The Record Magazine Issue #06 (February 2017)

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What does it mean to pray without ceasing?

Official magazine for the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth

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ISSUE 6 FEBRUARY 2017

COURSES & EVENTS FOR TERM 1, 2017

WEEKEND EVENTS Spiritual Nourishment for Our Lenten Journey When: Sunday 5th March, 6pm– 7pm Cost: One-off talk, payment by donation With: Deacon Greg Lowe Location: St Pius X Parish, 23 Paterson Street, Como

DAYTIME COURSES Gospel of Surprises: Discovering the Wonder of John

Spiritual Nourishment for Our Lenten Journey When: Sunday 2nd April, 6pm– 7pm Cost: One-off talk, payment by donation

When: Thursdays 16th February – 23rd March

With: Deacon Greg Lowe

10am–12.30pm

Location: St Pius X Parish, 23 Paterson Street, Como

Cost: 6 sessions, cost $45 With: Mrs Jan O’Connor Location: Newman Siena Centre, Doubleview

Aboriginal Catholic Cultural Awareness Our Relationship Together When: Saturday 25th March, 10am– 4pm

Three Tuesday Mornings in Lent When: Tuesdays 14th March – 28th March 10am–12.30pm Cost: 3 sessions, cost $22.50 With: Sr Shelley Barlow, RNDM Location: Newman Siena Centre, Doubleview

Cost: One-off workshop, payment by donation Location: Newman Siena Centre, Doubleview

ONLINE COURSES The Book of Exodus for Lent When: Thursdays 2nd March – 16th March

WEEKDAY EVENING COURSE

7.30pm–8.15pm

Prayer: Being Yourself Before God

With: Rev. Dr Charles Waddell

When: Wednesdays 8th February – 22nd February 7pm–9pm

Cost: 3 sessions, cost $15

The Gospel of Matthew

Cost: 3 sessions, suggested donation: $15.00

When: Tuesdays 21st March – 4th April

With: Dr Margaret Scharf, OP

7.30pm–8.15pm

Location: Vietnamese Catholic Community Centre, 3 Victoria Road, Westminster

Cost: 3 sessions, cost $15 With: Rev. Dr Charles Waddell

Visit www.cfe.org.au/courses-and-events for more information.

For enquiries, contact us at cfe@perthcatholic.org.au.

Featured this month 20

Leaders in faith the Archdiocese of Perth’s three new directors

Prayer A relationship with our creator

Workplace Bullying ‘Restoring Justice’ in the workplace

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Here I am, Lord FROM THE EDITOR Jamie O’Brien In his recent Pastoral Letter, Archbishop Timothy

Fr Vinh Dong’s 20 years of priesthood

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into Institutional Responses to Childhood Sexual

...But no one who drinks the water that I shall give him will ever be thirsty again.

Abuse, as well as for the victims, survivors and

Costelloe invited the Perth Catholic community to pray for the work of the Royal Commission

— John 4:14

their families.

This call to prayer is extremely important in helping us all to recognise the need to come together, as children of God and to understand, as Dr Andrew Kania says on page 8 and 9, that God exists, and that He wants to be part of the life of each person that He has created.

In this sixth issue of The Record Magazine, we have profiled a number of identities from across the Perth Catholic community who have shown their dedication and committment to the faith and the work of the Church.

The Record Magazine is a magazine for the people and I am confident you will all take the time to engage with us. Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas at editor@therecord.com.au, or by contacting us on 08 9220 5900.

FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE Interview with Archbishop Costelloe Pastoral Letter from the Archbishop

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IN THIS EDITION

10 Modern parenting 12 IdentityWA 14 Embrace the Grace 16 Personal Advocacy Service 21 Movie Review 24 Book Review 25 Notre Dame New Course 26 Colouring page 28 Events 29 Activity Page 30 Misericordia Et Misera

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Archbishop Timothy Costelloe

reiterates need to be faithful to Church teaching and the Gospel WORDS Jamie O’Brien and Josh Low

O

ne of the challenges facing Archbishop Costelloe is the need to keep reminding the Catholic community that we must always allow our own values and culture to be measured against the culture of the Gospel.

In an extensive interview with The Record Magazine, the Archbishop spoke candidly about the future of the Church, crime and violence, same-sex marriage, celibacy, women priests, euthanasia and the sex abuse crisis.

as a Christian leader, I think we are gradually losing some of our foundational principles. Like our society is somewhat being cut loose from its moorings so to speak.

“A society is strongest when it has strong values that are well recognised and accepted and adhered to by the vast majority of the people in society.

... to grapple

“As the Bishop, my first task is to do my best to lead the Catholic community and its people, in fidelity to God and to God’s Church.

“The great challenge then for people of with the daily task Christian faith, and for The Archbishop detailed of allowing our own Catholics, whose faith as that dealing with the it is lived and taught in lifestyle and decisions horror of sexual abuse the Catholic tradition, is of children and young to grapple with the daily and relationships to be people has undoubtedly task of allowing our own lifestyle and decisions governed by the Gospel and personally, been one of his biggest challenges. and relationships to be governed by the Gospel, “It is hard to even when that will comprehend how this require of us not to go has ever happened,” the along with the prevailing view held more widely Archbishop said. in our society,” the Archbishop said.

“We need to, I intend to, remain firm to our Speaking first about some of the social issues commitment to do what we can to ensure, as commonly facing society today, particularly best we can, that this never happens again. in Perth, the Archbishop noted that there is Going on to speak about the future of the rawness in our society now, ‘in a kind of brutal Church, both generally and here in Western way.’

Australia, the Archbishop noted that he is “From my own perspective as a Christian and realistic but also optimistic.

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INTERVIEW WITH THE ARCHBISHOP

“In terms of the internal life of the Church here in WA, there are reasons for hope and reasons for concern. Many of our parishes are struggling in terms of numbers but others are very active and dynamic.

The Archbishop noted that in recent years, there has been a resurgence in the number of people going to confession.

“In the last five years we have ordained some 25 new priests and we have a small but regular number of new students starting in our seminaries each year.”

Many traditional Christian beliefs are now questioned, or abandoned, or even ridiculed.

The Archbishop, who celebrated his 30th anniversary last year, said that as society changes and moves away from many of the values of traditional Christianity the role of the Church in society also changes.

“We no longer have the same influence we once had in public life. Many traditional Christian beliefs are now questioned, or abandoned, or even ridiculed.

“As Christians, and certainly as Christians in the Catholic tradition, we are struggling to find our place in this changing world and changing society.

“The Catholic tradition stands for a particular way of understanding the world - and ourselves as human beings within it.

“We have a ‘world view’. Once the Christian world view was commonly adhered to - now not so much.

“But if you believe in a particular way of understanding how everything fits together, if you really believe that this offers the best hope for the future, then you remain faithful to it, keep it alive and vibrant, and continually offer it is a gift, as an option if you like, for others to consider, try out and evaluate,” he said.

Archbishop Costelloe believes it’s important for the Church to propose but not impose its teaching on the wider community. Photo: Ron Tan.

Archbishop Costelloe in discussion with students and staff of Corpus Christi College. Photo: Ron Tan.

... we have a responsibility for the common good and that our own needs and desires must be evaluated within the context of the good of the human community.

the context of the good of the human community,” he continued.

Archbishop Costelloe raised questions on the value system of today’s society and called for more of a focus on what Catholic tradition calls the common good.

The Archbishop reiterated the need to be faithful to what the Church believes God is asking of us, while being sensitive to the many people, both inside the Church and outside, who see things very differently.

“My own suspicion is that we are moving more and more to a value system which focuses on individual rights and the satisfaction of individual needs and moving away from a value system which recognises that as human beings, we are all responsible for each other.

He echoed the words of Pope Benedict XVI of the role and the privilege of the Church in being an entity that proposes a way forward but never imposes it.

“What I do inevitably has effects, for good or bad, on others,” he said.

“It is a particular way of looking at the world; what it means to be a human person, what human relationships and human flourishing are meant to look like according to God’s creative intention.

“In making decisions we should be focusing on what will benefit us all as a community, rather than simply on what will benefit me.

“On that basis of this world view, the Church puts its point of view; its belief, forward for consideration.

“For the Catholic tradition, this means that we have a responsibility for the common good and that our own needs and desires must be evaluated within

“It is about ‘proposing’ but never “imposing’,” he concluded.

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PASTORAL LET TER

ARCHBISHOP COSTELLOE SPEAKS ABOUT THE 2017 ROYAL COMMISSION HEARINGS ARCHBISHOP TIMOTHY COSTELLOE SDB RELEASED A STATEMENT ON THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY CONCERNING THE HEARINGS OF THE ROYAL COMMISSION INTO INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES TO CHILD ABUSE.

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he sense of shock and disgust in relation to the publication of the statistics concerning child sexual abuse in the Catholic Church in Australia, and for us here in the West in our own state, and particularly in the Archdiocese of Perth, is palpable, justified and confronting.

Both those within the Catholic Church and those outside it, are asking how this revolting and insidious evil could have been so prevalent, so long unacknowledged, and so badly handled.

As the present Archbishop of Perth, I am asking the same questions and desperately looking for answers. It is for this reason that I, like so many others, am grateful that the Royal Commission is finally bringing this terrible scandal to light and probing, in a systematic and detailed way, into the possible causes of such a disaster.

Equally importantly, the Commission will also be formulating recommendations for the future, and requiring the Church leadership, including myself, to demonstrate that our words of sorrow and apology are shown to be sincere by the actions we have taken so far, and will undertake in the future, to ensure that this evil is, as far as is humanly possible, eradicated from the Church.

The figures are confronting. The statistics published by the Royal Commission suggest that over a 60 year period, from the 1950’s to 2010, a significant percentage of diocesan priests had allegations of sexual abuse made against them.

In each substantiated case, this represents a child or young person who has had their innocence stolen from them, nearly always with devastating and long lasting effects on their lives. Each incidence of sexual abuse by a priest represents a chilling and destructive betrayal of everything the Catholic Church purports to stand for. Beyond the almost unimaginable suffering of the victims and survivors of this abuse, the circle

of suffering widens out to include their families, their friends, and the wider community.

For those for whom the Church matters, their faith is challenged, their trust undermined, and their confidence that the Church can adequately respond to this tragedy diminished.

I have never tried to justify or explain away the reprehensible and evil actions of those who committed the abuse. Nor have I tried to ignore or excuse the abject failure of so many Church leaders in their response to those who have come forward with great courage to tell their stories. In the face of the overwhelming pain of those who have suffered abuse, I may not always have been able to respond as they needed me to. For that I am deeply sorry. I have done and will continue to do my best.

In the light of the revelations coming out of the Royal Commission, the people of Western Australia have an absolute right to demand that the Church confront its appalling record in relation to the care and well-being of the young.

You have a right to expect that we will do everything we can to continue to support those who have been abused, in the way that they need that support. You have a right to insist that we show, not by words but by concrete and effective actions, that we are absolutely committed to doing everything we can to make every Catholic community, agency, and activity, a place of security and safety for the young.

To our deep shame this has not been the case in the past. We are working hard to change that and some important and significant steps have already been taken here in this Archdiocese.

There is still much to do. As the Archbishop of Perth I pledge myself, and to the extent that I can the whole Catholic community, to continue to make this our absolute priority.

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hat does it mean to

pray without ceasing?

St Augustine of Hippo, the great doctor of the Latin Church, once wrote that when we sing in praise of God, we pray twice.

Perhaps, says Dr Kania, the most fundamental facet of Catholic prayer life is the unequivocal belief that God exists, and more than this, that God wants to be a part of the life of each person that He has created.

“The purpose of the Creation of the world, is to express the love of the Creator for everything that He has created,” Dr Kania said.

“This love calls the person into a relationship with the Creator; yet still more so, with all of Creation.”

Now with regard to the individual, whether or not

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they perceive a relationship, or want to be in a relationship with the Creator, is a different story, from whether God exists and longs to love the individual.

Dr Kania explained that, while a child can disown their parent, this action does not in any way preclude the necessity for their parent having existed.

“In what should be the best case scenario, the relationship with God, should be not only an extension, but more so a macrocosm of the human parent child relationship.

“Few parents wish to bring into this world a child, that after having loved so much, they then abandon.

“To the contrary, most parents enjoy seeing how their child grows, learns and develops; they also

enjoy being loved by their child, and enjoy imparting their love to their child,” Dr Kania said.

God, notes Dr Kania, is seen in such a light by many of the spiritual masters of the Catholic Church.

Scripture is filled with the analogy of God acting not only as a human parent, but in a way far more committed than even the most loving human parent. (cf.

John 14: 18 and Isaiah 49: 15).

“In fact this perspective of a parent to child bond between God and the individual was explicitly taught by Christ,” Dr Kania explained. “ We recollect how when the disciples requested to Christ that they be taught how to pray to God effectively, that Christ taught them not to spout forth meaningless words devoid of emotion or thought, but that they speak to God as ‘Father’.”

Christ provides a radical insight into prayer life by spelling out to his Disciples and those who follow, that God is as interested and attached to the individual, not only as a human parent, but even more so as an omniscient, omnipresent and omnipotent parent.

“The Gospel of John explains that God knows, cares, and so loves the individual, that He has chosen to be one like us (cf. John 3: 16),” Dr Kania said.

“God provides us with our ‘daily bread’, as well as our spiritual food, and promise of a world to come, within the profound words of The Lord’s Prayer.”

The radical nature of Christ’s teaching should not be lost, continued Dr Kania, no matter how many times one has heard it taught.

this perspective of a parent to child bond between God and the individual was explicitly taught by Christ

“God walks with us and yet more, He is in us, and knows us more than we know our very selves.

The nature of God and the human person is thus in the Catholic context, one of sublime intimacy.

Dr Kania says that we should pray with the same tender love as the child who reaches to touch his mother’s face while nursing at her breast.

“We should pray with the same faith as the child who trusts as his father holds the back of the bicycle teaching the child to ride,” “We should pray with the same hope that the young adult holds in their heart, that they will return safely, as they look at their parents prior to embarking on a long journey.”

“We should pray thus with: faith, hope and love, acknowledging an inextricable bond between us and God – inextricable that is, only until we choose to break this bond, by sin.

“But yet still, our prayer life is always open to our Divine parent, even in our sinfulness, if we seek to open the channel of love calling on the Divine Mercy,” Dr Kania concluded.

An Apostolic Letter released by Pope Francis at the conclusion of last year’s Jubilee Year focussed on how mercy is at the very centre of the existence of the Catholic Church —

T

he letter, entitled in Latin, Misericordia et Misera (Mercy with

Misery) aims to encourage the lay faithful to look for ways of being witnesses of God’s love and mercy.

Referencing Jesus’ meeting with the adulteress in the Gospel of John (8:1-11), Pope Francis spoke of forgiveness being the “most visible sign of the Father’s love”.

“Mercy is this concrete action of love that, by forgiving, transforms and changes our lives. In this way,

REFLECTING ON POPE FRANCIS’ APOSTOLIC LETTER

“Misericordia et Misera”

the divine mystery of mercy is made manifest,” the Holy Father said.

“From generation to generation, it embraces all those who trust

“In a culture often dominated by technology,

“The corporal and spiritual works of mercy

in Him and it changes them, by

sadness and loneliness appear to be on the

continue in our own day to be proof of

bestowing a share in His very

rise, not least among young people. The

mercy’s immense positive influence as a

life,” he said.

future seems prey to an uncertainty that

social value. Mercy impels us to roll up our

Pope Francis also called out for

does not make for stability.

sleeves and set about restoring dignity to

people to become “vessels of

“We need witnesses to hope and true joy if we

millions of people; they are our brothers

mercy” and witnesses of the

are to dispel the illusions that promise quick

and sisters who, with us, are called to build

Gospel.

and easy happiness through artificial paradises.

a ‘city which is reliable’,” he said.

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... the lay faithful, can take within the Archdiocese, to promote a “culture of mercy”

Perth based theological observer Kathleen Wood OAM, spoke to The Record Magazine, reflecting on Misericordia et Misera and the words of the Holy Father.

“Pope Francis speaks of consolation at a deeply personal level, which every committed person must bear in mind when seeking to extend the love of God to those in need of support for whatever reason,” Ms Wood said.

“To offer consolation to others effectively means going beyond our circle of friends and extending comfort to others we may not personally know,” she said.

Ms Wood also provided some insight as to the steps that we, the lay faithful, can take within the Archdiocese, to promote a “culture of mercy”, as Pope Francis asked.

She also discussed that Australia, being a Western nation that supports materialism and consumerism, does not pay much attention to the energy and drive envisioned by the Church in putting mercy into action with the Pope, bishops and clergy leading the way.

“Congregations require appropriate homilies explaining the teaching of the Church on the controversial issues of the day, such as abortion, euthanasia, and same sex marriage for example.

“Significant emphasis is placed (in Australia) on these topics by means of current Government discussion, decision and potential action, while irresponsible reporting and ongoing criticism of the Church by the media remains negative and damaging,” she said.

Ms Wood echoed the call of Pope Francis in being witnesses of God’s love and mercy, walking in the footsteps of Christ in all aspects of everyday life.

“To walk in the steps of the Good Shepherd takes courage, born out of commitment to our Lord’s call to ‘feed His sheep’, and then by action in following His own teaching where the one who was lost is found and brought home to the fold.

“The great Catholic G K Chesterton was correct when he said, ‘We do not need a Church that will move with the world, but a Church that will MOVE the world’,” she concluded.

I S S U E 6 FEBRUARY 2017

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The increase in the use of social media over the last decade has seen a variety of trends, Mummy Blogging being one of them.

Mr Wight said the news media in particular,

The everlasting trend gives attention to mothers who feel the need to share their experiences, or advice, as parents to others, sometimes building lucrative careers through their promotion of one particular model or approach to parenting.

a constant flow of information about

But the demand for such advice raises another issue – that of an apparent fear among modern parents that they are not ‘doing it right’, and potentially failing their children.

produced a fear among parents, providing kidnappings and other dangers that did not reflect real-life circumstances.

“Research shows that our world today is much safer than it was in the 1950s and 60s, but the distance parents allow their kids to walk to school is much less,” he said.

But he believed parents could overcome this ‘fear based parenting’ by adopting specific strategies.

“Firstly by establishing their values, in the same way that a workplace might highlight what it stands for. This provides a guide or a map for how they approach their children.

“Secondly, by developing networks through community, church and parenting discussion groups. This allows them to connect with other families and parents and discuss

WORDS Caroline Smith

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est Australian Educator Clark Wight believes that this ‘fear based parenting’ is

a result of developments in western society which have made parents more anxious and competitive than ever, pointing to changes in parental attitudes that he has witnessed throughout his career.

Clark Wight

“I’ve been a teacher for 27 years, particularly in primary schools and I’ve watched parents go from the approach that ‘kids are just here to learn’ to ‘my

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their experiences rather than comparing themselves to others in isolation.”

The idea of adopting family values as a foundation-stone of parenting, resonates with Catholic teachings, with Catechism Statement 2207 (on the family and society) saying: “The family is the community in which, from childhood, one can learn moral values, begin to honour God, and make good use of freedom. Family life is an initiation into life in society.”

Mr Wight said there was a link between the issues of values and community which society needed to consider more closely.

kids have to be better than other kids’,”

“I think communities need to change: there’s

he said.

been a loss of foundation and core values

“I think a lot of it comes from external

which is evidenced in the drop in church

stressors: the 24-hour news cycle,

attendance,” he said.

the scarcity of jobs. Parents feel that

“People these days seem not to be having

because jobs are scarce, their kids have

a real conversation about the issues that

to perform better than everyone else

affect them, including parenting and other

in order to be competitive.”

talking points.”

PARENTING

However, he pointed to the existence

“I now have an even deeper appreciation

of networks, including one at his school

of the extra challenges that are present

called ‘Parenting Forward’, that provides

in homes and schools and I am standing

opportunities for parents to gain advice

beside today’s parents with even more

from public speakers and discuss their

presence as it is definitely much tougher

experiences with one another.

in many ways for most parents now to

Concerns about the impact of modern

parent today’s children.”

society on parents have also been raised

Mrs Dent agreed that a constant flood

by Australian author and public speaker

of negative information from the news

Maggie Dent, who in an October 2016

media caused an unreasonable amount

blog post said that over-protective

of stress to both parents and children.

‘helicopter’ parents were perhaps to be

“For children, these images and stories

expected these days, given the pressures of news and social media, consumerism and technological innovations.

Maggie Dent

are frightening and many children have anxiety issues and excessive worrying thought patterns as a result of witnessing

Like Mr Wight, she highlighted the

images of terrorist bombings, war,

noticeable changes in society and

violence, car crashes, mass murders,

parenting that she had witnessed since

famine and natural disasters,” she said.

her time as a mother of small children

She named the rise of aggressive

lower levels of education were also

advertising as another hindrance to

undoubtedly putting pressure on

“Since I was a mum for kids under five,

parents, making them feel guilty if

parents, she said.

so much has changed and yet what our

they didn’t have the most up-to-date

children actually need has not changed

products.

On the latter point, she urged parents

one iota,” she said.

The ever-presence of technology such

rather than focusing too much on exams

as smart phones and iPads, on the other

and performances at school.

hand, posed problems to children’s

“Young children need to move using

herself.

physical and emotional wellbeing.

Pornography, the sexualisation of children and increased testing at

to give children the freedom to play,

all their senses in real and engaging

“We have children who have screen

environments in order to grow optimally

addiction by three years of age and who

and that includes some freedom,

are struggling with poor sleep because

autonomy and dirt or mud while being

the flashing purple lights have disturbed

surrounded by consistent loving care,”

their melatonin levels which helps with

she said.

sleep,” Mrs Dent said.

“Basically kids need to be kids doing

“Too much time in the virtual world is

what kids are meant to do…play more

impacting young children’s capacity to

with more freedom, risk and in the

be creative, imaginative, to play with

company of creatures with heartbeats!

others, and to develop emotional and

“The good news for all those out there

social awareness.

in parent-land is: ‘Good enough parents

“Parents everywhere are struggling

can still raise pretty awesome adults in

with managing this and the additional

today’s world’. Your main challenge is to

problems it has brought with it. This is

be vigilant ‘enough’ while still allowing

really making things tough in today’s

your children to learn ways to be capable

homes.”

and independent.”

I S S U E 6 FEBRUARY 2017

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IN THIS SPECIAL REPORT for Identitywa and LifeLink, the (now former) eRecord journalist Dr Marco Ceccarelli talks about his 25-year-old brother Andrea who has Down Syndrome and the impact of the support he has received from Identitywa, an Archdiocesan agency supported by LifeLink.

I

for a break.

Although still making progress in terms of speech and communication and currently needing limited supervision,

Andrea is highly selfsufficient and enjoys both

have often been asked what

up surrounded by the unconditional

it has been like to grow up

love of his parents and siblings and

working his part-time

with a brother who has Down

quickly learned to become the

Syndrome, a congenital disorder

most popular person in the house

job and being around

arising from a chromosome defect.

through his affectionate behaviour

Admittedly, the question promptly evokes a cheeky smile as I think back on the endless memories I share with Andrea, who turned 25 last year, and dwell on the times he made me laugh (sometimes to tears),

and infectious sense of humour.

His goals would range from the simple pleasures of life such as going to the movies, eating fast food and heading out for walks, to wanting to travel (especially back to Italy,

friends and family.

His presence around children is awe inspiring as he brings an attentive approach combined with inextinguishable energy to the various activities and games that children like to engage in.

his home country), doing well at

If there is one thing that Andrea

school and playing sport. Physically

enjoys as much as being around

robust and with an enduring stamina,

his family, it is spending time with

the person I am today.

physical activity has always been

Identit y wa’s suppor t workers

The fifth of six children, Andrea grew

an priority for Andrea – a quality

and other people involved in the

that often left those looking after

organisation.

cry, have fun, become worried, be carefree, and, most importantly, the way he helped me grow into

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him short of breath and begging

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IDENTITYWA

Throughout his younger years, it would

like to call a “trained heart”, a heart

In the more obvious sense, he helped

not take long for Andrea’s face to light

that does not easily give up in front of

me develop a profound respect for

up whenever a car from Identitywa

difficulties and, often automatically,

people with disability and for those

pulled up on our driveway and out

feels like going the extra mile in order

who care for them. More generally,

came a support worker to greet him.

to help the disadvantaged.

however, he has taught me to be

To this day, his reaction has not

As counter-narrative as this may

tolerant and understanding of those

changed. Whether it is only for

seem in a world that tends to focus

few hours – an approach which

on disabled people as burdens on

Identitywa refers to as “having a

families, Andrea played a pivotal role

about others.

break” – or for an entire weekend, the

in my adolescent formation and my

This has gone a very long way in

time Andrea spends being supported

growth into adulthood.

helping me strive to become a better

who are different to me and to think twice about making hasty conclusions

by Identitywa’s staff is invaluable to

husband, father, brother, friend,

him and to our family.

colleague and contributing member

Activities at Identitywa are often

of society.

tailored to his needs and have over

For these reasons, of all the people

time become a regular part of his

that I was surrounded by growing up,

life. Excursions, learning activities,

Andrea has been the most important.

playing sport, social evenings or

For these reasons, I would not

simply spending time with people who were not part of his family

change him for the world.

greatly benefit Andrea.

Moreover, Identitywa gives our family, particularly our parents, an opportunity to do things that would otherwise not be possible.

Highly self-sufficient and always eager to contribute in any way he can, Andrea enjoys both working his part-time job and being around friends and family.

Photo: Marco Ceccarelli

Per sonally, growing up with Andrea has been a lot of things, but above all, I cannot think of a more appropriate term to describe my experience other than a “privilege.”

First, I describe my experience in this way because some of the greatest childhood memories I have involve Andrea and his contagious goodspirited personality.

I can truly say that there was hardly a dull moment spent in his company and, even now, I crave the high spirits

The privilege of growing up with my brother Andrea WORDS Dr Marco Ceccarelli

which he brings to every occasion.

Second, growing up with Andrea significantly contributed to my ability to face life’s challenges with what I

As a LifeLink agency supporting people with a disability and their families, Identitywa provides a number of different support services to children and adults throughout the Perth metropolitan area.

I S S U E 6 FEBRUARY 2017

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YOUTH

THE RECENT EMBR ACE THE GR ACE (ETG) cconference in New Norcia would not have been complete without the availability of the sacraments and time for prayer.

WORDS Michael Soh Newly-ordained Deacon Mariusz Grzech officiates the Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction during the

A

Embrace the Grace conference, held from 7-11 December in New Norcia. Photo: CYM Perth

long with talks from guest speakers, community group sessions, a ‘Mini Olympics’ competition and socialising, the 7 to 11 December conference offered daily Mass to the more than 100 young people who attended.

The Friday night was also set aside specifically for Eucharistic Adoration and the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Guest speaker Father Stephen Gorddard opened the night by speaking about reconciliation, touching on topics such as mortal and venial sins, the process of the sacrament and the joy, freedom and peace gained thereafter.

Before the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament for adoration, CYM staff members Eliza McKay and Josh Low also briefly addressed the youth on the graces they had received by taking part in the practice.

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Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction was officiated by newly-ordained Deacon Mariusz Grzech, with seven priests available to hear confessions and many attendees lining up to receive the sacrament.

Having attended ETG as a young layman, seminarian and now a priest, Fr Gorddard was amazed by this year’s attendance.

He said that Mass, adoration and reconciliation should play an important part in everyone’s spiritual lives.

“In all my years of coming to ETG, I’ve never seen such a crowd like this and it’s so encouraging and inspiring to see this great and powerful event grow and continue to draw new and inspiring young people,” he said.

Fr Gorddard added that the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation, as well as adoration, were important for any retreat because “the point of a retreat is to come and be with our Lord”.

Attendees pose for a photo during the recent Embrace the Grace conference, which included prayer, daily Mass and opportunities to receive the sacraments. Photo: Matt Lim

“But as we draw closer to Him, we realise that discipleship is a call to conversion and I think that’s really at the heart of growing in our spiritual life,” he said.

I WAS STRUGGLING WITH SOME THINGS AND TONIGHT WAS A BEAUTIFUL OPPORTUNITY TO FIND CHRIST’S ANSWER FOR ME AND TO BE WITH HIM. “So for me, par ticularly the Sacrament of Reconciliation is really critical for going deeper in our discipleship with Jesus as He asks us to leave things behind and to come follow Him.” First time ETG attendee Tom Kenny-Simpson, said he found Eucharistic Adoration to be a profound experience.

“Tonight was extremely important for me, as I was overwhelmed by how enriching the experience is at ETG,” he said.

“It was an amazing opportunity to reconnect with God and to seek and be with Jesus and experience His mercy.

“I was struggling with some things and tonight was a beautiful opportunity to find Christ’s answer for me and to be with Him.” Fellow attendee Joe Raymond, believes that participation in adoration and the sacraments will strengthen him and his peers in their difficult moments.

“Adoration, reconciliation and the Mass all provide you with the fuel to tackle life, as this world can be a cruel place,” he said.

“It gives you the strength and conviction to keep going even if times are tough.

“I think participation with my peers here at ETG in adoration, daily Mass and reconciliation is a beautiful thing, to share these gifts God has given us with my fellow brothers and sisters.”

Attendees also had the option of participating in the Liturgy of the Hours, with the recitation of Lauds (Morning Prayer) and Compline (Night Prayer) well attended over the whole conference.

I S S U E 6 FEBRUARY 2017

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Jack

*

was excited by the challenge of his new role as an Executive Manager. After some five years in the health sector, he was keen to sink his skills and experience into a role that he could make his own, while also growing in leadership skills.

His new colleagues Karen, the Administration Manager, and James, the CEO were friendly and helpful.

An unfortunate series of personal tragedies in the weeks that followed meant Jack had a lot to deal with.

Karen showed signs she was less sympathetic than he had hoped and the deadlines were relentless.

It was then that the negative comments started. Remarks about his culture, family and lifestyle were taking their toll, emotionally, mentally and physically.

Suffering depression and unable to sleep at night, Jack worked all the harder. The company had also experienced significant challenges, forcing Jack to spend large amounts of time away from his family.

Unbeknown to Jack at the time, Karen was tapping his phone calls, as well as sabotaging his email and social media accounts, resulting in a written warning – to Jack - from the company board chairman.

WORDS Caroline Smith

But Karen’s bullying and manipulation didn’t stop with Jack. The CEO, James, Accountant Anna and Administration Assistant, Amanda, were all in her sights. Karen has hacked the IT system and had access to all their email accounts and had become pretty good at destroying evidence of her behaviour.

Th e co m p a ny b oa rd m em b er s ignored repeated calls from Jack for intervention, even when several of them personally visited and met with him to check the progress of what had become a highly volatile situation.

Some board members even encouraged Karen and authorised her ‘takeover’ of Jack’s role.

It was some months later, while Jack was on annual leave, that Karen’s actions lead to the sacking of the CEO by the company board chairman.

So when the new CEO agreed with Karen that Jack was not up for the job either, Jack knew it was either time to take serious legal action or make a quick exit.

Some weeks later, the Administration Assistant resigned because Karen had tried to force her (and Jack) to eat ‘homemade’ chocolate cake in an attempt to ‘gain their trust’ and say sorry.

And so, after 18 months of tyranny, the CEO finally made Karen redundant. (*names have been changed to protect identities.)

Workshops encourage justice and empathy

A

pproaching relationships from a fresh and empathetic perspective was the goal for staff from several West

The program involved 38 participants split into two groups and met between July and November 2016.

Australian dioceses – including the Archdiocese of Perth –

The key activity during each session involved sharing experiences of relationships in a circle formation, with one person speaking at a time while the others listened.

who recently took part in a program of monthly workshops entitled ‘Discovering Restorative Justice Together’.

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F

or many people, a workplace is a fairly innocuous location, where they spend around eight hours a day performing cer tain functions and getting paid for their efforts.

As the issue of workplace bullying (and bullying in general) has gained greater prominence in Australia over the past decade or more, the Federal government has responded with calls for a national hotline which would offer advice to workers and employers dealing with workplace bullying.

Geraldton based psychologist Peter Watt, said that workplace bullying needed to be taken seriously, and addressed by management.

This was one of 23 recommendations made in a 2012 report by the House of Representatives’ Standing Committee on Education and Employment, entitled Workplace bullying: we just want it to stop.

With some 25 years of experience in understanding the human condition, Mr Watt says that while human nature is essentially good, people can behave badly and use power or status to take advantage of employee vulnerability.

“Where this reality is denied by the organisation, workplace remediation will be ineffective and bullying will continue.

“While it is important to have an operational definition of bullying to avoid injustice in employment relations, it is equally important for employers to consider the impact of any communication in the workplace, and operate gently with staff.”

Public service agencies estimate that around 15 to 25 per cent of their workforce have reported experiencing workplace bullying, and Rod Wes t – E xecutive Manager of Counselling Services at social services provider Centrecare – says that this is in-line with his own interactions with workers.

“During the 2015-2016 financial year, around 20 percent of individuals who reported accessing Centrecare Corporate’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for counselling due to Workplace Stress, indicated that it was due to allegation of workplace bullying,” he said.

Mr West said a 2010 survey by anti-bullying website No Bull! indicated how serious the impact

of workplace bullying could be.

“Four out of five respondents stated they had suffered from, or been diagnosed with sleeping problems and depression after being targeted by a workplace bully – closely followed by 75 percent with anxiety, 59 percent with cons t ant f atigue, and scaringly 6 percent had considered suicide,” he said.

He a dde d t hat wor k place s themselves often suffered, but were beginning to respond with policies tackling the issue.

“Most organisations now know the personal, health and organisational damage that bullying can cause and have a range of policies and guidelines that addresses behaviours including: spreading gossip about others, forwarding on or respond to messages or photos that may b e of fe nsi ve o r upsetting, and supporting the person who is being bullied to ask for help,” he said.

Emmanuel Centre Co-ordinator Barbara Harris, said she had studied and used restorative justice principles in the past.

“I was talking about it to other people, and they showed an interest in learning about it, so the Archdiocese said let’s run a program,” she said.

“We had people attend who were prison chaplains, members of parish councils as well as representatives from schools and agencies.

Emmanuel Centre Co-ordinator Barbara Harris left, with Fr Paul Pitzen and EC community member, Judith Wirawan. Photo: Supplied

I S S U E 6 FEBRUARY 2017

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“I have felt that God has always come to search for me to bring me back into the Christian community.”

L E A DE R S I N FA I T H:

Meet the Archdiocese of Perth’s three new directors WORDS Jamie O’Brien and Rachel Curry

I

t has been an exciting start to the year for the Archdiocese of Perth, with three new directors bringing a mix of innovation and experience to their roles.

Director of Archives, Odhran O’Brien; Director of the Centre for Faith Enrichment (CFE), Marco Ceccarelli and Director of The Shopfront, Damian Walsh were all recently appointed to their positions, but they are far from strangers to the Archdiocese.

holds many other documents which tell the story of the faith in WA and those who worked diligently to cement it here,” he said.

Mr O’Brien said there were many things he hoped to achieve in his new role at the Archives.

“Foremost I hope to boost its research profile and begin a major digitisation program for its most fragile documents, many of which are 19th century,” he said.

Mr O’Brien will start at the Archives in mid-February, after previously working as Manager of Heritage for the Archdiocese of Perth.

“There is a very rich collection in the Archdiocesan Archives, which links into New Norcia, the State Records Office and many other important collections.

Originally from County Galway in Ireland, Mr O’Brien has spent most of his life in Perth and is a member of Yokine Parish.

The new Director of CFE, Dr Ceccarelli, will also be familiar to many in the Archdiocese.

He told The Record Magazine that he was passionate about preserving the history of the Catholic Church in WA. “The Catholic Archives contains the records of the past archbishops and bishops; it also

A former sessional lecturer and PhD graduate in History and European Studies at the University of WA, Dr Ceccarelli has spent the past two years working as a Journalist and Assistant Editor at the Archdiocese Communications Office.

He believes these experiences will hold him in good stead in his new role.

“I bring more than a decade of experience teaching in higher education, developing,

promoting and coordinating courses for adults, combined with a passion for adult faith and knowledge of our Archdiocese,” he said.

“I also believe that having worked two years in the Archdiocese as a journalist will go a long way in helping me effectively communicate with the community and attract people to see the richness of the CFE’s courses.”

Dr Ceccarelli hails from Rome, but moved to Perth with his parents and five siblings at the age of 10.

A member of Mirrabooka Parish, he said his faith had been at the front and centre of some of the biggest decisions in his life, including his choice of studies, career and family.

The new Director of The Shopfront, Mr Walsh, also places faith at the centre of his life as a member of East Victoria Park Parish.

“Being human, we are all searching for meaning in life. My faith is a practical outlet for where I find life,” he said.

“My faith is a personal choice (although I’m a cradle Catholic), as I find strength in knowing that my God is accepting of difference and loves us, despite when we get things wrong.”

Having spent more than 20 years working with people on the margins, Mr Walsh is well suited to his new role at The Shopfront, Originally from Melbourne, he came to Perth in 1998 to become Director of The Living Centre, an Archdiocesan drop-in and pastoral care centre for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

For the past two years he has been working within the Mission Directorate of the Christian Brothers Oceania Province.

He is also Chair of the Committee of Management for the Archdiocese’s Justice, Ecology and Development Office.

Mr Walsh said that patience, a willingness to accept people and experience working with volunteers were valuable qualities he hoped to bring to The Shopfront.

Recently appointed Director of the Centre for Faith Enrichment, Marco Ceccarelli; Director of The Shopfront, Damian Walsh and Director of Archives, Odhran O’Brien.

Photo: Jamie O’Brien

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IDENTITYWA

Personal Advocacy Service director calls for volunteers

WORDS Rachel Curry

R

ay Ryan has wasted no time sinking his teeth into his role as Executive Director of Personal Advocacy Service.

is the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme funding, so that changes our whole funding arrangements.

Established in 1989, the Archdiocesan agency provides opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to be included in community life by pairing them with a volunteer, or ‘advocate’, with whom they can develop a meaningful friendship.

“We’re also looking at expanding into Notre Dame (Cloverdale) Parish and Subiaco Parish, so we’ll be looking for volunteers in those parishes in the near future.”

Each pair attends a weekly gathering with other advocates and people with disabilities, who they refer to as ‘friends’, where they can further develop their social skills and build relationships.

Mr Ryan started working with the agency in May 2016, but told The Record Magazine he already had a lot on his plate, including the transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), expansion plans and volunteer recruitment.

“It’s been a very steep learning curve because the not-for-profit sector and the charity sector and working in the Archdiocesan community is a completely new experience for me,” he said.

“Probably the biggest challenge we’re facing at the moment

Mr Ryan has a background in sales marketing and management in the building supplies industry, meaning his new role at Personal Advocacy Service is a big change for him.

However, he is confident he can transfer his skills from the commercial sector and make a real difference to the lives of people with intellectual disabilities.

“It was something where I felt I wanted to contribute more to the community, rather than just in a commercial field, where you contribute to the profit of the owners,” he said.

“I’m at the stage of my life where I want to get more meaning out of my work. It’s great going home at the end of the day knowing you did more than meet sales targets or bring in a new customer.”

Mr Ryan also brings vast experience working with volunteers from his

many years serving in the St Vincent de Paul Society and has personal connections to the disability sector.

“I’ve got a daughter who is legally blind and my wife works as an educational assistant in special needs, so I’ve been on the periphery of being involved in that for a long time,” he said.

“I’m aware of some of the challenges people face and the need for people to step up and contribute.”

When it comes to contributions, Personal Advocacy Service has a wonderful stable of volunteers, some of whom have developed relationships with their friends for more than 20 years.

H oweve r, M r R y a n s a i d t h ey desperately needed a few more people to step up.

“We’re looking for volunteers in Morley in particular. We desperately need volunteers from this area, and that means the surrounding parishes as well,” he said.

“We’re looking for people who can spare a couple of hours of a weekday evening during the school term and who are prepared to make an initial two-year commitment.”

Volunteers do not need to have any experience working with people with intellectual disabilities and all training is provided.

Mr Ryan said the service had a “huge” impact on the friends, but was also a positive experience for the advocates.

“The volunteers all report that they get more out of it than they put in – personal satisfaction, making a difference in someone’s life, spiritual development and forming friendships with a group of like-minded people,” he said.

For more information or to volunteer, visit www.paswa.org.au.

The new Executive Director of Personal Advocacy Service, Ray Ryan (centre), is looking for volunteers to develop meaningful friendships with people with intellectual disabilities. Photo: Rachel Curry

I S S U E 6 FEBRUARY 2017

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H ER E I A M, LOR D:

Fr Vinh Dong’s

20 years

of PRiesthood WORDS Rachel Curry

W

ith his positive outlook, friendly nature and healthy sense of humour, it should be no surprise that Father Vinh Dong became a priest.

His vibrant personality has made him the perfect fit to lead the recently established Banksia Grove Parish, where has been busy building community and raising funds for a church building over the past two years.

However, Fr Dong – who recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his ordination – said a religious life was the last thing his parents would have predicted for him.

“I am one of 12 siblings and was the least expected to become a priest in my family,” he said.

“My parents thought I would grow up to be a lawyer or businessman, so they had a shock when they came to Australia and found me in a seminary.”

Fr Dong’s path to the priesthood is irrevocably linked to his background as a child refugee.

His father worked for the South Vietnamese Government, and when the Communists took power in 1975, the family knew they had to flee.

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PEOPLE

“There was no future for anyone f r o m t h e s o u t h of V i e t n a m who had family members with any association to the South Vietnamese Government, and being Catholic made it more difficult,” Fr Dong said.

“So in the late 1970s I tried to escape. I tried 14 times before I succeeded.”

“I said a prayer and I said, Fr Dong tells a funny story about one of his escape attempts, when he was caught by the authorities along with a neighbour, who claimed the pair were siblings.

The boys were asked for their birthdays, but their answers left the police wondering how two brothers could be born only four months apart.

After spending 10 months in a refugee camp – where he was fur ther inspired by a French missionary priest – Fr Dong was able to reunite with two of his older brothers in Perth.

He learned English and attended school at St Mark’s College in Highgate and Mercy College in Koondoola, before deciding to fulfil the promise he had made to God all those years earlier.

He entered St Charles’ Seminary and, after completing his formation at St Francis Xavier in Adelaide, was ordained by Archbishop Barry Hickey on 13 December, 1996.

He eventually escaped Vietnam alone at the age of 11, spending a horrible nine days and 10 nights on a small wooden boat with some 80 other people before reaching Malaysia.

The goodwill towards Fr Dong is obvious, with members of Lockridge Parish, Greenwood Parish and the Vietnamese Catholic Community strongly supporting his current fundraising efforts.

“There was one night where we experienced a big storm and a lady next to me said, ‘Say a prayer; we might not wake up tomorrow’.

“I said a prayer and I said, ‘God, if you look after me, if you rescue me, I’ll be a good boy’.”

can share what I’ve learnt.

“One of the things I shared with them is that the word ‘Catholic’ means universal, so no matter where we may be, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.”

Looking back on his ministry after 20 years – and looking forward to the next 20 – Fr Dong said he had “loved every bit” of being a priest, even the challenging periods.

“One of the mottos I chose for my ordination was ‘Here I am, Lord,

‘God, if you look after me,

Despite his sense of humour about the experience, Fr Dong acknowledges it was a tough time.

“There were many times that I thought the boat would capsize,” Fr Dong said, looking back on the journey.

and is a migrant like them, I hope I

send me’ (Isaiah 6:8),” he said.

In the two decades since, he has ser ved as an Assistant Priest at Highgate and Kalgoorlie and as Parish Priest at Lockridge, Greenwood and now Banksia Grove.

if you rescue me,

“For me, who’s been here 35 years

Perhaps this should be expected, considering his philosophy that the most important thing priests can do is “see their parishioners as their family”.

This is certainly the case at Banksia Grove, a multicultural parish home to thriving African, Filipino and Indian communities.

“Many of them are new to the country and the culture here is very different,” Fr Dong said.

“I shared that with people on my anniversary day because it was on the 3rd Sunday of Advent, and the Gospel of that week was about Joseph hesitating to take Mary as his wife and being visited by the Angel.

“I reflected on that and said, ‘There are times when I am afraid to take a step further, but the words of Isaiah say, ‘Do not be afraid’, so I respond with, ‘Here I am, Lord, send me.”

Banksia Grove Parish is currently fundraising for the construction of their church building. To donate, contact Fr Vinh Dong on 0422 422 773.

I’ll be a good boy’.”

Banksia Grove Parish Priest Father Vinh Dong, has recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of his ordination. Photo: Rachel Curry

I S S U E 6 FEBRUARY 2017

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MOVIE REVIEW

D

ire c te d an d co-w r it te n (with Jay Cocks) by Martin Scorsese, “Silence” (Paramount) is a dramatically powerful but theologically complex work best suited to viewers who come to the multiplex prepared to engage with serious issues.

T h os e willing to ma ke su ch a n intellectual investment, however, will find themselves richly rewarded.

In adapting Catholic author Shusaku Endo’s 1966 fact-based historical novel, a project in the works since the late 1980s, Scorsese finds himself in what might be called Graham Greene territory.

As fans of that British novelist know, he had a fondness for stretching and twisting fundamental issues of faith and morality, and Endo’s plot shows the same tendency. So this is also not a film for the poorly catechised.

The movie’s primary setting is 17thcentury Japan, where persecution is raging against the previously tolerated Christian community.

Shocked by rumours that Christavao Ferreira (Liam Neeson), their mentor in the priesthood, has renounced the faith under torture, two of his fellow Jesuits, Sebastian Rodrigues (Andrew

WORDS John Mulderig, Catholic News Service Garfield) and Francisco Garrpe (Adam Driver), volunteer to leave the safety of Europe for the perils of the Land of the Rising Sun. Their twin goals are to find their role model and to minister to the underground Japanese church.

with the freedom to practice their faith

What follows is a long, sometimes harrowing battle between doubt and human frailty on the one hand and fidelity on the other.

remains universally valid.

Earthly compassion is set against faithfulness and an eternal perspective, with both divine and human silence contributing to the appropriateness of the title.

in peace are hardly in a position to judge those facing martyrdom, the principle that circumstances can mitigate guilt, but not transform wrong into right,

In the end, Silence movingly vindicates a certain form of constancy. That may, in a roundabout way, match the historical record: There is edifying, though inconclusive, evidence that the real person behind one of the three main characters in the picture not only

Scorsese has crafted an often visually striking drama that’s also deeply thought-provoking and emotionally gripping. And the per formances are remarkable all around. But the paradoxes of the narrative demand careful sifting by mature moviegoers well-grounded in their beliefs.

rejected his previous apostasy, but

Those lacking such a foundation could be led astray, drawing the conclusion that mercy toward the suffering of others can sometimes justify sin. While Catholics who are blessed

torture and a brutal, gory execution, as

ultimately surrendered his life for the faith.

The film contains religious themes requiring mature discernment, much violence, including scenes of gruesome well as rear and partial nudity.

The Catholic News Service classification is L - limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling.

Silence is a dramatically powerful but theologically complex work best suited to viewers who come to the multiplex prepared to engage with serious issues. Photo:Supplied

BOOK REVIEW

H

ow do you pray without ceasing? Do you discuss every little decision you face during the day? Do you give God status updates every minute? Do you shut yourself away from human society altogether, and interact only with God? The Way of a Pilgrim, a classic of Eastern Orthodox spirituality, is written by a narrator whose name the reader never learns, walking through Russia and Siberia with a knapsack containing his Bible, dry bread, and the Philokalia.

The story is divided into four narratives and includes the following incidents: the pilgrim meets his spiritual elders, he learns the Jesus prayer, he encounters a forester, he gets a job as church watchman, he plans for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, he visits with a pious family, and he departs for the Holy Land.

Although these events are not incredibly dramatic, the inner life of the pilgrim is transformed by the practice of the Jesus prayer and by his readings of the Fathers of the Church in the Philokalia.

In Greek, philokalia means “love of the beautiful, the good”. The Philokalia is a collection of writings by the Eastern monastic fathers (4th – 15th century).

At one point, the pilgrim observes, “I spent the entire summer continuously repeating the Jesus prayer. I was very much at peace and often even dreamed that I was saying the prayer. If I happened to meet people during the day, each of them without exception seemed very dear to me, as if they were family, though otherwise I did not concern myself with them much.

All thoughts seemed to vanish on their own, and I thought of nothing else but the prayer. My mind was recollected and attentive to it, while at times, and of its own accord, my heart would feel a warmth and a sort of pleasure.”

St Nikodimos of the Holy Mountain (Mount Athos) and St Makarios of Corinth compiled The Philokalia in the context of a collection of 20 Greek Orthodox monastic communities at Mount Athos (“the Holy Mountain”), Greece.

According to freelance writer Janet Goodrich, the manuscript of The Way of the Pilgrim was preserved by a monk and was first published in 1884. The English edition debuted in the 1930s, and it has remained in print ever since.

The pilgrim’s inner journey begins when he is struck by hearing Paul’s call to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

How do you pray without ceasing? The Way of a Pilgrim, a classic of Eastern Orthodox spirituality, is written by a narrator whose name the reader never learns, walking through Russia and Siberia with a knapsack containing his Bible, dry bread, and the Philokalia. Image:Supplied

A starets (“spiritual father”) not only teaches him the Jesus Prayer—”Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me”— but also sparks an actual spiritual revival in 19th century Russia through the popularity of The Way of a Pilgrim.

The Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky (1821 – 1881), who pioneered existentialism and was the author of a number of significant pieces including Notes from Underground (1864), The Idiot (1868), and The Brothers Karamazo (1880) , was among those touched by this spiritual revival.

On this devotional path, the pilgrim comes to a deep appreciation for silence and solitude.

He also experiences what is known in Orthodox circles as “the gift of tears.”

This spiritual classic shows the importance of the heart to a person on the mystical path, alluding again and again to the sensations that come over the pilgrim as he deepens his practice of the Jesus prayer.

This paperback will enable you to ponder some of the essential elements of Eastern Orthodox devotion.

Courtesy Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Tom Grosh IV and Janet Goodrich

I S S U E 6 FEBRUARY 2017

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CATHOLIC LEADERSHIP SE T TO GROW IN PERTH A postgraduate program designed to give aspiring leaders added management and theoretical skills to pursue a career in the Catholic business sector has been launched at The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle Campus.

I

n launching the new course, which will be delivered in conjunction with Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA) through the Notre Dame University’s School of Business, UNDA Vice-Chancellor Professor Celia Hammond said the University is hoping that this particular course will bridge a gap and provide a path for those who work in Catholic organisations.

She also stated that she hopes the course will build their understanding of Catholic social teaching to a level equal to their confidence in their professional skills and knowledge.

Professor Hammond went on to acknowledge CEWA Executive Director, Dr Tim McDonald, Learning and Development Consultant, Dr Shane Glasson and Director of Religious Education, Dr Debra Sayce.

“The reason why I want to acknowledge them is not solely based on their work over the past 18 months, because this course has been a long time coming.

We believe, that in partnership with CEWA, we’ve now been able to develop something through our Schools of Business, Education and Philosophy & Theology that is an excellent offering.”

Professor Hammond explained that there are thousands of people working in the Catholic education system and

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in health care, disability services, homeless and refugee services, aged care and advocacy that are mainly staffed and governed by lay people; lay people with great talent, great skills and with great professionalism and with great commitment and dedication to the missions of their organisations.

“This course aims to merge the most up-to-date scholarship and understandings in leadership and business practices in management and place them within the context of Catholic faith and Catholic social teaching,” Prof Hammond said.

NOTRE DAME

In Catholic Education we have to do things differently.

We can’t educate in a way that we’ve educated before.

“Particularly for teachers in the Catholic education system, that they can build their expertise and knowledge of business practices so that they can feel confident and comfortable in this world.

“This course is about empowering everybody to have a better understanding of ‘the whole’ – so that they can confidently step up and step in when it is their time,” Prof Hammond said.

Also speaking at the launch, Dr McDonald said that the new course is exciting because we know, if we listen to Pope Francis, that we’re not just in an era of change but in a change of era.

“In Catholic Education we have to do things differently. We can’t educate in a way that we’ve educated before,” Dr McDonald said.

“We need to collaborate differently for a different world.

“I am so impressed and proud of the outcome that I’d like to thank Professor Hammond for your visionary leadership in enabling this to happen.

Catholic Education WA Executive Director, Dr Tim McDonald, UNDA Vice Chancellor, Prof Celia Hammond and UNDA Acting Dean of the School of Business, Chris Mawson, at the launch of the new postgraduate program designed to give aspiring leaders added management and theoretical skills to pursue a career in the Catholic business sector. Photo: Supplied

“We could have easily gone on with what we’ve already got, but I think there was a mantra of, we haven’t got that yet, let’s see if we can create something new and I really appreciate your leadership.”

Students who graduate from the Certificate in Catholic

Leadership will be equipped to apply contemporary leadership and management concepts to facilitate effective governance, performance, change management and integration of faith-based values within serviceoriented Catholic organisations.

Some career paths include education, not-for-profit groups and charities, health care, social justice and diocesan roles.

“The Graduate Certificate in Catholic Leadership is just one of a range of disciplines offered by Notre Dame’s School of Business that are taught by leaders in their fields who have profound commercial and industry experience.

Our postgraduate programs are relevant, contemporary, and embrace today’s rapidly changing global environment while maintaining academic rigour,” said Acting Dean of the School of Business, Chris Mawson.

Head of the Fremantle Campus, Professor Selma Alliex, says the Graduate Certificate in Catholic Leadership builds on Notre Dame’s growing number of flexible postgraduate courses which are tailored to those who wish to upskill and grow in their careers.

“The introduction of the Catholic Leadership program at Notre Dame is just one way the University can prepare students ethically and spiritually for a vocation in Catholic organisations.

“Guided by the Catholic intellectual tradition that informs all courses offered at Notre Dame, the University is justifiably proud of developing business leaders that can make a lasting difference in today’s society,” Professor Alliex said.

I S S U E 6 FEBRUARY 2017

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COLOURING PAGE

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EVENTS 1 MAR

11 MAR

DISCOVERING RESTORATIVE JUSTICE TOGETHER

BREAKFAST IN THE GARDEN

Restorative Justice is a way of building relationships in any setting - families, parishes, organisations, communities, workplaces etc. The facilitators are Barbara Harris and Fr Paul Pitzen from Emmanuel Centre. It is free and open to anyone, including but not limited to agency staff and volunteers, priests, chaplains, lay people, parish councillors, organisations etc.

Beginning Wednesday 1 March, 9-12.30pm and other sessions available in April, May and June, at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 40A Mary Street, Highgate. Morning tea and lunch provided. Participants are encouraged to commit to all four sessions as they are connected. Please indicate any dietary requirements or accessibility needs to Imelda. Registration is essential. Further info and registration, contact Imelda reception.capac@ perthcatholic.org.au or 08 6104 3600.

9 MAR RITE OF ELECTION OF CATECHUMENS AND FORMAL RECOGNITION OF CANDIDATES The Rite of Election of Catechumens and formal recognition of candidates will be held on Thursday 9 March, 7.30pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB will preside. All welcome as parishes throughout the Archdiocese gather to celebrate and witness God’s election of those seeking to be received into the Church at Easter and their election to become one with the Catholic community of faith as they are presented to the Archbishop and his delegates; Bishop Don Sproxton, Fr Peter Whitely, Vicar General and Monsignor Michael Keating, Dean of the Cathedral. Further info: Karen Hart, rcia.cfl@perthcatholic.org.au or 08 9207 3350.

The Mary MacKillop Foundation invites you to “Breakfast in the Garden”. Come and join the fun, meet old friends and make new ones.

Garden Venue; Saturday 11 March, 8am, Mary MacKillop Centre, 16 York Street, South Perth (St Joseph’s Convent). Bring $15 for breakfast.

BYO chairs, tables, blankets, umbrellas, sun screen and smiles!

RSVP before 7 March to Laurie Mayne 08 9271 5649, or ljmayne@optusnet.com.au 17 MAR

in February 2017. Place your order now. Further info: cfl@perthcatholic. org.au or 08 9207 3350.

AN OPEN INVITATION Not everyone can go to work on the missions. However, Emmanuel Centre is offering an opportunity for someone to live for a time in our Emmanuel

Christian

Community,

sharing their life with people in the community in East Perth. The Emmanuel Christian Community is similar to a family environment and volunteers are invited to participate in the life of the community. The

ST PATRICK’S DAY MASS

successful person can have a day job

St Patrick’s Day Mass will be celebrated on Friday, 17 March, 10am at St Mary’s Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth. Principal celebrant and homilist is Rev Fr Vincent Conroy. Please note that there is limited parking at the Cathedral.

Other parking is available at PCC Parking Stations in the vicinity.

The Red Cat free bus service runs past the Cathedral regularly and stops at other convenient locations, particularly Perth Train Station. Click here for flyer. Further info: 08 9446 3784 or paultanham@tpg.com.au.

or be studying. If you are interested,

2017 JOSEPHITE SPIRITUALITY BROCHURE

for Sunday) at 6pm at the Ukrainian

A copy of the 2107 Josephite Spirituality Brochure which includes all our usual events and more such as Come and See, Praying our Experiences, Retreats, Prayer Days, Remembering Mary MacKillop, and Associates’ Gatherings is now available. To get a copy please contact Laura; 08 9334 0999 or laura. mccarthy@sosj.org.au.

please send a short résumé with references

to:

Barbara

Harris,

Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor St, Perth, 6000 or

emmanuelcentre@

westnet.com.au.

EVERY SATURDAY EVENING: DIVINE LITURGY IN ENGLISH A touch of the East in the West! Mass in the Eastern Catholic Churches is known as the “Divine Liturgy”. There is a Divine Liturgy celebrated in English every Saturday evening (Vigil Catholic Church of St John the Baptist, 20 Ferguson St, Maylands.

All are most welcome. Further info: anzac25@iinet.net.au.

PRAISE HEALING AND BIBLE TEACHING Every

Wednesday,

7.30pm–

9.30pm. Flame Ministries, Lion of Judah Catholic Charismatic Prayer Fellowship. Holy Rosary Parish Hall,

CONVENANT

46 Thomas Street, Nedlands. Further

The Centre for Liturgy will release the Lent 2017 Small Groups Program

info:

fmi@flameministries.org

or

www.flameministries.org/praise.htm.

Send your events to communications@perthcatholic.org.au To ensure publication, please send details a month prior before the scheduled date of your event.

I S S U E 6 FEBRUARY 2017

29

ACTIVITY PAGE

ACROSS 1 There were 3 popes with this name in the 20th century

25 “…a person will ___ only what he sows (Gal 6:7)

3 Old Testament hymn

26 Tribe of Israel

6 Biblical city

28 ___ box

10 Catholic artist Picasso

29 38D, briefly

11 Fourth book of the Bible 14 Month of the Assumption (abbr.)

15 38D in the Douay 16 10th century pope 18 “___ to us a child is born”

30 First place 33 Head of a diocese 35 “I fear no ___, for you are with me” (Ps 23:4) 36 Frequent word in Psalms 39 Biblical measure

41 OT prophetic book 19 He cured Naaman of 42 Avian symbol leprosy (2 Kings 5:8-14) of the atonement 20 What we are 43 Paul was upset forbidden to do by the because of the fifth commandment number of these in 24 ___ culpa Athens (Acts 17:16)

44 “…hallowed be thy ___.”

45 What Catholics receive on the first day of Lent 46 Home of St. Rose DOWN 1 Adjective for the Bishop of Rome 2 Pope (II) who called for the Crusades 4 Breaks the seventh commandment 5 The whole earth had one before the Tower of Babel

22 Title for Jesus 23 Plant in the story of the fall 24 “…begotten not ___…”

27 Cain and Abel 28 Leader of the Church 29 “O Salutaris ___” 31 Notre ___ 32 St. Philip’s surname 34 Where Joseph and Mary had to stay

8 Where the altar is located

37 Seventh century pope

12 Bible section 13 ___ presence in the Eucharist

THE R ECOR D M AGAZINE

21 Marriage vows

7 Rosary beads

9 Ignatius of ___

30

17 “The intention of the human heart is ___ water (Prv 20:5)

38 He married a prostitute 39 Paul and Silas’ prison doors after the earthquake (Acts 16:25–27) 40 Shem’s eldest son

Cover image Supplied

FEBRUARY 2017

ISSUE 6

OUR MISSION STATEMENT The Record Magazine seeks to promote awareness and understanding of vocation – God’s particular call to each of us to live and become what we were created to be. There are many such vocations – marriage and family life, priesthood, religious life or being single – with the first and universal vocation being to holiness, as described by the Fathers of the Church in Lumen Gentium.

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER/ EDITOR Jamie O’Brien jamie.obrien@perthcatholic.org.au MOB: 0455 099 652

DISCLAIMER The Record Magazine is published bi-monthly.

Views expressed in published articles are not necessarily those of the publisher or Editor. The Editor may refuse copy or material, including advertisements, for publication. Inclusion of an advertisement in The Record Magazine does not reflect endorsement or responsibility from the publisher or Editor.

ASSISTANT EDITOR Natashya Fernandez natashya.fernandez@perthcatholic.org.au MOB: 0423 463 591

JOURNALISTS MEMBERSHIP The Record Magazine is a member of the Australasian Catholic Press Association and Australasian Religious Press Association.

ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS We welcome unsolicited articles and photos; however, we do not guarantee replies to unsuccessful submissions.

Please send all information to: editor@therecord.com.au

Caroline Smith caroline.smith@perthcatholic.org.au MOB: 0413824828

Joshua Low joshua.low@perthcatholic.org.au MOB: 0402 546 232

CONTACT Archdiocese of Perth Communications Office Phone 08 9220 5900 Email editor@therecord.com.au Address 21 Victoria Square, Perth WA Postal Address PO Box 3075, Perth WA 6832

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Images are used with respect and appreciation.

© 2017 The Record Magazine Copyright 2016 No part of The Record Magazine may be reproduced in any form without prior written consent from the publisher. The Record Magazine liability in the event of an error is limited to a printed correction. Proudly printed in Australia by Scott Print.

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