Life

BUNYIP – A Bunyip man with an interest in classic cars is starting a Catholic auto club and is looking for others who share his interest to join up.

Paddy O’Shea has called the new club The Crusaders.

His aim is to promote the Catholic faith by evangelising through example and knowledge.

His hope is that by encouraging people to be involved in the club it will strengthening the faith of members and hopefully attract a lot of young people with a church based club that offers a positive faith strengthening experience, intergenerational contact, and a lot of fun.

Paddy, his wife Denise and two young sons moved to Bunyip from Melbourne in 2001and are parishioners at Iona.

The family has grown with the addition of three more boys and a young daughter, but so has Paddy’s love of automobiles.

His interest in cars began when he was always drawing XW and XY Falcon GTs and reading any racing magazine he could lay his hands on.

His parents, John and Elaine, who now live in Garfield, had no interest in cars but owned

CHANTE Masset’s overjoyed reaction when she looked out the window to see the new car which will greatly assist her family in transporting her.