135 Aphrasia Street Newtown Victoria 3220 Westcourt Campus: 41 Minerva Road Herne Hill VIctoria 3218
St Joseph’s College Geelong
News & Events
Ph: 03 5226 8100 Ph Westcourt: 03 5247 7000 Email: sjcoffice@sjc.vic.edu.au Web: www.sjc.vic.edu.au
Thursday 8 May 2014 - Issue No 7 Newly renovated Year 7 Classrooms were on show at Open Day
St Joseph’s College Geelong Year 8 students enjoyed a visit from Professor Bunsen during activities week
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Year 7 2015 Enrolments Close on Friday 23 May 2014
Principal’s Report Dear Parents, Students and Friends of the College, I need to remind you that enrolments for Year 7 in 2015 close on 23 May. Large numbers of people attended our recent Open Day and it is easy in the business of family life to forget to enrol your younger sons. Given the imminent level of demand, parents who fail to enrol younger siblings will find all we can do is place them on a waiting list and hope that some movement is created via an interstate transfer or the like. About 60 students assisted on Open Day by conducting our tours. The consistent response from visitors was that our students were outstanding in terms of their commentary and presentation. I have thanked the boys personally but would also like to publicly acknowledge their contribution. I recently read an article from Bishop Pat Power, the retired auxiliary Bishop of Canberra. His honest assesments I find refreshing and encourage you to take the time to read his reflection “See, Judge and Act: Reading the Signs of the Times” which is included at the end of this newsletter. Paul Tobias - Principal
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Calendar of Events May 11 12 28 31
Mother’s Day Mother’s Day Mass Year 8 Fathers & Sons Night SJOCA Reunion
June Queen’s Birthday Public Holiday GAT Year 11 exams start Year 8, 9, 10 exams start P&F meeting Report writing - student free day Senior years parent information evening 24 Careers week 26 Westcourt Expo 27 Final day Term 2
9 11 12 17 17 23 24
11.30AM ON
MONDAY 12 MAY RSVP ONLINE VIA COLLEGE WEBSITE CLICK ON EVENTS
News from the e De Deputies eputies UNIFORM MATTERS From next Monday 12 May, all students are expected to be in full winter uniform. This means long pants, long sleeved College shirt, tie and College blazer as the only outer garment when travelling to and from school. Students in Years 7 -11 may wear their PE uniform on PE prac days. The winter PE uniform includes the long track pants and zip up sports jacket. ACTIVITIES WEEK As you would all be aware this last week has been Activities Week. All SJC students have been engaged in a range of activities on and off site at both campuses. Year 7 students have been on camp at Lake Dewar near Bacchus Marsh.Year 8s have been engaged in on campus activities and have spent three days visiting iconic sites in Melbourne. The Year 9s are on camp in the Grampians. Year 10s are on work experiences. The first day for Year 11s had a wellbeing focus, specifically on healthy, respectful relationships. The boys then spent the rest of the week on community service. The Year 12s were in class on Monday and Tuesday with a SAC on Tuesday. From Wednesday to Friday they have been on theme-driven renewals at a variety of locations around Victoria. At the time of writing, all reports have been positive. A great deal of work has been done by staff to prepare and run these activities which we see as important for the boys’ development. We hope that they will be valuable and memorable for our boys. Claire Brown - Deputy Principal
Congratulations To Lachlan Robinson (Year 9), who has qualified and been selected to represent Australia in the World Youth Championships for Weight Lifting being held in Noumea from 27 May to 1 June. Lachlan, 14 years of age, will be competing in the U17 age group. We wish Lachlan well in his endeavours and acknowledge the hard work and dedication our young people give to pursue these elite sporting activities and the tremendous support our parents give to their sons. Good luck Lachie!
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NAPLAN 2014 NAPLAN 2014 tests will be held from 13-15 May. NAPLAN is a valuable assessment tool for governments, schools and parents to understand and improve the literacy and numeracy outcomes of all Australian students. NAPLAN provides parents of students in Years 7 & 9 with a report on their child’s performance in literacy and numeracy against the national average. Schools and teachers also use this NAPLAN data to improve teaching and learning programs in the classroom. Specific information regarding the program, including details about the tests, participation, special provisions and a wide range of other issues can be found on the NAPLAN website: www.naplan.edu.au The VCAA will forward student reports directly to St Joseph’s College when they are available later in the year and we will post these to all parents when they become available. Period 1 and 2
Tuesday 13th May Language Conventions
Wednesday 14th May
Thursday 15th May
Reading*
Numeracy (Calculator)
65 minutes
45 minutes
40 minutes RECESS
Period 3
Writing 40 minutes
Numeracy
(Non Calculator) 40 minutes
Information letters about the test will be sent home this week. Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me at the College. Mark Stracey - Director of Learning and Teaching
Sibling Enrolment - Year 7 2015 If you have younger sons who will be seeking enrolment for Year 7 at St Joseph’s in 2015, you need to submit your application by Friday 23 May 2014. Parents who fail to do so, even if they have older sons at the College, cannot be guaranteed a place.
First XVIII Senior Football
Year 10 ACC Football
FOOTBALL BOOTS WANTED! Do you have any old football boots in good condition that are now too small and are cluttering up your cupboards? If so, give those boots to someone who can only dream about having a pair! In July this year, the School of Exercise Science at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) is running a threeweek, after-school football program for children and youth in the community of Baucau in Timor Leste. The program is being conducted in partnership with the Baucau Catholic Parish, St Anthony’s Secondary School and the local Football Association to promote health, wellbeing and life skills. Boots are needed for children ranging in age from seven to 15 years. The ACU is hoping to collect 800 pairs of used boots, one for each Timorese child. If you have a pair at home that is now too small for your FKLOG FDQ \RX SOHDVH KDQG WKHP LQWR \RXU VFKRRO¡V RIÀFH by Friday 23 May. Donated boots will be collected by the Catholic Education 2IÀFH 0HOERXUQH DQG GHOLYHUHG WR $&8 GXULQJ -XQH
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Sustainability Matters YEAR 8 RECYCLING PRESENTATIONS AT CLAIRVAUX CATHOLIC PRIMARY SCHOOL On 30 April, twelve Year 8 sustainability leaders and Mrs Jenkins were invited to Clairvaux Primary School to inform the Year 5 and 6 students about the 4 Rs (reduce, re-use, recycle and recover), fully commingled recycling, composting and redcycling (recycling soft plastics). The students showed a PowerPoint presentation about how to reduce waste in our society and why we should reduce waste. They also played various games teaching the students which bin to put certain types of rubbish in. The Clairvaux students took in a lot of helpful information that they hopefully will be able to put into use in their school and pass it on to future generations. Ricky Ivelja - Year 8 TERM 2 EVENTS: YEAR 7 & 8 REDCYCLING COMPETITION! In a bid to raise awareness of the amount of soft plastic wrappers still making their way to school, we are running a REDcycling competition, from 12-23 May for Years 7 & 8 classes. How To Participate: Simply place any plastic wrappers collected around the school, into your REDCycle bin in your Homeroom. The class with the greatest weight of “soft plastics” will win a free pizza lunch! “CUT THE WRAP” DAYS Get into practice using your Enviro Wraps and containers to make your wrap free lunches, as our first “Cut the Wrap” day is almost upon us. The scheduled dates for Term 2 are as follows; Wednesday 28 May Wednesday 25 June FUTURE SPARK GENERATORS – COMING TO WESTCOURT Watch our own boys take over “Powering the world” as our Future Spark Generators hit Westcourt!!! More will be revealed in the next Newsletter edition. Kelly Jenkins - Sustainability Coordinator
Year 7 Classroom Makeover This term, three of the Year 7 classes moved back into their newly painted and furnished D block classrooms. Here are some words from the boys in 7C. “We really like the new room and the added touch of colour.” - Charlie Harris. “The new colours make the classroom feel warm” - Fletcher Adams. “I feel happier learning in D5 because of the colour and couches” - Harry Carter. Thank you to Cherie Blackney (Mother of Harrison Blackney 7C) for her assistance with the colour choices and to Year 7 staff who visited schools in our community to explore classroom design. A special thanks to Michelle Brodrick for managing the makeover project. Kylie Pretty
ACC Open Golf Tournament On Tuesday 29 April the school golf team travelled to Northern Golf Club,Glenroy, to participate in the ACC Open Golf Tournament. In wet and windy conditions the boys won the Division 2 section and gained promotion to Division 1 for next year. The winning school was determined by adding the top 4 scores which were William McCaskill 79, Aiden Edwards 81, Ben Henkel 83, Harrison Smith 89. William also won the best individual score in Division 2. The other members of the team were Jordan Partington, Joshua Norman and Angus Wiese. Michael Wilding www.sjc.vic.edu.au
Community service This week all Year 11 students participate in four days of community service at primary schools, aged care facilities, disability service facilitates and Landcare. We are most grateful to all the service groups in the Geelong region Careers Blog now on Twitter! that assist us with this program. We wish the boys well on What’s the best way to keep up to date with what’s happening their week of service and hope they gain an appreciation with Careers at SJC, AND win an iTunes Voucher? and empathy for those who are marginalised in our The Careers Blog is now connected to Twitter. The link community. to the Twitter account can be found on the Careers Blog Many boys continue to go above and beyond with their Home Page. When you connect to the SJC Careers Blog community service with over 30 boys helping out at Twitter account, you will be notified every time a new post Clonard during the refugee holiday program. Thanks to all is added to the Careers Blog. This is the best way to keep those boys involved who represented the school so well at up to date with what is happening with Careers at SJC! Each this event. ‘Tweet’ will take you directly to the post you have been All Year 7 boys have to complete 2 hours of community alerted to. service,Year 11 boys 8 hours (over two years) and Year Find out: 12 boys 5 hours. This must be done out of school hours • What events are coming up, including University and in your own time. Year 12 students are encouraged to TAFE Open Days? complete their 5 hours by mid-year. There are many opportunities for community service in the Geelong • Read the latest Weekly Careers News Bulletin. region and students are notified via campus guides and • Explore careers information in the Career Focus Page. email. Students are encouraged to organise their own • Locate information about writing resumes, cover letters, community service. See below for an upcoming community and finding work. service opportunity. • Read about Gap Year opportunities. Claire Wrigley - Community Service Coordinator • Read the latest article in the Careers Focus Section: Red Shield Appeal – Community Service “Early Ambitions Make a Difference to Career Opportunity Monday 19 May - Sunday 25 May. Outcomes” They are looking for volunteers to help collect donations Students who connect to the SJC Careers Blog Twitter at several static points throughout the week. The assigned feed in the month of May will go into the draw to win an points are Aldi, Bunnings and Corio Village in Nth Geelong. iTunes voucher! Please contact Leah Fernee on 5275 7771 OR 0433 351 If students and/or parents are not sure how to connect to 055. Or you can send her an email if you are interested in the SJC Careers Blog Twitter Account, please see Karen at helping out. leah.fernee@aus.salvationarmy.org the Careers Office for guidance. Connect to the Careers Blog here: http://blogs.sjcgeelong.catholic.edu.au/careers/ Karen Shum - Careers Coordinator
Chip Robotics Workshop New toys to play with including a 3D printer and laser cutter! Under instruction of Brian “Thommo” Thomas. Venue Christian College “Villa Paloma” Arts/Technology Centre - Princes Highway, Waurn Ponds Sunday 25 May 12-1.30pm - beginners 2-3.30 - prior attendees Cost: $15 CHIP FSGG member $20 non member Workshop is NOT suited to students younger than grade one. Students bring own drink bottle. Information and bookings email: chipgeelong@gmail.com by Thursday 15 May.
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ACC Senior Soccer
In Sympathy
CARE GROUP Our Care Group involves parents volunteering to provide a meal (usually in the form of a casserole) for our families who are experiencing difficulty either through illness, bereavement or other circumstances. If you would like to be a member of our Care Group Team and help with meals (possibly one per term) please feel welcome to contact our Coordinators via email Mrs Anne Ross rosshp@ pipeline.com.au or Mrs Zoe Callahan cranz1@optusnet. com.au . Many of our parents work and are unable to formally part take in College activities, but are willing to help by providing support with a casserole from time to time. Thank you to all those who have volunteered to assist this year. We warmly invite our College community to feel welcome to contact us should you be experiencing ill health or any difficulty, as we really want to be able to support our families and our students. We are only a phone call away on 52268119 or email principalspa@sjc. vic.edu.au Maureen Bryant & Adel Mawson, Principal’s Personal Assistants
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congratulations Congratulations to Connewarre Junior fire brigade team members Matt Bolger (9H), Patrick Cannard (9F) and Nathan Bolger (8E). The boys’ team achieved some excellent results by placing 2nd and 3rd in several events, held at the recent Volunteer Fire Brigades Victoria State Championships at the Geelong Showgrounds over the school holidays. There were 32 teams competing in 5 events in the 11 to 15 year Junior age group, with the boy’s team recording some record breaking times on the day. Well done boys! Congratulations to Vince Ballesteros in Year 12, who was shortlisted for 2014 Top Designs exhibition, for his amazing Food Technology Folio.Vince was a hard working Year 11 student who was extremely passionate about his Tapas Restaurant themed folio, which he completed last year whilst in Year 11. He kindly returned to visit our Year 12 Food Tech class in Term 1 to inspire this year’s class with his valuable insight into achieving successful folio work. Thanks very much to Vince for visiting the class as they really enjoyed the experience. Well done Vince! Mrs Coogan
11.30AM ON
MONDAY 12 MAY IN THE BR O S ADAMS CENTRE (GYM)
The College is holding a special Mass in celebration of all of our SJC Mums, Grandmothers and Special Women who are welcome to join us in celebrating Mother’s Day. The Mass will be followed by light refreshments. All Year 7 students will attend the Mass and are welcome to invite guests. Please RSVP via the College website by clicking on EVENTS. Students from other Year levels are also welcome to attend and invite their own Mother’s Day guests providing they also RSVP via the online form. This will allow the College to arrange for those students to be absent from class during the Mass. We look forward to seeing students and their guests celebrating Mother’s Day together!
COUGHS, COLDS AND ASTHMA Coughs, colds and the flu are one of the most common triggers of asthma. The common cold is caused by an upper respiratory tract infection and is a common illness for children and adults in Australia. As we approach the colder months, here are some tips to keep in mind to prevent and reduce the spread of coughs, colds and the flu: • Avoid coughing and sneezing on or near others and wash your hands thoroughly to prevent the spread of disease. • If your child is not feeling well, it is recommended that they stay home and rest, to reduce the spread of infections and to speed up their recovery process. • Everyone should have the annual flu vaccination to ensure they are protected from this disease.You or your child may be eligible for the free flu vaccination. • Prior to purchasing any medications or herbal and natural remedies’, you should seek the advice of your doctor or pharmacist as some medications can react with asthma medications. Such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen/ Naproxen (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications), Beta Blockers tablet and eye drops (used for high blood pressure and glaucoma), and ACE inhibitors (used to control blood pressure). Stay warm this winter! PARENT AND CARER ASTHMA INFORMATION SESSIONS The Asthma Foundation of Victoria is funded by the Federal Department of Health to provide free asthma education sessions to groups of parents and carers. These sessions can take place at the school or at a location of your choice. The session runs for approximately one hour and covers: • Asthma triggers • Signs and symptoms • Asthma action plans • Asthma medication • Asthma First Aid If you are interested in attending a parent and carer asthma information session, please contact The Asthma Foundation of Victoria to arrange a session on 1800-ASTHMA or sdoherty@asthma.org.au
Hockey Players Wanted Players wanted for Newtown Hockey Club, for current season April to August. Teams for U13, U15, U17 boys and girls, senior men and women. All welcome. No experience necessary. www.newtownhockeyclub.com.au www.sjc.vic.edu.au
A group of unidentified Australian and New Zealand soldiers in a front line trench on the Gallipoli Peninsula, 1915. Photo courtesy of the Australian War Memorial
Gallipoli 2015 ANZAC Day Dawn Service Tour Students and teachers from across Victoria will be selected as members of a Victorian contingent, for a five day tour to Turkey to attend the Gallipoli 2015 ANZAC Day Dawn Service on 25 April 2015. All students enrolled in Victorian government, Catholic and independent schools, in Years 9–12 in 2015, are eligible to apply for one of the 80 student places. Teachers of secondary students with a minimum of five years’ experience, are eligible to apply for one of the chaperone places. Go to www.anzaccentenary.vic.gov.au to read the student and teacher eligibility and selection criteria and download the guidelines and application forms. Applications close on 13 June 2014.
Monash University Professional Development programs CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION SUPPORT - INTEGRATION AIDE / TEACHER AIDE Supporting students with additional learning needs in primary, secondary and specialist settings. This course will equip you with the skills and knowledge to support students who have additional learning needs to access the curriculum. Cost $999 full fee $919 concession fee/ healthcare card. Course length Saturdays - 9am - 3.30pm, Over eight days. May 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 June 14, 21, 28 held at NELSON PARK SCHOOL GEELONG
Youth Leadership & Business Summit 2014 The Magic Moments Foundation understand that the youth of today have a desire for more confidence, inspiration, adventure
Prerequisites There are no formal prerequisites for this course. However, it is essential that you must possess a satisfactory level of English written and communication skills to complete the assessment tasks. We also expect you to have basic computer skills to support your learning. Contact: to express your interest in theis course or to find out more information contact Phone: 03 9905 2700 email: fdo@monash.edu or visit
www.edu.monash.edu/shortcourses
When: Sunday 6th to Thursday 10th July, 2014 Where: Campaspe Downs Country Resort – Kyneton Sth Victoria
and personal growth within their lifestyle.
Who:
Youth 14 – 17 years who love to have fun while being inspired
What:
Inspiring speakers from around the world – sharing their wisdom with you in a fun and interactive way. This program is a no snooze zone!
This program is designed to show you how to become a world-class leader: ŗ Create the life you want for yourself and others ŗ Identify for own leadership strengths ŗ Eliminate your fears and
Your investment for this powerful and inspiring
negative self-talk
program includes all meals, accommodation and
ŗ Create your own financial
materials for the 5 days of the program. For more
destiny ŗ A week of fun, friends and interactive learning
information on the Summit costs and early bird
SUM INCL MIT UDE · S: · 5 D Pre Even ays tW
of In ebin ter ar · All Mea active Le l s a , rnin A E g · Aw vent Ma ccomm esom & teria l e s 6 · 11 M Event P week P ro ost onth Follo gram REG w U p Pr SITE ogra m SPACR NOW O
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rates go to www.magicmoments.org.au
REGISTER NOW: www.magicmoments.org.au If you want to be YOUR BEST go online and Register Now!
WHO: ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE, SACRED HEART COLLEGE, CLONARD COLLEGE AND SAINT IGNATIUS COLLEGE. WHY: WE ARE SUPPORTING THE UNIVERSAL EFFORTS TO MAKE POVERTY HISTORY. WHERE: TRI-UMPH WILL BE HELD AT ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE WHEN: 5 SEPTEMBER 2014 VISIT: HTTP://TRIUMPH2014.WEEBLY.COM/
ROSTER
CANTEEN
9.MAY-22.MAY THE TERM 2 CANTEEN MENU IS AVAILABLE ON THE COLLEGE WEBSITE WWW.SJC.VIC.EDU.AU UNDER THE MENU “STUDENT WELLBEING” IT ALSO IS POSTED ON OUR COLLEGE APP
SEE, JUDGE AND ACT: READING THE SIGNS OF THE TIMES Bishop Pat Power This year you parishioners of Cowra are commemorating the 75 years since the opening of your parish church, St Raphael’s. In 1956 a new church was opened in my home parish of Queanbeyan. It too was placed under the patronage of the Archangel Raphael. The parish priest responsible for St Raphael’s, Queanbeyan, was Fr Michael Casey a very stern character who put the fear of God into the parishioners. He mellowed in his later years and I became quite close to him before his death. I asked him what had inspired him to name the new church, St Raphael’s. I was surprised by his reply. He reminded me that Raphael means “God’s healing” and he commented that we are all in need of healing. I must say that as a youngster, I did not see that aspect of Father Casey’s vision. I would imagine that with Cowra’s unique connection with World War II, St Raphael would have been frequently invoked as a source of healing during and in the aftermath of the war. Last year I was invited by the ecumenical Order of St Luke in Canberra to give the homily at their annual prayer service which focuses on some particular aspect of healing. I was asked to preach on the Church itself in need of healing. At this moment in our history I think the reasons for that are fairly obvious.
help one another to discern what was happening and look for a course of action. Joseph Cardijn’s method of SEE, JUDGE AND ACT was a great example to us all. I discovered the importance of all three steps. The temptation can be to rush to a particular course of action before recognising what the real issues are. The shared wisdom of the group was invaluable in judging what needed to be done and so too was the solidarity with the other members in embarking on a course of action. The Gospel study was an important ingredient in asking the question of what would Jesus do in such a situation. The Cardijn method was dealing with real people in real life. I remember too in those early years receiving good advice from one of my younger sisters who said “In your preaching, don’t just be talking about things which happened thousands of years ago, but the things which are affecting people’s lives today.” In recent times, as I read Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel, I was particularly moved by what he wrote in relation to the homily. He wrote so beautifully on the challenge to preach the word of God in a way which would touch people’s hearts and move them to respond with joy. “The preacher needs to keep his ear to the people and to discover what it is the faithful need to hear. A preacher has to contemplate the word, but he also has to contemplate his people.” (154)
I retired in mid 2012, and a few months later spent two weeks in Italy so that I was able to be in St Peter’s Square on 11 October for the Mass which honoured the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. A few days earlier, I had been moved to tears in St Peter’s Basilica as I prayed at the tomb of Pope John XXIII whose vision had given birth to Vatican II.
Seven years after ordination, I was sent to Rome by my Archbishop to do a doctorate in Canon Law. I chose as the subject of my thesis the International Council of the Laity. It gave me the opportunity to study further the theology of the lay vocation and helped me to see that Vatican II had been heavily influenced by the Cardijn method of meeting people in the reality of their daily lives.
The Second Vatican Council and the Cardijn movement have been key influences in my life as a priest and bishop. I will return to the latter in a moment. My four years of theological study at St Patrick’s College, Manly, between 1962 and 1965 coincided with the four sessions of the Second Vatican Council and 1965 the year of my ordination to the priesthood marked the conclusion of the Council.
There was a happy chance meeting for me on 11 October 2012 as I made my way through thousands of people also attending the Vatican II anniversary Mass in St Peter’s Square. I met up with Devett O’Brien a young man from Brisbane who is the International secretary of the YCS which is the student version of the YCW. I had previously seen the zeal with which Devett had promoted the Cardijn movement in many parts of Australia, including my own diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
My early years in the priesthood were full of hope, thanks to Vatican II. I can honestly say that despite many disappointments in the Church in subsequent years, I have never lost that sense of hope. Mass in the vernacular, greater participation in the liturgy, the vision of the Church as the People of God rather than a hierarchical structure, the empowering of lay people, the recognition of human dignity and religious freedom, the richness of the ecumenical movement and the embracing of the realities of the modern world were all sources of great blessing as the message of the Gospel was able to be proclaimed in a way which fulfilled Pope John’s vision of renewal. Catholics were challenged to live up to their name as being universal and all-embracing.
As Pope John XXIII officially convoked the Second Vatican Council on Christmas Day 1961, he urged his fellow Catholics “to read the signs of the times”. The Pope showed great optimism as he said the Council would be ”a demonstration of the Church, always living and always young, which feels the rhythm of the times”. He went on to state the hope “of rebuilding that visible unity of all Christians which corresponds to the wishes of the Divine Redeemer”. Finally, he expressed the wish that in a world which is under constant threat of war, all people of good will would be united in striving for peace.
In those early years in the mid to late 1960s, I was introduced to the YCW, the Young Christian Workers movement. Its founder, Joseph Cardijn, was a Belgian priest who was challenged by young workers who were being exploited. He encouraged them to band together in a way which would empower them to take control of their lives and help their fellow workers to find the dignity to which we are all entitled.
At the opening of the Council on 11 October 1962, Pope John warned against the prophets of gloom, saying that in the face of error, the Church should make use of the medicine of mercy rather than severity. Its message, rather, should be life-giving, enlightened by the light of Christ. Much of this would find expression in the Council’s Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. Its opening words would herald its rich and challenging message: “The
As a chaplain to the YCW, I saw the importance of listening to young people, learning from them and helping them to reflect on life in the light of the Gospel. At their weekly meeting, the young people would share their experiences and
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joys and the hopes, the griefs and anxieties of the people of this age, particularly those who are in any way poor or afflicted, these too must the joys and the hopes, the griefs and anxieties of all the followers of Christ.” It would go on to speak of the importance of engagement with the modern world, the role of dialogue and a willingness on the part of the Church to listen and to learn.
but even the Pope recognises the forces which are trying to maintain the status quo. In 2010, I wrote that the reform needed by the Church involved more than just “tinkering around the edges”. Issues such as the authoritarian nature of the Church, compulsory celibacy for the clergy, the participation of women in the Church and the teaching on sexuality in all aspects cannot be brushed aside. Listening must be a key component of reform and at times that will involve listening to unpalatable truths. It means that all wisdom does not exclusively reside in the present all male leadership in the Church and that the voices of the faithful must be heard.
In many ways since becoming a bishop in 1986, I have struggled with the perception that the leadership of the Church had moved away from the great opportunities given by Vatican II. But after the 50th anniversary Mass I wrote “As I left Rome, I felt privileged to have experienced an historic moment of grace on 11 October 2012 and I had hope in my heart for a new flowering of Vatican II which would more clearly enable the Church to show its best self in witnessing to the love of God and showing the face of Jesus to a world hungering for meaning.” But in the months which followed, I began to wonder how such hopes would come to fruition. Then out of the blue on 11 February last year, Pope Benedict announced that he was retiring. It was a courageous and noble gesture which in the election of Pope Francis would enable the Church to begin to recapture much of the vision and power of the Second Vatican Council. It is amazing how many people have recognised Pope John XXIII in the person of Pope Francis.
At Easter that year, I pointed out that it was largely Jesus’ female disciples who stood by him at Calvary, that Mary Magdalene was the first witness to the resurrection and that she could legitimately be called an apostle in that she was sent to bring the good news to the other followers of Jesus. I wondered aloud if the Church would be in its present state of crisis if women had been part of the decision-making in the life of the Church. At the Oceania Synod of Bishops in 1998, I spoke on marginalised people in society and in the Church. I listed four groups of people as being on the margins of the Church: divorced and remarried people; priests who have left the active ministry; homosexual people and women. At the final Synod Mass I happened to be sitting immediately behind the Cardinals who headed the Vatican Congregations. I asked myself two questions. Firstly, where are the women in their lives, where are the young people in their lives, where is their contact with ordinary people in their joys and struggles? The second question I asked was how many of them aspired to the lofty position they hold in the ranks of the Church. I am not suggesting that they all did but there is no doubt that the Vatican provides a happy hunting ground for careerists. But having got to the top, what satisfaction is there for them so removed from realities of pastoral life which can be so life-giving?
At the beginning of this talk I spoke of the Church itself being in need of healing. The horror of clerical sexual abuse which has become increasingly more apparent in recent years is one very obvious symptom but there are many others as well which need to be honestly confronted and dealt with. Four years ago, I wrote for the Canberra Times a paper entitled Much Needed Reform. I have made that available to you tonight but will quote from some of it as well. In 1996, I gave a talk in which I expressed my hopes for the Catholic Church. They were that it would be • a more human Church • a humbler Church • a less clerical Church • a more inclusive Church (and therefore more truly catholic) • a more open Church • a Church which finds unity in diversity • a Church which discovers its whole tradition • a Church which reflects the person and values of Jesus.
In my twenty-six years as a bishop, I sat through countless meetings where all the participants were men. I knew that the dynamic of those discussions would have been so much more balanced and productive with the input of women. Added to that, the issues being decided upon often had a major impact on women and children. I cringe when I think of Popes, bishops and priests pontificating on sexual ethics without the wisdom and virtue of good women as instruments of the Holy Spirit in the whole process. To my mind, much of the future of the Church depends on a far greater participation of women in the Church. Pope Francis says as much: “We need to create broader opportunities for a more incisive female presence in the Church.” (103)
I have restated these hopes many times since, including at the Oceania Synod of Bishops in Rome in 1998 in the presence of Pope John Paul II, the future Pope Benedict XVI and my brother bishops. Surely such aspirations are even more pressing today.
The election of Pope John XXIII and the unfolding of the Second Vatican Council were often described in terms of the good Pope opening the windows enabling the winds of the Spirit to blow through the Church. Remarkably since the election of Pope Francis just over a year ago we have heard him so often described as a breath of fresh air. From the moment he stood on the balcony of St Peter’s after his election, he put aside many of the formalities and engaged with everyone as a warm and loving pastor, asking for the prayers and blessings of the people before imparting his own. His choice of the name FRANCIS has been backed by his simple life-style, his willingness to meet with others in a down-to-earth manner and his refusal to be isolated from
Many Catholics believed that the Church was becoming too comfortable, too respectable yet up until the election of Pope Francis, they felt that nobody was listening to their concerns. Groups calling for reform are regularly dismissed as trouble-makers with little love for the Church when in fact their hearts are breaking for the Church which they see as drifting further away from the message of Jesus. Maybe it has taken the present crisis in the Church to bring us all to our senses. Pope Francis’ willingness to listen and his experience as a very human pastor give us all great hope,
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the sometimes harsh realities of life. On Holy Thursday he celebrated Mass not in St Peter’s Basilica but in a young offenders’ prison where he washed the feet of young women and Muslims. Earlier that day, he reminded a group of priests that as pastors they must be shepherds of their flocks and that they must be willing to embrace the smell of the sheep.
with others.” Manning Clark’s moving account of his quest for grace articulates what many of us experience on our journey of life and of faith. I am sure that if he were alive today, Manning Clark would be consoled by much of the message of Pope Francis who says unreservedly “The joy of the Gospel is for all people: no one can be excluded.” (23)
In November last year Pope Francis gave us the Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium, The Joy of the Gospel. It was his response to the Synod of Bishops which took place in Rome a year earlier and which discussed the New Evangelisation. In a review I was asked to write, I described it as the most enriching and life-giving papal document since Vatican II. For a number of years, I felt that there had been at many levels in the Church a concerted effort to nullify or at least water down the great possibilities offered by the Second Vatican Council.
We often hear the question: “Are we concerned with mission or maintenance?” Pope Francis answers that question decisively. “I dream of a missionary option, that is, a missionary impulse capable of transforming everything, so that the Church’s customs, ways of doing things...can be suitably channelled for the evangelization of today’s world rather than for her self-preservation...making ordinary pastoral activity on every level more inclusive and open.” (27) An evangelizing community gets involved by word and deed in people’s daily lives; it bridges distances, it is willing to abase itself if necessary, and it embraces human life, touching the suffering flesh of Christ in others. Evangelizers thus take on the ‘smell of the sheep’ and the sheep are willing to hear their voice.” (24)
Now we are given by our Holy Father an unambiguous statement of the way forward for a Church which had become bogged down in introspection and clericalism. The first great surprise was the fact that The Joy of the Gospel is so readable. I feel quite comfortable in giving it to people who are trying to make sense of life and wondering what the Church has to offer them in their search. Right at the start Pope Francis tells them: “The joy of the Gospel fills the hearts of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ, joy is constantly born anew.” He goes on to quote Pope Paul VI in reminding us that no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord. I have often lamented that although the word “catholic” means universal and all-embracing, sadly in practice it has often meant the opposite where much energy has been channelled into saying who is in and who is out, who is right and who is wrong or who is worthy.
The pope highlights the missionary possibilities of parish life. “The parish is not an out-dated institution; precisely because it possesses great flexibility, it can assume different contours depending on the openness and missionary creativity of the pastor and the community...In all its activities the parish encourages and trains its members to be evangelizers.” Pope John XXIII likened the parish to the village fountain where all could freely come and drink. Pope Francis’ image of the parish is similar. “It is a community of communities, a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a centre of constant missionary outreach.” (28) Over the years, I have read and heard much of the Church’s “preferential option for the poor”. I must say that it always embarrassed me because I saw so little evidence of it in practice. But our new Pope having placed himself under the patronage of the poor man St Francis seriously challenges us to return to the simplicity and poverty of Jesus. He reminds us that “The Saviour was born in a manger, in the midst of animals, like children of poor families; he was presented at the Temple along with two turtledoves, the offering made by those who could not afford a lamb; he was raised in a home of ordinary workers and worked with his own hands to earn his bread. When he began to preach the Kingdom, crowds of the dispossessed followed him, illustrating his words ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.’” (197) “This is why I want a Church which is poor and for the poor. They have much to teach us. Not only do they share in the sensus fidei, but in their difficulties they know the suffering Christ. We need to let ourselves be evangelized by them.” (198)
Earlier, I spoke of eight hopes I had for our Church. It gave me great heart to read Pope Francis giving expression to those and similar aspirations for the future of the Church. But he added another important hope, namely that the Church would be truly missionary. He tells us that “the Gospel joy which enlivens the community of disciples is a missionary joy....Jesus felt it when he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and praised the Father for revealing himself to the poor and to the little ones....This joy is a sign that the Gospel has been proclaimed and is bearing fruit. Yet the drive to go forth and give, to go out from ourselves, to keep pressing forward in our sowing of the good seed remains ever present....God’s word is unpredictable in its power. The Gospel speaks of a seed which, once sown, grows by itself even as the farmer sleeps. The Church has to accept this unruly freedom of the word, which accomplishes what it wills in ways that surpass our calculations and ways of thinking.”(21-22) Whenever I see heroic acts of goodness, love and all kinds of virtue well beyond the confines of my own church and belief systems I am reminded that God is at work in countless ways which we should not try to limit or restrict.
Pope Francis harks back to a theme on which he regularly preached as Archbishop of Buenos Aires: “I prefer a Church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a Church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security. I do not want a Church which is concerned with being at the centre and which then ends up by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures. If something should rightly disturb us and trouble our consciences, it is the fact that so many of our brothers and sisters are living without the strength, light and consolation born of friendship with Jesus Christ, without a community of faith to support them,
In 1990 Manning Clark, the great Australian historian and author, wrote a book called The Quest for Grace. It was first brought to my attention by Jesuit priest, Chris Gleeson, editor of the Madonna magazine with these words. “Manning Clark talks of the difference between life-straiteners and life-enlargers, between people who have a very measured, narrow view of life and want to contain it, and those who love the banquet of life with a passion and want to share it
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without meaning and a goal in life. More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of being shut up within the structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us: ‘Give them something to eat.’”(49) It only seems like yesterday that Catholics were considered suspect for speaking in such terms. Now we have a Pope imploring us to live out the Gospel message by confronting the issues before us. But we are reminded that it is people rather than issues which should concern us.
Church a very attractive one. We are not standing still but are being constantly called to move forward, often re-adjusting to changing circumstances, sometimes falling over or getting a bit lost. Always we need Jesus and our fellow Christians as companions on the journey. Sometimes we find change difficult, but we are reminded by Cardinal John Henry Newman: “In a higher order it is otherwise, but here below to live is to change and to be perfect is to have changed often.” I think too of the French philosopher, Charles Peguy who writes of the Church’s struggle with relevance: “At each new turn of the age, the Church arrives a little late and a little breathless.”
I spoke earlier of the YCW method which urged the young people to read the signs of the times. Pope Francis humbly and realistically recognises that he does not have all the answers but looks to local communities to search out, reflect on and take action in regard to the issues which are impinging on their people. It is not my place to spell out what are the issues facing this community. But as I watch the evening news or read the newspaper, I am confronted with stories of the plight of refugees and asylum seekers, unemployment, homelessness, poverty in a multitude of forms, domestic violence, alcohol induced violence, suicide especially among the young, mental illness, Aboriginal disadvantage, rural crises and drug addiction, as just some of the ills which are plaguing the Australian community. At the heart of these tragic stories is the loss of human dignity. Those of you who are attuned to the various forms of social media will be able to recognise there another set of challenges as well. Of course, there are also many good news stories but unfortunately they do not always attract the same publicity. Sometimes, we can be overwhelmed by the vastness and the complexity of the problems. But I am heartened by the slogan often used by development agencies which encourage us to think globally and act locally. My hope is that smaller communities are able to promote more personal contacts than are possible in bigger cities. Personal friendships, neighbourly concern and simple acts of kindness can be powerful antidotes to many of our contemporary evils.
In 2012, I saw two very enjoyable films. THE WAY is a lovely account of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. I had the good fortune of doing parts of that pilgrim walk in 2003 and 2008 and I am still uplifted by the experience: the walking, my fellow-pilgrims, the local people, the sense of adventure, the time to reflect, the beautiful country-side, the bridges, the almost daily surprises and a sense of achievement at the end. It is a stunning expression of the pilgrim church as it brings together people of varying shades of faith and differing perspectives on life. The other film was THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL which is the delightful story of a group of English retirees who find themselves under false pretences in an Indian hotel which is pretty basic to say the least. When things become chaotic which they often do, the unflappable young hotel owner has a reassuring line, “Everything will be all right in the end, and if everything is not all right at the moment, it simply means that we have not yet reached the end.” I leave the very last words to Pope Francis who gives expression to the deepest sentiments of my heart: “We have a treasure of life and love which cannot deceive, and a message which cannot mislead or disappoint. It penetrates to the depths of our hearts, sustaining and ennobling us. It is a truth which is never out of date because it reaches that part of us which nothing else can reach. Our infinite sadness can only be cured by infinite love.” (265) (Bishop) Pat Power
Within our church communities, we need to ask how missionary and outward looking are we, how welcoming are we to newcomers, how joyful are our liturgies, how relevant are our homilies and how valued and engaged are our parishioners. Pope Francis has re-affirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to the ecumenical movement where we would recognise every baptised person as our sister or brother in Christ. He reminds us, as did Pope John XXIII, that what unites us as Christians is greater than what divides us. Throughout the Apostolic Exhortation, the Pope speaks of the imperative of dialogue on many different levels, ranging from the quest for world peace to harmony within family life. The Pope reminds us that the credibility of the Christian message is jeopardised while Christians remain divided and that we must never forget that with all Christians we are pilgrims journeying alongside one another. I have witnessed in the Diocese of Bathurst many splendid examples of ecumenical hospitality, combined witness and a real yearning for full Christian unity. I am reminded of an ecumenical principle which states that churches should only act separately in areas where they cannot conscientiously cooperate together. I suggest that the SEE, JUDGE and ACT process is a valuable means of building up unity at many different levels.
St Raphael’s Parish, Cowra, NSW 24 March 2014 Spirituality in the Pub, Bathurst NSW 25 March 2014
In conclusion let me say that I find the image of the pilgrim
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