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Abortion is as evil as September 11: former ambassador By Peter Finney Jr. Catholic News Service NEW ORLEANS (CNS) - Former US diplomat Alan Keyes told a pmlife conference in New Orleans he equates the evil of the September 11 terrorist attacks with the evil of abortion. While the attacks manifested "a disregard for the intrinsic worth of innocent human life," he said, they were no different nor more appalling on a moral level than the fact that abortion has destroyed millions of unborn babies since it was legalised virtually on demand in 1973.
Keyes, who was US ambassador to the United Nations Economic and Social Council during the Reagan administration, made the comments in a July 12 keynote speech at the American Life League's annual Celebration of Life World Family Conference in New Orleans. "If we pray down destruction on the head of Osama bin Laden for that violation of innocent life," Keyes said. "we have to be aware that we pray down destruction as well on a nation that is willing to enshrine in principle a right to administer the self-same blow to those innocent lives of our offspring that ought to be more sacred in our obligation to God than any others." He scoffed at the suggestion by some in the media that the terrorist attacks were an example of "new evil." "That evil may have come from Osama bin Laden, but it was not the discovery of new evil," he said. "What we saw on September 11 in the collapsing buildings, in the death toll, in the grief of the families was the awesome consequences that arise when we ignore the intrinsic meaning and worth of innocent human life. Let us not pretend that we made such a discovery on September 11. "What we discovered that day was the real consequence of evil in ourselves," Keyes added. 'The evil doesn't come from without it doesn't fall
Kudos goes to Catechists
By Pina Ford Come journey.., that was the theme of the Conference for Catechists held recently at the Catholic Education Office that attracted more than 100 catechists from across the Perth Archdiocese. Opening the conference, Archbishop Barry Hickey reminded like raindrops on your head. Evil catechists of the tremendous welLs up from the hearts of human not only of the religious beings." Keyes called the Septem- value, program that they education ber 11 attacks a "lightning bolt" children, but also of their teach to "In the face of the destruction of September 11, all relativism was very presence with them. As a young priest going into govthrown to the wind, and we understood in the light of tragedy (the) ernment schools, he said he was truth that there is a clear line ... sometimes diffident about the between right and wrong." he said. impact of his work It was only in the ensuing years Keyes said the pm-life cause is not at right, and keynote speaker Monthat he witnessed the fruits of his Conference characters Helen, left, Sandra, "special interanother simply just Photo Phi Bayne. CEO ica Brown. est" "People ask me. 'Why do you efforts when he was asked to precare so much about that mass of tis- side in the marriages of his for- We Proclaim, was continued in exploring the Emmaus story. She sue in the womb? What's with that mer pupils or baptise their the address by keynote speaker, presented Jesus' ministry to his followers on the road to Emmaus Monica Brown. emotional obsession you have with children. A religious educator, composer and their response to him as a fetuses?'" Keyes said. The theme of personal witness "A decent conscience must feel or, as the title of her book and singer of international repute, model for the Christian journey. Continued - Page 2 the terrible loss of that word of glory describes it, Embodying the God Monica developed her theme by spoken in the womb, must wonder every day what truth we have missed, what mercy we have forgone when we have suppressed out of our world all those millions of thoughts in the mind of God, thoughts intended for us. I do care about that," he said. Moral relativism also makes it easier to understand the current financial scandals that have damaged the US stock market and the sexual scandals in the church, according to Keyes. "People are lamenting the lack of business ethics, but in the context of business life we've been told it's all relative," he said. "What you do for the sake of your stockholders excuses you from the requirements of decency and morality and conscience. What generation of business leaders who were taught to believe that they could do anything for their corporation wouldn't at the end of the day conclude that they were right to do anything for themPhoto Sr Flo 0 Stillivw selves?" Elizabeth O'Doherly, Sr Anna Maria O'Shea, Sr M Referring to sexual sins, Keyes The sparkle was certainly in the eyes of 14 nuns said: "We've got a lot of folks wan- from the Sisters of Mercy congregation, who cele- Beatrice Roche, Sr M Justina Tally and Sr M Zita dering around this world who think brated their Diamond Jubilee at Santa Maria ColWeston, are 15 of the original 22 sisters who they can fornicate on Saturday and lege chapel on Sunday 14th July. were professed in to the order 60 years ago in praise the Lord on Sunday and that 1942. Only 14 were present on Sunday. nuns, Sr M Regina Blake, Sr M Fintan ConnolThe somewhere in that scheme, you will A Mass celebrated by Monsignor John O'Shea and still be walking the walk," he said. ly, Sr M Senan Curtin, Sr M Norbert Greally, Sr M Griffin, Sr M Virgilius Henchy, Sr ElizaFr John Harte was held in honour of the sisters, Mercedes "There is a standard of truth, and we Hanlon, Sr M Maria Coale! Henry, Sr Johanby afternoon tea. followed beth the depart from that standard at - Stephen Spiteri na Keane, Sr M Christopher McKenna, Sr M peril of our salvation."
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"As the Father has sent me,Iam sending you",ohn I have just returned from Northam where on the weekend St Joseph's Parish celebrated the Centenary of the parish Church. What impressed me was the presence in the town and surrounding districts of families who have been there for three, five and six generations. These are families who have held firmly to the great treasure of their Catholic faith. It was their faith which sustained them when settling the districts of Newcastle (Toodyay), Northam and York and they were served by the first priests who travelled from family to family. The area was a mission then, not a parish, and the priest went in search of the Catholics. His visits were always valued for he brought hope, strength and courage with the sacramental ministry and by his catechet-
ical work which supported the families in handing on the faith to their children. As I listened to the speeches and particularly the homily given by Fr Tom Grant who grew up in Northam, I was given an insight into the central place the parish has occupied in the lives of those families. Their Faith gave them courage as the community faced the many economic down-turns. The Great Depression saw hundreds of unemployed people move through Northam, where they found generosity in the people who were also suffering. When news arrived to a family that a son or a brother had been killed or was missing in action, it was faith that consoled them and brought people together in the dark years of the world wars. Generation by generation. the Faith was handed on. It was
handed on by being taught parent to child, and it was handed on by the children experiencing faith in action in the parish community. I believe that it is only with teaching and experience of God that we come to faith. Today we are hearing the word "evangelisation" more and more. The reason is that evangelising is what we are all about. We have been chosen by God to make disciples, to help people believe that Jesus is the Son of God and so have life in his name. Catechesis is a function of evangelisation. There is a wonderful section at the beginning of the Catechism that describes Catechesis. In it the point is made that Catechesis includes the teaching of Christian doctrine in an organic and systematic way. That is to say, catechesis has other elements which must not
be overlooked, for without them the whole work will be in jeopardy. Catechesis, the handing on of the faith, has to be built upon those elements of the church's pastoral work which I think are paramount. The Catechism identifies them as "the Initial Proclamation of the Gospel or the missionary preaching to arouse faith; examination of the reasons for belief; experience of Christian living, celebration of the Sacraments; integration into the ecclesial community; and apostolic and missionary witness". It was at a recent meeting of priests that I learnt of the distinction between Religious Education and Catechesis. Religious Education employs the process used in every learning area. Once the concepts are understood in one unit, the students are moved onto the next unit. Catechesis is a slower process. It
2021
by Bishop Donald Sproxton takes time for a person to come to faith and the process needs the co-operation of family, parish and school. I recommend that the parishes look again at the work of evangelisation each community is called to do. We provide for Religious Education but how are we providing for Catechesis?
Mater Dei Flag flies high Mater Del College has won the City of joondalup's annual 'Banners in the Terrace' competition. Students of the Joondalup college presented Mayor John Bornbalc with their banner which will represent the City, flying in St George's Terrace. Five schools submitted designs for consideration, with each school invited to transfer one design onto a full scale banner to be displayed as part of Local Government Week from July 28 to August 10. 'The City of Joondalup would particularly like to congratulate Mater Dei College for submitting such a beautiful design for the 2002 Banners in the Terrace project: Mayor Bombak said. 'This banner will represent the City of Joondalup and join the state-wide winners in St George's
Terrace Perth. "From the sunset to the beaches to the footy oval it truly summed up the best of our City of Joondalup. 'The efforts of art teachers Jodie Taylor and Bree Riseborough and the students involved were certainly evident in creating such a beautiful design,' said Mayor Bombak. The other schools that created banners were: Creaney Ed Support Centre, Dalmain Primary School, Poseidon Primary School and Hawker Park Primary School. Their colourful banners will be flown in Grand Boulevard in Joondalup during July and August. As a symbol of the City's appreciation Mayor Bombak presented Mater Del with a City of Joondalup Flag which he hoped it would be proud to fly in the school grounds.
Mater Dei students display their winning banner.
Mayor Bombak receives the banner.
Journeys shared, catechists thanked and encouraged in work Continued from Page 1 They shared their pain and disappointment at having known and loved someone who seemed to promise so much but was now both dead and discredited. He listened, engaged with their grief and told them his own story in response. His Christ story restored their hope and gave new meaning and purpose to their lives. Jesus also
accepted their hospitality, their desire for communion with him and, in this sharing, they recognised him. In Monica's retelling of this story she emphasised the importance of bringing the heart to assent to the truths that are known in the mind. Il ls this, she said, that establishes a lived relationship with God. She described how our life becomes sacred, as the Beati-
Information evenings on Stem Cells what the public needs to know The Maranatha Institute for Adult Faith Education has asked Perth moral theologian Fr Joe Parkinson to present an education evening on stem cell research. It will be given in four places in the Archdiocese: • Tuesday 23 July, 730pm, Fr John Luemmen Hall, Riverton; • Tuesday 30 July, 730pm, Floreat/Wembley Parish Centre, Floreat; • Wednesday 31 July, 730pm, St Luke's Parish Centre, Woodvale; • Wednesday 7 August, 730pm, St Benedict's Parish Centre, Applecross. Cost $5 per person. To register please phone Maranatha Institute of Adult Faith Education on (08) 9212 9311.
Read The Record Page 2
tudes tell us, when we can truly recognise the life-giving presence of God even in the darkest aspects of life. Monica's addresses, filled with the sense of a loving and incarnated God, were heartwarming to her listeners and her songs were moving in reflecting a deep but lived sense of the sacred. The workshop or `skillshop' presentations encouraged and extended the participants further
Maranatha Institute for Adult Faith Education Archdiocese of Perth Catholic Education Centre 50 Ruislip St, Leederville
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with specialists in Scripture, Liturgy, Christian Drama, music, dance and collaborative learning providing creative forums where the catechists could develop their skills and spirituality and be empowered in the continuation of their ministry. As one participant explained, "the skillshops gave us the encouragement we needed to apply some new ideas and techniques to our work and provided us with the enthusiasm to keep going." This enthusiasm was reflected throughout the two days - a fitting
reward for the members of the Catechist Service Team who spent many months painstakingly organising the triennial event. The catechists' ministry dates back to the very beginnings of the Church in WA when Bishop Brady, in 1843, arrived with a lay catechist as his companion. The catechists' work is aimed at the 54% of Catholic primary school aged children who do not attend Catholic schools. It is, therefore, an essential missionary activity of the local Church. Pina Fordis a coordinator of the Catechist Service
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18 July, 2002
III Record
St Vinnies in good Order The St Vincent de Paul Society in Perth has held a function to mark the Order of Australia awards to four of its supporters. The four men - David Reed, Michael Meerwald, Phil Owens and Tom Fisher - were guests of honour at a morning tea presentation in the St Vincent's headquarters at Belmont on July 11. Collectively they have given more than 100 years of voluntary service to St Vinnies. David Reed started a program called Youth Off the Streets in Sydney in 1996 after attending a conference there. The program has been duplicated in Perth by St Vinnies and Perth Rotary, who joined forces in 1999 to open the Passages Resource Centre in Northbridge. Passages has been modelled on David's Youth Off the Street program and has been running successfully. Michael Meerwald. recuperating from major surgery for cancer, showed determination in carrying on his work in helping other people. He manages the Granary House, providing low cost food and items to people struggling to make ends meet. Humbled by the Order of Australia ((JAM), Michael has no
St FX parish helps town How a small wheatbelt parish is helping a town to reverse the country to city drift
St Vincent De Paul OAM recipients Tom Fisher, left, Phil Owens, David Reed, and Michael Meerwald. State SVP President Brian Bull is in the centre of the photo.
intention of slowing down arriving back to work only six weeks after surgery. Tom Fisher is "81 years young" and also has no intention of slowing down despite 41 years of voluntary service to St Vinnies. His latest work involves archiving 90 years of the society's correspondence, old minutes and reports relating its administrative history since 1865.
Previously, Tom kept the records for 11 years of the society's distributions to needy families. In that time he issued furniture vouchers to the value
of more than $9.3 million, and clothing vouchers for goods worth $208,000 - or 40,000 articles. Philip Owens is another octogenarian and has been a volunteer for St Vinnies in the Bunbury area for more than 50 years. He is in excellent health at present and has no plans to stop. 1 feel very humbled by this award. But any award is not so much what you do but who you do it for. "St Vinnies is a very worthwhile organisation performing a vital role in our community," Philip said.
The St Francis Xavier parish council at the small wheatbelt stet of Quairading (population 1500) is in the forefront of promoting the town as a retirement centre. Claude Hughes has mounted a major campaign in Perth and national media to highlight the village's attractions. From "the bunker" - his home study - Claude is exercising all the skills of a high pressure, modern political spin doctor to attract new people to Quairading. One of his first steps is to "reclassify" the town as a "village" - the "state's biggest and best equipped retirement village" And it appears the town - village - has a lot going for it. Claude says the centre. just 90 minutes drive from Midland, is attractive and quiet, with friendly people of all ages. He says: -Think of it - no security gates - no traffic problems drive your car around with ease ... "Wake in the morning to the sounds of bird calls." Claude also says the town - village has all of the amenities that some city retirement villages can
only dream about. There is a full size, 18-hole golf course in picturesque bushland setting and a stylish clubhouse, all adjacent to the town. There are eight green-top tennis courts, clubhouse, two well-kept bowling greens, judged by metropolitan exponents of the sport to be equal of any large Perth clubhouse and a football oval - home to West Coast Eagle Drew Banfield. Other sporting facilities include a memorial swimming pool, hockey, netball, badminton and a vintage car club. Other facilities include a post office, library local bank branch, aged care centre, meals on wheels, all church denominations, RSL, CWA and a local sports club, and retailers include a super market, butcher, delicatessen, with a choice of motor garages and workshops and petrol supplies. The parish delegated Claude to lead the campaign after declining congregations sparked a call for action. Working with the cooperation of the local shire, Claude has drafted advertisements for the secular Press and targeted at special interest groups - particularly senior citizens.
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18 July, 2002
Rokord
My View reproduction
by Lucy O'Connell
A growing number of people are discovering the beauty and truth of Pope Paul VI's heroic encyclical Humanae Vitae and embracing it. But while Catholics may have become accustomed to decades of ridicule and dissent from within and outside the Church, now a new force is on the scene - young people. And they are defending and explaining Humanae Vitae with their own insights (and considerable enthusiasm). Here, LUCY O'CONNELL explains her view.
T
he contraceptive mentality is inherently sexist. Its fundamental premise is that a woman's fertility is a problem, not a privilege, and that women will only find liberation when they have obliterated from themselves an intrinsic part of themselves. It is worth reminding ourselves that contraceptives are not medicine, because female fertility is not a disease. The Pa for instance,
Under-valuing women (and underwriting pharmaceutical billions) works by damaging a normal body, not by healing a damaged body. Therefore, to promote the Pill as a positive, normal or necessary part of a woman's life is to cast normal female fertility in the role of sickness, and self-induced sterility in the role of health. This is an inversion of the truth which does not argue a respect for women. The contraceptive attitude to the female body is this: every female body is fundamentally flawed, because it can have babies, and this gets in the way of a normal life, rather than being a part of normal life. This is why teenagers learn that chastity is abnormal, and contraception is necessary because the female body is good for sex, but not so good when it comes to complications like babies. What's your life worth if you can't sleep with a man? The contraceptive mentality answers: Nothing. It assumes that it is better to teach a girl how to damage her own body in the name of freedom than to teach a boy to be chaste. The contraception industry feeds upon sexism, simply because men and women who
love every aspect of the human body, including its creativity, don't buy contraceptives. You can't sell a condom to a man who accepts a woman's fertility - or his own potential fatherhood enough to include that creative power in his sexual act. You can't sell injections, jellies, or bits of wire and metal to women who are willing to wait for the man who loves the whole woman, including her capacity to bear his child. In other words, no one who likes women the way they actually are uses contraceptives. Natural family planning (NFP) represents a positive alternative to contraception, rather than a dubious substitute for it. NFP allows a couple to decide when they will have sex, so that neither the woman's body, nor the sex act itself, is damaged by this decision. The Church supports the planning of families using NFP, which is now 98 per cent effective if used properly. Contraception, however, claims to allow us to decide when we will be fertile, which cannot, in fact, be done without a violence to the body or the marriage act.
Perth's Compassion sets record
Caritas volunteer Judith Woodward, left, Perth Director Ann Fairhead, and administrative assistant Mariela Espinoza.
Lucy O'Connellis 28 years old andhas recently completedher Master of Arts degree at the LIMversity of Sydney. She works at the University as 111. a member of the new Catholic Chaplaing-
Fr Tim's
The Caritas Team in Perth has thanked generous donors to Project Compassion 2002.
Replies
A record $685.000 has been forwarded to the National Office in Sydney.
A new feature in The Record. If you have a question about the Church send it to:
Special thanks go to all those who helped in any capacity eg priests, parish representatives, parishioners, school and other communities who were crucial in achieving this great result.
Fr Tim Deeter's Replies PO Box 75 Leederville WA 6902
This money will enable Caritas to continue its work of 'compassion in action' in developing countries and further Jesus' command to "let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favour". (Luke 4:19)
Web-Music played Chiefly "Contemporary music is a pow- young people in 'other paddocks' Your Feet and the single "How erful means of bringing Christ's besides church, such as pubs and Could You Say No." message to the world," says Eter- concerts." A regular performer at varied nity Music founder Jane Chiefly, "It is important people have concerts and rallies, in recent "We need to use it and new com- access to it and the Internet is a years she has featured at gathermunications to reach people who great way of providing this." ings supporting Reconciliation are otherwise difficult to get to." As well as promoting artists and and East Timor. If you are a Catholic/Christian A new website is putting con- their work, Eternity Music also temporary Catholic music firmly provides free downloads of songs artist or band and would like to and links to other Christian music appear on the Eternity Music at the edge of evangelisation. sites. website, write to PO Box 353 Eternity Music is an Australian Jane Chiefly has been a Catholic Bathurst 2795. based Internet website designed Visit to promote Catholic artists in the singer and songwriter for 10 years and has released www.eternitymusic.com.au several CDs or worldwide marketplace. including Heartbeats, Swept off email janechiefly@yahoo. com.au Set up to freely promote Catholic and Christian musicians around the Beck world, Eternity Music's vision is to te./r/tvid/y, use twenty-first century means to fUu/s/i/c, preach the gospel. Welcome to the Eternity Music Website "The Internet and Artists The .ks th> neAdge iiinderneatt are re emerhating arr,s. modern music are Duet 33 27 ilerAartlise proving to be Eternit, Music t committed to helping promote music artists, creative talent and utilizing media as a means • • Evangelisation, healing and unt, The Music ePoch Sand or II be featured here is both Catholic and Christiao important tools at music. ioihich soothes the heart of r3cid and Worships him Autiit the cuffing edge of It oslO attempt to promote all genres Oct music by Christian artists a; mwic coons longer iust entertainment it is on the cutting edge of evangelisation and to absolutely strategic to i"hat Cord is doing in our hme. It mAri also evangelisation promote creative artist owe C•lory to (rod through their gift in painting. designing and c re atfmty isletv'S today," says Jane. 4s Pope John Paul said Lirks "They are absolute"7.Ne arapotm of trefw nett Jesus crc b o kart, .not, !Vs ,,.raner ard entr, !VS. grace C., 0.‘s now cahrw cniacn So or k7 the liftstin war" nen* energy and conat,ity Tnie Lord /*tee' ages on lo cast ra,nets ly strategic to what 0,-,Ct• MOM, iLliabae 5'0.33, We :rust not disobey " God is doing in our Addr.ass To tre CI,urc.11 on C,,earia, Its, 2001 z e,nity 1,4km, is consecrated to Immaculate Heart of Mans and The Sacred Head of time. The Pope himfletlia self has asked us to Contact use them creativehas been h.iriting music all of her life She comes from Bathurst nos, ly". Her hut CC, 'Heartbeat" coo quiet. Worship music reflecting on the Sacred So Horne acoustic guitar and a simple picking style "Contemporary -cm 0050° 00° S A' j'" rr"a IHer 2tiristi i .c. C, 't:utv in rranorck s farnd f f.,..T Christian music can Jane sings at concerto, rallies and ha, hoes iro.olnyed cc ,outn be a wonderful , Abonginal Reconc illation rallies and Intindenorhinational means of reaching
AnitvivIusic
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NFP enables us to promote the healthy, chaste and natural woman's body as a part of any relationship, rather than the damaged, contraceptive body as envisaged by the magnates of a sexist industry. Similarly, NFP enables us to respect the creative power of the marriage act, rather than suggesting that we regret this power of our bodies. One final point: those of us who are single or childless, and who find the contraceptive mentality repugnant, should not limit our attempts to reshape this mentality to education or protest As a part of a community called to bear one another's burdens, it is important for us to make ourselves available to friends, family or neighbours with children who may he grateful for a helping hand. A talk given or a speech made is helpful, but a nappy changed or a baby bathed is more helpful still.
(2. / Iiiive a neighbour who a ttends several Masses per day - at different churches, and sometimes as many as 5 or 6- and receives Holy Communion at each Mass. Is this sort of thing really allowed?
N
o,. is not. Up until 1973, Catholics were permitted to receive the Eucharist only once a day. The fact is that for centuries the laity received Communion infrequently, sometimes only once a month or less often. Many older Catholics remember Sundays where a communicant had to squeeze past others in the pew who were not going to Communion. It was not unusual for a large percentage of the Sunday congregation to not receive at all. This is all traceable back to the heretic priest Berengarius (d. 1088) who taught that the Eucharist is not the true Body and Blood of Christ. The wave of theological horror that swept Europe caused a backlash against liturgical practices that, until this time, were standard: frequent reception of Communion, reception of the Host in the hand, reception of the Precious Blood, and reception in the standing posture. The increased emphasis on the reality of the Lord's Presence in the Eucharist caused such a depth of feeling of unworthiness that people hung back from receiving Communion - to the point that the Church had to eventually legislate a precept requiring the laity to receive Holy Communion at least once a year, during the Easter season. (Interestingly enough, that precept still stands, although most practical Catholics receive Communion very frequently nowadays.) This period of history gave rise to substitutes for Eucharistic Communion: the
elevations at Mass, Eucharistic adoration (a longer "elevation"). Holy Hours, the feast of Corpus Christi. and services with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. In any case, the 1973 instruction Immensae Caritatis ("Of Immense Love") permitted Catholics to receive Communion twice in a day under special circumstances: weddings, funerals, feasts like Corpus Christi. Viaticum (Communion of the dying), etc. Subsequent documents broadened the range of circumstances. The Code of Canon La w issued in 1983 simply states: "A person who has received the Most Holy Eucharist may receive it again on the same day only during the celebration of the Eucharist in which the person participates. with due regard for the prescriptions of canon 921.2 (which states: 'Even if they have received Communion in the same day, those who are in danger of death are strongly urged to receive again')." This has caused some small confusion, since it doesn't explicitly state "only a second time in the same day". It also contradicts the previous norms for those who receive Communion at a Mass, and then later in the same day are in attendance upon the sick May the person who has already received Communion receive again, in line with the previous norms of Immensae Caritatis which said that "Communion can also be given to the relatives and friends of the patient"? Technically, no, since the 1983 canon abrogates previous directives. But this point has been proposed for revision in forthcoming editions of the Code of Canon Law.
18 July, 2002
II Record
All roads lead to Toronto Preparing World Youth Day
"I could give the same answer now, also because secularism has not disappeared - it goes in waves," Cardinal Ambrozic observed. "However, just as Communism has been exhausted, the same will happen to the Enlightenment experience." Asked about the challenge of Islam in Canada, he said, "Worried? No, Islam, with its 'seriousness with God' is not just negative, as secularisation isn't, with its attention to human rights. In these months we have seen that, for the Muslims of Toronto and, naturally, for the Protestants, the Pope today is a father, a great religious leader, not a danger." He also talked about the World Youth Day cross that toured Canada. inspiring a surprising interest in people, who prayed before it. "Yes, we did not expect so much enthusiasm," Cardinal Ambrozic said. "However, ours
is a very abstract theology, which favours allegorical readings. As young people are conditioned by television, for them the image is already substance. And the cross speaks of the presence of the sacred, of Jesus."
TORONTO, JULY 14, 2002 (Zenit.org). - Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic oversees one of the most diversified dioceses in the world. "My Church is really very interesting," said the archbishop of Toronto, a city where Mass is celebrated in 29 languages in 232 parishes. The city is preparing for John Paul H's visit at the end of this month. Mass attendance has been increasing in Toronto, a rarity in the West. The lowest level of attendance was registered in 1994, when 33per cent went to Sunday Mass, and 5per cent attended only twice a month. . . CNS Today, those percentages have Saed Shomali, 29, waits at a termiincreased to 35per cent and nal in the city of Jericho, where 12per cent, respectively. That Palestinians must be processed. means 47per cent of Catholics go to Mass at least once a month, an average considerably higher than in Europe. Among Toronto's young people the rate is estimated at 42per cent. "Studies by neutral sociologists state this," Cardinal Ambrozic said. The Church that will host World Youth Day 2002 reflects the city's character: complex. multicultural and multi-ethnic, but united by the same faith in Jesus Christ. . The cardinal recalled his arrival in Canada when he was a child, exiled from Slovenia. it was 1948 and the Catholic Church was of solid Irish traditions." he said. "Then the waves Anthony Hugger, 19, was chosen to share his life story at the upcoming of migration began, first with World Youth Day in Toronto. He will be among 500 young people travelling Photo CNSAudrey Sommers. Michigan Cathodic the Italians. Portuguese and Pol- from the Detroit area. ish, then with the Latin Ameni cans and Filipinos. Sometimes I wonder what the dominant spirituality will be in the future. but it is a question that is impossible to answer." The cardinal added: "Studies point to a general return to predominant churches: Anglican. Presbyterian and Catholic, and a decline of the sects." "The news surprises me and makes me happy," he continued. "I remember a meeting with the Archbishop of Seoul: He spoke to me of his 60,000 conversions a year. and I asked him what they did. He replied: 'I have not the least idea, because we are Shireen Shomali, 24, also waits at a terminal in the West Bank city of Jericho. not that wonderful or good.'"
Cameramen take images of a popemobile in front of the staging area for the upcoming World Youth Day vigil and Mass at Downsview Park in Toronto.
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Young people carry the World Youth Day cross near the CN Tower in Toronto. Photo CNS Wittman
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I say,I say... W
hen a major Christian author is not so much criticised as stupidly traduced, it is perhaps becoming to break a lance in that author's defence. The British UK Mail for June 11 contains a feature on Whitbread Prize-winner Philip Pullman, who writes children's books as an atheist answer to C. S. Lewis's Narnia books, the continuing popularity of which infuriates atheists everywhere (Lewis set out to expound Christian messages through the adventures of various children in a land of talking animals ruled over by the lion Aslan who represents Christ). Pullman reportedly claims Narnia is: 'blatantly racist. One girl was sent to hell because she was getting interested in clothes and boys.' An atheist may disagree with the Narnia books as based on a wrong premise. However these claims are factually false.
A Layman's meditations
( )day's readings present God as merciful, kind and forgiving. The response to today's responsorial psalm (Psalm 85) is: "Lord you are good and forgiving." The psalm begins: "0 Lord, you are good and forgiving, full of love to all who call." The psalm also says: "But you, God of mercy and compassion, slow to anger 0 Lord, abounding in love and truth, turn and take pity on me." We need to be conscious of our need for God's mercy, and to remember Christ's beatitude: "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." The first reading (Wisdom 12:13. 16-19) presents God as the supreme governor and judge of all men. The Book of Wisdom was written by a Greek-speaking Jew, most probably in Alexandria in Egypt in the first half of the first century BC. His book was written to commend wisdom which comes from God, the source of all wisdom. In today's reading, God is shown as merciful, "Your sovereignty over all makes you merciful to all." Power is to be used mercifully, just as God uses his sovereign power to show mercy to us. h is no coincidence that the beautiful Litany of Loreto contains the two invocations: "Virgin most powerful pray for us", and "Virgin most merciful pray for us". It takes willpower to act mercifully. If we have the willpower, we shall have the strength to make the sacrifices acting mercifully will demand of us. for example, by denying ourselves luxuries in order to send money to help feed the hungry Donations to help feed the hungry in Africa may be sent to the Sisters of St Peter Claver, 154 Cotham Rd, Kew Vic 3101. God is forbearing the reading says: "You govern us with great lenience.," The reading says: "By acting thus you have taught a lesson to your people that the virtuous man must be kindly to his fellow men." Are we kind? Do we have a definite plan for our kind acts for the week or month? Do we show kindness to the aged, who would appreciate a letter, a visit or a telephone call? Are we kind to a busy mother who would like us to babysit so that she could have some recreation?
with Guy Crouchback
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howling horror, a slinking indignity," and to his distaste - to use no stronger expression - for the close company of 'both the very old and very recent dead' in the trenches in World War I, when he was badly wounded and many of his friends killed. He did not however, think death was the end and was not blindly terrified of it. He said he had imagined that had he and a German soldier in World War I simultaneously killed each other and then met in the Afterlife: 'we might have been embarrassed but then had a good laugh about it." It may seem excessive to respond with such vehemence to a rather silly and poorly-researched article, but truth is truth and worth defending. It is also, in a time of cultural combat, worth looking at what is going on with the Whitbread Prize, a major literary award.
TO JESUS THROUGH MARY gicolumn of Marian devotion
ingis by Peter Dwan
Are we kind to converts who, while zealous. are often disheartened by the apathy of cradle Catholics? Do we lend them a sympathetic ear and some good Catholic literature? Commenting on the second reading (Romans 8:26-27) the Glenstal Bible Missal says p454: "It is important that in our prayer of petition we be of one mind with God. We should let the Spirit pray on our behalf, he knows the mind of God." The reading says: "The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put in words." St Alphonsus Ligouri said: "If you pray, you will save your soul. If you don't pray, you will lose your soul." In the terms of today's gospel (Matthew 13:24-43) whether we pray will determine whether we shall end up as wheat or darnel. The parable of the wheat and the darnel tells of the man who sowed good seed in his field, and while he was asleep, his enemy came and sowed darnel all among the wheat and made off. When the wheat sprouted and ripened, the darnel appeared as well. The owner's servants asked him: "Sir, was It not good seed that you sowed in your field. If so, where does the darnel come from?" "Some enemy has done this," he answered. And the servants said: "Do you want us to go and weed it out?" But he said: "No, because when you weed out the darnel you might pull up the wheat with it. "Let them both grow till the harvest." When Christ went into the house, the disciples asked him to explain the parable to them. He explained that the Son of Man was the sower of the good seed, that the field was the world, the good seed, the subjects of the kingdom, the darnel, the subjects of the evil one, the enemy, the devil. The harvest is the end of the world and the reapers are the angels. We would do well to remember that there is a lot of the darnel of evil in the world today. Despite Christ's emphatic words, there are far too many people today who don't believe in the devil. This suits the devil for he can sow his darnel unimpeded. Pope Paul VI said that the devil is trying to destroy the fruits of the Second Vatican Council. Are we wheat or darnel?
Are we wheat or darnel?
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There is no racism in the Narnia books. it is ineffably glorious. This is of course no One girl, Susan, ceases to be a 'friend of more than ordinary Christianity, which Narnia' though continuing to patronise it. holds life is a preparation for Eternity, and The point is that by opting for a shallow that to die in the right relationship with and silly sophistication she has lost the God is trancendently important. ability for child-like wonder. Much the same point in made at the end Lewis plainly regarded this as a sad loss of Lewis's famous work The Screwtape for her, but not necessarily permanent or Letters, where the young air-raid warden is killed and his soul is saved to the fury fatal. Interest in boys is not mentioned. Far from Susan being sent to Hell, Lewis and frustration of the demons who have specifically said in his Letters to Children been working for his spiritual ruin. that she may have found other Salvation. Considering The Last Battle as a chilPullman also claimed the books 'cele- dren's story, the end may be seen as tendbrate death' and that 'as an end-of-term ing to remove some of the terror of death treat the children are killed: that to me is for children and perhaps to offer some disgusting.' sort of consolation for children encounThis is a travesty of Lewis's story and a tering death. distortion that to me is disgusting. Lewis himself never 'celebrated death.' Actually, at the end of The Last Battle, His book A Grief Observed, written after some of the characters are found to have the death of his wife, makes that more been killed and are in Heaven. than obvious. Only the approaches are described but He referred elsewhere to death as 'a
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e remember the apparitions at Lourdes in 1858 four years after the definition of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. In this case the value has been veil, great. First of all the extraordinary fact of the apparitions and the miracles which followed had the importance of being a response from heaven to the ruling rationalism of the time. It was God himself who confounded the wisdom of the intelligentsia with the foolishness of a young girl who was almost illiterate yet chosen to be the ambassador of the Virgin. The pastoral importance is still evident today. One might even ask to what the faith in France might have been reduced had it not been for Lourdes. Finally there is Fatima, which is the great Marian apparition willed by God to illuminate our dark century, made Lourdes even darker by atheism and war. Il ls true, the religious aspect pre- a world in which sex, violence, and hordominates: the recall to prayer, to con- ror (just open the pages of any newsversion, to the three great truths of paper or listen to the TV news) seem to dominate, the Madonna. like Jesus, who paradise, hell and purgatory. These all give to the apparitions the In His agony in the Garden of Gethsevalue of great pastoral importance mane said: "Watch and pray that you which, moreover, have repercussions may not fall into temptation" (Mt 26:41 ), sadly calls her children back to prayer on public life. The Virgin said on July 13, 1917: "The and conversion. Thus the Marian message at Fatima war is about to end (the First World War). But if they do not cease to offend ends with the grief-filled words: "May God, under the pontificate of Pius XI they never offend God, our Lord, again, who has already been so greatly offendanother even worse war will begin." Ills clear that the Madonna did not ed." Reflections come to predict misery; she came to About Mary - There is no doubt that teach us how to avoid it; and that the Mary's apparitions on all levels, Second World War was avoidable. One whether they be of personal value or of notes also that it is not God who casti- value to the whole of humankind, make gates. up part of her mission as our mother It is men who, having moved away which Jesus entrusted to her from the from God, castigate one another. cross. The great message continues: "If they It would be an error not to put them listen to my requests, Russia will be always in relationship with the revealed converted and there will be peace. word of which they are the faithful echo "If not,it will spread its errors through- and application to actuality. But it out the world, causing wars and the would be no less wrong to undervalue persecution of the Church.... In the end their importance and, often, their my Immaculate Heart will triumph, the urgency. Holy Father will consecrate Russia to About us - The demeanour of those me that it might be converted (one can- who run from one apparition to the not help thinking of all that has hap- other in search of the latest message is pened in Eastern Europe after that surely wrong. consecration on March 25, 1984) and This is useless curiosity. We must listhe world will be granted some time of ten to the words of the Virgin as a peace." reminder of her testament: "Do whatIt is a message of exceptional impor- ever he tells you." tance which foretold all the future of In it we are strongly reminded of the the century that has just come to an words of Christ who has told us: "If you end. "Wars are caused by the sins of do not repent, you will all perish" (Lk men," the little Jacinta repeated at the 13:5). suggestion of her great Mamma. What value do these apparitions have? It seems clear to me: they are From The Gospel of directly connected to the plan of salvaMary - a month with T E tion given for humanity and they are Mother of God by GOSPEL the directly related to human life: social, Fr Gabriel Amorth S,SP, OF political and economic. St Paul Publications. RIZP useless to create imaginary barMARY It is S23.50 riers, to relegate faith to the sacristy. In
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Moral confusion in society and media
he world of football is not usually the place to look for moral guidance, but this week it has provided clear displays of the moral confusion of our society and our media. Collingwood captain Nathan Buckley will not be the last victim of the AFL's ridiculous and dishonest blood rule, but unfortunately most of the other victims do not play football. Buckley's action in wiping the side of his bleeding head against an opponent's jumper is the moral equivalent of wiping your nose on someone else's sleeve - not pleasant, not admirable, but (particularly as a spontaneous response) not a morally significant action. It does not compare, for example, with punching an opponent in the genitals, but the Carlton ruckman who did this in full view of the TV cameras at a boundary throw-in last weekend had not, at the time of writing, been called to account for his action. The really enlightening feature of the Buckley incident is the confusion it has generated in the media. Writers, commentators and many armchair critics are visibly choking as their desire to pronounce vituperative judgement on Buckley collides in the epiglottis with the unspeakable reality that the blood rule is part of a colossal deception that has to be unravelled without being admitted. The AFCs blood rule was introduced in the 80s as part of the deception by health authorities and the gay lobby that AIDS was a scourge of the whole of society and was not related to the moral behaviour of individuals. Health authorities were anxious to maintain communication with active homosexuals because they knew that they were at greatest risk and therefore they wanted to avoid any stigma about
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homosexual behaviour. The price was their agreement to the great deception that heterosexual and homosexual behaviour were equivalent and that all of us were at risk of AIDS. With rare exceptions (notably the then WA Health Minister Keith Wilson), politicians and the media went along with what was blatantly untrue. For 20 years we have been publicly "educated" to believe that characteristics like fidelity, chastity and purity have no place in our understanding of human relationships and that 'respect' has a place but only if it means wearing a condom. Of course, the community at large was promised that the condom mentality would have no bearing on personal values, but it did have and does have. Not only are teenagers confused, but this year we witnessed a majority of Members of the WA Parliament unable to distinguish the biological and psychological differences between marital intercourse and male sodomy. The effect of these deceitful "health" and "education" programs was surprisingly revealed during the Buckley incident by Cameron Ling (the recipient of the gesture) who pursued the umpire, desperately trying to compel him to look at his jumper. From a football point of view, this was stupid because it only ensured that Ling would be sent off under the blood
Begging the question
Around +he +0)(e
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refer to the letter from M HeIdt (4 July 2002) and congratulate the writer
for his/her dedication to teaching the faith in Catholic Schools. I agree that many non-practising parents, by not taking responsibility for their children's faith development, are not helping the situation. However, to contend, as the writer does. 'that practising their faith is not my responsibility' begs the question, who should take responsibility when parents fail their children? If not the Catholic teachers, then who? If one follows the writer's line of thought. the obvious question follows given that at least 90 per cent of children are reportedly falling away from the faith, why invest huge resources in a Catholic education system whose teachers are not prepared to take joint responsibility for faith education? As mentioned in my letter.Ibelieve that more focus should be placed on the joint responsibility of parents, schools and parishes in addressing this urgent problem. Geoff Storey Hillarys
Remembering Paul
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Letters to the editor
Thanks from Caritas
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would like to extend my thanks to you for the support your publication and your readers gave to the Project Compassion 2002 appeal. The Project Compassion 2002 appeal has been a huge success. To date we have received $5.9 million with more money yet to be collated from dioceses throughout Australia. With the issue of displacement now so prominent in our world, the Project Compassion 2002 appeal will allow Caritas Australia to help many people around the world who do not have a place to call home. Your support is greatly appreciated and I hope your readers will continue this relationship with Caritas Australia and its Project Compassion appeal in 2003. Bishop Hilton Deakin Chairperson Caritas Australia
Justifiable concern
rule. However, he is a young man who has grown up under this deceitful regime - of which the AFL's rule is a cosmetic display - and obviously he believed he had suffered something serious. It makes one wonder whether people would offer a friend a handkerchief in a case of a blood nose. The pretence and absurdity of the AFL's rule can no longer be sustained. Enough doctors have spoken out against the false fear and it is now widely known throughout the sport that the law will be drastically modified by next year, or possibly even before this year's finals. Faced with this reality, officialdom and the media are utterly confused about what their response should be. While all this was going on, The Australian chose on Monday to reveal more of its moral confusion by publishing an editorial about the probable return to football next year of Wayne Carey. When the Carey affair occurred, The Australian declared "the game, and sport, are better off without Wayne Carey". On Monday, the paper told us "He'll have to behave well on and off the park ... No longer will he rely on the code of silence of mateship that permits top sportsmen to behave appallingly without reprimand..." Does The Australian apply this test also to journalists, even leader writers? The Australian went on to declare: "Fans
do not extend to attendance at Sunday Mass.Ihave even heard it suggested that graduates of Catholic schools have better job opportunities - not quite what the pioneers of our schools intended. The Catholic education system commenced in WA in the late 19th century I think its purpose was to provide Catholic children with an education integrating religious and secular aspects. It appeared to be successful up until the end of World War II. Since then it has gradually declined to a low level so far as religious aspects are concerned, although retaining some prestige in secular education. Why? The intervening period has seen the replacement of religious orders by teachers, a general decline in community moral values and the insidious infiltration of such values into our society by way of television, idolisation of pop singers and movie stars etc. I think the main reason children and school leavers do not attend Mass is that their parents do not attend. Apart from transport there is the matter of example. After all, the primary responsibility for education at both religious and secular levels is that of the parents. From the above I conclude that the Catholic education system is not fulfilling its primary role of informing our children of the central importance of Christianity in everyday life. In reaching this conclusionI would state that I am a septuagenarian and have no experience of teaching methods in our schools.Iam only going by results as outlined.Itherefore propose an Australia-wide review of the Catholic education system its objectives, its effectiveness, how it could be improved, and whether some other system should be used. Such a review would need to be initiated by the Australian Catholic bishops. Brian O'Leary Dunsborough
ongratulations on Paul Donnelly's obituary. Paul was certainly a great layman.Iwould like to remhe letter from L Dwyer (Record inisce a little about an occasion when July 11) expresses justifiable conPaul was very interested in the success cern at the attitude of school of what was called "St Denis Parish's leavers attending Mass and their evident Younger Set". This was back in the 1950's. ignorance as to how to participate in the Every month we held a dance in the-then Mass. St Denis Parish Church - a wooden NisMy experience of attending Sunday sen hut building in Orchid Street. Mass is the obvious lack of school chilStations of the Cross were covered, cur- dren, those about to leave school and tains pulled across to hide the altar. recent school leavers. I would be surPreparation was quite a business but the prised if more than 5 per cent of school n Sunday June 30 was read Matthew 10:37: "Whoever loves dances were not a great success. leavers regularly attend Sunday Mass. his father, mother and sister more Paul suggested we invite the Irish Club. Using attendance at Sunday Mass by What a great idea - resulting in a packed school leavers as a criterion for success than me is not worthy of me." Generally it house, such an enjoyable occasion. of our Catholic education system may be is either misunderstood or ignored. If my Servite Father "Patsy" Nolan was our criticised. I would challenge critics to father, other relatives or friends are sinParish Priest at the time and there he was find better criteria. After all, the Cate- ning it is my duty ifIlove Christ to correct doing the "Hay Maker's Jig" in the sup- chism of the Catholic Church (para 218) them. If I am silent towards the sin thenI per room. Who else remembers that states that deliberate failure in this oblig- love them more than Christ. Ills worthnight? St Denis must have their golden ation to attend Sunday Mass is a serious while to meditate on the implications and our role in human society. Jubilee next year. sin. Catholic school students may have Francis 1Hrubos Joy Cully absorbed some Christian values which Glen Forrest Manjimup
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Duty's call
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also have to understand that they can't continually make allowances for talented individuals who behave appallingly." This from a newspaper which supports "no fault" divorce and equal opportunity laws which absolutely require us to continually make allowances for talented or stupid individuals who conduct adulterous affairs at work, who sodomise young boys in public saunas, and who callously abandon spouse and children. We are not allowed to discriminate against people who behave appallingly. In this country, people can give their most solemn pledge to another individual to share their life forever and to nurture the children their love produces and then, ten or 20 years down the track when other people's lives are utterly intertwined with their own, they can simply walk out without warning or explanation. The Australian supports laws which forbid the Family Court considering the appalling nature of such a betrayal when determining matters of custody and property settlement. Whenever it is suggested that an elementary sense of natural justice should be introduced to this process, the nation's newspapers rise in chorus to demand that morality not be allowed to intrude into law. Perhaps Wayne Carey is The King, after all. It seems he is the only Australian required to be noble enough to live up to a moral standard, and the only Australian who can be condemned for immorality.
• The opinions expressed in this editorial, and any other Record editorial, are not necessarily those of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth.
'New music with fire n i it' Receives Papal Blessing.
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Phone (08) 9382 3668. Fax (08) 9382 4080. Email: fmi@flameministhes.org Page 7
Northam celebrates PA4
A 1V1 G n honor's:a Nandi ,io5irphi
L APIS HIC POSITUS EST A REVERENDISSIMO ET ILLUSTRISSINIO
MATHCO GIBNEY EPIVOPOPERTHEIM DIE DEEM° TERTIO JULII A.D.MDCCC C II
Top Left: The Commemorative Stone placed in 1902 inscribed in Latin Centre: St Joseph's Catholic Church as it stands now Top Right(L to R): Amy Martin, Sr Aemelia Whitely and Fr Steve Casey
The blessing of the new Commemorative Stone by Bishop Donald Sproxton.
Fr Steven Casey and ushers greet parishioners before the start of Mass.
Fr Tom Grant, Bishop Don Sproxton and Fr Steven Casey seated at the altar.
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100 Not out for Saint Joseph
Fr Tom Grant delivers his homily.
By Stephen Spiteri NORTHAM, "One hundred years, quite a huge milestone to reach" Such were the words of many locals, visitors, parishioners and honoured guests who were in Northam to help celebrate the centenary of St The Canon MarteM Bell with patron St Joseph statue and memorial wall Joseph's Catholic Church over the weekend of 13 July 2002. brought forward which was used July 13 marked the one-hundredth during the first mass in St Joseph's anniversary of the official opening said by Fr Anthony Walsh and his of St Joseph's Church in Wellington Lordship Bishop Patrick Gibney. Street, Northam. The building was The Mass gave honour to the piodescribed Auxiliary Bishop, Donald neers of the town of Northam, who Sproxton, as the "centre and founhad worked so hard and to make St dation a faith held by so many over the last hundred years" Joseph's parish what it is today. The The centenary Mass was held 9.30 Mass ended with a blessing from am that Sunday morning. The Bishop Sproxton, and recessional weather was a brisk 8 C, but cold hymn "Faith of our Fathers" sung by conditions would not stop the peoSt Mary's Cathedral Choir. From ple of Northam, Catholic and nonthere, the congregation moved to the Catholic, turning up in their masses parish hall where morning tea was to be part of this honourable event. served and the Centenary Cake. The ceremony commenced with which was cut by senior members the blessing of the commemorative View of St Joseph's Church from the upper gallery. of the community. stone which had been placed in the procession moved on with hymns with his love and forgiveness". Fr Tom Grant summed up the front wall of the building in time for sung by St Mary's Cathedral choir Fr Tom Grant also spoke of some meaining of the centenary celebrathe centenary weekend. The stone led by Fr Timothy Deeter. of the hardships the town of tions, when he said the conclusion was blessed by Bishop Sproxton, reFr Tom Grant, whose family arrived Northam has faced over the last one of his homily: "Yes, we have reason enacting the blessing of the original in Northam in 1929, delivered a hundred years. Fr Tom spoke of to rejoice and celebrate. However. commemorative stone by the Bishop powerful homily during the Mass. Fr times of depression, unemployment, we cannot and do not wish to turn of the time, his Lordship Patrick Gib- Grant made strong reference to the world war and drought "Yet the peo- back the clock to relive former times. ney, one hundred years earlier. importance of a place of communal ple never lost faith in God nor gave We are apostles of the present time The blessing of the Canon Marie!- worship, "As Jesus had the temple way to despair, for their hope was in and with that same faith, hope and 11 Bell followed which is named after and the synagogues in which to wor- God" love meet the challenges of today first parish priest to attend to the ship, so we, too, have a place for pubBefore communion, members of just as those in previous times met spiritual needs of the people of lic and communal worship, a place the community and visiting guests their challenges of the past. Times Northam. Fr Rafael Martelli moved where Jesus, the Son of God, the led the procession of gifts which change and needs change, but we to Western Australia in 1853 and Risen Christ is sacramentally pre- included a record of the births, mar- engage them with the same spirituresided in Toodyay, but celebrated sent, always here to feed us, to riages and deaths recorded since al weapons; the twofold precept of Mass in Northam periodically. The strengthen and console and fill us 1902. A Latin Missal was also charity". St Patrick's Bell donated in 1950.
Northam feasts for St Joseph's
From left to right: Laurie Evans, Nick Spadiccini watch Fr Steve Casey wrestle with the time capsule.
By Stephen Spiteri The weekend of July 13 2002 commemorated the one-hundredth anniversary of St Joseph's Catholic Church in Northam. Twelve months prior to the centenary, parish priest Fr Steven Casey, approached long-time Northam resident, Nick Spadiccini as to how this occasion should be celebrated. A committee led by Mr Spadiccini was formed to organise a weekend of festivities and events. On the evening of July 13, a dinner was held in honour of the centenary Guests travelled from all parts of Western Australia and some even coming from as far as Brisbane and Melbourne to be present at the centenary dinner. Guests included ex-students of St Joseph's school, past priests, nuns, former and current Northam residents who made up a list two-hundred strong. The Auxiliary Bishop of Perth, Donald Sproxton, was also present for the weekend. Mr Ray Head, mayor of the town of Northam, was pleased at the support the people of Northam had given to make this centenary celebration a memorable occasion. "The people of St Joseph's parish have been working hard for this and have been looking forward to it. They've got a wonderful congregation in Northam, and it's really marvellous to see all these people here gathered tonight" Mr Head said. Bishop Sproxton was honoured to be a guest and apologised on behalf of Archbishop Barry James Hickey for his non-attendance. The Archbishop was on his way to the World Youth day in Toronto with Perth representatives. In a brief introduction before grace, Bishop Sproxton said, "It is a great honour to be here, and of the two places, I would much rather be here". Fr Steven Casey commented on the turnout for the evening , "It is beyond our wildest expectations to fill this hall with two hundred people sitting down for dinner, it is a testimony to the hard work for all of those involved in planning this wonderful occasion, it is a great joy to meet all these people here tonight". Before the main course, a time capsule which was encased beneath the altar of the church in 1955, was opened by Fr Steven Casey, events organiser Nick Spadiccini and M.G. for the evening, Laurie Evans. The capsule contained several documents with the names of people who participated in the time capsule's burial. The dinner guests took a step-back in lime as names and voices from the past greeted them once more as St Joseph's council member, Carol Leeder and Maurie Evans read from the documents. Neville McManus, gave a talk which once again stirred some nostalgia. "Having lived in seventeen different parishes I still think this as home. It still
feels as though this is whereIbelong,Iget a sense of belonging here every time I come back" Mr McManus said. Many people have called St Joseph's Church 'home' for a century now and indeed the celebrations were a success. Bishop Sproxton passed on his congratulations to the people of St Joseph's and Northam for making St Joseph's Church a foundation for such rich harvest. Fr Steven Casey commented on the success of the evening, "It is an honour that needs to be of being celebrated, because we plan on being here for another hundred years".
We are approximately 5,000 priests & brothers worldwide. We see ourselves as an international family. We have given ourselves to God • for the most abandoned. We are involved in a variety of missionary works in Australia and throughout the world. • parishes • education • overseas missions • youth • prison chaplaincies • hospital chaplaincies • social welfare We are the
Oblates of Mary Immaculate
Who are you? Are you, also, one of us in spirit? For further information please contact: Vocations Director St Mary's Seminary 62-94 Jacksons Road Mulgrave, Vic 3170 Ph. (03) 9795 3535 Fax. (03) 9701 0222
Bishop Sproxton listens earnestly to the Northam voices. Page 9
Family and prayer
18 July, 2002
Record 111
ords 0 W ISDOM
with Tony Evans
Family unity starts with prayer
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have avoided - until now - quoting Evelyn Waugh, that dominant Catholic novelist and literary giant of 40 and 50 years ago. My reluctance probably has something to do with his public image (but not his wonderful novels) which was, from all accounts, most unattractive. He was snobbish, and often wrote and said cruel things about those he disliked or disagreed with. On one occasion a television interviewer asked him how he reconciled his behaviour with his Catholic faith - the latter, it must be said, he always publicly trumpeted. He replied with a smile: 'But think how much worse I would have been if I had not had my Catholic Faith.' Which, on reflection, might also be true of most of us. In one of his letters he agrees that he was a snob but that it was not an offence against Charity, and still less against his Faith. In becoming a Catholic, he said, he had gone against his fashionable agnostic friends. Evelyn Waugh's Faith was strong, impregnable, and, like Belloc's, defied the taunts and occasional ridicule of his society friends. Nowhere is this seen more clearly than in a volume of his letters (Penguin Books, 1982).
4 46In one of the many letters to his dear friend the socialite. Lady Diana Cooper, he reveals his uncomplicated, child-like belief: 6 4 Drayer is not asking, but giving. Giving your love to God asking for nothing in return. Accepting whatever He sends as His will for you. Not 'Please God give me a happy day' but 'Please God accept all my suffering today in your honour. He does not want sugar-babies. "Have you ever experienced penitence? I doubt it. "No wonder you are in the dumps. "Do you believe in the Incarnation and Redemption in the full historical sense in which you believe in the battle of El Alamein? "That's important. Faith is not a mood." Some of his letters show how greatly hurt and saddened he was by the liturgical changes following Vatican II. But he struggled on, and in one letter to the Clergy Review asked how little of the new Mass he was obliged to hear before committing grave sin: "I do not ask what is best for me: merely what is the least I am obliged to do without grave sin. I find the new liturgy a temptation against Faith, Hope and Charity, but I shall never, pray God, apostatise."
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SEATTLE (CNS) -- Suzanne Wolfe describes it as the 'incarnation of family.' Her husband, Gregory, refers to it as a 'conversation.' 'It' is family prayer, and at a time when the family risks becoming little more than a social and economic structure, a shyness about making prayer and spirituality the centre of family life remains, according to the Wolfes. They address the issue in 'Circle of Grace," their book for praying with and for children. The Wolfes are academics and parents. He is writer in residence at Seattle Pacific University, where she teaches English literature. In addition, Gregory is publisher and editor of 'Image: A Journal of the Arts and Religion.' They have four children and are parishioners at St. James Cathedral in Seattle. 'Circle of Grace' (Ballantine Books, US$25) explores the need for family prayer and provides a how-to guide with prayers for seasons of the year and different events in life. Its focus on the centrality of family prayer is derived from the Wolfes' personal experiences. They both come from divorced families. `We have a hunger for family unity,' Gregory told the Catholic Northwest Progress, newspaper of the Seattle Archdiocese. 'We have been very intentional about this.' Family prayer is a time and place for each member to be open and vulnerable, according to the Wolfes. Its what Gregory termed 'a democratic dimension of prayer"; in the context of the family, children can learn their parents are human. But parents must do more than give their children prayers to say, the Wolfes write.
They should learn to pray themselves by praying with their children. 'If someone is thinking about prayer for their children, they are probably thinking about prayer for themselves as well,' Gregory said. 'We are saying, This may be the moment for you to enter a mature spiritual life through your children, to settle down and go beyond yourself." The Wolfe children also have what is known in the family as 'quick prayer,' where they say what they are grateful for, as well as for what they are 'grateful not to be,' Suzanne Wolfe said. Yet, Gregory is quick to point out that 'these are normal kids leading normal lives. We are not ponderous or pompous.' The key to family prayer? As with any other family activity, according to Gregory, it must be planned. 'Time is a misplaced excuse,' he said. 'We come together for evening prayer at 9 p.m. We have a variety of forms of expression so as not to do it by rote.' In 'Circle of Grace,' the Wolfes note an increasing concern for the moral education of youths. 'A child should not simply admire goodness,' they write, but 'fall in love with goodness." Parents must help their children bridge the gap between knowing what is good and doing what is good," they say. 'This book is pitched at the unchurched,' said Gregory. 'It is meant to be inviting, open, something we can enter into." Or. as Suzanne put it, "praying without being holy.' To learn more about prayer and spirituality in family life, the Wolfes have a Web site, www.circleofgrace.com.
Some advice from the Wolfes' website: What do I do if my kids start misbehaving or their attention wanders during prayer? rayer has many connotations in people's minds, and one of them is of hushed cloisters and silent, candlelit temples. Well, when prayer takes place in a home with children, "hush" is not a word that will spring to mind that often. For all their aptitude for prayer, kids are still kids and parents will have to deal with prayers being interrupted by flying toys, wrestling matches, wandering attention spans, and the question of what to do about childish prayers that don't seem to be spiritually correct. Bedtime prayers may be a perfect way to help tuck a child into peaceful sleep, built is also when your kids are most tired (even if that is manifested in the manic activity of an over-tired child!). rAne thing that we learned when our children were small was the difference between truly bad behaviour and the high
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spirits that emerge out of the intimacy of family prayer. Some of the most raucously joyful moments we've ever had as a family have taken place just before, during, and after prayers. At such moments our hearts are light: we seem to be more witty and satirical than usual, and irreverent in the playful way that only reverent people can be. This shouldn't be surprising. I n fact, ills for us the incontrovertible proof that, as we wrote in chapter two, prayer is a form of intimate play. As parents, we tend to go easy on this sort of spirited behaviour. We have also come to recognise when our kids' restlessness is caused by prayers that are too long, too late in the evening, or too old for their comprehension. g t some point, however, high jinx have to ive way to some form of order. Kids have to settle down, TVs and CD players have to be turned off, and some effort made to create a spirit of quietness. If it is necessary to
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discipline the children in order to achieve this then so be it. lust be careful that your own tiredness does not lead you to be so harsh with them that they associate your anger with the experience of prayer-something, alas, we have not always achieved in our house. trickier issue arises when your child rays in an inappropriate mannerwhich usually means that they pray selfishly, asking for candy, presents, and other goodies. Of course, on the scale of sins that human beings are capable of, the wayward prayer of a tot has to rank at the very bottom. There are times when a smile of indulgence is the best response to a greedy prayer request. But there are also times when some gentle correction is justified. At such moments we try to steer the children toward prayers of gratitude for what they already have, as well as prayers for the good of others. And as children grow older, they are more able to understand that God may not grant our every wish.
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In the spotlight
18 July, 2002
armful to mother and child New studies show there is strong cause for alarm when it comes to the effects of IVF.
VIENNA, Austria, JULY 13, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The Catholic Church has long warned about the moral problems of in-vitrofertilization. Now, even doctors are warning couples not to be too hasty in starting IVF treatments. This recommendation came during the proceedings of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology conference held here last week. Dr. David Dunson, of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in North Carolina, observed that many couples embark on IVF treatment when they could have a baby by natural means, the London Times reported on July 4. Research has shown that most women who fail to conceive after a year of trying to do so — the point at which many doctors recommend IVF therapy — will become pregnant naturally during the next 12 months. Even among women in their late 30s, fewer than one in 10 will not conceive after two years, provided the partner is under age 40.
Dunson contended that many couples were misinterpreting research showing that female fertility began to decline from the late 20s, and fell steeply in the late 30s. This meant only that it would take women longer to conceive, not that it would be impossible without medical assistance, he said. Doctors should avoid assisted reproductive therapy if possible because of its side effects, he said. 'Fertility treatment can result in an increased risk of multiple pregnancies, pregnancy complications, low birth weight, major birth defects and longterm disability among surviving infants,' he warned. 'In addition, the chance of success with assisted therapy decreases with age, while the side effects increase in prevalence.'
mented lead researcher Emile Papiernik. from Hospital Port Royal in Paris. At a press conference held in Vienna, Dr. Karl Nygren, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Sofiahemmet Hospital in Stockholm, said the natural rate of multiple births was around 1%, but was between 20% and 40% for women who used assisted reproductive techniques. In the group studied, nearly nine out of 10 of the triplets, and over four out of 10 of the twins, were born prematurely, compared with just over 8% of single babies. Moreover, 57% of the babies who were small for their gestational age were triplets, nearly 43% were twins and just over 17% were singletons. Deaths in the period around birth were five times as frequent for triplets as for sin-
Doctors should avoid assisted reproductive therapy if possible because of its side effects gle babies — a rate of nearly 40 per 1,000 compared with under 8 per 1,000 for single babies. For twins it was just over 20 per 1,000.
Multiple pregnancies don't endanger only the babies. Women carrying multiple babies conceived with IVF are more likely to suffer from a serious high blood pressure condition than women who conceive a multiple pregnancy naturally, Reuters reported on February 28. The news agency cited a report published in the March issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology The study examined 528 mothers who had delivered twins, triplets or Embryos at risk quadruplets between 1994 and 2000. An earlier report from the Vienna con- Among these women, 69 had conceived ference warned that using multiple with assisted reproductive technology or embryos during IVF treatment not only is ART. unnecessary, but it also puts the babies at The investigators found that women who risk, BBC reported July 1. used ART were more than twice as likely Most IVF treatments normally implant as those who had conceived naturally to more than one embryo in the uterus, in suffer from pre-eclampsia, in which blood order to ensure a pregnancy. pressure rises to dangerous levels during But a study carried out by French experts, pregnancy. presented at the Vienna conference, And women who used ART were almost affirmed that just one embryo would yield five times as likely to have the severe form the same chance of a successful pregnan- of pre-eclampsia, which can be life-threatcy as two or more. ening, the report indicates. The research was based on an analysis of Risk of deformations nearly 25,000 pregnancies of women who A of other studies point to a highnumber had undergone assisted reproduction treatment between 1986 and 1998. The preg- er level of health problems for babies connancies resulted in the births of 32,389 ceived through IVF programs. According to a July 5 report by the Ausbabies. Of these, 18,235 were singletons, tralian Broadcasting Corporation, research 11,905 twins and 1,772 triplets. Multiple pregnancy is a very important in the state of Western Australia has found risk factor for the babies' health,' corn- that there is twice the risk of major birth
A picture of a four-month-old foetus
defects in WE babies compared to children conceived naturally. A study, co-authored by Michele Hansen at the Institute for Child Health Research, found that babies conceived through assisted conception had a 9% risk of major birth defects. Researchers will now follow up this finding with a project tracking children through the first six years of life. Previously, a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine found that IVF babies run about double the risk of birth defects and low birth weight, the Washington Post reported on March Z The article noted that the methods used by the fertility clinics have not undergone government testing of their safety, as is required of drugs. The study comes at a time when artificially assisted reproduction is increasingly popular in the United States, with about 82,000 procedures (leading to the birth of 29,000 children) in 1998, a 12% increase from the previous year. Still another study also concluded that IVF was leading to problems in babies, even when it is only a single birth. A January 22 report by Health Scout News cited study author Rebecca Jackson, medical director of the Women's Health Center at San Francisco General Hospital, who warned that problems could arise during any of the many steps involved in IVF: Some of the risk factors include 'the medicines used to induce ovulation, the process of fertilization and growing of the embryo in vitro, the process of reimplanting the embryo back into the uterus,' said Dr. Jackson, who presented her findings at the annual meeting of the American Society
for Reproductive Medicine. Jackson's study was a comprehensive analysis of 13 studies that examined more than 10,000 IVF pregnancies and 1.5 million natural conceptions. Her goal was to compare the risks of infant mortality, preterm delivery, low birth weight, and small size for gestational age between the babies of women who conceived naturally and those who became pregnant using WE After taking maimnal age into consideration, as well as the number of previous pregnancies, Jackson says the study revealed an overall higher rate of all the complications in the babies of women who conceived via IVE Another study, carried out at the University Children's Hospital in Uppsala, Sweden, found that babies born as a result of IVF are three times more likely to develop neurological disorders, including cerebral palsy, than children conceived naturally, the British daily Independent reported on February 8. The study compared 5,680 IVF children aged between 18 months and 14 years with 11,360 youngsters of the same age who were conceived naturally. The scientists involved in the study believe the findings could be explained by the complications that often arise when two or more WE embryos share the same womb, rather than because of the WE techniques themselves. The Church has often warned of the moral problems of IVF techniques, which in many cases destroy tiny human lives. Science is now finding there are considerable medical drawbacks as well. Page 11
18 July, 2002
The World in brief
No invite for Vatican VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican decided to forgo sending a delegation to an international AIDS conference in July in part because it was not invited as a state, the church's top health care official said. Archbishop Javier Lozano Barragan, president of the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, said he thought his council received only a "nonofficial invitation" from organizers of the 14th International AIDS Conference in Barcelona, Spain, but there had not been 'an invitation to the Holy See as such." Because of that, 'the (Vatican's) Secretariat of State thought it would be better to follow the conference from here — through the Internet and other means -and to make whatever commentary is opportune from here," the archbishop told Catholic News Service on July 12.
Latin named
International News
Partial-birth abortion banned By Nancy Frazier WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Shortly before a House subcommittee approved the latest version of legislation to ban partial-birth abortions, the U.S. bishops' spokeswoman on pro-life issues said most Americans support the ban and urged quick House action on the bill. Cathleen A. Cleaver, director of planning and information for the bishops' Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities, said in a July 10 statement that the U.S. people 'will not rest as long as partial-birth abortions occur in this country.' A July 9 hearing before the Constitution Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee confirmed "the truth about partial-birth abortion: there is never any medical reason to turn to this barbarous procedure," Cleaver added. 'Partial-birth abortion is performed at 20 weeks' gestational age and beyond, and neurological evidence has confirmed that it is a 'dreadfully painful' experience for the unborn child," she said. 'What's more, it presents a threat to the health of women who mistakenly believe it is a good choice.' On July 11, the subcommittee voted 8-3 in favor of the legislation, sponsored by Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio. Chabot, who called partial-birth abortion
"the most gruesome, barbaric and inhumane procedure on innocent unborn babies ... inches from their first breath," said the bill could come before the full Judiciary Committee during the week of July 15 and could be voted on by the full House the following week. The House approved bills to ban partialbirth abortion in the 104th, 105th and 106th congresses, but each effort was either vetoed by President Clinton or failed to win approval in the Senate. In June 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to overturn Nebraska's ban on partial-birth abortion in Stenberg vs. Carhart. H.R. 4965, the legislation introduced by Chabot and backed by 120 co-sponsors, differs from previous versions of the bill in two ways designed to address concerns raised by the Supreme Court in Stenberg vs. Carhart. In response to the court's finding that Nebraska's definition of partial-birth abortion was unconstitutionally vague and could be construed to cover other types of abortions, the new legislation defines the banned procedure as one in which "the person performing the abortion deliberately and intentionally vaginally delivers a living a fetus until, in the case of a head-first presentation, the entire fetal head is outside the body of the mother, or, in the case of breech presentation, any part of the fetal trunk past the navel is outside the
body of the mother," and then kills the baby. The Stenberg vs. Carhart decision also "was based on a factually inaccurate conclusion from a lower court judge — that the partialbirth abortion procedure might be the safest abortion method in some circumstances," Cleaver said in a June 24 letter to The Washington Times daily newspaper. *This conclusion runs smack up against the opinion of most in the medical profession and against even the American Medical Association, which concluded the partial-birth abortion is never medically necessary and should be banned,' Cleaver added. The Chabot bill incorporates congressional findings on partial-birth abortion and summarizes past rulings in which the Supreme Court has deferred to the broad fact-finding powers of Congress. The legislation concludes, 'Congress finds that partial-birth abortion is never medically Indicated to preserve the health of the mother, is in fact unrecognized as a valid abortion procedure by the mainstream medical community; poses additional health risks to the mother, blurs the line between abortion and infanticide in the killing of a partially born child just inches from birth; and confuses the role of the physician in childbirth and should. therefore, he banned.'
Tension continues in the Middle East
VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul 11 named Archbishop Jean-Pierre Rican! of Bordeaux. president of the French bishops conference, to a Vatican commission that wort, with Catholics attached to the old Latin Mass. The archbishop replaces Cardinal Jean-Louis Bille of Lyons. the French bishops' former conference president who died in March of cancer. Archbishop Ricard's appointment to the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Der was announced on July 11 at the Vatican.
Dialogue urged ROME (CNS) -- Dialogue is the only solution to terrorism and violence, poverty and the growing distance between the rich and poor, said the spokesman for the Romebased Sant'Egidio Community. The Catholic lay group is preparing its 16th international meeting of religious leaders, to be held Sept. 1-3 in Palermo. Sicily. More than 350 religious leaders -- Catholic. Orthodox, Anglican, Protestant, Muslim, Jewish -- and cultural leaders, including politicians, scholars and writers. will meet to discuss 'Religions and Cultures between Conflict and Dialogue."
Right perception BALTIMORE (CNS) -- With all the media attention on sexual abuse by priests, there may be a public perception that they are the main perpetrators, but that's not so, says a police expert. "It's a problem that strikes everywhere." said Lt. Frederick V Roussey of the Baltimore Police Department. 'Every walk of life, every race, every social level.' He should know. Roussey spent 16 years in the child abuse unit of the force, tracking down molesters and protecting children. Now he gives seminars to police academy students and other law enforcement officers throughout Maryland on how to handle pedophile cases. Page 12
Rebord
An ultra-Orthodox Jew returns home after praying at the Wailing Wall on July 12, before the start of the Shabbat (the Sabbath). Israeli forces maintained tight security in and around the old city of Jerusalem while Muslims prayed at nearby Al-Aqsa mosque. The Shabbat, or day of rest, which begins from twilight on each Friday, is a Jewish holiday that continues until Saturday at sundown. Photo. CN&Reuters
Not a Christian party claims Bishop COLOGNE, Germany (CNS) -Cardinal Joachim Meisner of Cologne has asked the Christian Democratic Union to drop the word "Christian" from its name after it appointed an unmarried mother as its campaign spokeswoman on family issues. The spokeswoman, Katherina Reiche, 28, could become Germany's family, youth and women minister if the union, an opposition party, were to win Sept. 22 elections. Reiche is expecting her second child in August. She lives with the father of both children. Cardinal Meisner said that in appointing Reiche, Edmund Stoiber, the party's candidate for chancellor, was "actively promoting the end of a Christian marriage and family policy." Later it emerged that the German bish-
ops' conference had intervened to try to stop the appointment. In addition, Bishop Heinz Josef Algermissen of Fulda said the church was the only organization in German society that 'stood up so indubitably for the central value of the family based on marriage, as desired by God.' Christian Democratic Union leaders reacted angrily to Cardinal Meisner's criticism. Party veteran Heiner Geissler said it was remarkable that Cardinal Meisner was always most concerned about the word "Christian" when the issue was about sexual relationships. Geissler said a society had Christian values not on the basis of man-made sexual norms, but on the basis of "whether people's behavior and political principles conformed with the fundamentals of the Christian message: love
of God and love of others." Cardinal Meisner responded by describing as 'absurd" the idea that leading party members should put forward the view that "a party which calls itself Christian should have the right to define what Christian means." The party's appointment of Reiche has come under criticism from other parties, who described it as tokenism. Reiche is not only young and female, she also comes from the formerly communist East Germany, where the party wants to improve its credibility. German Justice Minister Herta Daubler-Gmelin, a Social Democrat, attacked Reiche's Christian credentials on other grounds, pointing out that Reiche has supported a liberal approach to stemcell research from fetuses, a position strongly opposed by the church.
Philippine bishops' develop sex abuse response NIANII.A. Philippines (CNS) -The Philippine hishops' conference announced it is developing guidelines to address sexual misconduct by priests. Cardinal Ricardo Vidal of Cebu, vice chairman of the bishops' Commission on Clergy said at a July 8 press conference in Manila the code would provide 'steps for profound renewal' in the local church. reported VGA News. Following the July 6-8 plenary meeting, the bishops issued 'Hope in the Midst of Crisis.' which urged Catholics to believe that God will see the church through the current "storm" of priests' sexual offenses. Archbishop Orlando Quevedo of Cotabato, conference president, told the press conference that the bishops' plenary had tackled the first of three parts of a "comprehensive" protocol covering pedophilia, sex with teenagers and other forms of criminal sexual abuse. The second section will deal with priests who have children or liaisons with women, while the last section will address homosexual activity by priests. Archbishop Gaudencio Rosales of Lipa. head of the bishops' clergy commission, said key questions for the bishops are what the church could do for victims and how it could give them aid and help in the future. He said the bishops also debated how to deal with a priestoffender, how to determine whether an offense is criminal, the implications of an offender's action for his ministry and what help the church could give him. Archbishop Quevedo said one prevalent view among the church leaders stressed justice for victims and punishment for offenders. Another view spoke more of the offender's "redemption" or "conversion," he said. Overall, the document opens "with a very humble note," said Bishop Luis Antonio Tagle of Trims, who helped write the draft protocol. He said the bishops emphasized that committing abuse is alien to the original calling of the priest to care for the flock.
It_Reccwd
International News
18 July 2002
Liturgy of Hours not just for clergy VATICAN CITY (CNS) For the past 16 months, Pope John Paul II has been encouraging people to pray with the Psalms, and particularly to pray the Liturgy of the Hours. The papal audience talks reflect a growing reality: Priests and religious are not the only ones using the breviary for morning and evening prayer. What's more, convents and monasteries are not the only places where lay people can experience the chanting or recitation of the prayers communally, the way they were designed to be prayed. The first 23 papal talks, which began in March 2001, were published in book form by the Vatican this summer, the book is available only in Italian. 'It is an encouraging fact that many lay people, both In parishes and in church groups, have learned to value' the Liturgy of the Hours, the pope said in the first talk of the series. The psalms used in the liturgy, Pope John Paul said, are highly poetic prayers reflecting a full array of human feelings: "OK recognition, thanksgiving, love, tenderness and enthusiasm, but also intense suffering, sorrow and requests for help or for justice. which sometimes are expressed with anger or imprecation.' 'The whole human being Is found In the psalms,' he said. At St. Peter's Basilica, like in many cathedrals around the world, everyone is welcome to loin in Sunday evening vespers. The Sunday prayer is the only part of the Liturgy of the Hours celebrated in public by the Chapter of St. Peter's Basilica, the group of priests who minister full time there. The number of participants changes with the seasons, one of the priests said. As few as 50 people will add their voices to the chants sung entirely in Latin in midwinter, but with the spring and summer tourist season, the numbers quadruple, he
Pope John Paul II touches the face of a girl during his weekly general audience July 10 at CasPhoto: CNS/Max Rossi tel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence in Italy.
said.just down the street at the Carmeliterun Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina, everyone is invited to join the recitation of morning and evening prayer in Italian every day. 'We've always done it,' said the pastor, Carmelite Father Alberto Campagnucci. The congregation usually includes about two dozen people, mostly laity who stay for the prayers after the parish's morning and evening Masses. But the most famous place in Rome for communal evening prayer is the Basilica of
Santa Maria in Trastevere, which gathers as many as 1,000 people at 8:30 every night. In addition to singing the psalms to Eastern melodies, the service includes the reading of a Gospel passage and a reflection usually offered by a lay person. However, when guests of a certain stature stop by, they are invited to preach. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, gave the reflection on July 10, for example. In the past two years, other guests leading the reflection have included the Ortho-
dox patriarchs of Constantinople, of the Armenian, Syrian and Ethiopian churches and Archbishop George C. Carey of Canterbury, head of the Anglican Communion. The prayer is the centerpiece of the activity of the Sant'Egidio Community, a group of lay people engaged in all sorts of social services, ecumenical and interreligious dialogue and works for peace. One of the pope's introductory remarks about the Liturgy of the Hours could have been written with the community in mind: 'Thanks to the communal prayer of the psalms, the Christian conscience remembers and understands that it is impossible to turn to the Father, who is in heaven, without an authentic life of communion with one's brothers and sisters, who are on earth,' the pope said. Evening prayer used to be sung in the Church of Sanagidio near the basilica, but moved in 1998 when the church underwent renovation. About 200 people could fit inside Sant'Egidio, if they filled the choir loft as well as the main body of the church. The congregation always included visitors, but it was not until the prayer moved to the Trastevere basilica that the community realized what a huge outreach it was. 'Praying with the psalms and the prayer of the church feeds those who are hungering for the word of God and thirsting for authentic inspiration.' said Father Marco Gnavi, a member of the community. Added together, he said, the nightly congregation comes to between 150,000 and 200,000 each year, obviously, many are community members and friends who attend on a regular basis, but thousands are drawn from crowds who flock to the Trastevere neighborhood's squares and restaurants each night. 'It is obvious the prayer is not our possession.' Father Gnavi said.
Maria Goretti: example for Lawyer receives death threats after taking the youth of today stand against law on Pope John Paul II urged young people to recognize and protect the gift of their sexuality, opting for chastity as St. Maria Goretti did, even at the cost of her life. The pope marked the 100th anniversary of the Italian saint's death in a July 6 letter and in remarks on July 7 to visitors gathered at the Vatican for the midday recitation of the Angelus. The young girl, a few months before her 12th birthday, was repeatedly stabbed by a young neighbor after she refused his sexual advances. She died the next day, July 6, after forgiving her attacker. 'St. Maria Goretti is an example for the new generations,' who struggle to understand 'the importance of values, which it is never legitimate to compromise,' the pope said at the Angelus. Although her family was poor and she had no formal education, St Maria Goretti St. Maria Goretti had a maturity 'formed by the religious educa- of pleasure put your consciences tion received in her family. This to sleep. Be wakeful and vigilant.* gave her the ability not only to The pope prayed that the defend herself with heroic chasti- Blessed Virgin Mary, 'the purest ty, but even to forgive her killer,' of all creatures, would help men the pope said. and women of our time, especial'Her martyrdom is a reminder ly the young, to rediscover the that the human person does not value of chastity and live their find realization by following the interpersonal relationships in impulses of pleasure, but by liv- mutual respect and sincere love.' ing life in love and responsibility,' In his letter to Bishop Agostino he said. Vallini of Albano, in whose dioSpeaking specifically to the cese St. Maria Goretti died and is young people he hopes to meet buried, the pope focused on the 'In two weeks in Toronto' for Importance of the family for formWorld Youth Day, the pope said: ing children in holiness. Her family's extreme poverty, 'TodayIwant to repeat to you: Do not let the culture of having and her youth and her lack of educa-
lion did not prevent God's grace from acting in her life, he said. 'Little Maria lived in a serene and united family environment, animated by Christian love, where the children felt welcomed as a gift and were educated by their parents to respect themselves and others, as well as to have a sense of duty to be carried out for love of God,' he said. Today, he said, it is difficult for many people to understand 'the beauty and value of chastity.' 'From the behavior of this young saint there emerges a high and noble perception of her own dignity and that of others which reverberated in her daily choices.' he said. 'In the face of a culture which overvalues physicality in relations between a man and a woman, the church continues to defend and promote the value of sexuality as a factor which involves every aspect of the person and which, therefore, must be lived with an interior attitude of freedom and mutual respect in the light of God's original design,' the pope wrote. Each person must recognize his or her sexuality as a gift which in turn is given to another in marriage, he said. Following Christ, the pope said, requires making choices and commitments at every age and stage of life. With saints like Maria Goretti, he said, young people should know they are not alone because they have heavenly assistants to help them 'remain strong in fidelity."
blasphemy in Pakistan
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A lawyer for the Pakistani bishops' conference who has challenged the country's controversial blasphemy laws has had his life threatened, an archbishop said. Archbishop Lawrence Saldanha of Lahore. Pakistan, chairman of the bishops' justice and peace commission, said religious extremists have threatened the life of Khalil Tahir, a lawyer for the Faisalabad Diocese. Extremists threatened to kill Tahir, his wife and three children. Tahir represents several Christians charged with blasphemy. 'From what I understand, his wife and children have been moved from their home for their own protection. Mr. Khalil chose to stay behind,' Archbishop Saldanha told Catholic News Service during a July 11 visit to Washington. 'There has been some backlash against those working against laws that discriminate against Christians and ethnic minorities.' the archbishop said. Sources in Pakistan said Tahir's wife received a phone call from a man identifying himself as Shabir Basra, who said extremists would kill the entire family because of Tahir's work. Tahir contacted police, who provided him with security.
Archbishop Saldanha said. Numerous threats have been made against Tahir. At an Oct. 10 blasphemy trial hearing in Faisalabad, a witness for the prosecution threatened Tahir in front of the trial judge. The judge initially had the threat removed from the trial's transcripts, despite the insistence of the defence. Tahir later said that the presence of a foreign journalist in the courtroom compelled the judge to record the threats. Tahir is routinely followed and harassed by extremists, Pakistani church sources told CNS. Pakistan's Christians have been targets of threats and violence since the United States attacked Afghanistan's Taliban regime following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. On October 29, a Catholic church was attacked in Bahawalpur. Fifteen people attending a Protestant service and a Pakistani police officer were killed in the attack. Pakistan has since provided armed guards at large church functions. 'But we are still vulnerable. There are only so many police and many, many churches. We're not protected all the time,' Archbishop Saldanha said. Page 13
Record Reviews
18 July, 2002
Rtkord 11
Earnest lacks zest, but has moments By Gerd Pare
A
"I didn't think it was polite to listen, sir," the ser-
las, the importance of being honest requires advising that "The Importance of Being Earnest," a new adaptation from Miramax, is far off the mark. Oscar Wilde's bitingly witty satire of upper-class romantic silliness is reduced to a bland drawing-room comedy. Directed and adapted by Oliver Parker, he just didn't get zesty performances from either Rupert Everett or Colin Firth, who play two English gents each pretending to be named Earnest to their frivolous fiancees (Reese Witherspoon and Frances O'Conner, who fare better in bringing their characters to life). Everett is charmless as selfish dandy Algernon, and Firth's wealthy Jack is downright dull. This robs the story of heart as well as fun as each gets caught up in lies faking their first name to sweethearts who can only entertain marrying a man named Earnest. Unfortunately, the entertaining does not extend to the audience very much. Some of Wilde's better lines have been cut from this version and the comic timing is affected. While the original play is sprightly, this film is sluggish. Yet it starts out promisingly as Algernon plays a jazzy tune on the piano and asks his butler (a very British Edward Fox) what he thought of his composition.
vant crisply replies.
Judi Dench brings some needed acidity to her role as O'Connor's imperious mother, who is not about to accept her daughter's engagement to the mysteriously orphaned Jack And there are humorous moments in the subplot's tentative romance between spinster teacher Anna Massey and repressed rector Tom Wilkinson, but again, while Massey is goofily endearing, Wilkinson (so fine in "In the Bedroom') flounces about without making any real comedic impression. There are visual compensations, however. The English countryside estate, lavish interior sets and richly layered Edwardian costumes provide appealing distraction until one remembers previous productions of this evergreen title that provoked continual chuckles of appreciation. In this adaptation, Parker tinkers with its timeframe; sometimes it feels more like the Roaring Twenties, yet there's a scene set in a tattoo parlour that looks really odd. Perhaps Parker really is a "women's director," because the female actors leave their male counterparts in the dust, and Witherspoon, the movie's sole American, carries off an English accent pretty well. Due to romantic complications and a flash of rear nudity, the US. Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is A-II -- adults and adolescents.
Frances O'Connor and Colin Firth star in 'The Importance of Being Earnest."
Good things come in small packages Web Review by Carol McMillen
Growing in Faith: Ramblings of a Happy Old Man by Fr Joe Kearney SAC. Published by Spectrum Publications Contact Pallottine Fathers on 9354 4061 Reviewed by Barry Morgan
GmuinginFaith
T
his little book is an apt testimony to the old saying `good things come in small packages'. Comprising less than 90 pages it contains a great deal of common sense wisdom about our Catholic faith and its relationship to the realities of life. Considering the author's background this is not surprising. Born and raised in rural Victoria, ordained in the mid 1940's. and now over 80 years of age Fr Joe Kearney has lived most of his life as a Pallotine priest, the order best known in Australia for their work amongst the Aborigines in the Kimberley. As the subtitle of the book suggests his vocation has brought him a fair share of happiness. and this comes through in his "ramblings'. In a clear and easily readable style he sympathetically covers many facets and complexities of human nature and, frequently by anecdotes, how the closer we are to God, the happier we will be. As he says, "Mature adults are people who can stand on their own two feet; who help others mature in body, mind and spirit".
timblmg,s 1rIppy o!,(1 mtm J oe KearneysAc One anecdote particularly impressed me. Fr Joe describes meeting a young Aboriginal from a Kimberley cattle station who had had never been to school. He had learnt to read and write, say the Our
Father, the Hail Mary and about the Ten Commandments and the Sacraments, from an aboriginal named Malchus. Malchus had been taught these things when a patient in the Derby Leprosarium. Recovered and working on a cattle station he would gather the young men at the end of the day's work and using the Penny Catechism teach them their faith and how to read and write. Malchus obviously knew he had been given a great treasure and wanted to share it. It is both an uplifting and very humbling story. Under the title 'Is God a Jack-in- the- Box?' Fr Joe simply and clearly clarifies our relationship with God. He also neatly presents the potentially difficult concepts of God's immanence and transcendence in a form that most of us can grasp. His chapter on Our Blessed Mother and the Magnificat; her relationship with us and its relevance to our lives is well done and could provide the basis for further meditation. In the twilight of a productive and obviously busy life Fr Joe Kearney has not allowed retirement to mean doing nothing. Each of the nineteen chapters has a different subject heading such as Growth__ Rules. ... Human Dignity, ...Mary etc. They can be read individually or collectively. Each has food for thought. It is a small book with a great many helpful insights that can be read with profit.
A little gem for parents 16 poems and each one is small, like an exquisitely cut diamond. It commences with the beautiful poem Conception, which concludes with: "And be assured we were glad. We felt things past measure "Oh," we thought, felt. "Ah, such wonder from our pleasure." n my 1991 review of Andrew LansThere is the Six Haiku for My Son, a down's book of poetry, The haiku being the English imitation of the Grasshopper Heart, I said "This Japanese three-part poem of usu. delightful book has heightened the sta"A dab of pollen left by a dandelion I tus of Andrew Lansdown as one of Aus- flicked at my son." Lansdo-wn's poems tralia's great poets." are writings from the mind and heart In 1994, the publishing of his sixth of a father of five; but seemingly about book of poetry, Between Glances, a particular son and obviously with proved that judgement to be correct. love. But is the collection about only It won one of the most prestigious one of his children? or are the poems prizes, the John Bray National Poetry an amalgamate of all his children. It is a book that will be enjoyed by Award at the Adelaide Festival. His recently published work. Opu- parents, or about to be parents and lence, poems on parenting, is a gem of especially new fathers.Ienthusiasticalgreat value. Ills not big; there are only ly recommend it as an excellent gift for all of the above.
Opulence poems on parenting by Andrew Lansdown. Published by Life Ministries. Available from Suite 4/334 Wanneroo Road, Nollamara WA 6061, Tel 9344 7396. Price $2 plus postage Reviewed by Brian Peachey
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Page 14
ot sure of which Saint to N pray with to help you with your marriage, or why you actu-
ally pray to St Anthony when you need to find a lost article? What about feast days, do you know when and how they fall. and why they are feast clays? Should we believe in angels, and how do they fit in with Catholicism? Catholic Online (www.catholic.org) has a link to an extremely comprehensive, easy to manoeuvre through site, namely Saints and Angels. (http://sahits.catholic.org) it is well presented and able to answer all the above questions. The details on each saint are thorough and it is obvious that extensive research has been done,Ithink children and adults alike will also enjoy being able to look up their names. Saint Francis de Sales (Patron saint of journalism): advised busy people of the world to 'Retire at various times into the solitude of your own heart, even while outwardly engaged in discussions or transactions with others and talk to God.'
Suddenly Gladdened My son, intent on cars and Leggo. Chancing upon him,I stoop to touch his head-not a one-handed tousling, but a two-handed clasping. Sometimes a father must do this to a just-five son. Sometimes the heart presses the hands to worship at the temples. Without insolence, he ignores me. They are, he knows, a hazard of childhood-Hug Interruptions. So tedious, especially hand-head hugs when you're trying to do Something. Ho hum. Brrr-um! Dad loves me. That insouciant head, these intrusive hands! I move on, suddenly gladdened my love has been taken for granted. - By Andrew Lansdown
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THANKS PRAYER to the Virgin Mary. Oh most beautiful flower of Mt Carmel, fruit of the vine, Heaven, splendour of Blessed Mother of the Son of God. Immaculate Virgin assist me in this my necessity. Oh Star of the Sea help me and show me herein you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. There are none that can withstand your power. Oh show me here you are my Mother. Oh Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee (three times). Holy Mary I place this cause in your hands (three times). Thank you for your mercy towards me and mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. MY heartfelt thanks to the Holy Infant of Prague and Padre Pio for prayers and petitions granted during a recent illness. Rita Abreu
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Stargazing ,.1111 Dr Moon:mit Iiicarichire PILO (Oxen) Dip. f ericint!
Gemini and Cancer
I
turn my gaze now to two starsigns which are always something of a challenge. For Gemini I sense the entry into your life of an extremely attractive Cancerian. Although it is midwinter I advise you to throw caution to the wind and pursue this new possibility with forthright declarations of your love. Do not be demoralised by an apparent unre-
sponsiveness or lack of interest. Redouble your efforts. or Cancerians I foresee trouble looming over the coming weeks. My crystal ball reveals that a dangerously unbalanced Gemini will begin to make disturbing advances of an allegedly romantic nature towards you. However these are merely the ravings of a lunatic and should not be tolerated under any circumstances. Swift action is best. I urge you to report the offending party to the authorities immediately. Firm and decisive action is definitely required.
F
Black boxes are usually found on aircraft.
JULY 19
Foundations Youth Convention Mass - Bishop Sproxton
21
Mass, Redemptorist Monastery - Bishop Sproxton
22
Address Conference celebrating 200 years of Edmund Rice Education. Aquinas College - Bishop Sproxton
25
Induction Programme for Newly Ordained, St Thomas More College - Bishop Sproxton
26
Performing Arts Mass, CEO Chapel - Bishop Sproxton
26/27 Confirmation, Spearwood - Fr Tim Corcoran VG 28
Mass at Bayswater Parish - Bishop Sproxton Confirmation. Balcatta - Fr Greg Carroll
30
Commissioning of Catechists. CEO Chapel - Bishop Sproxton Archbishop Hickey is currently attending the World Youth Day in Toronto
Archdiocesan Panorama BULLSBROOK PILGRIMAGE Shrine of Virgin of the Revelation. 36 Chittering R d, Bullsbrook. The next monthly pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of the Revelation will be held at the Shrine on Sunday, July 28 at 2pm. Reconciliation is from1.30pm. followed by the Rosary procession. Benediction and the blessing of the sick. All are most welcome. For bus transport please phone 9277 5378. For further information contact SACRI on 9447 3292. MARIAN MOVEMENT OF PRIESTS The Marian Movement of Priests will be having a Day of Reflection at St. Bernadette's Church. Jugan Street. Glendalough on Tuesday. July 30 c ommencing at 10am and finishing at 2pm. Includes Cenacle. Holy Mass.Talks & Benediction. Please bring a plate of food for shared lunch. CROSS ROADS COMMUNITY Cross Roads Community conducts on the first Monday of the month a Healing Mass at 7pm at East Fremantle Church. On the second Monday of t he month, there is a Healing Mass at 10am at Spearwood Church. On the third Monday of the month, there is a healing Mass at 7pm at lnnaloo Church. At Cross Roads Community: Support Group for Families & Friends of substance abusers on Wednesday. 7-8.30pm and on Friday.23.30pm there is a Support and Growth Group for substance abusers. Also, each Friday there is Holy Mass at 7.30pm followed by fraternity, prayer and guest speakers on occasion. All are welcome. Queries: Cross Roads Community on 9319 8344.Details do change - check web on www.crossroadscommunity.com.au BENEDICTINE OBLATES Next chapter meeting will be at St Joseph's Convent. York St. South Perth at 2pm. Anyone interested in the Rule of St Benedict will be warmly welcomed. Inquiries: 9388 3026. PILGRIMAGE TO YORK Feast Day of St Philomena, Sunday August 11. Bus to York, Holy Mass in the Historic parish Church of St Patrick with Benediction, Litanies. R osaries and other devotions in honour of St Philomena. Time between Mass and Devotions to visit the town site. Bus leaving Mercedes College staff car park off Goderich St. opposite Jewell House. Cars can be parked in staff car park. Tickets S20. Seats reserved upon deposit of ticket monies. Inquiries: Fr Michael Rowe 9444 9604. ST BRIGID'S PARISH MIDLAND Catechesis of the Neo-Catechumenal Way. From July 29 every Monday and Thursday in the parish hall (St Brigid's Place) at 7.30pm a team of catechists propose a renewal of Christian faith by a journey to discover the strength of our Baptism in a small community. All are invited. Entry free. Baby sitter provided. Information Fr Kaz Stuglik. parish priest 9274 1495. TALK ON ABORTION All are invited to attend a moving talk by Paul Kelly on one of the greatest tragedies of our times "Abortion" and see the video "The Hard Truth- at the Legion of Mary headquarters, 36 Windsor St, East Perth on Saturday. July 27 at 2.30pm. Find our how you can help save an innocent life! Details: Catherine 9451 4045. FEAST OF BLESSED MARY MAC KILLOP The Sisters of St Joseph extend a welcome to all to celebrate with us the feast of Blessed Mary MacKillop at Mary MacKillop Centre, 16 York St. South Perth. Mass at 9am in the Chapel. followed by morning tea. GOD'S FARM BUS PILGRIMAGE A springtime Pilgrimage to God's Farm. for a weekend retreat, will be lead by Father Pierangelo Repuyan. He will speak on the inspiration of St John the Evangelist, celebrate Holy Mass daily.
the prayers of the Church and be available for Reconciliation. Bus leaves Perth 2.30pm on Friday September 6 and returns 2pm Sunday September 8 arriving in Perth at 6pm. God's Farm Gracewood. PO Box 24 Cowaramup. 6284. Donation S80. Bus f are S50. Details, reservations Betty Peaker. God's Farm Phone/Fax 9755 6212. DAY WITH MARY AT ST CATHERINE'S CHURCH GINGIN Sat August 17. Mary's Assumption is a pious myth. True or false? Find out! Coaches depart St Mary's Cathedral Victoria Square for Gingin at 9am. S14 return. (Contact Francis Williams 9459 3873 or 0404 893 877). During the day: video at 9am. 10.30am Mass. Reconciliation. Adoration, talks. R osary. Stations. Scapular/Miraculous Medal enrolments: benefactors names ceremoniously sealed in Grotto. Please BYO. Inquiries: Franciscans of the Immaculate 9574 5204. A PROGRAM FOR WOMEN SEXUALLY ABUSED IN CHILDHOOD This group is a confidential and safe environment comprised of fourteen 2-hour sessions led by two e xperienced facilitators. Celia Joyce and Elena Teleko. Commencing August 1. Information: Fullness of Life Centre 9389 8550. MANDURAH CATHOLIC CHURCH CELEBRATES Parishioners of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish are invited to attend the Golden Anniversary on Thursday August 15. Mass at 5.30pm followed by dinner (S20 per person). 7.30pm at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing Club. Bookings necessary. Details: Parish Office. weekdays 9am-4pm on 9581 2061. M ARANATHA INSTITUTE -TERM 3 COURSES 10 weeks cost S55. Beginning Tuesday 23 July. 9.30am-12pm Spirituality and Practice of Active Non-Violence Mr Brendan Mc Keague. 1-3pm Faith & Life, Sr Shelley Barlow RNDM and beginning Friday 26 July. 9.30am-12pm Understanding the Seven Sacraments Today. Fr Vincent Glynn, 13pm Jesus in the Gospels, Fr Pat Ahern. Enrolments: 9212 9311, Tuesdays. Thursdays 9am3.30pm Friday 9am-1.30pm for a Course Booklet. MASS FOR FEAST OF ST BENEDICT Monday August 5, 7.30pm at Holy Rosary Church. Angelico St. Doubleview. Fr Anthony Van Dyke OP will preach on: Saint Dominic. a Saint for the third millennium. All are welcome to join in and have a cuppa afterwards at the priory. A PRACTICAL EVENING OF MUSIC FOR CHOIRS WORKSHOP Warm-ups and vocal exercises. Singing in parts. A two part Gospel Acclamation. Responsorial Psalm with four part response. Thursday July 25. St Mary's Parish Centre. Leederville, 7.30-9.30 pm. Register by Monday July 22. Archdiocesan Liturgy Office. tel: 9221 1548. Fax: 9221 3694. INFORMATION EVENINGS ON STEM CELLS Fr Joe Parkinson presents education evenings on stem cell research. It will be held in four places. Tuesday 23 July. 7.30pm. Fr John Luemmen Hall. Riverton:Tuesday 30 July. 7.30pm. Floreat/Wembley Parish Centre. Floreat; Wednesday 31 July, 7.30pm. St Luke's Parish Centre. Woodvale; Wednesday 7 August. 7.30pm. St Benedict's Parish Centre, Applecross. Cost S5 per person. Registration: Maranatha Institute 9212 9311. SPIRITUALITY IN THE PUB The Elephant and the Wheelbarrow (The Band Bar) Cnr of Francis and Lake Sts, Northbridge. Wednesday July 24 7.30 - 9.10pm. Guest speakers: Rabbi Moshe Yehuda Bernstein and Andrew Karnia. BUSINESS PERSONS' MASS Will be celebrated at All Saints Chapel on Friday July 26 at 7am. followed by a Breakfast Meeting at the WA Club, 101 St George's Terrace, Perth. Guest Speaker: Sr Francis of the Presentation Order.
Page 15
The Last Word
From Buddha to Jesus my journey with the
Holy Spirit by Jasmine Wong fmi
/
was born in Singapore and brought up in an environment where the normally practised religion was Buddhism. I also practised the religion but not on a regular basis even though I would partake in the events and celebrations. As a child I was enrolled in a convent school and this is where I was first exposed to the Catholic faith. However. all I knew at that time was that Ma.sses were held when there was a celebration of a particular event. This went on throughout my secondary school (up to the equivalent of Year 10 in Australia). After graduating, I went on to pursue my education in a public college. During this timeIlost contact with the Catholic faith and with God. Later, while working as a relief teacher I met Freddy Gomez from Youth Praise Ministry in Singapore who would be the one who got me started on my walk with God again; Freddy would invite me to the YPM's Saturday charismatic meetings but I would always excuse myself due to work. However, things changed. The Lunar New Year was round the corner and all Chinese, regardless of religion, celebrate this. My family was to hold a reunion dinner soIhad to apply for a halfday leave from my work. That SaturdayIattended my first YPM meeting which, as a result, was also my last day at work; it was then that my life began to change. During that praise meeting the Holy Spirit touched me. I felt a beautiful tingling sensation down my spine through to my legs. I later phoned work and told them I was quitting so that I could attend these meetings. Afterwards I went on retreats and youth outreaches and learned a lot. Then, in June 1999 I attended a
Jasmine Wong with Flame Ministries' Eddie Russell, left, and Stephen Peake. Jasmine tells how she journeyed from cultural Buddhism to choosing Catholicism
'Youth in the Spirit' seminar organised by YPM and this is when I was baptised in the Holy Spirit. In 1999 I decided to pursue my tertiary education in Western Australia. Freddy Gomez was a keynote speaker at the Flame Congress in January 2000 and after returning to Singapore he gave me the details of Flame Ministries International to contact when I arrived. I arrived in WA on February 8th 2000. In March that year I began attending prayer meetings organised by Flame Ministries at the Cathedral Praise Meeting in Perth on Thursday nights, and the Flame Youth Meetings in Balcatta Jasmine with sponsor Agatha Sadon Friday nights. owska. Later, in 2001, when I assisted with the Annual Flame Congress. My People On Fire' seminars and I was asked if I would like to join then started the Rite of Christian Flame Ministries as an active min- Initiation for Adults (RCIA). After completing RCIA I was Baptised istry member. On January 30 last year I decid- and Confirmed on Easter Satured to take up the offer and my day March 30 2002 when I fully application was accepted by the entered into the family of God. It was a difficult journey Senior Directors. I had graduated from the 'Set throughout those four years andI
encountered many objections from my family. My parents viewed attending a Christian charismatic prayer meeting as a waste of time and something that was unproductive: they strongly preferred me staying at home because they were afraid that I could become a part of a cult. Due to this, I had difficulties attending the YPM prayer meetings. However, on my birthday in 1999 the youth at YPM prayed for a breakthrough in this area. A few months later, my parents accepted that I would be attending the prayer meetings and they stopped discouraging me. They were still worried as parents, but they accepted it nonetheless, and things did work out for the better. My parents are now aware of my commitments at church and they are fine with it so long as I manage my time properly. The breakthrough with my mother was strikingly evident when she asked me during 2001 whenI was getting baptised. That was reassuring. My family
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came to Perth for a visit in December 2001 when they met some of the people from church and Flame Ministries after which they were more relieved. Thus it is with their blessings and approval that I was baptised and confirmed a Catholic on March 30 this year, 2002.
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