Catholic Mission 2006 Annual Report
Partnering
Catholic Mission www.catholicmission.org.au Freecall 1800 257 296
Fostering
Encouraging
Contents
Director’s Report
Our three societies
Director’s Report
1
The Propagation of the Faith Overview
2
Society of St Peter Apostle Overview
4
Children’s Mission Overview
6
Communications & Fundraising Report Education Report Finance Report Snapshots Profiles Staff Thank you
8 10 12 14 15 16 17 Father Terence Bell with Pope Benedict XVI
“This Annual Report highlights the joyful achievements of Catholic Mission over the past 12 months. It presents the variety of works in which we collaborate together. And it reminds us how much more is still to be accomplished.”
Dear Mission Collaborators, The privilege of being a missionary, of being a collaborator with Jesus in the work of salvation, is given to each of us in Baptism. While the word collaborator gained unacceptable connotations in war, it is a powerful word to describe the actively engaging role that each of us enjoys in Christ. We cannot be passive spectators, watching others at work, sometimes rejoicing in their successes and at other times criticising their efforts. Rather, each Christian has a vital part. It may be prayer for the world, sharing our faith at home, in our parish, at work, or in school, joining our sufferings with those of Jesus, using our talents for the good of others in a mission area, carrying the Body of Christ to the sick and praying with them and supporting missionaries through prayer and sacrificial giving. We unite our efforts with those of Jesus. Jesus, on His side, gives us the gift of the Spirit to encourage and strengthen us in our endeavours. This Annual Report highlights the joyful achievements of Catholic Mission over the past 12 months. It presents the variety of works in which we collaborate together. And it reminds us how much more is still to be accomplished. While being one organisation, Catholic Mission is made up of three Societies, each with its own founder and focus of mission activity. We report on our work with young church communities, with children, and with seminarians and novices. Most of this work is carried out overseas. But a large part takes place here as we work with and for the large, remote and sparsely populated dioceses of our land, especially in the pastoral care of Aborigines. Once again we have had a record year in donations and bequests. I thank all who have contributed so generously to the work of evangelisation. I thank especially my collaborators in Catholic Mission – National Office Staff, Diocesan Directors and staff, the National Council, and the volunteers, who give of their time over and over again, helping to keep alive amongst the people of Australia true mission awareness and spirit. I thank the Bishops of Australia for entrusting to me the office of National Director and affording me the opportunity of serving both the Universal Church and the People of God in Australia. I am grateful for the grace and providence of God that I have been privileged to experience and enjoy.
Yours sincerely in our Lord,
Fr Terence M. Bell
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Partnering The Propagation of the Faith – Partnering Local Churches and Communities, was founded in 1822 in France by Pauline Jaricot (1799-1852). Pauline established a system with the workers of the industrial revolution. Although they received poor wages, they were paid regularly. Pauline recruited factory girls and collected from each one, every Friday, whatever they could spare. Her brother, Phileas, sent this money to the mission for the rescue of abandoned children in China. This formed the basis of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith.
The Society was approved by the Pope and became International in 1826. In 1922, to protect its assets from confiscation by a hostile government in France, the Holy Father, Pope Pius XI, brought it under papal protection, along with the Society for Missionary Childhood and the Society of St Peter Apostle.
greatest needs. It supports the young Church by responding to requests to help build chapels and churches, pastoral centres, clinics and hospitals and to provide medications, pastoral care and emergency relief. Assistance is also provided for lay catechists in terms of formation, remuneration, and resources.
The Society works with local Churches to provide an Ordinary subsidy for the day-to-day running of the diocese and to offer spiritual healing and practical assistance to the communities with the
A poem by Dorothy Makasa
Africa: a continent mourns (my song of hope for Africa) 500 years ago Did some dare dream of an end to the slave trade? Some did – they were slaves Some did not They were traders Business was good 100 years ago Did some dare dream of an end to imperialism? Some did They were the oppressed, the colonised Some did not They were the colonisers Business was good 50 years on Do some dare dream of an end to poverty? Some do They are the dying. They mourn Some do not They are the power Business as usual Today Do some dare dream of hope for unity and prosperity In a plundered, fragmented continent Some of us do 500 years on, 100 years on, 50 years on and today We have been and continue to be The conscious objectors The artists The activists, the voice of social justice The everyday you and me Now is the time Together we mean serious business And this business is of universal good
A young Zambian woman receives a health check at a Catholic Mission-sponsored clinic.
2
Life for all in Zambia Imagine living in a country in which the average life expectancy is just 37 years. One in five of your friends and family members is HIV positive. Your children are at great risk of succumbing to malaria. Health and education services are grossly inadequate. Privatisation means it’s too expensive to grow your own food and unemployment is high. Where do you turn? When Dorothy Makasa was growing up in Zambia she turned to the local mission – it was so integral to her community that it served as both the school and the hospital. St Therese’s Ibenga Mission at Luanshwa cared for those with tuberculosis and leprosy and the blind and disabled, including one of Dorothy’s brothers who was crippled with polio. “I just took the missionaries and the money to run the projects for granted,” Dorothy said. “Now that I know Catholic Mission I understand where this money is coming from and why it’s so important.” After many years of working for non-government organisations for the improvement of her people, Dorothy migrated to Australia. Now her mission is to help those left behind, including her 11 brothers and sisters and their families. “I started collecting five-cent pieces to buy pencils for my nieces and nephews. But my brothers and sisters said there were so many people worse off than them,” Dorothy said. “When the children and mothers see somebody buying them a pencil or a pen they know they’re not the forgotten people.” The situation in Zambia is not hopeless – the country is now almost debt free and the government is trying to improve services. But they need help. Last year Catholic Mission supported Zambia with more than $1.6 million through the work of Partnering Local Churches and Communities. In the diocese of Livingstone, Catholic Mission funded the formation of 26 full-time and 100 part-time catechists. In Lusaka funding was used for the construction of a new church,
which will also serve as a multipurpose hall. In Mansa diocese a Catholic Mission grant paid for the purchase of bicycles for catechists and for the repair of a water system in the diocesan headquarters. In Mongu, diocesan funds enabled the digging of a well and the construction of a water tank for a congregation of Sisters. These are just a few of approximately 90 grants in Zambia during the past year. “There is something we can do – the problem is not too big. Whatever little something you give, it creates hope,” Dorothy says. “We need to build and strengthen these communities. If we don’t act now what type of generation is going to take over tomorrow?” This is Dorothy’s story, in her own words. “I grew up in a family of 12 children. My father was a teacher in the Catholic mission schools for 30 years, in Zambia. This enabled us to get educated and to avoid early marriage for the girls. Today, if my parents were to try do it all over again, without the support of the church, it would be an impossible task. This is because of various factors that have brought a country such as Zambia, once a breadbasket in the southern region of Africa, to being one of the poorest countries in the world. The national economy has gone through such things as loss of revenue from its major source, copper, the high cost of crude oil, structural adjustment programs, privatisation of our major industry, the debt crisis and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. All have contributed to the growing national poverty. The average life expectancy is now 37 years of age. But my story is a story of hope.
Throughout history, there have been examples of the world overcoming seemingly impossible calamities created by humans such as the slave trade, two world wars and colonisation and now we are witnessing the end to the debt crisis of the poorest countries. Every three seconds a child in Africa dies from a preventable disease. This urgency is what makes the work of all the organisations fighting poverty and advocating for social justice, a reality for hope. This is what makes the work of Catholic Mission real for me. A beacon of hope. Zambia, like several other African countries, provides a real context of hope for the continent. It has embraced the democratisation process, which enables many stakeholders to participate in the national policies. Due to extreme poverty, most Zambians are failing to meet the basic needs such as education and health. The church, through organisations like Catholic Mission, stands firm and continues to provide the oasis for many disadvantaged people in my country. It provides education, health, and spiritual support. With the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the missions have become a place of hope for many orphans, as families fail to cope. Most importantly, the church enables the people in their own localities to have a voice for social justice. I am a product of the work of Catholic Mission in Zambia in many ways. My thank you for what I see this organisation doing for my country and other countries in similar situations, is to render my voice in sharing our story. May you continue to journey with the missionaries through your generous financial and other forms of support and contributions.” Dorothy Makasa
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Fostering Society of St Peter Apostle – Fostering Local Church Leadership was founded in 1889 in France by Jeanne Bigard (18591934). Jeanne and her mother, Stephanie, emerged from personal tragedies and turned to good works, including making altar linen and vestments for missionaries in Japan. In 1889, a French Bishop of Nagasaki, Jules-Alphonse Cousin, suggested to the Bigards that they might consider supporting young men in Japan to train for the Priesthood. Thus was born the idea of a general society to promote indigenous clergy throughout the
world. The Bigards donated to the new society the whole of their considerable fortune. Approved by the Pope in 1890, it became a Pontifical Mission Society in 1922. The Society trains young men and women in their own country and culture to serve their people as religious Sisters, Brothers, or Priests. The Society also assists local catechists in their formation and training.
Darius fights to carry his cross Darius Modi was in seminary at Juba in southern Sudan when civil war erupted in his country. In 1991, following the government’s brutal attempt to suppress the peoples of the south, he and others fled. They finally gave themselves up to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). The seminarians had to train as soldiers for three months, before Bishop Taban of Torit could persuade the SPLA to release them. Darius and his fellow seminarians are part of a fundraising campaign by Catholic Mission in Australia. Catholic Mission fosters local church leadership all over the world through the Society of St Peter Apostle, supporting more than 30,000 major seminarians in all the mission territories of the church. Darius and his companions were admitted into the Ugandan seminary system. He has always wanted to be a priest. “I was the only one of 12 to survive infancy,” Darius explains. “It was right I gave myself to the Church; it was God’s plan I survived and I want to respond.” Unfortunately, he has had no contact with his family for nearly 15 years but he has heard that both his parents have died. His mother fell sick and his father, a farmer, was killed by government-backed troops. He believes it will be a challenge returning to Sudan. “The transition from “missionary” Church to “local” Church will help people to understand their faith and the Gospel more fully,” he says. “Other tribes are moving in from the north and Christians will need great spiritual strength, individually and within their communities, to resist this incursion.”
Seminarians Darius Modi, right, and Julius Made
4
Thank you for walking with us Father Bernard Makenini, the National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Zambia (known in Australia as Catholic Mission), writes to thank his supporters.
‘Evangelisation needs agents. For “how are the people to believe in God if they have never heard about him? And how will they hear of him unless there is a preacher for them?” (Rom 10:14-15). On 30 July 2006, the Diocese of Chipata, in the Eastern Province of Zambia ordained seven young men to the priesthood and three to the deaconate. It was a moment of joy. Thousands of people graced the occasion, which was characterised with singing and dancing. It was surely a providential moment for the local and universal church. This was a sign that the Church was growing and implementing itself. The Zambia church is still young. We are still a missionary church. Its ordination of the young men to the priesthood and deaconate was a sign of joy and optimism. The Church is growing. The first missionaries came to Zambia 115 years ago. We are the fruit of the missionary work. We thank the missionaries for this gift of faith. It is gratifying to see that there are many young people aspiring to be priests and religious. We thank the solidarity of the universal church for walking with us in training the pastoral agents. The Church in Zambia has hundreds of seminarians and religious in formation. Many endure terrible deprivation in order to be faithful to their calling. It costs $1610 a year to train just one seminarian. This amount is substantial for most Zambians to realise. We are a poor country and many Zambians live on less than $1.30 per day. The general economic situation of our country affects the pastoral mission of the Church. It is quite difficult for the bishops and the people of God to raise sufficient resources to train the pastoral agents, and
support the pastoral ministry of the Church. Without the support of the universal solidarity it would have been very difficult to meet our pastoral responsibility. The Church needs priests, brothers, sisters, catechists, etc. They have an irreplaceable role in the Church. They are cardinal in the growth and implementation of the Church. We highly appreciate the support of St Peter Apostle in its unique work of building the Church in Zambia, and in all mission territories. We also thank all people of good will for supporting the pastoral ministry of the Church in Zambia. Your support brings dynamism to the life of the local church. The horizons of the mission for the Church are universal. We are striving hard to ensure that our evangelisation reaches all peoples, the roots of our culture, our social situation at all times, everywhere. This calls that we deal with the situations that arise. Our work surely renews our Christian identity, inspires and sustains the new evangelisation. Thank you for walking with us. The Church in Zambia is not called to bear witness to Christ only in this country; for to us the sons and daughters of Africa, the Risen Lord also says: “You shall be my witnesses to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). Pray unceasingly for the missionary priestly vocation in accordance with Jesus’ command: “Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers to his harvest” (Mt 9:38). Pray for us so that the Lord of the Mission may always inspire us to plan for our great task of evangelisation. May God bless the efforts you are making to spread his goodness and kindness.’
The ordination of priests in Chipata, Zambia
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Encouraging Children’s Mission – Encouraging Children to Care for Children was founded in 1843 in France by Bishop Charles de Forbin-Janson (1785-1844). From Paris he began to take an increasing interest in the rescue of abandoned babies in China. Just as Propagation of the Faith had been organised among adults to aid foreign missions, so Bishop Charles would endeavour to found an organisation among children for the salvation of children. The Society came under papal protection and made a Pontifical Society in 1922.
Under its banner “children helping children”, monies raised through schools are directed towards self-help programs involving the building of schools, the provision of health and nutrition programs and medications, school fees, and teaching and learning resources. Children in communities, orphanages, homes for the disabled, refuges, and those living on the streets are assisted by the generosity of children who wish to help make the love of Jesus known everywhere.
Let the little children come to me You might imagine that a school for deaf and blind children in one of India’s most-overcrowded cities would not be the most hopeful place. In fact Chennai’s School for the Blind and Deaf, which caters for the poorest of the poor of the city, is a place of great joy and learning. When Rebekka, a little blind girl in her first year of school, first came to the school she could not walk due to lack of nutrition. Her father is unable to work and her mother manages as best as she can, doing domestic work for a family. Now Rebekka is thriving under the school’s loving care. The school’s superior Sister V.C. Elesabeth writes: “Rebekka is a brilliant little student who is picking up in all areas since she arrived here.” The Indian sisters who run the school offer much more than an education. They also give the children food, healthcare, medicines, clothing and books, not to mention love, which Pope Benedict XVI calls “the soul of mission”. Catholic Mission’s work for children helps give a future to children such as Rebekka, who otherwise would have little opportunity to grow into happy, healthy adults. It was Jesus who first showed us how special children are. When his disciples turned the children away from him, Jesus said: “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs”. (Mark 10:14). Jesus then took the children into his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.
Deaf boys and girls ready for school
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Supporting Zambia’s Home of Joy One of the many ways Catholic Mission is helping the people of Zambia is by supporting the Home of Joy Orphanage in the nation’s capital city of Lusaka.
It is under the management of the Congregation of Immaculate Conception Sisters, and the Head of Home is Sr. Ruby Sahaya Rani. Home of Joy is an orphanage that belongs to the Archdiocese of Lusaka. The project started in 2000 with 20 girl children and has now 50 of them aged between five and 15. They are all orphaned. The children live with five foster mothers and a caretaker. The aim of the project is to provide a home environment where the children will feel loved and secure always. The home also strives to equip the girls with an academic background and various skills that will enable them to face society as responsible, self-reliant and confident citizens. Bearing this in mind, the home sends all the children to good schools where they are offered a sound education based on good morals and values. One of the challenges the orphanage is facing is that the girls have to walk to school every day, about 40 minutes each way, and this tends to tire them out and make them vulnerable to accidents. The home has a multi-purpose hall that is used as a chapel, class room and recreational centre. “The Home of Joy is a real home for the children,” said Father Bernard Makenini, National Director of Pontifical Mission Societies, Zambia. “It is a place of optimism and joy. Despite the contrary struggles of the home, the children are offered a conducive environment for education and support.”
Children at the Home of Joy in Zambia
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Communications & Fundraising Report It has been a demanding yet rewarding year for Catholic Mission. The scope of the needs and suffering being endured by those we seek to help around the world often seems overwhelming. But there is still so much more we here in Australia can do.
Everything Catholic Mission • The incredible Budaka supports and funds is reliant Rehabilitation Home in Uganda on the generosity of our friends offering corrective surgery rehabilitation and education and supporters from the parishes to the poverty stricken children and church communities around suffering form polio and other Australia. Communicating with debilitating diseases. all Catholics is a vital part of our mission: communicating our • St Therese’s Ibenga Mission in responsibility in more than 160 Zambia where the Sisters care for countries to bring ‘life for all’, towards the blind, the disabled, and those a world where all persons can reach suffering with leprosy, TB and polio. their full potential and live their lives • The Home of Joy Orphanage in full dignity; and encouraging in Lusaka, Zambia run by the Australians to campaign for Immaculate Conception Sisters equality, human rights and the enabling girls to gain the living out of the Gospel values education, skills and moral in service of the person. values to become self-reliant Throughout 2006 the media team and confident citizens. at Catholic Mission encouraged the parishes and communities benefiting While total funding was up 6.6% from our funding to send us stories to an all time high of $12,441,776 this was far from a uniform trend and photos of their work. They then kept in weekly communication across Australia. Indeed some smaller dioceses showed falls of with the Catholic and mainstream up to 60% and some major ones media throughout Australia, of up to 20%. So the ability for vigorously seeking opportunities Catholic Mission to continue its to feature these stories. vital work as we currently know Stories featured in the media it is far from secure. throughout 2006 included: Direct Giving actually had a • the Missionary Sisters of the slight decrease (3.76%) in 2006, Blessed Virgin Mary having to trek stemming from a decrease of through jungle without food and 6.4% in the Propagation of the water to flee Sudan to Uganda to Faith appeals. Children’s Mission avoid hostile troops – some of the showed increased support overall 30,000 seminarians and trainee (up 9.3%) as a result of the very sisters being supported by good increases in Melbourne Catholic Mission and Perth; and St Peter Apostle, although much smaller in volume, • The Women in Faith, Faith in also received good increased Women projects in the Darusupport (up 8.4%), mainly due to Kiunga Diocese in Papua New the increased results from Perth. Guinea for women to be educated, These good results were balanced understand their rights, avoid out by the significant decrease domestic violence and become strong sources of inspiration within (6.4%) in funding for Propagation of the Faith. their parishes. • Sustaining the churches, convents, seminaries and schools in East Timor as people flock there seeking refuge from the widespread violence.
Across the country, while Parish Appeals dropped 3.2%, the total of all Direct Mail rose 12.6%. Schools fundraising also rose (5.2%).
Of the regular giving programs, the drop in the Propagation of the Faith’s program ‘Friends in Faith’ of 5.3% is of concern, particularly when we see increases of 2.6% in the St Peter Apostle ‘Leaders for Life’ program and only 0.1% in ‘Children’s Mission Partners’. The analysis of our funding and the feedback received on our media and other communication materials clearly identified our challenge for the future: to take immense steps to reach the Catholics who are not currently hearing of our work. Both the content of our material and the methods used must include all Catholics, especially those not attending Church services regularly. Catholic Mission will make this a major feature of its work for the coming year.
Summary Total fundraising Direct giving Bequests
6.6% 3.76% 161.2%
Propagation of the Faith
6.4%
St Peter Apostle
8.4%
Children’s Mission 9.3% Parish Appeals Direct Mail
3.2% 12.6%
Schools
5.2%
Friends In Faith
5.3%
Leaders for Life
2.6%
Children’s Mission Partners 0.1% Student’s celebrate Life for All
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“...communicating our responsibility in more than 160 countries to bring ‘life for all’, towards a world where all persons can reach their full potential and live their lives in full dignity; and encouraging Australians to campaign for equality, human rights and the living out of the Gospel values in service of the person.”
World Mission Month 2006 I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me ... just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me (Matthew 25:35–40). World Mission Month 2006 was celebrated in every Catholic community around the world in October and it culminated in World Mission Day on Sunday, October 22. The theme for 2006 – ‘Life for all?’ – questions whether it’s possible for the entire world’s people to be given the opportunity to develop their full potential, both physically and spiritually. Inspired by the Bible passage above, celebrations focused on how God calls each of us to work for the liberation of humanity as part of God’s plan of salvation for all. There are many ways to mark World Mission Month. One of the simplest is by wearing a ‘Life for All’ sticker. This is a public way of saying that you commit yourself to actively promoting life for all. Catholic Mission produced school and parish kits to assist with fundraising, education and animation. In his message for Mission Sunday Pope Benedict XVI told us that the occasion provides an opportunity to reflect on the theme ‘Charity, Soul of Mission’. However, he cautioned that unless charity flows from a profound act of love, it risks being reduced to a mere philanthropic and social action. The Holy Father also reminds us that mission is for everyone. While missionaries serve on the front line of evangelisation, they are accompanied and assisted by the prayers and sacrifices of so many. Catholic Mission National Director Father Terry Bell says there can only be one answer to the question ‘Life for all?’. “We ask whether it is really possible to bring about ‘Life for All’ in a world where so often access to the Good News is restricted or stifled by the circumstances of life; starvation, lack of medical care and basic education, just to name a few,” he said. “However, the resurrection of Jesus in his situation of death and hopelessness tells us to never give up. Our faith gives us hope, not just for ourselves but for every person on the planet, regardless of how difficult their situation may be.” Father Terry said that working to achieve ‘Life for all’ is central to the mission of Jesus and the commission he handed on to each of us. “I encourage you and your community to be courageous witnesses to our mission of life for all people and to continue to be generous in all forms of solidarity.” World Mission Day Poster and Life for All stickers
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Education Report Educating for Mission we hope to achieve one outcome. To change hearts and minds in order that we change the way we live as a global community so that all may live life to the fullest – the Kingdom that Jesus came to inaugurate.
In 2006 throughout all our community education, we deliberately kept asking the rhetorical question, ‘Life for all?’ This is a continuation of the theme we began developing three years ago with ‘Dreaming of Life for All’ in 2004 followed by ‘Proclaim Life for All’ in 2005. This year we asked the very challenging question of whether or not life for all is a reasonable expectation in a world of so much injustice and inequitable distribution of resources and opportunities. In our parish and schools materials we examined the wars in Iraq and northern Uganda and the situation of street children in India as real cases of just how far we are from the ideal of ‘life for all’. Catholic Mission’s educational programs and activities throughout the year cut through to the heart of issues of justice. To bring about a change of heart we help young and old alike ‘get inside’ the reality of what life is like for the large majority of the human family who struggle daily to achieve a standard of living worthy of our God-given dignity. Our school consultants visit primary and secondary schools running experiential learning sessions with young people on a variety of issues such as feeling the injustice of the 80/20 resource distribution in a game of “Haves and Have Nots”, work-shopping how to survive as an abandoned child living on the streets of El Salvador, narrowly escaping danger and having to steal to eat, or feeling the desolation of the barren landscape and pangs of hunger of children in an Albanian orphanage through role play and dramatisation. Each session concludes with a debriefing focusing on how this is not the will of God for any of
his children and that in some way, small or large, we are all responsible for each other and implicated in Jesus’ mission to bring fullness of life for all. Catholic Mission’s Village Space also transports the participants into another’s world, only on a larger scale. Around the month of October, Mission Month, performed in a very simple setting inside a large tent, a group of actors mould real people’s stories of their struggle to survive into 60 minutes of dramatic storytelling. In 2006 inside the Village Space we visited villagers of Kerala, India, of the Philippines, and of Montevideo, Uruguay. We met real survivors from Australian city streets as well as characters from outback Australian ‘villages’. The presentation involving a high level of audience participation is followed by an equally important debrief session, once again highlighting the need to build a world where all can live life to the fullest. In the same principle of ‘getting inside’ the reality of others, Catholic Mission organised a staff crosscultural immersion experience to Papua New Guinea for three weeks in September/October. Three diocesan directors, Patricia Harding (Toowoomba), Barry Urwin (Maitland/Newcastle) and Michael Deasy (Wollongong) along with the Education Manager, Patrick Fox visited firstly the central highlands stopping a few days in Goroka, and then moving on to the northern Papuan coast, spending two weeks in the Aitape diocese. Most of their time was spent in Malol with Sr Margaret Conway, an Australian Presentation Sister working in a remote coastal village running a boarding school for students from distant villages that are completing their secondary education. Student Worksheets and the Village Space DVD
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“Catholic Mission’s educational programs and activities through out the year cut through to the heart of issues of justice. ”
Village Space – dramatised, interactive stories of global mission and justice The Village Space program in Primary and Secondary schools in New South Wales and Western Australia began in 2002 and is quickly becoming a powerful vehicle for the message of Global Mission and Justice. The dramatised storytelling leads the participant on real-life journeys with people who are striving around the world to live the Gospel call to bring ‘life to the full’ to their communities. “The Village Space stories are important because they give a voice to people who have often been silenced and not had their story told. Or perhaps a story has been told, but from the view point of the powerful or those in control of the media. Village Space is a chance for those with no voice, the least powerful and the least in control to share their story”, says Patrick Fox, National Education Manager from Catholic Mission. The stories centre around the theme of ‘Call this a Life?’ are from the Philippines, Peru, South Africa, Australia, and India. They are: • Children who live on the streets – from the streets of Sydney to the dumps of the Philippines, South Africa and Peru, children are trying to survive. This story focuses on Emily and Noli, exploring why they are on the street and what their lives are like. Sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, it engages students in this reality. • The Freedom ride, then and now – from the 1960s until now, this story takes the ‘freedom ride’ as others did about 40 years ago to stop Apartheid in Australia. The performance re-enacts historic moments through the eyes of the people who were there, and explores what progress has been made for Indigenous Australians. • Life needs water – Water has become a crucial issue for our planet and our very survival. Why then do we allow soft drink companies to use up this precious resource? It takes 2.5 litres of water to make 1 litre of Coke and in the Kerala region of India where Coca- Cola is being bottled the water supply is drying up. This story visits the farming families and shows how global corporations are hindering further the struggle of these families to survive. Those who participate in Village Space come away feeling empathy for the characters, have a better understanding of what it takes to bring a ‘fullness of life’ to communities around the world, realise that bringing life in its fullest sense starts with ‘me’ and ripples out to my family, community and the world. They walk away wanting to stand in solidarity with those they’ve heard and a desire to take action. “It truly can transform students’ attitudes if they really allow themselves to enter into the stories,” Patrick says.
Village Space performs for the students of St Scholastica’s at Glebe in Sydney
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Finance Report Year ended 30th November 2006
2006 Distribution from funds raised in 2005 Propagation of the Faith Australian Home Mission Fund Apostolic Nunciature Papua New Guinea Apostolic Nunciature Thailand Apostolic Nunciature Russia Apostolic Nunciature Liban Radio Veritas Pontificium Opus a Propagatione Fidei Diocese of Tarawa-Nauru Diocese of Noumea
AUD $
Children’s Mission Apostolic Nunciature Albania Apostolic Nunciature Madagascar Apostolic Nunciature Nigeria Apostolic Nunciature Trinidad & Tobago Apostolic Nunciature Ethiopia Apostolic Nunciature Benin Apostolic Nunciature India Apostolic Nunciature Indonesia Apostolic Nunciature Ivory Coast for Burkina Faso Apostolic Nunciature Kinshasa, Rep. Dem. Congo Apostolic Nunciature Korea for Mongolia Apostolic Nunciature South Africa Apostolic Nunciature Tanzania Apostolic Nunciature Thailand Sudan Rep. Dem Congo Madagascar
10,000
1,648,730
Broome
847,000
2,041,143 721,608 68,362 10,938 194,285 83,655 104,184 73,284
Cairns
30,000
Darwin
300,000
Geraldton
125,000
Port Pirie
40,000
Rockhampton
40,000
4,946,189 76,702 105,559 101,176 101,176 60,158 109,379 1,080,120 128,794 117,583 122,094 10,938 143,082 123,052 37,189 123,052 9,571 5,606 2,455,231
Total Children’s Mission Disbursements St Peter Apostle Apostolic Nunciature India Apostolic Nunciature Thailand Apostolic Nunciature PNG
2,455,231 453,246 88,584 76,073 617,903
Total St Peter Apostle Disbursements Total Overseas Disbursements Home Mission Fund TOTAL 2005 FUND DISTRIBUTION IN 2006
12
AUD $
Armidale
3,297,459 Total Propagation of the Faith Disbursements
Home Mission Fund Distribution in 2006
617,903 $6,370,593 1,648,730 8,019,323
Sale Toowoomba Townsville Wilcannia/Forbes PALMS Total
8,000 10,000 130,000 30,000 40,000 1,610,000
Funds raised by Society
Gross Income Diocese
2005 AUD $
2006 AUD $
2005 AUD $
2006 AUD $
Adelaide
284,269
277,239
Armidale
49,674
86,563
Partnering Local Churches and Communities (Overseas and Home Mission Fund) 6,977,193
7,023,003
Caring for Children
3,505,986
4,261,600
Local Church Leadership
836,809
1,149,299
Tsunami Appeal
355,214
7,874
Ballarat
137,086
96,984
Bathurst
89,194
118,384
Brisbane
1,194,388
902,471
612,860
802,202
Broome
4,736
9,895
Bunbury
178,721
270,126
Cairns
109,867
111,452
Canberra/Goulburn
317,491
328,449
Broken Bay
Darwin
34,582
42,076
Geraldton
26,868
25,544
Hobart
69,249
65,709
Lismore
173,271
176,786
Maitland/Newcastle
423,818
402,068
Melbourne
3,440,834
3,982,765
Parramatta
582,540
553,020
Perth
901,195
1,077,864
Port Pirie
110,507
80,718
Rockhampton
114,914
97,836
Sale Sandhurst Sydney Toowoomba Townsville Wagga Wagga Wilcannia/Forbes Wollongong Totals
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2006
68,944
67,246
106,330
147,236
1,781,983
1,783,205
118,985
121,288
80,300
62,996
119,675
133,088
17,166
10,254
525,755
608,312
11,675,202
12,441,776
Total
11,675,202 12,441,776
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Snapshot of...
Propagation of the Faith
St Peter Apostle
Children’s Mission
Home Mission Fund
The women in the Daru-Kiunga Diocese in Papua New Guinea are benefiting from Catholic Mission funding for their women’s programs. These programs include sewing courses, Alternative to Violence workshops, learning about women’s rights, and knowledge and counselling workshops on HIV/AIDS. Adult faith sharing and prayer are integral to these programs. After the workshop the leaders go back to their parishes and pass on their new knowledge to other women in their local community.
St Fidelis Seminary in Madang, Papua New Guinea, teaches Year 11 and 12 students who are training to become priests. St Fidelis is a minor seminary fulfilling an extremely important role in the education of these young men, enabling them to complete their high-school studies. In the past, many schools in PNG did not offer schooling to this level.
In 2002, Sister Goretti and her aide were giving food parcels to the needy at a makeshift camp near Malamulele, South Africa. They heard babies crying in a tumbledown shack made of cardboard. Inside they saw a young mother with three newborn triplets, totally naked, without blankets or food. They rushed back to the village and returned with clothes and food for the babies and their mother. Today they are healthy girls who attend the sisters’ crèche. The Sisters school 278 children under age nine, in which many children are AIDS orphans and others have unemployed or sick parents.
All the dioceses that are large in area (eg Darwin, Geraldton, Port Pirie, Broome, Townsville) have high travelling costs for the priests and bishops to visit all the remote communities and serve the parishes. It is very expensive to travel to these remote communities for mass, pastoral care and counselling. Travel is often by chartered planes or four-wheel drives.
With Catholic Mission’s help, Bishop Gilles continues to support the women of his Diocese to grow and develop in faith and as people.
Key Australian Home Mission Fund Papua New Guinea Thailand Russia Liban Radio Veritas Propagatione Fidei Tarawa-Nauru Noumea
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When students have completed their studies they go to a major seminary where the spend three years studying philosophy and theology and then they spend a year in a parish doing pastoral work before attending the seminary again for a spiritual year. At the end of this the men have to decide whether or not to continue on in the priesthood and if they do there is a further three years theology study to prepare for ordination. Regardless of whether or not the young men at St Fidelis become priests, most return to be leaders in their communities.
Key India Thailand PNG
Key Albania Madagascar Nigeria Trinidad & Tobago Ethiopia Benin India Indonesia Ivory Coast for Burkina Faso Kinshasa, Rep. Dem. Congo Korea for Mongolia South Africa Tanzania Thailand Sudan Rep. Dem Congo Madagascar
Catholic Mission funding is essential for these large dioceses for the Bishops, priests, nuns and brothers to serve the people of the diocese, often including a large indigenous population in extremely remote communities.
Key Armidale Broome Cairns Darwin Geraldton Port Pirie Rockhampton Sale Toowoomba Townsville Wilcannia/Forbes PALMS
Profiles of a...
Priest
Donor
Father Paul Roberts – a great supporter of Catholic Mission
Nicholas Seve
Corpus Christi, Cranebrook, in Sydney’s west, is just one parish that supports Catholic Mission in raising much needed money and awareness of the Pope’s global mission aid agency working in 160 countries worldwide. Father Paul Roberts promotes the idea of sharing our resources as a normal part of our living rather than the concept of charitable giving. He is a proud leader of his community. “I am proud of how we’ve grown as a parish to value the concept of ‘relational sharing of resources with brothers and sisters who are equals’ (and that’s it’s our privilege to do this) rather than ‘charitable giving’ (out of obligation),” said Father Paul. “I have found over the past three or four years of this approach since we’ve had projects that the parishioners’ sharing of resources for our own projects and for Catholic Mission has kept growing and growing.”
For nine months Nicholas Seve’s mother asked him what every mother asks her child “What did you do today at school?” For nine months the kindergarten student replied with the standard response “Nothing”, except on the day that Sister Helen Sullivan came and spoke to them. This particular afternoon Nicholas was inspired. Sister Helen had told the students about the children who had ”no money, no shops, nothing” Nicholas told his mum. He began retelling the stories that Sister Helen shared with the students and how she had described where these poor children lived. Nicholas was so touched by the stories that he wanted to help out. Here is the letter from Nicholas and his mum, and a photo of six year old Nicholas Seve from Perthville in NSW who helps make a difference.
Last year, the Corpus Christi parish World Mission Month appeal was their best ever ‘from this outer suburban ‘off the track’ workers’ parish’. Father Paul beams with pride that it improves year on year. They often get speakers to talk of their own experiences in different countries. Their stories personalise the message of Catholic Mission and Father Paul considers the parish lucky to have these contacts. It’s not just for World Mission Month that the message of Catholic Mission gets shared in Father Paul’s parish. He often uses material to help with his liturgy, reflection and written material for various church gatherings. “I have also incorporated such things into my presentations to largish sized parent groups gathering for sacramental prep for their children. This gets some awareness among the largely un-churched. Last year I also used Catholic Mission materials as the theme for a Year 5 reconciliation service, emphasising that we as Catholics are called to focus on justice and reconciliation in our world as a normal part of our faith and life, not as an extra.”
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2006
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2007 Staff
Diocesan Directors and Locations
Catholic Mission Staff
Cairns Fr Patrick McKenna (07) 4046 5636 Broome Fr Daniel Chama (08) 9193 5888
Darwin Br Paul Macrossan (08) 8941 1244
Townsville Sr Therese Marie Fleming SGS (07) 4726 3253
Rockhampton Fr John Grace (07) 4931 3670 Geraldton Mrs Rosemary Miles (08) 9964 2716
Toowoomba Ms Patricia Harding (07) 4637 1508 Port Pirie Fr Arno Vermeeren (08) 8586 6239
Perth Mr Francis Leong (08) 9422 7933
Armidale Fr Ross O’Brien (02) 6771 3517 Wilcannia/Forbes Mrs Mary Kenyon (02) 6853 9300
Bunbury c/- Perth Francis Leong (08) 9422 7933 Adelaide Mr James Evans (08) 8210 8199
Ballarat Ms Sue Searls (03) 5339 4440
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Sandhurst Fr Rom Hayes (03) 5862 1250
Melbourne Rev Fr Pat Harvey (03) 9639 1344
Sale Mrs Susan Grout (03) 5174 0587
Hobart Mrs Mary Donovan (03) 6208 6258
Thank you
National Office Brisbane Sr Mary Lowcock RSM (03) 3336 9239
Level 5, 47 Neridah St Chatswood NSW 2067 National Director Father Terence Bell
Bathurst Mr Glenn Smith (02) 6331 7544
Deputy National Director Peter Gates Office Manager Margaret Lea
Maitland/Newcastle Mr Barry Urwin (02) 4979 1142
Accountant Maureen Elliott Assistant Accountant Biruktawit Zekarrias
Lismore Mr John Griffiths Phone: (02) 6628 7307
Parramatta Mr Eddie Leszczynski (02) 8838 3421
Broken Bay Fr Paul Finucane (02) 9390 5430
Sydney Rev Fr Terry Brady (02) 9390 5430
Wollongong Mr Michael Deasy (02) 4284 0970
Canberra/Goulburn Deacon Joe Blackwell (02) 6163 4321
Wagga Wagga Mrs Cathy Carroll (02) 6937 0013
Catholic Mission Annual Report 2006
Education Manager Patrick Fox
Thank you to all the people and communities that supported Catholic Mission in Australia throughout 2006. Your involvement with Children’s Mission allowed many children to face the challenges of a difficult life. Increasingly more families have taken the extra step of signing up as Children’s Mission Partners and make a regular donation each month. The Society of St Peter Apostle is the key fundraising body that subsidises men and women training for religious life around the world. Extreme poverty is one of the biggest obstacles young people face in answering their call to the priesthood or religious life. Through your prayerful and financial support you are genuinely following in the footsteps of St Peter.
Media Officers Netta Kovach Melissa Loughlin
Our Partnering Local Churches and Communities (Propagation of the Faith) Appeal in 2006 focused on “Women in Faith, Faith in Women”. We particularly wanted to raise awareness of the effects on women and families of HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, nutrition, lack of literacy and much more. Through the success of this appeal many women in vulnerable circumstances have the opportunity to grow and develop in faith and as a person.
Bequest Officer David Robinson
Through your support you are a vital part of Catholic Mission’s wonderful, life-affirming work.
National Manager – Fundraising & Public Relations Mark Franklin Pastoral Officer Helen Sullivan
Receptionist Rosanna Rammos Education Officer Jenny Collins-White Education Officer, Special Projects Damian Nelson Accounts Officer Lenny Chandra Database Assistants Jeanne Arifin Deepak Chugh Zenaida Erlano Beijia Fang Rita Legimin Ana Rubio Celina Speers
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CATHOLIC MISSION Freecall 1800 257 296 National Office PO Box 1061 Chatswood NSW 2057 Phone: 02 9411 4611 Fax: 02 9411 4622 Website: www.catholicmission.org.au Email: admin@catholicmission.org.au ABN: 52 945 927 066
Catholic Mission www.catholicmission.org.au Freecall 1800 257 296