Catholic Life - September 2012

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Catholic Life

Publication of the Diocese of Sale

Safety concern as Yarram church closes - Page 2

ISSUE 165

September 2012

Deacon to be ordained Saturday - Page 3

Year of Faith Pastoral Letter - Page 9

Nuncio’s farewell visit THE official opening of Sion House, the new Diocese of Sale headquarters in Warragul, was conducted last week by the Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto.

It was his last official function in Australia prior to have taking up a new diplomatic appointment in Jerusalem at the end of the month.

Before the opening he travelled to Moe with Bishop Christopher Prowse to meet the school community at St Kieran’s Primary (see story centre pages.)

The Nuncio said that more than 12 months ago Bishop Christopher Prowse had invited him to perform the opening and with his pending departure, it would have been easy to find an excuse not to come to Sale Diocese.

“However, how could I not come to bless this place called Sion House when I will be shortly moving to the Mount of Sion?”

Archbishop Lazzarotto said that during his five years in Australia as the Pope’s official representative, he had travelled widely to the many dioceses and had a good appreciation of the Church in Australia.

He disagreed with the commonly expressed sentiment that the Church in Australia was declining.

Everywhere he had travelled he had met “wonderful, committed Christians” and his last- TO his delight, the Pope’s representative Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto finds during his visit to St Kieran’s Primary School, that ing memory would be of these you can expect the unexpected when questioned by young children. people who were the future of This was exactly what God He said that the diocese had foundations for times ahead by Sale Jeremiah Coffey, Bishop the Church. wanted for us. He did not care reached an impressive stage in centralising its base in War- of Sandhurst Les Tomlinson, Archbishop Lazzarotto said about buildings but the people its development and the new ragul.

Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne that since the beginning of his- who were really God’s dwell- Sion House facilities which During the opening ceremo- Vincent Long, and Oblate Protory, mankind’s first desire had ing place. would be a focal point for peo- ny Bishop Prowse welcomed vincial Fr Harry Dyer. been for some sort of shelter “We are God’s people and the ple, as well as a dwelling place the many guests which includwhere they could live safely, be dwelling place God wants to for the workers. ed Archbishop of Melbourne • Continued Page 10 happy and share. build for us is in our hearts.”

The diocese had created solid Denis Hart, Bishop Emeritus of

Your generous gift will go on giving A donation to the Bishop’s Family Foundation will aid needy families in the Diocese of Sale by funding much needed counselling and other programs.

Send tax deductible donations to: Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820 Phone 5622 6600 for more information

Page 2 - Catholic Life, September 2012

Year of Grace, Year of Faith, Family Evangelisation Year of Grace Reflection 4

To God’s People in the Catholic Diocese of Sale

I

am delighted to hear from both the Council of Priests and the Pastoral Council of the diocese that many local initiatives are taking place at present in response to the Year of Grace.

I thank Anne Taylor, our diocesan representative, for her help in assisting us with ideas and resources.

One particular initiative was especially refreshing to hear. Every week a parish in the diocese places before the parishioners a particular image of the face of Jesus.

There is the invitation to sit quietly in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and contemplate the sacred image. I am sure that this inspired and simple pastoral initiative would allow the grace of Jesus to refresh the parish in a special way YEAR OF FAITH You will find in this issue of Catholic Life my Pastoral Letter

preparing the Diocese of Sale to celebrate the Year of Faith.

This will commence on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, 2013. It celebrates the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Here is a great pastoral opportunity for us all to share with the Catholic Church universal the gift of Faith given to us by the Lord Jesus.

Recently, the Vatican has established a helpful website that we can access easily about the Year of Faith. It is available now in the English language. The website is: www.annusfidei.va FAMILY EVANGELISATION

As you know the diocese has been working towards producing a diocesan pastoral plan. For a time now, we have been discussing this together in various forums. Three directions have emerged quite clearly.

First, the foundation of such a plan is to be based on evangelisation. This is quite providential given the fact that the upcoming Synod in Rome (October) is based on topics directly related to evangelisation.

Secondly, the particularly focus in the diocese with this accent on evangelisation is to be centred on the family.

Thirdly, this focus on family evangelisation is to be showcased on different themes chosen year by year over about a five year period.

In great respect of the Year

of Grace and the Year of Faith, we will need to delay the formal launch of the Pastoral Plan on Family Evangelisation in the diocese till Advent 2013.

This gives us further time to prepare carefully for our own “Years”. Also, the Years of Grace and Faith will offer us a great theological foundation for our pastoral plans starting at the end of 2013 onwards.

In all this practical pastoral planning I encourage parishes, schools and communities to plan ahead and adapt the many suggestions available. I believe it presents us all with a providential opportunity focus on the face of Jesus. God willing, we will become even more docile to the gentle but profound movements of the Holy Spirit alive in His Church today.

May the Holy Spirit bless you all.

With every encouragement and hope, + Bishop Christopher Prowse Catholic Bishop of Sale

Breakfast and speaker is for men’s fellowship

By Jamie Floyd NARRE WARREN - To commemorate both the Year of Grace, called by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, and the upcoming Year of Faith, called by Pope Benedict XVI, the Men of St Joseph are hosting a men’s conference called “Men of Faith, Men of Grace” at Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren, on the morning of Saturday, October 20.

All men are welcome to attend.

Starting with breakfast at 7.15am and ending with lunch at 1pm the $25 cost also DIOCESE OF SALE

sees guest speaker Br Mark O’Connor fms who currently sits as director of the Archbishop’s Office of Evangelisation, Melbourne.

Other activities for the day include group discussion, scripture reflection, prayer and mass. Reconciliation will also be available.

Giving two talks on the convergence of faith, grace and life, Br Mark has had many years experience in both adult formation and youth ministry.

The former director of the Archdiocesan World Youth Day Office, he was most recently selected as a representative to

Catholic Life PO Box 1410, Warragul Vic. 3820 Phone: (03) 5622 6600

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

the 50th International Eucharistic Congress in Ireland. Early among his acclaims is the establishment of the Helder Camara series of talks, which continue today at Melbourne University.

Named after and under the patronage of a faithful, hardworking man who was obedient and respectful of God and a protective guide to his family, the Men of St Joseph is a group of lay Catholic men dedicated to becoming the spiritual leaders of their families, by strengthening their faith, being “real world” examples of Christ, and supporting one another in their efforts to be the best versions of

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another starting shortly afterwards in Sydney. The Men of St Joseph in America however has been successfully growing over the past 10 years.

If you have a man in your life who you think could benefit from a morning of good solid Catholic fellowship, contact Jamie on 0433055114, Dean on 0414 824 257, or visit the website www.menofstjoseph.com where you can also register for the event.

New business manager SALE Diocese will have a change of business manager at the end of October.

As part of his transition into retirement current business manager Jeff Davis will cease in the role on October 31.

Bishop Prowse has appointed current assistant business manager Paul Velten to take over on

November 1.

Mr Davis will continue with the diocese as assistant business manager.

Bishop Prowse thanked Mr Davis on behalf of the diocese for his 13 years of service which includes almost eight years as business manager.

Yarram church closes

Editor: Colin Coomber

Deadline for advertising copy and editorial contributions for next issue is Monday, October 8.

Issues distributed free through parishes and schools from October 17.

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

themselves.

Understanding that as they commit themselves to this proposition, they will significantly influence their communities and the Catholic Church, the Body of Christ Incarnate.

Through prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Men of St Joseph have dedicated themselves to “putting the family in the hands of the Father”.

The men at Narre Warren are the first such group in Australia,

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YARRAM - The iconic 1912 St Mary’s Church in Yarram has been closed until further notice because of major safety concerns.

Bishop Christopher Prowse closed the church on Friday after receiving a consultant’s report on the state of the red brick building.

The church has been fenced off and parishioners arriving for Mass on Sunday were directed to the hall at St Mary’s School where Masses will be held for the foreseeable future.

Bishop Prowse said he was forced to act because of the serious safety concerns and the enormous maintenance issues which needed to be addressed.

He has recommended that the Yarram parish finance council examine the inspection report and advise him as soon as possible as to proposed courses of action.

A report by building engineers recommended public access be prohibited as there was danger of falling slate tiles.

Furthermore, there may be serious internal damage to roof framing and walls caused by water penetration over a long period of time.

Further investigation will need to be made to ascertain the extent of damage and until then there is a public liability risk if people are allowed to access the church.

Catholic Life, September 2012 - Page 3

Siju Xavier to be ordained a deacon on Saturday

By Regina T Abraham CRANBOURNE - Siju Xavier will be ordained a deacon this Saturday night at St Agatha’s Parish, Cranbourne.

He is one of the seven students studying at the Corpus Christi Seminary to be ordained deacons this year.

Siju Xavier’s family is from the Kannur province of Kerala State in South India and is known as one of the 10 best cities to live in within India.

This region is under the Archdiocese of Tellicherry which is an ecclesiastical province of the Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala. The archdiocese has 174 parishes and 56,593 families.

Siju is the 10th born child of a family of 13 children and one of his sisters is a religious.

Siju’s parish priest inspired him to become a priest but when he expressed his desire on completion of his Year 10 at school, his father refused to let him join the seminary. Two years later, his father agreed and Siju joined the seminary.

He wanted to do something different with his future priestly ministry and with that intention he applied to Sale Diocese to complete his studies in Melbourne.

Siju says that his service attitude in Christ Jesus is growing daily and he is looking forward to his ordination to the priesthood some time next year.

Siju recently attended all the weekend Masses at St Agatha’s and gave insight into the person he is and bit of his background.

The ordination to the diaconate will be held at St Agatha’s Church, 129 Sladen St., Cranbourne on September 22 at 6.30pm.

This will be followed by a celebration hosted by St Agatha’s Parish.

If your parish community would like to attend this event and have not already informed Siju Xavier, please contact Sue Ryan at the parish with number of guests attending on 5996 1985 or e-mail stagathas@nex. net.au

St Patrick’s College 90th celebrations

SALE - Catholic College Sale warmly invites past students to join in the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the opening of St Patrick’s College, Sale.

The college became a campus of Sale Catholic College, later renamed the current Catholic College Sale.

This anniversary also marks the arrival of the Marist Brothers in Sale and a celebration of their contribution to educating young people in Sale and district.

The dates for the celebrations will be October 13-14.

To commemorate this special occasion, the St Patrick’s campus will be open for guided tours between 2pm and 5pm on October 13. Historic displays will be a feature of the afternoon.

On Saturday evening there will be a celebration dinner at

the All Seasons Convention centre (formerly The Princeton) for all past students and people connected to the college over the past 90 years.

The celebration will continue on the Sunday and will begin with a special Mass to be celebrated by Mgr John Allman in St Mary’s Cathedral Sale, at 11am. Following the Mass there will be a barbecue lunch in the grounds at St Patrick’s.

The various gatherings will provide an opportunity to renew old acquaintances and form new friendships as we share a common bond and enjoy one another’s company and recall memories of school days in Sale.

For dinner bookings or further information please contact Br Majella Fitzpatrick on 5143 9700 or email majella@ccsale. catholic.edu.au

SIJU Xavier with Cranbourne parishioners Christine Tyminski and Steve Nasalio after Mass last weekend.

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

Page 4 - Catholic Life, September 2012

St Francis Xavier relic visits

The unexpected

WHEN Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto met children from St Kieran’s Primary School at Moe, he agreed to answer questions.

He started with the Grade 6 students who asked about when he first wanted to be a priest, if he could remember his confirmation sponsor and what he would remember most about Australia.

He then moved over to the lower grades for a final question.

“Ask me anything you like,” he said.

Young Alexis Wills obliged “Do you know when my birthday is?”

It brought great joy to the Nuncio who enjoyed a laugh with everyone before telling Alexis he didn’t know her birthday, but he let her into a secret as to his age.

Divine Mercy date

WE apologise for the mix-up in dates last issue for the Divine Mercy Congress coming to Melbourne next month.

The date we gave in the article was actually the date for the Sydney Congress.

The three day Melbourne event is at the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Keysborough on October 12-14.

The location has easy access from Sale Diocese.

If you intend going you need to register which can be done

on the website or using the form on the opposite page.

Cheap perfume?

IN New Zealand recently we got into a lift with a couple of the locals.

After exchanging good mornings, one leaned across and said “I love the egg scent.”

Having just had scrambled eggs for breakfast, we thought she could smell the eggs on us.

We queried what had been said and she replied “Ooh, you’re Australian. I love the egg scent.”

As we exited the lift the penny finally dropped. She had been talking about our Aussie accent.

Beware the scam

A NEW scam is people setting up false Facebook accounts in the name of Catholic priests and then asking for money.

Please be aware that the Church does not encourage anybody to ask for online donations directly into bank accounts via Facebook.

Some requests for donation by these fake profiles have been to support parishes and overseas missions but have been lining pockets.

THE relic of St Francis Xavier will be in Sale Diocese on October 5-7 as part of an Australia-wide tour.

The right forearm said to have blessed and baptised more people than anyone since St Paul, will visit Pakenham, Sale, Beaconsfield, Narre Warren and Cranbourne.

It has been brought to Australia from the Jesuit headquarters at Gesu, Rome, as part of the Year of Grace celebrations.

The forearm is enclosed in a golden reliquary and will be accompanied by a priest throughout its journey.

The relic arrives at St Patrick’s Church, Pakenham, at 11.30am on October 5, when it will be handed over by Sandhurst Diocese during the liturgy of reception.

At noon there will be Mass concelebrated by Bishop Christopher Prowse and priests before the relic departs for St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale.

The liturgy at the Cathedral will begin at 3.30pm, followed

by Mass at 4pm, and a time of reflection.

At 6pm the relic heads for St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield, where there will be

a liturgy at 8pm, followed by vespers at 9pm and an overnight vigil.

On the Saturday morning, following the liturgy of hours at 7am, the relic will go to Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Narre Warren, where there will be a liturgy of reception at 8.30am, followed by Mass at 9.15am.

Exposition, devotions and quiet prayer will continue until 2pm when the relic moves to St Agatha’s Church, Cranbourne, for a liturgy at 2.30pm,

then devotions and prayer until 6.30pm.

There will be a vigil Mass at 6.30, followed by exposition, devotions and vespers at 7.30pm, and then an all night vigil.

The last opportunity to see or spend time with the relic in our diocese will be early Sunday morning during the liturgy of hours at 7am, and the prayer of farewell at 7.45am.

The relic will then be handed over to Melbourne Archdiocese.

THE RELIC on display at the Jesuit Church of Gesu in Rome.

What is it with saints’ relics?

THE visit next month of a relic of St Francis Xavier may

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prompt many to ask why the Catholic Church still places significance on such items.

The Middle Ages was a period in the Church’s history where unscrupulous people peddled all manner of things which were supposedly relics to earn an income from gullible types.

Such trade was eventually stamped out but relics have continued to have their place in the Church where they are venerated.

The Council of Trent responded to the claims of religious reformers that the veneration of saints and their relics was contrary to scripture by declaring that “… the holy bodies of the holy martyrs and of the others who dwell in Christ … are to be honored by the faithful.”

These “others’ are the holy men and women whom the Church deems worthy of beatification or canonisation.

There are three classes of sacred relics. The first-class is a part of the saint’s body. The second-class

is a piece of the saint’s clothing or something used by the saint, while the third-class is an object which has been touched to a first-class relic.

Therefore, St Francis Xavier’s right arm is a first class relic but the piece of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop’s coffin which forms part of the bronze bas relief sculpture in St Mary’s Cathedral is a third class relic.

The Church teaches us that relics are to be venerated or honored but there is no suggestion that magical attributes or miracles are attached to such items.

In essence, relics of saints are really a statement about Jesus not about the saint directly.

The saint opened his/her life up to the Holy Spirit so much that the Lord made a special dwelling place in them.

The Grace of Jesus filled the saint and the Faith of the Saint (also given by the Lord) responded fully.

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Catholic Life, September 2012 - Page 5

The unspoken tragedy

By Marianne Bagguley ABORTION is often only spoken about in whispers and yet, with over 100,000 abortions performed nationally each year, it is of epidemic proportions.

So many of us have wondered why there has been so little public outcry or publicity over the tragic death of these unborn children.

On the other hand, if a disease or natural disaster was to nationally claim the same number of lives each year, it would be classified as a national disaster warranting immediate enquiry and attention.

Under the legal protection of the Victorian Abortion Law Reform Bill 2008, the silence continues as annually over 20,000 Victorian unborn babies are denied the right to live and many mothers and fathers continue only to “exist” each day in their post abortive grief, unsupported – once again, in silence.

With the fourth anniversary of the abortion Bill approaching next month, the March for the Babies committee, comprising of Drouin, Maffra and Sale parishioners, invites you to two important pro-life events and the annual March for the Babies in Melbourne.

Chairman of the March for the Babies Bernie Finn, MLC, and, executive director of ‘The Babes Project’ Helen Parker will be guest speakers at a luncheon at Maffra Memorial Hall, Foster St. on Saturday, October 6 at 11am and then at 4pm at the Old Shire Chambers, Baw Baw Shire Office, 33 Young St., Drouin, for afternoon tea.

The cost for the lunch at Maffra will be $12. There is no charge for the Drouin venue, however donations would be gratefully accepted – for Drouin queries, contact Max Corby on 5625 1066.

Prior to and since the legalisation of abortion in Victoria in 2008, Bernie Finn has spoken in many forums, informing

and educating Victorians of the abortion Bill, offering sound suggestions of how to confidently witness daily - whether it be with family, friends or in public - to the importance of the dignity and protection of every unborn child and the vital support needed by parents facing an unplanned pregnancy.

Mr Finn encourages Victorians to join others in the annual March for Babies in Melbourne, now the single biggest event in Australia.

Helen Parker is the CEO of pregnancy support centre ‘The Babes Project’ in Croydon, offering counselling and practical support for girls and women facing crisis pregnancies. It is through her personal experience of an unplanned pregnancy, the birth of her daughter and the joys of motherhood, which inspired her to found The Babes Project.

We invite you to join others at the two venues to hear the stories and be inspired by those who make a real difference for unborn babies and their families. It is the committee’s objective to welcome all people, regardless of beliefs or their philosophy on life issues. Please invite others – everyone is welcome.

Additionally, this year return buses commencing in Drouin, as well as Maffra/Sale, will be available for those who would like to join this peaceful witness to life in the annual March for the Babies’in Melbourne on Saturday, October 13 commencing at Treasury Gardens, at 1pm.

Approximate bus cost is $23 per seat, youth and families subsidised. Bookings are essential for both the luncheon at Maffra (RSVP no later than September 28) and the return bus to Melbourne (RSVP no later than October 7) by contacting Marianne Bagguley on 5147 1019 or emailing: bagguleyc@vic.australis.com.au .

Divine Mercy Congress in Melbourne THE first ever Divine Mercy Congresses in Australia will be held in October in Melbourne and Sydney with an impressive list of international speakers.

The Melbourne three day congress will be at Australia’s only Shrine of Divine Mercy, Keysborough, which is ideally located for people travelling from Sale Diocese.

It will be on October 12-14, beginning with a 7pm Mass on the Friday night celebrated by Archbishop of Samoa, Alapati Lui Mataelinga, supported by the impressive Samoan Choir.

First class relics of Blessed John Paul II, St Faustina Kowalska, and her spiritual director Fr Michael Sopkocko will be present at the Mass.

The venue is about 1km from Eastlink and Green’s Rd. and a free shuttle bus service will operate on request from Dandenong Railway Station.

Divine Mercy Publications director John Canavan said the congress would feature some impressive speakers including Sr Caterina and Sr Gaudia from the congregation to which St Faustina belonged.

Others include World Apostolic Congress on Mercy secretary general Fr Patrice Chocholski from France, tireless Divine Mercy promoter Fr Rory Morrissey from New Zealand, Vicar General of the Congregation of Marian Father Fr Joseph Rosech from the United States, inspirational Catholic artist Tommy Canning from Scotland, and rector of the first International Academy of Divine Mercy Rev. Dr Jan Machniak from Poland.

Further details and registration for the congress are available from www.divinemercy.com.au or Mr Canavan at Divine Mercy Publications on 9830 4386.

PROTECT THE UNBORN You are invited to 2 important events Be inspired by Guest Presenters: Bernie Finn MP Chairman of ‘March for the Babies’ Helen Parker Founder & CEO of the ‘The Babes Project’ MAFFRA SATURDAY 6th OCTOBER 2012 11.00AM LUNCH MAFFRA MEMORIAL HALL, Foster Street, Maffra - $12 per head Bookings essential - Marianne 5147 1019 - RSVP 28th Sept.

DROUIN SATURDAY 6th OCTOBER 2012 4PM to 6PM Old Shire Chambers, Baw Baw Shire Offices 33 Young Street Drouin No Cover charge - Donations gratefully accepted Any queries, please contact Max 5625 1066 Join our March on State Parliament calling for the repeal of the Abortion Law Reform Act 2008, which allows babies to be killed right up until the moment of birth (the most extreme in the Western World)

SATURDAY 13th OCTOBER 2012 ‘MARCH FOR THE BABIES’ 1pm at Treasury Gardens, Melbourne (Meet at the corner of Spring Street & Wellington Parade) A bus will be organised to & from Melbourne for the March.

Approx cost - $23 per seat, youth and families subsidised Bookings essential – please contact Marianne on 5147 1019 by 7th October Show your support: please wear pink and blue marchforthebabies.org.au

Grace Through Mercy Victorian Apostolic Congress on Divine Mercy 12-14 October, 2012 Shrine of Divine Mercy 337 Greens Road, Keysborough The Congress will commence on Friday, 12 October with a special opening Mass at 7pm at the Shrine of Divine Mercy by Rev. Alapati L. Mataeliga, Archbishop of Samoa, and the Samoan Choir.

The entire program will be held at the Shrine of Divine Mercy and features several international guests who will speak on the message of Divine Mercy and related topics.

Saturday and Sunday morning will begin at 8.30am. Doors open 8am.

The congress concludes 6pm Saturday and 3pm Sunday after the Hour of Mercy.

Registration is required to attend this 3 day congress.

It may be done online at the website www.divinemercy.com.au Please fill in this registration form clearly and send it with your generous donation to: Victorian Apostolic Congress arly Grace Through Mercy register e o s g n ti a e PO Box 351 Limited s Camberwell 3124

Page 6 - Catholic Life, September 2012

Children learn about life on the farm TRARALGON - St Michael’s Primary School Preps have been learning about farms as their inquiry unit this term.

They have been looking at different types of farms, what animals and people make up farms and the types of produce they give us.

A farmers’ market was held and the children were encouraged to bring along some farm produce and dress as farmers or something related to farms.

Preps made scarecrow hats, sampled the farm produce and played games such as scarecrow tiggy.

The children also got to experience a hands-on farm adventure when they visited Warrook Cattle Farm in Monomeith, South Gippsland.

Part of the day involved demonstrations of a working dog

herding a flock of sheep as well the shearing of a sheep. Some of the many hands-on activities included bottle feeding calves, handling the sheep fleece, patting lambs, a wagon ride and a visit to the fauna park to see the wombats and kangaroos.

When asked about the market and their trip to the cattle farm, Elaina said, “The best thing about the farmer’s market was when I ate the chocolate golden eggs and at the farm I liked when I milked the cow and I got to feel the teats.” Will said, “We could eat the food that we could buy with plastic money and it was good when I saw the big turkey.”

School representative Leanne McDonald said, “The Preps thoroughly enjoyed both days and now have a deeper understanding of what a farm is.”

St Michael’s turns 50 BERWICK - St Michael’s Primary School, Berwick has celebrated its 50th anniversary.

From humble beginnings St Michael’s commenced as a school with approximately 60 students from across Berwick, Lyndhurst, Cranbourne, Narre Warren and Beaconsfield.

Classes were held in Wedge Hall (named after parish priest Fr Ian Wedge), which was divided in three rooms by large blackboards on wheels.

Each Friday afternoon, the blackboards were pushed to the sides to allow room for community dances, held each weekend.

Today, St Michael’s has grown to become a significant school in the City of Casey,

providing Catholic education to 374 children in the Diocese of Sale.

Celebrations on the day included two open sessions which saw many past and present families visiting the school to experience the memorabilia on show and the wonderful work the children have put into their understanding of the school’s history.

Principal Angela Kelly said it was a day of great celebration for students and staff beginning with Mass.

Many past pupils, principals and staff members attended including representatives of the Catholic Education Office and Presentation Sisters.

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LUCAS, Sienna, Abbi, Griffin, Jai, Sam, Sophie, Summer and Elliot all wearing the scarecrow hats that they created.

The challenge of goodness SOME years ago I worked with a person who could only be described as a ‘born pessimist’.

There were no silver linings in any clouds. Her husband had a sign printed for the fridge door.

It read: One day my husband said to me: ‘Cheer up, dear, things could be worse’.

So, she recounted, I cheered up and, sure enough, things got worse!

Sometimes pessimism may seem the only option. When we read the daily papers or watch the news, awful things are happening. Sometimes it is Mother Nature wreaking havoc, pain and suffering, sometimes it is our fellow human beings showing little care for life or liberty or sympathy for the terrible suffering their actions cause. These events can challenge our belief in a loving God. On the one hand, our life experience moves us to asking how a loving God could allow this suffering or that catastrophe to befall so many? Why do so many bad things happen often to people we regard as being so good, so undeserving of such misfortune or pain or loss?

It just seems so unfair. On the other hand, do we ever ask ourselves why there is so much goodness in the world?

Why do so many good things happen, why are some people so loving, generous, patient, committed, selfless?

Often these qualities shine in people who have felt pain, suffering, injustice. Their innate goodness shines through.

We meet people in our own neighborhood whose goodness is an inspiration, their generosity to others is selfless, their kindness is nothing short of inspiring. They act in selfless ways even when this is costly to themselves.

Last year I visited a country where the scars of a brutal war are very deep, not just in the buildings and in the 30 per cent of the county still afflicted by mines and unexploded munitions but in the minds and hearts of many people who were the victims of this terrible conflict. Many suffered in ways it is hard even to imagine.

Reflections

by Jim Quillinan The question ‘how can we human beings do that to one another?’ keeps recurring in my mind. I simply have no answer but a very deep sadness.

In spite of all that, I met some extraordinary people, welcoming, generous, kind and utterly committed to getting their lives back on track, utterly committed to each other not just to healing the scars of war but to rebuilding lives of happiness, love, joy and commitment.

That too was an equally challenging question – people who had every reason for sadness, every reason to be suspicious, to focus on personal safety and personal well-being, to look after number one were quite the opposite.

Their generous, selfless qualities have made an indelible impression on me. Meeting them, talking with them was an experience of pure and simple goodness. For that too, I had no ready answer.

One of the worst scars of that recent war is the deep community division. That will take generations to heal.

Getting people to believe bad things about people, fuelling fears and prejudices, making others ‘different’, ‘not like us’, spreading rumours and lies are all basic ingredients of war.

But that can happen on our own doorsteps too – some of the rhetoric about asylum seekers, for example is a good example of fuelling fears, making others, different, ‘not like us,’ not worthy, undeserving of what we have to offer.

Just listening to some of the unsavory stories that may circulate in our own communities about various individuals, even stooping to repeat them can be very divisive. How we treat or speak about those who may not share our opinions, our beliefs even within our own faith tradition can fuel division rather than a

sense of sharing, community and understanding.

We rarely speak about goodness. It doesn’t sell newspapers, it doesn’t bring in the ratings on nightly TV. Attempts to start ‘good news’ programs have virtually all floundered. We seem to want to focus on the bad stuff rather than what is uplifting and inspiring.

There have been a number of studies in both the USA and the UK that explore what news or information we are likely to pass on or to talk about. Results indicate that bad news spreads very quickly even when it is so exaggerated that it beggars belief.

Those same studies indicate that such bad news leads many people to an overly pessimistic view of the world. Good news stories, uplifting and inspirational stories are not repeated at anywhere near the rate of bad news stories, even those we know may not be true.

In many ways, our belief in the existence of a God who creates the world out of love depends largely on the strength of our experience of such a caring God. That comes from our experience of love, our experience and interaction with people of hope, of generosity and commitment, those who want to make the world a better place.

Goodness can be a problem because there are times when we want to ignore it, when we would prefer to see the glass half empty rather than half full, when we would prefer to dwell on what is wrong, rather than seeking out and celebrating what is right.

St Paul asks us ‘to consider how to stir up one another to love and good works’ (Heb 10:24). Now that’s a challenge worth addressing!

Catholic Life, September 2012 - Page 7

A learning experience to enhance a culture MORE than 150 principals, teachers, parents and Catholic Education Office staff met at the Latrobe Convention Centre, Traralgon, on August 28 for the 2012 Diocesan Learning Expo.

This one day gathering was designed for school practitioners to showcase and share innovations in school learning and practice.

The Learning Expo, entitled “Enhancing a Culture of Reflective Practice”, was an opportunity to share what is really making a difference in the way we construct, support, document and communicate learning in schools.

This event, building upon the success of the 2011 Expo, and continuing the direction of Towards Courageous Renewal in that “schools exhibit a culture which embeds performance and development” was truly reflective of the way schools are developing awareness and expertise as learning communities.

Director of Catholic Education Peter Ryan, in opening the Expo challenged participants to consider the non-linear nature of contemporary learning as found through the internet, and the implications of this for teaching.

John Williams, principal of Trinity Catholic Primary School Narre Warren South, and his deputy Danielle Davis, outlined the highlights and significant changes in their jour-

ney towards building a powerful learning culture at Trinity.

This set a wonderful tone of engagement and reflection for the rest of the day.

Seventeen other schools from across the diocese, including four secondary schools, provided a wide range of workshops featuring such enticing topics as: Creating Independent Learners; Virtual Sandpit Time: introduction to apps that can be used in your classroom; Powerful Parent Partnerships; and Oral Language awakening – talk the walk.

What was so appealing about all the presentations was the enthusiasm and commitment of all the presenters for what they were doing in the classroom and how they were engaging and improving student learning.

Participants moved from workshop session to workshop session, gathering insight into many wonderful examples of innovation and creativity.

Participant feedback comments about the success of the day included: • The day provided an excellent forum for the sharing of good practice • The sessions I attended effectively showcased the pedagogy that is emerging in our schools. They were inspiring • I enjoyed hearing about the journey other schools are taking • An excellent array of PL activities which has inspired my

PRESENTERS at the Learning Expo at Traralgon make a point. learning in many different ways The overall success of this exposition of effective teaching and learning was due to the cooperation and effort of so many school practitioners in sharing Barry, Annette and what is happening back at their Bradley Lett offer care, schools and the consequent imcompassion and servpact upon student leaning. ice with The planning group from the dignity for the people of Gippsland.

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Page 8 - Catholic Life, September 2012

Funding uncertainty continues in wake of response PRIME Minister Gillard’s long awaited response to the Gonski Review of school funding has been a great disappointment to Catholic schools. It leaves us knowing very little more than we knew months ago.

This is of particular concern when it is realised that the current funding arrangement expires at the end of 2013. We are left with no certainty at all about what the funding structure will look like in 2014 and beyond. This is of major concern to Catholic schools whose planning both for recurrent costs and for capital costs is now quite up in the air.

In her response speech, delivered in the first days of this month, the Prime Minister promised to legislate high aspirations for education in Australia, aspirations we can only applaud. However, she said very little about how we are going to get there!

I know that our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sale will support her aspirations. Indeed, we are well on the path to achieving the national best practice standards that she said were crucial.

We already have in place, for example, very significant principal autonomy over matters such as budget, staffing and curriculum delivery. We already have sound methods of planning and reporting on school performance. Our student learning outcomes are available for community analysis; we have

regular school performance reviews; we have ongoing teacher appraisal (though of course this could be strengthened).

We also have a strong platform of professional learning available to staff. In particular, I mention the fact that the Victorian Institute of Teaching has, year after year, found that the level of support Catholic schools in Victoria provide to graduate teachers to be exemplary. We also have strong parental engagement. It is very clear that our schools are deeply rooted in their communities.

All these things the Prime Minister has said, quite rightly, are essential if our education standards are to improve. We are already well on that path.

Catholic schools, however, are deeply concerned that the Prime Minister’s speech lacked detail, both in relation to school funding and to school reform.

They are particularly concerned that there is still no actual detail about the government’s position on many of the settings of the funding model.

According to the modelling carried out by the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria, Catholic schools throughout this State cannot possibly meet the government’s proposed Schooling Resource Standard without a significant increase in government grants or a very large increase in school fees.

This projected increase in school fees is simply out of the question. Parents cannot be ex-

with Talking Peter Catholic Ryan Education pected to pay the level of fees required to meet the Schooling Resource Standard.

It is clear, however, that the Prime Minister has indicated that this new funding will take some years to deliver. However, it is also clear that, as yet, no state or territory government has signed up to meet its share of the Prime Minister’s proposed school funding scheme.

This is of major concern.

On the other hand, it is very reassuring to see that the Prime Minister has said that funding to all non-government schools will be increased. While we do not know what that level of increase might be, at least the value of non-government schools is recognised.

We remain deeply concerned that there is no detail of any conditions attached to Catholic schools accepting the additional funding over the next six years. It is a very confused and confusing scenario for all.

We have been led to believe that the National Catholic Education Commission will be invited by the Prime Minister to participate in the negotiation process she announced last week. This, again, is a very pos-

Reflect On Your Life

itive move and one which we all welcome. It is to be sincerely hoped that the voice of Catholic education will be well and truly heard at the negotiating table.

It is very clear that Catholic schools are highly valued in our community, not only by parents and students but more widely as well.

The National Catholic Education Commission has already been involved in detailed discussions with the government since the Gonski Report was

released last February.

The commission as well as the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria has kept schools fully informed about these negotiations.

We had feared that it would be necessary to be involved in strong political action even at this stage if the Gonski recommendations had been implemented in their “pure” form.

That, as yet, has not happened so it remains a case of “watch this space”.

We certainly hope that the funding arrangements that are finally negotiated can move Australia towards the aspirations outlined by the Prime Minister. At this stage, though, it is difficult to see how that can happen.

Networking in Paynesville

KEYNOTE speaker, incoming CEO director Maria Kirkwood (left), with Nagle College principal Neville Powles, Lavalla College principal Erica Pegorer and secondary education consultant with the Catholic Education Office Rosemary Copeland.

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PAYNESVILLE - Those involved in Catholic education in the primary and secondary sectors in East Gippsland gathered at The Boathouse Restaurant in Paynesville on August 3 to celebrate the second annual Networking Dinner.

The dinner was originally created by a group of staff from Nagle College whose hope it was to inspire those involved in education and to bring together staff from a variety of schools across East Gippsland to create and maintain links in education.

This year, guests included staff from Nagle College, St Mary’s Primary School, St Joseph’s Primary School Orbost, Lavalla Catholic College Traralgon, the Catholic Education Office Diocese of Sale and Fr Bernard Buckley, one of the canonical administrators for East Gippsland.

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Keynote speaker for the evening was Maria Kirkwood, the deputy director of the Catholic Education Office.

She presented an inspirational speech which spoke of the concept of education as journey not career and quoted from Oscar Romero “We build on what has gone before us.”

She recalled her own personal journey and inspirations, ending her presentation with food for thought for everyone present.

Among the things she asked of those present to consider was to encourage and support those around you, build loyalty by being loyal, never blame others for anything in which you have a part, be reflective if not by nature learn it, engage in positive self-talk and to love what you are doing now ... it is the best platform for a new beginning.

Nagle College principal Neville Powles spoke about the fantastic networking opportunities provided by such an event and thanked the staff from Nagle College who worked together to help see this event come to fruition.

Educators and staff who are interested in attending future events are encouraged to contact the members of the organising committee from Nagle College Sharon Buurman, Sharon McAuliffe, Maria Marino or Hilary Arnold on 5152 6122.

Catholic Life, September 2012 - Page 9

Pastoral Letter on the Year of Faith

By Bishop Christopher Prowse Catholic Bishop of Sale September 2012

“I know him in whom I have believed” (2Tim. 1/12)

I

consider it providential that the Year of Grace and the Year of Faith overlap for several months. It was not envisaged that this would happen.

The Year of Grace concludes Pentecost 2013 and the Year of Faith, which begins October 11, 2012, concludes on November 24, 2013.

We cannot imagine grace without faith.

Grace freely offers us the divine invitation.

Faith, with the help of the Holy Spirit, responds to grace.

The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, has written an Apostolic Letter (Porta Fidei, October 11, 2011) explaining the Year of Faith. It will coincide with two important anniversaries.

There is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. Also, there is the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The Year of Faith hopes to contribute to a renewed conversion to Jesus and the rediscovery of faith. The graces requested from the Lord are a fresh encounter with Christ and a deeper understanding of our faith. The beautiful scripture text of St Paul comes to mind: “I know him in whom I have believed” (2 Tim 1:12). It stresses the profound link between a vibrant lived faith and a comprehensive understanding of its contents.

In these weeks before the YEAR of FAITH

begins, could I urge all parishes, schools and communities in the Catholic Diocese of Sale to make arrangements and plans to celebrate this time worthily.

•

Some possibilities come to mind: • Read closely Benedict XVI’s Porta Fidei (the “door of faith” Acts 14:27). A multiple language website is available from the Vatican to assemble all documents and information for the Year of Faith. It is available in the English language. It is: www.annusfidei.va • On October 11, 2012 (or thereabouts) celebrate a Mass in the parish to launch the year. During October, I will be at the Synod on the New Evangelisation in Rome. On this day I will participate with the Holy Father at the Opening Mass for the Year of Faith. I will keep all your intentions in my heart at the Mass.

• Devote special attention to the documents of the Second Vatican Council (re-read some of them). Also, study more fully the Catechism of the Catholic Church (or perhaps the Compendium or YouCat).

• Try to distribute more widely the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. This could be done in parishes and schools.

• Start to plan out liturgies during the “high” liturgical seasons of Advent and Lent. Make a special effort to approach the Sacrament of Penance with even greater faith and more frequently.

• In parish preparations for the Sacraments of Initiation, and also the Sacrament of Matrimony, try to make these even more appealing in attracting faith from people “knocking on the doors of the Church”.

• Find opportunities to renew our faith (especially by praying more frequently and reflectively the Profession of Faith – the Creed – at Mass and elsewhere) and our expressions of faith (especially to the poor).

Give even greater focus to the RCIA and practical ways of attracting people to the Catholic faith.

The Holy Father has offered us a beautiful symbol for the Year of Faith. It is an open door.

He writes: “The “door of faith” (Acts 14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church” (Porta Fidei, n.1). Let us try to use this symbol of an open door imaginatively in the diocese.

As faith is ultimately a gift of God, let us pray together that our faith will be deepened in us as this YEAR OF FAITH dawns upon us. As the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith summarises so well: “Faith is both a personal and communal act: it is a gift from God that is lived in the communion of the Church and must be communicated to the world”. (January 6, 2012) “Let us entrust this time of grace to the Mother of God, proclaimed “blessed because she believed” (Luke 1:45)” (Porta Fidei, 15)

Year's aim to strengthen faith Oblate priest's diamond jubilee

WITH the Apostolic Letter Porta fidei, Pope Benedict XVI declared a Year of Faith which begins on October 11, the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council.

It will conclude on November 24 next year, the Solemnity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King.

The beginning of the Year of Faith coincides with the anniversaries of two great events which have marked the life of the Church in the 20th Century – the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, and the 20th of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

The launch of the Year of Faith will be during the General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome which has as its theme: The New Evangelisation for the Transmission of the Christian Faith.

Bishop Christopher Prowse will be at the opening Mass as he is one of two Australian bishops appointed to attend the synod.

The Year of Faith is intended to contribute to a renewed conversion and to the rediscovery of faith, so that the members of the Church will be credible and joy-filled witnesses to the Risen Lord in the world of today capable of leading those many people who are seeking it to the door of faith.

During the Year of Faith pilgrimages to the Vatican and the Holy Land are encouraged, as are pilgrimages and other celebrations at the major Marian shrines around the world.

The World Youth Day, in Rio de Janeiro in July 2013, will offer a special opportunity for the young to experience the joy which comes from faith in the Lord Jesus and communion with the Holy Father, in the greater family of the Church.

The logo for the Year of Faith features a boat with its mast and spars forming a cross in front of encircling sails.

The boat symbolises the Church, and the cross is the sign of love and of our faith.

Together with the cross there

is the sign of the Eucharist which is the centre of the life of faith.

A new website www.annusfidei.va, has been established to outlines the key religious and cultural events that will mark the year in Rome and will be attended by Pope Benedict XVI. Special events during the year include the Feast of Corpus Christi, June 2, 2013, when the Blessed Sacrament will be adored at the same time all over the world.

Seminarians and novices from across the world will arrive in Rome as they end a pilgrimage to St Peter’s Basilica on July 7.

September 29, 2013, will be dedicated to catechists, as the Catechism of the Catholic Church marks its 20th anniversary. To assist with catechesis, a multilingual pastoral guide entitled “Living the Year of Faith” will be published that month.

All dioceses and parishes have been asked to organise their own calendar of events for the Year of Faith.

A RETIRED Oblate priest who has twice served in Moe has just celebrated the diamond jubilee of his priesthood.

Fr Michael Clarke OMI has lived in retirement at the provincial house in Camberwell since 2002.

Born in Ireland, he attended the Oblate Fathers’ juniorate in Dublin for the final two years of secondary school, then entered the novitiate and made his first vows at Cahermoyle, Limerick in 1946.

He was ordained at Piltown on August 24, 1952, and then was appointed to the Oblate mission to Australia.

Fr Clarke has served at most Oblate parishes throughout Australia and New Zealand and has taught at Iona College in Brisbane and was a director of the Missionary Associates of Mary Immaculate and a director of the Oblate juniorate in Geelong.

Fr Michael Clarke He was in Moe as assistant priest from 1953-55 and again from 1986-89.

Page 10 - Catholic Life, September 2012

Sion House opening • From Page 1 He said the diocese was particularly grateful to the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion for not only their presence at the ceremony but also of their generosity.

The Sion Sisters served at Warragul for over 60 years and when they left they gifted the building and the property to the diocese..

Bishop Prowse said this was why the renovated premise and two new extensions had been named Sion House, in gratitude for the Sion Sisters’ service and generosity over many years in the diocese.

‘Sion’ not only recalled the Sion Sisters but it is also providentially reminded us of our mission in all that we Catholics are and do in the greater Gippsland area of Victoria.

Sion was the biblical word for Jerusalem, more precisely, it was the hill of the Jerusalem Temple, the place where the Lord is present in the midst of

his people.

“Naming this place Sion House reminds us that all we are and do here is to centre our lives humbly and joyfully on the saving events of Jesus’ Paschal Mystery. This is our central focus; this is our mission.

“The word Sion also reminds us of the New Jerusalem still to come to fruition. As St Mary of the Cross MacKillop would express; ‘Remember we are but travellers here.’”

The bishop said our journey to our heavenly home was far from over as there was much missionary work to be done.

His prayer to the Holy Spirit was that Sion House would give much new emphasis and strength to the important work of the new evangelisation still to be done in the diocese.

Prior to blessing all the rooms in Sion House, Archbishop Lazzarotto blessed the crucifix for the new St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Chapel which is still to be completed.

ARCHBISHOP Lazzarotto speaks of his joy in visiting Sale Diocese again.

SOME of the official guests at the opening including (from left) Sr Lauraine Brice NDS, the last Sion Sister to serve in the diocese, Bishop Emeritus Jeremiah Coffey, Bishop Vincent Long, Bishop Les Tomlinson, Archbishop Denis Hart, and Oblate Provincial Fr Harry Dyer OMI,

Nuncio heading to Holy Land

LEADING the way. Bishop Prowse takes the Nuncio upstairs to bless the various offices, including his own.

THE opening of Sion House, Warragul, last week was the last official duty in Australia for Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto.

He leaves Australia shortly to take up an important appointment as Apostolic delegate in Jerusalem and Palestine and Nuncio to Israel.

In effect he will be moving from Sion House, Warragul, to the original Sion, a transliteration of Zion, which is the Hebrew name for Jerusalem.

Archbishop Lazzarotto, 70, has been in Australia since December 2007 and has been a Vatican diplomat virtually all his priestly life.

He was ordained in 1967 before undertaking post-graduate studies at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome where he obtained a doctorate in Canon Law. He entered the diplomatic service of the Holy See in 1971 and previously served in the Holy Land when he was with the Vatican diplomatic mission to Israel from 1982-84. In 1994 he became the Vatican’s first nuncio to Jordan and Iraq.

Before coming to Australia he was Nuncio to Ireland for

seven years and had also served in Vatican embassies in Zambia, Belgium and Cuba Archbishop Lazzarotto said his hope was that the commitment to dialogue and peace, a commitment shared by the vast

majority of people living in the Holy Land, would continue to grow and that people would work each day, “step by step, so that the path toward peace finally would be open to all.”

BLESSING the new crucifix which will hang in St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Chapel at Sion House. In the background is director of Catholic Education Peter Ryan who was master of ceremonies.

Catholic Life, September 2012 - Page 11

DURING morning tea at St Kieran's Primary, Moe, Archbishop Lazzarotto chats with staff members (left left) Rose Howell, Gaye Vicic, Filomena Giardina and principal Jo Johnson.

JOBS for everyone on the big day. Directing carparking is incoming director of Catholic Education Maria Kirkwood, seen here chatting with St Patrick's, Pakenham principal Mick O'Brien.

Moe hospitality

JOY clearly shows on the Nuncio's face as he is applauded as he walks into St Kieran's School hall ahead of Bishop Christopher Prowse, Bishop Les Tomlinson and parish priest Fr Bernie O'Brien OMI.

MEETING another Lazzarotto. Archbishop Lazzarotto meets Bernadette Lazzarotto, Hernes Oak, her son Joshua, and mother Rose Gafa, Moe. The Nuncio may be distantly related to Bernadette's husband, as some of his family moved to Australia to live in Northern Victoria.

MOE - The short visit to St Kieran's Primary School by the Apostolic Nuncio will be remembered by all of the 134 students and their teachers.

The school did itself proud in its warm welcome.

Grade 6 student Kane McCabe amazed the Nuncio with his fluent welcome in Italian and Georgina Bright then extended the welcome in English.

The children sang a hymn to Our Lady which the Nuncio referred to in his talk.

He said Our Lady was special to him because he was born on the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians.

It was also an important coincidence that Our Lady Help of Christians was a Patroness of Australia.

In response to questions from children he said could not remember when he first wanted to be a priest but it was early in life.

When he was ordained his former teacher had given him a note he had written at primary school which said he wanted to be a priest.

The remarkable thing was that this teacher had kept the note because when she read it she got a feeling that with this

child, he might really become a priest.

Archbishop Lazzarotto said he had wondered all his life if there was anyone in particular who had inspired him to be a priest.

He believed that Jesus had placed in his heart the desire to be a priest, and it was a great source of happiness to him that Jesus had told him so early in life.

He also shared with the children about his confirmation sponsor was chosen.

The parish priest had just called out to the boy living next door and told him he was going to be the sponsor.

The Nuncio then went to a group of Prep and Grade 1 students where he said he would answer any question.

Young Alexis Wills obliged with "Do you know when my birthday is?" which brought much mirth.

Grade 6 strudent Elise Jeffery thanked the Nuncio in Italian, with Ronan Finnigan providing the English translation.

The official party had morning tea with staff before the Nuncio headed to Warragul for the Sion House opening.

THE Nuncio blesses an etched glass panel from a door in the old part of St Lieran's which is currently undergoing extensive renovations. Holding the panel is Sebastian Munbode. The panel will eventually hang on the wall as a reminder of the link between the old school buildings and the new.

Page 12 - Catholic Life, September 2012

Fundraising effort is Drouin students connecting certainly not trivial with zoo project families in Honiara.

This year the program was expanded to initiate fund-raising for a specific project.

Principal Tim Hogan said the trivia and silent auction night was ably led by Roger and April Hampson and the eight students who will accompany them to the Solomons in December.

He thanked the families of the students who generated many of the participants on the night and also networked with staff members and business suppliers to obtain items for the silent auction.

Students heading to the Solomons are Braeden Johnson, Sean Hardy, Marija Culanic, Breanna Scott, Melissa Ryan, Hannah Irwin, Lauren Turnbull and Gabrielle Harrison.

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DROUIN - St Ita’s Catholic Primary School is developing their school’s learning theme ‘ Building a Community of Deeper Thinkers and Connected Learners’ by becoming involved in the Melbourne Zoo’s 150th year anniversary celebration to make others aware of their fight against animal extinction.

To be part of this celebration one of the requirements was to put in a written submission outlining how St Ita’s would be able to connect the ‘Mali In My School’ project to the curriculum, their school community and the wider community.

A team of six Grade 4 students united together to send a message to their school community and the wider community.

Their message is: ‘ We should do all we can to look after all living creatures as they are gifts from God. If we don’t, who will?’ Their message is a simple one but very profound for children so young.

The class was involved in a discussion about endangered animals and finding out what is being done and what they can do to save animals on the brink of extinction.

Focusing on our local area, the leadbeater’s possum which is one of Victoria’s faunal emblems became the centre of their attention. They learnt due to the Black Saturday bushfires and timber harvesting much

PROUD of their decorated elephant are (from left) Daniel Schellekens, Madison Guy, Jacob Sandman, Liam Murphy, ThĂŠrèse Meggetto (Project supervisor) Sam Pratt and Will Gown. of the leadbeater’s habitat has Zoo, Mel Treweek spoke on been destroyed. The designs on extinction and what the school the ‘Mali’ elephant are a repre- community can do in practical ways to help save our endansentation of these problems.

The ‘St Ita’s Mali Team’ have gered animals. Mel later rebeen able to include the whole marked on how knowledgeable school in the designing of their the St Ita’s students are on this Mali by holding a competition subject.

Through this experience the for the best design that tells a Grade 4 students have learnt story about extinction.

The school has also held an a deeper respect for all God’s art exhibition with over 180 creatures, to work in a team endangered animal art pieces and that you don’t have to be an made by all the students. adult to be heard.

Over a three week period St Ita’s Mali elephant was on endangered species has been a exhibition at Drouin Central learning focus across the cur- up until last week. It will next riculum throughout the school . be part of the main exhibition These six Grade 4 students have at Melbourne Zoo with the 50 also hosted three school assem- large sculptures as part of the blies developing their public Mali in The City and Mali in speaking skills.

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CRANBOURNE – A trivia night and silent auction budgeted to raise $4000 towards a school cultural exchange program in the Solomons has raised a staggering $9000.

Eight Year 12 students from St Peter’s College will be heading to Honiara in December for an immersion program at Bishop Epalle College.

They are paying their own trip expenses after deciding to forego schoolies week and nother end of year celebrations.

The money raised will go towards the purchase of a muchneeded mini-bus for the Solomons college.

St Peter’s established relations with Bishop Epalle College last year and a small number of students spent time at the school and were billeted with

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Catholic Life, September 2012 - Page 13

Funeral costs - How do the survivors pay?

UNLESS we get lost at sea, the fact that we’ll all have a funeral is a given – and they are a significant cost, as I know.

We have all seen the plethora of advertising for funeral plans and funeral insurance on TV of late.

I don’t think it’s just me who gets tired of watching people say how good they are, and how simple.

In a world where no one does anything for nothing and you get what you pay for it is worth looking at the whole area of funeral cost protection. The ASIC has become concerned that these differences are not being explained correctly, and I agree with that.

A simple funeral may cost as low as $3000 but quite often may cost well over $15,000. A coffin alone can cost anywhere between $1000 and $12,000 or more, depending on style and material.

There are basically three ways to cover the cost of your funeral while you are living.

The fact that all three methods may be called a funeral plan is confusing in itself. There is funeral insurance, a straight prepaid funeral or a funeral bond.

There are very significant differences between them.

Starting with funeral insurance – you know the ads – “I’ll look after my family even when I’m gone” sort of thing. This is a straight forward insurance contract between the insurance company and the owner of the policy, usually the insured but possibly a member of the insured’s family.

The firm offering the insurance is an insurance broker who is either paid a fee or commission by the insurance company or who charges the insured.

Where the service is advertised as “free” be assured that there are commissions paid by the insurance company, which are of course paid from premiums and are reliant on continuing renewals.

That’s another point with insurance – it needs to be continually renewed or it lapses and disappears.

Where it is advertised as costing only cents per week it is qualified as to age and health. It gets far more expensive as you get older.

A 30 year old may pay $100 per year for the insurance, but a pensioner aged 70 who has paid the premiums for 40 years may still be asked to pay more than $100 per fortnight depending on the policy.

Quick calendar

If for any reason the premiums aren’t paid, then the policy will lapse and there will be no benefit from paying the premiums over the years. And these premiums could well be more than the cost of three funerals in real terms.

Another way of covering the cost of your funeral is to prepay for the purchase of a funeral. Your diocese offers this service and if you’re interested there’s information available from the Sion House in Warragul.

In this case, the individual will arrange a quotation for a funeral at today’s prices (for future services) and enters into a three way contract with the funeral director and the CDF Funeral Fund Inc. The funds are remitted by the funeral director to the CDF where they are invested in approved investments until required.

An alternative option is to use a funeral director, most who offer similar services themselves.

This has the advantage of fixing the cost of your funeral now, in today’s dollars and not having anything else to pay in the future.

One of the problems of prepaid funerals is the fact that people move and sometimes the benefit is not transferable.

What’s on & when Students September 21 – National Walk to Work Day 21 – Third term holidays begin 21-23 – Bishop Prowse at National Youth Conference, Wollongong 27 – Memorial of St Vincent de Paul 30 – Diocesan Social Justice Sunday launch, St Patrick’s Church, Pakenham, 9am Mass

October 1-5 – National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s Catholic Commission conference, Melbourne 2 – Memorial of the Guardian Angels 4 – Memorial of St Francis of Assisi 4 – World Animal Day 5- Arrival of St Francis Xavier relic. Liturgy of reception at St Patrick’s Pakenham, 11.30am, followed by Mass at noon; Liturgy of reception at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, 3.30 followed by Mass at 4pm;Liturgy of reception at St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield, 8pm, followed by vespers 9pm and overnight vigil.

6 – Visit of relic of St Francis Xavier. St Francis Xavier College Beaconsfield, liturgy of the hours 7am; Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren, liturgy of reception, 8.30am, followed by exposition and quiet prayer, 9.15am to 2pm;St Agatha’s Church, Cranbourne, liturgy of welcome 2.30pm, followed by

quiet prayer and reflection until 6.30pm Mass, then vespers and overnight vigil, from 7.30pm; 6 – Talks by anti-abortion campaigners Bernie Finn and Helen Parker at Maffra, 11am, and Drouin, 4pm 7 – Visit of relic of St Francis Xavier, St Agatha’s, Cranbourne, Liturgy of the Hours 7am, Prayer of farewell 7.45am, relic leaves for Melbourne 8am.

8 – Fourth term begins 8 – Deadline for October Catholic Life 8-28 – Bishop Prowse representing Australian bishops at Synod of Bishops in Rome 11 – Launch of Year of Faith in Rome 12-14 – Divine Mercy Congress, Keysborough 13 – March for Babies, Treasury Gardens, Melbourne 13-14 – 90th anniversary celebrations of St Patrick’s College, Sale 15 – Memorial of St Theresa of Avila 16 – World Food Day 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 17 – Catholic Life published 18 – Valley region meeting, Lumen Christi eco-centre, Churchill, noon 21 – Mission Sunday 22 – Blessed Pope John Paul II 28 – Annual St Sofia Festival, St John’s Koo Wee Rup, Italian Mass 9am.

28-30 – Bishop Prowse attends meeting in Rome on Jewish-Catholic relations

showing off their web skills SALE - GippsWebs for Business is a competition run by Monash University which matches teams of students from Gippsland Secondary Schools with small businesses.

Catholic College Sale students met with the business operators to gather information and learnt about the daily operations of the business. Students then developed a web site to enhance the business’ marketing and sales potential.

Finalists are chosen from each school to compete at the regional finals held at Monash University. Of the nine regional finalists, two teams came from Catholic College Sale and both were honored with awards.

Team ‘Pizza Pi’, made up of Year 10 students Jarred De Moel, Nicholas De Wys, Daniel Wallace and Hayden Sellings designed a website for the Tall Poppies Cafe in Sale and was placed second in the competition.

Placed third was the ‘Random Cards’ team, comprised of Year 11 students Andrew Gierens, Andrew Campbell, Jacob Simic and Adrian Rettino. This team designed a website for the Stratford Cemetery trust.

DOLLAR$ & SENSE with David Wells

If you’ve moved to the Sunshine Coast it may be that your funeral might have to be in Maffra for instance. In some cases the funeral director may have links interstate but it can restrict the possibilities.

CDF Funerals policy allows for a transfer of the pre-paid funeral if the owner moves outside the funeral director's designated area of operation. Centrelink would need to be told of this.

The third possibility is a funeral bond. These are issued by (usually) large financial institutions. It works where a pre-payment or periodical payment is made up to a nominated level and then this amount plus its earnings is paid out on the death of the bond beneficiary.

In a sense this is a hybrid of the other two methods.

There is no commitment to any funeral director, there are no increasing payments and once the amount determined is reached, there are no further payments.

The fund earnings are expected, but not guaranteed, to cover the increasing cost of the funeral. These are usually paid out promptly on the death of the beneficiary.

Funeral Bonds, and pre-paid funerals are not included in Centrelink asset assessment so they do not affect pensions.

Which method is best for you is something for you to determine, but from experience I know that the cost of finding substantial amounts for a funeral, that is required to be paid in a matter of days, is a stress that’s better avoided if you can afford it.

• This report is intended to provide general advice. In preparing this advice, David Wells and EL and C Baillieu Ltd did not take into account the investment objective, the financial situation and particular needs of any particular person. Before making an investment decision on the basis of this advice, you need to consider, with or without the assistance of an adviser, whether the advice is appropriate in light of your particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances.

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Page 14 - Catholic Life, September 2012

The Aboriginal missions of the Kimberley region WE recently made a two week trip to Broome and the Kimberley to get a break from this abnormally wet Gippsland winter.

Broome and the adjacent Cable Beach have experienced an enormous building boom since I was last there in 2000. At that time I noticed the choir in the Catholic Cathedral was mainly comprised of dignified old, white haired Chinese-Aboriginal ladies.

We spent three days visiting the old Catholic missions stations of Beagle Bay and Lombardina on the Dampier Peninsula about 150km north of Broome.

Beagle Bay has a large church with a distinctive altar decorated with pearl shells, and Lombardina a small wooden chapel with walls open to the air.

The mission to the Aborigines of the vast Kimberley region was founded by French Trappist fathers in the late 19th Century.

They battled on for decades with minimal financial and human resources. The mission priests lived in very primitive conditions in huts built by themselves, and struggled to provide food for themselves and for the mission Aborigines from fish, turtles and their own beef cattle.

The mission never became self-sufficient, as income from pearls, turtle meat and beef cattle was meagre. The missioners had to look after young orphaned Aboriginal children, often half-castes rejected by their own communities, and they had to protect adolescent girls from the depredations of pearlers who landed on the coast in the off season.

Broome was a small, rough shanty town with a much higher Asian population (Japanese, Filipino, Timorese and Malay) than European.

The Trappists relinquished the mission, which in 1901 was taken over by German Pallottine Fathers, who experienced the same problems.

As well as the Beagle Bay and Lombardina stations, they had to supply a parish priest at Broome, staff further missions at La Grange and Balgo in the western desert, and run schools, an orphanage and an infirmary for lepers at Derby when that disease began to spread from the 1920s onwards. Irish nuns of the St John of God congregation came to run the schools in 1907.

The Bavarian Pallottine priest, Fr Otto Raible, was consecrated Bishop in charge of the

Gippsland Gistory H with Patrick Morgan Kimberley Ordinariate (Diocese) in the 1930s.

The best known priest among the German Pallottine missionaries was Fr Ernest Worms, who became one of Australia’s and Germany’s leading anthropologists.

Parish priest of Broome for much of the 1930s, he was one of the first missionaries who, instead of suppressing the Aborigines’ own ancestral religious beliefs, tried to study and understand them, and to see what they had in common with Christianity, on the grounds that there are deep underlying religious traits common to all humanity.

Fr Worms became one of the foremost writers on Australiawide Aboriginal customs and religions, publishing many articles in scholarly journals.

His great synthetic work, entitled Australian Aboriginal Religions, was published in German after his death; an English translation of the book appeared in 1986.

Fr Worms and Bishop Raible were friends of my father and visited our house on a number of occasions in the 1940s and the 1950s when they were staying at the Pallottine head house in Studley Park Rd., Kew. On those visits Fr Worms brought with him Aboriginal skulls from the Kimberley so that my father, a brain surgeon, could compare them for cranial capacity and other features with European ones.

I remember Fr Worms as a tall, slim ascetic man with white hair, sensitive face and the detached demeanour of a scholar.

In Broome on our recent trip we visited a large and informative exhibition at the old Broome convent celebrating the centenary of the work of the St John of God Sisters in the Kimberley.

There we met one of the organisers, an Aboriginal-Chinese-European woman in late middle age named Pearl. She and her mother had lived on the Dampier Peninsula missions.

She said her mother’s people were starving and living on lizards before they came to the mission.

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Pearl had no time for the current idealisation of living in the Dreaming. She also deplored the government decision to take over the Catholic missions from the 1960s onwards, saying it deprived her of the only functioning community she had ever known.

At that time many academics, welfare workers, anthropologists and government officials strongly opposed the missions, often for anti-religious reasons, and thought they could do better.

But one famous anthropologist, Professor T.G.H. Strehlow, wrote: ‘But for the ministrations of those missions that can fairly be claimed to have been successful even when judged on purely non-Christian considerations, there would probably be no full-blooded Aborigines at all left in the majority of those Australian areas where they are still surviving’.

This quotation is included in the engrossing story of the Kimberley mission told in The Rock and the Sand by Mary Durack, best known for her history of the Durack family Kings in Grass Castles.

She and her sister, the painter

THE Lombardina Mission chapel with its rough “bush-built” ceiling.

Elizabeth Durack, have recently received attention with the publication of Brenda Niall’s joint biography of the sisters, True North. On one occasion in Perth in the 1970s my wife and I were lucky, because of our connection with Fr Worms and Bishop Raible, to meet with Dame Mary Durack to talk about the Kimberely mission with her.

We made two Gippsland connections on our recent trip. In Broome we stayed with Stephen Kerr and his partner Christine.

Stephen is originally from the Kerr family of Toora, who married into the large Hanratty clan. As it happens the Hanrattys are cousins of our family.

Stephen and Christine work

in health and welfare services, largely devoted to improving the situation of the local Aboriginal community. We noticed an enormous amount of building of new houses for Aboriginal families in the main towns of the Kimberley.

At Hall’s Creek we found by chance we were staying at the same motel as Tim Lee, originally from the Bushy Park property near Briagolong, who is a well-known reporter on ABC TV’s rural program Landline.

He and his crew were filming a rodeo at Hall’s Creek, a large cattle property in the area, and an old Aboriginal stockman who had tales of tough earlier days.

Unknown saints get a chance SAINT WHO? - 39 Holy Unknowns, by Brian O’Neel, published by Servant Books, distributed by Rainbow Books, paperback, 141 pages, rrp $19.95.

IT is the title of this book as much as anything which just prompts you to pick it up and read it.

There are thousands and thousands of named saints but it seems that the same handful of holy men and women hog the limelight.

This book offers a chance to a few of the lesser lights to be better known.

For the squeamish, it is probably best left alone because some of the details of how those who were martyred met their end can be graphic.

Many of the stories reach back into the antiquity of the Church but they make for interesting reading, if only to remind ourselves of the sacrifices some have made in the name of Jesus.

Talking about Books of Sisters of St Joseph who travelled to Rome for the canonisation.

There are quite a few faces which are recognisable as having served in Sale Diocese parishes and schools.

However, this book is much more than a collection of ageing sisters in light blue scarves as it summarises the whole canonisation and the celebrations, not only in Rome but back here in Australia and other countries touched by the charism of St Mary of the Cross.

Our own Bishop Christopher Prowse even features in one of the photos later in the book.

THE CANONISATION OF MARY MACKILLOP, A Pictorial Souvenir, published

by St Paul’s, distributed by Rainbow Books, paperback, 80 pages $9.95.

THE POSTIE AND THE PRIEST - a Look at Fr Bob Maguire Through his Letterbox, by Ron Burrows, published by Fairfield Press, distributed by Rainbow Books, paperback, 373 pages, rrp $34.95.

THE canonisation of Australia’s first saint may now be two years ago but this book is a wonderful reminder of that great October day and the lead up to it.

The book has few words but is a collection of photographs, mainly featuring the hundreds

IF there is one Melbourne priest who can be described as an iconic battler, it is the now retired Fr Bob Maguire.

As expert media performer on radio, TV and the print media, he went down with a fight when the Melbourne Archdiocese decided it was time for

him to retire.

This biography is described as a fly-on-the-wall account of the daily life of Fr Maguire.

The cover says a lot - the cheeky, mischievous grin on the face of the aged cleric - just makes you want to pick up this book.

The author was Fr Maguire’s postie for 19 years and it is obvious through the writing that he has a great deal of respect for the priest and the organisations he founded such as Open Family and the Fr Bob Maguire Foundation.

This is not the only biography you will find on the priest but it is a warts and all look at the man and his day to day life.

It is an unique insight into the history, characters and streets of South Melbourne which were home for so many years to Fr Maguire.

Describing the book is difficult because it is not a straight biography; it is more of a social commentary told through the eyes of the author and priest, and of course it also carries with it the wit, philosophy and reflections of Fr Maguire on theology and the state of the Church in general.

It is certainly an interesting read.

Catholic Life, September 2012 - Page 15

Youth Matters ‘Always be joyful in the Lord’

(Phil 4:4)

St Michael’s youth group’s attitude to latitude TRARALGON - St Michael’s Youth group has been run in the Traralgon Parish for the past 13 years.

It is a great way for young people to be involved in the parish community. It is for all young people from Year 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

The group will now be known as SMY@L – St Michael’s at Latitude 38.11.41 which is the latitude of Traralgon.

We meet at St Michael’s Hall a few times during school terms on a Friday night and run a variety of activities and events. We provide a safe and friendly environment where young people can get together with friends and make new ones.

All activities are a lot of fun for all young people no matter what their interests are. Young people can begin to feel a sense of belonging when they regularly attend youth group and get

to know other people in a setting other than school. It is also great in maintaining friendships if their current school friends attend a different Secondary school to them.

All activities are fully supervised by youth leaders who are members of St Michael’s Parish community. All leaders have current Working With Children checks and have varying levels of experience in working with young people (from four years to 20 years experience). We also have assistant youth leaders who are in Year 11 or 12 that join in the activities with enthusiasm and understand what young people have to deal with in 2012!

In 2012 SMY@L has a new focus, which is service to others, our community and beyond. As well as providing fun activities, we will also be helping others through fundraising,

prayer, awareness and practical support.

The group had an awesome start to Term 3, a great turn out and lots of laughs with our ‘Come to your senses night’ - it was an Olympic themed night with a twist, based on some of the sports at the Paralympic games - some very challenging games but lots of fun too... sitting volleyball, kneel-down basketball and blind relays.

This term our focus is on ‘Operation Christmas Child’ which is the project we are supporting where by we make up shoeboxes filled with goods that are shipped to poor children overseas. It will be their only Christmas gift.

Our challenge is to make up as many boxes as we can and many young people have already donated goods or money to start us off. (Go to www.operationchristmaschild.org.au to

Make the pilgrimage to Rio EACH World Youth Day is unique and exciting, taking on the flavor and rhythm of the host city and Rio is sure to entice the senses!

Rio de Janeiro is an awe-inspiring city where impossibly steep granite peaks rise from the ocean between glorious stretches of golden sand.

Skyscrapers vie for space with impeccable colonial buildings, and lush forests tumble down hillsides into densely populated residential areas.

Famed for its breathtaking setting, Rio is undoubtedly one of the most attractive cities in the world, boasting iconic favorites such as: Corcovado mountain, where the statue of Christ the Redeemer stands proudly, arms outstretched and watching over the city; Sugar Loaf mountain

offering stunning views of Rio; and the characteristic beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and São Conrado.

This beautiful Brazilian city is the very definition of the best of both worlds. Miles of sand stretch along Rio’s beachfront, while inland teems with modern street culture.

Affectionately known as the Cidade Maravilhosa (Marvelous City) – this is our WYD host city!

The Victorian bishops invite young people aged 16 - 35, who belong to or have a close association with the Archdiocese of Melbourne, Diocese of Ballarat, Diocese of Sale, or the Diocese of Sandhurst, to join the Victorian Dioceses’ WYD2013 Rio pilgrimage (standard group eligibility criteria applies). For

Last days for camp OFTEN when we think of going on retreat we picture a few days of quiet reflection but during the next school holidays the Youth Ministry Office would like to offer you a retreat that is just a little bit different.

Camp Micah 6:8, a camp for teenagers, is a two-night retreat experience that challenges young people to use Micah 6:8 as a framework for weaving the Gospel values of humility, kindness, and love for justice into our way of thinking and our way of life.

And of course, no youth camp is complete without a good dollop of fun and games and Camp Micah 6:8 is guaranteed to deliver just that!

The Camp Micah 6:8 retreat begins at 7pm on Monday, October 1, at the Forest Edge Christian Youth Camp, and concludes at 2.30pm Wednesday, October 3.

Young people in Year 7 through to Year 10 are invited to participate. Parents and friends are welcome to join us for our concluding Mass at 1.30pm on Wednesday October 3.

The cost to be part of Camp Micah 6:8 is $50 and includes all meals and simple accommodation. If you have any concerns about the cost of this camp please contact the Youth Ministry Office on 5622 6600 to receive a concession rate.

Young adults aged 17 and up are invited to apply to be a volunteer leader for this youth camp.

All the details and registration forms can be found at www. sale.catholic.org.au/agencies/ youth/events-for-young-people.

Please submit completed registration forms and payment to Jess Denehy by September 20, 2012 as places are limited.

more information visit www. sale.catholic.org.au/agencies/ youth/wyd

find out more!).

In Term 4 we have a sports night, craft and market stall and the Traralgon amazing race night planned. New members are always welcome from any school or town!

We would like to invite any students in Year 11 or 12 to come along to be assistant youth leaders - a great way to gain experience in working

with young people, share your enthusiasm and help out with our programs.

For any other queries or questions please call Louise Varsaci 5175 0877 or to keep updated with current programs join the group on Facebook or for a copy of the current program email Louise at varsaci@aussiebb.com.au

November walk with Our Lady PILGRIMAGE has long been a sacred and transforming practice for Catholics young and old.

A pilgrimage is a personal spiritual experience.

World Youth Days have instigated a renewal of the practice of going on pilgrimage, especially for young people.

This is often an experience of joyful discovery not only of wonderful places but also of the universal church in great beauty, particularly when shared with others.

The Catholic Diocese of Sale’s Youth Ministry Office

invites you to join us for the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sale.

Beginning at the Cathedral at 1pm Sunday November 18, we will complete of walk of prayer around Sale before returning to the cathedral.

Entertainment and refreshments will complete the afternoon together.

More details will be released soon but in the meantime please make sure you have this annual diocesan youth gathering booked into your diary!

Page 16 - Catholic Life, September 2012

Learning to walk a mile in someone else's shoes SALE - One group of Catholic College Sale Year 11 students have left their families and friends, and surrendered their telephones to engage in a life

changing experience in a place that they will never forget.

The eight students recently returned from a seven day immersion in Santa

menALIVE weekend

By John H. Cooney SALE – Some 23 laymen gathered together for a menALIVE retreat at the St Mary’s Cathedral chapter house on August 5-6.

Six of these men ran the retreat - five from Hobart and one from Melbourne.

The retreat started with ice breakers but soon settled into more serious business.

The first talk The Father’s Love touched on the way our idea of God is influenced by our experience of our own father. We are admonished to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect.

Yet, realistically this level of perfection is something to be aimed at, but is unlikely to be achieved in this life. For those of us who are fathers this is a sobering thought.

Certainly, our own experience as fathers softens any residual hardness there may have been present in our own childhood memories of dad.

The following talk, The Father’s Dream put things in better perspective.

For despite our limitations, God has a plan for each of us.

So we don’t have to achieve God’s perfection in the abstract, but simply strive towards the purpose he has in mind for each of us personally.

In this regard, we can spiral up towards the level of perfection that is the Father’s dream has for us; or we can spiral downward to shatter this dream.

After these talks we had time to reflect

on the ideas presented about our relationship with the Father. We were also reminded that the Father does not leave us to our own resources.

Frs Andrew Wise and John Speekman made the sacrament of Reconciliation available during our quiet time.

A barbecue and gentler evening served to ease our passage into the last talk for the day on The Father’s Son. The mystery of our relationship with the Father has been clarified, to some extent, by Jesus who came to us as God and man. We have been redeemed, restored and released.

On Sunday the focus was on the Eucharist, the sacrament that gives access to the Son and nourishes our journey toward achieving the Father’s dream for us.

We shared our responses to the readings for Mass with other men in our group. The liturgy of the Word increases our insight to Jesus’ presence among us and strengthens our faith in the mystery.

Indeed, this sharing was essentially lectio divina, a well established practice that has for long been used in the Church to deepen understanding of the richness of God’s word.

In their wisdom the founders of menALIVE have labelled lectio divina as SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer).

Most of us accepted the challenge of taking our SOAP home and trying this method of striving more effectively to achieve the Father’s dream in our lives.

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Teresa, an Aboriginal community located 80km along a dusty road, south east of Alice Springs.

Santa Teresa, also known as Ltyentye Apurte is the land of the Arrernte People, an Aboriginal community of around 500 people with a strong Marist Brothers presence.

The Catholic College Sale students were hosted by the Brothers and engaged in many of the community’s day to day activities during their stay.

One highlight was the students’ involvement in the Santa Teresa Community Women’s Centre, where they assisted in preparation for the delivery of the local meals on wheels service to the GUS McFarlane working in the commuelders of the community. nity day centre at Santa Theresa.

The experience was an immersion quite different from a tourist visit. Each the elders in the spirituality centre student gained an insight and an appre- where more of this fine artwork is prociation for the harshness of life and con- duced. The elder women taught the students how to paint on silk and they each ditions in outback Australia.

Aboriginal art forms a major part of brought home a precious keepsake.

Although very shy, the local Arrernte the soul of the Ltyentye Apurte compeople warmed to the group of visitors munity. The Catholic Church walls are adorned by fabulous works of art creat- and told many stories of their traditions ed by the local woman, telling the story and culture.

One evening the CCS students were of faith and the Keringke Arts centre taken out bush with the Aboriginal elder located in the community is a world rewomen to collect Bush Medicine, cook nowned Aboriginal arts studio.

The students visited the centre and kangaroo tail and ‘johnny cakes’ and were able to watch these gifted wom- hear stories of the spirits, the moon and en create some amazing pieces. This the stars.

The women sat around the fire singing community is very well known for the brightly colored artwork which is pro- songs of faith and spiritual significance, duced there. The students worked with it was a very moving experience.

Soccer gold for Adam Williamson at Hallam Seniors Secondary school (where he is attending the Soccer Academy) and was selected for the team in April.

Adam and his team-mates then had 10 gruelling weeks of training which included all day sessions over weekends and training after school.

His father, Rob Italia said “Adam has been playing soccer for at least eight years and despite the $3500 cost for us to send Adam to China it was an opportunity not to be missed. We are so proud of him – his little siblings think he’s a superstar!”.

Adam received $1500 sponsorship from St John of God Berwick Hospital to help pay for his travel costs.

Mr Italia says sponsorship is very important for young emerging sporting talent as families often cannot afford the investment required to help children develop their sporting skills and compete at the highest level. “Funding is the biggest obstacle families face”.

St John of God Berwick Hospital’s director of mission, Ruth Sharkie said, “As a healthcare provider it’s important for us to encourage healthy lifestyles and what better way to do that than to help young sporting talent”.

She added: “Sport encourages selfdiscipline, motivation and teamwork.

It also helps keep kids off the streets.

We would love to see local businesses develop a talent fund that families can access to help with the costs associated with their children’s chosen sport”.

Mr Italia agreed. He said, “We were fortunate to get sponsorship but not every family is that lucky, we are extremely grateful for the support. The kind offering shown by others is inspiring” Adam summed up what the experiADAM Italia shows the winner's cup to St John of God Hospital director of mis- ence has meant to him. ”I would love to turn professional in the future and sion Ruth Sharkey. having played in the Great Wall Cup Adam’s team, the Footskills Dragons, helps me get one step closer to my goal. romped through to the finals match and Competing against the best players from ended with a 4-1 victory to lift the win- other countries has helped me develop ner’s cup. “The team went crazy, we my own skills and scoring a goal in one couldn’t believe we did it”, said Adam. of our games was the highlight of my Adam was spotted by team coach Ian trip!”.

BERWICK - As Olympic fever hit the globe, young soccer player Adam Italia was preparing for the biggest soccer tournament of his life!

Adam, 17 from Beaconsfield and 16 team-mates travelled to China for the Great Wall Cup in Beijing to compete for the coveted title against the best under 18s teams from around the world.

Not only was it Adam’s first international soccer tournament but his team also took the winner’s cup and title.

“I didn’t really expect us to win the tournament as we played against some very skilled teams” says Adam. “But we went from strength to strength and after five tough games we found ourselves in the final”.

Catholic Life, September 2012 - Page 17

A serving community of migrants

By Regina T Abraham CRANBOURNE - World Day of Migrants and Refugees was celebrated for Sale Diocese on August 26 at St Agatha’s, Cranbourne, by Bishop Christopher Prowse.

It was the third annual celebration in our diocese and each year these celebrations get more vibrant, with active participation from all parts of the diocese, and the whole community of worshipers colorfully dressed up in their national attire.

Seven priests concelebrated Mass with Bishop Prowse and the Divine Mercy Samoan Choir took an active part with their singing.

The lectionary was carried into the church with great reverence, by four Samoan men traditionally attired, accompanied by singing in Samoan.

For many of us it brought to mind, how the Israelites of old carried the Ark of the Covenant also with great reverence.

Parishioners from Pakenham, Berwick and St Agatha’s read the prayers of intercession in their own languages. The offertory gifts were brought up by children dressed up in their national dress and they were preceded by a Samoan ritual dance.

Bishop Prowse spoke about the theme of the Migrant Sun-

SOME of the migrants attending the diocesan celebration give a thumbs up for the great variety of international meals shared afterwards.

After the Mass there was a day this year and said that the new evangelisation and migra- huge food fiesta in the parish hall with the cuisine from many tion were very much linked.

He said many among the mi- countries and a cultural entergrant community, hailing from tainment by the Samoan comcountries where they were a munity.

In a festive spirit many who minority in their faith, were becoming prominent evange- present at this celebration, inlisers within the diocese, eager cluding the priests, participated to make a contribution to this in the traditional Samoan dancing. country.

We had Larry and Michael For this contribution he was most thankful and encouraged from Bairnsdale, feeding the the desire among the migrant crowd with American ‘Sloppy Joes’, Indians with their rice community to evangelise.

THE Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia exhibition at Melbourne Museum reveals a host of fascinating stories from the Old Testament uncovered during two centuries of archaeological excavation.

Possible evidence of the Great Flood, the king who conquered Judah and Jerusalem, and the story of the Tower of Babel are explored in the exhibition.

The exhibition closes on October 7.

Mesopotamia – the ‘Land between the Rivers’ – occupies what is now modern Iraq, north east Syria, and south east Turkey.

Located between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, it was home to a succession of great cities and empires from which emerged many of the fundamentals of contemporary civilisation, including the invention of writing, the 60-second minute and systems of law and government.

Major archaeological discoveries were made in the cities of Mesopotamia from the mid 19th Century and into the 20th Century.

In The Wonders of Ancient Mesopotamia, visitors can marvel at the treasures that Woolley found in the royal graves at Ur

and curry, Samoans with a huge variety of food and their specialty roast pig, Polish with their sausages, Italian biscotti and variety of English desserts.

I would like to acknowledge the leadership and direction of Fr Darek Jablonski and the hard work of a serving, prayerful community of migrants.

Marzena Smalec from St Agatha’s made a spectacular six layered cake decorated with the flags from every nation. Anita Hughes from Holy Beginnings decorated the tables artistically and had gifts of coffee mugs with the date of Migrant Sunday and the picture of St Agatha as a give aways for Bishop Prowse and the visiting priests.

Theresa Alefosio showed great organisational skills by bringing together the choir, the Migrant Sunday Mass and an abundance of food for all.

It was great team work by the Samoan community and all the others who took an active part for making Migrant and Refugee Sunday 2012 a success.

Bishop Prowse announced Migrant Sunday would be celebrated at St Michael’s Parish, Berwick next year.

High Tea turns into a Titanic affair THE Iona Maryknoll branch of the Catholic Women’s League held their annual High Tea in early August .

Approximately 50 parishioners attended and were treated to a four course meal of rainbow sandwiches, party pies and sausage rolls, Devonshire tea and a beautiful array of cakes.

The theme for this year was Titanic. During the afternoon the film of Titanic was showing and the heritage people from Melbourne had a parade of the fashions of that time 1920 to 1950s.

The ladies wore the dresses of that era and the gentlemen were in army and navy uniforms. Log fires were burning during the afternoon which made a lovely atmosphere.

Two gentlemen from the parish entertained the guests with their guitars and encouraged everyone to join in a singalong of old songs.

Bishop attends Museum hosts Bible archaeology Oceania meeting including decorative jewellery and exquisite artefacts of gold, silver and bronze.

Other well-known stories and objects in the exhibition with an historical religious connection include the first king of the Neo-Babylonian period, Nebuchadnezzar II, who, according to the Bible, conquered Judah and Jerusalem, and sent the Jews into exile. He is also the king who built the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Among 170 exhibit is a clay tablet that records Nebuchadnezzar’s first capture of Jerusalem and the deportation to Babylon of the king of Judah.

CWL’s Wangaratta conference WANGARATTA - Some 125 members from dioceses around Victoria attended the annual general conference of the Catholic Women’s League was held on August 22-23.

Bishop of Sandhurst Les Tomlinson celebrated the opening Mass at Our Lady’s Church, South Wangaratta and spoke of the contribution the Catholic Women’s League makes in the Catholic Church and reminded us that prayer is very central in all our lives.

Sandhurst Diocesan CWL president welcomed all to Wangaratta followed by league prayers and official opening of Conference by Tim McCurdy MP. Guest speakers were former Ambassador to the Holy See Tim Fisher, national CWL president Jean Tanze, and founder of Meg’s Children, Trish Ryan.

Reports were given from the Horizon, Social Questions, Missions and Welfare and Mary Glowrey House.

Anita Toner showed photos of Bethlehem University run by the De La Salle brothers where Muslims and Christians study together. There are positives in the world.

The reflection was given by Fr Carey who called on us to contemplate the face of Mary during her son’s life, from birth until his death.

Day two began with a World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations Mass at Our Lady’s Church and the conference continued with the WUCWO report read on behalf of general secretary Jean Mansbridge who was unable to attend .

National secretary of WUCWO Jane Munro reported five million members worldwide

and that dialogue with other churches was very important.

General spiritual director Fr Anthony Doran announced 2012 theme for CWL “Signs and Bearers of Christ to the World”.

General president Jewell Start reported agreat response to Presidents Collection. She has attended all conferences and thanked all members for their work throughout the year and the governing body for their support and guidance to her.

Val Feltham was presented with a certificate of appreciation for all her work in CWL over the years and Jane Munro received the Mary Glowrey Award.

Two members retiring from governing body after nine years of service were presented with cards of appreciation.

NEW CALEDONIA - Bishop Christopher Prowse was one of eight bishops who met in Paita, New Caledonia, last month to discuss secularism, new evangelisation and welfare of the clergy.

The meeting was of the executive of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania.

The meeting heard that Australia and New Zealand Churches had struggled to cope with the influence of secularism but with the development of information and communication technology also other countries of the Pacific, such as Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands, now also realised that the same challenge is at their For the near future, however, the main focus for every diocese will be on the Year of Faith beginning in October and the theme of New Evangelisation promoted by Pope Benedict XVI. The meeting was also a follow-up on the recommenda-

tions passed in the 2010 Sydney Federation Assembly. It was noted that a lot of the initiatives had been implemented, such as the call for more cooperation and sharing of lecturers for seminaries especially in Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

The call for possible insurance cover for the priests working in the dioceses and their personal health care was also assessed.

The eight executive bishops gathered in preparation for the general assembly of the Federation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania to be held in Wellington, New Zealand in 2014.

The Federation includes four Bishops’ Conferences: Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea/Solomon Islands, and CEPAC, which consists of all other small island countries in the Pacific Ocean, such as Fiji, Tonga, Guam, New Caledonia, Tahiti, and Vanuatu.

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Page 18 - Catholic Life, September 2012

For the Young and Young at Heart Paint your own Mona Lisa

Time for a Laugh A POSTMAN was clearing the mailbox one morning when he spotted a letter addressed to God. There was no stamp on it and it was unsealed so he decided to have a peek.

He found a touching letter from a person down on their luck, who was asking God for a miracle of $250 to see his family through another week.

The postman was moved and took the letter along to his local parish meeting that night. Others were also moved and they took up a collection which raised $125.

The postman delivered the money next morning.

Next day he was surprised to see another letter to God in the mailbox. He opened it and read: “Dear God, thank you very much for answering my request. Next time can you use some other church, as the Catholics appear to have kept half!”

TWO great golfing mates made a pledge that whichever of them died first, they would try to make contact with the survivor and let him know if there were golf courses in heaven.

Barney died and went to heaven. Bill found a new golfing partner and one day was searching in the rough for his ball when he heard “Psst, Bill it’s me.”

THE Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci is one of the world’s best known paintings but we He looked around and think that some of our readers can do as good a job as the master. You can try copying the heard again “Bill. It’s me colors from the original or dress up the lady in modern colors. Send your entry to Catholic Barney.”

Bill could see no-one so Life, PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820 for a chance to win a prize. he said “Are you up in heaven, Barney?”

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Age . . . . . . “Yep. But I‘ve got some good news and bad news about the golf courses.”

“Well have they got golf Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . courses?” Bill asked.

“They have magnificent School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . courses. They have angels to carry your clubs and they give you tees made of gold.

If you ever hit a ball into the rough, there’s a whole troop of angels there to look for your ball.”

“Well, what’s the bad OUR winner from last news?”

“You tee off with me on month’s coloring contest Wednesday morning!” featuring the mermaid sitting on a rock is Eve A PLUMBER gets a phone Pollett, 7, who attends St call late one Friday evening Joseph’s Primary School in and finds it’s the doctor on Wonthaggi. the other end.

It will have to wait until “My toilet is blocked. Can after the school holidays to you come around and fix it?” deliver her prize.

The plumber explained Keep you entries coming JULY winner Charlette that he only did after hour LEONARDO’s painting of in and you might be lucky Cowan from Cranbourne calls for emergencies such Mona Lisa (color enhanced) enough to be our winner.

North with her prize. as burst water pipes but the

Our lucky winner

doctor insisted he come around.

When the plumber arrived at the doctor’s residence he was shown into an upstairs toilet.

He looked closely at the toilet bowl, reached into his pocket and took out two aspirins which he dropped in.

“See if that fixes it,” he said. “If its no better Monday morning, give me a call and my secretary will try to fit you in for a house call.”

FOLLOWING an especially angry argument, a couple went to bed not speaking to each other.

Needing to arise early the following morning, the husband left a note on his wife’s bedside table that said “Wake me at six.”

He woke at 8am the following morning and rolled stiffly out of bed to see a note on his bedside table: “It’s 6am! Get out of bed!”

A BUS load of politicians were driving down a country road, when the bus ran off the road and crashed into a tree in an old farmer’s field.

The old farmer, after seeing what happened, went over to investigate.

A few days later, the local sheriff came out looking for the missing politicians, saw the crashed bus, and asked the farmer where all the politicians had gone.

The farmer said, “I buried ‘em all… out back.”

The sheriff then asked, “Were they ALL dead?”

The old farmer replied, “Well, some of them said they weren’t, but you know how politicians lie.”

A MAN was sitting alone in his office one night when a genie popped up out of his ashtray and said, “And what will your third wish be?”

The man looked at the genie and said, “Huh? How can I be getting a third wish when I haven’t had a first or second wish yet?”

“You have had two wishes already,” the genie said, “but your second wish was for me to put everything back the way it was before you made your first wish. Thus, you remember nothing, because everything is the way it was before you made any wishes. You have one wish left.”

“Okay,” said the man, “I don’t believe this, but what the heck. I wish I were irresistible to women.”

“Funny,” said the genie as he granted his wish and disappeared. “That was your first wish too!”

Catholic Life, September 2012 - Page 19

Bishop to lead teaching day at Warragul

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Let’s leave something for those in need

public notices

situations vacant

VOCATIONS

Youth Ministry Support Officer

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

If so please contact Diocesan Vocations Director

Fr Darek Jablonski 5996 1985 vocations@sale.catholic.org.au

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 phoningPat on56 5144 4991 22 6600 Do it today and sleep easy knowing you have done your part.

Give some depth to your advertising dollar!

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

accommodation STORMANSTON HOUSE NORTH SYDNEY Quiet and charming accommodation in Federation Guest House, close to the city.

Walking distance to Mary MacKillop Place. Ensuite double room $110 per night.

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The Bishop of Sale is seeking to appoint a Youth Ministry Support Officer.

Position description, Application Form, Confidential Referee Assessment Forms and other relevant information may be downloaded from the Catholic Diocese of Sale website www.sale.catholic.org.au.

Enquiries may be directed to Ms Cathy Dougan, Personal Assistant to the Bishop on (03) 5622 6600 or email pa@sale.catholic.org.au.

Closing date for applications is Friday, 12 October, 2012

Youth Minister Secondary Colleges The Director of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Sale is seeking to appoint a Youth Minister Secondary Colleges. It is envisaged that the appointee will be a recent school graduate seeking to spend 12 months working in Youth Ministry as a gap year experience.

A detailed Position Description and Application Form may be downloaded from the Catholic Education Office website www.ceosale.catholic.edu.au For further details please contact Dr Rose Duffy csb at the Catholic Education Office, 6 Witton Street, Warragul on 03 5622 6624 or email rduffy@ceosale. catholic.edu.au Closing date for applications is Friday, 12 October 2012

BISHOP Christopher Prowse will conduct a parish leaders’ teaching day at Warragul on November 17.

He will speak on the Year of Grace and Year of Faith.

The day will be held at the Sion House Teacher’s Centre, Connor St., Warragul, from 9.30am.

Program for the day is 10am praise and worship, 10.30am first teaching session, 11.30 tea break, 12pm second teaching session, 1pm lunch, 2.30 Mass in Sion House Chapel.

Participants should take their own lunch.

The day is sponsored by Catholic Charismatic Renewal and more information is available from Peter Schreurs 0419 328 211 and to register people should phone Cathy McLure on 5174 3001 or 0432 588 195, or Michael Power on 5678 2271.

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

To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked.

St Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen.

Catholic Life

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Page 20 - Catholic Life, September 2012

Cranbourne's Little Shop of Horrors comes to life

CRANBOURNE – St Peter’s College has successfully staged its 10th full scale production since 1996 with the popular Little Shop of Horrors.

The school put on four performances at the George Jenkins Theatre, at Monash University, Frankston, at the end of August.

The musical is a parody of American science fiction films and features some great 1960’s Motown, rock and roll and doo-wah music.

The musical was first performed in 1982 on Broadway

and was based on a low budget 1960s black comedy film of the same name.

The St Peter’s production featured a cast of 60 from all year levels at the school.

School captain Tyson Tifere played the lead role of nerdy Seymour Krelbourne, Katie Saliba played his love-interest Audrey, Taylor Piggott was the psychopathic dentist Orin, Scott Jeffrey was Seymour’s adoptive father Mr Mushnik and Isabelle Bangard played the man-eating plant Audrey 2.

A live seven piece band com-

prising teachers and students performed the full score.

The play was directed by St Peter’s teaching staff member Gina Goss, assisted by Frank Carter as music director Karissa Robertson as choreographer and Matt Sharp as vocal coach.

The wonderful stage sets were put together by a team led by production art director Carla Edgerton.

Senior students from St Agatha’s Primary School, Cranbourne, were treated to the full dress rehearsal and thoroughly enjoyed the show.

EVERYTHING goes green in a fantastic scene from the show.

THE man-eating plant Audrey 2 attacks in a scene from the musical.

- PHOTOGRAPHS: Mike Fletcher

It's just crazy hair!

Seminarians studying in Nigeria

Catholic Life Sale

The Eucharistic rosary designed by the Vatican rosary makers will be sent out to all those who give a donation of $15 or more and tick this box.

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

WARRAGUL - On the feast day of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop, August 8, St Joseph’s Primary School had a crazy hair or hat day and raised an amazing $450 for the Travelling Sisters Road Show which is part of the Mary MacKillop Foundation.

A few months ago, Sr Julianne and the Travelling Sisters Roadshow visited St Joseph’s and students had a really great time as they learnt about Mary MacKillop and the work that the Sisters do through interactive displays, puppets, music, song and much more. It was a really beneficial experience.

All students engaged with the presentation by Sr Julianne, came away with many positive comments about their sessions

and were very enthusiastic to help in some way.

On crazy hair day students also participated in a number of activities throughout the day focusing on the life of Mary MacKillop including art work, literacy based activities, origami, songs and poems, prayers and much more.

Everyone really got into the spirit of the occasion with heaps of amazing hair styles and weird and wonderful hats on display.

The Mary MacKillop Foundation do an amazing amount of work for those who need help and St Joseph’s students felt very happy knowing they were able to support them with their contribution.