Aurora April 2018 by Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle April 2018 | No.178

T O RY S R E V CO

lay p y h W ts i f e n e b he t n i n c h i l d re e a r s o f early y ool sch Frank Brennan sj writes exclusively for Aurora Who received the Magdalene Award this year?

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First Word On the cover Alannah Dimmock, Madeline Healy and Eve Colman cooking up a storm at Holy Family Primary School, Merewether Beach.

Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle April 2018 | No.178

Photograph courtesy of Amanda Skehan. COVER

STORY

y Why pla benefits the in children rs of early yea l schoo Frank Brennan sj writes exclusively for Aurora Who received the Magdalene Award this year?

Featured  Why play benefits children in the early years of school 5  Be part of the quest to get Sebastian to the USA

 Diocesan recognition for a committed young woman

 Supporting those on the land

 “I literally LOVE my job. Like LOVE it!”

 Catholic Schools Week 2018: ‘Faith in Our Future’

 Critical issues to be addressed at Bonhoeffer Conference

 Have we forgotten how to weep?

 Walls made of living stone

 “Our most sacred day”

Regulars

Good works This month you may be reading your copy from the Saturday edition of The Herald. If you are a new Aurora reader, welcome! Please share an image of yourself reading Aurora at a favourite spot and tag @MNnewstoday. I was chuffed to feature Geraldine Doogue last month (have you booked to hear her at the TWEC Dinner?) and this month, national living treasure, Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO, has written exclusively for Aurora’s series, “Wisdom in the Square”. He says, “it is a brave priest who would buy into any controversy in the public square” – and Fr Frank is a brave priest! Nicola Arvidson has graciously shared her path to belonging in the Catholic Church, saying, “I am reflecting on what it means to be a part of my congregation and wondering what is waiting for me in the pantry.” You’ll have to read her ‘Seasons of Mercy’ piece to see what the pantry might have to offer.

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 My Word

 Seasons of Mercy

Highlighting another aspect of the work of Vinnies, Sr Carmel Hanson rsj writes about the 2018 Social Justice Project, standing with refugees and those seeking protection. As Pope Francis asks, “Have we forgotten how to weep?” It’s instructive to note that at a time when the Catholic Church is, in the eyes of many, under a deservedly dark cloud, an organisation like the St Vincent de Paul Society – Vinnies – remains highly respected. It’s morphed from a quiet presence in virtually every parish through conferences and ‘vintage’ stores to being a strong advocate for myriad social justice issues. Learn more at www.vinnies.org.au – and Vinnies is always looking for volunteers!

The Vinnies Centre at Islington – and perhaps all Vinnies Centres – has a promotional poster that simply says “Reimagine”. This month’s ‘One by One’ subject, Conference Manager Chris Lloyd-

 First Word

 Frankly Spoken

Jones, is living that reality, having redeemed a difficult situation with Vinnies’ help and choosing now to ‘give back’.

Aurora online, via www.MNnews.today. MNnews.today/aurora-magazine

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Aurora appears in The Newcastle Herald on the first Saturday of the month, in The Maitland Mercury, The Singleton Argus, The Manning River Times and The Scone Advocate on the following Wednesday and in The Muswellbrook Chronicle on the following Thursday. The magazine can also be read at www.MNnews.today.

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My Word

The Good News and the other news defined by the law as the Bishop and his Consultors. Under church law, however, property belongs to the ‘juridical person’ (we might say ‘organisation’) that acquired it, so that any land or church or school that was paid for from parish funds is the property of that parish. This is not generally noted in media estimates of what belongs to ‘the church’.

Happy Easter! We are in Easter Week and it is the greatest of our Christian celebrations. The commemoration of Christ’s death and rising is the heart of our Christian faith. For we Christians are not, as we are now often taken to be, a sort of mutual selfimprovement society, people who band together to try to be better and nicer people, caring about justice, the poor, the environment and world peace. We do care about those things, but what makes us Christians rather than just decent people is that we believe the news of Easter: that every woman, man and child comes to life ultimately out of the loving creativity of God, and that each one matters to God, who wishes them to rise from their death to a new life with God. If evil and death had put an end to Jesus, who was God in humanity, it must be the fate of us all; but if Jesus died and was raised to life, death need not be the last word for any human being. That’s the Easter faith. The Church and money: Some questions that have been asked a lot lately. I won’t give highly technical answers here, but I’ll briefly give the substance. 1. Who owns church property? Under the laws of NSW, all property acquired by the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle or any of its parishes, schools or agencies, belongs to the Trustees of the diocese,

2. What happens to the money I give at church? The first collection is pooled by the clergy of the diocese to pay equal salaries and living allowances to the active clergy and to provide for the retired men. The second collection goes to that parish’s funds. Envelope collections also go to the parish, though any tax deductible part of the collection has to be used by the parish for specific purposes, usually school building funds or approved charitable causes. The diocese generally receives 10% of this parish income, which was in the past the main source of funds for running the diocese. 3. How is the diocese able to buy all the new property and buildings I’ve read about? Like home-buyers, we borrow the money. Fortunately we can borrow from the Catholic Development Fund so that profit from the interest we pay does not go to the shareholders of, say, the Commonwealth Bank, but remains in the diocese’s own financial institution. Apart from government grants we might get for part of the cost of a new school, what we spend on new schools, CatholicCare facilities or affordable housing projects is borrowed money. 4. Instead of buying property, shouldn’t we be compensating survivors of abuse? We make cash settlements with survivors from money the diocese actually has now, whereas property is purchased by loans that will be paid back over many years. The two things are not really in competition for the same sorts of funds. And we have compensated very many survivors. The Royal Commission’s figures showed that we had then paid about $23m to survivors of

abuse, mostly from diocesan funds though some claims were covered by insurance. There is no ‘typical’ settlement amount, but our average was then about $200,000, the highest for any diocese. (Bear in mind that the Commonwealth’s redress scheme will be capped at $150,000, and that the Royal Commission’s calculations of the scheme’s cost were based on an average redress payment of about $65,000.) We have not been shirking our responsibility to survivors. What we can borrow to do other things is a separate matter. 5. Where does the money for child abuse settlements come from? Sometimes from insurance, but mostly from diocesan funds. The main source of these funds is the return on investments and loans made by the CDF. The relatively small amount that comes to the diocese from church collections contributes to meeting the normal running costs of the diocese, as it always has. 6. Are you using money from schools to pay victims of clerical abuse? No. All government funding and all parent fees must by law be spent in the school system and duly accounted for. Of course, there are costs to running a school system that may arise from legitimate claims that people have against a school, for things like personal injury, workers compensation or, indeed, abuse at the hands of school staff. If any such claim were not covered by insurance, it would have to be met from the school system’s budget. This applies only to abuse by lay staff employed by schools. Historic claims against clergy who were teaching in schools, or against members of religious orders, are met by the diocese or the religious congregation to which the offender belonged.

Bishop Bill Wright Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Enrolments are now open for 2019! Enquire today by visiting mn.catholic.edu.au/enrol 4

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Education

Why play benefits children in the early years of school By AMY THEODORE

Remember those childhood days of playing outside for hours with your friends until the sun went down and your parents had practically to drag you back inside? While many may have thought you were simply running around wasting time, the reality is that you were probably engaging in highly beneficial activities that were helping to flex the muscles of your brain and imagination. Neurological research indicates that the frontal cortex of children’s brains better develops when they engage in play, making it beneficial for a child’s growth and development academically and socially, as well as for overall health and wellbeing. This research has played a part in primary schools of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle redesigning their indoor and outdoor environment areas. It is all part of the Early Learning Policy for Catholic Schools which was launched on 7 March at Holy Family Primary School, Merewether Beach. The policy is influenced by current research in Early Childhood and is also influenced by Belonging, Being and Becoming - The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia (Australian Government, 2009). The Early Learning Policy details the importance of play for early learners and features other key elements such as data, environments and transitions. The policy gives schools and their staff advice and guidelines on how to build knowledge, understanding and skills around the best practices in developing and implementing Early Learning initiatives and engaging children in this type of learning. “This Policy is aimed at giving children a foundation that will enable them to flourish and achieve success at primary school and also at laying the groundwork for their futures,” said Kim Moroney, the Education Officer for Early Learning at the Catholic Schools Office. Schools are no longer just focusing on ways to build and expand traditional learning methods inside the classroom. They are using play to develop a child’s capabilities, skills and understanding with over a quarter of Catholic primary schools in the Hunter region already creating hands-on learning spaces. The saying ‘a child’s brain is like a sponge’ certainly rings true, with early childhood being a time of remarkable growth and holistic brain development. During this time, children are highly influenced by the people and environment around them as they develop their social, emotional, cognitive and physical skills and needs. They are unwittingly building a solid and broad foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing. When children engage in play, they begin to use higher order thinking skills and immerse themselves in deep thinking and learning, which enhances their desire to continue to learn. Play becomes an intense mental activity which not only sees a child discover, create, improvise and imagine, but also create social groups with other children, test ideas, challenge each other’s thinking and build new understandings. The quality and effectiveness of these play periods is linked to the quality of the resources the children have at their disposal. “Play develops literacy and numeracy skills as well as giving children the opportunity to solve problems, self-regulate, work in teams and

Kim Moroney, Education Officer for Early Learning at the Catholic Schools Office, with Ariya Osasa, Louis Walsh, Joshua Wasiak and Samuel Wasiak of St Mary’s Primary, Warners Bay. Photo courtesy of Amanda Skehan.

engage and connect with others and with nature,” said Kim.

spontaneity, risk-taking, exploration,

Research has also shown that time outside boosts a child’s ability to perform once they return to the classroom. Results from the Priority Research Centre for Physical Activity and Nutrition at the University of Newcastle have shown that having ten minutes to settle down after being outdoors improves children’s concentration for about an hour.

them well-rounded early learning.

While the classic grass ovals and monkey bars aren’t being pushed aside, schools are being encouraged to re-image outdoor play areas for young children – considering sensory experiences, chicken coops and vegetable gardens.

adapted and brought into re-imaged

“By re-imaging outdoor areas and indoor classrooms as more engaging environments, our primary schools are creating learning spaces that will help our students to develop literacy, numeracy and life skills through play, as well as supporting wellbeing,” said Kim.

that there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ formula

“We want to ensure that we cater for all kinds of learners by having resources that connect with all children and not just those who engage in physical play.”

budgets and needs and catering for all kinds

These outdoor spaces invite children to participate in open-ended interactions,

discovery and connection with nature, giving

The idea is not just to focus on play as a part of the curriculum, but also to encourage children to engage in self-determined play during lunch and recess breaks. Not strictly for the outdoors, play as a pedagogy or method of teaching is being classrooms to help improve outcomes for children in literacy and numeracy skills as well as in other Key Learning Areas. The Early Learning Policy has recognised and has reached out to the 45 primary schools in the Diocese of MaitlandNewcastle regarding the needs and capabilities of the students in their school community, developing projects that fit their of situations and learners. Amy Theodore is a Communications Officer for the Diocese of MaitlandNewcastle.

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News

Quest to get Sebastian to the USA By AMY THEODORE The Stace family from East Maitland is seeking the support of the community to help raise money for a medical intervention that could give their four-year-old son, Sebastian, a normal life. When Sebastian Stace’s parents, Monique and Brett, noticed their son wasn’t rolling, sitting or crawling at an age when most young children reached these milestones, they knew something was wrong.

After visits to multiple doctors, Sebastian, the youngest of three boys, was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy - Spastic Diplegia. Sebastian suffers from symptoms such as poor balance, speech issues, toe walking, hypotonia and spasticity. While currently Sebastian can walk independently for short distances, he needs to undergo intensive therapy to maintain his motor skills and the spasticity

he suffers from will reduce his ability to function and walk independently as he gets older. Sebastian receives Botox every six months to ease the pain of his tightening muscles, but extended waiting periods mean there can be ten months between treatments, leaving him in unnecessary pain. Also, Botox is not a permanent solution, with the effectiveness of the treatment expected to wear off as Sebastian reaches his teenage years. In a bid to give Sebastian a better quality of life, the Stace family is looking to raise money so Sebastian can undergo life changing surgery at the St Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri, USA, and continue with intensive post-surgery rehabilitation for twelve months. The miraculous surgery is called Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) and will be performed by Dr Parks, a pioneer in the field who has been performing these surgeries for the past 26 years. With a successful outcome, Sebastian will have better posture and balance, find it easier to stand and sit, be able to play contact sports like soccer, league and rugby, no longer need Botox treatment and eventually become completely independent, no longer needing a wheelchair or walker. “This operation in the USA will help Sebastian to keep his independence as he grows older,” said Monique. “It’s going to change his life and allow him to have the chance to play with his brothers and no longer need the assistance of a wheelchair.” Sebastian’s older brothers, Preston and Riley, attend St Joseph’s Primary School, East Maitland. Assistant principal, Sue Lacey, said that the whole school community is “right behind the Stace family” in its efforts to give Sebastian the best life he can have.

Amy Theodore is a Communications Officer for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

To help raise money over the next twelve months the family is hosting a series of fun events in which the community can be involved.

Riley, Sebastian and Preston Stace.

•

High Tea – 12 May

•

Ambrose Golf Day – 27 May

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Casino night - TBA

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Madhatters Party – TBA

To learn more, head to the Facebook page @helpsebastiansoar, or to make a contribution check out the Stace family’s Go Fund Me Page ‘Help Sebastian Soar’. All donations are greatly appreciated.

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Wisdom in the Square

Trying to set true north where ethics are concerned By FR FRANK BRENNAN SJ AO

I’ve been asked to reflect on wisdom in the public square. In the wake of the royal commission, it is a brave priest who would buy into any controversy in the public square. But I take heart from the recent observation by ex-Prime Minister and unashamed Christian, Kevin Rudd, when he was speaking at the Australian Catholic University: “You need folks out there who are professionally committed to the business of what I describe as focused, uncompromising Christian ethics, or in the case of the academy more broadly, public policy which in a given set of circumstances will deliver the goods minus politics of compromise. You need folks out there who are constantly holding up the ethical goal posts of our society. Because the nature of parliamentary democracy is that it will be a process of compromise south of that. And the day to day question, the week to week question, the year to year question, is how far south, a little bit, or a long way, or disappearing through the floor?” I am one Catholic priest who has been speaking in the public square trying to set true north for those ethical goal posts for the last 30 years. Let me reflect on just one recent contested political issue in the public square. I voted ‘yes’ in last year’s ABS survey on same sex marriage. As a priest, I was prepared to explain why I was voting ‘yes’ during the campaign. I voted ‘yes’, in part because I thought that the outcome was inevitable. But also, I thought that full civil recognition of such relationships was an idea whose time had come. What was needed was an outcome which helped to maintain respect for freedom of religion, the standing of the Churches, and the pastoral care and concern of everyone affected by such relationships, including the increasing number of children being brought up in households headed by same sex couples committed to each other and their children. I thought it appropriate that at least a handful of clergy should come out and, when asked, express their intention to vote ‘yes’. I am also the CEO of Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA). At the time of the survey, CSSA published this statement: CSSA has no formal position on what enrolled voters should say in response to the voluntary survey being conducted by the ABS on whether the Marriage Act should be amended by the Australian Parliament to expand the definition of civil marriage to include a relationship between two persons of the same sex. CSSA and its members are employers and service

providers who happily affirm the dignity, gifts and personal commitments of all our employees and those whom we are privileged to serve. We never discriminate against persons on the basis of their sexuality or marital status. Being a Catholic agency, CSSA operates under the auspices of the Catholic Bishops and accepts Church teaching on theological issues such as the sacramentality of marriage and the limits on what relationships are recognised by the Catholic Church as sacramental marriage. Even though most Catholics who voted ended up voting ‘yes’ as I did, I presume that the majority of our bishops voted ‘No’. But I know that some bishops did vote ‘Yes’. In the lead up to the vote, a couple of bishops (and there were only a couple, though others may have been upset while deciding not to communicate directly with me) wrote to me taking strong exception to the position I had taken. One of these bishops claimed, ‘With regard to the current postal survey on legally redefining marriage to include same sex unions, a Catholic is morally obligated to vote “no”. There is no option to claim that in good conscience a Catholic can vote “yes”.’ I disagreed strongly with this bishop. I think I voted ‘yes’ in good conscience. I thought his argument was the twenty-first century equivalent of a bishop telling the flock that they had to vote for the DLP. I think those days have gone, and they’ve gone forever. Archbishop Mark Coleridge, an accomplished scripture scholar and vice president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, got it right when interviewed on national television during the plebiscite campaign. He said, “To think of a Catholic vote all going one way is just naïve. Of course, it’s possible to vote ‘yes’. It depends why you vote ‘yes’. It’s possible to vote ‘no’, but equally it depends why you vote ‘no’… As a Catholic you can vote ‘yes’ or you can vote ‘no’. I personally will vote ‘no’ but for quite particular reasons. But I’m not going to stand here and say: you vote ‘no’; and you vote ‘yes’, and you’re a Catholic, you’ll go to hell. It’s not like that.” No matter how we voted, we all now need to accept that the civil law of marriage will permit the exclusive, committed relationship of any two persons to be legally recognised, granting the couple endorsement and respect for their relationship and for their family.

Fr Frank Brennan sj is CEO of Catholic Social Services Australia.

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News

Diocesan recognition for a committed young woman By TRACEY EDSTEIN

When the young recipient of this year’s Magdalene Award, Claire McWilliam, thinks about the source of her deep Catholic faith, the faces of women come into her mind. “My faith journey’s been with the women – my mother, women in my parish of Toronto, women belonging to the groups I’m involved in. These women have given me the confidence to remain as faithful as I have.” Claire acknowledges too the influence of her upbringing in leading her to be the young woman she has become. “My grandparents, and godparents, have played a massive part in my faith journey. They have always been supportive, encouraging and simply present.” Asked about a turning point in her faith journey, Claire is quick to respond. “Having been invited to be an altar server in my parish of Toronto, I was unsure – so I asked the Holy Spirit. I asked and I received! For 12 years I served at Mass at St Joseph’s, Kilaben Bay. I then trained many young servers over a number of years and that was very rewarding.” Bishop Bill and Claire McWilliam.

Nominees for the 2018 Magdalene Award: Colleen Canny, Ailis Macpherson, Mary Nesbitt, Norma Matthews, Deanne March, Claire McWilliam, Louise Roach, Faye Robertson and Marion Gardiner.

NOMINEES FOR THE 2018 MAGDALENE AWARD f f Colleen Canny RUTHERFORD

f f Pauline Carrigan SCONE

f f Marion Gardiner ALL SAINTS, BLACKBUTT SOUTH

f f Eugenie Garth FORSTER TUNCURRY

f f Ailis Macpherson EAST MAITLAND

f f Deanne March HOLY TRINITY BLACKBUTT NORTH

f f Norma Matthews HOLY TRINITY BLACKBUTT NORTH

f f Mary Nesbitt HOLY TRINITY BLACKBUTT NORTH

f f Louise Roach GLENDALE

f f Faye Robertson ALL SAINTS, BLACKBUTT SOUTH

f f Ruth Pearson FORSTER TUNCURRY

Serving at the altar is just one of Claire’s liturgical contributions. She proclaims the Word, is a minister of Communion and a member of the baptism and welcome teams.

opportunity, an alternative ‘schoolies’

When she was in Years 9 and 10, Claire’s mother home-schooled her. She recalls, “At this time I found great strength and reassurance from fellow parishioners. I have often said my parish is my second family.”

because I’ve seen the work of Catholic

Claire serves on the Parish Pastoral Council and contributes to the Alpha program and activities for younger parishioners. She has been a member of the diocesan contingent at Australian Catholic Youth Festivals in 2013, 2015 and 2017. She was one of the first to take part in the diocese’s Pastoral Placement Program in 2015.

the gospel message of love in all I do.”

Claire certainly knows what commitment means! In 2014 she travelled to East Timor under the auspices of Catholic Mission. “Mum, Dad and I felt it would be a great

experience. Since then I’ve worked with Diocesan Director for Catholic Mission, Mark Toohey, to assist with parish visits and the annual appeal. I do this Mission ‘in the field’.” Given this empathy with the needs of others, it’s no surprise that Claire is employed as a care assistant in an aged care facility. “In my work I try to reflect Reflecting on receiving the 2018 Magdalene Award, Claire said, “I don’t do the things I do to be recognised but it was an honour to receive this award in front of other inspiring women from the diocese. With grace, compassion and a peaceful nature, we have the abilities and opportunities to support each other and our church.” Tracey Edstein is the Editor of Aurora Magazine.

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CareTalk

Speaking the same (love) language Q

CatholicCare’s Manager of Counselling and Clinical Services, registered psychologist Tanya Russell, addresses an issue each month.

The advice provided is general in nature and does not replace ongoing support and advice from your health professional. To talk to someone about counselling support, P 4979 1172. Call Lifeline 24/7 on P 131 114.

Do you have a question for Tanya? Email your question to aurora@mn.catholic.org.au or write to Aurora-CareTalk PO Box 756 Newcastle 2300.

Sometimes I feel my partner and I don’t really understand each other. Although we do talk about our feelings and we have shared goals, I feel he doesn’t show me love the way I want him to. I think I am more romantic about expressing my love for him but he tells me he shows me he loves me by doing things for me such as cooking and doing a lot around the house. I really appreciate these things about him but I don’t associate those actions with romance – to me, they are just a normal part of a relationship. I’m worried that we just don’t see love or romance the same way and I’m not sure how to make him understand me more. What can I do?

You and your partner do seem to be on the same page about many things in life – as you said, you are both open about how you feel and you have shared goals for the future. But not all couples are on the same page about how to express love for each other. This is not due to lack of love or care though. Often, the way we show love to our partner is the way we want to receive love. But this does not mean that our partner likes to receive love in the same way we do. This is something that we don’t often talk about in relationships and now is a good time for you and your partner to explore this together. The conversation doesn’t have to be about what is missing or full of conflict; in fact, the conversation is an opportunity to learn more about each other and how to meet each other’s needs more effectively. The way we prefer to receive love is what we might call our love language. I’d like to introduce you to the 5 Love Languages, developed by Dr Gary Chapman. According to Dr Chapman,

learning to express love in your partner’s language can transform your relationship. You and your partner do not have to have the same love language. What is important is that you figure out what your own love language preferences are, share this knowledge with each other and find ways to meet the needs of your partner, based on their main love language/s. According to Dr Chapman, the 5 Love Languages are: 1. Words of Affirmation: This language uses words to affirm other people. These may be verbal reminders of your love for each other, sweet text messages, love letters, praise and encouragement for each other. 2. Acts of Service: For these people, actions speak louder than words. Clearly, for your partner, he likes to show you he loves you by doing things for you. Small or big gestures can demonstrate this. 3. Receiving Gifts: For some people, what makes them feel most loved is

to receive a gift. It doesn’t mean the gift is an expensive one; it could just be a small token as a symbol of love to show that someone is thinking of you. 4. Quality Time: This language is all about giving the other person your undivided attention. 5. Physical Touch: To this person, nothing speaks more deeply than appropriate touch. Knowing and talking about your love language is only the first step. It is then important to discuss what that looks like for you. For example, if your preferred love language is quality time, what does that mean? Sitting on the lounge watching TV together? Going for walks together or going on holidays? Be really specific about what would make you feel loved. I suggest you and your partner take the Love Languages quiz and also consider reading the books by Dr Chapman. Further information is available at www.5lovelanguages.com.

Muswellbrook Country Fair

PRICES YOU’VE GOT TO SHARE Brand New 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom Villas

FROM $270,000

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY at Calvary Muswellbrook Retirement Community - 15 Cassidy Avenue, Muswellbrook Close to shops and transport, entertainers kitchen, choice of layouts, and parking with internal access laundry with courtyard access.

Call 1800 222 000 or visit calvarycare.org.au to find out more.

Saturday 7 April from 10am to 2:30pm Join us for a tour of the brand new display villas or browse through the many market stalls. There will be a variety of stands including handmade crafts, a BBQ, cake stall and plenty for the whole family to enjoy. It’s a great way to view our new retirement village at 15 Cassidy Ave, Muswellbrook. Visit our facebook event page: Muswellbrook Country Fair for further details and stall holder information.

Celebrating NSW Seniors Week at Calvary

uswellbrook

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One by One

“She took me on and I’ve never looked back” Conference Manager at the Vinnies Centre at Islington, Chris Lloyd-Jones, graciously shared his story of redemption with Aurora. It’s probably best to begin my story back when I started going downhill.

really began to take hold. I had no money because of my dependency.

My wife left me for my best friend. I ended up with two young children to look after. We’d just finished building our home. I was a train driver at Lithgow earning a pretty good wage but unfortunately it was shift work and I couldn’t look after the kids and keep the job. Luckily at the time, redundancy came through so I took it and became a full-time parent. I had a boy aged 7, a girl, 10 and a boy, 16.

I was evicted because I couldn’t pay the rent so I became homeless. I lived on the street in Katoomba, in abandoned buildings under tarps and so on. I went to Vinnies for food vouchers and clothing. At one stage I was pushing trolleys, and I would sleep in the car I had to travel to the carparks.

The court battles for custody began. I had to sell the house and begin renting. I was very depressed and I started drinking. There was a drug problem as well. We had to move from Wentworth Falls to Katoomba to a really shabby house and life just kept going downhill. My eldest had moved out by then. I had the two younger children and I couldn’t look after them anymore. They went back to their mother and drugs

Now instead of wanting, I feel I am wanted. 10

There were hopeless times. I remember being in the bush with two bags, one for my head, one for my feet, and a bottle of vodka to keep me warm. I just didn’t want to wake up in the morning. I overdosed on heroin once and luckily my friends in the street came across me and called the ambulance. I was killing myself really, but then I somehow went to rehab at Rozelle for 13 months. The place was called WHOS, ‘We Help OurSelves’. When I came out of WHOS, my daughter offered me a place with her and her boyfriend. The children had stayed in touch with me and it was good to feel wanted. However, the mistake I made was going back to Katoomba. One of the things we learned in WHOS was ‘don’t go back to trigger places’. I was sure it wasn’t going

to happen to me but it did. Her boyfriend had a drug habit so that wasn’t good for me and I went backwards. My older son was living in Newcastle and he offered me a room. I still had a drinking problem and my son was concerned. “Why don’t you go out and do something?” So I walked down the street at Islington and saw Vinnies. I said to Evelyn (Conference President), “I’d like to volunteer.” That was about five years ago. She took me on and I’ve never looked back. I still had a drinking problem – I had to go back to rehab and detox, clean up my act. I’ve gone from being a volunteer to Conference Manager. Because Vinnies gave me so much at Katoomba, I wanted to give back. I want to do what I can do. Now instead of wanting, I feel I am wanted. We always need volunteers here at Vinnies – we’re really desperate at the moment. It’s part of my role to work out the truck routes so that they deliver first and then pick up, for obvious reasons. People with furniture to donate don’t always understand that we don’t have a truck on standby. Furniture’s in demand though so it’s great when people call us. Vinnies keeps donated sleeping bags and

we hand them over to those who need them. I’ll offer a sandwich and a cuppa. Having been where they are now, I know that you can’t really help people until they help themselves. I still like to have a drink but it doesn’t control me, and at the end of the week, I have money in my pocket. I have five grandkids with the sixth coming through – life is tremendous! The volunteers here – they’re not workers, they’re a family and we look out for each other. We try to have as much fun as we can and I know a lot of customers by name. I remember a couple who came in, looking for a mattress. They had a child and they were living in their car while they waited for a house to become available. About six months later they came back to let us know they had a house and “we’re doing well now”. It’s great when you get that feedback. Visit your local Vinnies centre to volunteer, to learn about your local conference, to donate clothing, furniture, books, DVDs etc in reasonable condition or to pick up a bargain! Please visit www.vinnies.org. au or P 4961 6885.

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CatholicCare

Supporting those on the land By GARY CHRISTENSEN

While there has been rain in recent weeks, drought conditions continue in the Upper Hunter. Many are hoping for ‘follow up’ rains to ensure grass regrows and crops take root. CatholicCare Social Services now has offices in both Singleton and Muswellbrook, and while many services are offered, I’m particularly pleased to be able to support men and women on the land in trying times. At the best of times, rural life is uncertain. In the words of Dorothea Mackellar, Australia experiences both “drought and flooding rains”, as well as competition from offshore suppliers of fruit and vegetables, increasing expenses and difficulty in repaying loans. So often farmers are

asset-rich but time – and cash – poor. In addition, families on the land experience the usual trials of life – illness and bereavement, addiction, relationship breakdown, un- or under-employment. These circumstances can lead to depression, grief and loss, and an unwillingness to socialise and share the burden. This is where CatholicCare’s suite of services may be able to help! Our intention is to support farmers to work through the mental health issues that can often present in times of stress and when people are dealing with the trauma associated with loss of income and livelihood. A large part of our goal is to break down the stigma attached to

people who are dealing with a mental health problem. According to the Black Dog Institute, 20% of people, or one in five Australians aged 16 to 85, will experience mental illness each year. Alarmingly, 54% of people with a mental health issue do not reach out for help. Our aim is to change this. If a person fell off a tractor and broke an arm or a leg, they would not think twice about seeking medical help. Likewise, if they were bitten by a snake, they would seek help. Mental health is no different. Whilst you may not be able to see the break or the bite, mental health issues that go untreated can have devastating effects on the individual and the family. The hardest part is taking that first step and making the call. Please,

if you need help, pick up the phone and call one of our friendly and professional team members. We offer free family and relationship support services as well as a free counselling service. As well as Singleton and Muswellbrook, there are offices in Mayfield, Maitland, Cardiff, Gloucester, Forster and Taree. To find out more about these free services, or to seek support, visit www.catholicare.org.au or call our Muswellbrook office at P 6542 4400 or our Singleton office at 4015 2820. Gary Christenson is the Director of CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-Manning

Annulments QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Marriage annulments are often misunderstood, and very little is known about the process. Would you like to know more?

For further information, contact the Tribunal Office on 4979 1370.

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Education

‘I literally LOVE my job. Like LOVE it!’ Despite being one of only 12 female professionals selected for Melbourne Theatre Company’s ‘Women in Theatre’ program, ASPIRE Creative Director, Anna Kerrigan, remains humble. “It’s incredibly flattering; the other women are all incredible artists. Everyone brings many different talents and skill sets, so just being able to talk to them about projects and their creative practice and approaches to different projects is so enriching and inspiring,” said Anna. The program is in its fifth year and to date has supported 45 theatre professionals in developing skills, knowledge and opportunities in their sector. Working for the Catholic Schools Office has given Anna a great opportunity to shape and create theatre with students

Anna Kerrigan (left) with Laura Valentine and Eleanor Tilse.

Soul Food

Over 200 million Christians worldwide experience persecution for their faith in Jesus

We are the only international Catholic charity that focuses on the pastoral and spiritual support of suffering Christians

Help us to assist our brothers and sisters who are oppressed and forgotten. Become a regular donor today. Call 1800 101 201 or visit www.aidtochurch.org/aurora 12

By AMANDA SKEHAN

and she is always eager for more. “I get to create an original piece of theatre each year with a wonderful team and an amazing cast of young performers. I think the best part is working with young people and giving them the opportunity to tell their stories and have creative arts experiences. It’s really fulfilling and they are just the best creative collaborators. Funny, engaged, enthusiastic and unpretentious,” says Anna. Local audiences look forward to learning more about the program and what Anna and the ASPIRE team will present in Dark Matter this August at Newcastle’s Civic Theatre. Tickets on sale 28 April 2018. Amanda Skehan is Marketing and Digital Communications Officer, Catholic Schools Office.

On the Swag His body doubled under the pack that sprawls untidily on his old back, the cold wet dead-beat plods up the track. The cook peers out ‘oh curse that old lag – here again with his clumsy swag made of a dirty old turnip bag’. ‘Bring him in, cook, from the grey level sleet, put silk on his body slippers on his feet, give him fire and bread and meat.’ ‘Let the fruit be plucked and the cake be iced, the bed be snug and the wine be spiced in the old cove’s night-cap; for this is Christ’. − R.A.K. MASON

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Family Matters

It’s no sin to be sixty

By DAVID AHERN

This month’s Family Matters is masquerading as a book review – or is it a book review masquerading as Family Matters? Majellan Magazine kindly shared a reflective piece about something we’re all engaged in – growing older! It will particularly appeal to those with a faith dimension in their lives. No one wants to get old. I remember my dear mother, who sadly left us two years ago, was not keen on going into a nursing home. She fought tooth and nail for as long as possible, until a nasty fall and a broken wrist settled the matter once-and-for-all. She spent more than two years at the home, which her six children often described as the ‘Hilton Hotel’ of nursing homes. But Mum didn’t see it that way and we couldn’t blame her. After about a year she finally relented and admitted the nursing home wasn’t too bad. That said, getting old, as Mum used to say, “is not much fun”. A book, It’s no sin to be sixty: A positive look at the Third Age by Neville Smith

As we age: we do a lot of remembering, reminiscing and reflecting.

(Redemptorist Publications) examines the question of age and how people react to their age later in life. Neville is a retired Anglican priest who lives in London. In the book’s introduction Neville reflects on his own upbringing and his time as a young vicar in North Yorkshire. The town of Castleton had an old men’s park where the men of the village would gather and talk about issues affecting them, their friends and neighbours. For Neville, the park posed several questions: Who are the old men? How do we quantify or justify the description? At what point does a person become old? Is there some chronological or physiological description? And how do we define old age? Neville says irrespective of how people accept their age later in life and whether it’s a positive or negative experience, we all have one thing in common as we age: we do a lot of remembering, reminiscing and reflecting. “We have gained a lot of experience on our passage through life and our memories are an important part of us,” says

Neville. “The painful ones we cannot, nor should we, seek to deny. The enjoyable and happy ones we can go over, relive and take pleasure in again.” He says in his book that people should use the same process when they look at their relationship with God. “… It provides us with the opportunity to reflect on our faith, explore new directions and themes within it, so that we can deepen our understanding of, and enrich our relationship with, God. “In the process of writing I have reflected personally and find that the process has affirmed my perception of God and, I believe, deepened my understanding of God,” says Neville. Titles of some of the chapters are: Selfesteem; Religion and spirituality; It’s okay to be me; Ageing is not for softies; Life is an enigma; and Senior moments. Prayers and reflections are also provided at the end of each chapter. For example, this is the prayer at the end of ‘Life is an enigma’: Father, We lay before you the enigma of our lives,

and the final enigma of our death. Give us grace to live our lives to the full until their end, and faith to leave to you the unfolding of the last enigma when we enter into your presence and find that all will be revealed. Amen. In the last chapter, titled, “What a wonderful world”, Neville leaves us with this observation. “Every day amongst the bad news that is heaped upon us, there are countless acts of human kindness which are not thought worthy of mention. Self-giving is taken for granted, and usually goes unreported. This is the pattern of God’s involvement in our life.” It’s no sin to be sixty: A positive look at the Third Age by Neville Smith (Redemptorist Publications) is available from Majellan Bookstore for $29.95 (including GST and postage).

David Ahern is editor, Majellan Magazine.

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Education

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK 2018: ‘FAITH IN OUR FUTURE’ By AMANDA SKEHAN

From 4 – 10 March, school communities across the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle celebrated Catholic Schools Week. Catholic Schools Week marks the official opening of 2019 enrolments and gives each school the opportunity to invite friends, family and the wider local community to participate in open days, information evenings, class activities and liturgies.

Principal, Larry Keating, St Mary’s Catholic College, Gateshead The week provided St Mary’s with the opportunity to highlight and celebrate the richness of learning and teaching at the college, the “good things” happening each day in Catholic schools which are making a positive difference in the lives of students, their families and staff.”

Ministry Co-ordinator, Denise Ryan, St Clare’s, Taree The CLARE framework enables students and staff to enhance their wellbeing through the development of a positive attitude, positive emotions, positive relationships and a sense of purpose about self, school and life. The reflection day encouraged students to engage with God, their beliefs and their community and to develop a sense of balance between school and personal life.”

Director of Schools, Dr Michael Slattery This year’s theme focuses on strengthening relationships between students and their Catholic faith by ensuring that all students – with support from their parents, staff and members of the wider diocesan community – will have every opportunity to realise their full potential.”

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Education 2.

9. 10.

Kindergarten pupils at St Joseph’s Primary School, Gloucester, enjoyed outdoor STEM lessons with their parents. Students from Holy Name Primary School, Forster, workshopped an ASPIRE performance with other primary students from the Manning region. St Kevin’s Primary School, Cardiff, opened Catholic Schools Week with a family Mass on Sunday 4 March. Senior students at St Catherine’s

Catholic College, Singleton, enjoyed the CSW photo frame.

St Joseph’s Primary School, Kilaben Bay, hosted a family lunch and open classrooms with sporting activities and STEM lessons. Grandparents and parents of Year 7 students of St Mary’s Catholic College, Gateshead, enjoyed a special liturgy followed by morning tea to open Catholic Schools Week. Students of St Dominic’s Centre, Mayfield, shared lessons and activities with family and friends.

Students of St Joseph’s Primary School, Wingham, created art as part of the ASPIRE creative arts program run at St Clare’s High School, Taree.

School leaders from St Joseph’s High School, Aberdeen, carried their region’s cross into the Catholic Schools Week Mass.

For more great photos and the feature videos from each day, see mnnews.today/ csw-2018/

10. Year 8 student Isabel Gildenhuys of St Pius X High School, Adamstown,

HAVE

won the Blackbutt South Parish Art

SAY

competition on Saturday 10 March.

YOUR

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Seasons of Mercy

What does the pantry offer you? By NICOLA ARVIDSON

By the time you read this, Nicola Arvidson will be enjoying celebrating Easter with a deepened appreciation of its meaning. Having been received into the Catholic Church on the Feast of Christ the King four months ago, I am experiencing the season of Lent for the first time as a Catholic. My confirmation and first communion were more than I expected. I anticipated that it would be a declaration of my Faith, but I was surprised by how much it highlighted my Faith in the context of others. My Faith was celebrated by my parish priest and my sponsor, my family and my congregation. There’s a sense of community in celebrating with others, being known to them, welcomed by them, sharing the greeting of peace with them and receiving Holy Communion with them. This community is now preparing for Easter. Although I always celebrated Easter, being a highlight of the Christian calendar, I don’t think I ever really prepared for it before. For me, Easter was always about the resurrection and celebrating new life. The Easter hymns are among my favourites and for me Easter has been about singing them and celebrating. Whilst that may be true, I’m now much more conscious of the fact that Lent is a time to prepare for Easter. Lent was a familiar idea to me, but I was never really sure if it was about giving up chocolate or giving up swearing. Was it about self-denial or selfimprovement? After marking the beginning of Lent by attending Mass on Ash Wednesday, I might have a clearer idea. 16

At Mass on Ash Wednesday, I absorbed the peaceful quiet space in the cathedral, the voices raised in song, the light in the faces of the parishioners who held hands while they recited the Lord’s prayer, the gentle guidance of families teaching their children what the ritual required of them, and the solemn direction that accompanied the sign of the cross the priest traced on my forehead. As the cathedral filled with the faithful, we stole a period of tranquillity from our busy days and a moment of reflection from our busy minds. It’s such a reflective place; full of light and icons of modest beauty. The air feels fresher − or perhaps we’re simply reflective enough to notice we’re breathing it. As we sang the response to the psalm, I was struck by how often Mercy is referenced in our worship. We observed the Year of Mercy in 2016. We seek mercy when we sing the Kyrie Eleison. We echoed it in the response to the psalm “Be merciful, O Lord…”. It’s a shame that I can’t do justice in print to the beautiful voice of the parishioner who led our response to the psalm in song. I can still hear her crystal clear tone ringing in the stillness of the cathedral. The Lord’s Prayer must be one of the best known texts throughout the world − so much so that the pew card simply says “Our Father…” and trusts the reader knows the rest. So, during this prayer, I finally lift my eyes from the pew card and take in the congregation. Some of them pray with open uplifted palms. Some of them hold hands. They seem so free, engaging in the prayer with their hands as well as their voices. As we approached the altar to receive the ashes, children followed the example of their families… mostly. Some needed a little prodding, nodding, smiling, guiding. Having been recently confirmed, I’m still following the example of the congregation myself.

It takes a while to get the hang of when to sit and when to stand and when to kneel. There’s always the possibility that no one notices when I get it wrong? At the altar, the priest placed ashes sprinkled with holy water on the foreheads of those who came forward, saying to each “Repent and believe in the gospel.” I’m not sure quite what I expected him to say at that solemn moment, but that wasn’t it. The message was “repent and believe” not “self-denial” and not “self-improvement” − at least not directly. I always understood that repentance was about being sorry and promising not to repeat our errors, so I guess there’s some self-improvement in that. Perhaps the other parishioners who attended Mass with me on Ash Wednesday will remember it differently. Perhaps their focus was different. I’m fond of the idea that Mass is like a pantry. Both feed and sustain us. A pantry stores a variety of things to eat, which we select according to our cravings. In the same way Mass is brimming with sacred food which we absorb according to our spiritual needs. What we absorb differs because our spiritual needs are unique to each of us. With this in mind, I am preparing for Easter. I’m still looking forward to celebrating and singing my favourite hymns. I’m still wondering if my family will be able to squeeze in a little time away together. Perhaps I will attend my first Way of the Cross ceremony. My days are still busy, but I am reflecting on what it means to be a part of my congregation and wondering what is waiting for me in the pantry. Nicola Arvidson is a parishioner at St Benedict’s, Inner Newcastle.

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News

Critical issues to be addressed at Bonhoeffer Conference By MICHAEL KENNY

Internationally respected theologians from South Africa and the USA will be among the guest speakers in Sydney on 7-8 June for the 14th Annual Australian Bonhoeffer Conference. Its theme will be Bonhoeffer and Public Theology. Begun in 2005 through the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, the conference honours the remarkable contribution made by the 20th century German Lutheran theologian, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who was executed by the Nazis during World War II over his public opposition to the regime. The Australian Bonhoeffer Conference is hosted annually by BBI-The Australian Institute of Theological Education (BBITAITE) and is a unique opportunity for those influenced by Bonhoeffer’s work to learn of and reflect upon his ongoing inspiration, in addition to meeting with

like-minded participants. This year’s presentations will focus on linking Bonhoeffer’s writings to contemporary social and political challenges of the modern era, including war, xenophobia and the rise of populist politics. “The conference has traditionally brought together representatives from across the Catholic, Anglican, Uniting and Lutheran churches who are united in a shared passion for the work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer,” explained Conference Convenor, Emeritus

Professor Terence Lovat from BBI-TAITE and the University of Newcastle. One of this year’s speakers, Professor Juliana Claassens from Stellenbosch University in South Africa, will draw upon Bonhoeffer’s writings and scriptural texts to make a case for a Feminist Public Theology to help us better understand manifestations of violence in our world today. Professor Barry Harvey from Baylor University in the USA and Professor Robert Vosloo from Stellenbosch University will speak on how

Bonhoeffer’s writings can help shape a public theology around contemporary challenges such as climate change. Fellow Stellenbosch University researcher Ms Karola Radler will deliver a paper reflecting upon the lessons that can be drawn from Bonhoeffer’s writings in analysing the rise of xenophobic populist politics and growing public distrust in the ability of democratic leadership to solve political problems. Michael Kenny is Marketing Recruitment Officer, BBI – The Australian Institute of Theological Education.

More information about the Annual Australian Bonhoeffer Conference including registration details can be found on the BBI-TAITE website - www.bbi.catholic.edu.au/short-courses/2018-Bonhoeffer-Conference.

Interfaith Forum

Our Faiths and Finding Spirituality:

7 JUN

St Joseph’s Conference Centre 140 Wangi Rd, Kilaben Bay

Our Faiths and God’s Message:

13 SEP

Islamic Centre of Newcastle 3-5 Victoria St, Mayfield

Cathedral House, Murray Room 841 Hunter St, Newcastle West You are welcome to attend one or all of the forums. For catering purposes, please register with Brooke Robinson E brooke.robinson@mn.catholic.org.au or P 4979 1111

19366

Our Faiths and the Discernment Process:

22 NOV

19411

Interfaith Forum

www.mn.catholic.org.au

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Opinion

Have we forgotten how to weep? (Pope Francis) By CARMEL HANSON rsj

In July 2013, Pope Francis visited Lampedusa, Italy, the landing place for the thousands of asylum seekers who had fled across the sea in search of better lives. He saw the anguished faces of parents desperately clutching their children, experienced the raw grief of those whose loved ones had perished on the treacherous journey and saw the fear and uncertainty in the eyes of the adults who had fled. Pope Francis praised the people of Lampedusa for the example of love, charity and hospitality that they have set for humankind. Then Francis asked, “Has any one of us wept because of this situation? Are we a society which has forgotten how to weep, how to experience compassion?”

and children whose claim for refugee status has not yet been assessed. People seeking protection are not illegal immigrants. They are not breaking any laws. Under Australian law, a person is entitled to apply for asylum if s/he is escaping persecution. Australia has a long history of accepting refugees. We remember all those, who in our lifetimes, have fled to Australia for protection: •

The refugees from World War II

•

The refugees from the Vietnam War

•

The refugees from the wars in Africa

The St Vincent de Paul Society has determined to respond to the challenge offered by Pope Francis. The Society launched its 2018 Social Justice Project declaring we will stand with people seeking protection. We will try to build a society of love, charity and hospitality. We will welcome all those who come to us, from wherever and however they come, with compassion and respect for their dignity.

•

The refugees from the ongoing war in Syria.

Who are refugees? Refugees are men, women and children who have well founded fears of being persecuted because of their race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership of a particular social group, and who cannot return home because this would expose them to a risk of persecution.

2. Strictly limits the use of onshore detention.

Who are asylum seekers? People seeking protection or ‘asylum’ are men, women

5. Never sends people back to a place where they are likely to be harmed.

Today we struggle with accepting those who flee to Australia seeking protection. We live with the shame of Manus and Nauru. The St Vincent de Paul Society recommends that the Australian Government: 1. Ensures safety is provided to all people held in offshore detention.

3. Ensures that people’s refugee status determination is resolved in a just and speedy manner.

Let us remember that “Refugees are not numbers, they are people who have faces, names, stories and need to be treated as such.” – Pope Francis. ACTION: Please write to your Federal Member of Parliament asking that s/he support these recommendations. You may wish to visit www.aph.gov.au/Senators_ and_Members/Guidelines_for_Contacting_ Senators_and_Members

4. Co-operates with our neighbours in the region to provide safety for people fleeing persecution. Carmel Hanson rsj is the Co-ordinator of the House of Hospitality at Broadmeadow.

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Opinion

Walls made of living stone Photo: Alphonsus Fok

By MICHAEL O'CONNOR

“The world is but a ship, and not thy home.” When I walked up the steps to enter St Therese’s Church at New Lambton as a child my eyes were drawn to these words carved in the masonry above the door. My ‘home’ was half a kilometre away at the Gully Line. It was a place of warmth and love and stability. Because it was so good I didn’t have a restless urge to embark on a ‘ship’ into uncertain waters. I was content with the settled way life was. This settled way was tested at church camps I attended in my teens. We were presented with two contrasting images of church and challenged to identify which one best represented our personal situation and preference. Were we ‘settlers’ or ‘pioneers’? In that immediate post-Vatican II era I perceived that we should be pioneers, but my preference was decidedly settler. Home, being a settled place, a place of firm foundations and solid construction, I had no need nor want to venture. Two thousand years ago the Church was on fire to venture extensively. It was pioneering like its inspiration and creator. It ventured everywhere very rapidly because it had good news from and about a loving God. This God was so keen to have his love form humanity into a community of salvation and love. Then Constantine happened. A mighty turning-point in the Christian story and a mixed blessing.

When church and state began morphing under the Emperor there was impetus for much of the pioneering – evangelising – to give way to settling. Both facets of church continued of course, but there was now the possibility for settling to gain ascendancy over evangelisation. The state gifted the church with churches. The church community began to meet in church buildings. Over time the word ‘church’ came to mean both the assembly of God’s people (as it had in the Hebrew scriptures), as well as the building in which they gathered for worship. Such bricks and mortar suited well the needs of the Empire. The buildings represented order and stability set against pagan and barbarian chaos. Prestigious, awesome structures served the political agenda as much as the ecclesiastical. The more state and church coalesced, the more ground was covered in masonry and the taller the spires. Western civilisation is rich in magnificent cathedrals like Chartres and Notre Dame. What would it have looked like without a Constantine? How would God’s people have developed without such a long marriage of church and state? Brian Mascord’s ordination as Bishop of Wollongong has prompted these musings. Brian was enfolded in church on the evening of 22 February. But there was not a single block of

consecrated masonry in that place. The nearby church structure could not accommodate the vast number of ‘living stones’ gathered as church to celebrate. The cathedral was empty, but the church was fulsome. People didn’t go to church, they were the church. They assembled where they could be church.

People didn’t go to church, they were the church. Is there something for us to consider here as we gaze into our future as church? Should we wonder if we have invested more than enough in material ‘churches’ at the expense of building solid communities of beloved disciples? Should we weigh up the relative values of church buildings against living communities when considering restructuring in the diocese? Should we put our energy and finances into forming missionary disciples rather than building maintenance and repairs, let alone new edifices? Stability and solidity are great things. How do they figure in the mind of the one who had nowhere to lay his head? Material stability and solidity can foster a significant psychological and spiritual

impression. Imperial Rome impressed itself significantly on the shape of the church even up to our time. Have we become too materialistic even in the essential material aspects of our faith? Have we had a misunderstanding similar to that of St Francis when, standing in the rubble of San Damiano church, he heard the voice telling him to repair the church which he could see was in ruins. Francis found the materials necessary to build walls and roof. But then it dawned that there was a more important church claiming his attention. He and his followers set about to rebuild the Christian people of Europe with preaching and the example of virtuous lives. No, I am not being iconoclastic. I love our churches. However, I love the church more. I would much prefer to experience the building-up of a people who are well formed, intentional disciples of the Lord who come together on the Lord’s Day to celebrate Eucharist and go from there to spread the good news of God’s love for all. The place they come to, and then go from, is secondary. It could well be an established building, or perhaps a temporary venue as was the case in Wollongong – whatever genuinely best suits the celebrations and the missionary outreach of God’s people. Michael is a member of the Aurora Editorial Team.

Frankly Spoken “There are lots of stationary Christians, who do not walk, bogged down by everyday things… They do not grow, they stay small… Parked Christians, they park themselves, caged Christians who do not know how to fly with the dream of this beautiful thing the Lord calls us to... Go forward a bit, take risks. The true Christian takes risks and leaves one’s comfort zone.” – Morning Mass 12 March

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Opinion

“Our most sacred day” Anzac Day. A day of solemn remembrance across our nation. A day to reflect upon the sacrifice of so many lives lost in armed conflict so that the security and freedom of future generations might be preserved. Laying down one’s life for the benefit and protection of one’s fellow citizen is undoubtedly an act of great nobility and many who attend Anzac commemoration ceremonies regard the day as a ‘sacred’ occasion. With that I have no quarrel and would not seek to diminish the significance that the day has for, seemingly, the majority of Australians. Realising the imminent approach of the day, what immediately flashed into my mind was the description appended to it, at this time last year, by a local NBN newsreader. He referred to it as “Our most sacred day”. I wondered was this merely a convenient label? A presumptuous sweeping statement? A throw-away introduction for another journalistic commodity? Whatever,

it focused my thinking upon the word ‘sacred’. I pictured again my first Anzac day experience at Belmont when I’d been chosen to represent my cub pack and carry a wreath in the town’s march. It was a task accompanied by intense personal emotion: embarrassment born of shyness; trepidation born of ignorance concerning what the occasion demanded. I was, apparently, expected to exude ‘solemnity’, a prime requirement of the duty, one which had never been communicated to me. This, I was supposed to have deduced from the surrounding clues: from the flags; from the tenor of the speeches; from the humourless gulf of silence in which all listened; by imitation or by osmosis I should have recognised and comprehended the ‘sacred’ nature of proceedings. From the age of ten, what I thought that I comprehended was that carrying out some ‘sacred’ function ‘properly’ should not be done in ignorance and with unintended

By JOHN MURRAY

insincerity so that it became a kind of charade. Somewhere in the mid-1950s what I came to sense vaguely, was that sincerity and hypocrisy can never be bedfellows and that an acceptance of concepts usually requires good reasons to complement emotion. Must have reason. That is what I thought I had learned. A more mature realisation could have been that one can respect the sincere beliefs of others but that in itself can be a very different thing from espousing an agreement with what they hold to be ‘sacred’. So what does that word mean? It derives, according to my dictionary, from the Latin root sacer meaning ‘holy’ – in its prime sense, ‘associated with God or a deity’. Commonly enough, I’ve heard people I know speaking of their earliest ‘religious impulses’ in terms such as ‘springing from some restless seeking’. ‘Longing’, ‘wrestling’, ‘aching’, ‘reaching’ and a consciousness of some ‘dissatisfying incompleteness’ are other epithets I’ve frequently heard. Many have come to accept that such spiritual hollowness can only be brought to a state of peace and wholeness when a union has taken place with the Creator. This earthly life then, for such people (including myself), is not the proverbial ‘be all and end all’ on this “bank and shoal of time”. Such thoughts and feelings can evolve into a state of awe when the realisation comes that what is truly sacred may be apprehended but not entered into in this lifetime. Icarus and his vainglorious human posturing are a clear representation of that. ‘Union with God’, ‘entering heaven’ and ‘being resurrected into an afterlife’, to my way of thinking, are expressions of some ultimate wish to embrace

the sacred; concepts that can be sensed only; vague visions of a state in which the infinite will subsume all the finite aspects of human existence – a glorious transformation which may be anticipated through prayer and meditation. What is clearer to me is that in this earthly life, wonder at the greatness of creation can sometimes be overwhelming. For me, it is from here that the sacred emanates. At this very point I must disagree with the newsreader’s description, “Our most sacred day”. If what is held to be ‘sacred’ is linked to God (a God of omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence) it seems more than a little absurd to speak of one day as being more ‘sacred’ than another. If the God I describe exists, then every day is sacred – for like God, the sacred surely cannot be confined to some particular place and time and observance. And if this is so, response to the sacred, rather than confining thoughts and actions, should inspire creative searching beyond known boundaries. My very ordinary layman’s views are paralleled so succinctly, so beautifully, in two utterances of the poet William Blake. “To see a World in a grain of sand And a Heaven in a wildflower” And this gives cause to reflect on a basic belief of our Indigenous people who traditionally regarded the natural environment and their inseparability from it, as sacred. Here is a wisdom we all have need to grasp.

John Murray is a member of the Aurora Editorial Team.

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Community Noticeboard “Before We Say I Do” 2018

Confirmation Work Space

Three Returning Theologians

Marriage Education is a vital part of planning

Mid 2018 will see national and international theologians return to the diocese for a variety of speaking engagements:

Newcastle. Friday 5pm-9pm, Saturday

On Saturday 26 May (10am to 1pm) sacramental teams from the Manning/ Northern Region are invited to set up camp at St Joseph’s Primary School, Taree, to work on their confirmation liturgies. Supported by the Diocesan Liturgy Council and each other, there’ll be time for discussion before teams work through their liturgies on computers provided. By session end confirmation liturgies should be close to ready for submission to Bishop’s Office. Go to www.mn.catholic.org.au/media/ 3385/180526_confirmation-work-space_flyer_ taree.pdf for more details, E sharon.murphy@ mn.catholic.org.au or P 02 4979 1134.

9am‑5pm.

Grieve Writing Competition

Marriage Education Course (FOCCUS) at

You are invited to enter the 2018 Grieve Writing Competition. Write a ‘grieve-themed’ 500 word story or a poem up to 36 lines. Entries close on 28 May. Please visit www.hunterwriterscentre. org/grieve-project/.

For information, including dates, times, venues, contact the diocesan Adult Faith Formation Office. E sharon.murphy@mn.catholic.org.au or P 02 4979 1134. Further details in upcoming editions.

for a life partnership. CatholicCare offers a selection of courses for married and soon-tobe married couples to assist them in preparing for, and maintaining, their commitment to one another. Couples are advised to attend a course around four months prior to the wedding. Book early as some courses are very popular. “Before We Say I Do” is a group program held over two days or four evenings. P Robyn, 4979 1370. Marriage Education Course – Before We Say I Do, 4 and 5 May at the Toohey Room,

the Toohey Room, Newcastle, 14 and 21 May. 5.15pm-7.30pm. Marriage Education Course – Before We Say I Do, 3 and 4 August, Toohey Room, Newcastle. Friday 5pm-9pm, Saturday

St Joseph's High School Reunion

9am-5pm.

St Joseph's High School, Merewether, will be holding a school reunion (for all years across 1932 to 1984) on Saturday 9 June. The school will be open for all former students to visit between 10am and noon on 9 June, followed by lunch from 1pm in the Windsor Room, South Newcastle Leagues Club, 46 Llewellyn Street, Merewether. Cost is $50 per person (not including drinks). Please deposit into the account below as soon as possible, including full name as the reference when transferring your payment. Newcastle Permanent Building Society, BSB 650 000; account name M Harris, T Butler, C Doyle; account number 530680904. We are endeavouring to contact those who taught at St Joseph’s. There will also be memorabilia on display. Please visit the St Joseph's High School Merewether Facebook page or contact T’ese on 0411 252 094 or Margie on 0438 286 513.

Marriage Education Course − (FOCCUS) at the Toohey Room, Newcastle, 3 and 10 September. 5.15pm-7.30pm. Marriage Education Course – Before We Say I Do at Singleton CatholicCare, 19 and 20 October. Friday 5pm-9pm, Saturday 9am‑5pm. Marriage Education Course – (FOCCUS) at the Toohey Room, Newcastle, 29 October and 5 November. 5.15pm-7.30pm. Marriage Education Course – Before We Say I Do, 23 and 24 November at the Toohey Room, Newcastle. Friday 5pm-9pm, Saturday 9am-5pm. TWEC Dinner The Annual Tenison Woods Education Centre Dinner will be held on Monday 21 May at the Therry Centre, East Maitland. Guest speaker is acclaimed ABC television and radio journalist Geraldine Doogue and her topic is, “Beware the Distractibles – the Art of Perseverance.” $65 pp includes canapés, drinks, main meal, dessert and speaker presentation. Bookings by 11 May to P 4979 1134 E sharon.murphy@ mn.catholic.org.au. Payment options available

Companioning Training, Children & Young People’s training Taree 19-20 June and Newcastle 7-8 November. This training is essential for those wishing to facilitate the Seasons for Growth program with children/ young people or adults. Please P Jenny 4947 1355 to learn more about becoming a Companion. Enrolments for training are completed at www.goodgrief.org.au.

23-26 July Dr James McEvoy to speak on The Spirituality of the Child at various events in the city, lower and upper Hunter, including a dinner seminar.

April

7 August The return from Boston of our own Rev Dr Richard Lennan. One twilight event only. 9-15 August Dr Richard Gaillardetz will again engage with us on issues of church leadership in a variety of seminars and open lectures across the diocese.

 7

World Health Day

 8

2nd Sunday of Easter

 9

The Annunciation of the Lord (transferred

this year as 25 March was Palm Sunday)

 11 World Parkinson’s Day

Nature Play Week begins.

 15 3rd Sunday of Easter

Mums’ Cottage

Youth Homelessness Matters Day

Invites grandparents to Grandparent and Toddler day, every Wednesday during school terms from 10am-noon at 29 St Helen’s Street, Holmesville. Enjoy some companionship with other grandparents while children play. Mums’ Cottage offers a range of services, programs, workshops and family events and would love to welcome you at any time. For more information, P Mums’ Cottage 4953 4105, E admin@mumscottage.org.au or visit www.mumscottage.org.au.

 18 World Heritage Day

Youth Mass

 1

St Joseph the Worker

International Workers Day

Domestic and Family Violence Prevention

 22 4th Sunday of Easter

World Day of Prayer for Vocations

 25 ANZAC Day  29 5th Sunday of Easter

May

On the last Sunday of each month, the 5.30pm Mass at St Patrick’s Church, Macquarie St, Wallsend, has a youthful flavour. Everyone is welcome.

Month begins.

Volunteering with Palms Australia

Palms is seeking qualified and experienced Australians to assist in various missionary and development activities. There are opportunities in a wide range of areas, from teaching in Timor Leste (pre-school, primary and secondary) to assisting with the development of a brass band in Kiribati; from plumbing/ building in Papua New Guinea to English/ Science teaching/mentoring in Samoa. Whatever your skills and experience, there is a place for you! To learn more P 9560 5333 or

NSW Association of Pastors and Pastoral

Associates (NAPPA) Conference begins.

 4

Yom ha-Shoah, Holocaust Memorial Day

For more events please visit mn.catholic.org.au/calendar and mn.catholic.org.au/community.

E palms@palms.org.au.

Immediate and Permanent Foster Carers are needed FREE INFO SESSIONS

18 April 3 May 30 May 14 June 26 June

4 4 4 4 4

Cardiff Gloucester Morisset Forster Raymond Terrace

LIGHT REFRESHMENTS PROVIDED

19411

upon confirmation of booking.

Seasons for Growth

For your diary

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Last Word

Aurora on tour Aurora was spotted in the forecourt of the royal palace in Fes, Morocco.

Review By TRISH BOGAN This book is packed with practical information to help make life less frenzied and consequently create time and space to do whatever is important. It’s an easy book to read; there are three early chapters of facts and scientific data explaining how we have become multi-tasked in modern life but fail to make time to appreciate rare moments of calm. We are so used to being busy that doing nothing has fallen out of favour, a “label for laziness”. Do Less. Be More offers 21 short exercises which list a common problem encompassing many of life’s tasks, related to either work, home or family. The authors offer suggestions for the reader to undertake and cover a variety of often time-consuming activities to change their busy-ness, to slow down, save energy, make space and be gifted with extra time. At the beginning of each exercise there is a quote which gives an insight into what that particular chapter reveals. Here is an example from Eckhart Tolle, author and spiritual teacher: “In today’s rush, we all think too much, seek too much, want too much, and forget about the joy of just Being.” And from Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple Inc., “It is only by saying ‘no’ that you can concentrate on the things that are really important.” Accompanied by “A ‘no’ to something is a ‘yes’ to yourself.” Each exercise has a different theme, all based on letting go and gaining more freedom to be yourself, through “Sounds of Silence”,

Being Idle”, “Avoid the Perfection Pitfall” and “Declutter”, to name a few. Anyone who leads a hectic lifestyle, and that’s almost everyone these days, will be nodding in agreement as they read through the pages of this book. The practical suggestions are a bonus that may take time to adjust to, requiring brain re-training and determination, but the advantages might lead to a multitude of ‘me’ times. Do Less. Be More by Martina Sheehan & Susan Pearse is published by Penguin (2017).

Vegetable and Hokkien noodle salad

Chef Bartholomew Connors, Cathedral Café

Ingredients f f 1 x 450g packet fresh Hokkien noodles f f 1 x bunch broccolini f f 5 roots from bunch of coriander, chopped f f Leaves from bunch of coriander f f 1 cup finely sliced white cabbage f f 1 cup finely sliced red cabbage f f 1/2 red capsicum, sliced f f 1/2 green capsicum, sliced f f 1 carrot, sliced f f 1 small brown onion, sliced, f f 1 x 250g packet bean shoots f f 2 tablespoons mild curry powder f f 2 teaspoons 5 spice powder f f 2 tablespoons oyster sauce f f Salt f f White pepper f f Sesame oil 22

“Space Day”, “The Importance of

This delicious dish will become a firm favourite for weeknight dinners, and it’s perfect served cold for lunch the next day. Feel free to add a protein of your choice such as cooked chicken thigh – just panfry chicken thigh, slice and serve on top of noodles (again, hot or cold).

Chef Bart’s culinary gifts can be enjoyed at Cathedral Café, 843 Hunter St Newcastle West, 9am–1.30pm, Monday to Friday. P 4961 0546.

Method Cook noodles according to packet instructions. Drain and sprinkle with sesame oil to separate. Set aside and keep warm. In a pot of boiling water, cook broccolini until al dente; remove and cut into small pieces. In a frypan over medium heat, sauté coriander roots for a minute then add cabbages, capsicums, carrot and broccolini. Cook a further few minutes. Stir in curry powder and 5 spice then place in a large bowl with the noodles. In the same frypan, add oil and onion, cook 5 minutes then add half the packet of bean shoots. Cook a further few minutes then add to the bowl of noodles. Add oyster sauce and chopped coriander leaves and toss noodles well. Serve as a hot meal or allow to cool and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Top with additional crunchy bean shoots.

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