AURORA - November 2021 by Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

on good good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration on make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on dship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard dship d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d erment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful erment e men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u ability aaccessibility accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step ability ab e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng tening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love tening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled diversity d e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed ith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human th h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting the he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng on empa empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian on empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion dd equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on rgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the rgiveness g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy safeguard a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing purposeful pu po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng uman dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance man d dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h an voice voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make an o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa passion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight passion pa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people ee o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e ment supporting supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility ment men uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b dership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ership e h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good acy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship cy compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment preference p e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men ndorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability ndorsement ndo emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab h servant servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he fference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening fference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng owth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity wth w h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e st aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith st ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene efaith a h D ocese oon Ma and-Newcas ty impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be y impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be Novembe 2021 No 218 good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on dship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard dship d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d erment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful erment e men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u ability aaccessibility accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step ability ab e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng tening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love tening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled diversity d e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed ith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human th h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting the he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng on empa empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian on empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion dd equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on rgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the rgiveness g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing preference of the the poor human human d dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy safeguard a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng p preference e e en e o of he poo poor dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance endorsement supporting championing collaboration empathy listening stewardship foresight growth healing purposeful pu po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab aaccessibility e b impact mpa reach ea h servant e an leadership eade h p christian h an voice o e love o e hope a egua d equa equality diversity e empowerment empowe men peop people e fi first ep an e endo endorsement emen supporting uppo ng championing hamp on ng collaboration o abo a on empa empathy h listening en ng stewardship ewa d h p foresight o e gh g growth ow h hea healing ng uman dignity step up aaction action be the the change the common good ma make difference advocacy compassion vision-filled purposeful forgiveness faith accountability accessibility impact reach servant leadership christian voice love hope safeguard safeguard equality d diversity empowerment people first aacceptance acceptance man d dignity gn step ep up on be he change hange the he common ommon good make e aa d difference ffe en e ad advocacy o a compassion ompa on vision-filled on fi ed pu purposeful po e u forgiveness o g ene faith a h aaccountability oun ab 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[the common good]

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On the cover More than just words, we need people to make it reality.

Featured f The great divide

f We must not flee refugees’ cause

f Open your ears to the cry of the poor

f Walking together to chart the Church’s future

f Politics and faith

f Young Advocates

f A treatise on women and church

f A dementia breakthrough, powered by you

f A necessary awakening

f Vote to change the plight of our most vulnerable

f Accentuate the positive

f Listen, understand, transform

f Major restoration planned for Sandgate Cemetery’s historic chapel

Regulars

FIRST WORD

The whole is greater than the part I'll admit, I consume far too much social media. You name the platform; Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and I can almost guarantee I've perused it at some point during the day. One of the ways I justify this to myself is through the viewing of 'meaningful' content that I occasionally come across. You know, things like interviews with celebrities that encourage us to 'be more' or, 'do more'. And while I am not ashamed to say I've adopted some perspectives from these transient thought leaders, I am often reminded the Church has been heralding similar advice long before social media existed. However, in a world where we are bombarded with messages, it's often the loudest voice that gets your attention. And, like it or loathe it, in my case it’s pop culture icons who seem to be cutting through the choir with the loudest screech. It's no secret the Catholic Church has had a fall from grace in recent decades. However, despite the inexcusable actions of some within the Church, many who undertake God's work have never wavered from the cause. The message surrounding it is just not received like it once was. But all is not lost. Last month, the first assembly of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia was held. Archbishop Mark Coleridge described the process of discernment as involving

pain and mess, but I share his hope that it will reinvigorate the Church in Australia. After it wrapped up, I spoke with Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Plenary delegates Fr Andrew Doohan, Helen Belcher and Bernadette Gibson about their experiences for a video. And while we convened at Sacred Heart Cathedral, they were adamant that we not film there. 'Why?' you may ask. As they explained to me, we need to move away from the perception that the Church is centred on buildings. Instead, they reinforced that we, the people, are the Church. I was then reminded of a conversation I had with Teresian Carmelite nuns Sister Jennifer and Sister Jocelyn last year. When I asked if they were concerned by the dwindling number of people perched in the pews as indicative of the Church's future, they said 'no' with an air of confidence I was not expecting. As I continue my faith journey, I feel that those I regard as the most 'religious' have their faith in the future grounded in something I am only beginning to awaken to. While I have been seeing celebrities in my news feed and observing smaller Parish congregations, they have been discerning the work of the Holy Spirit amongst us. Their spirits are bolstered by everyday people whose values are grounded in Catholic social teachings, including the quest for the common good. People who listen to the pleas

of those around them and advocate- in their own special way - for a fair and just society. In Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation, Evangelli Gaudium, written not long after his ordination as the pontiff in 2013, he wrote: "The whole is greater than the part, but it is also greater than the sum of its parts. There is no need, then, to be overly obsessed with limited and particular questions. We constantly have to broaden our horizons and see the greater good which will benefit us all... We need to sink our roots deeper into the fertile soil and history of our native place, which is a gift of God. We can work on a small scale, in our own neighbourhood, but with a larger perspective". In this edition of Aurora, you will witness the experience of others who are using their voice to benefit all of God's creations. Their campaigns may not appear on your social media, but it does not mean that their advocacy is any less meaningful. Indeed, I hope that their selfless quest for the common good inspires you to spend less time scrolling and more time thinking about how you, too, could be serving others.

Lizzie Snedden Editor for Aurora.

f First word

f My word

Contact Aurora Next deadline 10 November 2021

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MY WORD

A U R O R A C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F M A I T L A N D - N E W C A S T L E

You're the voice, try and understand it The origins of words are fascinating to delve into occasionally, and it is often so when words become part of everyday vocabulary. Sometimes we can discover that the meaning of words have changed over time so that their current usage is somewhat disconnected from their origins. At other times, we can find that the source of a word is still intrinsically linked to the way it is used today. One example of the latter category is advocacy, which we often hear in contemporary settings as people take up particular causes or issues. The word advocacy has its roots in the Latin word advoco, which means “to call, to summon, to invite, to convoke, to call for”. Thus, our modern usage is consistent with the Latin origins of the word. There are many good reasons for someone to become involved in advocacy for a particular cause or issue. Many of the causes and problems are worthy in and of themselves, and they represent things that cry out for attention in the public domain. If people in power do not pay attention, however, the need for individuals and groups to take up the role of advocates becomes even more pressing.

Some matters could be considered “trendy” or “fashionable” and garner more attention. We can all probably think of topics that fall within those categories in today’s public discourse, topics that are front and centre of advertising, commentary, and public debate. But what of the other issues? What of those issues that do not quickly gain interest and attention? Who will advocate on those issues that are not “trendy”, “fashionable”, or “sexy”? Perhaps such places are the domain of what I might describe as “Christian advocacy”. For Christians, involvement in any form of advocacy is not about general trends and the flavour of the month. Christian advocacy comes from the fundamental elements of our faith and beliefs and what that faith calls us to. And Jesus promised we would always be able to grasp what that means and what we are called to be about through the continuing presence of the Holy Spirit. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. (John 14:26; NRSV)

It can be rightly argued, I would suggest, that involvement in forms of advocacy is an essential aspect of living the Christian life. Not because it’s “trendy”, but rather because we have no other choice if we profess to follow what Jesus has taught us. When the Holy Spirit reminds us of what Jesus has said to us, when we discern the movement of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the life of the world, Christians have no other option than to act accordingly. In acting, we might find ourselves on the unpopular side of public discourse, yet we have to walk the walk as well as talk the talk. Indeed, the Church has developed a whole body of social teaching. Finding excuses is a relatively easy endeavour. It would be all too easy to say that these matters are not my concern, that they are someone else’s problem to deal with in some manner. It is all too easy to say that being a Christian does not require any engagement in the public domain, that Christianity is essentially a personal and private matter between God and me.

and defended. And the requirement to support and protect values and beliefs requires us all to speak boldly and loudly into the public domain. We cannot simply sit back and allow others to take up the responsibilities. To be Christian is to be an advocate. This issue of Aurora focuses on the many good works of advocacy that we find in the life of the contemporary Church. There are no doubt many other examples that could be found locally and more broadly, yet we only have so many pages available. One of the tasks of Christians and all people of goodwill is to take up those issues that cry out for attention, especially when the only voice available is ours. I hope that reading these stories inspires you to speak up and speak out on those things that truly matter. Fr Andrew Doohan is the Vicar General of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

It is not. And it never really can be. To be Christian is to hold certain beliefs from which come values to be championed

Frankly Spoken In order to do good, we need memory, we need courage and we need creativity… Remember that the other is not a statistic or a number. The other has a face. The ‘you’ is always a real presence, a person to take care of. Pope Francis, TED2017 Conference

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The great divide JOHN WATKINS

The idea that supporting euthanasia is progressive, and opposing it is conservative, is obsolete. In fact, any thoughtful progressive should be worried about where the rush towards voluntary assisted dying (VAD) is taking us. In September, Queensland became the fifth Australian state to adopt VAD. NSW looks set to follow soon. The Independent Member for Sydney, Alex Greenwich, has introduced his bill – co-sponsored by 12 Labor MPs – and it is being debated in the Lower House. The new Premier, Dominic Perrottet, has assured Liberal MPs they will have a conscience vote and an Upper House committee will examine the bill in detail. Generally, this is reported as a victory for the left, part of the gradual progressive shift that inevitably occurs over time. But even if we are to accept that this left versus right framing of VAD was accurate in the past, it doesn’t hold in 2021. The critical factor that’s changed over the past decade is medical science, primarily in the field of palliative care. You’ve probably never heard of intrathecal care. It’s a new drug-delivery method palliative care specialists use in which a catheter is inserted near the spinal cord,

similar to an epidural. It enables pain relief while allowing mobility and lucidity. Likewise, you may not know about nerve blocking, where pain specialists inject a numbing substance into a group of nerves.

of accessing modern palliative care is close to nil. If you are offered any end-of-life care – and there’s no guarantee you will be – it will look far more like the 20th-Century model than the modern possibilities.

get to extend their lives, achieve some level of closure and peace, and then die without pain. Terminally ill poor people, on the other hand, will be increasingly pressured to shuffle off and die quickly, “with dignity”.

These kinds of medical advances change the game on end-of-life care. When most of us think of palliative care, we picture a nurse increasing the morphine dose until a bed-bound patient slips into a barely responsive state. But palliative care specialists administering modern pain treatment doesn’t just manage psychoexistential suffering – it extends life.

We could fix this. The Australian Medical Association estimates it would cost about an extra $275 million a year to make quality supportive care available to all terminally ill Australians who need it. So, it’s expensive, but certainly possible. It’s a choice that a progressive government could and should make.

A person who doesn’t have a loving family around them might well feel steered towards ending their life through assisted dying. We see this in Canada, where almost one in six people said loneliness influenced their decision to die through medical assistance.

So why is this relevant to the left-right debate? Because only a tiny fraction of our population has access to this modern palliative care. If you are among the privileged few who are very wealthy, live in the right area, or have great health insurance, you can get access to lifeextending modern palliative treatments. With them, you can likely make the most of almost every day that modern medicine enables you to have. You can use that time to connect meaningfully with family and friends, do the things you love, arrange your affairs, and plan your legacy. But if you’re poor, live in the wrong area and have no health insurance, your chance

Instead, what we are offering the majority is death. I understand the apparent logic of this. If someone we care for – perhaps our mother, partner, or even our child – is gravely ill and suffering, it is a natural compassionate response to want to grant a peaceful release. But we must recognise that death is not the only release option available today. Surely any progressive and compassionate government in 2021 should be pushing for the average person to get modern palliative care, long before they get access to death. If we continue along the path we’re on, you can easily project the result if we offer VAD and not modern supportive care. It will be a society in which terminally ill rich people

If voluntary assisted dying becomes available and normalised, governments won’t feel the pressure to expand palliative care and the support it offers. If my friends and colleagues in parliaments voting on VAD laws don’t factor in quantum advances in palliative care, they will risk accidentally adopting a position that’s a betrayal of average citizens. John Watkins is the chair of Catholic Health Australia and former Labor deputy premier of NSW. This edition went to print at the end of October, prior to the Lower House undertaking a conscience vote on the VAD bill.

No one should be forced to choose between pain and death. Proper palliative care gives patients with a terminal illness effective pain relief, compassionate care, and quality of life. But a lack of funding means that palliative care is not available to everyone who needs it. Before the NSW Parliament gives you the option to die, shouldn’t it give you the option to live?

Authorised by Pat Garcia, Catholic Health Australia, Level 5, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Braddon ACT 2612

A U R O R A C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F M A I T L A N D - N E W C A S T L E

We must not flee refugees’ cause SR BRIGID ARTHUR

Who will ever forget the picture of one of the last planes leaving Kabul in midAugust with desperate Afghans running alongside the aircraft, some clinging to it and climbing onto the side, and at least two falling to their death? The fear and desperation encapsulated in the picture should stay with countries espousing the right to freedom and safety. However, just a few months later, what happened seems to be past news, something to be lived with and deplored, but not much more. A significant proportion of people who sought asylum by sea in the past 20 years have been Afghan Hazaras fleeing the Taliban. If an Afghan were to embrace the official Australian line of getting a visa and looking for a queue, the obvious place would be the Australian embassy in Kabul. The Department of Foreign Affairs website for some years had the information: "The Australian embassy in Kabul operates from a number of locations that are not publicly disclosed due to security reasons. The Australian embassy in Kabul has no visa function." So where was the queue? The simple answer is that there never was one, then or now. The idea that desperate people will conduct themselves as if waiting for a train to take them to the city is not only ludicrous; it reveals a complete lack of empathy, or even understanding, of why refugees flee for safety in the first place.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott even claimed that it was un-Christian to seek protection in Australia in a boat. To say that this is an un-Christian response is mind-boggling. Our long tradition is about welcoming the stranger and looking after the vulnerable. Distance from the reality of Jesus' time dulls the story of the Good Samaritan. Samaritans were considered unclean, not good people, and to be avoided. But who looked after the stranger? Not one of their own but this outsider. A shocking idea. I want to tell you about Ali, a friend of mine. In 2010, the Taliban killed his brother because he was a driver for a member of parliament. The Taliban does not accept this association with the government. Later, Ali received a death threat from the Taliban after being forced to "sell" his van to them and then objected when he was not given money. Another time, when Ali was on the road to the hospital with his baby son, who was ill, the Taliban stopped him. Despite his pleas, they forced him to turn back, and the child later died. On another occasion, the Taliban killed Ali’s best friend in front of him. Ali's family convinced him to flee. He eventually made the journey to Australia by boat, but by then he was mentally ill and in despair. Where would he be if he had not left Afghanistan? Probably dead. If he had stayed en route in Malaysia illegally? Likely deported back to Afghanistan – or put in jail, maybe caned. Had he stayed in Indonesia – even if the

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees judged him a refugee – Ali would probably still be waiting for between 10 and 20 years. There is no “right” way Ali could have taken to get to Australia – no queue he refused to join. Now, many years later, although recognised as a refugee in Australia, he only has a temporary protection visa. That is all our government offers to people who arrive by boat. Ali's wife and family are still in Afghanistan. They had gone to Kabul to be safer than in the country. They tried to escape to Iran but were stopped at the border and had to return to Kabul. More and more, we are challenged to look at this situation from a moral point of view. The rights of people have been sabotaged because the issue has become a tool in a party-political contest. But there are facts. There are about 70 million people displaced from their homes worldwide – about one in every 114 people – and 85 per cent of those displaced are in developing countries. Most of this is due to war and absolute cruelty. Forced migration is a global challenge. There is a growing trend to block refugees. They are not a tsunami coming to take over our country. However, Australia is a leader in promoting blocking people's right to seek asylum. Whenever the issue emerges publicly, political leaders and media shock jocks resort to mean, xenophobic, dispirited messages, mostly filled with fear of the

“other”. Election after election, both major parties try to convince everyone that they will not move in favour of a humanitarian solution. We have the opportunity to build a generosity of spirit that demands change and a solution. So, what can we, the ordinary people of Australia, do? f Be informed and use our voice. f Know the facts: there is much easily accessible information. f Join community actions. f Volunteer to give direct help for asylum seekers and refugees. f Write to members of parliament. Ask them questions and if they don't answer, keep asking. f Donate to the groups who are looking after asylum seekers and advocating for them. We must advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves. More than being the Christian thing to do, it's the right thing to do. Sister Brigid Arthur is the co-founder of Brigidine Asylum Seekers Project (BASP). It is a Melbourne-based initiative of the Brigidine Sisters whose motto is “Strength and Kindness”.

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Open your ears to the cry of the poor DAVID MCGOVERN

In the Gospel for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the encounter between Bartimaeus and Jesus was proclaimed (Mark 10: 46-52.) It was a fitting story because on that particular Sunday, across the globe, the Church also marked World Mission Sunday. The synchronicity was profound. At a time when the Church was being asked to remember all those who serve with faith, as missionaries in different countries, we were hearing a story of Jesus stopping on his journey from Jericho to dispense the gift of sight to the blind beggar. The exchange, as recounted by the evangelist, is telling: “As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. “On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, ‘Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.’ “And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, ‘Son of David, have pity on me.’ “Jesus stopped and said, ‘Call him.’ So they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.’ “He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. “Jesus said to him in reply, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man replied to him, ‘Master, I want to see.’

“Jesus told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.” At a time when the COVID-19 pandemic has led to the imposition of restrictions, the seeming curtailing of our freedoms and a growing sense of divide – in local communities, across states and among nations – this singular gospel story offers a compelling reminder of why we need to keep missionaries, and those they serve, in mind, every day. World Mission Sunday may be one day when we shine a light on their ministry and work, but their efforts, and the needs, are constant. Now, more than ever, we must keep those who have less – less access to health, to education, to food, to employment, to the ability to gather and worship – in our prayers. They are like Bartimaeus, calling out in faith and wanting restoration for what they have either long been denied or had taken away from them. With COVID-19 not discriminating on whether you are rich or poor, healthy or frail, educated or illiterate, or young or old, it is tempting to circle the wagons in a bid to protect our own interests. If we look to lock up the vaccines only for our own use, we are no different from those who sought to silence Bartimaeus in his efforts to attract the attention of Jesus. If we think parochially and only become concerned with our own affairs of lockdowns finishing or schools returning, we miss the chance to be moved, as Jesus was, by the faith and hopefulness of our brothers and sisters who experience the

darkness of despair and poverty. Perhaps, unsurprisingly, Pope Francis chose a piece of scripture that focused on sight as the theme for his message for this year’s World Mission Sunday. From Acts 4, he invited us to embrace the same sort of passion, joy, and exhilaration of the first disciples when, after Pentecost, they declared: “We cannot remain silent about what we have seen and heard.” Urging all followers of Christ to be fonts of compassion and mercy, the Pontiff writes: “In this time of pandemic, faced with the temptation to mask and justify indifference and apathy in the name of healthy social distancing, the mission of compassion capable of making the necessary distance a place of encounter, care and promotion is urgent. ‘What we have seen and heard’ (Act 4:20), the mercy that has been used to us, is transformed into the point of reference and credibility that allows us to recover the shared passion to create ‘a community of belonging and solidarity, to which to allocate time, commitment and goods’.” The gospel encounter between Jesus and Bartimaeus offers some practical tips for how we can model this solidarity. f Hearing the cry of the poor – read newsletters from your charities of choice, especially those supporting those who serve in places of need overseas, and stay abreast of the needs and issues they are looking to confront and redress.

f Dispensing our gifts, including prayers and finances, to those in need – we can be generous, according to our capacity, but it takes a conscious decision (Jesus was journeying and made a deliberate choice to stop and heed the outcry from the beggar) to engage with, and respond to, those less fortunate. f Allowing them to respond and shape their own destiny – it is not insignificant that, after his miraculous healing, Bartimaeus became a follower of Jesus. If we respond to the plea of God’s people, with faithfulness, miracles can – and do – occur. Communities transform and we save lives – this is evangelisation. The pandemic has wrought enormous change. As Christians, however, we cannot allow it to render us blind, deaf, or mute about the need to care for and support those in need. David McGovern is Director of Catholic Mission in the Diocese of MaitlandNewcastle.

A U R O R A C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F M A I T L A N D - N E W C A S T L E

A treatise on women and church BETH DOHERTY

The Church, when assigned her correct pronouns, is a “she”. Other names the catechism gives to the Church include bride of Christ, mother, and teacher. Why, then, is “she” such a significant PR problem when it comes to women? After all, language matters. Advocacy around women’s participation in the Catholic Church has been present for as long as the Church has been in existence. Yet, the impenetrable stained-glass ceiling still acts as a proverbial “stop sign” for women, whether intended or not. As one bishop answered at a youth ministry conference when asked what he would say to a woman who feels called to ordination: “Wrong way, go back.” We get told it’s not about ordination though, and I agree, it’s not. Probably like most men, most women would not feel called to ordination necessarily. But the ordination question is still an important aspect to consider in any conversation around participation and charism. From the earliest days of Christianity when Mary Magdalene first proclaimed the resurrection to the apostles, followed by her being named a prostitute 600 years later by Pope Gregory I – with no historical basis – women have been hallowed and maligned in varying measure. Tertullian, known as the father of Latin Christianity, said in a treatise on the Apparel of Women: “And do you not know that you are (each) an Eve? You are the devil’s gateway: you are the first deserter of the divine law: You destroyed so easily God’s image, man.”

Now, to be fair, Tertullian was a product of his time – he lived in the second century. But fast-forward about 1,000 years to Thomas Aquinas, who wrote in his Summa Theologica perhaps slightly more generously than his dead brother: “… Woman is naturally of less strength and dignity than man.” However, let us give credit where credit is due. Modern science and the feminist movement were not even a twinkle in the eyes of these esteemed theologians. St Teresa of Avila, the Spanish mystic, spent most of her life stalked by the inquisition, yet she wrote some of the most endeared spiritual literature of the Catholic tradition. The Interior Castle was written while she was in solitary confinement on the orders of the Vatican’s ambassador who called her a: “… restless gadabout, a disobedient and contumacious woman who invented wicked doctrines and devotions, and … has gone about to teach others as though she were a ‘maestra’ in contradiction to the teaching of St Paul who had forbidden women to teach.” In the context of the wider world, it seems untenable that these words could even be spoken in a historical context, much less maintained today. However, the Church’s classification of women as second-class citizens kept going. Pope John Paul II wrote in 1994 some affirming words to women in his letter Mulieris Dignitatem, but he was also very clear about their place: “In calling only men as his apostles, Christ acted in a completely free and sovereign manner … he emphasised the dignity and the vocation of women, without conforming to the prevailing customs and to the traditions

sanctioned by the legislation of the time.” This letter was swiftly followed by Ordinatio Sacerdotalis, addressed to the bishops of the Church on reserving priestly ordination to men alone. Pope Francis, for all his reforms, still maintains the Church does not have the capacity to ordain women. He has, however, spoken of the need for a distinct theology of women. He has commissioned two groups to study the question of women in the diaconal ministry. In Evangelii Gaudium: The Joy of the Gospel, he was clear about Mary’s place as more important than both the bishops and the apostles. So. Where, therefore, shall we go? One of the difficulties in speaking, with love, of women’s rights and advocacy in the Church is that as an institution, Catholicism has a very patchy and, in some cases, disastrous record for its treatment of women. Being one of the most important and lasting institutions in the world, the Catholic Church must bear some responsibility for the flow-on effects of this discrimination into the wider society. We might not see it so much these days in Australia, but the Church has significant political influence. According to Caritas Australia: “Women are disproportionately affected by poverty, food insecurity, climate change, genderbased violence, as well as a lack of access to education, healthcare and employment. Traditional social structures, stereotypes, and attitudes about women and their roles in society further contribute to this.”

So, I put it to you. As stated in the above development statistics from an official Church agency, research has shown that an unequal distribution of resources and power between men and women is still hugely prevalent around the world, even in so-called developed nations. Strict and unreflective acceptance and explicitly “gendering” of vocations in the Church means true equality of the sexes cannot be achieved. Protestations that complementarianism and biology make traditionally ascribed gender roles immoveable feasts also do not help matters. The patriarchal nature of the Catholic Church implicates her as an influencer of discrimination against women throughout the world. The flow-on effect is that there is less likelihood that any of the Church’s positive efforts to address issues that plague women will have any kind of resonance or enact genuine change. Change needs to happen. Advocacy for women in the Church and the world needs to continue. And as Catherine of Siena did in the 14th century with Pope Gregory XI when she told him he needed to show true and apostolic leadership, sometimes, speaking truth to power means going straight to the top. Beth Doherty is a writer, teacher, and author of “All the beautiful things: Finding truth, beauty and goodness in a fractured church”, published by ATF Press in 2020.

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Politics and faith JEREMY STUPARICH

The killing of British politician Sir David Amess last month highlights both the risks and the value of public service. Sir David had been a member of parliament for almost 40 years when he was stabbed to death in a terrorist attack while meeting constituents. I know very little about Sir David except that he was a Catholic who tried to serve other people as their local political representative. But people who knew him have been generous in their tributes. Cardinal Vincent Nichols said one of Sir David's best attributes was the ability to disagree with people without losing his kindness. Anglican Archbishop Stephen Cottrell said: “He didn't wear his faith on his sleeve. He wore it in his heart. That's the best place for it. It means it runs through your very being.” Not all of us can be politicians, and none of us wants such a tragic death, but it occurs to me that this man's life points to something we can all do to contribute to our community. We might not have a vocation – a calling – to serve in parliament, but we can all show each other kindness as we exercise our vote and debate ways to make Australia a better place. Each federal election, Australia's bishops issue an election statement highlighting key issues to help Catholics, and other people of goodwill, reflect on the upcoming poll and consider how they will cast their vote.

Catholics can bring an important perspective to political debate as part of the full diversity of Australia. No one political party reflects the full range of Catholic social teaching, so each of us must consider the priorities we have and the best candidates available in our electorate. For the 2019 election, the bishops issued a statement called "Politics in service of peace", reminding people: "Christian faith is not a private matter. It shapes how we live our lives in public, as well as how we relate to God." Politics is the responsibility of all. Political processes are about how we, and our elected representatives, relate to each other to decide how to live together in a community. Whether it is a chat with your local councillor about a problem in your street, a letter to the prime minister about homelessness or voting, each of us has a part to play. Catholics can bring an important perspective to political debate as part of the full diversity of Australia. Three key insights of Catholic social teaching are 1. Human dignity 2. The common good 3. A preference for the poor

Human dignity is the recognition that every human being is made in the image of God and so possesses inherent dignity that demands our respect. Therefore, no matter their age, sex, or race, or whether they're a pain in the neck, we have to treat all people well. It also means that government decisions should be directed to the benefit of the people. This is why Pope Francis said the economy must serve people, not the other way around – "Once the economy loses its human face, then we are no longer served by money, but ourselves become servants of money." The common good is perhaps one of the most powerful ideas in Catholic social teaching. It refers to the good of everyone in the community. This means the outcome of decisions should be more than just an improvement in the overall wellbeing of people on average, but an improvement in the lives of each and every person. The bishops' statement tells us the common good is "critically important because it obliges us to look beyond our own needs and desires to consider the interests of the broader community". The bishops also write about the "preference for the poor and vulnerable".

The statement says: "The greater the needs of people, the greater the responsibility we have to respond to their needs. This includes people who are homeless or struggling to keep a roof over their heads. It also includes others who are victims of violence and exclusion, particularly people like the survivors of child sexual abuse to whom we must offer care and support in every way possible." We should not forget to pray for our politicians, that they make good and wise decisions. Australia has a double dissolution election due any time from now to May next year, so when the Prime Minister decides to call the election, keep an eye out for a new bishops' statement on the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference website or social media. I hope it will help you to prayerfully consider your vote. All of us have a role in participating in debates, decisions, and elections that affect our town, city, state, or nation. Like Sir David Amess, we should engage in that important work with kindness and wear our faith in our hearts. Jeremy Stuparich is Deputy General Secretary of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.

Young advocates LIZZIE SNEDDEN

ROHAN POWER Year 8, All Saints College, St Peter’s Campus, Maitland

own produce, using reusable and local materials, and to have a place where we can socialise and work together," she said.

Rohan is on a mission to empower locals to better understand the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal number 9, specifically target 9.1.

As a first step, Chelsea is focusing on her immediate surrounds.

It states: "Develop quality, reliable, sustainable, and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human wellbeing, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all." To achieve this, and as part of his Virtual Academy project, Rohan is focusing his attention on developing a concept plan for a new outdoor gym circuit for Maitland Park. "The concept helps meet the UN's goal as it would be an innovative piece of infrastructure. I've designed it to be sustainable, resilient, focused on human wellbeing, affordable and enable equitable access," Rohan said. The keen sportsman said the idea for the outdoor gym circuit was born during lockdown when he could not play community sport. "An outdoor gym is something that all locals could use. It is free and encourages people to be a part of their community, be active and healthy. He said he selected Maitland Park due to its central locality and easy accessibility. And now that the plans for his project are in their final stages, he has his sights set on presenting the idea to Maitland City Council. It's not the first time Rohan has lobbied the government to reconsider broadening the use of outdoor spaces for exercise. In 2019, he shared his Virtual Academy project, which centred on the redevelopment of No. 1 Sports Ground in Newcastle to accommodate top-class cricket and AFL matches. To his delight, it received traction. "Not long after, I read in the news that this was actually going to happen," Rohan said. CHELSEA WOOD Year 5, St Peter's Primary School, Stockton Chelsea is on a sustainability mission and wants to empower others to share her budding idea. "I would like to help the community be more sustainable by growing our

"In my community of Seaside Fern Bay, we are not sustainable. We must always travel outside our community for food, fuel, schools, restaurants and more. "My solution is to create a community garden that will grow fresh produce for all to enjoy. I think this is the best way to help because anyone can walk to it, which will also play a part in people not using cars." As part of her project, Chelsea has met with a horticulturalist and nutritionist, who have helped guide her proposal and inform its viability. As well as identifying the best use of materials to build the garden and which type of produce to plant, Chelsea's research has highlighted a plethora of benefits a garden would bring to the local community. "Working in a community garden provides benefits to wellbeing including strength, mobility and flexibility, plus mental health advantages including relaxation and stress relief," Chelsea said. "Access to fresh produce also provides our community with a healthy variety of inexpensive fresh food for good nutrition. Working in a community garden can also give a sense of belonging and acceptance for those who may otherwise feel isolated." Chelsea has recently surveyed fellow residents at Seaside Fern Bay about community gardens, with most indicating their support for such a project. This was all the impetus the young green thumb required, as she now moves onto the next stage of her project; developing the financial model to sustain the garden, determining its exact location, and finetuning the proposed design. CERYS SMITH Year 8, St Paul's High School, Booragul Cerys Smith has never known a world without social media. However, the teen admits that while she uses it daily, she has observed it doesn't leave her feeling good about herself, and that scrolling is not a particularly productive use of her time. This self-reflection catalysed her project, which seeks to uncover the effect of social media on the social development of teenagers and identify ways teens and their parents can help mitigate any negative impacts.

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As part of the Catholic Schools Office Virtual Academy, students from the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle are encouraged to think across disciplines to solve real worldproblems in an area of interest to them. At the end of the year, students in the Virtual Academy present their research to a panel of education, industry, and community experts. It is a rewarding opportunity for

some of the Diocese’s most highly gifted students to advocate for matters close to their heart and understand their ability to apply their critical and creative thinking skills to drive change. The academy supports extended learning for students in Years 5-8. Here’s a snapshot of some of the current research projects.

As part of her research, Cerys developed an inquiry question: “How does social media affect the social development of teenagers?” and was thrilled to receive more than 200 responses from people worldwide.

advocate focuses her attention on the impacts of fast fashion on the environment and humanity.

"So far, I have discovered that despite their screen times ranging from 2-21 hours per week, the majority of responders said they felt 'addicted to social media; that it made them feel like their own life was boring; and that they feel disconnected when they turn it off’. However, they also said that they weren't going to stop using it," she said.

"There are people, including children, who work 14-hour days with sweat on their foreheads and blistered fingers only to earn under $19 a month making fast fashion," she said.

Cerys expects to complete her research project by the end of this month and plans to present her findings in a short film, which she will upload on YouTube. LUCA WILDSCHUT Year 5, St Joseph's Primary School, Merewether Tasked with developing a research project that is locally based, would improve our environment, and has the potential for realisation, Luca turned his attention towards McDonald Jones Stadium. An avid Newcastle Knights fan, the student felt the team's home ground could benefit from a sustainability upgrade. "The stadium is a prominent local attraction that uses a lot of energy," said the selfprofessed environmentalist. "With this in mind, I came up with the idea of making a stadium that I know and love a 'green' stadium." "In my research, I have discovered many environmentally friendly methods that generate energy. One interesting fact I have learnt is that millions of people die from lung disease every year, which can be caused by air pollution. This shows me that we need to take pollution seriously, “ he said. Luca is in the process of finalising his findings and presentation, which will include an array of visual elements he has learnt to create through participating in a Virtual Academy workshop on Photoshop. "If you can identify a problem in the community, it is always worth thinking to see if you can make a difference.” EMILY TUCKER Year 6, Corpus Christi Primary School, Waratah Long after a Year 2 excursion to a waste management centre, her awakening that day still spurs Emily. For her Virtual Academy project, the young

Emily doesn't mince her words when speaking on the topic.

"As for the environment, fast fashion is the second-worst industry that contributes to global warming – next to the oil industry.” The facts continue. "Did you know that it takes 32 kilograms of CO2 to produce a pair of pants, and 2,649 litres of water to make a single t-shirt? 64 per cent of the 32 billion clothes we make end up in landfill a year," she said. Emily's intentions in sharing these impacts are clear. "Through my project, I hope to grow others' awareness around these issues, and ultimately bring down major brands who know better but for the sake of money aren't taking action." ELIZABETH WOODCOCK Year 6, St Therese's Primary School, New Lambton Elizabeth was shocked to learn that while homelessness in the Hunter is on the rise, there appears to be a lack of government funding provided to services that support the most vulnerable in our community. As part of her Virtual Academy project, the socially minded student dared to envision "a place where everyone could sleep in a comfortable bed, have a hot meal every night and not worry about what would happen to them next. It would be a place where no one had to suffer on the streets, where everyone would be free to choose to stay or to go." Understanding that achieving this vision requires tangible solutions, Elizabeth researched to understand the current environment. Her initial desktop studies indicated that between the 2011 and 2016 census, homelessness in Newcastle had risen by 22 per cent. Elizabeth then met with a team leader from Nova for Women and Children, who confirmed that the number of people it supports each year is far greater than those for whom the government provides funding. Armed with this knowledge, using the Planner 5D program, Elizabeth designed

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ROHAN POWER

CHELSEA WOOD

CERYS SMITH

LUCA WILDSCHUT

EMILY TUCKER

ELIZABETH WOODCOCK

ZARA RUSHFORD

HENRY CARPENTER

three houses to support a range of family structures seeking temporary accommodation. As part of her design process, Elizabeth considered the use of materials and sustainability measures to ensure the facilities had low, ongoing maintenance costs and environmental impacts. Recognising there is a gap in government funding to sustain such services, Elizabeth also developed a bi-annual fundraising concept called Rainbow Fundraisers to bolster funds available to existing homelessness support foundations. Reflecting on the name and colourful logo of the money-raising events that she envisages would be held in schools. Elizabeth said, "Rainbow colours represent diversity in people but also unity. The rainbow also represents the different foundations the Rainbow Fundraisers support." And while Elizabeth is aware that her project might not be as simple as some others to come to fruition, this won't stop her from championing the need for more local solutions to homelessness. The youngster will attend the Hunter Community Alliance's City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Candidates forum, which is set to address the issue of lack of affordable housing in the city. ZARA RUSHFORD Year 5, St Aloysius Primary School, Chisholm Zara might only be young, but she has big ideas. For her project, she is investigating possible solutions for reducing society's over-reliance on fossil fuels to power vehicles, starting with her hometown of Maitland.

"My vision is to decrease the number of fossil fuels in NSW. By doing this, we will not only be helping the planet, but ourselves and the future," Zara said. As part of her investigations into low emissions transportation alternatives, Zara has engrossed herself in the NSW Electric Vehicle Strategy and booked in some time with experts to tap into their knowledge. So far, she has interviewed a West Australian-based chemical engineer with a strong interest in renewable and sustainable energy and a town planner and marketing and tourism officer, who both work for Maitland City Council. While Zara is still finalising her solutions, she is keen to see more of us make the switch to electric vehicles. However, she concedes that a current barrier to achieving this is the lack of charging facilities, so she would like to see more of these rolled out across petrol stations. "The federal government has $106 million to spend this year. It would cost approximately $2.6 million to install two electric vehicle charging stations in every petrol station in Australia, and I think the government should invest this money to achieve this, as it would still have just under $104 million remaining," she said. Other solutions Zara is currently considering include introducing a public bike system in Maitland that would see the two-wheel mode of transport available to hire from various locations across the city, including at local train stations and the hospital. In addition, to incentivise more people to uptake pedal power, she would like to see a cycleway developed between two of the city's most popular hubs, Green

Hills Shopping Centre and The Levee. Zara, who has some life experience taking up causes close to her heart with people in influential positions, recently wrote to the State Member for Maitland, Jenny Aitchison to share her ideas and garner some feedback. HENRY CARPENTER Year 6, St Aloysius Primary School, Chisholm Henry has a longstanding interest in palaeontology, which is the study of ancient life. So, when asked to develop an inquiry question relating to the local environment, he turned his attention to Aboriginal culture to better understand the wisdom our Indigenous people have amassed through their longstanding relationship with country. "I am very interested in palaeontology and have always loved to listen to Dreaming stories," said Henry. "So, when I heard about the great floods onto the beaches, how the koala lost its long tail unlike the tree kangaroo, and how the kangaroo learnt to hop, I was very surprised about how accurate but obscure some of them are." Keen to build his knowledge in this area of interest, Henry formulated the following inquiryt question: "How can we incorporate native wildlife and local Aboriginal culture into our lives, and what difference can it make for ourselves, and the local Awabakal community, both in the present and the future?” While Henry's research is ongoing and includes surveying fellow students and an abundance of online investigation,

he has also developed great insight by interviewing Craig Duncan, a Gamilaraay person. Mr Duncan is an Education Officer (Aboriginal Education) with the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, and shared his knowledge of Gamilaraay culture, native plants, and animals. In addition, Henry has participated in an Aboriginal astronomy lesson hosted by Aunty Joanne Selfe, a Gadigal woman who is one of the founders of Wirringa Baiya, the NSW Aboriginal women's legal service, and an elder of the Youth Koori Court. Later this year, Henry will present his findings on ways people can improve their understanding of Aboriginal culture to help and protect the environment. He's already hinted there may be some recipe inspiration on the cards using native ingredients, and encouragement to learn Aboriginal languages and the art of storytelling.

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Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Plenary delegates Helen Belcher, Bernadette Gibson and Fr Andrew Doohan,

Walking together to chart the Church’s future LANA TURVEY-COLLINS

There comes a time when any organisation looks to the future and assesses how it best achieves its mission.

and laity walked together in determining the Church's future was part of the eventual impetus for calling a plenary council.

For almost four years, through communicating with each other, listening for the whisper of the Holy Spirit, and seeking guidance from God, the Catholic Church has been contemplating how all Catholic people, agencies, schools, hospitals, and organisations might be more like Jesus and meet the needs of the most vulnerable in Australia today. We are doing that in the context of a plenary council.

Indeed, it was Pope Francis who approved the proposal for a plenary council, given its status within the Church and its ability to make laws for the Church locally. It is just the third such council globally, in the five decades since the Second Vatican Council, a watershed moment in the Catholic Church's history.

That terminology of "plenary council" can seem a bit foreign, but it essentially means an attempt to gather the faithful to pray, reflect, talk, listen, discern, and make decisions.

More than 220,000 people have participated in various stages since the plenary council started in 2018. They were invited to respond to the question: "What do you think God is asking of us in Australia at this time?"

The pathway to the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia, covering a nine-month journey with two assemblies, began early this century when Pope John Paul II invited the Church to renew its mission for the new millennium.

Since then, people have been encouraged to speak boldly in answering that question but also called to listen humbly to others – and, most importantly, to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, whom we believe is leading the way for us.

The Australian bishops recognised the need for a national response to that invitation, but agreement on how proved elusive. There hadn't been a major national gathering of the whole Church in decades, and many other issues – including the growing understanding of the horrors of sexual abuse – were more pressing.

Our plenary council is creating history. Previous plenary and provincial councils have been the domain of bishops and some priests.

That idea of a national gathering never faded, though, and Pope Francis's energy for a Catholic Church in which clergy, religious,

However, when the first general assembly of the plenary council convened last month, one-third of those assembled were lay people. Moreover, one-third were women, comprising lay women and women from religious orders. To have their voice represented as part of this

discernment process on the future of the Church is a significant milestone. Ours is also the first plenary council in the world to be conducted online. So, what happened during that first assembly? And what happens next? Over the assembly's six full days, a total of 16 questions were considered, with the members gathering in small groups online to, in some ways, return to where the process started. While the questions were more numerous, they again prayed, reflected, talked, listened, and discerned. They commenced with great energy this nine-month journey that leads to a second assembly in July 2022, at which key decisions will be taken about how the Catholic Church in Australia can be faithful to Christ's mission at this moment in time. At the Mass to conclude that assembly, Archbishop Mark Coleridge, a key driver of the decision to hold the plenary council, shared an anecdote about the journey from October to July, from one of his conversations during the week. A midwife who is part of the council likened the journey of discernment to bringing a child to birth, saying "the process is slow, painful and messy, but in the end, it is wonderfully fruitful and joyful as the baby is born". Archbishop Coleridge said: "Beyond the maelstrom of this week and all that lies

ahead may the Church in Australia come to know the fruitfulness and joy which the Holy Spirit brings from all the pain and mess, because nothing is impossible for God." Through a global pandemic, a postponement of the celebration of the two assemblies and an eventual move to a wholly online first assembly, we have seen that nothing has been impossible. And so, we stand, in this moment of hope and anticipation, looking forward to what will be possible as the Church in Australia renews and reinvigorates itself for the mission that lies ahead. Lana Turvey-Collins is facilitator of the Fifth Plenary Council of Australia.

That terminology of "plenary council" can seem a bit foreign, but it essentially means an attempt to gather the faithful to pray, reflect, talk, listen, discern, and make decisions.

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A dementia breakthrough, powered by you DR ANTHONY HOBBS

About 450,000 Australians live with dementia – almost every one of us knows someone diagnosed with, or has cared for, someone with this neurodegenerative condition. Dementia is the second-highest cause of death among Australians, and without a medical breakthrough, this number is expected to increase to nearly 900,000 Australians by 2058. We are not alone – it is estimated that more than 55 million people worldwide have dementia. Finding breakthroughs or ways to improve treatment and care won’t happen of its own accord. Being able to help people living with dementia to have a better quality of life, being able to diagnose the disease earlier, and the search for ways to prevent dementia all depend on research. Effective research, in turn, depends on finding participants. This has remained one of the biggest challenges. Anybody can help advance vital dementia research through participation in studies – whether they have themselves been diagnosed with dementia or are carers, family members or among the wider public. But there can be challenges for wouldbe participants too. There is still a stigma around dementia – although hopefully this is diminishing somewhat – and some people just don’t feel comfortable talking about it. For others, it is a question of how and where they can participate. StepUp for Dementia Research is one way of solving the how and where. An Australia-wide research participation and engagement service, StepUp for Dementia Research was developed to

make it easier for researchers to connect with people willing to participate in vital studies into dementia and dementia care. A “one-stop shop” if you like, that connects individuals – both with and without dementia – with researchers conducting studies into dementia prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care, and cure. Importantly, StepUp has been giving the public a voice and helping them contribute to the future of dementia research. In the two years since its official launch in June 2019, StepUp for Dementia Research has attracted more than 1,500 volunteer registrations and supported more than 50 studies across Australia. Many more volunteers are needed. Essentially, we need communities to be part of what StepUp calls “a dementia breakthrough, powered by you”. Based on a similar and successful public engagement platform in the UK, it has been developed here through the University of Sydney with funding from the Commonwealth Department of Health. More than 25 organisations have signed up as champions to support StepUp to reach out to communities. Calvary Health Care is one of them, and for good reason. We are a charitable, not-for-profit, Catholic healthcare organisation operating public and private hospitals, retirement and agedcare facilities and community-care centres nationally. In the Hunter and Manning regions, that includes Calvary Mater Newcastle, home-care services, and more than a dozen residential aged-care homes and retirement communities.

Our mission is to provide quality, compassionate healthcare to the most vulnerable, and many of our patients, residents, and clients, as well as their families and loved ones, are vulnerable. We are doing what we can to improve and enhance treatment and care for people with dementia across all our services. As an organisation, we have stepped up to support and promote ongoing research efforts and champion the change we want to see. Individually, many of us have also stepped up to contribute. StepUp for Dementia Research gives everyone aged 18 and over the opportunity to participate in research. It provides an easy way for people to donate time for the cause they are interested in while placing the value and potential of people with dementia at the centre of the solution. Australia’s population is ageing: the time to find better care and treatment options is now. Dementia is the leading cause of death for Australian women and the second leading cause of death for all Australians. It is only through research that we will better understand dementia and accelerate the search for a cure. This cannot happen without an efficient, effective method of connecting researchers with participants – or without people willing to step up to be part of the solution. Dr Anthony Hobbs is the Chief Medical Advisor for Calvary Health Care, and a member of the StepUp for Dementia Research Advisory Board.

Will you step up for dementia research? Registration to assist StepUp for Dementia Research is simple. With a few clicks, participants can sign up to be contacted for ethically approved studies. Those studies can include surveys about what works in improving quality of life for people with dementia and their carers; drug trials; longitudinal follow-up studies for people who may have a family history; interventional studies looking at whether behavioural changes such as diet or exercise can improve outcomes; or identifying risk factors and biomarkers. People can also opt out at any stage. Visit: stepupfordementiaresearch.org.au or call 1800 7387 123 for more information.

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A necessary awakening SEAN TYNAN

When asked to provide a brief background into the historical abuse in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and the role that advocates had and have in helping our Church choose a different future, I was perplexed. That's somebody's doctoral thesis. But then, it became clear. Almost everyone has had the experience of being awoken from a nightmare. Our initial feelings of disorientation, sometimes shock and resentment, become relief and gratitude to the person who awoke us from our terrible dreams.

It takes all types LIZZIE SNEDDEN Melanie* was only young when she experienced abuse by a clergy member in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. However, it wasn't till decades later, when the Church was put on public trial, that she told anyone of her harrowing encounters. "I came forward in 2007," Melanie said, when declaring her respect for the advocates who so openly shared stories of their abuse in the media and ultimately led to the Cunneen Special Commission of Inquiry and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. "I have such admiration for them. Had the Diocese not been pushed and shoved to reach out to people, I wouldn't have shared my experience." Since then, Melanie has been selective with whom she has shared her painful history. "I'd rather be defined as a person based on who I am, rather than what happened to me that was outside my control," Melanie said. However, she believes that communicating what occurred has helped her heal. "Since coming forward, I have met some wonderful people," Melanie, who in the past accessed support from Healing and Support, said. "What you have to remember is that for me, and the majority of people like me, is that we thought we

The decades when predatory abusers harmed children in our Diocese happened. Many of our past leaders either didn't understand the abuse or, put the good name of the Church before the safety of children and the care of those harmed. Broader society did not want to know or address the crimes that were occurring. However, the abuse happened. The details are spelt out in commissions of inquiry reports, media stories and public interest websites.

were the only ones. We didn't think it happened to anyone else. So, to know that we were part of this awful community, if you like, gives you some comfort and makes you feel a little better." Last year, staff from Healing and Support approached Melanie to ask if she would consider becoming a member of the newly formed Standing Committee for Oversight of the Office of Safeguarding. The Standing Committee comprises four independent members of various backgrounds, not all of whom have experienced abuse. They meet regularly to provide informed advice to the VicarGeneral on the operations and strategic direction of the Office of Safeguarding (OoSG), consider serious complaints against the OoSG and review appealable decisions where the Director of Safeguarding has a conflict of interest. And while Melanie no longer considers herself a person of the Church, she felt that being on the Committee would be a good opportunity to see, from the inside out, that appropriate processes are in place to prevent abuse. "Myself, and fellow survivors like me, are so passionate about ensuring other people do not go through what we've been through," she said. "Being on the Committee doesn't help me to heal; that's now in the past, but it is a private way for me to contribute. "There are people who are much more 'out there', and who have been able to advocate from the outside and put pressure on the Church and, I think that that's been necessary." "At that time, that sort of public advocacy

In NSW, many of the reforms required to protect children had been enacted during the turn of the millennia, largely thanks to Justice Wood's Paedophile Inquiry. However, these changes were not societal in scope. Those incredible, driven advocates who started as lone voices woke us up, and as we awoke, the few became many. There was an overwhelming demand for an accounting and fundamental, lasting change to the way society understands and approaches the

was needed to get the Church moving in the direction it is now. But now we have moved to a point where the enquiries are over and I think many, including the media, have recognised that the Church has changed." Reflecting on her year-long service on the Committee, Melanie said she feels the Church is embracing the opportunity to look from within, adding, "I think they're on the right path." Melanie also believes the 'rose-coloured' glasses within the Church have finally come off and is confident processes and protocols are in place to "make sure that people who have access to children are doing the right thing." However, she remains supportive of ongoing investment in the prevention of abuse. "Prevention and education are so important." *Name changed for privacy

safeguarding of children. This requirement is particularly true in our Diocese. Thanks to those early advocates, we were able to begin to address our past. With the assistance of advocates today, we can continue to develop our practices and strive to be a truly 'safeguarding church'. Sean Tynan is the Director of Safeguarding in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

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Lost control, but always hopeful LIZZIE SNEDDEN It's been four years since hundreds of people packed into Newcastle City Hall to attend The Atonement: Lina's Project. The event, which included an audio-visual presentation naming both the perpetrators of abuse in the Diocese of MaitlandNewcastle and those who concealed their crimes, conjured a range of emotions in those present. A notable absence on the evening, though, was the project conceiver, Lina. "The event became bigger than I could have ever imagined, and because of my agoraphobia I couldn't bring myself to attend", Lina said recently when reflecting on the momentous event.

A victim of child sexual abuse at the hands of a clergy member in the diocese, Lina has experienced lifelong, crippling psychological disabilities. Despite many praising the thoughtprovoking atonement project, which included Bishop Bill Wright publicly acknowledging the devastation caused to victims of abuse, their families, friends and the whole community, Lina remains tormented. "Bottling up kept me safe, I know the Church needed to get it out in the open, but I'm sorry I got involved in the inquiry. It bought to my consciousness a lot of events that had otherwise been conveniently blocked by traumatic amnesia,” she said. Lina, an artist who professes a strong Catholic faith, envisioned the project as a means of bringing people together after years of the Church's shameful criminal history of sexual abuse were plastered across the media. She explains the catalyst as observing members of clergy not knowing how to react, "they weren't being proactive in the face of disaster." "I felt that the Diocese needed to apologise and ask forgiveness for the harm suffered through abuse, but also through the cover-up of that abuse. I believe the Diocese needed to ask forgiveness of the people of the entire community – not only the Catholic community," Lina said. Years on, she concedes that while she felt the project achieved this, it also had many other unintended outcomes. "It helped solve the wounds of the Church itself, but I also inadvertently became an advocate for all these people who were screaming to have their say about their sorrows," Lina said. "The sad thing for me was that was that for a lot of people, it came from a place of hate." Many people feel distrust of, or hatred for, the Catholic Church. For Lina, though, it's hate that "dissolves society". "The project segregated people when I had hoped it would unite them in forgiveness, in an atmosphere of healing. I mourn that people don't seem to have forgiveness." To aid promotion of the public project, Lina selected the image of a king penguin to represent the Church. At the time, she cited this was because king penguins come together as a community to support

each other and nurture their eggs, which were also included in the imagery and represented new life. And so, while Lina couldn't control people's reactions to the atonement project, she remains grateful to Bishop Bill for the pastoral care he showed in supporting her to bring the project to life. Like the Bishop, Lina shares his appreciation for grassroots movements to unite a community and looks to the future with hope. "I haven't lost faith in mankind, but I struggle with what society has led mankind to become."

Raising the standard SEAN TYNAN An extraordinary level of change has come from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Royal Commission). Perhaps the change that will prove the most significant is the introduction of 'safeguarding standards' for children. In Volume 6 of its Final Report, the Royal Commission detailed the development, understanding and application of ten child safe standards ('Standards'). The informational basis for developing the Standards was: f the 57 case studies undertaken by the Royal Commission, including Case Study 43, which related to the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle and the Marist Brothers (released in late 2020) f over 8,000 private sessions with victims and survivors of child abuse f a comprehensive consideration of research, including the groundbreaking studies commissioned by the Royal Commission f the voluminous collation of evidence gathered from multiple individuals, institutions and statutory authorities, including the Diocese and the Cunneen Special Commission of Inquiry. From this massive body of information, the Royal Commission "examined the elements that define a child safe institution, noted why institutions fail and considered what standards could be applied" [Vol.6, p.12] to make safer institutions. The Royal Commission describe the Standards as "a benchmark against which institutions can assess their child safe capacity and set performance targets. The standards work together to articulate what makes a child safe institution. All the standards are of equal importance and are interrelated. They should be read

holistically, not in isolation, as there are necessary overlaps." [Vol.6, p.13] It was the Royal Commission's view that state and territory governments should require all child-related institutions to comply with the standards, including Churches that minister to children. The Standards have formed the blueprint for a series of national, state and territory equivalents. Currently, the NSW parliament is considering the Children's Guardian Amendment (Child Safe Scheme) Bill 2021, which will enforce compliance with the NSW Child Safe Standards for a range of institutions, including "a religious body that provides services to children". In Australia, the Catholic Church is the only national church to have developed a set of standards designed to meet its particular circumstances in ministry and provision of services. The National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS) are more rigorous and demanding than the Royal Commission's Standards. The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is a signatory to the NCSS and is in the process of implementing them across our parishes, schools and other services. External auditors will measure the Diocese's compliance with the NCSS. This will be a very expensive and demanding exercise. The Diocese is already working towards ensuring our compliance with the NSW Child Safe Standards. A significant complexity that is being worked on is to ensure that the Diocese can translate its compliance with the NCSS to the regulatory compliance regime of the NSW Child Safe Standards. There is a huge overlap between the NCSS and NSW Child Safe Standards, which is not surprising as both are highly derivative of the Royal Commission Standards. However, as a Diocese we are committed to ensuring compliance with all these standards to ensure that the past will not be repeated.

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Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle's Director of Pastoral Ministries and Hunter Community Alliance member, Teresa Brierley with Hunter Community Alliance member lead organiser Callan Lawrence. Photo: Peter Stoop

Vote to change the plight of our most vulnerable

LIZZIE SNEDDEN

Peak advocacy group Catholic Social Services Australia said increases in income support, more social housing, and a boost to mental health funding are necessary to address the “out of control” demand for homelessness assistance. The calls come on the back of data Homelessness Australia released last month, which shows the number of Australians with mental health issues seeking homelessness assistance has doubled over the past 10 years. Between 2019-2020 more than 88,300 people with mental health issues sought homelessness assistance across Australia. This figure was up from 44,700 in 2011-12. Francis Sullivan, Chair of Catholic Social Services Australia, said the figures are dreadful and calls on federal and state governments for increases to income support, more social housing and a boost to mental health funding. "These figures show just how dire the situation is for some of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged citizens," Mr Sullivan said. "Thousands of people across Australia either can't afford or can't access mental health care privately, or through Medicare or hospitals. Layered on top of this is the acute shortage of long-term affordable housing and easily accessible mental health support. "Together, these two major community failings destined thousands of Australians to miss out on the very basic expectation of a safe and secure roof over their heads."

Mr Sullivan said the doubling of demand for homelessness services indicates how the disadvantaged and marginalised in the community are forced to live. The Hunter Community Alliance echoes Mr Sullivan's concerns. It plans to raise the issue of rising homelessness in the region at its City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Candidates Forum and Lake Macquarie Mayoral Candidates Forum, to be held this month. Callan Lawrence is the lead organiser for the Alliance, bringing together diverse community organisations, environmental groups, unions, and religious organisations to advance the common good. He said that as part of the Alliance's Listening Campaign, held over six months to April 2021, many members had raised concerns about homelessness and housing in the local region. "We know that while there are a lot of people who are accessing social support, there are also a lot of people experiencing homelessness who are not in contact with service providers," Mr Lawrence said. "Many people envisage people who are homeless to be middle-aged men who may have mental health problems, or drug or alcohol dependency. However, there are also many older women, students, and working families, for example, who are also experiencing homelessness for short or extended periods of time. “What we hear is, often those people are not in contact with government-funded services but instead rely on family, friends,

or their own means to get by. Those government-funded services are typically the only source of data on homelessness, and so we believe there is a much larger experience of homelessness that isn’t reported or widely known. It's a wholeof-community issue and one that's unfortunately on the rise." The Alliance's discernment period informed the formation of a Research Action Team. "Given there are local government elections later this year, the Research Action Team put together proposals on a range of issues, including homelessness and housing, which could be adopted at a local level," Mr Lawrence said. "The proposals around homelessness and housing affordability include the development of rough car sleeping zones where people can safely take refuge in their vehicles if they have no other option; a locker system to enable people sleeping rough to store limited personal belongings; increased data collection and reporting on homelessness and poverty; and the implementation of significant affordable housing targets, and an Affordable Housing Contributions Scheme Alliance co-chairs will present policy proposals at the online forums and negotiate with candidates to seek commitments to make them happen. A key focus of the discussion will be ongoing collaboration and inclusion of the community in developing solutions. "They're not silver bullets, but they would enable progressive change."

Aurora went to print prior to the Hunter Community Alliance’s City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Candidates Forum, which was held via Zoom on 4 November. Those interested in attending the Alliance’s upcoming Lake Macquarie Mayoral Candidates Forum, to be held on Zoom at 6.30pm on Thursday 11 November, can register their interest by following the links on the Hunter Community Alliance website www.thehca.org.au/home.

"Thousands of people across Australia either can't afford or can't access mental health care privately, or through Medicare or hospitals..."

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Accentuate the positive ELOISE HAND

Children know to brush their teeth and put on sunscreen as part of a daily routine.

around their wellbeing, which will help them to mature and flourish.

Thankfully, we don't wait till they've got tooth decay or skin cancers to introduce these healthy habits. Prevention is always better than a cure.

Below are some of my top tips to help you empower your child to thrive and be the best version of themselves.

Our youngsters (mostly) embrace these concepts because we, the adults in their lives, introduce them at a young age and reinforce them through daily conversations and positive role modelling. And while physical care is and should be a top priority, it's time we adopt the same proactive approach to our children's mental health care. Why? For starters, research indicates that 24 per cent of school students have a mental health issue. Compounding this is that suicide is the biggest killer of young Australians. The time is ripe for us to be empowering the children and young people in our lives with the skills they need to face any of life's challenges that they will come across. It's what will help them bounce back when times are hard. Again, prevention is always better than a cure. Current statistics show that many young people experience difficulties with emotional regulation, self-regulation, resilience, self-esteem, and anxiety. These difficulties can leave parents and carers wondering how to help them overcome these issues and often feeling helpless. There are excellent resources available to guide your conversations with children

Take a strength-based parenting approach One of the world's leading experts on positive education, psychologist and author Lea Waters AM, has undertaken a great deal of research on strength-based parenting (SBP). This approach allows parents to put their children in touch with their specific talents (e.g., physical, mental, creative, technical, or social) and positive personality traits (e.g., capacity for kindness, courage, or love). Ms Waters says, "A strong child is one who can play to his strengths while simultaneously working on his weaknesses". Adopting a SBP approach doesn't mean you ignore weaknesses; it means you view them in a different approach. Address the strengths first e.g., "Sam, I love when you use your strength of fairness when you play with your sister" or "Ellie, I love when you use your strength of creativity to do your drawings". Mindful parent, mindful child Your mindfulness level spills over into your children. How aware are you of your food, surroundings, or mental state in the present moment? Is your mind flooded with thoughts from the past or filled with what is coming up next? Mindfulness is scientifically proven to lower stress levels, anger, and anxiety. It also plays a role in raising positive emotions—the more mindful the parent, the more mindful the

child. And the more mindful the child is, the less stressed they will be. I encourage you to to check out the Smiling Mind app. It is a fantastic and free resource that can be easily incorporated into the family routine, particularly before bed. Mindfulness is a wonderful strategy to help your child cope with feelings and challenging emotions.

counteract one negative. We don't want the negatives consuming us, especially when it comes to raising a child. Remember to practice gratitude and focus on your child's strengths (even in trying times). Attention on the positive helps us to thrive.

Gratitude is good for you and your family

It's okay to make mistakes; no parent is perfect. Sometimes our greatest strengths come through our greatest mistakes. Trust that you are on the right path, look for the good, focus on the strengths, model the same behaviours you want your child to display, create an environment where your child feels loved and supported. If you make a mistake, forget something, or lose your temper, own it. Acknowledge what went wrong and reframe your thinking for next time.

Gratitude is all about noticing and actively appreciating all of the good things and moments in your life. Gratitude feels good – when we are appreciated or show appreciation towards others, we feel warm on the inside. Gratitude also helps to build positive and lasting relationships with others. My two favourite family gratitude strategies are 'What Went Well' (WWW) and the 'Gratitude Jar'. The WWW approach involves asking your child to share three good things about their day. This could be done on the drive home from school, at the dinner table or just before they hop into bed. The Gratitude Jar involves you placing an empty jar in the kitchen and asking your family members to put in a note every time they feel grateful for someone else in the family. Read these notes together at Christmas time, before the New Year or simply once the jar is full. Beware of the negativity bias. Our brains are wired to be on the lookout for anything that might cause us harm; these are our survival instincts. We see it in our everyday lives; uncomfortable emotions, unpleasant experiences, and hurtful feedback have more impact than 'good' ones. The research says that it takes around seven positive things to

Give yourself permission to be human.

Eloise is the Primary Coordinator & Lead Teacher of Positive Education at St James' Primary School, Muswellbrook. As a strength-based parenting facilitator, Eloise is motivated to 'bridge the gap' between home and school. She is driven by the need to engage parents in the wellbeing space to create a common and shared understanding of the power of strengths.

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Listen, understand, transform DANE TWOHILL

As a lawyer, when I hear the word ''advocacy'' or ''advocate'', my mind immediately turns to a lawyer or barrister vigorously arguing their client's position in a court. But if one digs a little deeper, an advocate or advocacy is so much more. From my perspective, it most commonly occurs outside a courtroom, and not through lawyers, but through all of us. In its simplest form, advocacy is speaking up for your position or that of another. In some way, most of us will ''advocate'' for ourselves or another at some point in our lives. In modern society, advocacy plays a crucial role in shaping our community and our lives. There are countless examples of advocates, including politicians, interest groups, industry, charities, and churches. Advocacy can protect an individual's rights and can also lead to institutional, legislative, and systemic changes. For example, we have seen the positive effects of advocacy recently regarding workplace sexual harassment, domestic violence, and gender equality, just to name a few. Jesus himself was an advocate, speaking up for and advocating for the poor, women, children, Samaritans, lepers, and the most vulnerable of his time. As in Jesus' time, there remains in our society many people, through disability, age, illness, or discrimination, who cannot effectively advocate on their own behalf. Such people may lack the cognitive capacity to advocate, be vulnerable, or have suffered systemic discrimination and therefore don't trust that they will be listened to and heard. These members of our community rely upon others to advocate on their behalf.

The role of such advocates is important in protecting and strengthening the rights of the most vulnerable in our community. Disability advocate Michelle O'Flynn states: “Without advocacy, vulnerable people cannot be heard or given credence, they cannot be supported protected or defended and their rights will be lost. Without advocacy, vulnerable people will have no power and will be invisible.” Many services have been established to assist and advocate for the most vulnerable in our community, including the Disability Advocacy Service, the National Aged Care Advocacy Program, and the Aboriginal Legal Service to name a few. In my work as a lawyer at Carroll & O'Dea, I am privileged to advocate for those who have been seriously injured at work. It generally comes at a time when they feel most vulnerable and concerned for their future, and I can assist them in navigating a complex compensation system. Being an advocate for the vulnerable, in my experience, is a most rewarding vocation. Recently, I was fortunate enough to advocate for the family of a man who had tragically died during the course of his work. The man left behind a wife and six young children, devastated about their loss and concerned about their future, particularly as the family relied upon his income to survive. Distressingly for the family, the worker's compensation insurer denied the family's claim for compensation. With careful preparation of medical evidence and advocating on behalf of the family, we convinced the insurer to overturn its original decision to deny compensation to the family for the tragic death of their loved

one. Whilst compensation will not bring back their loved one; it gives the family some security and comfort for their future. At such a distressing point in their lives, the family required an advocate to speak up for them and put forward their position. But you do not have to be a lawyer to be an advocate. Any of us can be advocates, whether that be by speaking up for a particular cause we believe in, speaking out against the injustice that we may see, or speaking up for someone who cannot speak for themselves. In my experience, effective advocates: f listen with empathy to those for whom they are advocating

In modern society, advocacy plays a

f prepare thoroughly and communicate clearly the views and position of those for whom they advocate

crucial role in shaping

f are not necessarily the “loudest” in the room

our community

f avoid any conflict between their interests and those for whom they are advocating

and our lives.

f listen carefully to those who may oppose their position and remain respectful in opposing their point of view. Advocacy has led to most of the freedoms and rights we enjoy today and ensures the rights of the most vulnerable in our community are protected. Dane Twohill is a senior member of Carroll & O’Dea Lawyers, Newcastle, and practises in its compensation law, litigation, and dispute resolution team.

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ALUMNI

Sr Monique Singh BRITTANY GONZALEZ Former St Clare’s High School student Monique Singh had her sights set on becoming a professional dancer from a young age. After school, she pursued this passion, which landed her in Brisbane. However, while living in the riverside city she met the Canossian Sisters. This encounter eventually led her to surrender to God’s calling and dance to a different tune. What Catholic school(s) did you attend? I commenced school in the Archdiocese of Sydney at St John Vianney Primary School, Greenacre. In Year 3, my family moved to the Manning, and I transitioned to St Joseph’s Primary School, Taree, before graduating to St Clare’s High School, also in Taree. Why did your parents choose a Catholic education for you? Quality Catholic education was important for my family in selecting a school, for which I am grateful. What is your fondest memory from your schooling years? I am not sure that I can name only one. I have many fond memories of my school years. While I enjoyed and worked hard at academic studies, many extra-curricular activities enriched my school life. Often these were in the creative and performing arts, and the liturgical life of the school. Some kind words of teachers and sharing of friendships, even in simple things, also remain with me. God gifted me with gentle, subtle graces through both staff and fellow students, and I believe I carry these positive experiences with me. Schooling is such a formative ground where gems may be gathered and stored for future days. How did your dancing career path evolve into one of vocation with the Canossian Sisters? I started discerning my path after some strong prayer experiences on a retreat. While I was in the liminal space of not knowing what came next, I completed an honours degree in sacred dance. The call to leave the familiar – the dance world – was strong, and I realised it was God asking me to surrender all to Him. When I could let go of the life story I had written for myself, the new opened up, and I was in a disposition to respond to the call to religious life. There was something attractive about being with the Canossians and their joyful spirit, so it was natural to discern with them, and I found my sense of belonging there.

For those who may not be familiar with Canossian Sisters, how would you describe a day in the life as a Sister? Canossian Sisters live in community for the mission. There are five main branches of ministry in which Canossians are involved, however, some offer a broad scope, enabling us to meet emerging needs and respond to the signs of the times. The five ministries are education, evangelisation, pastoral care of the sick, formation of the laity, and spiritual direction. Most days begin in personal prayer and meditation, followed by the Morning Prayer of the Church (Lauds), Mass, then preparing for ministry. My ministry is in education – I am a secondary school teacher – and thus am out most of the day. In the evening, we pray together again and spend some time in community, sharing our experiences of the day. Central to living your life as a Canossian Daughter of Charity are three components: Prayer, Community, and Mission. How do the Sisters strive to serve the community? “Make Jesus known and loved” said St Magdalene of Canossa, our foundress. There are many Canossian ministries, and it is through each of them we strive to serve with the love of Christ Crucified – something we can only do with the grace of God. Closeness in prayer and walking with people, we hope to serve those we encounter in humility and love. Canossian Daughters of Charity have celebrated more than 70 years of mission, charity, and love in Australia. In your time with the Sisters, can you reflect on a moment of giving that you hold close to your heart? Seventy years is quite the milestone. While I have only been privy to the past decade of their works first-hand, I know of many beautiful stories preceding my time with the Order. There are some big, courageous acts that draw me to wonder, and I treasure them. I also believe the less noticeable acts of selfless giving that happen around me in community are gifts, and I hold them close to my heart. Sometimes Sisters who quietly do the little things with great love are truly saintly in their gentle way.

CARE TALK

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Care talk

The Rosewood Centre’s registered psychologists address a new 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, call: The Rosewood Centre P 1800 613 155 or Lifeline 24/7 on P 131 114.

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

Care for the carers JESSICA SMITH

As humans, we are inherently social beings. We are born to connect with and care for others. It makes sense, then, that there are over 2.65 million carers across Australia providing unpaid care and support to family members and friends who have a disability, mental health concern, or other health or age-related conditions. 235,500 of Australia’s carers are young people. To say that carers are an integral part of our Australian society, would be an understatement. While caring for others is often a fulfilling and selfless value and action, our carers also deserve our attention and care. If you know a carer, I wonder how you could reach out, check in, and show that you care? I also encourage any carers reading to check in with themselves and ask ‘how am I going?’, ‘do I need to reach out?’, and ‘how can I show care to myself?’ If you would like some simple ways to care for yourself right now, you might like to try:

f A breathing or grounding exercise: try noticing your breath, your thoughts, and the environment around you for a few moments and then return to your routine. f Bringing in some self-compassion: try speaking to yourself like you would a friend, what words would you use, or advice would you give? f Reaching out: contact a friend or family member, or explore if there is a local carer support group near you. f Getting out of the house: going outside, sharing a drink or meal with someone, or exercising in a way that works for you It is possible to thrive, rather than just survive, in your caring journey and as inherently social beings, I would suggest that this comes through connection. Connect with yourself first and ensure that your basic needs are being met. Try to make sure you are eating nutritious food, getting quality sleep, spending time in

nature, having time to yourself and quality time with loved ones. Then it’s time to calmly and confidently connect with the person you are caring for and consider whether you might benefit from some professional support in this area. If you are a carer who needs some care, there are some great organisations available to help. f Carer Gateway: 1800 422 737 or www.carergateway.gov.au f Young Carers Network: www.youngcarersnetwork.com.au f Carers NSW: 02 9280 4744 or www.carersnsw.org.au f Carers Australia: 02 6122 9900 or www.carersaustralia.com.au The Rosewood Centre also has a team of down-to-earth and qualified psychologists who can support you and your family along your caring journey. We welcome you to contact us on 1800 613 155 or to visit rosewoodcentre.com.au

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Major restoration planned for Sandgate Cemetery’s historic chapel An important piece of the Hunter region’s architectural history located at Sandgate Cemetery will be preserved following the announcement of a major funding grant. The heritage listed Catholic mortuary chapel will undergo a significant upgrade, with Northern Cemeteries matching a $330,000 state government grant. Funding was secured from the Crown Reserves Improvement Fund Program which supports the development, maintenance and protection of Crown reserves through the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment. Northern Cemeteries’ Acting Chief Executive Officer, David Ham said the repair work will deliver a comfortable indoor ecumenical space for people to farewell their loved ones

COMMUNITY NOTICEBOARD Christian Formation Course (CFC) 2022 Are you wanting to know more about Christianity? Expressions of interest are now open for the Christian Formation Course 2022 The Christian Formation Course (CFC) is a face-toface learning experience that allows participants to explore their life’s journey and their faith within the Catholic tradition. This one-year course introduces participants to scripture, theology, Church history, sacramental life, and liturgy. The course runs across twelve months and comprises of eight units. Commencing on 1 February 2022, no prerequisite formation or qualification is required to enrol. All who complete the course are awarded a Diocesan Certificate in Christian Formation. Expression of interest close 10 December. For more information visit: www.mn.catholic.org.au/church-mission/catholic-life/ adult-faith-formation/christian-formation-course/

as well as offer a suitable venue to be used by diverse cultural and community groups. “The chapel’s refurbishment will allow us to provide a functional venue for people of all denominations and faith groups to use when they are planning funeral and memorial services,” Mr Ham said. “Additionally, we support a number of community events throughout the year which are currently hosted off site and we are looking forward to accommodating these important activities at Sandgate.”

unique to the cemetery on historical, social and aesthetic grounds. Blessed by Catholic Bishop Edmund Gleeson when it was built, and dedicated to St Joseph, the chapel was once used for requiem and special Masses and memorial services. Work is due to start on the site early 2022 with the refurbishment project expected to be completed six months later.

Built in 1936 the chapel’s inter-war gothic style architecture is considered to have significant importance

Encountering the Mystery of God: An invitation to become a mystagogue! During November we invite anyone who is interested to ‘have a go’ at mystagogical reflection. We hope this experience will introduce you to a different form of prayer that will become part of your faith life. This is an opportunity to become familiar with mystagogical reflection ahead of Advent, particularly for anyone who would like to gather and guide an Advent group. Our diocesan Advent Reflection resource Waiting with Purpose invites us to reflect mystagogically on the Advent gospels. You can register for one, two or weekly reflection opportunities. •

Week 1 - Mon 1 Nov, 10–11.30 AM | Thu 4 Nov, 4–5.30 PM

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Week 2 - Mon 8 Nov, 10–11.30 AM | Thu 11 Nov, 4–5.30 PM

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Week 3 - Mon 15 Nov, 10–11.30 AM | Thu 18 Nov, 4–5.30 PM

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Week 4 - Mon 22 Nov, 10–11.30 AM | Thu 25 Nov, 4–5.30 PM

Zoom link and resources (Sunday Readings and an outline of the process of Mystagogical Reflection) are available upon registration at https://www. eventbrite.com.au/e/encountering-the-mysteryof-god-an-invitation-to-become-a-mystagoguetickets-188116731207

Diocesan Advent Reflection: Waiting with purpose As we continue our Synodal journey, an Advent Reflection resource Waiting with Purpose has been created for our Diocese. Waiting with Purpose responds to the voices heard during Synod reflection process, which identified a longing for different forms of prayer that include faith sharing. Waiting with Purpose invites us to use Mystagogical Reflection as our way of encountering Christ in the Advent gospels. It invites us to focus on the presence of Christ in our experience and in the living tradition of our faith, to connect it to life now and to be changed by it. During Advent there are opportunities for those who cannot gather in their local communities to experience Waiting with Purpose via Zoom. For more information on this event series, visit: www.eventbrite.com.au/o/diocese-of-maitlandnewcastle-18080128129

KEY DATES 1 November – All Saints' Day 11 November – Remembrance Day 21 November – Feast of Christ the King

Download the Diocese app For the latest news and events in our Diocese.

For more events, please visit mn.catholic.org.au

25 November – White Ribbon Day 28 November – First Sunday of Advent

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Book talk

The Ten Green Commandments of Laudato Si’ FR JOSHTROM ISAAC KUREETHADAM

I recently heard Australians being accused of being “too” pragmatic. Apparently when we see a problem or a need, we rush in to do something about it, much like our own Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop. We like to solve the problem in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations. However, when it comes to the problems associated with ecological responsibility and the current climate crisis, I know I am constantly challenged by “not knowing” what I can do to make any meaningful difference. I understand the urgency of this present moment in time. Still, I am often confused, hopeless, angry, and deflated by a sense that I am not doing enough to enact impactful change. I also feel frustrated by the piecemeal efforts being made at local and international levels.

REVIEW BY MANDY GREAVES

created Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. Before this, he was a professor of Philosophy of Science at Rome's Pontifical Salesian University. He has also written another book, Creation in Crisis: Science, Ethics, Theology. Faithfully attentive to the outline of the six chapters of Laudato si’, Fr Joshtrom has insightfully arranged his second book according to the see-judge-act methodology, which is becoming an increasingly popular approach in spirituality, moral theology and the social sciences. It is a method Pope Francis also employs in his encyclical.

In his book, The Ten Green Commandments of Laudato Si’, Fr Joshtrom Isaac Kureethadam addresses these challenging ecological problems, showing ordinary Catholics like me how to turn the vision of Pope Francis’s encyclical Laudato si’ into an action plan for assuming ecological responsibility.

By dividing his text into three parts, Seeing (Understanding the Crisis of Our Common Home), Judging (Discerning the Crisis of Our Common Home), and Acting (Responding to the Crisis of Our Common Home), Fr Joshtrom uses the format of the Ten Commandments to distil and clarify Laudato si's essential message into “Ten Green Commandments”; making it clear that ecology is intricately bound up with issues of poverty and marginalisation. His elegant language and graceful prose open our hearts and help to reignite our reverence for all living systems and make a thoughtful and viable plan for action.

Fr Joshtrom, a Catholic priest, currently serves on the staff of the Vatican's recently

In his conclusion, Fr Joshtrom uses John's gospel image of Jesus driving

the money lenders and sellers of sheep and cattle from the temple of Jerusalem. He does so in a bid to explain that ecological conversion is about recognising how we have lost the ability to see the physical world as impregnated with divine presence. "We have turned this sacred abode into a marketplace." Our task now, he asserts, is to work together, be truly "ecumenical", and create one home (oikos + monos) for the whole creation. So, while the image Fr Joshtrom's employs is disturbing, his Ten Green Commandments are a hope-filled, spiritual guide to personal and cultural transformation. Fr Joshtrom's message is one we have sorely needed to hear. For millennia, Western civilisations have viewed the world as a stage for human activity instead of a home where all creatures coexist in an intricately balanced ecosystem. And thankfully, he provides an excellent guide for those of us who are inspired to take up the cause that lies ahead. Mandy Greaves is the librarian for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle

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