Catholic Life May 2010

Catholic Life

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Publication of the Diocese Diocese of of Sale Sale

What’s News

ISSUE 139100 ISSUE

Sion Convent 120 soon - Page 5

May 2010 November ‘Grease’ is the word - Page 11

Rwandan survivor to speak - Page 6

A new pastoral initiative PLANNING the future direction of Sale Diocese will become a major focus across the diocese over the next 12 months.

Bishop Christopher Prowse will release a pastoral letter next month as a framework for discussions which will take place over the coming months.

The pastoral letter will be accompanied by a series of questions or discussion points which

are still being prepared.

The process will be different to that employed in 2002 by Bishop Jeremiah Coffey in establishing the former pastoral plan Journeying Together, because discussions would be within set guidelines.

Bishop Prowse said Journeying Together had run its course and it was time to ask “what now?”

Title of the pastoral letter to be released after Pentecost will

be “Finding Home in Jesus” The bishop will appoint a committee to advise him on appropriate ways to discuss issues raised in the pastoral letter and these are likely to include a series of local or regional discussions.

He said that after that it was likely there would be one or two diocesan assemblies to draw together some recommendations for consideration.

Bishop Prowse said that in

preparing his pastoral letter he was taking to heart the wisdom of Pope John Paul II who wrote in Novo Millennio Ineuente in 2001 “It is not therefore a matter of inventing a new program. The program already exists; it is the plan found in the Gospel and in the Living Tradition, it is the same as ever. Ultimately, it has its centre in Christ himself, who is known, loved and imitated, so that we may live the life of the Trinity, and with him transform

history until its fulfilment is the heavenly Jerusalem.”

In the same document the Pope advised that such new endeavors “must be translated into the pastoral initiatives adapted to the circumstances of each community.”

Bishop Prowse said that for this reason the diocese would identify a detailed pastoral focus which would serve its purposes for the years ahead.

Bishop urges students to become ‘eagle Catholics’ SALE – More than 2000 students from Catholic schools in Wellington Shire were urged to become “eagle Catholics” by Bishop Christopher Prowse at the annual Peace Mass.

The students filled the Bishop Phelan Stadium at Catholic College Sale for the event.

In his homily Bishop Prowse said peace was a very important concept for everyone.

Jesus’ first words to his disciples after rising from the dead were “Peace be with you.”

He said Blessed Mary MacKillop, who would be canonised as Australia’s first saint later this year, was also someone who believed in peace.

She had come from a family with lots of financial issues, a struggling family which was forced to move often.

Mary MacKillop had become a member of the Catholic parish in Melbourne and it was while she was working as a governess in Penola, South Australia, that she saw the need for struggling Catholic children to receive an education.

With the help of Fr Julian Tenison Woods she started a school and then other young women came to join her in her endeavors.

“She became a peacemaker for struggling Catholic families by seeing a need and responding to it.”

• Continued Page 2

PART of the the huge congregation of students at the annual Peace Mass in Sale.

Dig deep in May to help us grow BISHOP’S FAMILY FOUNDATION

Each year the Bishop’s Family Foundation funds programs which assist families within Sale Diocese. To enable this good work to continue the foundation relies on your tax deductible charitable donations. Please give generously.

Send donations to Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 508, Sale 3853

Page 2 - Catholic Life, May 2010

To God’s people in the Catholic Diocese of Sale “The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus” - St John Marie Vianney THE Year for Priests is drawing to an end (June 19, 2010). In recent weeks, I have had the privilege of leading our priests and deacons of the Diocese of Sale in Retreat.

It was a highlight of our celebrations in this special year. Many thanks to all the communities who prayed for us in those unforgettable days.

I wish to share with you all a part of one of my talks to the priests and deacons.

There are many aspects to the Theology of the Priesthood. I brought to the attention of the participants briefly just three crucial foundations of this theology.

1. Service A key word to understand the Theology of the Priesthood is the word ‘service’. Priests imitate Jesus, our Servant King. We see his example especially when He washed His disciples’ feet on the night before he died.

Pope John Paul II summarised this foundation beautifully in 1990 in his Holy Thursday Letter to Priests – “The priesthood is not

The Priest acts in the person of Christ, the Head an institution that exists ‘alongside’ the laity or ‘above’ it. The priesthood of Bishops, and priests, as well as the ministry of deacons, is ‘for’ the laity, and precisely for this reason it possesses a ‘ministerial’ character, that is to say, one of “service.”

2. In the person of Christ, the Head The key foundational belief is that the priest acts in the person of Christ, the Head (In persona Christi capitis). He shares intimately in the Priesthood of Christ, the High Priest and Victim. When the priest says “This is my Body, This is my Blood” and “I absolve you”, he is not referring to himself – he is referring to Jesus. Priests share the “I” of Jesus.

3. Balancing ontological and functional dimensions of the Theology of the Priesthood Although appearing rather complex, the theology of the priesthood balances in healthy tension two fundamental aspects: the essential sacramental dimension

(ontological) and the functional/pastoral dimension.

Care must be taken by priests not to stress in their attitudes one dimension to the neglect of the other. Recently, Benedict XVI warns particularly not to reduce the priesthood to purely functionalist categories in our times. Here the priest is introduced as almost a “social worker”. It risks betraying Christ’s priesthood itself.

Pope Benedict XVI has placed before us all the priestly model of St John Marie Vianney (17861859), the patron of all priests.

He lived out in an extraordinary way the above foundational teaching. Jesus himself became his model and source of priestly sanctity. For his people, he was “another Christ” (Alter Christus).

May all priests imitate Christ, our priest and victim. As the Preface of Easter (n.5) beautifully expresses it: “As he offered his body on the Cross, his perfect sacrifice fulfilled all others.

Be ‘eagle Catholics’ - Bishop • From Page 1 The bishop pointed out that she travelled far and wide in Australia and New Zealand on horse drawn coach to take her peace message to others, sharing the message of Jesus.

He said that he compared Mary MacKillop to an eagle gliding on the winds.

The eagle had been a symbol of Christianity for centuries and so we should try to be like Mary MacKillop who was willing to

spread her wings and let the winds guide her to whatever needed to be done to help others.

Bishop Prowse said the eagle was the bird which flew the highest and saw the furthest and so we should all try to be like eagles, being lifted by the winds of the Holy Spirit and seeing the needs of the world.

He assured his young listeners “If you invite Jesus into your life, you will see life differently. You will become more perceptive, see other people’s needs and minis-

Catholic Life PO Box 183, Sale Vic 3853 Phone: (03) 5144 6132 Fax: (03) 5144 3855 catholiclife@sale.catholic.org.au www.sale.catholic.org.au Published by Catholic Media Gippsland, Diocese of Sale, 8 Pearson St., Sale Printed by Latrobe Valley Express, Morwell.

Editor: Colin Coomber Member of Australasian Catholic Press Association & Australasian Religious Press Association Published monthly except January.

Deadline for advertising copy and contributions for the next issue is Monday, May 31.

Issues distributed free through primary schools and parishes from June 9.

ter to those needs at school and home.”

“You will be flying higher and seeing furthest!”

Bishop Prowse said that in aspiring to become “eagle Catholics” like Mary MacKillop we should remember that an eagle always glided gracefully, never flapping up and down like a sparrow.

“Let us all be eagle Catholics, peacemakers in a very fragile world.”

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As he gave himself into your hands for our salvation, He showed himself to be the priest, the altar and the lamb of sacrifice” We have indeed a very fine group of priests and deacons in the Diocese of Sale. They attended the retreat in great numbers. Let us continue to pray for them.

Let us pray too for an increase of vocations to the priesthood and religious life in the Diocese.

God bless you always, - Bishop Christopher Prowse Bishop of Sale

Special appeals for saint canonisation SPECIAL collections will be taken up across Australia to help meet some of the costs of the canonisation of Blessed Mary MacKillop in Rome on October 17.

These appeals will be held on May 30 and August 8, which is the saint’s feast day.

Bishop Christopher Prowse said the canonisation of Mary MacKillop was a moment of great historic importance to the Catholic Church in Australia.

He was delighted to observe that many local parish and school initiates had already been discussed in preparation for this occasion.

He had been advised by Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference president Archbishop Phillip Wilson that the two national appeals would be held.

Archbishop Wilson had indicated that the Sisters of St Joseph were responsible for the considerable costs in organising the canonisation ceremony in Rome and would welcome any financial assistance to help them meet the required funds.

More specifically the purpose of the two appeals was to raise money to assist with the planning and logistics for the official events in Rome where a likely contingent of 5000 Australians would be in attendance.

Proceeds would also assist in providing all Australians with access to coverage of the ceremony whether it be via telecast or web streaming.

Information kits will be shortly sent to parishes for the May 30 appeal.

Catholic Life, May 2010 - Page 3

Comments sought on an upgrade for cathedral SALE – St Mary’s Cathedral Parish is seeking comments from across the diocese on recommended works to maintain and improve the cathedral.

A small committee headed by administrator Fr Bernard Buckley is accepting comments until the end of May. They want feedback on what people perceive as the major maintenance items both inside and outside the cathedral and also suggestions as to what improvements can be made.

While this feedback is being

received a professional firm has also been engaged to advise on what it believes are the most urgent needs for the old building.

In his announcement in March regarding the move of diocesan administration to Warragul, Bishop Prowse stressed that he intended that St Mary’s would remain the cathedral for the Diocese of Sale and that it would be enhanced.

He indicated that he intended to initiate a necessary maintenance program that the cathedral would continue to be the

mother-church for the next generation of Catholics.

The committee headed by Fr Buckley comprises Theo Smolenaars, Brenda Burditt, Mark Durrant, Des Surkitt and

George Brayshaw.

They have been given the task of collating the input and developing a master plan which addresses necessary maintenance issues and ways of enhancing the

cathedral functionality and appearance.

Comments should be sent to The Administrator, St Mary’s Cathedral, PO Box 183, Sale, 3853.

College of consultors BISHOP Christopher Prowse has appointed a new College of Consultors to advise him.

Members are the Vicar General Fr Peter Slater, Berwick; Episcopal Vicar Fr Peter Kooloos, Leongatha; Fr Bernie Mahony, Pakenham; Fr Denis O'Bryan, Bairnsdale; Fr Peter Bickley, Traralgon; Fr

Andrew Wise, Cranbourne; Fr Herman Hengel, Warragul; Fr Mathew Joseph TOR, Narre Warren; Fr John Allen, Narre Warren; and Fr Hugh Brown OCarm, Churchill.

The appointments are for a five year term.

The same priests also form the Council of Priests.

Marist Bros. novice COMMITTEE members pictcured outside the cathedral following a meeting last week are (from left) Theo Smolenaars, Des Surkitt, George Brayshaw, Brenda Burditt, Mark Durrant and Fr Bernard Buckley.

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

MARIST Brothers novice Patrick Connell has returned to the novitiate in Canberra after spending the past two months in Sale with the local Marists Brothers. He is originally from Perth. Here he chats with Catholic College Sale captain Sarah Draper, Maffra.

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The Catholic Development Fund Serving the Diocese of Sale Telephone: (03)5144 4311 Email: cdf@sale.catholic.org.au The Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale is not subject to the provisions of the Corporation Act 2001 nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Deposits with the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale are guaranteed by CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for this purpose. We welcome your investment with the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale rather than with a profit orientated commercial organisation as a conscious commitment by you to support the Charitable, Religious and Educational works of the Catholic Church. Neither the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale nor the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Trust Corporation for the Diocese of Sale are prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority; contributions to the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale do not obtain the benefit of the depositor protection provisions of the Banking Act 1959; the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale is designed for investors who wish to promote the charitable purposes of the Catholic Diocese of Sale.

Page 4 - Catholic Life, May 2010

The Fire of the Holy Spirit

No, not Remar

GOLD Logie awarded last week to actor Ray Meagher caused a brief flutter of excitement.

One hearer of the news though that the popular Remar program conducted in some of our secondary schools had won a prestigious award.

After all, Ray Meagher and Remar have identical pronunciations.

Remar is a program of Marist Brother origins which runs at colleges in Sale, Traralgon, Warragul and Beaconsfield.

Bailed up

YOUNG schoolgirl announced that they had been learning about Ned Kelly at school and how he had a cat.

When asked whether she knew Ned was a bushranger and that meant he used to rob people at gunpoint, she became indignant and said that wasn’t true.

She said the book written by him told about his pets and how he lived in the Lodge.

The penny dropped for the adult who then suggested “Did you mean Kevin Rudd?” - Yes.

What’s in a name?

FAMOUS Aussie poet C.J. Dennis, posed the same question in Songs of the Seentimental Bloke but it will be interesting to see what happens when Blessed Mary MacKillop is canonised in October.

It has been pointed out that officially she is Blessed Mary of the Cross and that in the typically informal Australian way we have been happy to dub her by her name which, strictly speaking, is incorrect.

We believe that the Pope will make her St Mary of the Cross.

After years of building up the MacKillop “brand”, it would be a pity if her real name will not be used in some way.

We note a newly released canonisation edition of a book written by her on Fr Julian Tenison Woods refers to her as “Mother Mary of the Cross MacKilliop.”

Wikipedia suggests she will become “St Mary of the Cross (MacKillop)”

Well caught

IN his younger days, recently retired Heyfield parish priest Fr Tim McInnes was a top cricketer who used to be wicketkeeper for Sale-Maffra Cricket Association at Country Week.

It came as no surprise to those who know him when at the recent priests’ retreat, he quickly snared a catch when the head flew off the aspergillum (the wand used to shake holy water) as Bishop Prowse was blessing the priests.

Alarming

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OVER the centuries artists have portrayed the Holy Spirit at Pentecost by tongues of fire descending upon the heads of the apostles and Mary.

It’s a great symbol as Pentecost’s true significance is to be found in the transformation that took place within the apostles – in one extraordinary moment the gathered believers are transformed from being timid and frightened to people empowered by the Holy Spirit, committed to transforming the world, no matter what!

With new-found courage, they step out of that room where they were hiding and begin to spread this extraordinary message of love.

They are inspired, enflamed, fired up, as it were.

Once the disciples were transformed and empowered by the Spirit, they in turn began to transform the world.

Thousands of pilgrims had made their way to Jerusalem for the Jewish feast of Shevuoth and each heard and understood the Spirit’s bold proclamation in their own language.

Dom Helder Camara’s prayer asks a very pertinent question at Pentecost: “Lord, what is the point of your presence in our lives if our lives do not change?

Change our lives, shatter our complacency. Make your word our life’s purpose. Take away the unearned quietness….. Press us uncomfortably. Amen” (from Bread of Tomorrow).

Sounds just like what happened in that upper room in Jerusalem. Celebrating Pentecost each year is a chance to look at how my life has changed over the past year, how I have been enflamed and inspired by the Holy Spirit.

Has the fire of the Spirit made any impact in my life? Has my life made any impact on or brought any change to the world in which I live?

Like these early disciples, has the coming of the Spirit made me feel less comfortable with the way things are? Has my fear and complacency been transformed into commitment and passion?

That extraordinary theologian and visionary, Teilhard de Chardin wrote: “The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, we shall have discovered fire.”

What a day that would be!

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Reflections

by Jim Quillinan

How our world would be transformed!

Each year Pentecost gives us another opportunity to discover again the fire of God’s love. That calls us to action, to change our lives, to harness the energies of love.

We can become complacent but it is by our renewed actions and attitudes that the fire of God’s love spreads and, just like those early disciples, we are called on to take courage, to be brave and adventurous and be agents of God’s love in our world.

Pentecost inspires us as individuals and as the Christian community to discover again the fire of God’s love, to be inspired again, to begin again.

Like those first disciples we are called to spread the fire of God’s love to everyone, in Paul’s words to gentiles as well as Jews, slaves and the free, rich and poor, healthy and handicapped, women, men and children, friends and enemies, sinners and saints, each is called to discover the fire of the Holy Spirit and to be transformed by that experience.

Pope Benedict echoed those words of St Paul when he spoke to the bishops of France: “Everyone”, he said, “has a place in the church. Every person without exception should be able to feel at home and never rejected”.

Is our Christian community

such a welcoming place? Is it a place where we feel inspired to change our lives? Is it an uncomfortable place where we feel ‘uneasy’or ‘uncomfortable’.

Why should we – surely it should be a place refuge and peace?

Our own Bishops at their Synod in Rome added that: “A Christian community is never meant to be a comfortable place for its members. The Synod Fathers wanted to encourage the local communities to look beyond their own immediate concerns and reach out to others.

“The parish as a community cannot isolate itself from the realities of the world around it.

The Christian community must be attentive to issues of social justice and spiritual hunger in society.” Ecclesia in Oceania #13.

There is a deep spiritual hunger in our world, and it is growing. Issues of social justice are pressing and urgent.

Pentecost reminds us that we are called on to be people of courage, to reach out to others so that they and we can discover the wonder and transforming power of God’s love.

When we pray that ancient prayer, Veni Sancte Spiritus, we pray for courage, for wisdom, for generosity but above all, we pray that we will be inspired once again, that we not be afraid and that God’s presence will change us.

Deep deep for Bishop’s Family Foundation CATHOLICS across Sale Diocese are being urged to give generously to the annual May appeal for the Bishop’s Family Foundation.

Since it was established 10 years ago the foundation has distributed more than $600,000 to charities and programs supporting families.

And it has been able to do that without giving away any of its base capital.

Its annual disbursements come from money earned on its investments.

To enable the real value of its investments to be maintained against rising inflation, it is necessary to have an annual appeal.

By building the trust fund, it also enables more money to be

made available to families in need.

The foundation does not give cash handouts to families but provides funding for registered charities to run assistance programs.

Applications for funding are called annually during July and August and disbursements are normally made towards the end of the year.

Further details of how to make applications will be announced in coming issues and also on the diocese Web page.

To donate to the annual appeal, use the envelopes which have been sent to each parish or post cheques directly to Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 508, Sale, 3853.

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Catholic Life, May 2010 - Page 5

Sion Convent turning 120

THE spectacular three storey Sale convent built by the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion.

SALE - This year marks the 120th anniversary of the foundations of one of Sale’s most important establishments, the remarkable Our Lady of Sion Convent, now part of the Sion campus of Catholic College Sale.

Seven Sisters of Our Lady of Sion arrived in Sale from France in 1890 to set up the first Catholic secondary school in Gippsland.

It is a truly remarkable story of courage and commitment by this pioneering group of women, particularly their leader, Mother Mary Raphaela.

The local population should also be recognised for the amazing welcome they gave the newcomers.

Mother Raphaela described the crowd that greeted them at the Sale station as “immense” …… at least 5000 persons there, Catholic and Protestant.

Considering the population of Sale at the time was only 4000, that was an exceptional turnout.

Three days after their arrival in Sale and whilst their luggage was still in transit, the Sisters took over the running of St Mary’s Primary school, and two days later opened a “High School”, with 10 pupils.

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block known as Tracy’s paddock on York Street, bounded by roads on all sides was purchased by the Sion Sisters in September 1891.

Mother Raphaela insisted it become the site for the new convent, even though Dr Corbett (first Bishop of Sale) favored siting the convent further out of town. The disagreement produced some ill feeling between them, the bishop requesting that the sisters find the money for the site and the buildings themselves.

The people of Sale and Gippsland supported the project.

Parishes and people responded generously. By September 1892, nearly 3000 pounds was in hand and tenders were called.

On December 4, 1892, Dr Corbett laid the foundation stone for Stage 1 of the new convent – a three storey building fronting York St., to be faced with Waurn Ponds stone obtained from the Geelong area.

Bangor slate was specified for the roof, and Castlemaine bluestone for the window sills.

Bricks and lime were supplied by local firms.

A year later Bishop Corbett and the Catholic community again assembled at York St. to bless the new convent. Stage 1, a huge and impressive structure, stood completed – a monument to the zeal of the Roman Catholics of the district.

A copy of Mother Raphaela’s design for the whole eight acres of the original site is still on display in the corridors of the Sion campus.

Every detail of a very self sufficient community had been planned - the cow paddock, the dairy, the orchard, the avenue of shade and fruit trees. All of this on a central line which is still evident, with the front gates, the entry, avenue of elms and Raymond St gates forming the

Great effort from our newest school OFFICER - St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School in Officer, with a student population of 47 children from 34 families, did an incredible job during Lent to raise money for Project Compassion.

The families were very generous and managed to donate $431.35, a remarkable feat for a new and small school.

Principal Ken Gale was extremely proud of his school community and was very pleased to hand over the money to Susan Grout, the diocesan director of Caritas Australia and Catholic Mission, at a school assembly.

axis.

This November 13-14, the building and other items of historical significance will be on display. The public opening will be on the Saturday.

Past pupils, teachers and friends of Sion will gather on the Sunday. Locals are encouraged to notify friends and family who may have moved away from the area about these celebrations.

A past pupils register is being compiled, and if you wish to have you name added to the mailing list, please give your details to Louise at Catholic College Sale on 5143 9700.

Gld. pilgrimage to canonisation A PILGRIMAGE to Italy from Gippsland for the canonisation of Blessed Mary MacKillop has been endorsed

by Bishop Christopher Prowse.

The pilgrimage, to be led by Jill and Ed Carmody of Leongatha, will meet up with the bishop in Rome, the night before the canonisation and he will celebrate Mass.

Fr Peter Kooloos, Leongatha, will be attending the first part of the trip as official chaplain and it is possible one or two other diocesan priests will accompany them.

The Carmodys see the canonisation as completion of personal journeys they have made in the spirit of Mary MacKillop.

Mrs Carmody was educated by the Sisters of St Joseph in South Australia and Mr Carmody was the foundation principal of Mary MacKillop College, Leongatha, in 1986.

He said that he knew little of the charism of Mary MacKillop before then, but in developing policies for the school, he had learnt a lot about her and this had created the personal fondness for the great Australian woman.

He had followed her beatification and the process towards canonisation closely and so attending the canonisation in Rome would be a completion of his personal journey with Mary MacKillop.

Mr Carmody said that the Gippsland group would share a unifying experience which they would remember for the rest of their lives.

It was also a special experience because Mary MacKillop was Australia’s first saint and it might be many years before the canonisation of another Australian.

Pilgrims will have the choice between seven night and 15 night tours departing on October 13. Both tours will cover Rome with entry to the canonisation and sightseeing at popular attractions including the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.

Those staying on for the longer tour will then travel on to Assisi, Florence, Pisa, Venice and Milan.

Further details are available by contacting Jill Carmody at Jetset Leongatha on 5662 3601 or jill@travelexcellence.com.au.

Page 6 - Catholic Life, May 2010

Great things to celebrate from our teachers EVEN though, by the time these words reach Catholic Life, they will be “old news”, they are still news worth telling.

In the first week of May, we celebrated Catholic Education Week, a week in which schools were encouraged to showcase to the world themselves and their many great achievements.

There were real highlights in that week. They demonstrated the vibrant health of Catholic Education in our diocese, the spirit that we foster and enjoy even in these challenging times of change.

One of the great highlights was the Students’ Mass celebrated in our mother church, St Mary’s Cathedral, by Bishop Christopher Prowse.

Despite the fact that this was the first time such a Mass has been part of Catholic Education Week – and that it was arranged at quite short notice - it was a wonderful experience.

Almost every one of our 34 primary schools and seven secondary colleges was represented.

The ceremony began after Bishop Christopher and the cathedral administrator Fr Bernard Buckley had explained to the 300 students the significance of the Cathedral as our Mother Church and some of the history of this beautiful building.

That was followed by a procession of the schools’ banners, carried with such obvious pride by the student leaders.

Bishop Christopher preached an uplifting homily in which he

reminded students that they will always find, in God, a loving presence and powerful support if only they take the risk, like a person learning to swim, of taking the leap of faith.

At the end of Mass, Bishop Christopher congratulated all involved, remarking that, in his 30 years of celebrating Masses for schools, never had he experienced one so prayerful.

Special mention must be made of the Lavalla Choir that led the singing. They were truly beautiful.

Not only did their singing offer praise and worship to God, but it reminded us all that we can and we should aspire to excellence.

Their singing was not just “okay”, it was magnificent. They showed us all that, even though Sale is the smallest of the four Victorian dioceses, our schools can – and do – produce excellence.

We need to believe that every one of us from the smallest school to the largest can produce excellence, academically, artistically and spiritually. We should never be happy with just okay.

The Lavalla choir showed us what can happen when we believe that “just okay is not okay”.

After the Mass the mothers of St Mary’s Primary School in Sale provided a lunch for all present.

Once again this was a magnificent task undertaken with generosity and much goodwill.

A second highlight, the annual Leadership Mass and Dinner, was a great and joyful celebra-

with Talking Peter Catholic Ryan Education tion, enjoyed by all present.

Once again, it highlighted that, here in the Diocese of Sale, we have professionals of the highest calibre.

This year, the Mass was celebrated in St Patrick’s Church, Pakenham with the dinner following in the Cardinia Cultural Centre. Once again Bishop Christopher was the chief concelebrant, with nine other priests of the diocese assisting.

The Mass was uplifting indeed. At the end of Mass 50 long serving members of Catholic school and Catholic Education Office staff were rewarded 25 year service plaques, 11 in absentia and 39 presented on the night.

These acknowledge the extraordinary contribution the recipients had made to Catholic Education over so many years.

Again, it was an opportunity to highlight the dedication and commitment of so many to making the Kingdom of God come alive in so many young people’s lives over so many years.

The occasion also provided an opportunity to present awards for great performance.

These included: Archbishop D’Arcy Religion

Prize: Genevieve Hassett Marist-Sion Warragul; Jessica Winterton Marist-Sion Warragul; Simon Tatlow Lavalla Catholic College, Traralgon; Laura Ryan - St Peter’s College, Cranbourne.

Fr Joseph Flynn Scripture Prize: Jordan Vong - St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield.

Elizabeth Hunt Scholarship: Katia Picinali – St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield.

Daniel Ahern Bursary: Bronwyne Kent (Kalos) – St Laurence O’Toole Primary School, Leongatha; Bronwyn Wallace – Columba Primary School, Bunyip But once again, a real highlight was the presentation of the Living Witness Awards to four people nominated by their colleagues for the extraordinary contribution each one makes to the academic, spiritual and pastoral lives of their schools.

This year the recipients were Bernadette Barlow – St Francis Xavier College, Beaconsfield; CeCe Kingwill – Catholic College, Sale; Adrian Mitchell – Marist Sion College, Warragul; Joan Robertson – St Joseph’s Parish, Warragul A very special moment came

when each of our Living Witnesses was invited to respond.

The responses were quite extraordinary, spoken with true humility yet with proper pride of their work.

All four reflected on their deep love for their work, of the real love and respect they have for students with whom they worked and their appreciation for their colleagues and workmates.

They provided for us yet another example of the excellence which we can and should all aspire. All four were truly inspirational.

I am sure that all who were privileged to hear them speak will have returned to their work the next day richer for having heard them. I am sure too that such inspiration will have spilled over into their work, so that each person they touched in the days and weeks following would have been in turn, enriched.

These two occasions gave us much of which we can be justly proud in our diocese. Yet, they represent, in their own way, what happens in every school every day. They reflected the reality of who we are and, at the same time, challenge us to be ever better at what we do, aiming always higher.

I am confident that every one of our 41 schools will have showcased their own excellence during Catholic Education Week 2010. At the same time, they will rise to accepting the challenge of, next year, having still greater things to show the world.

Rwandan holocaust survivor to visit Cranbourne CRANBOURNE - Immaculée Ilibagiza, Survivor of the Rwandan holocaust, will be speaking at St Peter’s College Hall, Cranbourne on Friday, July 2 commencing at 7.30pm.

Bishop Christopher Prowse will be introducing Immaculée on the night.

In 1994, during one of history’s most brutal genocides, 22year-old Catholic student Immaculée Ilibagiza of the Tutsi people in Rwanda, Africa, hid in the 1.0 x 1.2 metres bathroom of a minister’s house, with seven other women for 91 harrowing days, to escape all but certain death.

At that time, Rwandan Hutus were in the midst of a frenzy of terror, which resulted in the murder of an estimated 800,000 to one million Tutsi people, over a period of one to three months.

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Immaculée entered the bathroom a vibrant, 52 kg university student with a loving family - she emerged weighing just 29.5kg to find most of her family had been brutally murdered.

Immaculée credits her salvage mostly to prayer and to a set of Rosary beads given to her by her devout Catholic father, prior to going into hiding. Anger and resentment were literally consuming her and destroying her faith, but rather than succumb to her emotions, Immaculée turned to prayer. From morning to night, she prayed the Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet, as a way of “drowning out” the negativity and fear of every living moment.

She found solace and peace in prayer – with Our Lord’s help she eventually found it possible and in fact imperative, to forgive her tormentors and her family’s

murderers. When coming face to face with her mother and brother’s killer she said the unthinkable “I forgive you.”

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Immaculée Ilibagiza

Immaculée knew, whilst in hiding, that she would have to overcome immeasurable odds without her family and with her country destroyed, so she utilized her time in that tiny bathroom to teach herself the English language - by way of the Bible and a dictionary; once freed she was able to secure a job with the United Nations.

In 1998, Immaculée immigrated to the United States where she continued her work with the UN. During this time she shared her story with co-workers and friends, who insisted that she write her story.

Three days after completing her manuscript she met bestselling author, Dr Wayne W Dyer, who, within minutes of meeting her, offered to publish her book. Dyer is quoted as saying, “There is something much more than charisma at work here - Immaculée not only writes and speaks about unconditional love

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and forgiveness, but she radiates it wherever she goes.”

Immaculée’s first book Left to Tell; Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust was released in March of 2006 and quickly became a New York Times Best Seller.

To date it has been translated into 15 languages worldwide.

Since then, Immaculée has written two additional books and founded the Left to Tell Charitable Fund, which benefits the children orphaned by genocide.

Immaculée is regarded as one of world’s leading speakers on peace, faith, reconciliation and forgiveness. Her message and compelling story of faith-inaction and unconditional love and forgiveness is both inspiring and spiritually uplifting.

Her words and witness have changed the lives of many who have experienced difficulty in offering and accepting true forgiveness.

Please don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity! Everyone, is welcome! Seating is limited, so please be early. No admission fee applies; however, there will be a collection on the night, to assist with expenses.

For convenience, a bus has been booked for those who would like transport to and from the venue. At this stage, depending on the response received, collection points will include Sale, Maffra, Heyfield, Rosedale, Traralgon and Moe. To avoid disappointment, early bus seat reservations are essential by contacting Marianne Bagguley on 5147 1019 or 0407 353 750.

Cost per seat will be approx $20-25, students at a concessional price. Bookings will close as soon as all seats have been reserved.

Catholic Life, May 2010 - Page 7

Saint’s mother was continually on the move FLORA MacDonald, the mother of Mary MacKillop, was born at Roy Bridge, Scotland, where she spent her childhood and teen years.

In her early 20s, with her mother and two brothers she set sail on the Glen Huntly for Australia, her father having to stay behind because of legal matters.

Six weeks into the voyage typhoid broke out on the ship and Alexander, Flora’s younger brother was to fall overboard during a bout of fever.

On April 17, 1840, the survivors disembarked at Point Ormond, a place determined for their quarantine camp. Tents were set up in this isolated spot in camps to separate the healthy from the sick.

The surrounding swamps also separated them from the rest of Melbourne. Today this spot is marked by a cairn with the names of families who sailed out from Scotland and Glenhuntly Rd. leads to the spot.

After two months all passengers were cleared and they took up residence with the MacKillops – which family is not clear.

Catherine MacDonald, the mother, was described as a housekeeper to Mr MacKillop at a wage of 21 shillings, Flora as a housemaid, wage 12 shillings, and Donald as a farm laborer.

We may presume they lived with Alexander MacKillop for Flora and Alexander were married on July 18, 1840, by Fr Geoghan in the original St Francis Church.

How excited Flora must have been to move into her first home with Alexander at Lot 11, Brunswick St., Newtown (now Fitzroy). But her joy was shortlived, as three months after the birth of their daughter Mary Helen, on January 15, 1842, the house had to be sold to pay a debt Alexander had incurred and he was declared insolvent.

The little family took up residence with friends, Duncan Cameron and his wife at Glenroy. From then until 1851, Flora and the children lived with relatives and friends in the Merri Creek – Darebin area until Alexander’s father gave him a large property between the two creeks.

During these years Maggie, John, Alex and Lexie were born.

Flora knew sadness at this time as in April 1847 her father, Donald, was drowned when he slipped and fell into the Plenty River. In October, baby Alex, 11 months also died.

When Alexander needed money to accompany a friend to Scotland, he mortgaged his property to his brother Peter.

Flora’s embarrassment can be imagined, when after 12 months, and no sign of Alexander’s return from Scotland, Peter foreclosed on the mortgage and he

and his wife moved in Hurd St., Portland, with dearest brother, how can I write. into the house.

Donald and Peter. You must ‘ere this have heard Flora and the Annie and Lexie went from Adelaide of our sad, our five children, the to Penola with terrible loss. eldest nine Mary, and Maggie “Everything was too bewilderyears old, moved to live with ing at first, then the efforts to were taken in r e l a t i v e s . recover the dear remains, the by her A l e x a n d e r funeral, then came the reaction.

“Between all, you, for whom brother MacKillop who lived went to his my heart ached, have been seemin the brother at ingly neglected by me. But don’t think so, dear Donald.

P l e n t y Dunkeld.

“Our darling, unselfish mothRa n g e s.

So again the T h e y family was split er, true to her character to the s t a y e d up and Flora last, has gone to receive her wellthere until found herself earned reward.”

Source: The MacKillop Family July 1852 suddenly withand they set out the support –Philomena McGuigan rsj; Resource books; up home of her daughters Sisters of St Joseph. Photo used with peragain at The and with debts mission of MacKillop Herritage Centre, Plenty. remaining to shop- Melbourne.

Flora again keepers in Portland.

Next month: The short life of had to move her Fr Woods had family, this time to promised to meet these Maggie MacKillop. friends in Sydney, debts, but he failed to while Alexander, do so, and Flora found unsuccessful at Flora MacKillop herself in the position farming, tried to of being refused credit find other employment. for necessities. She remained in Having failed to do so, he Portland until 1871. returned to Melbourne, leaving One marvels at Flora’s Flora to find money for fares to strength of character, having to Including guaranteed tickets to bring the children and herself, uproot her family year after year, now eight months pregnant, the constant packing and back to Melbourne. unpacking of what goods they

by Pope Benedict XVI On her arrival at Port possessed, the insecurity, the difMelbourne, there was no-one to ficulties her husband created for Departs October 15, 10 nights in Italy meet them and so Mary and the family and the constant batJohn had to walk 12 miles to tle with money.

Visiting Rome, Siena, Tuscany, Florence, Venice & Assisi Somerton to obtain some means She would identify herself with of transport for their mother the many women who today Discuss your travel and younger siblings. The hours struggle to keep their families of waiting with the little ones happy and together. options with: must have tried her patience and Flora seems to have spent the Peter Collins strength very much. rest of her life living with relaA boarding house at tives at Coburg and Lara.

0403 793 316 Collingwood was attempted, fol- During these years four of her peterc@travelmanagers.com.au lowed by a move to Clunes near children and her husband died.

Ballarat where Alexander had One can only imagine her grief www.travelmanagers.com been offered a job as a clerk. at these losses, yet her faith must Lic. No: 32695 Unfortunately this only lasted have given her support and three months as Alexander had courage. to resign after publicly criticising For a woman to spend so the land policy of the man who much of her life dependent on helped him obtain his work. others must have been difficult, The family returned to but such was the closeness and Melbourne, renting a cottage in hospitality of these Scottish Richmond. Mary obtained a families. position with Sands and Kenny In May 1886 Flora was anticistationers in the city and her pating a visit to Mary in Sydney wages paid the rent, while Flora to help with a bazaar and had Talk to us about our at-need, pre-paid took in washing. made some articles to take with A letter from Mary her. or pre-arranged funeral services.

MacKillop, dated May 24, 1860 The ship Ly-ee Moon, she was described her mothers hands as travelling on was shipwrecked off “too stiff from the washing to the coast of Eden. Her body was 613 MAIN STREET BAIRNSDALE hold a pen” and her father “still washed ashore and she is buried in the same way” – depressed. in the northern suburbs of Call 24 hours on 5153 2150 or visit A move to Portland to help Sydney with her adopted daughMary as housekeeper at a board- ters, the Sisters of St Joseph. us at www.stephenbaggs.com.au ing school saw Flora again Mary wrote to her brother changing her life. The idea was Donald on June 17, 1886 “My to have the family together again but when Alexander’s sense of justice caused a storm to erupt in the parish over the actions of the headmaster of the school, he took Annie from her position as teacher.

Mary continued on for a few We shall be in Rome on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th October, there are a limited number of tickets months but resigned at the end available for the Canonisation of Mary McKillop. of the year. The whole episode We have a vacancy available on the tour for a single lady to share and also for a single gentleman to share. reflected on the MacKillops rather than the headmaster whose deceit had caused the trouble. invite you to join them on a Flora moved to a little cottage

Mary MacKillop & Family

Part 3

Italian Wonders

Mary MacKillop Canonisation

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Page 8 - Catholic Life, May 2010

Oceania bishops meeting in Sydney this week SYDNEY - Catholic Bishops from Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and other countries in the Pacific are this week meeting in Sydney under the banner of the Federation of Catholic Bishops Conferences of Oceania.

A representation from East

Timor and the Federation of Asian Bishops Conference are also guests guests, along with the Papal Nuncios for Australian, PNG and the Solomons, New Zealand and the Pacific.

This event, held every four years in different countries, gives the bishops of Oceania important personal contact as they

gain professional development.

It is also a wonderful opportunity for them to dialogue about their respective dioceses in this vast multicultural area often jokingly referred to as the ‘liquid’ continent because so much of the area is ocean.

FCBCO president Bishop Peter Ingham, Wollongong,

Don Bosco Anzac service NARRE WARREN NORTH Don Bosco Catholic Primary School held a special liturgy on April 22 to remember and honor all the Australian and New Zealand men and women who sacrificed their lives for this country.

Gathered in prayerful remembrance and led by school leaders, the school community prayed for peace in the world and Australia as well as peace in their families and hearts.

Pictured is Grade Six student, Jake Boccari, who held up a cross during the one minute’s silence.

The pine cutting in the foreground was taken from a pine tree, said to be a ‘descendant’ of the ‘Lone Pine’ in Gallipoli.

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said: “The current executive has worked over the past four years to ensure that this 2010 Sydney meeting, of the pastors of the local churches of Oceania, will further progress our communion, our collaboration and our mutual understanding of the joys, hopes, grief and anguish through which we work in making Jesus Christ better known and loved among the peoples of Oceania, as we walk his way, tell his truth and live his life.

“The Church in Oceania is diverse and far-reaching, with different challenges in each of its countries. We come together for this assembly to learn from and support one another as bishops and share the many gifts of our dioceses”, he said.

The opening concelebrated Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral was led by Cardinal George Pell.

Sessions of the assembly are being held at Sancta Sophia College at the University of Sydney.

Speakers from a number of religious congregations and orders have been invited to give keynote presentations, including

Pope welcomes new English missal POPE Benedict XVI has welcomed the news that the new English translation of the Roman Missal “will soon be ready for publication.”

While expressing his hope about the arrival of the new edition, he also highlighted the need for a transition with “due sensitivity.”

The Pope met with members and consultors of Vox Clara, which he recognized for its role of advising and assisting the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in completing the English translations of liturgical texts.

After thanking all who have contributed to the process, the Holy Father expressed his satisfaction at the news that the Roman Missal’s new English translation would “soon” be published.

He welcomed the announcement because “the texts you have worked so hard to prepare” will soon “be proclaimed in the liturgy that is celebrated across the anglophone world.”

However, he continued, with its publication comes the “new task” of preparing the clergy and lay faithful for the reception of the changes.

Though this task is not specifically within the scope of Vox Clara operations, the Pope observed, “in one way or another will involve all of you.”

Noting the difficulty many will have in adapting to the modifica-

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Fr Brendan Byrne SJ on scripture; Br Jonathan Williams OFM Cap on sacrament; Fr Richard Leonard SJ on communications; Fr Ioane Ono (Suva, Fiji) on theory of sacrament.

Sr Sheila McCreanor RSJ will speak on the canonisation process of Blessed Mary MacKillop during the bishops’ pilgrimage to Mary MacKillop Place.

Workshops will also be conducted by Sr Hilda Scott OSB (Jamberoo Abbey); Marita Winters (Catholic Enquiry Centre); Fr Maurizio Pettena CS (Director of Australian Catholic Migrant and Refugee Office) and Teresa Pirola.

The assembly will conclude with Malcolm Hart, the ACBC youth project officer, speaking on the challenges and fruits of World Youth Day. The concluding Mass will be celebrated by Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, and vice president Archbishop Anthony Apuron OFMCap of Guam, will preach.

tions that are said to be more literal translations from Latin, the Pope emphasized the need for a gradual introduction with “due sensitivity,” accompanied by catechesis.

He prayed that “in this way any risk of confusion or bewilderment will be averted, and the change will serve instead as a springboard for a renewal and a deepening of Eucharistic devotion all over the English-speaking world.”

Anticipating the transition, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has created a section on its website dedicated to the coming change, which will be expanded upon the new Missal’s release.

The US bishops call for the implementation process to “be a time of deepening, nurturing, and celebrating our faith through our worship and the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy.”

The Pope closed his address by underlining his gratitude to the contributors and telling them that “soon the fruits of your labors will be made available to English-speaking congregations everywhere.”

The new English translation of the Roman Missal, completed but awaiting the full approval of the bishops, is the third such edition, the last being released in 1975. Vox Clara has been working on this project for the last eight years.

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Catholic Life, May 2010 - Page 9

Investment advice - Bringing costs into the open YOU may recall that last October I wrote about the Ripoll report into the Financial planning industry in Australia.

There were a number of recommendations including the banning of commissions paid by fund managers, the planner having to act in the best interests of clients, trailing commissions to be banned and a general move toward “fee for service.”

Now the Federal Minister for Financial Services, Superannuation and Corporate Law, Chris Bowen, has responded.

Surprisingly he’s gone even further than the Ripoli report suggested with those matters on which he’s acted, but on some things there has been no

response at all.

The headlines (at least in the section of the paper I read) are screaming the banning of commissions and volume based payments. This is good.

It means that any charges must be disclosed and agreed by the investor, and paid by the investor. Some funds were being touted as paying 10 percent commissions but many also added marketing contributions on top of these, adding up to 15 percent.

And then there were the trailing commissions that went on and on and on… How an investor can make something when they give up the first 15 percent is beyond me.

Now Mr Investor will know

Dollars &

Sense with David Wells who’s getting what, when and especially why – and have to agree to it each year.

Any product that has gearing included (the use of debt to increase returns) will not be allowed to even have a percentage fee calculated- it will have to

Iona, celebrates 70 years

PARISAH priest Fr Thomas Mannakulathil surrounded by Iona parishioners after the 70th anniversary Mass.

IONA – Many parishioners and visitors attended the 70th anniversary celebrations of the opening of St Joseph’s Church, Iona, on April 18.

The church opened on April 14, 1940.

Fr Cremin, a renowned “builder priest” was determined to build a church of which all local people would be proud.

It was built at the cost of 5300 pounds and featured a 18 metre high tower which became an easily recognisable landmark and an impressive one for the era.

It was built of multi-red brick with seating for 450.

The high altar, side altars, rails and pulpit were made of stone from New Zealand.

Archbishop of Melbourne, Archbishop Daniel Mannix officiated at the opening and remarked that Fr Cremin would probably have been an architect had be not entered the priesthood.

To pay the debt on the new church, an early version of planned giving was instigated.

The anniversary Mass was offered by parish priest Fr Thomas Mannaulathil and his homily brought home to everyone the importance of parish church and community in our lives.

Peter Feltham and his group of musicians and singers provided a thoughtful selection of hymns.

The offertory procession consisted of past pupils of the former St Joseph’s School, Grace Kellaway, Eileen Barnes, Therese

Regan, Loretta Hayden and Martin Sayers. It is interesting to note that Grace Kellaway was the second bride to be married in the church.

Those attending gathered afterwards in the hall to share lunch and memories.

A beautiful cake with a model of the church on top was made and decorated by parishioner Val Yeates. Grace Kellaway, Eileen Barnes and Therese Regan performed the official cutting of the cake.

Margaret Deering, who was

present when the church was dedicated in 1940, made a short speech how the parishioners of that time had worked hard to make Fr Cremin’s dream of having a fine church at Iona come true.

The present generations owe a lot to the self-sacrifice and vision, and feel blessed to be able to worship there as part of a caring community committed to maintaining the standards that previous generations had bequeathed to them.

THE impressive anniversary cake made a decorated by Val Yeates, Iona.

be a flat fee. Otherwise an asset based fee will still be allowed but will have to be charged by the planner, not the fund manager.

Fees for ongoing advice can be either asset based or a set figure, even an hourly rate, but the big change here is that investors will have to opt in, and must agree each year for these fees to be applied.

Clients will have to renew their fee agreement every year. There are many investors who will currently be paying fees from their investments who don’t receive any advice for their pay – or not even aware that they’re paying for something they’re not getting.

Now all planners will have a statutory responsibility to act in the best interests of their clients, and to place the interests of their clients ahead of their own. They only way to develop a viable business is to look after your clients’ interests, I would have thought.

It’s a pity that there have been enough planners who haven’t, that the government needs to introduce a law to force this act of honesty upon us.

As an aside, I have seen many instances of planners relying on investors’ ignorance of financial matters, and their naivety, to make unreasonable profits and cost their clients’ unreasonable capital losses.

Another popular change that is being introduced is to allow intra fund superannuation advice of a so-called simple nature. This could cover areas such as transition to retirement, retirement planning generally, intra-pension advice and superannuation and pension advice.

The devil here is in the detail and the complex definition of simple. These areas are anything but simple and investors will need to be aware that they may not be getting the full picture.

It may well be also that most funds will be forced to offer pen-

sions, so it would be a fair bet that their “simple” advice will cover their options only.

One of the best changes will ensure accountants need to be qualified to offer advice on the establishment and operation of self managed superannuation funds..

There are some things which these changes won’t fix.

The matter of tax deductibility of the cost of financial advice has been deferred by the government in its response to the Henry Report (another story there!).

Without this deductibility, the cost of good advice will become cash flow negative for most investors and there are many, including those who most need it, who won’t pay for it.

Risk insurance (life, trauma, TPD and income) is specifically excluded “for the present”. This is partly because there are no investment funds to pay commissions here, so commissions are taken from the premiums but are by law disclosed to the insured.

However one of the bigger drawbacks is that these changes don’t take effect until June 30, 2012. Another is that the Federal Opposition leader has said they will not be supported in the Senate.

While I think there may be some overreactions in the detail, generally the changes will be a good thing, even if only to weed out a few unethical planners and to make things far more transparent to the average investor.

• This report is intended to provide general advice.

In preparing this advice, David Wells and RBS Morgans did not take into account the investment objective, the financial situation and particular needs of any particular person. Before making an investment decision on the basis of this advice, you need to consider, with or without the assistance of an adviser, whether the advice is appropriate in light of your particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances.

Marian conference TRARALGON Bishop Christopher Prowse will crown Our Lady’s statue at the beginning of Mass to celebrate the great gift of Mary as mother of God at the annual Marian conference in Traralgon on May 22.

It will be the 14th Marian conference to honor Our Lady in the Diocese of Sale.

The day begins at 9am with Rosary, followed by Eucharistic

Adoration, confessions and a talk from Bishop Prowse.

At noon there will be the procession of Our Lady’s statue and Mass A BYO lunch will be held at 1pm and then at 2pm there will be a second talk from the bishop.

Around 3pm will be the Divine Mercy Chaplet, followed by Benediction and close.

Page 10 - Catholic Life, May 2010

Our Catholic schools bringing hope IN choosing a school for their child, parents often ask, “What is it that sets Catholic schools apart from rest?”

“The answer is simple,” says director of Catholic education in the Sale Diocese, Peter Ryan: “Our schools are grounded in faith, hope and love.”

“Yes, we have the high quality curriculum, wide range of extra curricular opportunities, strong focus on ICT and great facilities you’d expect of any school. And it goes without saying our caring and committed staff give every child the chance to shine!”

“However, Catholic schools recognise that there’s more to education than this,” says Mr Ryan.

“Without God, we remain without hope. By sharing the message of Jesus Christ, our Catholic schools stir within students the desire to work towards a better world and a more fulfilling life for themselves.”

By their very existence, Catholic schools bring hope to a world that is prone to despair, hardship and self-interest. They show students the joy that comes from charity, selflessness and courage.

Catholic schools also strive to keep alive traditions (such as prayer) which have become lost amidst the deluge of modern day technologies. They direct students’ attention to the things in life that really matter: family, friends, God and the achievement of one’s potential.

Catholic schools are renowned for celebrating the uniqueness of each child in their care, irrespective of religious affiliation or academic ability. Far from steer-

Peter Ryan ing ‘less academic’ students away from the VCE for fear of affecting league table results, Catholic schools embrace the needs and interests of all students. This is perhaps why so many parents of children with special needs choose a Catholic education.

What drives Catholic schools in the Sale Diocese is the desire to assist their 15,350 students to become the very best people they can be … academically, physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually.

The steadily increasing enrolments in Catholic schools across the diocese suggest that parents greatly value what the system offers.

By choosing a Catholic school for their child, they are choosing an education in faith and in doing so, create hope for a better future.

Diocesan Students’ Mass SALE – More than two hundred students gathered at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sale on April 30 to celebrate the launch of Catholic Education Week.

The inaugural Diocesan Students’ Mass drew representatives from 34 Catholic primary and secondary schools across the Sale Diocese.

Many students travelled between two and three hours to attend the special Mass, celebrated by the Bishop of Sale, Christopher Prowse.

Director of Catholic education Peter Ryan, was among the attendees.

“This has been a great event for the schools in the diocese, indeed for the whole diocese,” said Mr Ryan.

“It is the first time that we have formally celebrated the great contribution that Catholic education continues to make to the lives of individual students and to Australian society as a whole.

Bringing so many students together in our Cathedral, our ‘mother church’, with our Bishop, Christopher Prowse, has been a real highlight in our year so far. It was a very special celebration.”

The Mass featured the Lavalla

Catholic College choir, a procession of students carrying their school banners and student involvement in the readings and offertory procession. Lunch was provided afterwards by parents from St Mary’s Primary School in Sale.

The theme of Catholic Education Week, which ran from April 30 to May 7, was ‘Called to bring hope: The Year for Priests.’

Individual Catholic schools and clusters also organised their own events to mark Catholic Education Week.

Catholic Life, May 2010 - Page 11

Grease is the word at Nagle’s June production BAIRNSDALE - ‘Grease’ is the word and the musical production at Nagle College will be slick!

With twice as many students auditioning for the number of parts required, this musical, set in the late 1950s about high school leavers is an extremely popular choice.

Performances will be held from Thursday June 3 to Saturday June 5 inclusive at 7.30 pm, with 2pm matinees on Saturday and Sunday June 5-6 at the Bairnsdale Aquatic and Recreation Centre.

In the show, teens Danny (played by College Captain Ryan Novak) and new girl Sandy (Year 10 singer Jessica Porter)

spend their ‘Summer Nights’ falling in love, but once autumn comes, it’s back to Rydell High and its cliques.

As one of the bad boy T-Birds, Danny has to act cool to his leather-clad mates, and Sandy, despite befriending one of the rebel Pink Ladies, is “too pure to be Pink,” according to the Ladies’ leader.

Declaring their devotion in such ballads as “Hopelessly Devoted to You” and “Sandy,” Sandy and Danny split, reconcile, and split again amidst a pep rally, dances, drive-ins, and a drag race before deciding “You’re the One That I Want” at the climactic end-of-school carnival.

Students, teachers and parents are working together to present this production, and rehearsals are scheduled every lunchtime, afterschool and on weekends.

In the words of the T-bird actors, “rehearsals are paying off, people are gelling, dance moves are happening, and singers are hitting their notes”.

And from the director, Juliette Aukema, “We’re going to knock their socks off!”

Tickets at $15 adults and $10 students/concession are now on sale.

Bookings can be made by contacting Mrs Barb Walker at Nagle College on 5152 9907 or email bwalker@nagle.vic.edu.au

JESSICA Porter and Ryan Novak get to play the lead roles of Sandy and Danny, made famous in the cinema version of Grease by Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta.

STUDENTS who make up the T-Birds are (from left ) Jackson Varney, Ryan Novak, James Beha, Danny Aukema, Zak Mills and Jordan Campbell.

$2088 for Project Compassion WARRAGUL - During Lent this year St Joseph’s Warragul staff, students and parents were given a project compassion challenge.

They wanted to raise as much money as they could for Caritas, Project Compassion and their Blueprint for a Better World this Easter.

Project Compassion is Australia’s largest humanitarian fundraising campaign and this year St Joseph’s was able to raise over $2000.

Classes were given the responsibility to plan and organise a way that they could raise money during the Lenten season. This challenge was certainly taken onboard by all classes, grades really using their imagination with a variety of fundraising ideas and activities.

The challenge saw things like art shows, rice lunches, pre-loved sales, Caritas K’s (walking kilometers for Caritas), cent lines and many children giving up icypole money and spare coins they had to put into their class project compassion box. Many classes raised between $100 and $200 which is amazing.

All staff, students and parents are proud of all their efforts.

If just $2 can provide tree seedlings to help reforest eroded land and $7 could provide one chicken to enable a family to begin chicken-raising, imagine what the $2000 is going to be able to do for marginalised communities throughout the world!!

Some of the money raised also went to Children’s Mission, an important service that helps children, their welfare and their schooling.

Diocesan missions director Susan Grout has presented the school with a certificate to acknowledge their achievement.

MADDY Burke and Maddy Pratt string out the coin line for Project Compassion.

Catholic Super and National Catholic Superannuation Fund merged into one fund on March 31 2010.

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Authorised by CSF Pty Limited ABN 30 006 169 286, Trustee of Catholic Super ABN 50 237 896 957. Information is about the Fund and is not intended as financial advice. It does not take into account specific needs, so members should consider their personal position, objectives and requirements before taking any action.

Page 12 - Catholic Life, May 2010

New novel a saga of the Gippsland pioneers IN the years 1967 to 1968 a serial entitled They Came to a Rainforest by the author Doris Boddy was published in the Gippsland Standard newspaper at Yarram.

It was a novel of pioneering in the early days of Gippsland.

Doris Boddy was a schoolteacher who lived in the Woodside-Yarram area. She also published Beyond the Ninety Mile, a history of the early days of the Woodside district.

The serial has now been published in book form for the first time, over four decades after its initial appearance. It is the story of an Irishman, Miles Ford, his wife Maggie and their children Guy, Jinny and May-Ann, and neighboring farmers.

The men in the family are interested in horses, and go to inspect some at Kirk’s Bazaar in Melbourne. There they met a man who calls himself Jim Crow, and is half a go-getter but half a shyster. As a result of some dealings they decide to move to a Gippsland and become farmers, dealing mainly in beef. Their journey into the wilds of Gippsland is described: ‘Each day through the bogs and overhanging wetness of the huge bulks of sassafras, mountain ash, red gums and wattles, they plodded ahead. Some days they barely covered six miles – other days they did almost ten and were jubilant.’

They move to a large property in forested country with mountains to the north of today’s main highway : ‘Eight thousand acres of splendid land, eighteen miles from the nearest township, at the foot of a snow-topped mountain, which fed the swift flowing rivers, and there all about them was the rainforest to conquer.’

The exact location is not disclosed in the novel, but the Walhalla diggings are mentioned as being somewhere in the vicinity, as is the location Tanjil, which is the area at the headquarters of the Latrobe River, called Tanjil by the Aborigines. There is also saw milling in the district. This indicates the farm was some where north of the Willow Grove-Hill End area.

A property of 8000 acres would originally have been part of a squatting run. In the novel it is broken up into selection blocks, one of which the Fords select. This indicates the time of the action would have been the 1870s and 1880s, which fits in with gold mining activity at Walhalla.

Neighbours take up adjacent blocks, including a Welsh family, the Treens. In addition there are a number of workers on the Ford property, including a nephew Charles Day. The Ford farm is called Rock Allen.

The families in the novel are respectable, hard working and sociable people, but they face many difficulties in making a success of their ventures. There are many obstacles - a daughter lost in the bush, and dingoes,

bush fires, wild cattle, cattle thieves, gold robbers and other dangers have to be contended with.

At one stage a mysterious murder and dark doings in the mountains affect the Ford family.

The Ford family come to an untouched block. They have to clear the forest and set up a farm from scratch. This is a backbreaking task, and the father at some stages doubts that the venture will succeed in the long run.

The parents have opposite personalities, Miles being a bit of a dreamer while his wife is more realistic.

Many novels have been written on carving a farm out of virgin bush, the most famous being The Swiss Family Robinson. The ideal is the family farm which caters for all needs.

The danger in such novels is to make the experience too idyllic.

Two other Gippsland novels of starting a farm from scratch, Mrs. Luffman’s Will Alymer and Justin McCartie’s The Darleys of Dingo Dingo, make the experience unrealistically easy.

Doris Boddy does not fall into this trap. We know from the actual pioneers’ memoirs recorded in The Land of the Lyre Bird that clearing the Gippsland hills was a daunting experience.

In Doris Boddy’s novel full weight is given to the long struggle to achieve self-sufficiency, while the enjoyment of living in a close rural community is also acknowledged.

In the later part of the novel attention focuses on the younger generation – their efforts to get on in the world, and their love affairs and marriages. This is a saga novel, taking the family story through a number of generations.

In this the novel reminds the reader somewhat of Mary Grant Bruce’s Billbong series, and of the novels of Eileen Finlay, who wrote a series of books on Gippland family farm life in the 1940s.

One of the younger generation marries and lives at Lily’s Leaf near Woodside, and area familiar to Doris Boddy. A daughter, Rebecca Treen, continues her husband’s work as a bullock driver after her husband’s death.

She acts somewhat out of character and becomes an extroverted bullocky: “Men called the tall, handsome, fine-boned woman a coldblooded, fierce termagant.

Rebecca took to the roads again.

“There’s good money, carrying, and my children must have the best education and land in this country”. She could wield a stock whip as well as any man on the roads, and made her power felt in any argument. Her strong voice, shouting all the classical epithets she gleaned from her reading, drove men and cattle to do her bidding. None but her children knew her tender tones, but even they dared not antagonise her.”

The character of Rebecca

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Bishop’s Family Foundation Send cheques & money orders to Bishop’s Family Foundation PO Box 508, Sale, 3853.

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Gippsland History with Patrick Morgan seems to be based on the real-life Agnes Buntine, also from the Woodside district, who was famous for her unusual role as a female bullock driver role in early Gippsland history.

They Came to a Rainforest contains an engrossing and worthwhile story, and gives the reader an insight into the early pioneering days in Gippsland.

• Doris Boddy They Came to a Rainforest, Brolga Publishing, available from Manyhills Bookshop, 180 Argyle St, Traralgon, for $24.99.

ALTHOUGH a novel, incidents in this book are based on the diaries of the pioneers who opened up the dense Gippsland bush.

Talking about books JULIAN TENISON WOODS: A LIFE by Mother Mary of the Cross MacKillop, canonisation edition, published and distributed

by St Pauls Publications, paperback, 246 pages, rrp $29.95.

THIS book was first published

by HarperCollins Religious in 1997 and this new edition contains both the original foreword and a new introduction by Sr Margaret Press rsj who has also provided annotations.

It is strange that a book written over 100 years ago by Blessed Mary MacKillop should have taken so long to be published in the first place.

Reason for this was that Cardinal Patrick Moran rejected the draft in 1903 seeing no value in having it published.

Perhaps the reason for this is that the book is virtually a hagiography of Woods, highlighting everything that was good about him and ignoring any shortcomings.

It is a writing style frequently used for the lives of saints but may have presented Woods as far different than the person known to the cardinal.

Mary MacKillop stressed that Woods life story should be written because he was the “Father Founder” of the Josephites.

She presents Woods with great fairness, portaying him as a kindly and gentle priest and, typical of her, has not a bad word to say about him, even though their relationship broke down in 1876, 13 years before his death.

For those interested in the Woods story the book will hold some interest but it is really just a collection of letters and parts of letters which the author has pieced together in an attempt to reveal the man.

It is the only extended piece of writing by Mary MacKillop which still exists.

THE STORY OF THE CHURCH by Alfred McBride, published by St Anthony Messenger Press, distributed by Rainbow Books, paperback, 310

pages, rrp $27.95.

THIS revised and expanded edition of this book, is not as bland as the title suggests.

This is not a boring history book, full of dry facts and figures, quotes from the Church fathers, and telling of the lives of the various saints.

Instead Fr McBride uses his skill as a master story teller to present pen pictures of the main players and to explain their roles in history.

Some 30 key events in the Church’s history from Pentecost to the modern day are presented in fictional form: stort stories, mini dramas, interviews, diaries, letters and dialogues.

“What sort of history can it be if it is fictionalised?” you may ask. The answer is one which imagines what went on behind the scenes and one which makes really interesting reading.

Side panels on many of the pages keep each event in its historical context and there are questions for reflection at the end of each short chapter.

And to keep the reader in touch with how history has an effect on the modern Church, there are sections to help connect the topic with current events.

This book is ideal for small groups or individual study

because it is certainly a good way to learn about from where the Church has come.

THIS IS MY BIBLE, text by Christina Goodings, published by Lion Children’s Books, distriobuted by Rainbow Books, handback, cardboard pages, 40 pages, rrp $14.99.

THIS is a well-illustrated Bible which would thrill any youngster.

The well-loved stories told in the pages include Adam and Eve, Noah’s ark, Moses in the bullrushes, the Exodus, David and Goliath, Daniel in the lions den, the birth of Jesus, his baptism, some parables, miracles, the Last Supper, crucifixion, risiong from the dead, Pentecost and the the beginnings of the Church.

Interestingly, they are not treated as separate stories which is how most children’s bibles treat the subject.

There is a flow between the stories which are interwoven with great skill to give the our young readers an overview of the Bible.

It would be ideal for a beginning reader as the words are not too difficult and as a bedtime story book it would probably only take an adult 10 minutes to read it through.

Central Catholic Bookshop 322 Lonsdale St., Melbourne (Next door to St Francis’ Church)

Visit our website at www.catholicbookshop.com.au Browse through our range of books and sacramental and religious gifts or search for specific items by author, title or keyword Open seven days Phone and mail orders welcome. Credit cards accepted

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

Catholic Life, May 2010 - Page 13

For the Young and Young at Heart Help Moses part the waters Time for a Laugh FR George was opening his mail one morning. Taking a single sheet of paper from an envelope, he found written on it only one word: ‘Fool’.

The following Sunday, in church, Fr George announced to the assembled congregation, “I have known many people who have written letters to me and forgotten to sign their names. But this week I received a letter from someone who signed his name and had forgotten to write a letter.”

MARTY, a little boy, was in church one Sunday with his mother Doris, when he started feeling sick.

“Mummy,” he inquired, “‘can we leave now?”

“No,” his mother replied, “the service isn’t over yet.”

“Well, I think I’m about to throw up.” Marty announced.

“Then go out of the front door and around to the back of the church and throw up behind a bush,” said Doris.

After about 60 seconds, Marty returned to his pew, alongside his mother.

“Did you throw up?”

Marty’s Mum asked quietly.

“Yes” Marty answered. “‘How could you have gone all the way to the back of the church and returned so quickly?” Doris demanded.

“I didn’t have to go out of the church, Mummy. They have a box next to the front door that says, ‘For the Sick’.”

A RECENTLY ordained priest, Fr Henry, was to hold his first ever graveside burial service at a pauper’s cemetery for a destitute man with no family or friends.

Fr Henry, not knowing where the cemetery was, made several wrong turns and got lost.

He eventually arrived an hour late, the hearse was nowhere in sight, the spade was next to the open hole, and the workmen were sitting under a tree eating lunch.

Fr Henry, being a reliable young priest went to the open grave and found the vault lid already in place. Feeling guilty because of his lateness, he preached an impassioned and lengthy service, sending the deceased to the great beyond in considerable style.

As the good Fr returned to his car, he overheard one of the workman say to the other, “Do you know, fancy that, I’ve been putting in septic tanks for 25 years and I ain’t never seen anything like that.”

A MAN walked into the Health Department and said “I’ve got three brothers and we all live in the same house.

“My eldest brother has seven cats, my twin brother

has four dogs, and my youngest brother has just brought home two goats.

“None of them will put the animals outside and the smell is terrible.”

The health officer thought for a while and said “The first thing to do is open the windows and let in some fresh air.”

“What? And let all my pigeons escape,” exclaimed the man.

WHY wouldn’t they let the Butterfly go to the dance?

It was a moth ball.

“MY husband really embarrassed me yesterday.

We had the priest around for a cuppa and he sat there drinking with his little finger sticking out.”

Her friend said “That’s considered polite in some circles.”

“Not if there’s a tea bag hanging from his finger!”

WHAT lies at the bottom of the ocean and shivers?

A nervous wreck.

“WHAT is the secret of living to be 100?” the young reporter asked the old man.

“Eggplants and artichokes,” came the reply.

“Do you mean to say that you believe that eating those has enabled you to get to 100?” asked the reporter.

“No. I’ve never eaten either of them and look at how healthy I am!”

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

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

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

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

Here’s a winner!

Try getting uppity THERE is a two-letter word that perhaps has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that is ‘UP’ It’s easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP ? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP ? Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report ?

SIENNA NOBILE from St Gabrielle’s, Traralgon, smiles as she displays her book prize and some of her classwork, making a balloon man.

Our latest colouring contest winner is Huey Grubb, 6, of St Thomas’s Primary School, Sale.

We will get the prize to him soon.

We will also be delivering a prize soon to Georgia Dowling at St Catherine’s, Berwick, who has been waiting patiently.

We call UP our friends.

And we use it to brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver; we warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and some guys fix UP the old car. At other times the little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special.

And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP

because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at night.

We seem to be pretty mixed UP about UP. To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look the word UP in the dictionary.

In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4th of the page and can add UP to about 30 definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don’t give UP, you may wind UP with 100 or more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP ..

When the sun comes out we say it is clearingUP ...

When it rains, it wets the earth and often messes things UP. When it doesn’t rain for awhile, things dry UP. I could go on and on, but I’ll wrap it UP, for now my time is UP , so ... it is time to shut UP!

Page 14 - Catholic Life, May 2010

Vatican addresses latest attacks on sex abuse THERE has been much controversy over recent months regarding alleged sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy.

It is a worldwide controversy which has reached as far as Pope Benedict XVI who an atheist group wants tried for crimes against humanity for failing to stop abuse by priests.

The fact is that while there have been paedophile priests, the percentage of priests who have committed these despicable acts are less than the percentage found among school teachers, youth leaders and the general male population.

In fact statistics show that a child is under far greater risk of being harmed by their father or

a male relative than anyone else.

With the secular media and pressure groups firmly in attack mode against the Catholic Church and generally choosing to ignore paedophilia involving other members of society, the Vatican’s Promoter of Justice Monsignor Charles J. Scicluna was spoken frankly to explain the Church’s position regarding offences committed against morals.

Mgr Scicluna is the “promoter of justice” of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

He is effectively the prosecutor of the tribunal of the former Holy Office, whose job it is to investigate what are known as

Mgr Charles Scicluna

delicta graviora; i.e., the crimes which the Catholic Church considers as being the most serious of all: crimes against the Eucharist and against the sanctity of the Sacrament of Penance, and crimes against the sixth Commandment (“thou shall not commit impure acts”) committed by a cleric against a person under the age of 18.

These crimes, in a 2001 motu proprio (a document issued on his own initiative), Sacramentum sanctitatis tutela, (Safeguarding the Sanctity of the Sacraments) come under the competency of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

In effect, it is the “promoter

of justice” who deals with, among other things, the terrible question of priests accused of paedophilia, which are periodically highlighted in the mass media.

Mgr Scicluna has the reputation of scrupulously carrying out the tasks entrusted to him without deferring to anyone.

The text of his interview published in L’Osservatore Romano’s English language edition on March 24 is reprinted below, with permission.

We have maintained the original heading and text but have added in bold brackets English translations of Latin phrases which are not explained in the interview.

The Church confronts ‘delicta graviora” THE Church does not like to showcase justice but that does not mean she is not rigorous in her investigation of sexual abuses by diocesan and religious priests, sine acceptione personarum (without personal discrimination), nor that she hinders the reporting of offences to the civil authorities.

Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna, Promoter of Justice of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is unequivocal and leaves readers in no doubt whilst reaffirming the Church’s position on paedophilia.

In an interview with the newspaper Avvenire, published on Saturday, March 13, 2010, the Prelate confirmed that “in principle, the condemnation of this kind of crime has always been firm and unequivocal”.

He also recalled that the first edition of the famous Instruction Crimen Sollicitationis (Crime of Solicitation) of 1922 established the procedural norms to be followed “in cases of solicitation during confession, and of other more serious sexually-motivated crimes such as the sexual abuse of minors”.

He then explained that on account of a poor English translation of the text, the norms have been interpreted as if to mean that the Holy See “imposed secrecy in order to hide the facts.

But this was not so.

Secrecy during the investigative phase served to protect the good name of all the people involved; first and foremost, the victims themselves, then the accused clerics who have the right — as everyone does — to presumed innocence until they are proven guilty”.

It was, he went on, John Paul II’s motu proprio, Sacramentorum Sanctitatis Tutela, (Safeguarding the Sanctity of the Sacraments) April 30, 2001, that established the exclusive competency of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to judge cases of delicta graviora, namely offences committed against morals and in celebration of the sacraments.

In a confidential letter signed by the Cardinal Prefect, Joseph Ratzinger, and the Secretary, Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone, sent to all the Bishops of the Church on May 18 of the same year, the Congregation published all the substantive and procedural norms regarding these “most serious crimes”.

In this context Scicluna disclosed that in the past nine years,

from 2001 to 2009, the Congregation had been called upon to examine “accusations concerning around 3000 cases of diocesan and religious priests, which refer to offences committed over the last 50 years”.

Of course, the 3000 cases to which Mgr Scicluna referred do not only include cases of paedophilia. He went on to clarify, “we can say that roughly 60 percent of these cases chiefly involved ephebophilia, sexual attraction to adolescents of the same sex, another 30 percent involved heterosexual relations, and the remaining 10 percent were cases of paedophilia in the true sense of the term; that is, determined by sexual attraction to prepubescent children”.

The cases of priests “accused of paedophilia in the true sense number some 300 in nine years.

Please do not misunderstand me, these are of course too many cases, but it must be recognised that the phenomenon is not as widespread as made out”.

In the last few years, from 2007 to 2009, Scicluna stated, “the annual average reported to the Congregation from around the world has been 250 cases” of delicta graviora out of a total number of 400,000 diocesan and religious priests in the world.

A full trial, penal or administrative, has taken place in 20 percent of cases and, as the Promoter of Justice pointed out, is normally “celebrated in the diocese of origin — always under our supervision — and only very rarely here in Rome.

We do this also in order to speed up the process.

“In 60 percent of cases there has been no trial, above all because of the advanced age of the accused, but administrative and disciplinary provisions have been issued against them, such as the obligation not to celebrate Mass with the faithful, and to live a retired life of prayer.

“It is well to repeat that in these cases, some of which are particularly sensational and have caught the attention of the media, it is not a question of absolution. It is true that there has been no formal condemnation, but if a person is obliged to live a life of silence and prayer, then there must be a reason...”.

In 10 percent of cases, the “particularly serious ones in which the proof is overwhelming”, Scicluna said, “the Holy Father has assumed the painful responsibility for authorising a

of this Dicastery.

Only with the 2001 motu proprio did the crime of paedophilia again become our exclusive remit. From that moment Cardinal Ratzinger displayed great wisdom and firmness in handling these cases and, what is more, demonstrated great courage in facing some of the most difficult and thorny cases, sine acceptione personarum. (without personal discrimination).

Therefore, to accuse the current Pontiff of covering-up is, I repeat, false and calumnious”.

In short, the Prelate considers, on the basis of current practice, that the limit of 10 years is not enough for the statute of limitations for delicta graviora.

“It would be desirable to return to the earlier system of delicta graviora not being subject to the statute of limitations”.

The term was in fact introduced by the 2001 motu proprio.

“Anyway”, the Promoter of Justice concluded, “on November 17, 2002, the Venerable Servant of God John Paul II granted this Dicastery the faculty to revoke that statute of limitations, case by case, following a reasoned request from individual Bishops. And this revocation is normally granted”.

decree of dismissal from the clerical state. This is a very serious but inevitable provision, taken through administrative channels.

“In the other 10 percent of cases, it was the accused priests themselves who requested dispensation from the obligations deriving from the priesthood, requests which were promptly accepted. Among those involved in these latter cases were priests found to be in possession of paedophile pornographic material and, for this reason, condemned by the civil authorities”.

With regard to relations with the civil authorities, the Promoter of Justice, in reply to a question on the matter, recalled that in some countries such as France: “if Bishops become aware of offences committed by their priests outside the sacramental seal of Confession, they are obliged to report them to the judicial authorities”, whereas when such an obligation does not exist “we do not force Bishops to report their own priests, but encourage them to contact the victims and invite them to report the priests by

whom they have been abused.

“Furthermore, we ask Bishops to give all spiritual — and not only spiritual — assistance to these victims. In a recent case concerning a priest condemned by a civil tribunal in Italy, it was precisely this Congregation that suggested to the plaintiffs, who had turned to us for a canonical trial, that they involve the civil authorities in the interests of the victims and to avoid other offences”.

Mgr Scicluna dismissed as “false and calumnious” the accusation that the then Cardinal Ratzinger, as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, encouraged a policy of concealment in such cases.

“I would like to highlight some of the facts on this subject.

Between 1975 and 1985 I find that no cases of paedophilia committed by priests were brought to the attention of our Congregation. Moreover, following the promulgation of the 1983 Code of Canon Law, there was a period of uncertainty as to which of the delicta graviora were reserved to the competency

Evangelist to speak at Berwick WORLD famous evangelist John Miller will speak at Berwick next month as part of a three day visit to Victoria next month.

He will be at St Michael’s Church, at 1.30pm on Saturday June 19, followed by Mass celebrated by Bishop Prowse.

Miller is renowned for his clear and powerful message and over the past two years has travelled the world speaking to heads of state, presidents, bishops, and thousands of people.

He is master of the Guild of Our Lady, London.

For more information call Pat Crozier 0400 218 417 or Tony and Marge Price 5633 2473.

Mr Miller will also be speaking St Mary’s Star of the Sea, West Melbourne, the following day at 3.30pm. He is also speaking at Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo during his trip.

Catholic Life, May 2010 - Page 15

Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?

(Mark10:17)

Good Youth News with Jess Denehy & Kelly Lucas AS we travel around the Diocese this month two major international events keep popping up in conversations.

The first is the canonisation of Blessed Mary of the Cross MacKillop in Rome this October and the other is World Youth Day in Madrid next year.

Contrary to popular belief we have no influence as to when these events are scheduled or when our Victorian school holidays are scheduled and, since both fall outside our holidays, this does cause a dilemma. What is a student to do?

We suggest you talk about it first. Talk to God, see what He has to say, you may be surprised.

Talk to your parents and families. Talk to your teachers, lectures and tutors. Talk to your priest, deacon or youth minister.

Talk to your friends. Talk to your bank. See what information they all have, what advice and

suggestions might help you.

Next is pray some more.

Now it’s time to make a decision. If you decide to celebrate these activities in Australia you may like to go back to that first list of people you talked to and see how you can get involved.

Perhaps you could even organise an event or activity for your community. If you decided to celebrate these activities overseas you need to start saving and getting involved parish or diocesan preparation.

Not everyone can travel to Europe for many different reasons but that is no reason not to celebrate and get involved!

This month the Youth Ministry Office is pretty much on a speaking tour of the diocese!

We start the month speaking at the Catholic Women’s League diocesan conference. These women are a powerhouse of

prayer and action and have been wonderful supporters of youth activities in the Diocese of Sale.

We will also hosting WYD 2011 information sessions for potential pilgrims at sites around the diocese. We’ve already been to Bairnsdale and Leongatha spruiking WYD 2011, plus a few secondary schools have also taken up our invitation. Next up we will be in: • BERWICK: St Michael’s Parish Hall, 7pm Monday May 17 • MORWELL: Sacred Heart Primary School Multi-Purpose Room, 7pm Monday May 24 We are always happy to speak to any group (about WYD2011 or any other youth ministry activities!) just call us to talk about it 5126 1063.

See you somewhere along the road, Kelly & Jess.

Remar Blue bonds at Wodonga

CSYMA work with parishes

By Kelly Lucas A BIG emphasis for several Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia classes in term two is collaborating with parishes to host Confirmation reflection days.

The CSYMA students research, plan and run the reflection day for the year six Confirmation candidates. This is a major assessment piece for the year ten students and a great way of putting their ministry into action. The year six students also love spending the day with the older kids.

Schools are starting to think about how they will commemorate the canonisation of Blessed Mary of the Cross MacKillop and how the youth ministry class

can be involved. Schools are also in discussions about possible pilgrimages to Rome for the canonisation and to World Youth Day next year in Madrid. CSYMA students need to start fundraising, planning and praying if they want to be part of these momentous occasions. Jess and I are also available to talk to school groups about Madrid if anyone wants to book us in!

The National CSYMA youth team will be in our Diocese at the end of the month. Having already visited Marist Sion in Warragul and St Francis Xavier in Berwick and Beaconsfield, they will now spend a week with us visiting all of the other secondary colleges in the Diocese.

During their visit all students and staff will have the opportunity to participate in a liturgy.

The team use drama, multimedia, testimony and skits to help connect with their audience.

They will also spend some time running workshops for CSYMA teams or classes. We look forward to their arrival.

CSYMA teachers will have their turn to learn and grow this month with the annual staff conference. This conference is being hosted at Mazenod College in Mulgrave and is a fantastic opportunity for our CSYMA teachers to network and deepen their own knowledge, faith and understanding.

Then of course there is the usual day to day class work, school liturgies and normal business of the month. Good luck CSYMA students and staff, we look forward to hearing all about it in the next Catholic Life.

Fundraising for Madrid?

THERE’s no doubt that the next World Youth Day (WYD) in Spain will be awesome!

Going to Madrid will be considerably more expensive than the Sydney WYD but it may be more achievable than you think.

We expect the pilgrimage to cost about $5400 and you are also going to want some spending money.

A part time/casual job will allow you to put money away regularly and steadily especially if you have a dedicated WYD account or piggy bank. But it can also be very helpful to fundraise.

The key is to start saving early and be creative.

Get together with some other WYD pilgrims in your parish or region, work out your goals and start to plan how you can reach them.

Here are just a few things to consider before you start: • Have several activities across the year – this allows people to be generous a few times without having to give too much at once • Fundraise as a group – it’s more fun and takes the pressure off one person (many parishes have already kicked started their WYD fundraising so get in

touch and get involved) • Plan a range of activities targeting different audiences, e.g. sell chocolates; make a recipe book, have a trivia night; host a sausage sizzle.

• Plan around other events in your parish (i.e. not at the same time as the annual parish fete!)

• Ask your parish priest if it is OK to include a blurb in the newsletter telling people what you’re doing and why.

• You may ask to speak at the Masses one weekend to tell people about upcoming plans.

• To help with your planning check out this document The Essentials of Fundraising at www.fundraisingideas.com.au/ Here’s some ideas: CHOCOLATE DRIVE Everyone loves chocolate so it basically sells itself. Consider getting your friends and family/youth group members to try and sell a few boxes each. Check out the Cadbury website for all the products you can buy for f u n d r a i s i n g : www.fundraising.com.au SAUSAGE SIZZLES! Bunnings allows local community groups to sell sausages outside their stores and you get to keep all the funds. Just call the

stores in your area and ask them when they are free.Your local butcher/bakery may consider donating products.

PARISH COOKBOOK This gets other people in the parish involved. Ask people to give you their best recipes then compile them in a book and sell it after Mass. You could launch the book at a morning tea after Mass where people can taste the cakes/slices in the book.

SIMON Cuckson and friends at the Remar retreat.

By Simon Cuckson “AN absolute privilege” would be the best way to describe my experience of the Remar Blue Retreat.

Over the weekend of April 30 to May 2, 160 young adults and leaders visited Catholic College, Wodonga for the Year 11 Blue Remar Retreat.

The weekend was full of dramas, sharing’s and social bonding from schools involved in the Remar youth ministry movement from all over the country.

The retreat commenced with a challenge to all present to go deeper in their faith and focus on the relationships they have with themselves, each other and with God.

The highlight for many of the participants and leaders was the opportunity to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday night.

So many young adults had the opportunity to spend time reflecting on their own lives and accepting the call to live as Christ’s disciples with humility, loyalty and solidarity.

The weekend concluded with a highly engaging and reverent Mass.

The friends from old and new friendships all contributed to the wonderful atmosphere and community spirit right across the weekend. Everyone left the event with a renewed spirit and energy to live as disciples in their own communities.

Youth leaders Recharge NEED to recharge the batteries?

Working and volunteering in youth ministry can be a bit of a roller coaster. It is often fun and inspiring but it also can be quite demanding. If we don’t take time out to nourish ourselves, to give our spiritual selves a bit of a work out, we risk getting lost along the way.

“Recharge” is an afternoon of prayer, reflection and skill-building for youth ministry leaders and volunteers. It is an opportunity to meet other people involved in youth ministry in the

diocese, to share some of our experiences and to nourish ourselves and our vocation with prayer.

Fr Chris Ryan MGL will be our special guest for “Recharge”.

Fr Ryan was the coordinator for the Journey of the World Youth Day Cross and Icon and has many years experience working with young people in both school and parish environments.

We will also be joined by the Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia (CSYMA) youth team who are currently travelling

around Australia running retreats and workshops for secondary college students and teachers.

“Recharge” will be held 2pm 4.30pm Sunday May 30 at the Sion Teachers Centre, Connor Street, Warragul.

This is a FREE event open to all those working or volunteering in youth ministry.

Please RSVP to Jess on jessd@sale.catholic.org.au to register your attendance.

Page 16 - Catholic Life, May 2010

From the Bishop’s Diary May 12-13 - Federation of Catholic Bishops’ Conferences of Oceania meeting, Sydney.

May 15 - Confirmations at Warragul, 7pm.

May 16 - Confirmations, Warragul 10.30am and Drouin 2pm.

May 21 - Mass at Marist Sion College, Warragul, 9.30am May 21 - Blessing and official opening of St Brigid’s Primary School, Officer, 2pm.

May 22 - Marian Conference, Traralgon.

May 22 - Confirmations at Heyfield, 7pm.

May 23 - Confirmations

at Sale, 10.30am.

May 28 - Mass at Primary Principals’ Conference, Warragul May 28 - CEO thanksgiving luncheon for Year for Priests, Warragul, 12.30 May 28 - Confirmations at Pakenham, 7pm.

May 29 - Confirmations at Pakenham, 6pm.

May 30 - Mystagogia

Mass, Sacred Heart, Morwell, 10.30am.

May 30 - Confirmations at Morwell, 2pm.

June 4 - Confirmations at Churchill, 7pm.

June 6 - Confirmations at Lakes Entrance 9am and Bairnsdale 2pm.

June 9 - Diocesan Liturgy Team meeting, 12.45pm June 9 - CGF Board meeting, 5.30pm.

June 11 - Confirmations in Narre Warren, 5.30pm and 7.30pm.

June 12 - Confirmations in Narre Warren,10am and 2pm June 13 - Confirmations in Narre Warren, 2pm

Numeracy day for teachers

Quick calendar

What’s on & when May Appeal month for Bishop’s Family Foundation 12 - South region meeting, St Laurence’s parish centre, Leongatha, 10.45am 14 – Feast of St Matthias, apostle 16 – Ascension of the Lord 17 – WYD2011 information session, Berwick, 7pm 18 – National E-Conference – ‘Mary – First Disciple’ 21 – Opening Mass and blessing of St Brigid’s School, Officer.

22 – Annual Marian Conference, Traralgon,9am 23 – Pentecost Sunday 24 – WYD information session, Sacred Heart Primary School, Morwell, 7pm 26 - West region meeting, St Agatha’s parish centre, Cranbourne, 10.30am 30 – Trinity Sunday 30 – Special collections for Mary MacKillop canonisation 30 – Recharge youth ministry afternoon, Sion Teacher’s Centre, Warragul, 2pm 31 - Deadline of June Catholic Life 31 – Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 31 – Closing date for comments on St Mary’s Cathedral restoration and beautification

June

TEACHERS Helen Moss, Ineke Van Vliet and Noreen Webster hard at work at the professional development day at Churchill.

CHURCHILL - “Make it, Say it, Write it” was the motto many teachers took from a recent professional development day held at Lumen Christi on the topic ‘Connecting the essential mental computation concepts for struggling students in a mixed ability classroom’.

The vibrant and enthusiastic Anita Chinn ran the day with

over 100 teachers from the Latrobe Valley Catholic primary and secondary schools in attendance.

With a focus on three main areas: making maths visible, using language and working mathematically Anita ran through a series of activities that can be easily dif-

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ferentiated to cover the needs of a mixed ability classroom using basic equipment such as counters, dice and unifix blocks.

With a high energy buzz around the room the teachers became the students as they participated in the fun activities.

St Vincent de Paul Primary school Morwell hosted Anita the next day at their school while she worked with the students in different grades.

The staff from St Vincents and Sacred Heart had the opportunity to observe Anita modelling how to differentiate a math’s lesson to cater for the needs of the students within the grade.

Anita highlighted the importance of identifying the ‘disconnect’ that is creating struggles for children and then bringing the activity back to their level.

Teachers commented on how engaged the children were at each session and how easily Anita was able to adapt the one activity so that it suited each child.

3-6 – Nagle College production of Grease, Bairnsdale 6 – Solemnity of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ 9 - Catholic Life published 11 – Sacred Heart 12-14 – State Youth Games, Lardner Park, Warragul 12 – Immaculate Heart of Mary 13 – Annual street procession and Mass in honor of Feast of St Anthony of Padua, Bairnsdale, 11am 14 – Queen’s Birthday public holiday 15 – Central region meeting, St Ita’s parish meeting room, Drouin, 7.30pm 17 – Valley region meeting, Traralgon, noon 19 - Evangelist John Miller speaking at St Michael’s, Berwick, 1.30pm 24 – Nativity of St John the Baptist 26 – School holidays begin 29 – Solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, apostles

July 2 – Rwandan holocaust survivor speaks at St Peter’s College, Cranbourne, 7.30pm 3 – Feast of St Thomas, apostle 5 - Deadline of July Catholic Life 12 – Term three begins 14 - Catholic Life published 22 – Memorial of St Mary Magdalene

August 2

- Deadline of August Catholic Life 6 – The Transfiguration 8 – Special collections for Mary MacKillop canonisa-

tion 8 – Feast day of Bl Mary MacKillop 10 – East region meeting, Bairnsdale, 10.30am 11 - Catholic Life published 11 - South region meeting, St Laurence’s parish centre, Leongatha, 10.45am 15 – Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 17 – Central region meeting, St John’s parish centre, Trafalgar, 7.30pm 19 – Valley region meeting, Moe, noon 20 – Memorial of St Bernard 25 - West region meeting, St Agatha’s parish centre, Cranbourne, 10.30am 28 – Memorial of St Augustine of Hippo 29 – Migrant Sunday diocesan celebration, St Patrick’s Church, Pakenham, 2pm

September 1-3 – Australasian Catholic Press Association conference, Hobart 3-5 – Australasian Religious Press Association conference, Hobart 3 – Memorial of St Gregory the Great 5 – Father’s Day 5 – Annual appeal for Priests’ Welfare Foundation 6 - Deadline of September Catholic Life 15 - Catholic Life published 15 – Our Lady of Sorrows 16 – National E-Conference – ‘Jesus the Christ’ 18 – School holidays begin 21 – Feast of St Matthew, apostle 23 – Memorial of St Pio of Pietrelcino 27 – Memorial of St Vincent de Paul

October 1 – Memorial of St Therese of Lisieux 3 – Daylight saving begins (clocks forward) 4 - Deadline of October Catholic Life 4 – Term 4 begins 4 – Memorial of St Francis of Assisi 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary 13 - Catholic Life published 15 – Memorial of St Teresa 17 – Canonisation of St Mary of the Cross (Mary MacKillop), Rome 18 – Feast of St Luke 21 – Valley region meeting, Newborough, noon

November 1 – All Saints Day 1 - Deadline of November Catholic Life 2 – Melbourne Cup (public holiday) 2 – All Souls Day 9 – East region meeting, Orbost, 10.30am 10 - Catholic Life published 10 - South region meeting, St Laurence’s parish centre, Leongatha, 10.45am 13 – Memorial of St Francis Xavier November 13-14 – Celebration of 120th anniversary of foundation of Our Lady of Sion Convent, Sale

Catholic Life, May 2010 - Page 17

world news . . . world news . . . world news Saints relics Priest numbers grow in Asia, Africa ABOUT one in five of the world’s priests now come from Africa or Asia, the latest edition of the Vatican’s Statistical Yearbook shows.

While European priests in 2000 accounted for nearly 51 percent of the world’s priests, eight years later, that figure dropped to 47 percent.

Data released last week show the number of Catholics in Africa rose by 33 percent in the period from 2000 to 2008, and by 15.6 percent in Asia.

The number of priests also increased slightly over this nineyear period, passing from 405,178 in 2000 to 409,166 in

Bl. Teresa of Calcutta licks critics THE United States post office will release in September a stamp honoring Blessed Teresa of Calcutta, known as Mother Teresa.

CatholicVote.org confirmed the news, noting that the campaign they organised in February to support the stamp collected a total of 138,000 virtual signatures.

A statement from the president of CatholicVote.org, Brian Burch, noted that Roy Betts, a spokesman for the Postal Service, confirmed that the stamp will be dedicated on September 5.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation fought the proposed postal stamp but CatholicVote.org urged US Postmaster General Jack Potter to “stand by your decision to issue the stamp [...], and to reject the bigoted attacks aimed at trashing this faith-filled nun who spent her life caring for the poor and needy of our world.”

Burch noted at the time that the postal service policy prohibits stamps that “honor religious institutions or individuals whose principal achievements are associated with religious undertakings or beliefs.”

However, he asserted that this policy should not exclude religious people who are also famous for their contributions to the world.

The action group noted that other religious figures have been honored by commemorative stamps in the past, such as John Witherspoon in 1976, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., in 1979 and 1999, Martin Luther in 1983, and Fr Edward Flanagan in 1986.

2008, an overall rise of 0.98 percent.

In Africa and Asia their numbers increased (respectively, by 33.1 percent and 23.8 percent), in the Americas they remained stable, while they fell by 7 percent in Europe and 4 percent in Oceania, which includes Australia.

The total number of Catholics in Europe increased only by 1 percent.

Over these nine years, the Catholic presence in the world has grown from 1,045 million in 2000 to 1,166 million in 2008, an increase of 11.54 percent.

Considering the statistics in

detail, numbers in Africa grew by 33 percent, in Europe they remained generally stable (an increase of 1.17 percent), while in Asia they increased by 15.61 percent, in Oceania by 11.39 percent and in America by 10.93 percent.

As a percentage of the total population, European Catholics represented 26.8 percent in 2000 and 24.31 percent in 2008. In America and Oceania they have remained stable, and increased slightly in Asia.

The number of bishops in the world went up from 4541 in 2000 to 5002 in 2008, an increase of 10.15 percent.

off to the World Cup in S. Africa

Plea for Christians in Iraq

By John Pontifex A LEADING bishop in Iraq has spoken out against the government and security services for failing to protect Christians under threat from militants hellbent on flushing them out of the country.

Archbishop Georges Casmoussa of Mosul spoke of possible collusion between antiChristian terrorists and fringe political parties and criticised the authorities, saying they were “too busy holding meetings” to ensure the safety of minority groups.

In his interview with Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need, which supports persecuted and other suffering Christians, the Syrian Catholic prelate said that a failure of Iraq’s army, police and government to “coordinate” meant that they were “opening the door to terrorists”.

The archbishop, who has called for UN intervention to protect Christians, was speaking after going to hospital to visit some of the 163 people – most of them youngsters – who were injured in a bomb blast which targeted a convoy of buses packed with Christian students.

One male student died instantly and two female students were reported to be in a critical condition following the attack which took place on May 2 on the edge of Mosul, in the north of the country.

Describing how one student had had a leg amputated and another had suffered a serious eye injury, Archbishop Casmoussa said three students were in a critical condition and that plans were underway to transfer 15 people to hospital in Turkey.

Archbishop Casmoussa The violence is the latest in a series of anti-Christian attacks since 2004 which are widely understood to be part of a coordinated campaign to extinguish the presence of Iraq’s ancient Church, which dates back to earliest times.

Amid reports that Sunday morning’s explosions took place between two checkpoints, Archbishop Casmoussa blamed the authorities for failing to clamp down on terrorists.

He said: “We feel angry about what happened – and we are full of sadness for those who have suffered so much.

“We feel there is no central power here. The authorities are too busy holding meetings and not enough is being done.”

He continued: “The army is not close to the government, the government is not close with the police.

“You have people who are responsible but they are not coordinated in their actions and this opens the door to terrorists.”

Speaking of possible collusion between some political parties

Sue threats over Church tax GERMAN canonist Hartmut Zapp says he will sue the Vatican in his battle against the church tax that is deducted from the salaries of all employed German Christians.

Zapp, a retired canon law professor, was taken to court by Germany’s Catholic Church for challenging existing procedures for collecting the church tax, the Irish Times reports.

The tax, calculated as up to 8 percent of income tax, raises

Female religious are almost double the number of priests, and 14 times that of nonordained male religious, but their numbers are falling, from 800,000 in 2000 to 740,000 in 2008.

As for their geographical distribution, 41 percent reside in Europe, 27.47 percent in America, 21.77 percent in Asia and 1.28 percent in Oceania.

The number of female religious has increased in the most dynamic continents: Africa (up by 21 percent) and Asia (up by 16 percent).

approximately 5 billion ($7 billion) annually for the Catholic Church; the Lutheran church earns 4 billion ($5.6 billion).

German Christians may stop their church tax payment by going to their town hall and filling in a form which, when passed on to the church authorities, is interpreted as a Kirchenaustritt or “church exit”.

The person’s name is struck from the church register and

they are excluded from church services and sacraments.

Prof Zapp, 71, a practising Catholic, challenged this interpretation two years ago by altering his “church exit” form to read “exit from the Catholic Church, a public corporation”.

When challenged by church authorities, he said he was still a believer but was no longer interested in paying an obligatory tax.

and criminals, he said: “Some politicians are involved in the actions of terrorists and sometimes murders take place in the name of political parties.”

He criticised the government for failing to bring terrorists to justice saying: “We hear that people who have killed Christians are in prison but legal judgements are not being brought against them.”

He added: “We call on the central government to find those responsible, to judge them and to try them according to international law.

“This judgement must be open and known by the people. We ask the UN – and the US, who are masters of the situation – to help the minorities, especially Christians.”

In accordance with the priorities set for the charity by Pope Benedict XVI, Iraq is a key area of Aid to the Church in Need’s work.

ACN help includes support for refugees from Iraq in Turkey, Jordan and Syria, as well as internally displaced people, Mass offerings for persecuted priests, seminary equipment, church buildings, assistance for religious congregations and aid for Sisters who give Easter and Christmas hampers to displaced Christians in the north of the country.

St Therese of Lisieux SOUTH AFRICA - The relics of St Thérèse of Lisieux will be in South Africa for the first time during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference announced that the relics will be in and around Johannesburg from June 27 to July 12.

The international soccer tournament will be held in that same city from June 11 to July 11.

The communiqué noted that the youth from St Francis of Assisi in Yeoville, a suburb of Johannesburg, spearheaded the initiative because they are “deeply inspired by the saint in their faith, and encouraged by her spiritual ‘little way,’ as she is one of the youngest saints of all times.”

This initiative is one of many promoted and organized by the Catholic Church in that region during the World Cup. The relics will arrive in the country on June 25, and will remain there for six weeks, traveling throughout South Africa across the provinces of Limpopo, Gauteng, Free State, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape.

Pilgrims are encouraged to follow “The St Thérèse Route” through the country, on an itinerary that is still being finalised.

Pope praises marriage VATICAN CITYBenedict XVI has praised the sacrament of marriage, saying it is “truly an instrument of salvation,” not only for the couple, but also for society.

The Pope affirmed this during his English-language message at the end of the general audience on May 5, when he greeted participants in a family conference to be held in Sweden this month.

“Your message to the world is truly a message of joy, because God’s gift to us of marriage and family life enables us to experience something of the infinite love that unites the three divine persons — Father, Son and Holy Spirit,” he said.

The Pope noted how human beings are made for love: “Indeed at the core of our being, we long to love and to be loved in return.”

He continued, “Only God’s love can fully satisfy our deepest needs, and yet through the love

of husband and wife, the love of parents and children, the love of siblings for one another, we are offered a foretaste of the boundless love that awaits us in the life to come.”

Pope Benedict affirmed that marriage is an “instrument of salvation, not only for married people but for the whole of society.”

And like any “worthwhile goal,” he said, “it places demands upon us, it challenges us, it calls us to be prepared to sacrifice our own interests for the good of the other. It requires us to exercise tolerance and to offer forgiveness. It invites us to nurture and protect the gift of new life.”

He reflected on those “fortunate enough to be born into a stable family,” saying they “discover there the first and most fundamental school for virtuous living and the qualities of good citizenship.”

Page 18 - Catholic Life, May 2010

Athiests help firm writer’s belief in a God

By Terry Synan RECENTLY, one of Australia’s most talented journalists and commentators, Phillip Adams, wrote about his atheism (again).

“Though the son of a Christian minister”, he writes, “I became an atheist at five…” He didn’t know that the word existed for years to come.

Not until 10, he reports, did he find a book on the subject – Bertrand Russell’s Why I am Not a Christian (“Weekend Australian Magazine”, March27-28 , 2010).

During the second weekend in March he attends the 2010 Global Atheist Convention held in the Melbourne Convention Centre. This gathering attracts some 2500 attendees drawn from all parts of Australia, New Zealand and beyond.

It marks a significant advance for atheistic belief. In past times atheists comprised an isolated and lonely tribe. Their state was somewhat akin to leprosy. Such cognition put one apart from the elite and social mainstream.

Today this has all changed.

There is now the strength of numbers, a level of respectability and acceptance. The convention guest list includes world-class academics guaranteed to grace any global cerebral assembly.

“For the first time in my life” declares Adams, “I was one among many.” Savoring the gathering’s theme “The Rise in Atheism”, he adds, “Lonely atheists now realise that they’re not alone”.

The American Stuart Bechman, a political activist and president of Atheist Alliance International is convention architect. He had organised such conferences previously on his home continent but this is his first export venture.

His co-convener is David Nicholls, the president of the Atheist Foundation of Australia.

The stellar speaker list boasts three top-flight philosophers including the UN Human Rights activist and compiler of popular philosophical tracts, Professor A.C. Grayling from Britain, plus Melbourne’s well known philosopher, Peter Singer whom we now share with Princeton University, USA. It also boasts two world class biologists, the American P.Z. Myers and evolutionary biologist, evangelising atheist and polemic opponent of all religion, Richard Dawkins.

How come Melbourne is selected as conference location?

A number of reasons spring to mind. By world standards we are a generally tolerant people irrespective of some understandable accusations of racism from the Indian sub-continent.

Further, we are a laid-back race that has been deeply imbued with secularism. We are unlikely to become seriously aggrieved when a large and influential gathering of non-believing pilgrims comes to town.

Perhaps a still more pertinent reason is found in revelations from the 2006 census. It indicates a huge growth in our domestic non-believer population. Some 19 per cent of Australians ticked that box revealing that non-believers had expanded by 758,000 over the preceding decade.

Catholics are the largest Australian religious grouping representing 26 per cent of the population.

They have displaced Anglicans

who now barely register 19 per cent. The Uniting Church and Presbyterians account for less than 10 per cent. Atheists win the prize for being the fastest growing “sect”.

The future prognosis for Australia’s mainstream religions is not looking healthy.

According to Adams, “90 per cent of Australian Catholics no longer attend Mass…”

Presumably he means on a regular weekly basis. The Protestant churches fare no better.

Again, Adams observes, Atheists can take no credit for this decline. “The Catholics and Anglican churches, for example”, he writes, “have been committing suicide”. And adds “After centuries of fighting each other they’ve been tearing themselves apart…not because of crusading by atheists but because of toxic church politics, policies and scandals”.

Last year marked the bi-centenary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his On the Origin of Species in which he outlined his theory on the progress of species by the action of “natural selection”. He also found evidence for the “common descent” of life on earth. A flood of publications on the life of Darwin and his scientific discoveries hit the bookshops and newsagents.

Accordingly, 2009 provides the perfect backdrop for a global atheist gathering. It gave new impetus to the growing band of missionary atheists some of whom accredit Darwin with providing them a new NaturalSelector God to replace the older Creator God in whom I believe.

I cannot give intellectual assent to the concept that evolution and natural selection supplant the need for the God I seek to know.

I would have more empathy with Dawkins (et al) had he nominated the electromagnetic spectrum as the creative force.

Energy waves of varying length and frequency are the building blocks of the gases and star dust out of which all is made.

Imagine, if you can, the intelligence that created that process!

Biologists doubtless appreciate that evolution has created nothing. It is simply a process. The question we must all ask is: How did this process become established and how were the physical and biological laws by which it operates set down?

I would consider myself foolish indeed to claim that an assembly line in Melbourne’s outer northern suburbs fashioned and created my Ford car.

Such a claim disregards the important input of the designers, engineers, and mechanics who developed and produced it, not to mention the creative role of Henry Ford who installed his conveyor belt system in Detroit in 1913 to mass produce his vehicles.

However, I am grateful to our home grown and visiting atheists. They prodded me into pondering afresh my beliefs about God and His domain. Such questioning is a most worthy human quest – one the Athenian Socrates in the 400s BC indulged in and heartily applauded. He reportedly said “the unexamined life is not worth living”. I agree.

My concept of God has long ago been emancipated from kindergarten images. It is, today, a concept that beggars my capacity to visualise and describe it

THE Universe . . . A Godless fluke or proof of creation? Regular contributor Terry Synan argues his belief in the existance of God. appropriately.

As with Anselm, former Archbishop of Canterbury (1030-1109) I too perceive God as “that than which no greater can be thought”. (Copleston S.J. A History of Philosophy Vol 2).

He stands beyond time and space, beyond the stars and supa-nova, beyond the universe.

I have a number of reasons for not joining Phillip Adam, Richard Dawkins and their Atheist club: Firstly, there is the personage of the historical Christ who, no matter by what measure we assess him, is the most important figure in world history.

In addition, he made a huge claim – to be the Son of God, a claim I accept. Importantly, he preached a philosophy of love, even of one’s deepest enemies.

He stands as the great contradiction in human history.

Next, there is the impact Christ has had and has on the lives of people who are open to his message of love. I have witnessed this impact on colleagues and persons I have known – people who have emptied their lives of selfishness and egotism and genuinely endeavoured to be Christ-like in their present. I cannot overlook this influence on such lives over the millennia.

Then I look around and see life in all its variety: vegetation, fish, birds, animals and humans. To me it seems impossible that all this could come about by blind chance. What probability could

one put on such happenings?

Sir Fred Hoyle, the talented Cambridge theoretical astronomer of last century, reportedly said that the probability of life originating on earth by chance is about the same as the likelihood of a hurricane blowing through a scrap yard and assembling a fully operational Boeing 747.

Richard Dawkins says that anyone serving up this argument “doesn’t understand the first thing about natural selection…”

(Richard Dawkins, The God Delusion, 2006).

It seems, though, that Hoyle’s metaphor is more a comment on impossibility than probability.

Reference to Hoyle turns one’s thoughts to the data currently being discovered about outerspace through such wonderful astronomical instruments as the Anglo-Australian Telescope at Coonabarabran, NSW, (which he played a major role in developing) and the Hubble Space Telescope.

Astronomy provides an additional motivation for my enthusiasm for theism. During recent decades there have been amazing advances in our knowledge and understanding of the universe.

We now have great ability to capture light and radiation from outer space and analyse it by applying our understanding of the electromagnetic spectrum.

(See Professor L. Benacchio, The Great Atlas of the Universe, 2007). By such means we look back in time towards the “Big

Bang”.

The immensity of the stellar evolutionary processes such as the evolution of the Milky Way and other galaxies, plus the forces at work are mind blowing.

How many stars and galaxies exist? Could there be more than there are particles of sand around the world’s oceans? Are there boundaries to this universe or simply boundaries to our perceptions at its edges where velocities of heavenly bodies approach the speed of light and become invisible to us? Who created the forces and the processes for forming these gases and star dust? The processes cannot create themselves.

Lastly, there is “the God-question” that award-winning journalist and author, John Cornwell, puts to Richard Dawkins; namely, “Why is there something rather than nothing?”

(Darwin’s Angel, 2008).

The query of why there are stars and planets and life on earth, as opposed to nothing, is deeply mysterious; one we are unable to answer scientifically.

I believe that for me, my God is the answer to this mystical question. This may not satisfy a number of people, but it does provide the answer that satisfies me.

To believe that God exists takes an amount of faith on my part but to believe he doesn’t, and that all the above is due to blind chance, takes much more – more faith than I can muster.

Bishops support porn filters THE Catholic Bishops of Australia have supported the move by government to require internet pornography filters at internet service providers (ISPs) which will restrict access to sites containing extreme pornography.

The bishops, at their plenary meeting in Sydney last week, noted that Senator Stephen Conroy has been criticised by some for what is described as censorship of the internet.

Some have also compared this initiative to political censorship of the internet as practised in certain countries.

President of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference,

Archbishop Philip Wilson, said “Stopping extreme pornography being distributed via the net is hardly the same as censorship of ideas, “The government already bans books, DVDs and other media containing extremely pornographic and violent images. It is illogical to then allow such material to be available via the internet,” he said.

“Pornography assaults our moral sense; degrades those involved in these industries and undermines marriage and family life. The government should not bow to pressure from vested interests that make a lot of money from the pornography

industry”, he said.

“Some argue that ISP filters degrade the performance of the internet but trials have shown that any degradation of performance is minimal.

“In any case, it is a small price to pay to protect children. Most businesses have ISPs that filter offensive material, and businesses operate successfully using these,” Archbishop Wilson said.

The bishops congratulated the government for its initiative and called upon the government to implement the ISP filters without further delay.

“The welfare of many is of much greater importance than the profits of a few”.

Catholic Life, May 2010 - Page 19

Region celebrates Year for Priests

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

If so please contact Diocesan Vocations Director Deacon Tony Aspinall 9704 7265 vocations@sale.catholic.org.au

to help you discern God’s call

ENJOYING the evening are (from left) Fr John Fowles CCS, Maureen Green, Vin Bibby and Robyn Rebbechi.

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

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

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

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

Further details phone 5134 8484 or 5133 7221 (AH) *Conditions apply

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WARRAGUL - A great celebration of the Year for Priests took place at St Joseph’s Warragul last month, commencing with concelebrated Mass at St Joseph’s church attended by nearly 300 parishioners and visitors.

This was an initiative of the Central Region which comprises St Joseph’s Warragul, St John’s Trafalgar and St Ita’s Drouin, as their response to the Pope’s request that we recognise the fact that in recent years priests have been under enormous pressure from declining vocations and adverse actions of a few.

Its focus was to recognise the wonderful and often unrewarded work of the priests in our parishes .

The priests attending were Fr Herman Hengel, Fr Bernie Krotwaar, Mgr Dan Mc Cartan, Fr John Davine, Fr Tom O’Connell, Fr John Readman, Fr Paschal {Simon) Corby OFMConv, Fr John Maher

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OMI, Fr Peter Rankin SDB, Fr Frank Freeman SDB and Fr John Fowles CCS. These priests who had served or grown up in our parishes were welcomed by chairman Des Stephens. The homily was delivered by Deacon Mark Kelly.

The evening concluded with a finger food supper at the Catholic Education Office where presentations of new vestments were made by Kevin Carmody and accepted by the parish priests as a sign of their priestly work in our parishes.

The room was decorated by work done by the children of St Joseph’s school to express their understanding of the life of a priest and the way in which this has impacted on their life of faith.

The organisers would like to acknowledge the wonderful musicians and singers lead by Claire Henshall and Leonie Broeren.

New life membership of Knights DROUIN - At recent gathering of some 23 friends and family at the Hong Kong Inn restaurant in Drouin, Bob Allen was presented with a life membership of the Knights of the Southern Cross.

During his 40 year service, Mr Allen held most positions within the Knights, including a two year appointment to the State Council. This meant that he would be often driving to meetings in Melbourne and then returning home to wife and family often very late at night while still working long hours during the day.

He was quoted as saying that it was his pleasure and that he was honored to have been able to help in any way he could.

“During my time with the Knights I have met many really great people and still converse with many of them to this day”.

Mr Allen is still a member of the Drouin KSC at the age of 83 years, although due to a current sight problem has not been as active as he once was. One can still hear him say “if there is a job to do and I can help in anyway don’t hesitate to call”.

Jim Darcy representing KSC state council presented him with a certificate and wife Anne with a bunch of flowers for her contribution to the Order, in allowing Bob to complete many of the tasks he undertook whilst raising their eight children.

Page 20 - Catholic Life, May 2010

Concert aids Sudanese students Colin is a chip off the old block

PICTURED with teacher Roz Bennett and Marilyn and Simon from Make Moe Glow Inc. are the Sudanese students Pal, Yauda, Shawac, Ruot, Dedtiek, Emmanual, Nyaluak, Nhok, Achol, Nyadiet, Nyaboth, Nyabol, Guaneer, Samuel and Guamar.

MOE - The whole of St Kieran’s Primary School attended the Code Blue Concert at the Moe Town Hall last month.

The Victorian Police Band was performing.

The concert was sponsored by

the Victorian Police, Make Moe Glow, Moe RSL, MECU, Latrobe City and Low Somerville Industries.

It was a fundraising event and money raised will be divided amongst the five local schools to

support their educational programs.

St Kieran’s has a significant number of Sudanese students and the money will go towards resources for language development for these children.

YEAR 12 Nagle College student Colin Eaton with his trophy and sash after winning the standing block handicap at the Keilor Athletics Carnival earlier this year.

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BAIRNSDALE - Nagle College Year 12 student, Colin Eaton, has been selected to represent Australia against New Zealand in the Under 21 wood chopping event at the Melbourne Show this year.

Colin will be involved in a series of team events which comprise underhand, standing block and crosscut sawing.

In 2009 these popular events took place on the main arena in front of huge crowds. Colin is yet to find out what block he will be cutting as this depends on the makeup of the team.

The selection process for this event involved Colin competing in a variety of events across Victoria.

His father, Chris Eaton, who also competes in wood chop and is a teacher at Nagle College, says that they have travelled almost 10,000km to attend events in order for Colin to have the opportunity to compete.

“The Easter weekend just gone was spent at Blackwood (near Daylesford), Colac and at Molyullha (near Benalla). We have been lucky in some respects as neither of us has damaged an axe to the extent that it cannot be repaired.

“The highlight of all the

events so far was Colin’s win in the 300mm diameter standing block handicap at Keilor Athletics Carnival where he beat a class field including the current World Underhand Champion, Laurance O’Toole Jnr.” Pursuing his love of this sport has meant Colin has had to work hard to be able to afford the specialised axes used in wood chopping events.

These axes can range in price from $350 to $500 and can easily be broken if the axeman hits a small limb or hard piece of timber.

Colin has recently ordered two new axes from New Zealand and also needs to purchase a crosscut saw, valued at around $1000.

He recognises that this is not a cheap sport to pursue but is determined to achieve his goals of competing in the Stihl Timbersports series held in Canada and the United States of America.

Colin has been able to achieve at a very high level in his chosen sport whilst still undertaking his Year 12 studies. Nagle College congratulates Colin on his success to date and looks forward to following his progress for some time to come.