The Newsletter of Catholic Mission
Registered by Australia Post NAR 3547 5/93 Volume 14 No5
World Mission Day This issue of Mission Today marks World Mission Day 2005, celebrated in every Catholic community around the world on Sunday October 23. This year the theme is ‘Proclaim Life for All … Witness, Liberate, Teach and Celebrate’. There are many ways you can get involved in this celebration. One of the simplest is to wear a ‘Life for All’ sticker on Wednesday October 26. This is a public display that you commit yourself to actively promoting fullness of life for all. This action will involve schools, parishes and the wider community. The aim is to display people power for life, affirm the sanctity of life and to inspire others.
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Catholic Mission has also produced extensive school and parish study kits to assist you in fundraising, educating and animating about the work of mission. As Pope John Paul II noted in his 2005 message for this special day: “World Mission Sunday is an opportune occasion to increase our awareness of the urgent necessity to participate in the evangelising mission by local communities and many Church organisations, in particular Catholic Mission.”
Stop the suffering in Sudan The church faces many challenges in the developed world due to a scarcity of resources. It’s no different in the Sudan, Africa’s largest country, but here in the diocese of El Obeid, Bishop Macram Max Gassis faces many greater challenges than this. He and his flock have dodged air attacks by government-backed forces while trying to celebrate Mass at Christmas and Easter. One of his Catholic primary schools was bombed resulting in the horrible deaths of 19 children and a teacher. Bishop Gassis is now trying to draw the world’s attention to the burgeoning conflict in Sudan’s Darfur region, in the west of his diocese. At least 180,000 people there have died from violence, hunger and disease and two million have been driven out of their homes, mostly into squalid camps in neighbouring Chad. The conflict broke out last year after rebels took up arms against the Arab government, complaining of discrimination. The government is accused of arming Arab militia, who are charged with pillaging, killing and raping in an attempt to crush the uprising.
This year World Mission Sunday is dedicated to the Eucharist, as an inspiration to every Christian community to respond to all forms of poverty.
Catholic Mission catholicmission.org.au 1800 257 296
For more information about World Mission Day phone Freecall 1800 257 296 or go to www. catholicmission. org.au.
Catholic Mission catholicmission.org.au 1800 257 296
Catholic Mission National Office: Level 5, 47 Neridah St Chatswood NSW 2067
The conflict in Darfur is part of a much greater tragedy that has gripped most of the Sudan since the 1980s. Two million people have died and another four million have been displaced in a war that pits the Muslim-dominated, Arabic-speaking north against the black African, mainly Christian south. Below: Bishop Gassis celebrates confirmation with young parishioners in war-torn Sudan. continued overleaf
Welcome to all Welcome to another issue of Mission Today in which we celebrate World Mission Day. ‘Proclaim Life for All’ is the theme for this year’s celebration of World Mission Day and Month. This year we celebrate the Year of the Eucharist and the 30th anniversary of one of the foundation documents on mission, ‘Evangelisation in the Modern World’ (Evangelii Nuntiandi). As Christians we are called to the struggle for the liberation of humanity as part of God’s universal plan of salvation. We who have received the gift of the Eucharist and the fullness of life it brings can’t keep this to ourselves; it is our privilege to share this with all we encounter. It is fundamental to our being Christian. At the end of Mass, all should feel they are sent as “missionaries of the Eucharist” to carry to every person the great gift received, that is life to the full in Jesus Christ. This is our challenge today.
Catholic Mission is the primary and privileged organisation of the Church for promoting mission around the world. Our vision is for a world where all people can live life fully, as the dream of our Creator God intends. Words can never express fully the ongoing good that is created by your acts of love and compassion for others in need, at this and other appeal times. I thank you for your involvement in our work. May you experience fullness of life from the Risen Christ always.
Fr Terry Bell
Stop the suffering in Sudan continued Last year Catholic Mission gave more than $180,000 to the Diocese of El Obeid. This paid for formation of catechists in the remote war-torn Nuba Mountains and the construction of a church, offices and a mission station in various communities. This was part of more than $320,000 for the whole of Sudan that covered projects such as the reconstruction of a bishops’ residence ruined by conflict, transport for religious personnel, restoration of a youth centre and the organisation of seminars to promote justice and peace. Catholic Mission needs your help – now more than ever – to ensure these good works in Sudan and other parts of the world continue. In 1990 the Bishop was diagnosed with cancer and went to the US for treatment. There he learned the Sudanese government had barred his return. This gentle servant of Christ is now one of the most wanted men in Sudan. Each time he returns to his people, bringing food and medicines, Bibles
and blankets, his life is in jeopardy. He needs funds to build decent living quarters for the priests and sisters of El Obeid. Education is another area of critical need. Whole generations of children have been denied basic schooling as a direct result of the conflict. “Only through education can the capacity of our vulnerable people be built upon to be self-sufficient and self-reliant in the future,” the Bishop says. There is increasing hunger and malnutrition among refugees in the camps and many are still on the way from Sudan to Chad. The conflict must be resolved so the refugees can return home safely. “The international community must take action now, not wait until it is too late,” Bishop Gassis said. Below: Celebrating Mass in the Diocese of El Obeid in Sudan.
Father John’s mission in Peru Sydney priest Father John Andersen has been working as a missionary in Peru for almost 24 years. Working in NSW parishes after his ordination, John felt he was needed elsewhere in the world.
Since September 2004 Father John has also taken on the role of chaplain to the Peruvian army in the eastern region of the country. Every weekend he celebrates Mass in two army barracks with young soldiers and visits different units for catechesis during the week.
“The soldiers greet us with singing and participate with great gusto in the different activities of a program of Christian formation,” he said. “We have very good Generals, much concerned for the wellbeing of the troops and that they be men and women of principle who do what is right.” Father John hopes to stay on in Iquitos, as he really enjoys the work he does there. He believes it is the will of God for him to work with the families in Iquitos and the soldiers, and to spread the word of the Gospel.
Father John, 58, is the parish priest at St Rose of Lima church in Iquitos, in the north-east of Peru, on the banks of the Amazon River. Iquitos has a population of about half a million people, with 80 per cent
of them Catholic. It is about one-and-a-half hours (by plane) from the capital Lima, and can only be reached by air or boat. Most of the people in the town are very poor and live in small villages along the riverbank.
Children making a difference St Joseph’s Primary School, Korumburra in Victoria’s Sale Diocese recently had some great fun raising money to help put children first! The students took part in a Mission Skip-a-thon and had a sausage sizzle. In addition, students contributed by running stalls. “Each day of the week each grade held a mission stall,” said principal and REC, Bill Speekman. “They sold sweets, held little raffles and made take-away play lunches for the other children to buy. Busy but fun!” With an enrolment of only 85 students, they managed to raise $839! children first! is Catholic Mission’s fundraising for children in schools. Internationally $25.5 million was allocated to more than 3400 projects for children last year. Of this amount, Australia contributed an impressive $1.4 million.
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This year Catholic Mission is supporting the church in Peru with $132,000 as part of its work, Partnering Local Churches and Communities, Propagation of the Faith. This special work is the church’s chief tool of support for the day-to-day running of young churches and offers spiritual healing and practical assistance to communities with the greatest needs. Above: Father John Andersen baptises a soldier with the General of the Peruvian army acting as godfather.
All our data in one place Catholic Mission now has a more efficient, streamlined and cost-effective system with the centralisation of its donor database. The 28 diocese databases are now all located at the National Office in Chatswood, in Sydney, following an 18-month phase-in process. We’re doing all we can to cut down on administration costs, to ensure that your contribution can be stretched further. If you need to change any of your details or have any questions, please phone Freecall 1800 257 296. You can continue to contact your local diocesan office with any other queries.
Became a ‘friend in faith’ Can you help the church offer spiritual healing and practical assistance to communities with the greatest needs? Catholic Mission has a new initiative – Friends in Faith – designed for people who
give regularly to our work of Partnering Local Churches and Communities, Propagation of the Faith. You’ll play a part in funding projects in 160 countries around the world that are helping to build
churches and communities. Catholic Mission is not only working in the developing world but also parts of Europe that need the magic of evangelisation to touch them once more. You’ll receive a newsletter
twice a year with stories about the great work that’s possible because of your help. For more information phone Freecall 1800 257 296 or go to www.catholicmission.org.au and click on the Friends in Faith icon.
A commitment to giving Denise and Bruce Sheridan-Smith made a pact soon after they got married 30 years ago – they’d give Catholic Mission $1 every day. The couple from Forbes, NSW, has more than honoured that pledge, giving generously to numerous other charities as well.
opportunities to learn how a community clicks. If everybody does a little bit you can make a big difference.”
Catholic Mission’s Partnering Local Churches and Communities – Propagation of the Faith, has benefited from the Sheridan-Smiths’ commitment to “giving something back”.
Bruce agrees. “We do what we can afford,” he said. “If you can do one little thing in your community you can get the ball rolling.”
Denise jokes that an extra dollar is donated in a leap year. Denise and Bruce both grew up in Sydney, living about 15 km apart, but it took them both to move to Griffith, 660 km away, before they met. After Griffith they lived in the small Riverina town of Finley in the 1980s and then moved to Forbes in the 1990s. “I’ve always had a strong sense of social justice and I think I met somebody who was the same,” Denise said. “This was furthered by living in the country. In a country town you’ve got more
Bruce, 60, a public servant, is about to join Denise, 56, a former TAFE teacher, in retirement. They have a son and a daughter, both successful professionals in their twenties. The family has been actively involved with their local parishes and has often helped out with fundraising for numerous appeals. “Our little bit of money goes a long way in the developing world,” Denise said. “We believe you should ‘Do something, and do it consistently and faithfully’.” Right: Regular givers: Denise and Bruce Sheridan-Smith.
Check out our website Do you know what Catholic Mission’s National Director, Father Terry Bell, had to say after the London bombings? What’s the latest project Catholic Mission has funded? What upcoming events can you, as a precious donor to Catholic Mission, get involved in? There’s all this and more on the recently revamped Catholic Mission website (www.catholicmission.org. au). Our website is dynamic and up to date, with a constantly changing home page.
You can read about where your money’s going and download various resources such as parish and school kits. It’s easy to donate on line – have a look at our new fundraising initiatives. If it’s been a while since you’ve been there, we’d urge you to check in and see what we’re up to. Better still, make www.catholicmission. org.au your home page then you won’t miss a thing. If you have any suggestions or feedback about the website please let us know at admin@catholicmission.org.au
Tsunami appeal keeps on giving Of all the amazing people Catholic Mission staff met on a trip to post-tsunami Sri Lanka, Sister Alex, of the Little Sisters of Charity, was one of the most inspirational. She was instrumental in us funding numerous projects to help people recover from the devastating effects of the disaster. These included the supply of packets of powdered milk for the children of Galle (cost $4035 for 1050 families), the supply of basic medical supplies, also in Galle, and the payment of a basic wage to mothers at Tangalle for the sewing of school uniforms.
Sister Alex recently wrote to Catholic Mission to again express her thanks. “It is always a joy to hear from you as all of you have supported so much in this tsunami mission,” she wrote. “People are still waiting to get a house of their own. We are trying our best to get employment for the people so that they can stand on their own two feet. I am helping the ladies with sewing machines and hard work for self-help purposes. This evening I will be busy in different camps distributing milk packets. All the children under 12 will profit thanks to the kindness of so many. You are much remembered as you have supported in a big way. After six months of waiting in camps people are restless. I feel people are fed up as the attention of the government shifts to other areas. Much united in prayer. God bless.” You can still contribute to Catholic Mission’s Tsunami Solidarity Appeal on 1800 257 296 or at www.catholicmission.org.au. Right: Diminutive but big-hearted Sister Alex in the tsunami devastation of Sri Lanka’s Galle.
Help make poverty history Catholic Mission is backing the Make Poverty History campaign because its aims coincide with our goal of making ‘Life for All’ a reality. The campaign brings together a wide cross-section of organisations, faith groups and individuals united by a common belief: to bring about global change. We are asking for more and better aid, trade justice and debt relief. It isn’t chance or bad luck that keeps most people trapped in bitter, unrelenting poverty. It’s man-made factors such as unjust global trade, debt burden and insufficient and ineffective aid. This year offers an exceptional set of opportunities for Australia and the world to say that enough is enough. The UN Millennium Report highlights that 2005 is the year for new action if we are to halve poverty by 2015. The symbol of the international campaign is a simple white band worn around the wrist. By wearing one you are part of a unique worldwide effort to work towards ending extreme poverty. For more information go to www. makepovertyhistory.com.au
Future leaders say thank you The St Charles Borromeo Major Seminary in Vanimo, Papua New Guinea is being supported by Catholic Mission’s work of Fostering Local Church Leadership. It is a small seminary – last year they had 20 students and this year the number has increased to 25. In a letter from Father Alex Molina, Major Seminary Rector, he thanks you, their supporters. “We have received your donation from the generosity of so many people we don’t know. I would like to give thanks to you all. I would like you to know that you are always in our prayers, especially in our liturgical evening prayer that we pray each day. We don’t have other ways of thanksgiving but that of remaining always faithful to our vocation, fulfilling our duties in the best way and looking always for the Glory of God. On behalf of all the seminarians and the other members of staff, thank you very much and may the Lord give to you a hundred times more.”
Behind the ‘razor wire’
Proclaiming the gospel today
Catholic Mission is introducing a three-unit adult education resource for stimulus in discussion, reflection and action around the Mission of the Church in Australia today. The reflection is a series of study sessions supported by a specially produced film, ‘Behind the Razor Wire’, and a snapshot of the vision and mission of Catholic Mission through film.
Against a backdrop of recent increases in secularism, consumerism, hedonism, discrimination and intolerance, how can the church better proclaim the Gospel to the people of the 21st century? Such challenging questions have been posed by a series of conferences held around Australia during recent weeks, commemorating the 30th anniversary of Pope Paul VI’s apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi. Catholic Mission, in conjunction with ACLRI (Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes) Mission Net, presented internationally acclaimed writer, scholar and missionary Father Stephen Bevans, SVD, as keynote speaker. Father Bevans is based at Chicago Theological Union, one of the largest Roman Catholic schools of theology and ministry in the USA. Titled “Witness to the Gospel in Modern Australia”, the conferences encouraged questions about what mission means in the Australian context today. Evangelii Nuntiandi (Evangelisation in the Modern World) was proclaimed on October 26, 1975. It challenged injustice and promoted liberation as part of evangelisation as well as calling for Christians to evangelise and enter into dialogue with their culture’s values, sources of inspiration and models of life. It reminds us, still today, that evangelisation is not just for the experts but for everyone. The conferences officially launched Catholic Mission’s October Mission month campaign for 2005, culminating in World Mission Day on Sunday, October 23.
The treatment of asylum seekers is one of the most burning social issues in Australia. This film reflects on the positive reception more than a million refugees have received in Thailand, a predominately Buddhist country. What challenges does this raise for us in living out the Gospel in Australia today? It asks the question ‘How generous can we be?’ The study guide and film has been distributed to all parishes. If you would like to organise your own study group or would like a copy, please contact us.
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The 11-minute film tells the story of Burmese refugees living in a Thai refugee camp. It focuses on Manang, a long-neck Karen woman who has lived in the refugee Natio PO nal O Phon Box 106 ffice camp for 15 years. The film deals e: 02 1 9411 Chatswo o 4 d with issues of the dignity of the human 6 Email Freecall 11 Fax: NSW 20 57 1 : adm 0 person; the international issue of in@c 800 257 2 9411 4 atholi 296 622 c m ission displaced people and migration; the .org.a u Church’s response to displaced people; a State response to displaced people; the resilience and creativity of people fleeing persecution and hope and future for displaced peoples.
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Copies of ‘Behind the Razor Wire’ (video or DVD) are available free of charge from Catholic Mission.
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