AURORA - Autumn 2023

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Hunter New England

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is located on traditional lands of Awabakal, Biripi Darkinjung, Kamilaroi, Wiradjuri, Wonnarua, and Worimi peoples. We honour the wisdom of and pay respect to, Elders past, present and emerging, and acknowledge the spiritual culture of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. We have much to learn from this ancient culture.

‘Palay’ which adorns the cover of this edition, is a powerful artwork created by Year 11 student and proud Wonnarua woman, Portia Styles. The artwork title comes from the Wonnarua word for ‘voice’ and depicts what a Voice to Parliament would mean to her.

The artist’s statement on Palay reads:

The centre meeting place or campsite is Canberra, the Federal place of Government. The flowing water running from top to bottom represents the legislation, laws and policies that have been implemented since Federation, this has evolved the society of today where the First Nation Peoples have no say on policies that impact on their way of life.

The emu tracks around the meeting place and along the water flow show there is no path to the other side, the emu cannot walk backwards and it cannot fly over past policies. A Voice is the way to let us walk together for a better future.

We are grateful to Portia for sharing her talents and perspective with Aurora readers and I ask that you keep them in mind as you prepare to cast your vote in the referendum later this year. You can read more on this topic on page 11.

continuing to grow.

I have appreciated the kindness and patience from strangers and colleagues alike who, in answering my call, have not only helped to fill these pages with their vulnerability and wisdom but inspired my own faith journey and I hope yours, too. I am also thankful for the feedback from the Aurora readership, who, by their encouraging words, gave me the confidence to grow and improve when I was often shrouded in self-doubt.

After almost four years in the role, this will be my last as the Editor of Aurora. Portia and her teacher at All Saints’ College, Michael Cashmere are indicative of the many contributors over the years who have so graciously shared their stories and knowledge with me and made this magazine what it is today.

Editor: Lizzie Watkin

Design: David Stedman, Emma Barnett

Regular Contributors: Elizabeth Baker, Tim Bowd, Alexander Foster, Gemma Hunter and Elizabeth Symington

Team Contact

Aurora editorial and advertising enquiries should be addressed to:

Lizzie Watkin P 0404 005 036

E Lizzie.watkin@mn.catholic.org.au

PO Box 756 Newcastle 2300

Subscribe aurora@mn.catholic.org.au

On one side the people are nourished and healthy and prosper with many opportunities and good outcomes. The other side represents the Aboriginal people where policies have impacted the decay of their culture, health and limited opportunities. The people are thinner because their needs have not been satisfied by parliament.

WHEN

I nervously took on this role not due to a lack of desire, but because I understood both the privilege and the responsibility associated with cultivating a stream of stories that convey what it means to be Catholic; an identity in which I find myself

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Finally, it is quite fitting that ‘Palay’ is featured on the front of the final edition in which I am at the helm, as my experience as Editor has reinforced the value of listening to other voices. Now, more than ever, I am certain this is how we grow in our knowledge and compassion as individuals, become champions of our faith as Catholics, and become stronger as a community as we unite to harnesses the power of diversity.

From March 2023, Lizzie will be taking on a new role within the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle as the Family Engagement Officer for Catholic Schools.

On

cover:

You and me, and the rising sea

Bulla Vanaka! I begin with the warm and friendly greeting of the people of Fiji.

I recently attended a conference on the ‘Synod on Synodality and Climate Change’ with the bishops of Oceania on the beautiful island of Fiji.

My two ‘take homes’ from the conference; Synodality is integral to the survival and salvation of all Christian communities and must offer better gender inclusion moving forward; and two, climate change is a call and a demand of the earth and ocean for greater protection, action and care.

Pope Francis launched the Synod on Synodality, in October 2021, as an invitation to the whole Church, via a number of regional stages, to reflect on leadership which is inclusive, open, transparent, and overtly listening. This synodal process will culminate in 2024.

As I reflect on the process of Synodality, I note that we are always a work in progress and we can always do better.

I also walked away from the conference with a greater sense of urgency that a global and personal response to climate change is demanded of me. It’s not just about governments or the global village, it’s about me and my response as well.

The oceans form one lung of the earth’s oxygen production and carbon assimilation. It works in much the same way as areas like the Amazon Rainforest. Two lungs for the life and re-generation of the planet. One doesn’t work as well without the other. Both need care.

Standing in the village of Togoru between, what was once, the town cemetery and the homes of the villagers themselves, was an eye opening

experience. It is in that space you realise the true reality of climate change. In four or five years’ the village will no longer exist. Even now, the cemetery is only visible at low tide when the tops of the gravestones poke through the waves moving over them. Acres of the village have been consumed by the rising waters of the Pacific Ocean.

This village’s story is not unique, more communities across the Oceania region will be forced to relocate to other parts of their island home or to new regions in the Pacific. Nations such as Kiribati remain on a knife edge as the rising waters threaten the islands’ infrastructure.

Whether we believe in climate change or not, most agree that we cannot sustain the continued destruction of our natural resources or the polluting

of our natural home as we have been doing. Governments must do more to find a better way to produce fuels and reduce emissions.

However, it is not just up to politicians. We all play a significant personal role in saving the planet.

Being aware, informed and committed to reducing waste helps.

Creating less garbage, recycling more and using natural packaging more effectively, will assist in the care of the earth and ocean.

How and where we dispose of our waste should be a mindful and thoughtful commitment to sustainability long term, creating lasting change for future generations.

Fr Greg Barker is the Diocesan Administrator.

Photo: Fr Greg Barker

Names for saint-hearted

Language plays a big role in how we perceive the world.

From a business perspective, names have the potential to impact culture and infer meaning.

A brand name, for example, can be a powerful first point of reference that indicates the views of a particular organisation.

Many modern marketing experts will tell you that brands that only communicate functional benefits using descriptive names miss an opportunity to develop a stronger bond with customers.

By choosing an insightful name it can help an organisation tell a story that relates to its’ service or product. By selecting the name Puma, the sports brand is bringing to mind the animal’s reputation for strength and speed. No doubt, these are the qualities customers buying their products value highly.

However, despite the importance of a name being prophesised by people in suits for around a century, it is not a new concept. Indeed, the Bible is littered with examples of the emphasis God placed on names. For example, God specifically instructed both Mary and Joseph to call His Son Jesus. Later, Jesus changed Simon’s name to Peter, meaning “rock,” to signify his role in the Church. It seems

they too knew the potential for words to infer meaning.

Selecting names for their symbolic meaning continues to be a Christian tradition. For Catholics, there is a belief that in choosing a saint’s name for a person or an organisation (such as a school or hospital), it will serve as a special patron to protect and guide. Furthermore, it is said the saint will be the heavenly intercessor for the individual or community that bears his or her name.

Many saints are renowned for having a particular charism, or spiritual gift. A charism can be understood as the gifts from God that allow a person or group to live out the Gospel in relation to the world around them. The charism does not define the activities for which a saint is revered - for example their commitment to community service through health, education, prayer or social advocacy but rather, how they went about it. As such, charisms include can include: love, service, hope, compassion, reconciliation, courage, justice and peace.

Over time, it became clear some saints and martyrs had less than saintly pasts or lacked strong charisms. So, just as companies like Cadabra and BackRub (now trading as Amazon and

Google respectively) had to reassess what their brand name inferred, so too on occasion do Catholic organisations. Our Diocese is not immune.

While it can be difficult for some, embracing change is important, especially when it helps us grow. Ironically, it is often during a time of transformation when the value of a strong and consistent charism really comes to the fore.

Charisms do not or should not define a school and yet, as any educator will tell you, language impacts on practice.

By taking on a saint’s name it signifies to the people within that school community, and those looking on, that the school aspires to channel God’s love and presence in the world and, how.

Sean Scanlon is the Chief Executive Officer of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

Called to Serve

Members of the Catholic Schools

Maitland-Newcastle community filled Sacred Heart Cathedral recently for the annual Called to Serve Mass.

The Mass was presided by Fr John Lovell who described the occasion as an “opportunity for the Catholic school community to come together in response to the call to serve as a part of leading a Christian life.”

Preceding the Mass, awards were presented to Diocesan educators, including Cheryl Henderson, Larry Keating, and John Tobin in recognition of their 50 years of service to Catholic education. This was followed by the presentation of the Emmaus Awards, which recognise and celebrate the significant and varied contributions of staff in schools across the diocese. This year’s Emmaus Award recipients, as nominated by their peers, were:

Excellence in Teaching Primary

Belinda Pettinari

St Brigid’s Primary School, Raymond Terrace

Excellence in Teaching Primary

Fiona Stretton

St Kevin’s Primary School, Cardiff

Excellence in Secondary Teaching

Nicole Burns

St Paul’s Catholic College, Booragul

First Five Years of Teaching

Abby O’Connor

St Bede’s Catholic College, Chisholm

First Five Years of Teaching

Jordan Foster

St Pius X High School, Adamstown

School Support

Margaret Livingstone

St Joseph’s Primary School, Kilaben Bay Leadership

Diane Hickey

St Pius X High School, Adamstown

Innovation Humanities Team

St Bede’s Catholic College, Chisholm

VET Teacher

Joanna Towers

St Catherine’s Catholic College, Singleton

Teaching Primary

Jodie Summerville

St John the Baptist Primary School, Maitland

Excellence in Innovation

Kristen Jones

St Brigid’s Primary School, Raymond Terrace

School Community

St Mary’s Primary School, Warners Bay

The final highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Sisters of St Joseph Education Award to Patricia Hales, Principal at St Joseph’s College, Lochinvar. The award was particularly special given Trish is an ex-student of the school, with her principalship at St Joseph’s a ‘coming home’ to the Charism of the sisters that she has sought to live out through the entirety of her career.

Church in Australia mourns death of Pope Benedict XVI

Catholics gathered at Mass celebrations across the globe, including at our very own Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newcastle, to farewell Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI who died in Rome on 31 December 2022.

Pope Benedict, born Joseph Ratzinger, led the Church from April 2005 until February 2013, becoming the first Pope in centuries to resign. He had earlier served as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, one of the Vatican’s most influential departments, for more than two decades.

The president of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB said Pope Benedict XVI would long be remembered fondly in Australia as the Pontiff who led young people from around the globe in prayer at World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008.

“His papacy will be remembered as one of rich teaching, including his encyclicals on love, hope and truth, as well as his book series Jesus of Nazareth, and for important reforms in areas like liturgy and in the handling of child sexual abuse.”

“From his time as an expert adviser –or peritus – at the Second Vatican Council onwards, there was no question that Joseph Ratzinger was a major figure within the Church around the world,” said Archbishop Costelloe.

AND AROUND THE WORLD

Death of Cardinal George Pell

Only weeks following the death of Pope Benedict XVI, another senior Catholic leader was called to eternal life.

On 10 January 2023, Cardinal George Pell died due to heart complications following hip surgery in Rome.

Cardinal Pell provided leadership within the Catholic Church in Australia, as Archbishop of Melbourne and Archbishop of Sydney and as a member of the Bishops Conference for more than 25 years. He then went on to hold Vatican appointments as Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy and as a member of the Council of Cardinals, an advisory group to Pope Francis, testify.

Cardinal Pell’s impact on the life of the Church in Australia and around the world will continue to be felt for many years.

In acknowledging his death, Diocesan Administrator Fr Greg Barker asked that as a community of faithful, we pray for the repose of his soul. He added that while many would be saddened by the leader’s passing, “we must also keep in our prayers those who are victims of sexual abuse in the Church and who may be traumatised by his death.”

Project Compassion launch

Hundreds of people gathered at Sacred Heart Cathedral late last month with open hearts and minds for the launch of Caritas’ Project Compassion.

Spanning across the six weeks of Lent each year, Project Compassion brings thousands of Australians together to raise funds for people living in some of the most vulnerable communities around the world.

Caritas Australia’s Impact Director Leigh Matthews said it was great to see so many people support the cause.

“It was beautiful to have everybody here for the launch of Project Compassion,” she said.

“I think it really resonated with the people here, because it genuinely has a real impact on individuals – sometimes it’s easy to forget that there are people on the other end of our donations. It’s an opportunity to consider that there is a person with a real life who is able to change their future with your support.”

To donate, visit www.caritas.org.au/ project-compassion/donate

Name change on the cards for Catholic secondary school

St Pius X High School, Adamstown will be transitioning to a Year 7 – 12 school with the addition of Year 11 students in 2025 and the full complement of students in 2026.

During the consultation process regarding the secondary changes, feedback from the St Pius X staff and family communities noted the absence of a strong Catholic charism for St Pius X.

With the addition of Year 11 and 12, comes the opportunity to review and renew the school’s name.

Leadership at the school and Diocese are now calling for community input into naming options that will enhance the spiritual formation of students and embrace a new spiritual charism and educational identity for the school. Regardless of the name that is determined for the future of the

secondary school, respect for the history of St Pius X Adamstown will continue.

Feedback can be provided on two proposed names, Lumen Christi Catholic College and Assissi Catholic College, or additional submissions, meeting each of the criteria, can be provided by visiting mn.catholic.edu. au/7to12SecondaryEducation.

The final decision will be made by Diocesan trustees later this year.

To read more Catholic news from across the Diocese of MaitlandNewcastle and around the world visit www.mnnews.today or scan the QR code below. There, you will also find links to upcoming events, important dates for your diary and to live stream Sunday Mass from Sacred Heart Cathedral.

LIZZIE WATKIN

Bishop Michael Kennedy will be the 9th Bishop of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Photos: Peter Stoop

The ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle will bring a wealth of experience to the position having served as the Bishop of Armidale since 2012.

Bishop Michael Kennedy did not equivocate when the nuncio visited him at home, in the Northern Tablelands, with an offer directly from Pope Francis.

“When the nuncio asked if I would accept Pope Francis’ appointment to be the new bishop of Maitland-Newcastle, I did not hesitate to say ‘yes’,” Bishop Michael said.

“Whilst I have been happy serving the Lord and His people in Armidale, I determined many years ago that I would seek to live my life by saying ‘yes’ to God. It’s a good way to live.”

News of Bishop Michael’s appointment was first shared by Pope Francis in Rome on 2 February.The appointment is made following the death of Bishop Bill Wright in November 2021, since this time Fr Greg Barker has led the Diocese as Diocesan Administrator.

Unlike his most recent predecessors, Bishop Bill and Bishop Michael Malone, who had not been bishops prior to being appointed to lead the Diocese of

Maitland-Newcastle, Bishop Michael has a unique understanding of the role.

“When I was ordained Bishop in 2012, I chose for my motto ‘euntes docete’, the first two words in the Latin text of Matthew 28:20 in which Jesus sends his Apostles out to all the nations to teach them all that he commanded and to baptise them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” he said.

“I think this sums up the role of the bishop: to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to bring people into communion with him through word and sacrament.”

Despite having done the job for over 10 years, the magnitude of his appointment to lead another diocese is not lost on Bishop Michael.

“It is an awesome privilege and responsibility. I accepted the role willingly and heartily knowing that like all new endeavours, it will hold both joys and challenges,” he said.

Following the announcement, Bishop Michael travelled to Newcastle to meet priests and some of the lay faithful who work for the Diocese.

“It was the beginning of a long process

of us all getting to know each other,” he said.

Born and raised in Wagga Wagga, Bishop Michael is the youngest of nine children, born to parents John and Fidelma, who instilled in him the importance of family.

“I am very blessed to belong to a close, supportive, and loving family that is passionate about three things: faith, family, and football,” he said.

“Admittedly the football I am into is the AFL kind - so I am aware there may be a need to undergo a ‘change’ of sorts,” he said with a laugh adding that he is looking forward to donning his first Knights jersey.

An avid bushwalker, Bishop Michael said he was also looking forward to spending more time at the beach.

“I enjoy a walk on the beach and swimming in the surf, so I am keen to visit the beautiful beaches I have heard so much about.

“This will be a real treat for someone who has lived nearly his whole life inland,” he said.

For the most part, however, Bishop Michael is looking forward to meeting

people within the diocese from all walks of life. It was a commitment he said he shared with the late Bishop Bill whom he met many times over the years.

“What impressed me most about Bishop Bill was his humanity, by which I mean his kindness to people, his respect for people with different opinions, and his good humour in all situations,” he said. A qualified teacher, who worked at Xavier Catholic College in Albury for three years before entering the seminary, Bishop Michael is well equipped to support and guide the young, the old and everyone in between across our Diocese.

“In my life as a priest and bishop I have always been passionate about the love and mercy that God, in Jesus Christ, has for each one of us and about how we respond to this wonderful love of God. God calls to each one of us and each of us is invited to respond to that call,” he said.

With his installation only weeks away, Bishop Michael has one small request for the people of Maitland-Newcastle.

“Please pray that I will be a true shepherd in the image of Jesus Christ, and that all together we will live the joy of the Gospel united in faith and love.”

“ “

Personal and ecclesial “transfiguration” is the goal of the ascetical journey of Lent, and similarly of the synodal process, writes Pope Francis in his Message for Lent 2023.

The message, signed on the Solemnity of the Conversion of St Paul and released on 17 February, bears the title “Lenten Penance and the Synodal Journey.”

Our Lenten journey is synodal

Pope Francis takes his inspiration from the Gospel account of the Transfiguration, proclaimed each year on the Second Sunday of Lent. As with the chosen disciples at the Transfiguration, Jesus “takes us with Him to a place apart” during the season of Lent.

“Lenten penance,” he writes, “is a commitment, sustained by grace, to overcoming our lack of faith and our resistance to following Jesus on the way of the cross.”

This requires effort, sacrifice, and concentration, which are also requirements for the Synodal Journey; and therefore we can say that “our Lenten journey is ‘synodal’ since we make it together along the same path, as disciples of the one Master.”

Pope Francis: Our Lenten journey is synodal

BY CHRISTOPHER WELLS

Helping us understand God’s will

Like the journey of the disciples up Mount Tabor, Pope Francis acknowledges that the synodal process can seem arduous and lead to discouragement.

Yet, he says “what awaits us at the end is undoubtedly something wondrous and amazing, which will help us to understand better God’s will and our mission in the world.”

Pointing to the appearance of Moses and Elijah – representing the Law and the Prophets – at the Transfiguration, Pope Francis says, “In a similar way, the synodal journey is rooted in the Church’s tradition and at the same time open to newness.” He explains that “tradition is a source of inspiration for seeking new paths and for avoiding the opposed temptations of immobility and improvised experimentation.”

Listening and daily effort

In order to reach our goal of personal and ecclesial transformation or conversion, Pope Francis proposes two paths inspired by the Transfiguration of Jesus. The first is listening to God’s Word and to our brothers and sisters. The Pope reminds us that listening to Christ often takes place in listening to our brothers and sisters in the Church.

The second path involves facing the reality of the daily struggles of life, without getting caught up in extraordinary events and experiences. Pope Francis reminds us that neither Lent nor the synodal process are ends in themselves, but are leading us to the experience of Easter.

“Let us go down then, to the plain,” the Pope says in conclusion, “and may the grace we have experienced strengthen us to be ‘artisans of synodality’ in the ordinary life of our communities.”

This article originally appeared in Vatican News on 17 February 2023, and is republished with permission.

“ Both in the liturgical journey and in the journey of the Synod, the Church does nothing other than enter ever more deeply and fully into the mystery of Christ the Saviour. ”

Lead with a voice from the heart

LIZZIE WATKIN

As Australians prepare to partake in a referendum to establish a Voice to Parliament, discernment will be required. With rhetoric surrounding both the ‘yes’ and ‘no’ vote expected to escalate, Catholics may find solace in the words delivered by Pope John Paul II to First Nations people during his visit to Alice Springs in 1986.

“Your culture, which shows the lasting genius and dignity of your race, must not be allowed to disappear… Your songs, your stories, your paintings, your dances, your languages, must never be lost.

… And the Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you have made your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received by others.”

This sentiment, although delivered almost four decades ago, remains dear to many within the Church. It espouses the ongoing significance of Aboriginal culture not only within the Church but for the future prosperity of our society at large.

More recently, in 2021 the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council provided advice to Australia’s Catholic bishops which included their recommendation to endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Among the key recommendations of the Uluru Statement are the establishment of a First Nations “Voice” to the Australian Parliament and a commission

to supervise a process of “truth-telling” between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Whilst acknowledging there remain diverse views within Indigenous communities on the Uluru Statement, the Australian Catholic Bishops Council endorsed the Statement. The Council did so because the statement’s principles of reconciliation and walking together with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders fit well in the Catholic understanding. This endorsement was officially reinforced by the Catholic Church in Australia after an affirmative vote by members at the second session of the Fifth Plenary Council, held in July 2022.

Commenting on the upcoming referendum, Bishop Charles Gauci of Darwin, Chair of the Bishops Commission for Relations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, said “The conversation regarding the Voice to Parliament gives us a real opportunity to live up to our Gospel calling and Catholic social teachings; to engage and love one another.”

He also urged all Australians to use the coming months as an opportunity to learn from each other by engaging in respectful dialogue underpinned by open hearts and minds.

“We cannot avoid the difficult questions and conversations and we may not always agree with each other, but as Christians, we always need to be respectful and to honour each other.”

In 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum on whether to update the Constitution to include an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

The Voice will be an independent, representative advisory body for First Nations people. It will provide a permanent means to advise the Australian Parliament and Government on the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on matters that affect them.

A set of principles that describe how the Voice will work were agreed to by the First Nations Referendum Working Group.

The Voice is a body that will:

• provide independent advice to Parliament and Government

• be chosen by First Nations people based on the wishes of local communities

• be representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

• be empowering, community led, inclusive, respectful, culturally informed and gender balanced, and include youth

• be accountable and transparent

• work alongside existing organisations and traditional structures.

The Voice will not have a program delivery function, or a veto power. The structure and role of the Voice would be decided by Parliament through legislation, with members to be chosen by First Nations people.

*Source: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice website, February 2022, operated by the Australian Government voice.niaa.gov.au

Photo: Vatican Media

Chiaro Porro, Laudato Si’ Movement’s Jacqui Remond, Pope Francis, Theresa Ardler and ACU’s Dermot Nestor with a copy of the Uluru Statement from the Heart

A home run for the Hunter

LIZ BAKER

Rising interest rates, cost of living pressures and election promises to support those struggling are likely to dominate the news cycle throughout 2023 and into next year.

When the average rent for a threebedroom home within the Hunter is $550 per week (SQM Research), and the Department of Communities and Justice advise the social housing waitlist in NSW has over 50,000 people on it - it’s easy to see why these issues are at the forefront of many people’s minds, including the leaders of the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

It is in this challenging context the Diocese has established a new entity, Hunter Community Housing (HCH), which reinforces its strong commitment to reducing homelessness by expanding its social, affordable and disability housing portfolio.

Jessica Bentley is the General Operations Manager for HCH, which was approved as a Tier Two community housing provider by the National Regulatory System Community Housing (NRSCH) in November.

“To know that such a basic need is really hard to come by at the moment and to be able to assist people to fill this gap is a privilege,” Ms Bentley said.

“There is a huge need in our local area. Even before the Diocese launched Hunter Community Housing, we were

seeing people come to us out of desperation.

“Being a new provider in this space, we certainly don’t have a waitlist program feeding an endless supply of housing but the Diocese has ambitious plans for a suite of housing developments at locations across the region.”

Ms Bentley said many people took for granted the fortunate housing position they were in but that could change very quickly if illness or retrenchment struck.

“A job lost, an accident that limits someone’s ability to work – the reality is that many households in the Hunter are a pay period or two away from being in really difficult circumstances. I’m really passionate about assisting people to find affordable, safe housing. We can be a part of that hope for the future.”

Ms Bentley said that providing affordable leases was the agency’s primary goal but putting a roof over people’s heads was not its sole focus.

“Stable housing plays a critical role in helping people but that’s not always enough. Our wrap-around supports look at the whole person connecting our tenants with relevant services and supports,” she said.

HCH tenants have access to a wide range of services offered by the Diocese including; social support through CatholicCare Social Services Hunter-

Manning; training and pathways to employment offered by St Nicholas Pathways; and access to education and childcare services through its many schools and early education centres.

“Many providers need to refer tenants to other organisations for support services – things like financial counselling, a psychologist or even property maintenance,” Ms Bentley said.

“However, we’re able to refer in-house to our Diocesan partners and they can also refer to us as well, which leads to a quicker response time. Of course, our clients have choice but we have those internal pathways if needed.”

Maree Bird is the Young Adult Services Manager of CatholicCare’s Supported Independent Living (SIL) program, which supports young people who have previously been in foster care as they transition to adulthood by providing them with case management, life skills development, and accommodation.

Ms Bird said she had witnessed the toll struggling to secure affordable accommodation was having on our community’s most vulnerable, including young people.

“Accessing affordable housing has been a serious issue over many years, but it has significantly worsened in recent years with low vacancy rates in the private rental market leading to skyrocketing rental prices and leaving

many people homeless,” she said. Countless studies indicate that people who do not have access to stable accommodation also experience flowon impacts in other aspects of their life including employment, health, and general wellbeing. This is particularly true for young people who have little to no leasing or employment history behind them.

“We’re excited by the launch of Hunter Community Housing,” Ms Bird said. “Greater access to affordable housing will help so many in our community to get a strong footing and this can change their entire trajectory in life.”

Webster* is one of HCH’s first tenants, securing his tenancy with the support of CatholicCare’s SIL program.

Webster knew securing stable accommodation would be a challenge but was supported through the process by CatholicCare and their referral pathway to Hunter Community Housing.

“It was such a relief,” Webster said of being offered accommodation in Mayfield. “I was able to get a house basically straight away.”

With a stable roof over his head, Webster has just started a new job.

“It’s been tough transition, but I’ve been grateful for the support and my job is going great.”

*Name changed to protect identity

Accessing affordable housing has been a serious issue over many years, but it has significantly worsened in recent years...

Jessica Bentley, General Operations Manager for HCH with Maree Bird, Young Adult Services Manager at CatholicCare.

Photo: Peter Stoop

A sign from above

As soon as you enter the grounds of Mums’ Cottage in Holmesville, located on the outskirts of Newcastle, you can tell it is a place of welcome.

With smiling volunteers, coffee and biscuits, a pay what you can op shop and a variety of support groups, it’s a space where anyone can find a helping hand.

For more than 11 years Sister Helen-Anne Johnson and a band of volunteers have provided care at the Cottage, a role she said they all feel blessed to have, especially since she almost gave up on the idea.

“Around 13 years ago, while I was working in a pastoral support role at St Benedict’s Primary School in Edgeworth, teachers would send students who

were struggling to visit me,” Sr HelenAnne said, adding that it was these encounters that made her realise what God was calling her to do.

“After a while I worked out that these students’ mothers needed support to help their children – the more help they received, the stronger their children became.”

Not long after, Sr Helen-Anne started a weekly event at the school called ‘Mother’s Day.’ There, mums would gather to look after each other.

The concept was such a success that the sister felt compelled to grow the support community and went in search of a premise that could be dedicated to helping people from all walks of life.

After three years of searching for a suitable venue with no success, Sr Helen-Anne said she almost gave up.

“I thought I got the message from God very muddled up,” she said. But then, in what could be described as a sign of divine intervention, she received a timely tip-off about a space that could be suitable.

“One of my dearest friends wrote to me and said the Uniting Church was planning to close their hall and so I arranged a visit.”

While Sr Helen tried not to read into it too much, she couldn’t help but feel that the hall’s Saint Helen Street address was somewhat of a positive message from God.

“Once I was shown through, I thought it was a great space.”

She realised she hadn’t got God’s message muddled up at all. She was right where God planned for her to be.

“To me, that was the clearest sign I’ve ever had,” Sr Helen-Anne said. “I thought, the Lord wants his special home for mothers, and finally here it is.”

While the seed for the start of Mums’ Cottage was in the dream Sr Helen-Anne and the Sisters of St Joseph under the leadership of Sister Lauretta Baker, it was realised in collaboration with the Uniting Church and continues to flourish as an ecumenical venture with support from the Anglican and Baptist churches. However, Sr Helen-Anne eagerly

ELIZABETH SYMINGTON

Sister Helen-Anne Johnson with a loyal group of Mum’s Cottage volunteers.

Photo: Peter Stoop

explains that people of any faith, or of no faith at all, are welcome.

“When you visit us, the focus is you, you are loved, it doesn’t matter how you come or what your journey is, this is a place for you,” Sr Helen-Anne said.

The open-door policy at the Cottage, which operates five days per week, does not just extend to mums either.

One of Sr Helen-Anne’s earliest memories of the Cottage is of a young man, who was in his twenties when he knocked on the door. She describes how he had been left with a two-week-old baby and had no idea how to care for

it. In response, Sister Helen-Anne did what she does best, and called on the Cottage community to support him.

“They banded together to collect clothes, showed him the basics, and helped him look after his daughter until his own mother could move to the region to help,” Sr Helen-Anne said.

“It’s one of my favourite stories, it shows how important this place is to a wide range of people – even though it’s called Mums’ Cottage it’s really everyone’s cottage.”

Another proud moment from their history was the opening of a Mums’

Cottage in Perth in 2016, which occurred following an invitation to tell the Australian Church Women about the ministry of the Cottage. A lady from Perth who attended this conference, returned home to pray, and discern God’s will. Weeks later Western Australia Mums’ Cottage was opened.

Sr Helen Anne and the community of volunteers remain in contact with their Western Australian counterparts, hosting them for a visit as recently as only a few months ago.

The team of approximately 40 volunteers at Mums’ Cottage looks forward to

creating many more transformational moments like these and are grateful for the support they also receive from local businesses and schools which assists them in their mission. In addition, they are thrilled to have secured $250,000 in Federal Government funding, which will go towards renovating the old church at the front of the property, enabling them to breathe new life into the service.

Mums’ Cottage is at 29 St Helen Street, Holmesville. Everyone is welcome. Call 4953 4105, email admin@mumscottage. org.au or visit www.mumscottage.org.au for more information.

To me, that was the clearest sign I’ve ever had. I thought, the Lord wants his special home for mothers, and finally here it is.

Singing from the same hymn sheet

LIZZIE WATKIN

Phil and Donna Mahoney with two of their children, Rose-Marie and Curtis pictured at St John’s Church in Lambton.

Photo: Peter Stoop

The Mahoney family has spent years making children happy by performing pantomime on stage, but it is a lifelong commitment to community service that has earned them the greatest applause.

“My first memory of fundraising is from when I was a kindergarten student at St John’s Primary School in Lambton, and the Mercy nuns sent me home with a cardboard box (in aid of Caritas’ Project Compassion),” said father, Phil Mahoney.

The lesson in compassion and gratitude clearly worked - in November last year Phil was awarded the honour of Freeman of the City of Newcastle, in recognition of his numerous contributions to charity, entertainment and even the meat industry.

Over the years, Phil has mentored many rising musicians including home-grown international country music star Morgan Evans and Derek Redfern of Young Talent Time fame; he was even the first person to ever introduce The Wiggles on stage. Yet despite a lifetime of rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous, it was his early years spent with his mum and the Sisters of Mercy he cites as his biggest inspiration.

“My mum had a heart of gold. Her faith drove her to always help others in need, despite never having much money of her own and eight children to care for,” said Phil.

“We always had extras around the dinner table.”

“I would go to church with mum in Lambton and we would also pray The Memorare in front of a statue of the Virgin Mary at home,” Phil said.

The statue, a family heirloom first owned by Phil’s great-grandmother, was bought to Australia from Ireland in the 1800s and has been passed down through generations via the youngest sibling.

Phil and his wife Donna have four adult children, all of whom have followed in their parents’ footsteps by embracing a life focused on helping others and giving back to the community.

Phil recently gifted the Virgin Mary statue to his youngest child, Rose-Marie, a winner of the Diocese’s Bishop’s Award, announced earlier this month.

“Growing up I would always see Dad praying to the statue and I’m now grateful to be responsible for it,” Rose-Marie said.

Like her father, who has raised funds for Calvary Mater Newcastle’s oncology clinic, Camp Quality, Australian Heart Foundation, No Kids Hungry Australia, Black Dog Institute, Melanoma Institute, and Foster Carers Association, RoseMarie lives a life of service.

As well as working for St Nicholas Early Education, she regularly volunteers at Mum’s Cottage in Holmesville, is on the Parish Pastoral Council and formerly took part in the Diocese’s Pastoral Placement Program.

“As a Church, I believe we have the answers if we come together as a community who generously uses their gifts to warmly welcome and outreach to all, especially those in the minority,” Rose-Marie said.

Following in the footsteps of familial generations before them, this incarnation of the Mahoney family continues to support each other to know and use their unique gifts to help others, including those less fortunate than themselves.

“Family is everything,” Donna said. “But as individuals, it is important that you share the love that you experience within your family to help others in the community and ensure no one is left behind.”

As the matriarch of the family, Donna has led by example. Fittingly, she has received a NSW Government Service Medal for her selfless care, which came to the fore during the 2007 Hunter and Central Coast (Pashbulker) storms.

Phil and Donna’s sons are also wellregarded for their community work, with their eldest son Justin receiving an Emmaus Award for Excellence in Teaching from the Diocese in 2019. Meanwhile, their second-eldest son, Shannon, was awarded a National Australia Day Council medal in 2021 for his fundraising efforts for breast cancer research. Not to be outdone, their youngest son Curtis, a former nurse who is now employed by MacKillop Parish in

Charlestown, has committed himself to strengthening the community of faithful.

“Since starting in the role, I have been focusing on building a sense of community by bringing people together outside the four walls of the Church,” Curtis said. “I believe that by knowing each other outside of the pews we can strengthen our relationship with each other, and God.”

So while the COVID-19 pandemic ended the Magic Mahoney’s on-stage performances, they are still singing from the same hymn sheet, with the family tradition of building connections and serving others plain for all to see.

As a Church, I believe we have the answers if we come together as a community who generously uses their gifts to warmly welcome and outreach to all, especially those in the minority.

InterACTS form interconnections

LIZZIE WATKIN

In the first few weeks of the year, schools across the nation typically remain void of people. However, this is not the case at St Joseph’s High School in Aberdeen.

In a tradition spanning more than 15 years, every January students converge on the Upper Hunter school and proudly play host to dozens of community guests as part of an initiative called interACTs.

Chic Taylor founded the event, formerly known as All-Stars. Ms Taylor now works for Hunter Disability Services and said the original concept was to deliver a suite of activities that would build disability service clients’ confidence.

“In the early days we asked NIDA to partner with us to deliver the event, but we soon realised that St Josephs’ students were more than capable of facilitating the activities,” Ms Taylor said.

Ms Taylor said that while interACTs still went a long way in boosting the confidence of disability service participants, the event had evolved to signify so much more.

“It’s really become a celebration of diversity,” Ms Taylor said. “As we gather at St Joseph’s each year, it’s wonderful to see new connections being formed and old connections strengthened.”

In the months leading up to January, Ms Taylor meets the new cohort of St Joseph’s Year 12 students to plan the event.

“The students at St Joseph’s are just so impressive; they give up part of their school holidays to help us deliver this initiative, and they do it without any fuss and with the biggest smile on their face.”

And while COVID-19 prevented interACTs from taking place in 2021 and 2022, the hiatus did nothing to dampen the spirits of those involved in this year’s event.

For three days, there was merriment and laughter at the school as more than 80 people gathered for an action-packed program bursting with dancing, singing, art, craft and sport. At the end of the three days, students and participants who receive support from local disability service providers, including Hunter Disability Services, Challenge and, Inspiring Abilities, invite their loved ones to join them for a barbeque and highenergy performance.

Evelyn Bell is a sports captain at St Joseph’s and said she was thrilled to be on the organising committee for this year’s event.

“I first became aware of interACTs while I was still in primary school. It looked like so much fun! So, when I started high school I knew I wanted to be part of InterACTs too, and I have loved every year I have been involved,” Evelyn said.

“My motivation for taking part was wanting to help make other people

happy. However, I loved the experience as well.”

Evelyn is not alone in her continued support of interACTs, with more than 40 St Joseph’s students, across years 7-12, taking part in this year’s event.

Each of the students are partnered with a community member, and the ‘buddies’ then take part in a rotation of events.

Evelyn said that the connections that are formed at interACTs often last long beyond the event.

Ms Taylor said many of the service participants have been attending interACTs since its inception.

“Our participants have so much fun, and it helps to foster their sense of belonging, which is such a special feeling to be part of,” Mrs Taylor said.

“To see their smiles is brilliant and makes all the hard work of the students and service providers joining forces to put the event together, worth it.”

Photos: supplied, St Joseph’s High School, Aberdeen

Status update: hopeful

LIZZIE WATKIN

Human rights advocates and refugees nationwide breathed a collective sigh of relief last month when the federal government announced an end to Temporary Protection Visas (TPV) and Safe Haven Enterprise Visas (SHEV).

The policy announcement fulfils Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s election commitment, but more than that, it will significantly enrich the lives of 19,000 people currently living in Australia.

Mirja Colding-Moran is a registered migration agent at CatholicCare Social Service’s Refugee Hub. Part of her role is to provide professional advice and assistance on immigration matters to refugees and asylum seekers.

Following the policy announcement, Mrs Colding-Moran reported a spike in enquiries from temporary and safe haven visa holders living in the Hunter eager to apply for a permanent Resolution of Status (RoS) visa. The new visa option will provide temporary residents with the stability and security they have been lacking.

“Obtaining a RoS visa can be life-changing. It enables refugees

to gain access to social security payments, mortgages, business loans and other benefits, but most importantly, the ability to reunite with family,” Mrs Colding-Moran said.

“Many refugees arrive in Australia without any family, so this announcement gives them hope for reunification.”

The Albanese government expects the process of converting temporary protection visas to permanent ones to take about 12 months.

Mrs Colding-Moran said the significant change in immigration policy would enable people who had already been contributing to Australian society, to receive the same opportunities and benefits as other citizens. However, she does acknowledge not everyone will be happy about the policy change.

“Unfortunately, the sad reality is that many Australians falsely believe asylum seekers are illegal arrivals who do not deserve to be rewarded for ‘jumping the queue’,” she said.

“I implore everyone who has this view to delve beyond the rhetoric in

mainstream media which feeds this sensationalist narrative.”

Australia is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention, the main international treaty concerning refugee protection.

“As a signatory, Australia is bound by international obligations relating to the treatment and protection of asylum seekers. It is important to understand that under international law it is not illegal to seek asylum. It is a human right,” Mrs Colding-Moran said.

“Asylum seekers have endured horrific experiences and come to Australia in desperation and fear of persecution. They are not `boat people’, they are people like you and me, who deserve to feel safe, secure and supported.”

“For years this declaration was ignored and asylum seekers on TPVs and SHEVs were unable to feel safe and secure as they continued to be subject to restrictions on basic human rights.

“On top of this, the prolonged uncertainty of their visa status only exacerbated the already significant trauma they experienced fleeing their homeland.”

Mrs Colding-Moran said while the announcement was a step in the right direction, there was still more work to be done.

“There are many people who are on other visas, such as bridging visas, who unfortunately remain in limbo without any Government support,” she said.

“Following the announcement, we had many people come to the Refugee Hub who were in this predicament. Understandably, they were heartbroken to have it confirmed that their status remains unchanged.” Yet she remains hopeful.

“The recent announcement shows that if we band together, there is hope we can make a difference in the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our community who just want to make Australia their permanent home and contribute to our way of life.”

If you or someone you know require migration advice or assistance, and wish to make an appointment for an initial consultation, please email migration@catholiccare.org.au

Photo: Lizzie Watkin

Mirja Colding-Moran is a licensed registered migration agent who works for CatholicCare Social Services’ Refugee Hub

Heavenly lifelines

Newcastle locals, Benita Tait and Deacon Kevin Gadd have long possessed an interest in the divine. At the time COVID-19 first emerged, they were one year into a four-year course to become spiritual directors. Fast forward to 2023 and some might say their graduation from the course last November, alongside nine others, is a ‘God send’.

When people encounter hardship, times of unease, or prolonged periods of uncertainty, the experience can yield various outcomes. In the wake of COVID-19 being declared a global pandemic, scientists sought to understand whether its life-altering presence would influence, amongst other things, people’s attitudes, spiritual practices, and religious beliefs.

One of those scientists was Australian social researcher, Mark McCrindle, who in 2020 surveyed 1,000 people for a project entitled Australia’s Changing Spiritual Climate. His research revealed

that about a third had thought about God more, and almost half of Australians had thought more about the meaning of life.

McCrindle’s findings on the uptake of spirituality were echoed in research undertaken by National Church Life Survey, which surveyed 1,300 Australians during the pandemic and found that 45 per cent had drawn on spiritual practices during 2020. Of these, 15 per cent had drawn more on spiritual practices in 2020 compared to 2019.

While it would seem the worst of the pandemic is now behind us here in Australia, locally the demand for spiritual directors continues to grow.

So, how can a spiritual director assist those whose experiences have them yearning for more connection, contemplating the meaning of life, or experiencing a calling towards God?

According to Reverend Malcolm Drake, a facilitator of the Emmanuel Spiritual

Formation course undertaken by Benita and Deacon Kevin, this type of faith-led guidance has long been part of the Christian landscape and can assist us all to pay better attention to God’s communication.

“Spiritual guidance helps you attend to and move with the spirit in your life and encourages you to go deeper and discover what you are called to do,” Reverend Malcolm said.

Benita’s own experiences with a spiritual director have deepened her evolving relationship with God and were especially helpful in offering her great solace following the deaths of several close family members.

Now that Benita has graduated, she is looking forward to assisting others.

“I am looking forward to sharing my gift with others; to listen and truly be present for them,” Benita said.

“No matter what the reason is for people wanting to come and see

me, I will be helping them to look for God in their everyday life and be a listening ear that can reflect back and wonder with them – do they have a sense of God or the sacred in this moment?”

Deacon Kevin adds that for many of us, it can be difficult to navigate certain periods in life and still retain hope and faith.

“There is an element of stepping back and allowing the divine to do what it does,” Deacon Kevin said, noting that this can be difficult to do alone and so encourages anyone who needs spiritual support to reach out to a director.

To reach out to a spiritual director within the Maitland-Newcastle diocese, visit www.mn.catholic.org. au/church-mission/catholic-life/ spirituality/spiritual-directors-andministry-supervisors to find a list of who’s available.

ELIZABETH SYMINGTON

Spiritual directors, Benita Tait and Deacon Kevin Gadd.

Photo: Peter Stoop

St Nicholas educator, Emma Losurdo

Pathways building brighter futures

The increased demand for childcare places over the past decade has led to a growing shortage of early education staff - a fact which encouraged Emma Losurdo to utilise a pathway straight from Year 12 to fulltime employment in the sector.

According to a recent report by the Department of Education, there is a shortage of nearly 4,000 early childhood educators in New South Wales. A lack of qualified professionals entering the field has resulted in increased pressure on existing staff, with many early childhood services reporting high levels of burnout and turnover.

However, there is hope. Agencies like St Nicholas Pathways are taking significant steps to address the growing skills shortage in their region.

Pathways’ programs aim to improve the quality of care for young children by supporting the training and development of educators, employed

One program in particular has seen significant success – St Nicholas Pathways’ School-Based Traineeship (SBAT) program sees Year 11 and 12 students undertake a Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care through Pathways’ Registered Training Organisation partner, Macquarie Community College (RTO IC 90033).

St Nicholas Pathways formally launched the program in 2019 with 12 participating students. By 2023, the program’s intake had increased four-fold, with 46 students beginning their SBAT journey with St Nicholas this year.

Miss Losurdo, a recent graduate of Pathways’ SBAT program, was excited to gain immediate full-time employment at the St Nicholas Early Education centre in Maitland upon receiving her qualification.

“It made me feel so confident knowing that all my hard work and dedication had paid off,” Miss Losurdo said.

Pathways’ Business Manager Erica Wilkinson attributes the program’s success to several key factors.

“Our SBATs finish school with a Certificate III qualification, which means they can be employed as an early childhood educator immediately after finishing Year 12,” she explains.

“The program also includes paid onthe-job training and supports advanced entry into the diploma or bachelor degree qualifications.”

But more important than the career prospects, Ms Wilkinson says, are the ways the program supports students on a personal level.

“We see such growth in the SBATs who come through our program. Their confidence and skills grow so rapidly and they develop beautiful relationships with their fellow educators, the children and the families who attend.”

Ms Wilkinson acknowledges that St Nicholas Pathways’ programs also provide a talent pipeline for St Nicholas.

“Most of our SBATs, work-based trainees and face-to-face students are offered ongoing employment opportunities with St Nicholas following the completion of their studies.”

Miss Losurdo credits her success during and following the program to the high level of support she received from those around her.

“My incredibly caring mentors, trainers, leaders and fellow educators assisted and enabled me to make it to where I am today.”

“

by St Nicholas across their Early Education and OOSH services.

ALEXANDER FOSTER

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Through great loss and suffering came resilience and success

SAMANTHA FLAHERTY ON BEHALF OF CARITAS AUSTRALIA

16-year-old Laxmi lives in one of the poorest and remote communities in Nepal. She joined a child’s club, supported by Caritas Nepal, and developed the skills and confidence to become a leader, advocating for clean water taps at her school. Laxmi is now excelling in her studies and working towards her dream of becoming a civil engineer. She has become a mentor to other girls in her village, encouraging them to stand up for their rights.

Despite the odds she is succeeding but her journey has not been without pain and misfortune.

Laxmi lives with her mother and siblings in Jajarkot, one of the least developed districts in the remote Karnali provincealmost half of the population live below the poverty line.

“Even though I didn’t go to school, I wish my children to live a happy life and earn well,” Mankala, Laxmi’s mother, said.

But tragedy struck when Laxmi was 10 years old - her father died. Laxmi was devastated and stopped attending her classes despite loving school.

Prior to her father’s passing, Laxmi joined a child’s club at her school that was run with the support of Caritas Nepal, through the Nepal Livelihoods and Resilience Program. These clubs support students to participate in extracurricular activities to develop their speaking, writing and leadership skills via debating and essay writing competitions. The children also raise awareness by organising public rallies, street dramas and posting wall

magazines to highlight issues such as child rights, child protection and child marriage. Since 2018, Caritas Nepal has supported more than 5,000 children through the child’s clubs.

A few years later, Laxmi was supported to return to school and was elected as the chairperson of her club.

The child’s club members and Laxmi discussed the need to build multiple water taps at the school so that all students can access clean drinking water. They lobbied the school administration, the ward office and the municipality office until they eventually agreed to construct a series of water taps on the school grounds.

“Now I know where to speak and what to speak...I’m not afraid to speak.” Laxmi said.

After graduating high school, Laxmi is now studying a Diploma in Civil Engineering at a technical college. Her dream is to work as an engineer and create a better life for her mother.

“Mother does all this for us so that we can study and don’t have to struggle like this in the future. She is working so hard for our education,” Laxmi said.

For over half a century, generations of Australians have participated in Project Compassion. Project Compassion began in 1965, making it one of the nation’s longest running charity campaigns. Over the years, millions of Australians have learned about the people who have featured in Project Compassion and seen the positive impact a donation has on their lives.

Photo: Richard Wainwright/Caritas Australia

Laxmi (16) is now an advisor to her child club in Jajarkot, Nepal, helping mentor the next generation of young leaders.

ST PAUL’S PRIMARY SCHOOL, RUTHERFORD