Join John Paul II in
HONDA
FOR A GREAT DEAL
TEL: 9449 9000
ACCESSORIES, SERVICE, FINANCE OR ANY MAKE OF QUALITY USED CAR.
HONDA, NORTH ON A NEW PARTS,
JULY G eneral -.
432 SCARBOROUGH BEACH RD OSBORNE PARK. DL #1191
- 14 9-361
WA's only Catholic weekly newspaper Perth: July 25 2002 Price: $1
ronto bound
Youth dancers in Inca, Aztec and Yaqui traditional dress surround Pope John Paul II during his weekly general audience on July 17 at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, Italy. The Pope, who appeared in good spirits, took leave from his summer break on July 23 for a three-country trip to the Americas, including World Youth Day celebrations in Toronto. For a preview of WYD see stories and photographs on pages 8&9. Photo CNS Pputer,
PADRE PIO CELEBRATION IN PERTH On Saturday August 3 at 4 pm, His Grace Archbishop Barry Hickey will celebrate vigil Holy Mass in All Saints Chapel, 77 Allendale Square. An invitation is extended to all to attend. Mass will be preceded by a small procession of the statue of Padre Pio. The procession will start at the Chapel steps and proceed under cover around the Allendale Plaza. The stained glass window will be blessed at the beginning of Mass.
T
he saintly friar of Pietrelcina, Italy, Padre Pio, is no stranger in Perth. Well known throughout the world, he also has his devotees and "spiritual children" here in great numbers as well. The number of people who stop and pray before his small statue in All Saints Chapel is evidence of the fact. His image was among the first chosen saints for the stained glass windows for the enhancement of the Chapel. Progress with the stained glass windows in All Saints Chapel continues with the third window of Saint Padre Pio having been recently installed to mark his canonisation on June 16 in Rome. Commemorating this great saint for our times, the portrayal of his stigmata and Eucharistic and Marian devotion are principal features incorporated in the artistic work. Devotion to Padre Pio, now St Pio, gives great consolation to a great many people locally. All the community derives many spiritual benefits as well. Padre Pio tells us how to participate at Mass: "As Our Lady, St. John and the pious women did on Calvary with love and compassion." "It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do so without the Holy Mass."
VOL ARE WELCOME AT ALL SAINTS CHAPEL 77 ALLENDALE SQUARE PERTH on Saturday. August 3 at 4pm His Grace, Archbishop BARRY HICKEY will celebrate vigil HOLY MASS to Commemorate the Canonisation of PADRE PI() and TO BLESS HIS STAINED GLASS WINDOW FREE PARKING Carpark is next to the Esplanade Hotel No. 18 The Esplanade. Drive in and tell Attendant you are an All Saints patron. Further direction from attendant. Parking from 3 until 7pm.
25 July, 2002
Record III
Every little advance towards God is a good one A round October last year,I Tedeschi was suspected of picked up the book by the being a supporter of modernism late Peter Hebblethwaite as was his secretary Roncalli entitled John )0CIII. Like so much because of his association with of my reading,I dipped into this the bishop. book whenIcould, so it took me Again and again, Roncalli about a month to read it right would experience rejection, be through. I finished it, in fact, a belittled and be considered a liafew days before I received news bility by various superiors as he of my appointment as a bishop. worked for the Secretariat of I liked the book. It gave a clear, State. But he had learnt the value modern presentation of the life of dialogue, he appropriated it as of Angelo Roncalli along themes his own and he became defined that the future pope constantly by it. went back to and on which, I A new television movie on John believe, he based his life's work XXIII which is being made by and mission. the Italian television network "IX,vo of those themes were RAI has received a review by a peace and reconciliation, and former Italian Prime Minister, dialogue. Roncalli was to suffer Giulio Andreotti. He rates this many times for these founda- movie very highly. I hope it will tions upon which he stood and make it to one of the local netwhich he would never abandon. works this year, the 40th anniverEarly on in his priestly life, he sary of Blessed John XXIII's had been appointed secretary to death. his bishop, Radini Tedeschi. Andreotti comments that RonThe bishop was renowned for calli holds a special fascination his openness and his preference for people even today. He for dialogue rather than for the believes the role that John XXIII authoritarian acts and processes played was crucial when the being employed at the time to Church and the world faced the eradicate the heresy of mod- historic time of transition from ernism. Intransigent defence to dialogue.
"Dialogue is Gospel based and is the practical way in which evangelisation is done."
Dialogue may not have the freshness it might once have had. But I think it is an essential part of the Church's pastoral mission. Dialogue is Gospel based and is the practical way in which evangelisation is done. If we look back into the history of God's people we discover that God began the dialogue of evangelisation. God freely decided to reveal himself to humanity. People responded to the God who makes himself known. The dialogue began. The covenants with Noah, Abraham and Moses were the fruit of this dialogue. A people was formed and from these people the Saviour would come who would bring reconciliation and peace. In Jesus, God reveals himself fully. We know the nature of God in
The Record goes cyber-active
Family focus of Expo
By Stephen Spited The Record newspaper is now on the Internet. The web-site launched this week features current news, links to other Catholic sites of interest, an editorial section, prayers and devotions, words from the ArchJ1ULY 18, 2N2 bishop, archives and a history of The Record. "We've been wanting to take Aaou1 LIS advantage of the Internet's flexibility and access abilities for a S TA FT long time" said editor Peter AMUR TIS1140 Rosengren, "and we can finally give a global audience the oppor- sunsenifiTIOSIS By Peter Finney Jr. tunity to get some insight on what Catholic News Sem ioe the Catholics of Australia are up to? designed the site and also fills the He said he is enthusiastic about role of web master. "I asked Carthe possibilities offered by a web ole if it could be done and she publication. basically went to work on it," he The new 'discovery' publication said. "We just wouldn't have had will also have its own site soon. the time or resources without her Mr Rosengren paid tribute to the effort and creativity." work of The Records administraWeb surfers will find a selection tion officer Carole McMillen, who of articles from each week's paper
Email.
Abortion is as evil as Septem 11: former ambassador posted by lunchtime on Thursdays, the day on which the paper comes out. However those wanting to catch up on all the Catholic news will still need to get their weekly Record which carries much more information. The web-site can be reached at: www. therecord.com.au
7 sep4 eeriwpittn'tekitions4 Kstr4114 Bringing you the finest Catholic Faith education on audio and video tape Speakers include: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Dr Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins, Fr Benedict Groeschel CFR
• Catechism and Liturgy • Bible and Prayer Study • Home Faith Education • Devotion, Prayer and Mother Mary • Parenting. Marriage and Spirituality • Evangelism. Apologetics and Testimonials
"Faith Education and understanding in the comfort of our home." Mail Order Catholic Faith Education on Video and Audio Tapes Tel (08) 9572 4343 Fax: (08) 9572 4440 E-mail: stjoecom@bigpond.com
The Uniting
Church Bookshop and Resource Centre
Jesus as all-loving, all-giving. The program of evangelisation for each Catholic community begins in much the same way: Reveal, elicit responses, reveal more of the Good News, develop a bond based on trust. At the 2002 Catholic Youth Festival held last week at Trinity College, I experienced a way in which the initial proclamation of the Gospel can be done. Two hundred teenagers or young adults took part. Some came from parishes, some from the by Bishop Donald Sproxton secondary schools and universities, some came because friends would be satisfied if these young encouraged them. people were moved from 0- 1 or Many have begun the drift from 1 - 3, whatever, in their journey parishes and the Church. All are to faith. searching for meaning and Speakers at the Festival gave answers to the questions their their personal stories and testilimes and experiences have monies of how God had shown thrown up. his presence and power in their The starting point for the Festi- lives. val was not based on the The dialogue, we hope, has assumption that the participants begun for some, or has been understood the church or for that nudged a little further for others. matter Jesus or God. Pray with Bruce, his team and Rather, Bruce Downes and the me that the young people who wonderful group of organisers participated will open their using a scale of 0- 10 reminded hearts in response to the God themselves constantly that they who passed their way last week.
Government, community and church bodies have organised a Family Expo with international experts on communication and interpersonal relationships in the Family and workplace. Three international experts: Dr Jeff Hill, Dr John Lund and Dr Brent Barlow will be speaking on enriching work and family environments at the Adam Spagnolo Centre, 11 Royal St.,Osborne Park, on Saturday August 3. The Family Council of WA. The Dept. for Community Development, The Australian Family Association, Brigham Young University School of Family Life, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and the Cities of Perth and Stirling are sponsoring Family Expo 2002. The Family Expo will be
Marriage.' Dr Hill is a senior Human
Resources professional at IBM and an expert on work and family issues.
Calling all Record readers A special edition of The Record focussing on 'Vocation' will appear on the weekend of 10-11 August. the end of national Vocation awareness Week. ALL VOCATIONS, lay as well as clerical and Religious etc will be the focus of this special edition. Do you have a story to tell about how you found or live out your own vocation (committed single life? marriage?). If so, send it to The Record PO Box 75 Leederville WA 6902 by Friday 2 August. And PLEASE. send in a picture of yourself as well.
Having difficulty finding the books you want? Can we help you? Suppliers of theological and r eligious books, worship resources, music, cards. stoles. Mail order available.
2nd Floor Wesley Centre, 93 William Street. Perth. GPO Box M952, Perth WA 6843 Tel: 9486 1577 Fax: 9486 1599 E-Mail: resource@wa.uca.org.au Visit us at: www.wa.uca.org.au bookshop
Read our Web site: www. therecord.corn.au Page 2
opened by The Hon. Rob Johnson, Shadow Minister for the Family. Dr Lund, international business consultant, CEO coach. family counsellor and Court Dispute Resolution provider, talks on 'The Art of Parenting Teens.. And other Miracles' and The Art of Giving and receiving Criticism.' Dr Barlow believes that. "marriage is much more complex today than it has been in times past. We now confront issues and situations that our progenitors may not have experienced." With this in mind Dr Barlow is presenting '21 Days to a Better
Your Travel Business is our Business * Agents for Harvest Pilgrimages * Frequent Flyer Points Managed * Country Callers 1800 447 448
Michael Deering
Flightwrr• ldI I ,
A divisfon of Intetwolid Travel Pty Ltd Lic No. 91A796
Travel Services
Ground Floor, 200 St, George's Terrace, Perth WA 6000 Tel 9322 2914 Fax 9322 2915 Email admin@flightworld.corn.au
MANNING & ASSOCIATES
OPTOMETRISTS Contact Lens Consultants Mark Kalnenas (B. optom)
Grove Plaza, Cottesloe 9384 6720
11 Record
25 July, 2002
Canada welcomes JPII Gathering aims to be a spiritual compass for life's journeyers says Pope By John Thavis Catholic News Service
Watch out for next week's full coverage of the WYD celebrations
distant jumbo screen, but those closer to the screen cheered, "John Paul, John Paul, John PauL" After the pope's speech, he greeted young people from many countries, including some with disabilities and three with terminal illnesses. He pulled one young girl toward him and planted a kiss on her forehead: she left the stage in tears. Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, the pope left by helicopter for an island retreat for several days of rest and meditation - an unusual departure from the typically rigorous schedules of past papal trips. The pontiff was to sojourn on Strawberry Island in Lake Simcoe, about 70 miles north of Toronto, residing at a retreat and vacation centre operated by the Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien escorts Pope John Paul II following a welcoming ceremony at Toronto's Lester Basilian religious order. Organisers said there would be B. Pearson International Airport on Tuesday July 23. no media access to the seduded but the frail Pope has not gone spot, which has a chapel dedi- hiking in years. But for two years, cated to Our Lady of the Immac- the pope has made it clear that ulate Conception. he would not give up the chance The island is laced with hiking to celebrate World Youth Day paths that meander through 40 with the international gathering acres of woods and meadows, in Toronto.
TORONTO - Affiving in Toronto for World Youth Day celebrations, Pope John Paul II said the mega-gathering would help young people find spiritual direction in a world full of social and ethical tensions. At a brief welcoming ceremony on July 23 at Toronto's Lester B. Pe.arson International Airport, the pope praised the "gifts of intelligence and heart" that make young people the future of humanity. But he warned that they also were affected by widespread conflict and injustice in the modem world. "Too many lives begin and end without joy, without hope. That is one of the principal reasons for World Youth Day. Young people are coming together to commit themselves, in the strength of their faith in Jesus Christ, to the great cause of people and human solidarity: he said. Proudly sponsoring the Australian The pope, seated on a platform next to Canadiinvolvement in an Prime Minister Jean Chretien, pronounced his short talk in a relatively strong voice. He looked alert after a ninehour flight from Rome. Welcoming the pontiff. Chretien said World Youth Day offered a "challenge to young people to fully live their faith, to fully engage in their societies and to believe they can make a difference by demonstrating • their commitment in daily life." The pope's Canadian hosts had planned to lower him from his plane to the tarmac, but Pope John Paul decided instead to walk down the ft' plane's stairs, moving Sr 0 very slowly and held tightly by an aide. Then , * he was pushed on a wheeled platform into a 4° • hangar decorated with Canadian and Vatican 14,0 FtA9 flags. t r oronto •- c‘ For the 82-year-old pope, it was the start of one of the longer trips of his pontificate, an 11-day journey that was to take Wishing you a memorable and uplifting journey as youi him to Guatemala and Mexico for canonisation enjoy the 17th World Youth Day celebrations in Toronto. ceremonies. May you be inspired by the call to be the His July 23-26 stay in Canada was to feature "Salt of the earth and light of the world". three major World Youth Day events with young people aged 16-35: an official welcoming ceremony on July 25,a prayer and music vigil on July 27 and a closing Mass on July 28. Some 215,000 young people from more than 170 countries registered for World Youth Day, but organisers were hoping more than half a million would turn out for the Established 1907 final Mass in Downsview Park, a former military North Perth 9444 4835, Midland 9274 3866 base in Toronto. At Toronto's Exhibition Fremantle 9335 4111, Victoria Park 9361 1185, Place, many of the thousands of young people Wangara 9409 9119, Northam 9622 1411 did not notice the pope's arrival, broadcast on a
WORLD YOUTH DAY
kr4
C
PURSLOWE FUNERAL HOMES
ATORBERTINE CANONS ORDER OF CANONS REGULAR OF PREMONTRE
finding unity with the brethren on the way to God ... If you would like to know more about life as a Norbertine priest or brother, please contact:
community
Fr Peter J Stiglich. 0.Praem. St Joseph's Priory PO Box 354 Cannington WA 6987 Telephone: (08) 9458 2729 Email: norbert0iinet.net.au
l iturgy ministry
PRINCIPALS ST JOSEPH'S SCHOOL, BOULDER St Joseph's School is a single-stream Catholic school located in the Goldfields city of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, approximately 630 km east of Perth. The school caters for children from Kindergarten to Year 7 and has a current enrolment of 266. Established by the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 4897, the school was relocated-in 1996, and now has expansive grounds and excellent The St Joseph's School motto — Sharing is Caring — reflects the school's focus on pastoral care. The school also enjoys a good reputation for pedagogical excellence and strong links exist with the other two local Catholic schools.
JOHN PUJAJANGKA-PIYIRN SCHOOL MULAN John Pujajangka-Piyim School is a remote Catholic Aboriginal school with a current enrolment of 35 students. The school has two primary classes and one secondary class and is located 320 km from Halls Creek. Significant upgrading of facilities has taken place in recent years. The school is committed to the concept of Two Way Learning, which respects and fosters the traditional Aboriginal languages whilst providing instruction in Standard Australian English. The school and parish also work closely together within the community to provide pastoral care to the children and their families.
WARLAWURRU CATHOLIC SCHOOL, RED HILL Warlawumi Catholic School is situated adjacent to the Lunja Community, 2.5 km from the Kimberley town of Halls Creek. The school was established in 1987 and follows the concept of Tuu Wcry Learning, which acknowledges both a western and Aboriginal curriculum. Today Warlawurru has a predominantly indigenous enrolment of 86 students from K-7 and provides instruction in Standard Australian English and teaching of the Jam language. The school also participates in the Kimberley Literacy Project and is currently developing a whole school literacy strategy to cater for the needs of all of its students. The successful applicants will be required to take up these positions at the commencement of Term I, 2003. Applicants need to be actively involved in the Catholic Church and be experienced educators committed to the objectives and ethos of Catholic education. They will have the requisite theological, educational, pastoral and administrative competencies together with an appropriate four year minimum tertiary qualification and will have completed Accreditation B or its equivalent. A current Australian Federal Police Clearance must accompany the application. Official application forms are available from Martin Loney, Consultant, Leadership Team, on (08) 9212 9268 or Email: m. loney@ceowa.perth. catholic .edu.au. Official application forms should be addressed to The Director, Catholic Education Office, PO Box 198, Leederville WA 6903 and be lodged no later than Friday 23 August 2002. ceowa perth . catholic .edu.au Website:
Page 3
25 July, 2002
Retbord
Hundreds 'elevate' to God at youth festival
Happy faces make the waves in the "mattress surfing" activity at the Catholic Youth Convention last week.
Fr Tim r Dear
Padre A new feature in The Record. If you have a question about the Church send it to:
Fr Tim Deeter's Replies PO Box 75 Leederville WA 6902 Eastern Church one of the forQ. Why do Catholics make the mulas used is: "Holy God! Holy Sign of the Cross? Some non- Mighty One! Holy Immortal Catholics think it is some super- One, have mercy on us!" We still use the most ancient stition to ward off danger. Also. why was it customary to bless form of the Sign of the Cross yourself when passing a tracing a cross on the forehead with the thumb - at the initial church? A. The world recently wit- welcome of a candidate for Bapnessed young Brazilians drop- tism, and in the anointing at ping to their knees and making Confirmation. We all trace the the Sign of the Cross after win- triple Cross on our foreheads, ning the World Cup. In those lips and chests at the announcecountries where this was seen ment of the Gospel at Mass (a on TV there was general wide- good prayer to say silently might spread admiration for the pub- be: May the Gospel of Christ be lic humility and piety of these in my thinking, in my speaking, men. Here in Australia, where and in my loving.) And we use this scene seems to have been the large Sign of the Cross at the omitted in most TV reports but beginning and end of our was covered in the printed prayers, including the greatest media, there has been a bit of prayer of all, the Mass. Is making the Sign of the Cross discussion about why religion usually seems to be relegated to a superstitious practice? Like the 'fringe' of society by the some other religious rituals (the use of holy water, the lighting of media. The earliest form of the Sign of candles before statues, etc) it the Cross was tracing a cross on can be - if it is used thoughtone's forehead with the thumb lessly, or in the hope that there or index finger; this was being will be some form of divine done in the 2nd century. In the intervention 'on demand'. But Apostolic Tradition of St Hip- we know that all external acts of religion should represent what polytus (c. 215), we read: "At all times be ready to sign is truly in our hearts. If an unbeyourselves carefully on the fore- liever makes the Sign of the head. For this sign shows forth Cross, what does that mean? If the Passion which opposes the a non-practising Catholic makes devil, if you make it with faith, the Sign of the Cross just before not to please men, but knowing a free-throw in basketball, what how to use it like a breastplate. does that mean? It can come . . When we make the Sign on across as a superstitious 'quickour forehead and our eyes, we fix', and unfortunately it can cast drive away him who seeks to disrepute upon religious practice in general. But I think most destroy us. (ch. 36)" By the 4th century there was a people know the difference signing of the chest as well as between true piety and slapthe forehead. The signing of the dash superstition. The custom of making the Sign lips is mentioned in the 8th cenof the Cross when passing a tury. The large Sign of the Cross church is a pious custom reflectmade on forehead, chest and ing belief in the Real Presence shoulders was used as early as of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrathe 5th century, but there is no ment reserved within the official mention of it until Pope church. It is a custom which is Innocent III directed that it be quickly dying out. However, I preached about made with three fingers from forehead to chest and from right this in my former parish, and to left shoulders. Later the whole was pleased to notice later that hand with extended fingers was many of the parishioners would used, and the direction changed make the Sign of the Cross when they walked or drove past the from left to right. church. A custom like this is a In the Western Church these words are used: "In the name of good ways of keeping ourselves the Father and of the Son and of conscious of the abiding sacrathe Holy Spirit Amen." In the mental presence of Jesus. Page 4
More than 200 young people have just attended a youth gathering held at Trinity College. Here MEGAN GRAVES explains what she got out of it all.
I
n January 2002 Iattended the Foundations' Dangerzone Youth Convention and heard about the Elevate Youth Festival to be held in July. I wa.s so impressed with Dangerzone that I was interested immediately and registered right then and there. As the date drew nearer my enthusiasm and feelings of expectation grew. I was looking forward to spending time with my friends, making new friends and getting myself focussed on the important things In life before going back to uni for
second semester. On the first night I joined nearly two hundred other young people from a range of different backgrounds and experiences as well as different faith levels. In his opening remarks Bruce Downes encouraged us to step out of our comfort zones and really be ourselves. This is always a difficult thing to do but in the days to follow I cllscovered that the Elevate environment was so supportive and non-judgmental that It became easy. It was a wonderful experience to be with others who had also taken the step to take off their masks and be their true selves. Throughout the week we enjoyed some great talks by some unforgettable speakers who shared their wisdom and experience in a way that was truly inspiring. We played heaps of crazy games and enjoyed a variety of activities including horizontal bungee, bouncing castles and sumo wrestling. The band, orchestra, dance and drama teams were just amazing and provided us with a great opportunity to relax and just have fun. Heaps of free time allowed us to meet new people. strengthen existing friendships and just think On the final day, Bishop Don Sproxton celebrated an energetic and uplifting Mass. A highlight of this Mass was the way the Bishop took the time to really explain what was happening at each stage. Even for those of us who know this well it helped to keep us focussed. It was great to feel
the support and interest of the Bishop of us young people and he really seemed to be proud of us as young Catholics. I know that I, and othersIspoke to, gained some new perspectives. We can look at every situation and every thing positively or negatively. We wake up every day and we can decide if it will be a good day or a bad day. As a result of this festival many of us will remember to decide to be positive and see the positive in all the joys and challenges that come our way. For me, the Festival strengthened my relationship with God, helped me to put Him at the centre of my life and generally left me refreshed and renewed. Many of those that I spoke to felt that they met God for the first time and were really blown away by the experience and believe it will have an impact on them for the rest of their lives.
Bishop Sproxton speaks at 'Elevate'.
IMF challenges State over funding Parents and Friends Association members are upset at a glaring discrepancy in funding to private and state schools by the WA State Government. On average, the State Government allocates $1565 in recurrent operating funding to each student In Catholic and other non-government schools in the 2002/3 Budget But the figure is $8784 per pupil In the coming year for students in government schools. During their annual general meeting, held at Corpus Christi College in Bateman AGM, PS& delegates unanimously supported a motion put on behalf of the parents of the 60,000 children enrolled in the Federation's 130 affiliated schools. Laurie Eastwood The motion expressed parents' strangest concern to the Premier, pupil cost" entitlement, by the Education Minister and the increasing the non-government 'Ilvasurer and deploring the sector's total annual allocation to State's grossly inadequate fund- at least 0.36 per cent of the State's ing. total schools' spending for every 1 The motion called on the Gov- per cent of the total school popuernment: lation accommodated in the pri• to expedite the promised vate sector. This would mean review of the average government providing $239 million - or 10.7 school per pupil cost formula per cent of Budget funds - for the allegedly used as the basis for cal- 10,624 (29.7 per cent of students) culating our children's entitle- In the private sector, rather than ments, the present $170 million, and • to immediately allocate an • to supplement the present additional $4.9 million (or $45 per Low Interest Loan Scheme capital pupil) to the non-government sec- funding for non-government tor, being the amount required to schools with an additional, shared at least maintain the average $1 for $1 Government/Communifunding level at last year's 18.3 ty non-repayable Capital Grant per cent of government school per scheme. pupil cost, rather than the proNinety representatives of variposed reduction to 17.8 per cent, ous metropolitan and country • to urgently work towards Parents and Friends' Associations meeting its commitment to pro- and school communities also vide every student with a basic attended the annual Conference level of funding equivalent to at dinner. They were treated to a thoughtleast 25 per cent of average government school per pupil cost, provoking address by Dr Wayne and to then provide additional Tinsey, Director of the Catholic funding to those in greater need, Institute of WA, who talked about • to ensure and facilitate the the role of the Institute in teacher future provision of the "25 per training and the importance of cent of government school per parental involvement in the edu-
cation of their children. At the AGM reports were presented by the President, Agnes Weymouth, and the Secretary and Executive Director, Laurie Eastwood. The main role of the Parents and Friends is to provide a forum for parents to come together to discuss and increase community awareness of educational, social and funding issues and to provide the extra resources needed to ensure that children receive a standard of education equal to or better than that provided in government schools. In addition to Ms Weymouth and and Mr Eastwood, those elected or re-elected to the Federation Council were Ray Peterson (Treasurer), Helen Keogh (VicePresident), Bunbury Diocesan Representative Margaret Doyle, and ten Councillors - John Barich, Francis Barr, Chris Downey, Margaret Ker, Christeen Skinner, Geoff Gratwick, Sarah Stokoe, Silvina Martinez, Vicki Fitzgerald and Mandy Prindiville. The afternoon Conference sessions saw six expert speakers addressing delegates on a wide range of matters, including contemporary issues facing Catholic schools, the proposed Post Compulsory Education changes, the Catholic Education Communications Network, new School Canteen regulations and techniques, an on-line First Aid course which can also provide some fund-raising, and a session on the "How to Drug Proof Your Kids" programme.
from the Parish to the nation to the world. Dews of the Church in
The Record (read it ouer tea)
11 Record
25 July, 2002
Catholic youth rock on prayer, power, reflection and fun Prayerful, powerful, reflective and fun are just some of the words being used by over 200 young people to describe the Inaugural Catholic Youth Festival held from July 16 to 19 at Trinity College. The Festival organised by Foundations Catholic Ministry saw young people from around Western Australia join in four nights and three days of activities aimed at presenting the Church in a contemporary and modern manner. It was announced during Festival Week that the name of the event will be known in the future as "Elevate" the Catholic Youth Festival. This was a new event with young people being able to go
home at the end of each day rather than live in as they do at the annual Youth Convention held In January," said Bruce Downes Director of Foundations Catholic Ministry. "We placed particular emphasis on reaching out to two groups of young people. The first group are those who find themselves estranged from the Church. The message of the Church is not being heard by the majority of young people and therefore requires new ways of presenting old truths that will enrich their lives," he said. "Secondly, we also endeavoured to encourage young people who are active in parish life and their school communities. We believe that young people will have
returned to their parishes and schools encouraged in their faith and equipped to be active in the Church with other young people." Bishop Donald Sproxton shared part of his journey of faith in a revealing and honest session that became the catalyst throughout the remainder of Festival of how our faith intersects with our life. On the rural day Mass was celebrated by Bishop Sproxton as young people gathered around the altar for a powerful and prayerful liturgy. The support of Parish Priests from across Perth and country areas was tremendous as many priests encouraged young people to attend while others took the time to personally visit the Festival at llinity College. The promotion for the Festival was done in schools over three months with a presentation titled "A Life Less Ordinary" by members of the Foundations Youth Team. A feature of this year's Festival was the leadership training for 35 young leaders that took place over three months prior to the Festival as well as the leadership meetings that were held four times a day throughout the event. "The Church needs strong leadership at all levels and this certainly is true among young people," said Bruce Downes. "If young people are to make a contribution in the Church then training them will achieve what trying will never do. It is then necessary
Catholic Youth Festival leaders encourage the young participants to lift their arms in praise and worship. to provide them opportunities to
contribute." Four new speakers were introduced to the delegates. Kylie Ryan commenced the Festival with a powerful presentation on Attitudes. Alicia Bain spoke on Choices in Life, Ronan McGinniss on You Can Live a More Than Average Life Because of Your Faith and Emma Downes on Handling Problems as a Christian Young Person. They were accompanied by experienced presenters Aaron and Tara Peters and Bruce Downes. Along with the serious sessions the delegates were divided into smaller groups known as Festival Forces. This is where personal sharing and reflection occurred on the various presentations. The "Force time" was also when delegates had the time to let down their hair with fun games such as horizontal bungy, Volley ball while wearing flippers, 52 card pick up with 30 people and many
Final study of new RE units
Archbishop Barry Hickey has Years 8 - 10, were prepared appointed a committee to make under the direction of Bishop a final study of the new Reli- Holohan, of Bunbury, and will gious Education units for Years be used throughout WA. Archbishop Hickey said the 8 10 10 before he approves them new units were a great improveand issues an Imprimatur. Auxiliary Bishop Don Sprox- ment on the old ones. He was seeking a final study ton will attend the committee's the committee in order to by first meeting which is scheduled the reflection and comhave for Wednesday August 7. ments of people with viewThe committee will be chaired points from different aspects of by Dr Wayne Tinsey, of the religious education in order to Catholic Institute, and will help him grant approval and an include theologians, priests. RE Imprimatur. coordinators, teachers and parHe had also asked the coments. mittee to look at a policy docuThe units, which will replace ment for RE teachers and to the existing RE program for make suggestions for the shape
of new RE units for Years 11 and
12.
In addition to Dr Tinsey, the committee consists of: Eric Chidlow, CEO Assistant Director Religious Education; Diana Alter!, Coordinator CEO Secondary RE Team; Damian Doyle, Coordinator Primary RE Team; theologians Professor Michael Jackson and Sr Janette Gray; teachers Craig Dowsett, Owen Vyner, Beverley Egan and Jennie Jago; parents Christina Graves and Laurie Eastwood; Diocesan priest Fr Tim Deeter and secondary school chaplain Fr Leonard Macionczyk SDS.
Police reverse course on Watt case A charge of disorderly conduct against retired Political Science Professor Dr Ted Watt is now to be pursued after Police said in Moore in early July that the case would not be proceeded with. An undertaking was given to the defence by the Police Prosecutor at the Moore Court of Petty Sessions on July 3 this year, that the matter would be withdrawn. Stipendiary Magistrate Mr S. Malley sittinginMoora, adjourned the matter to Perth on July 19 for formal withdrawal of the charges and settlement of Dr Watt's costs. However, when the matter came before him on July 19 the police said the matter would be proceeded with. Senior Counsel for Dr Watt, Mr P W. Nichols, objected and said there should be a per-
the police that thousands of dollars
of costs were being incurred for a trivial alleged offence. Outside the Court Mr Nichols said the prosecution's conduct was extraordinary and the matter would be vigorously contested if necessary to the High Court The prosecution arises out of an incident at New Norcia more than a year ago when Dr Watt is alleged Dr Watt confronted by security dur- to have created a disturbance by ing presentation at New Muria. interjecting during a speech by manent stay of prosecution A com- Arts Minister Sheila McHale at the mitment had been given by the presentation of the Blake Prize for prosecution in open court which religious art at the New Norcia Art the defence believed was binding. Gallery Dr Watt was charged by a The police prosecutor said the member of the little-known State Moore prosecutor had had no Security Squad This was despite the fact Ms authority to make such a commitment. Mr Malley adjourned the McHale said at the time that she matter to August 30, after warning supported Dr Watt's right to protest
Attentive faces a-plenty as the youth listen to by key-note speakers.
other activities such as battle of the bands. The games are an important part of the Festival program, as they place faith and life side by side. Foundations Catholic Ministry seeks to present the Church to
people of all ages. The next event
on the calendar is a Catholic Adult Conference to be held in October and then the annual Dangerzone 2003 Youth Convention for which 100 registrations have already been received.
± Treasures of Egypt ± Pathways of St Paul Cairo • Alexandria 4 day Nile River Cruise Aswan to Luxor Hurchada St Catherine's - Mt Sinai
A 16 day pilgrimage journey walking in the footsteps of St Paul through Greece and Turkey. Kusadasi • Ephesus Pamukkale • Assos • Troy Canakkale • Gallipoli Kavala • Philippi Thessaloniki • Kalambaka Corinth • Athens
Departing 7 November 2002
Departing 27 Sept 2002
GRACES OF SPAIN Et PORTUGAL
Lourdes • Montserrat • Barcelona • Zaragoza Santo Domingo de Silos • Leon • Astorga Santiago de Compostela • Old Pilgrim's Way Fatima • Lisbon Departing 1 October 2002
L.T;
-
4395
A journey through the rich faith heritage of Spain and Portugal
÷ GRACES OF ITALY
Rome • Pompeii • Pietrelcina • San Giovanni Rotondo • Loreto Gubbio • Assisi • Siena • Florence • Padua • Venice • 16 days Departs 28 Sept 2002 fully
Personally escorted by Fr John McSweeney Walking in the footsteps of some of the Church's greatest saints.
inclusive at
4595
MEDJL1GORJE JOURNEY Come, be a pilgrim of peace to the grace filled village of Medjugorjc. Rome (2 nights) • Dubrovnik (1 night) Medjugorje (7 nights)
prices from
‘.
Departing in 2002: Departs 17 Sept with Father Sebastian Camilerri & 19 October. Depart early for Lourdes 'Queen of Peace'
Flightworld Travel (08) 9322 2914 • Inter Travel (08) 9409 1080
AUSTRALIA WIDE FREE CALL
1 800 81 9 1 56
Page 5
Opinion
Page 6
Reflection
say,I say... p
endjin is a friend of mine. He is an Aboriginal man, about forty years old. He attends Mass every day, never misses his Rosary, and he has an extraordinary love for the holy souls. They are his best friends and he prays for them day and night. One day he came into the chapel and after praying for some time for his dead brothers and sisters in Purgatory, he suddenly stopped and put his question to Jesus. "Are my prayers really helping the holy souls Lord? I am a simple man and don't know much about great matters. Would you then just show me somehow, some way if all my prayers are really helping them or do Ihave to be a saint or something to help them? I tell you what Lord, what If I find shoots on that little tree I planted near my house, but which is now
dead can I take that as your answer?" Off he went to his house and found the little tree all with soft green shoots. Today it is a glorious Plane tree, where everyone comes for shade. Pendjin fell over himself in his haste to return to me with his story. From that time he has never tired of his prayers for the holy souls. We do not recommend asking for signs by this story. We are to live by faith in the Word. God however has no bounds and God helps the humble as he sees good. When Pendjin's father was old and broken with Parkinson's disease, Pendjin was always with him, even though the old man might punch him in the face while they struggled to get him showered. When an old lady died, Pendjin expressed sadness that she was no longer
with Fr Anscar McPhee OSB
there for him to love and care for and to wheel around and run messages for. Pendjin has told the writer these things always with a little embarrassed laugh and that he has now been robbed of his charities. Pendjin is not his real name. The word 'Pendjin' means 'one man' in the Pela tongue. He knows that Iam wilting this story and he is glad for me to add the rest of his story. He is an alcoholic. We know that there are many alcoholics who never touch a drink. They have got help to control the addiction. Pendjin occasionally breaks out and everyone Is anxious until he returns home safely again. The message here is that we must never give up when we have an addiction. We must keep getting up and coming back.
We must keep doing things, caring for people, making sacrifices for others like Pendjin, keep coming to Mass, keep praying. The greater our weakness, the more bold our sins, the more we give in to our addictions, the more we must keep coming back to Jesus, to charity for others. 'Charity covers a multitude of sins.' I was helpless and you looked after me.' Pendjin is expecting a big welcome from countless souls when finally his own call comes. All of us need a mark up of love to offset the debts of sins. The thief on the cross stole heaven because he allowed his heart to reach out to another - and the other is always Jesus. Reprinted with permission of the Kimberley Community Profile, news magazine of the Diocese of Broome
TO JESUS THROUGH MARY
gt column of Marian devotion
C
A Layman's meditations
D
ifferent people value different things. It would be interesting to gather a group of people together and ask them the one thing they most wanted. In our materialistic age. many would reply "Money." Very few would answer "Wisdom." Yet without wisdom, money is of little value. There is the saying: "A fool and his money are soon parted." In today's first reading. (Kings 3:5, 7-12) we hear of God appearing to Solomon in a dream and saying: "Ask what you would like me to give you." Solomon replied: "Give your servant a heart to understand how to discern between good and evil, for who could govern this people of yours that is so great." We all need to be able to discern between good and evil. There is much confusion today, and people have lost their sense of sin. The dwindling queues outside confessionals are a clear indication of this. Many are no longer shocked when they see young people living together. Some people don't seem to pay much attention to the magisterium of the Church regarding the sinfulness of contraception and abortion. Many young Catholics don't attend Sunday Mass. In some cases, this is due to catechists giving their own opinion rather than official church teaching regarding the Sunday Mass obligation. In our efforts to discern between good and evil, we aren't left to our own devices. The teachings of the magisterium are clearly spelt out in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. If we follow the Catechism rather than the views of some theologian, we shall be able to discern between good and evil. If what we hear seems way out, we can check the opinion against the teachings of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Every catholic home should have a copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The reading says: "It pleased the Lord that Solomon should have asked for this. 'Since you have asked for this' the Lord said 'and not asked for long life for yourself or riches or the lives of your enemies, but have asked for a discerning judgement for yourself, here and nowIdo what you ask.Igive you a heart wise and shrewd as no one before you has had and none will have after you." Although today's reading doesn't include it, god also promised Solomon riches. God gives temporal as well as spiritual Page 6
by Peter Dwan blessings to those who seek wisdom. In the second reading, (Romans 8:28-30.) St Paul says: "We know that by turning everything to their good, God co-operates with all those who love him." St Clement Hofbauer tried to establish Redemptorist houses in many European cities. His endeavours failed and he eventually returned to Vienna where he undertook a successful apostolate. The late Bern Foley and his wife Margaret were saddened when their daughter, Margaret Mary, was involved in a car accident. Although Margaret Mary never regained consciousness, while she was hospitalised, Margaret and Bern's faith deepened, that is they realised more clearly that their faith was a pearl of great price, and they began to breathe an atmosphere of prayer. This served to prepare them for their mission of founding the very successful movement, the Rosary bouquet for Our Lady's birthday. The gospel, (Matthew 13:44-52) contains a number of parables of the kingdom, the principal ones being the treasure hidden in a field and the pearl of great price. Jesus said: "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found: he hides it again, goes of happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls: when he found one of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it." These two parables describe the kingdom of heaven as worth more than all the treasures of this earth. However ills only the wise who realise this. Some will work on Sunday instead of going to Mass. Some stay home to avoid having to give to the collection. However, the wise will never miss Mass through their own fault. Writing in Gospel of Matthew, 2 p97 William Barclay says "It is suggestive to find that there are other pearls, but there is only one pearl of great price... the supreme beauty lies in the acceptance of the will of God. This is not to belittle the other things: they too are pearls, but the supreme pearl is the willing obedience, which makes us friends of God."
onsecration to Mary boasts a very ancient history, even if it continues to be ongoing in Its development during these last centuries. It comes spontaneously, as a point of departure, to have recourse to certain biblical texts. There are many of them. but I have chosen two. St. Paul: "I beg you by God's mercy to offer your whole lives as a living sacrifice which will be holy and pleasing to God" (Rm 12:1). St. Peter: "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people set apart by God to proclaim his saving deeds" ( 1 P 2:9). A people that shares in the royal, prophetic and sacerdotal functions of Christ is, of its nature, a consecrated people. Why then consecrate yourself to Mary, that is to God through Mary? The reason is: In order to understand and to live our baptismal consecration. Pope John Paul II, on March 25, 1984, renewed the consecration of the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary in union with all the bishops of the world who on the day before, in their own dioceses, had pronounced the same words of consecration. The formula chosen begins with the words of the most ancient of Marian prayers which goes back to the third century: "We fly to your protection...." It is interesting to note how such a prayer is already an act of entrustment to Mary on the part of the people. In fact collective consecrations are very ancient and precede individual consecrations. The formula of consecration of St Ildefonsus of Toledo (who died in 667) is very beautiful even though the first to use the expression "consecration to Mary" was St John Damascene (who died in 749). Throughout the Middle Ages there was a race between cities and communes who "offered themselves" to Mary, often presenting her the keys of the city in a suggestive ceremony. But ills in the 17th century that the great national consecrations began: France in 1638, Portugal in 1644, Austria in 1647, Poland in 1656. Italy arrived late, in 1959, because it had not yet reached national unity and because the earlier proposals were never acted upon. After the apparitions at Fatima the consecrations multiplied ever more. We recall the consecration of the world pronounced by Pius XII in 1942, followed in 1952 by the consecration of the Russ-
ian people, again the work of the same pope. Many, many others followed and almost always, at the conclusion of a Marian pilgrimage, there was the consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The consecration is a complex act and one which is a little different in each case. It is one thing when one of the faithful consecrates himself or herself personally, assuming specific obligations, and another when a whole people, nation or even humanity itself is consecrated.
"Can we find a better person to be in charge of our formation than the person Jesus chose?" It is only right in these cases that the consecration be expressed in different ways as Pope Pius XII did from the very first consecration of the world for which he used three different verbs: I consecrate, I entrust, I remit. Not being able to say everything, we limit ourselves to some thoughts about individual consecration. theologically well explained by St. Louis Grignon de Montfort, and of which the pope is an ardent model with his motto Totus tuus (All yours), taken from Montfort himself, who in his turn had borrowed the expression from St. Bonaventure. Let us give two reasons. The first is offered by the example of God the Father, who gave us Jesus through Mary, entrusting him to her. It follows that to consecrate ourselves to her is to recognise the divine maternity of the Virgin and is, following the example of this choice of the Father, the first reason that spurs us to consecrate ourselves to her. The second reason is the example of Jesus himself, Wisdom incarnate. He entrusted himself to Mary not only to draw his flesh and blood from her, but to be reared, educated and to grow under her watchful eye in wisdom, age and grace. Can we find a better person to be in charge of our formation than the person Jesus chose? From The Gospel of
Mary - a month with THE the Mother of God by GOSIJLL Fr Gabriel Amorth SSP, OF St Paul Publications, RRP MARY $23.50
A
Is it time for more democracy?
The Record
bout 35 years ago in Collie there was a parish council which was entirely democratic in its election and procedures and which had a Franciscan parish priest, Fr Hilary Turner, who rejected the power of veto and who insistPO Box 75, Leederville, WA 6902 Tel: (08) 9227 7080, Fax (08) 9227 7087 ed that the council had to make its own cathrec@iinet.net.au decisions. This was shortly before the introduction of parish and diocesan councils after Vat- in parish and diocesan affairs, and no ernment, and their mistakes remind us ican II, and before the arrival of Govern- doubt it was. But seen from the perspec- that ultimately the only true form of govment aid for private schools. tive of those who had already experienced ernment is self government, that is, the The council had its own constitution, responsible government of parish affairs, personal responsibility to live a religious, consisting of about a dozen one-line an advisory council was a backward step moral and loving life. statements, and elected its own office- and the constitution represented a disapThe Church itself is never going to be a bearers. Among the revolutionary things it pointing lack of faith in the laity democracy. God's revelation of himself undertook was to take full control of the It was not altogether surprising. The and his relationship with us is never going finances of its two schools and to pay its Church had a long and difficult struggle to to be a matter of public opinion. Revealed teachers - Christian Brothers and Presen- accept the idea of democracy as the way truth must be protected by those of whom tation Sisters - the same weekly salary to govern civil society, much less Church Jesus said, "he who hears you hears me, that it paid its two priests. affairs. Australians, Americans and others and he who ignores you ignores me", and It forbade fund-raising and it asked its who have spent their lives as Catholics ultimate spiritual authority must rest with parishioners to make a clear decision and democrats see democracy as the only him who has been given the keys of the about their tithing and to put all the money fitting structure for government because it kingdom. in their envelope during the only collec- expresses the greatest respect for the digHowever, recent experiences in America tion taken up at weekend Masses. nity of the individual person and the have exposed the fact that hierarchical Led initially by a very good man in the equality of people. The Church itself, structures do not always work, and have late Dan James, the council was very effec- probably because of its history and its caused many to raise again the question tive. The arrival of a new parish priest necessary hierarchical structure, had a of the greater democratisation of the life who had difficulty with the concept of harder time coming to this realisation. of the Church. The clerical structure or democratic lay control, a new bishop in Pope John Paul ll's analysis of the various culture failed the Church in many dioceBunbury, and a complex constitution forms of government has probably been ses and there are many, both clerical and which was to be the statewide model for the most decisive endorsement of democ- lay, who are urging that a more open, consultative or advisory councils soon saw racy in the Church's history. mutually trusting relationship between the end of this remarkable experiment in As we know from very recent experience the Church clerical and the Church lay church democracy In WA and the probable abomination of a would be a better model for the future. Although it was certainly nobody's inten- Commonwealth law to allow experimenThis may also be the key to the problem tion, the new constitution was a declara- tation on and destruction of human of "women's place" in the Church. Apart tion of no faith in the laity. Seen from Perth, embryos, democratic governments are far from those who insist on ordination, and even from Bunbury, it was a bold new from perfect. However, they are no more nobody defines what this problem is or move to give the laity greater involvement prone to error than any other form of gov- what the solution might be ... except to say
that women should have a greater role in "decision making" in the Church. This is not a gender problem. It is a lay problem. There is a decided lack of decision making responsibility for lay people and it is bad psychology. There are many men and women who have tasted the inadequacy of consultative councils and will not serve on them again. The canon law requirement for a separate finance committee makes the parish council even less viable. The growth of the Catholic Education Office has inadvertently eroded the responsibility of both the Parish Council and the Parish Priest While educational authority has passed to lay people, it has passed to a particular group and may be even further removed from the communitYDevising a system that will allow greater democracy while preserving the necessary authority of the bishop is not going to be easy The civil system of local government is something of a modeL It offers a great deal of local responsibility while not allowing the State to be fragmented into hundreds of autonomous bodies whose existence, boundaries and activities are beyond the ultimate control of the State. Perhaps these two difficult problems facing the Church in democratic societies will provide the impetus for a better system, but it will only be a better system if ills based on faith in one another.
Confirmation exams?
Catholic education has missed the boat in regard to cultural education, ie the media, arts and higher education. It has concentrated on, mainly, commerce. The present corporate misdeeds are the inevitable results of little or no conscience (ie. the knowledge of God), or of not being taught right from wrong, the Truth. This comes, primarily, from parents, especially mothers. Peter Bertola Esperance
S
Arounc) +he tal)(e
everal writers to The Record over recent weeks have expressed their concerns that children leaving school know little or nothing about the Catholic faith. What is hard to understand. is how these same children were examined in their faith only a few years earlier, prior to being conLetters to the editor firmed, and were found to be sufficiently knowledgeable. Yet when they leave school they are ignorant of what they should know. How can this happen? Perhaps they were not examined sufficiently before being confirmed? If this is the reason, then the Catholic Education Scrutiny, ongoing and vigilant, by comOffice, schools and Bishops must look fair share of the education dollar. He closely at methods of improving the exam- helped achieve these goals so that our petent Church appointees entirely indeination of candidates for the Sacrament of young might indeed find their place in pendent of the CEO, could perhaps allay the fears of a growing number of clergy Confirmation. They should then fail those Christ's Church. students who are not up to the required Our Catholic Education system is an and laity that it has become a self-serving standard. immeasurably valuable resource for evan- and unwieldy house of cards with perhaps a joker too many in its pack. If it is not a written exam, then surely this gelisation. The purpose of any institution within the I envy the skills and admire the dedicamust be the starting point for improving their knowledge. tion of the teachers in my own Parish Church is surely to serve. The more complex the institution, the If many fail this exam then the chaos school, and others with whomIhave been more powerful and the more responsible, caused by many students having to repeat associated. As the Bishop comments - our teachers the greater the need for genuine accountjust one subject, must make parents and ability. teachers realise the importance of this sub- deserve our affirmation. Our teachers, our young, and all those we The Catholic Education Commission has ject in a Catholic school. Students are examined for their sporting the task of "fostering the development and are called to serve, deserve nothing less. prowess, so why not exam them for their improvement of Catholic schools and is Fr Bryan Rosling religious knowledge and then encourage required by the Bishops of WA to act on Yangebup behalf of the Catholic community for the the weaker students? benefit of all Catholic school aged chilFred Preshaw dren." (Mandate) Scarborough The Catholic Education Office representing the Commission handles vast sums of ust what is meant by practising the money and is responsible for the implefaith? was saddened to read in a recent edi- mentation of the Mandate. Some believe ills regular attendance at tion of The Record of Paul Donnelly's It requires its employees to be of high lots of prayers or correct observances passing. While Parish Priest of Clare- moral integrity and to be committed to the mont I often enjoyed Paul's and his wife teachings of the Catholic Church. The of ritual. But it seems there is a lack - a severe lack Joan's hospitality Office is accountable to the Bishops of WA I appreciated their friendship and kind- and is one of the largest employers in the - of good works. By this Imean generosity in all things, trusting your neighbour, givness and know they were held in high State. regard and affection by Claremont parishIlls often perceived as a medusa, much ing a bit of time (of which everyone has 24 ioners. Paul Donnelly was truly a Christian of its internal workings invisible and hours a day) and friendliness. The evidence of this lack is very demongentleman and scholar. impenetrable to those on whose behalf it strable at churches, where we are so conBy happy coincidence the same edition of exists. The Record carried an article by Bishop It is at times suggested that the Bishops strained to acknowledge one another. attitudes hardly conductive to impress Sproxton in which he observes that teach- only know what they are told. ers arrive at the zenith of their vocation Paul Donnelly spearheaded on a local youngsters, compared to concerts and so "when they are teaching the young to know level the developments which have pro- on. Why do so many young people drift away and love Jesus Christ and to take their place duced national benefits. in the Church." What he helped accomplish, the Catholic from the Church? It's a big question. One reason: many have too much money As so eloquently noted in his obituary by Education Office with one hand has built Tony Evans, Paul Donnelly fought for the upon, but with the other has taken from the before they have maturity, be it pocket emergence of a truly independent Catholic local Church by sidelining the local Parish money or wages. This leads to all sorts of education system supported by a just and community. problems.
Review for Catholic Ed?
I
What exactly is practising the Faith?
JJ
• The opinions expressed in this editorial, and any other Record editorial, are not necessarily those of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth.
Churches are for praying
S
aint John of the Cross taught that churches are suitable places for private prayer - as well as for public prayer. Apart from prayer, he said, "the church should be used for no other purpose". A church is no place for concerts or public meetings - or for chatter and socialising before and after Mass. That is a longstanding tradition of the Catholic Church, and a good one. Arnold Jago Mildura
Congrats on discovery
J
ust a brief note to congratulate you and your team on your first edition of discovery. was bright newsy breezy, easy to read and extremely well presented. The articles, photos, layouts were all first class. Well done and thank you - and also thank you for the 'freebeel Take care and keep up the good work Neela Short PSIalso like the photos and little spiel on each of the staff members.
Comprehensive news of the Church Find it each weekend in
THE RECORD Page 7
World Youth Day 2002 preview
The hard road for some r
Youths arrive at Union Station in Toronto on July 21. World Youth Day, which will be attended by Pope John Paul II and thousands of youths from around the globe, represents hope for a world darkened by the events of Sept. 11 and by conflict in the Holy Land, said the pontiff.
Toronto braces for youth invasion World Youth Day in Toronto runs from July 23 - 28. Here The Record previews the week ahead. See next week for full coverage of this important event.
A
s "Ihronto braces for the invasion of over schools and parishes, and some are using sleep200,000 people for World Youth Day, a ing bags. top organiser drew attention to the Cardinal Aloysius Ambrozic, archbishop of event's key purpose. Toronto, will preside over the opening Mass at 'What is important is that all the young people Exhibition Place. who arrive experience an encounter with Jesus John Paul II was scheduled to land in Toronto Christ, so that these days may really be turned at 1 p.m. Tuesday. Following a simple welcome into the laboratory of faith, called for by the Pope ceremony, he will go directly to Strawberry in WYD 2000 in Rome,' said Basilian Father Island on Lake Simcoe, about 150 Idlometres (90 Thomas Rosica, director of the organising com- miles) north of Toronto, where he will rest for a mittee of this World Youth Day. few days. The young people will welcome him On their arrival in Toronto, participants are in Exhibition Place on Thursday. given a backpack of helpful items for WYD. The Catechetical sessions, led by bishops in varibackpacks were made by Canadian prisoners. ous languages, will take place in more than 100 Most of the 200,000 young people who have churches and civic centres throughout Toronto. already registered are staying with families or in During the afternoons, young people will be
Pope's message of peace for WYD 2002
What is World Youth Day?
L
ess than 48 hours before his planned departure for Canada, John Paul II spoke with enthusiasm about the upcoming World Youth Day in Toronto. 'Toronto, metropolis with a cosmopolitan vocation, is ready to become for a week the world capital of youth, future and hope of the Church and of humanity!' the Pope told pilgrims gathered today in the courtyard of the summer papal residence. The Holy Father appeared in good spirits, speaking off the cuff to dozens of children, and patients in wheelchairs, who had gathered in Castel Gandolfo to pray the midday Angelus with him. The Pope spoke about the purpose of his 97th international trip: 'I go to pray with them and to enjoy an enriching experience of faith with them.' The tragic events of Sept. 11 and the conflict in the Holy Land have cast a dark shadow over the world,' John Paul H said. 'However, Jesus exhorts his disciples to fear not, and repeats to them: 'Your are the salt of the earth ... You are the light of the world.' 'The Christian youths who will meet in Toronto are ready to respond to Christ: Look! Here we are! In keeping with your word and without fear, we will cast the nets of the Gospel,' the Pope said. John Paul II also took note of the many youths who are unable to travel to Canada. 'We will all be united in prayer, invoking the one Spirit, which makes of Christians one body in Christ,' he said. Before requesting prayers for the spiritual fruits from World Youth Day, the Holy Father thanked 'all those who are working to receive the young pilgrims.' After greeting pilgrims in various languages, the Pope discovered a Polish group in the crowd, calling loudly for his attention. When greeting them, the Holy Father asked them to sing one of his favourite songs, composed by a bishop. "The bishop will be very happy in heaven to hear your song," he told them at the end. The Poles then cried out: "Come to our country' The Pope replied that he was on his way to Canada. In Page 8
able to visit Coronation Park. christened 'Due in Altum Park' for the occasion. Priests will be available for confession there. One section of the park will be reserved for eucharistic adoration. In Exhibition Place on the afternoons of Wednesday. Thursday and Friday, there will be the Youth Festival featuring artistic, cultural and spiritual events. There will be the opportunity to participate in social service projects. On Friday, the Way of the Cross will take place in several areas. The main procession will depart from City Hall at 7:30 p.m. and will cross the city centre along University Avenue. The highlight of WYD will be the meeting with the Pope during the vigil Saturday in Downsview Park, and the Mass on Sunday. - Zenit
IN
Photo CNS
The Pope looked happy and relaxed at his general weekly audience.
fact, he plans to visit his native Poland from August 16-19. Following his stay in Canada, John Paul II will visit Guatemala and Mexico. - Zenit
YD is a biennial gathering that brings together Catholic youth between the ages of 16 and 35 from over 150 countries. Organised by the Catholic International World Youth Day it began in 1987 when Pope John Paul II invited youth from around the world to gather in prayer for peace and reconciliation. Before that, there were international youth meetings in 1984 and 1985, and in 1986 there was a World Youth Day celebration at the diocesan level. All of these celebrations led to the creation of international World Youth Day. Even though the International World Youth Day gatherings happen about every two years, World Youth Day itself is celebrated each year. The province of Ontario is serving as an official sponsor for the 2002 World Youth Day, taking place in Toronto from July 23-28. World Youth Day 2002 will be the largest gathering to ever take place in Ontario. Organisers expect that 200,000 young people and 3,500 international media will attend this year's event. The cultural and economic benefits to Ontario are estimated at $300 million. Source: CBC News Online
e Palestinian delegates who hope by the Israelis, Palestinians and Jordanians pie of the Christians in the Holy Land, tell 4 to attend World Youth Day in Toron- to make money,' said Nablus resident them that we exist even as a minority and e fi• to faced a number of hurdles: visa Samer Zarafili, 33, a member of the that it is important we get support -- not Ilp requirements, curfews, bribes and bureau- Catholic delegation. 'Maybe the Palestini- financial but spiritual support -- from our ef6 • ans will let us through today, but then the brothers and sisters. That is why it is so cracy. 44:* The group also faced a number of obsta- Jordanians will tell us to go back Everyone important we go,' Gretel Qumsieh said. 01.1.0 cles while trying to cross a bridge into Jor- wants the Palestinians to suffer.' One of the highlights will be the message tlirooto " Arafat's office eventually produced a let- the youths will receive from the pope, she dan, where most of the delegation was to fly to France on July 12 before arriving in ter, and by July 11 the delegation had said, adding she was eager to hear his passed to Amman, Jordan. Toronto. words. 'I've been praying every night, and I tell Delegate Saed Shomali, 29, said he was She said she hopes meeting and living myself that if God wants me to be there, I looking forward to attending World Youth with other young people from around the will be there,' said Tamara Qumsieh, 28, of Day. world will show people in the Holy Land 'It will be good to live in peace for a few that they, too, can live together in peace. Belt Sahour, West Bank. She spoke before 'We will be living with people from all she knew whether she would be able to days,' said Shomali, who participated in leave along with her sister, Gretel, and World Youth Day in Paris in 199Z over the world — eating, sleeping, and praybrother, Tamer. All the interviews were conducted by tele- ing together. Maybe we can learn from that Father Aktham Hijazin, the priest respon- phone because Israel declared the Bethle- experience and apply it here,' she said. CNS sible for the Palestinian delegation, and hem area a closed military zone. Israel another church official worked with mem- re-entered Palestinian territory in late May bers of the Israeli Ministry of Religion to after a series of deadly suicide bombings. Palestinian delegation members were help solve some of the dilemmas. Because they hold foreign passports, the scheduled to stop in Paris to visit the French Qumsieh siblings were allowed to fly out charity that sponsored each person for of Israel's Ben-Gurion International Air- $700. 'I am very excited. It will be really good port. Ninety other delegation members were scheduled to leave from Jordan, to go. We have to go. I've been planning for because Palestinians are not normally per- this trip for six months,' Shomali said. Gretel Qumsieh said the youth gathering mitted to use Ben-Gurion. Some West Bank delegation members would offer Palestinian participants a arrived at the border crossing into Jordan break from their stressful daily surrounda day early, after an Israeli-imposed curfew ings. 'Here we lack leisure facilities for young was lifted at their homes. Father Hijazin people, and when you are stuck at home said. Jordan allows about 250 people with spe- all the time with nothing to do, it is very cial permits to cross the bridge into the stressful,' said Gretel Qumsieh, 29, who country each day. An Israeli bus company has a doctorate in conferences and busithat sells tickets for $140 each accounts for ness tourism from Glasgow University in almost half of that daily quota. Otherwise, Scotland but is unemployed. 'It will be good to expend our energy on people can bribe Palestinian authorities $50-$100 to allow them to cross, or they such things as sports and nightlife. It will can choose to wait, which often takes days. be good to have an opportunity to release Most Palestinians said they chose to wait all our stress,' she said. She said she hopes their delegation can rather than pay a bribe. The Catholic delegation expected to cross dispel the stereotypes surrounding Palesthe border July 10, but was delayed when tinians, instead bringing 'a message of Palestinian police demanded a letter from peace.' -We want to live our lives like other peothe office of Palestinian Chairman Yasser Saed Shomali, 29, waits at a terminal on July 10 in the West Bank city of Jericho, where PalesArafat. Father Hijazin had to once more ple in the world.Iwant to introduce myself tinians must be processed before crossing into Jordan. He and his sister, attempting to make as participants (Palestinian) other the and scramble for the necessary documents. their way to World Youth Day, have had to overcome several obstacles. 'I feel angry because we are being used fellow human beings. We want to tell peo-
A virtual WYD experience
p
eople unable to attend World Youth Day in Toronto can have a virtual experience of events through the eyes of six U.S. young adults attending the event, according to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops' Department of Communications. Beginning on July 22, the U.S. bishops' World Youth Day staff planned to post a daily online journal of articles and photographs compiled from reports by the six participants on the Web site www.wydusa.org. Pope John Paul II was scheduled to attend some of the main events of World Youth Day, being held July 23-28. A similar online journal was provided for the previous two International youth events in Paris and Rome. 'Parents, particularly, have commented how reading the online journal has helped them stay in touch with their children at World Youth Day and to appreciate what the experience means for them,' said the USCCB in an announcement. Also, as a follow-up, the U.S. bishops' Subcommittee on Youth and Young Adults has posted on the Web site a post-World Youth Day resource manual to help leaders of young adult ministries keep the spirit of the event alive in their parish communities. 'This resource manual was designed to assist young adult ministry leaders build upon the energy and enthusiasm of World Youth Day (WYD), especially for those young adults who had the opportunity to attend the event in Toronto,' says its introduction. "A full range of reflections, discussion questions, group activity suggestions, and further links can be found here.' The USCCB said the manual was compiled and edited under the supervision of Ana Villamil, associate director of the bishops' Secretariat for Family, Laity, Women and Youth. It incorporates ideas from diocesan and parish staff members as well as original material written by Dominican seminarian Dominic Langevin as a project for his pastoral internship. Noting World Youth Day can be a 'peak experience followed by a let-down," Villamil said in a statement that the resource was developed "to help people convert a short-term pilgrimage into a lifelong journey in the grace of - CNS Christ."
Confession "en masse"
O
At specific times, 200 priests will be available to hear ne of World Youth Day's major offerings is the opportunity to receive the sacrament of Rec- confessions in a variety of languages. The reconciliation schedule is as follows: Tuesday, 2onciliation. One thousand priests will take turns administering 4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m.; Wednesday, 2-8 p.m.; and Friday, 2the sacrament during the event, which already has 6 p.m. On Saturday, at Downsview Lands, the site of the vigil and papal Mass, reconciliation will be offered more than 200,000 registrants. The initiative responds to John Paul H's wish to enable from noon to 6 p.m. There will be no Reconciliation on Thursday because young people to experience personal and sacramental reconciliation, a lost feature in some countries because Duc in Altum Park will be used for overflow capacity at the papal welcome ceremony. of widespread secularisation. The sacrament of Reconciliation had a prominent role The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be imparted primarily in Coronation Park, temporarily dubbed 'Due in in Rome at World Youth Day 2000. The historic site of Altum* Park -- a reference to Jesus' command to 'go into the Circus Maximus was transformed into a giant con- Zenit fessional. the deep.'
World Youth Day delegates from Paris and Bangkok wave banners and are all smiles on the steps of the Parliament BuildPhoto CNS, Art E3abych ing in Ottawa on July 21.
Page 9
IP
International News
25 July, 2002
ords 0 W ISD M
Voodoo in Haiti
How the Church is battling this hybrid belief parents simply By Cecilia Bromley-Martin pay. 0 • aiti is the poorest country in the cannot of number A western hemisphere. A crippling cocktail of unemploy- priests I encounment, illiteracy, crime and political tered remained optiturmoil has left 80 per cent of this island mistic about the future the nation living in absolute poverty. Once a of Church country considered almost completely Catholic, today the Church has some in Haiti, definitive battles to fight. Mention Haiti, and most people think main'voodoo'. A hybrid of religions brought taining to the country by African slaves four that centuries ago, the word conjures up sinister images of mysterious night-time ceremonies, chanting and drums; animal sacrifices, trances and zombies. It may sound the stuff of horror films, but voodoo is still alive and strong in Haiti today - and the Catholic Church wages a constant battle against this 'communing' with the spirits. 'Some Catholics are happy to go both the growth and to Mass and to voodoo ceremonies,' one influence of the priest explained. 'When people are sick, sects could be they try to grasp at whatever they can. controlled. HowThey don't really believe voodoo, but it's ever, the Presifor their body; they're searching for dent of the healing wherever they can find it." But it Bishops' ConferMgr is aLso a selfish religion, which does not ence, Conteach kindness to others - it simply Hubert promises success, happiness, vengeance stant of Fort Libwas and money to its adherents. 'Some peo- erte, uncompromisother to things bad ple practice it to do people,' he acknowledged. 'We must ing in his fight its powers of death with evangeli- response: sation. What is a Christian who does not 'Those who are worried not preach hope?' In the Haitian Constitution, voodoo is about the sects regarded as equal with all other reli- are refusing to gions. so it is difficult for the Church to face up to realiattack it directly. Moreover, having been ty. Haiti used to raised on its legends and fables, the be about 85 per , largely uneducated and illiterate cent Catholic. Haitians are often loath to abandon their now is it even ancient and cultural superstitions. In 50? This is a their relentless struggle against hunger, country with the poverty and disease, many hope that nothing; a have sects them help invoking voodoo spirits will achieve revenge over their enemies, or great deal of and find the happiness and wealth which money invest a lot in elude them. But it is not behaviour of which they health and educaare proud; they generally attend the cer- tion. The Catholics emonies in secret, and take it with them have one priest in one parish, with one to the confessional. A far greater threat church, while in the same area there today to the Church in Haiti, and one could be 10, 15, 20 churches belonging which is growing at a disturbing rate, is to Protestant sects, each with its own something far more overt, and aggres- pastor. The people who say there is no sively anti-Catholic: the rich Protestant danger from these sects are blind.' One of the sects' most successful evanIn the Haitian Constitu- gelising tools is radio.In a country where eight in every ten people are illiterate, tion, voodoo is regarded and electricity is sporadic (non-existent in the countryside), by far the most as equal with all other Important source of news, ideas and nformation throughout Haiti is radio. religions, so it is difficult IAnother bishop told me: 'If the Proteshave tants made as much headway as attack to Church for the they have, ills because of their radio. In it directly. this area, they gave them out free to the families, locked onto their own chansects, flooding in from North America. nel.' In some towns they have several Indefatigable in their pursuit of new stations. "The people in Haiti don't have members, they know just how to lure television, so radio is a key element at the Haitians. In a poverty-stricken coun- the moment - especially as so many are try where health and education are des- illiterate,' said Bishop Emmanuel Conperately lacking, the sects offer both - for stant of Les Gonalves. free. He himself has four stations in his town 'They open a lot of schools and try to belonging to Protestant sects, to which win the people through their children,' his solution is Radio Christ-Rol. 'We agreed Bishop Alix Verrier of Les Cayes. have a lot of human interest pro'A mother who wants to send her chil- grammes - family, manners, health, agridren to school but has not got any money culture - but sometimes it is true will find that the sects will pay the fees, evangelisation. Every morning we have the books, the uniforms, and even give the prayer for the day and a reflection her a donation. To fight this trend, we on the day's Gospel, and we broadcast have to have schools run by religious Mass every Sunday and on feast days. congregations and parishes, but the Radio Christ-Rolls very much appreciproblem is to keep them going and pay ated.' The programmes are popular with the teachers - we don't have the means. young and old alike, and their listeners And if you ask too much, the people will frequently get in touch to give their own send their children to sect schools.' Bish- views and comments. But each diocese's op Verrier's schools only charge the radio station faces one great threat: an equivalent of about £2 a year, yet many almost complete lack of funds. 'Without
H
with George Russo
N
orway is not well known in the West. It is a faraway land, with few known heroes, and, like New Zealand, has a small population. It also has very few Catholics. Yet, without doubt it has produced one of the finest writers in the world in Sigrid Undset, who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1928, and deserves her place among the classics. She also converted to Catholicism. I discovered Sigrid Undset on her own soil when I visited Oslo in 1967. 1was staying at the Bishop's house next door to the great convent. which housed Sigrid in her last years. She retreated there to prepare for her death. I had never heard of her and never read any of her books. Let me tell you my experience: how I met Sigrid Undset. I met an old nun, of Irish father and Norwegian mother, who knew Sigrid Undset, personally, when she was a young nun. She was a guest at the convent. I was curious. "What was Sigrid Undset like?" I asked "Do you mean as a person or a character?" she answered. I said "I knew she was a great character. but what was she like as a person?" She thought for a moment and then answered: "Oh, she could be difficult: she was very complex." Then she narrated an example: "An important person would come to Norway and want to see her, and she would not see him. Yet she would spend half her morning talking with a washer-woman who worked for her family at one time." A woman publisher whom I met and whose title to prominence was the first wife of Willie Brunt, the External Affairs minister for West Germany, and later chancellor confirmed this when she said that Evelyn Waugh was in Norway once and didn't like it. "All he wanted to do was see Sigrid Undset." she said, and turning to the others, remarked: "and you know how hard she was to seer and then directed her answer to me: "She didn't want to see anybody." But all conceded that she was a great writer, the greatest Norway ever had. I read her novel. "The Master of liestiviken" and several short stories, and wrote down things that appealed to me: "What happened to her is what happens to a girl who respects herself and thinks herself above some things: the boy found another girl who wasn't about anything at all." (from the story "Thyodolf"). She showed her reverence for motherhood in so many of her stories. I remember one about the ordinary country girl, Helene. from Drobak, who marries Julien, her seducer because she is pregnant. She loses the baby. Then, she adopts the sickly baby of a worthless girl, who visits her and is treated with kindness. The girl allies herself to another man and asks for her child. Helene even gives the small bank of money she has saved for the sickly boy she loved so much. Eventually the mother brings him back to her, but he dies. The mother is supposed to be grief stricken: yet coming up the road from the cemetery, Helene sees her in the arms of her husband. She reprimands her husband, He unwittingly discloses that she is again pregnant. She rejects the husband and loses the child. It is pathetic. So many of her Oslo stories are: and they are about woman's role in marriage and society. Her great book. Kristin Lavransdatter, is set in the Middle Ages. about 'the meaning of human life, and the sorrow that underlies it. "It dawned on Kristin Lavransdatter in a new way that the interpreters of God's works were right. The life of the body was irremediable plagued with troubles. In this world where human beings interbreed, beget new generations. and, loving their own flesh are impelled one to another by the body's lust, bitterness of heart and disappointed hopes must come surely as the frost comes in autumn." As she lies on her deathbed she knows that "a handmaid of God she has been." And in that lies her salvation. Kristen spent her last years in a convent and died of the plague while nursing the victims of the Black Death.
Page 10
ReCord_111
resources, I depend on voluntary help. But after a while the enthusiasm inevitably diminishes if someone is not being paid,' said Pere Simon Francois, who runs the diocesan radio station in Jacmel. "We train people, but once they reach a certain level they move to another station for a better salary. We've lost our best people. We can't even pay two journalists, but we don't want to stop the radio. What we teach in our programmes has an Impact to help the people keep their faith.' Voodoo, sects and poverty are not the only problems the Church in Haiti struggles against. The powerful but negative influence of the country's President also bares strife. Inside the arrivals terminal at Port-au-Prince airport, the 't first face to greet you is that ' of Jean-Bertrand Aristide: from a large framed phoi tograph, the President do smiles benignly down • upon his returning country-folk and the handful of visitors who stray to Haiti's shores. His pracwarmth belies the fj , truth - that this was - A once a Salesian priest
who preached violence and revenge from his pulpit, encouraging his flock to 'necklace' their enemies (putting a tyre around someone's neck, filling it with petrol and setting It alight). After amassing a fortune whilst in exile in the US, Aristide is reportedly one of the richest men in the Caribbean. And still his people, some of whom walk three hours to reach water, and are lucky if they eat once a day. Yet although he remains strongly supported by the populace, he is capable of causing deep rifts within the Church - as some clergy retain an amicable relationship with the President, and others refuse to have anything to do with him. 'Before 1986, when Jean-Claude Duvalier was ousted, the bishops were a moral force in the country and spoke as one voice,' I was told by one person, who preferred to remain nameless. 'Today everyone speaks for themselves; Aristide is trying to divide the bishops.' Despite the apparently overwhelming odds, there are some encouraging green shoots for those who will look. Indeed, although only a little larger than Wales, Haiti boasts over 200 students in the major seminary, and dozens more in the various minor and propaedeutic seminaries. "The Bishop is in trouble,' one priest confided. 'He has too many vocations and not enough money.' And so the Church battles on with faith. 'T The problems the Church faces are linked to the problems of Haiti as a whole,' said Dimitri, a third-year seminarian. 'Economically Ills a poor country, but there is a great human richness, and extraordinary warmth, sharing, love of life...Ihave a great hope for the future; the Church is poor but spiritually rich.' • Cecilia Bromley-Martin works for the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need. :
Mysterious miracles
II Record
25 July, 2002
Our Lady of Guadalupe still baffles science •
I
n 1929, a microscopic figure was discovered in the eyes of the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Since then, the mystery of her pupils has challenged science. One of the men who have expended the most energy in trying to cast light on this image is Peruvian scientist Jose Aste Tonsmann, an expert at International Business Machines in the digital processing of images. lioventy-two years ago. Aste decided to investigate the presence of other figures reflected in the Virgin's eyes and, in fact. found 12. On July 31. John Paul II will canonise Indian Juan Diego. the witness of the Guadalupe apparitions. in Mexico. When the human eye focuses, the objects it is looking at are reflected in its retina. 'Right now I am reflected in your eye.' Aste explained to an interviewer. 'According to whether the object is close or far, it will be reflected in a larger or smaller size in the ocular globe,' he said. 'And this is what happens with the eyes of the Virgin of Guadalupe.
The image reflected in her two retinas is that of the moment when the Virgin left her imprint on Juan Diego's Willa.' Q: Can these figures be the work of humans? Aste: No, for three reasons. In the first place, they are not visible to the human eye, except for one: that of the Spaniard, which is the largest. Nobody could have painted such tiny silhouettes. In the second place, the origin of the pigments of these figures is unknown. The same is true of the Virgin's image. It is not painted, and no one yet knows how it was stamped on Juan Diego's tilma. Q: And the third? Aste: The three figures are reproduced in both eyes. What artist would do that? Moreover, their size varies from one eye to the other, according to how close the personage was to the Virgin's left or right eye. Q: What process did you follow in your experiment? Aste: First photographs are taken of the eyes. Then
they are digitalised. They are read by the computer, enlarged and screened from the images. Q: Who appears in the eyes? Aste: There is a virtually naked servant; an elderly man — Bishop Friar Juan de Zumarraga; a youth -- the interpreter, an Indian with a tilma -- Juan Diego; a black woman -- a slave; a bearded Spaniard; and, lastly, an Indian family including father, mother, three children and two more adults, who could be grandparents or uncles. Q: How do you know that the other figures correspond to the slave, the Interpreter, etc.? Aste: There is evidence in history The elderly man who appears in the Virgin's eyes looks very much like the paintings of that period of Bishop Zumarraga. As to the black slave, Zumarraga said in his will that he released her. We also know that she was called Maria. In the Indies Archives there is a record of the bishop's embarkation when he left for the New World.
Our Lady of Guadalupe is depicted in this mosaic at the Franciscan Monastery in Washington. Mary appeared four times in 1531 to Juan Diego on a hill outside of Mexico City. The feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is December 12.
Pope honours Adelaide woman who was wartime sex slave of Japanese A South Australian woman has become the first Australian woman to to be awarded the honour of Dame Commander of the Order of St Sylvester by the Pope. The order is the second highest Papal honour and was given to Mrs Jan Ruff-O'Herne in recognition of her advocacy for women imprisoned and abused in war; her outstanding Christian virtue and faith when confronted by systemic sexual abuse; and her unfailing loyalty to the Church and her life of holiness. Mrs O'Heme was one of five South Australians honoured by Pope John Paul II. As a 19-year-old, Mrs Ruff-O'Herne became one of 200,000 women in the Asia-Pacific region forced to become a Japanese military sex slave. In 1992, she became the first European victim to speak out about the atrocities, thus ending her own 50 years of silence on the ordeal. "The church has been the core of my whole life," Mrs Ruff-O'Herne told the Adelaide Advertiser newspaper. Mrs Ruff-O'Herne was abused,
beaten and raped as a sex slave for Japanese soldiers in Indonesia in 1942. In 1992, she revealed her shocking secrets in her autobiography, 50 Years of Silence. She has received countless awards, including the Anzac Day Peace Prize and an Order of Australia, but she said this award was the "most special". "You hear of people who are depressed and have no vision and no meaning in life and moan and groan, and keep thinking of their ailments," she said. "There's a church out there. You can do so much. There are so many spiritual strengths you get. "The more important thing is what you can give to the church, rather than what you can get out of it." The awards had been announced by Archbishop Wilson of Adelaide. Other recipients included one other woman and three priests. Mrs Cathy Black was awarded the honour of Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great in recognition of 27 years of dedication to the care of vulnerable people and her professional counselling to people in great need, through
Centacare Catholic Family Services in Adelaide. Father David Cappo, currently Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Adelaide who has also made a significant contribution to the Catholic Church nationally: together with Father James O'Loughlin, former Vicar General of the Archdiocese and Father Robert Egar, also a former Vicar General of the Archdiocese, who have both made generous and significant contributions to the life of the Church in the Archdiocese, were all appointed 'Prelates of Honour' by His Holiness, with the title of Monsignor. Archbishop Wilson said "I wish to offer my warm congratulations to all who have received Papal Honours. I am particularly pleased that Mrs Jan Ruff-O'Herne who has been honoured by the Dutch Government and recently with the Order of Australia, has also been recognised with such a high honour by Pope John Paul II. Monsignor is an honorary ecclesiastical title bestowed by the Pope on diocesan clerics in recognition of service to the church.
Prayer to Our Lady of Guadalupe 0 OUP
rose,
Lady of 9uackl-upe, mystical-
112CIA'e
intercession for 3fo4
012LIPC4 protect I.& Souerelyn 3-3onliff, p aft1.&se wl5o ir2o4e lAee in th-eir iels l n _ ecessities, andsince /72'ou ar/ 112e ever of /1e frue TJizyin Arary and 9od, oglain for us c on
orn /4 mosl 1;oly
yrace ofAeepir29 our
lope in /Ae
stvee/
gitterness offife,
6-urniny cilarity and-//2‘eprecious gilt of
Tina/perseverance. [-Amen Page 11
IP
25 July, 2002
The World in brief
New Guard turns heads VATICAN CITY (CNS) -Though the newest recruit to the Vatican's elite Swiss Guard is turning a lot of heads, officers in the Pope's army insist he's no different from his fellow soldiers. But the Indian-born recruit, the first nonwhite member of the 500-year-old military corps, stands out in undeniably sharp contrast to his fairskinned Swiss comrades. Italian news reports said some Swiss tourists even have approached him to ask if he is really Swiss, as the corps rules require. A Swiss Guard officer declined to confirm the new recruit's name, citing the need 'to protect the corps' and individual guards from intense public attention. But the officer said the corps might let up on its reserve about the recruit after he passes the customary probationary period later this year. Italian media identified the new recruit as Dhani Bachmann, 21, a naturalised Swiss citizen who was horn in India and was adopted at the age of 5. Reports said Bachmann had been an altar boy in his parish in Hildisrieden, a town in Switzerland's German-speaking region, and that his father served as president of the parish council.
Background checks CLIFTON, N.J. (CNS) -- Every parish in the Diocese of Paterson will be required to do criminal background checks on employees and volunteers under a mandatory process initiated in July by the diocese. All pastors, parish administrators and diocesan agency heads were mailed a packet that outlined the process in detail in accord with the 'Statewide Policy on Criminal History Background Checks for Employees and Volunteers in Nonprofit Youth-Serving Organisations,' which has been adopted by the New jersey Catholic Conference, the public policy arm of the state's bishops. The New Jersey diocese becomes the latest in a growing number of U.S. Catholic dioceses that are requiring extensive background checks, fingerprinting or other screening procedures for all potential church lay employees or volunteers to weed out those who might sexually abuse children.
Chinese nun arrested BEIJING, JULY 21, 2002 (Zenit.org).- Five adults and 25 children were arrested in southeastern China for engaging in religious activities. police reported. One of the adults, Sister Chen Mel, 28. was sentenced Thursday without a trial to 15 days in jail for giving catechesis in the village of Dongan, police said. The other four adults received an official warning from the authorities and were released the day of their arrest, as were the children, ages 10-16, who received the catechesis. In a statement, the Cardinal Kung Foundation accused the Communist authorities of violating the fundamental right to religious liberty and requested the release of Sister Chen Mel.
Page 12
International News
Rircord 111
Curlew lapse brings joy By Judith Sudilovsky BETHLEHEM, West Bank (CNS) -- Israeli-imposed curfews forced Annie Abdu and her husband, Samir Salem, to condense their July 16 wedding and reception into four hours. After nearly a year of waiting, the wedding schedule came down to this: 10 minutes to greet the guests, 30 minutes for the wedding ceremony, two hours for the reception and 20 minutes to cross the checkpoint into Jerusalem for a week's honeymoon up north. In this sense they were luckier than most newlyweds: Salem, 35, a bank employee, has an American passport, and Abdu, 28, a French teacher at the Terra Santa School, has a Jerusalem identity card, theoretically giving them the right to pass through the Israeli checkpoint. Israel imposed the curfew after a series of suicide bombing attacks in Jerusalem. Word of the wedding went out first by way of phone calls, then by local television the night before, when Israel announced it would lift the curfew from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. While greeting guests at St. Catherine's Catholic Church, Salem said less than half of the 150 invited guests would come because they needed the four hours to run errands, such as purchasing food. Next door, in the Greek Orthodox section of the Church of the Nativity, a funeral was taking place, which Salem said was not a good sign. Normally weddings and funerals are scheduled at dif-
Pholr
P.,,trry
Annie Abdu bends to enter the door of the Church of the Nativity for her wedding at adjacent St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Bethlehem.
ferent times but, because of the curfew, everything must be squeezed into the same time frame. Itwas very hard to call my work and tell them that I would not be coming in today,' said Una Ejha, 25, an optometrist and Abdu's cousin. 'If she weren't my cousin. I would not have come,' Ejha said.
"It is so sudden we can't prepare for it — we can't even prepare ourselves, everything has to be fast.... But I hope we will give her as much as we can for her day to be happy and fun: Franciscan Father Amjad Sabbara said two of the eight weddings scheduled from the end of June to mid-July had been cele-
Desecrated host sees riots in Flores MAUMERE, Indonesia (UCAN) - to the parish priest, the police offiWahyono added that Munilang - Some 1,000 people demonstrat- cer added. The incident triggered is a helmsman of the 'Monalisa: ed in front of a police station in unrest from 8 a.m. July 14 to 1 a.m. a ship that was docked in Sedang Flores island, eastern Indonesia, July 15. Several police officers Bui port of Maumere. 1.690 kilodemanding that police hand over were injured, Wahyono told a July metres east of Jakarta. a man accused of desecrating a 16 press conference. The unrest in front of the police consecrated host. Parish priest Father Johan Eo, station forced restaurants and 'Kill him for he has desecrated district leader Paulus Moa and shops to close. Muslim leaders the host,' shouted the mob that local legislative speaker Oligius also appealed for calm. started stoning the building after Lusi Meak, went to the scene and A. Rasyd Wahab, a local Muslim police refused to give in to their tried to defuse the tension but the leader, who chairs the Sikkademands. mob continued to stone the police based Indonesian Islamic Ulema Fransisco Munilang, the alleged station. Council, asked the police to 'desecrater,' attended Mass at St. According to Wahyono, Muni- promptly investigate the case Josef Church on July 14 and lang was found to have two ID fearing anarchy. received Communion. However, cards. One identified him as a 'Alhamdulilah (Praise God!) the instead of consuming the host, he Muslim from Bima of Sumbawa riot did not spread too far,' Wahab just kept it and returned to his island in West Nusa Tenggara said. He expressed appreciation place, said Fransiskus Xaverius province, where the majority of to local people who stopped the Bagus Wahyono, chief of police in people are Muslims. mob from stoning the mosque. Sikka district and a Catholic. The second card identified him Flores and the small islands Seeing this Pedi Da Cunha, a as a Protestant from Sangir Talaud around have a population of major seminarian sitting beside of the predominantly Protestant about 1.7 million, most of whom him took the host and gave it back province of North Sulawesi. are Catholics.
Pope condemns grave vandalism By Cindy Wooden VAIICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope John Paul II condemned the desecration of graves in Rome's Jewish cemetery and an 'analogous series of events occurring with worrying frequency' around Europe. Headstones, Stars of David and marble slabs on about 50 graves in the Jewish section of Rome's Verano cemetery were smashed or toppled overnight July 17-18. Cardinal Angelo Sodano, the Vatican secretary of state, sent a telegram to Rome's chief rabbi, Riccardo di Segni, on July 19, expressing the Pope's condolences to the city's Jewish community and condemning the acts and the 'anti-Jewish sentiments
which inspire them: The cardinal ernment and Vatican officials. said the Pope was 'deeply sad- "These times call for the coming dened by the detestable gesture' together of the Jewish cormnuniand by attacks on cemeteries and ty to deepen our understanding of synagogues that have occurred in the virulent virus (of anti-Semiother parts of Europe and on tism) that has erupted in the last other continents over the past year or so," he said. The Rome months. cemetery desecration, Foxman The Pope prayed God would said, "is a traumatic, tragic comfort the families of those reminder that nobody is immune buried in the desecrated graves from the disease of anti-Semiand would grant 'eternal peace to tism.Today the Jews of the world the deceased of the (Jewish) com- feel more vulnerable than any munity which is dear to him,' the time in the last 50 years,' he said. cardinal wrote. Foxman rejected suggestions The same day the Pope's that the events have more to do telegram was released, Abraham with political criticism of Israel H. Foxman, U.S. national director than with anti-Semitism. of the Anti-Defamation League, Burning down a synagogue or spoke at a press conference in desecrating graves, he said, are Rome where he was holding not political statements, but meetings with Jewish, Italian gov- attacks on symbols of Judaism.
brated. Another wedding scheduled for July 16 was cancelled due to time constraints. The priest said he was concerned that the church was not able to provide Abdu and Salem with the proper marriage preparation counselling before their wedding. 'I hope the sacrifices they have made during this time will help them to have a fruitful and peaceful life: he added. Abdu said the ceremony was 'not the way I had imagined my wedding.' "I thought this would be the nicest and happiest day of my life, and that I would have a big wedding, that we would have plenty of time to celebrate. I am happy. of course, bul l would be happier if the situation were different: she said. Her mother, Mary Abdu, said she had envisioned that her daughter would have a festive afternoon wedding, followed by an all-night celebration, with dancing and toasts and tables laden with dishes of meat and chicken. Instead, at 11:50 a.m., some of the guests gathered at the nearby hall for a reception of champagne and a four-tiered wedding cake baked the previous night. Other guests had to rush off to finish their errands before the curfew was imposed again. At 12:10 p.m., less than an hour before the curfew was to return, the couple cut their wedding cake. Shortly after 2 p.m. they had crossed the checkpoint with no delays and were settling in at a Jerusalem hotel before they drove to Tiberias, Israel, for their honeymoon.
Bishop resigns amid scandal By John Norton VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of a South African bishop who came under fire for participating in a gay priests' Internet newsgroup that included sexually explicit material. The Vatican announced the resignation of Cape Town Auxiliary Bishop Reginald Cawcutt, 63. in a onesentence statement on July 17 that cited a church law provision for 'illness or other serious reason.' In a statement Bishop Cawcutt said he was resigning because he did not want to be 'the cause of any further division in the church.' Acknowledging that he had made mistakes and that his ministry was sometimes controversial, the bishop apologised for having 'offended and angered some (people).' But he said he could not ask forgiveness for trying to be 'a priest reaching out in love and compassion to those to whom Jesus reaches out.* "I tried to be close to all of God's people; and certainly no one prepared me to face the intrigues of people who misjudge and those who cannot see that truth is not the thing one sees at face value," he said. Bishop Cawcutt, who was active in ministry to gay and lesbian people and people with AIDS in his country, said he would "continue serving the good Lord with a lower profile.'
•R
ecmd
International News
Rome Live: the Vatican rides web-waves By John Nortom VATICAN CITY (CNS) With a tiny budget and a core staff of two, Vatican Radio has begun experimenting quietly with what project leaders expect to one day completely revolutionise the 71-yearold broadcaster: multimedia Internet radio. Over the past year, the radio's Internet-development team —consisting of two American employees with radio and sound experience but no formal Web training -- has refined concepts, worked out bugs, and tried to convince higher-ups that the risks of the new media are worth the plunge. 'What we're trying to do is offer in an attractive format really compelling. interesting and even fun Catholic stories or stories from a Catholic point of view,' said Stephen Banyra, 42, the site's Web master and former director of the radio's English-language news program. 'We also wanted to give It a bit of a commercial feel to make it accessible to a wider audience, not just Catholics,' he said. For Vatican Radio, the project represents a formidable institutional gamble. Since its inception In 1931, the Jesuit-run broadcast establishment has felt the weight of its responsibility as the 'pope's radio' and informal Vatican representative, and purposefully leaves little to chance. The Holy Year 2000 marked a turning point; for the first time, the radio launched a continuous live, multilingual program that featured listener call-ins and roaming correspondents armed with cell-phones and mini-CD recorders. It was called 'Jubilaeum' and hosted on 105 FM, the radio's most powerful frequency in Rome. 'The jubilee year was the revolutionary turn-around year,' said Sean Patrick Lovett, who came up with the jubilee programming concept and for years directed the radio's English-language features section. He said the radio had started to realise that it was 'preaching to
Matthew Sheny and Stephen Banyra at the helm for the Vatican Radio Web site 105live.vaticanradio.org ,ohn
the converted,' and that, if it want- message board is from Tom S.." ed to have any role in the world 30, of Cambridge, England, who of communications in the third said he stumbled across the site millennium, 'it would have to while looking for an Internet radio open up and start interacting' broadcast of a local soccer match. with that world. 'I've just added your site to my The "Jubilaeum' concept was favourites.I think it's just a terrifdeemed such a success that when ic idea,' wrote the 30-year-old, the jubilee ended, the program who said he had been to church was slightly reworked and 'only a few times' in the past renamed One-O-Five Live. decade. 'I've always found it diffiBanyra and an assistant, cult to look at any man (priest or Matthew Sherry, a 29-year-old for- not) and believe wholeheartedly mer sound engineer for the Eter- the things they say. Isn't it odd — nal Word Television Network. but also true — that a voice withupdates the site's content five days out human presence is so much a week from their computer ter- easier to relate tor he said. minals in an old sound studio Plans for future development nearby St Peter's Square. include installing a Web cam in Audio offerings include a live the One-O-Five Live studio, and connection to the radio broadcast broadening its base of creative as well as on-demand links to content. For this summer's UN selected programming. Banyra sustainable development confersaid he plans to facilitate distrib- ence in South Africa. The site has ution of the programming to radio been promised daily audio stations around the world that reports and political cartoons might want to rebroadcast the from Jesuits following the meeting as nongovernmental obserprograms Based on the number of e-mails vers. Through all the innovations, the site gets, Banyra estimates that Banyra said, he's made it a priorabout 1,000 visitors daily find ity to anchor the site in the their way there through search church's liturgical life: Each engines or word of mouth. Some broadcasting day starts with a e-mails have come from places 6:30 a.m. morning prayer and such as China, Ukraine, and Mass in Latin, and is capped with Botswana. One e-mail on the site's night prayers in Latin at 11pm.
25 filly, 2002
Study links abortion to breast cancer By Jennifer Vergara LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- A television ad airing in California and other new developments are highlighting once again a long-running debate about the link between abortion and breast cancer. The ad, produced by nonprofit VirtueMedia Inc, states that, according to 28 medical studies, abortion could increase breast cancer risk by 50 percent. 'We need to educate the public on this,' said Dana Serrano, executive director of the Women's Resource Network. 'I think that the breast cancer link is something that will make people who believe (abortion) is a woman's choice understand that abortion is, in fact, hurting a woman." A recent report on the subject by the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said there is 'very strong evidence in the world's scientific medical literature that induced abortion constitutes a significant risk factor for future breast cancer.' 'There are two pregnancyrelated independent risk factors for breast cancer established in the medical literature,' the report said. "The first is the protective effect of an early fullterm pregnancy. ... The second independent risk factor for breast cancer is induced abortion.' Specifically, those who cite an abortion-breast cancer link point to the fact that 28 of 37 studies done by scientists around the world in the last few decades - and 13 of 15 US studies - show an increased risk 'There is so much research and we run across literally hundreds of women who say they wish they had known,' Serrano said. 'Yet, government-funded breast cancer programs suppress the information and legislators won't require profitdriven abortionists who are big donors to politicians to give women the information.' Other recent developments in the debate include the July 19 release of a study which concluded that the rate of breast cancer is higher in developed countries because women breast-feed their children for a shorter time. Published in The Lancet, a British medical journal, the study looked at breast cancer rates in 30 countries and concluded that 'the lack of or short
lifetime duration of breastfeeding typical of women in developed countries makes a major contribution to the high incidence of breast cancer in these countries.' One of the studies most often cited was commissioned by the National Cancer Institute. 'Highest risks (more than double) were observed when the abortion was done at ages younger than 18 years ... or at least 30 years of age or older,' said Dr. Janet Daling in the 1994 study. Dr. Angela Lanfranchi, a surgeon who co-founded the Breast Cancer Prevention Institute in Poughkeepsie, NY, explained the endocrinological basis for the link 'Most risk factors for breast cancer can be attributed to how much estrogen a woman is exposed to in a lifetime." According to the surgeon, estrogen promotes growth of breast tissue and breast cancer tissue. Early menstruation, late menopause and late first-time full-term pregnancy are factors that increase breast cancer risk because they all mean longer exposure to estrogen, she said. Pregnancy actually helps decrease the risk because a woman's breast cells mature from the 'type 1' she is born with to the 'type 4' that lactate and resist carcinogens. Claims dismissed But Dr. Paul Blumenthal, director for the Contraceptive Research and Programs of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Centre in Baltimore, dismissed most of the studies as 'spurious and certainly not cause and effect' He told The Tidings. Los Angeles archdiocesan newspaper, that medical literature exists disproving the link. Despite the Daling study, the official position of the National Cancer Institute, is that 'induced abortions have no overall effect on the risk of breast cancer.' The World Health Organisation also cited 'reporting bias' and 'inconsistent' outcome of the 28 abortion-breast cancer link studies as the reason for its position that abortion poses no risk 'The groups that are reporting on this link are not particularly interested in preventing breast cancer but in stopping abortion,' Blumenthal said. Lanfranchi said, however, that women have a right to full information that will 'enable them to make an informed choice.'
Nun jailed, first to fall to controversial., anti-conversion„ ,taws
NEW DELHI, India (CNS) -- A court in Bishop Patras Minj of Ambikapur told ities of the conversion, as required under charuvil of Trivandrum, said the bishops central India jailed a 56-year-old nun on UCA News that diocesan authorities are law. The court said the missionaries can- would 'try to take up the issue' with fedJuly 18 for violating a law on conversion, hoping to get bail for the nun "within a day not escape punishment as they failed to eral authorities. which a church official said is the first such or two' and 'will consider appealing to report the conversions to the district Laws against conversion exist in some case in Indian history. higher courts.' Indian states, and the bishops have authorities, making them illegal. Ambikapur district court in Chhattisgarh Diocesan officials said the tribals who Chhattisgarh state, which was carved out appealed to the federal government to seek state, central India, sentenced Ursuline Sis- became Catholic had no religion to of Madhya Pradesh state in 2000, follows ways to repeal them, he said. 'The problem ter Bridhi Ekka to six months in jail for not renounce and hence there was no conver- the Madhya Pradesh Anti-Conversion Bill. is that these are state laws, made by each reporting conversions to district authori- sion. According to the law, conversion It forbids conversions through coercion or state to deal with its own social situations,' ties, reported UCA News, an Asian church means renouncing a religion to adopt by allurement and requires every volun- Archbishop Malancharuvil said. news agency based in Thailand. another. 'At a wider level, the debate on convertary conversion to be reported to the disSister Ekka was jailed soon after the verJesuit Father Louis Berge and Sister Ekka trict magistrate. sion has been going on quite some time,' dict was pronounced. were accused of 'illegally converting' 94 The judgment 'worries us, but we hope he said. 'People speak of it in different sens'It is sad and shocking that a religious tribals in 1988, but the Belgian priest died something good will come out of it after es. We have to convince them that converwoman is the first one to be victimised In 2000 at the age of 92. these difficult times,' Sister Juliana Tete, sion is not a human act, and it only helps under the controversial law,' said Father The two missionaries originally were Ursuline superior in Ambikapur, told UCA the betterment of humanity.' Henry D'Souza, executive secretary of the charged in 1989. In 1996, a lower court sen- News July 19. More than 30 percent of some 20 million social communications commission of the tenced them to six months in prison and a Bishop Minj said 'punishing the innocent in Chhattisgarh state are tribals. Catholics, Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. $13 fine. The latest judgment came after may prove good for the Indian church, the majority of the migrants from southern 'This is a dangerous trend,' he said, not- the diocese appealed to the district court. because it will shake us all up to the real- and western states, number 320,000. Some ing that this was the first time someone has Diocesan officials said the missionaries ities we live with.' 440 priests and 1,100 nuns work mainly in been convicted under the 'anti-conversion did not force the Oraon tribals to convert The Indian bishops' conference presi- the tribal villages, providing them with laws' that exist in some Indian states. to Christianity but failed to inform author- dent, Archbishop Cyril Baselios Malan- education and health care. Page 13
Record Reviews
25 July, 2002
Record
Diane Lane's "perk) is.. nce of a lifetime" I
By Anne Navarro
nitially in director Adrian Lyne's moody, cautionary tale, 'Unfaithful' (20th Century Fox), there exists an arrogant belief that marital betrayal is possible without consequences. But as control and self-confidence give way to distraction and jealousy, the entangled lives of three adults suffer gravely from the impetuous, selfish act of infidelity, leaving fear and a devastating sense of hopelessness in its wake. 'Unfaithful' is an adaptation of Claude Chabrol's 1968 French classic, 'La Femme Infidele.' It also brings to mind Liv Ullmann's disturbing Swedish drama, 'Faithless.' Both 'Faithless' and 'Unfaithful' revolve around well-adjusted, happily married women who impulsively enter into affairs that bring devastating results. However, the remorseful tone in Ullmann's tale more fully expresses the destructive effects of thoughtless sexual misbehaviour, not only for the spouses but for the children as well. Lyne's story, though involving, takes a more conventional route, especially in its second half where tension and momentum give way to melodrama and murderous mayhem. Connie (Diane Lane) is a happily married suburban housewife and mother who is in supreme control of her life. She confidently juggles home life, charity work and school functions. Handsome, attentive husband-of-II-years Edward (Richard Gere) reminds her often how beautiful she is. Living with their young son (Erik Per Sullivan) In their gorgeous 19th-century home on a lake in Westchester County. NY, little if anything seems to be missing from Connie and Edward's life. Yet a chance encounter with an attractive
stranger on the streets of New York City sparks a dangerous desire in Connie. Literally colliding with Paul (Olivier Martinez) on an unusually windy day, Connie scrapes her knee. Paul, a gallant Frenchman with a mischievous — and inviting -- look in his eyes, offers to bandage up the cut in his loft apartment that is conveniently close by. Once in his apartment, Connie begins to feel uneasy about the unmistakable sexual tension, and makes a quick exit to escape the disturbing undercurrents. She even mentions the incident to Edward. But days later, her thoughts keep turning to the mysterious Paul and she finds herself in his apartment again, this time succumbing to temptation. This is the performance of a lifetime for Lane, who agonisingly shows the downward spiral of her Olivier Martinez and Diane Lane character as Connie's emotions slowly devolve from star in the film "Unfaithful." idle distraction to obsession to remorse. In a nuanced performance. realisation that, even if she were to stop the Lane reveals Connie's misguided belief that affair before anyone found out, piecing her she can handle any situation and then the life together would not be an easy task.
Truth be told, America's media dobbed on Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How The Media Distort The News, by Bernard Goldberg. Regnery (Washington. 2002). 232 pp.. $US2795. Reviewed by Tom Rowan
B
ias? What bias? Nobody here but us middle-of-theroaders' is how the network TV anchors view themselves. The same is true for high-level TV reporters and the elite who edit and report for most major newspapers. This self-delusion is an impenetrable roadblock to objective reporting on issues, according to the author of this excellent behind-the-scenes book. Goldberg knows liberal bias when he sees it and he says he saw plenty in his 27 years as a CBS reporter. He doesn't charge media elites with malice but rather with being out of touch with everyday Americans. Their friends are liberal, as they are, and share the same values. They think alike on such major issues as abortion, gun control, feminism, gay rights, the environment and school prayer. Conservatives are seen as not merely wrong-headed but moral-
Audiences are more accustomed to seeing Gere in roles such as the brash rake with whom Connie has an affair. Instead, he is a milquetoast 52-year-old, comfortable and content with his life. Yet under the cool facade, Edward is fiercely vigilant. When one of the top employees at his armoured car business is rumoured to be leaving the company, Edward fires him on the spot. Edward values loyalty above everything, which is why incriminating photos taken by a private detective of Connie and Paul cut Edward to the bone. He is sideswiped by the idea that his wife is not as happy as he is. 'Unfaithful' leaves the viewer with a sad feeling about marriage and true commitment. Connie and Edward communicate on a superficial level, discussing the day's events and upcoming social engagements, yet seemingly talking past each other. Did their contentment lead to a complacency which allowed room for deception? It's never quite clear. Even after the affair is over, they seem to be clinging to a past notion of happiness, unsure of how - or why - to move forward. The purposely ambiguous ending leaves Connie and Edward's next step open to audience interpretation. But what is certain is the aching void left by infidelity that the couple cannot seem to MSS.
Due to several sexual encounters with nudity, brief violence and some profanity with minimal rough language, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is AIV - adults, with reservations.
arie8
ly deficient. So lobbyists for causpro-life, and takes strong stands es that bolster the media's view of on such moral issues as abortion, how the world should behave artificial contraception, illicit sex, B e have easy access. Materials from human cloning and assisted suithe National Organisation for cide, all of which the media Women, Planned Parenthood, regards as acceptable conduct. advocates of gay rights, abortion Even in unearthing the sex scanrights and tight gun control are dal, which it was the media's right routinely accepted at face value, — and even duty — to investigate, Goldberg says. But articulate prothe fact that only a small percentlife advocates get short shrift. He BERNARD GOLDBER age of priests and bishops were G quotes one media source as sayinvolved tended to get lost in the ing, "They'd rather show someone shuffle. Instead, many in the who just shot up an abortion clinA CBS Insider media were quick to paint the ic.' entire church, from the pope on Exposes How the Goldberg deplores the media's down, as rotten and morally bankcommon practice of identifying Media Distort I rupt. Ignorance about the church conservatives while giving their crops up even in terminology. For the News opposite numbers a pass. Robert example, a priest does not 'per, Bork is invariably called a 'conform' or 'conduct a Mass. A servative judge, but Laurence was published. But Goldberg recent report in the esteemed who is as liberal as Bork is struck a chord with the reading Washington Post explained that a conservative, is simply a Harvard public. People sensed they were 'defrocked' priest is not allowed law professor. Tom Selleck and not getting the news straight, and 'to perform Mass or other sacraBruce Willis are conservatives, Goldberg has documented the ments.' Ah, well. but Barbra Streisand and Rob truth of this suspicion. Catholics who read 'Bias: A CBS Reiner, both ostentatiously liberAlthough he doesn't deal with Insider Exposes How the Media al, are simply Barbara Streisand the media and the church, Distort the News' should have a and Rob Reiner. Catholics should appreciate Gold- greater appreciation for their It was not by happenstance that berg's book Even before the cur- diocesan newspaper. In addition Goldberg's book remained on the rent sex scandal, the media didn't to its mission of evangelisation, best-seller list for several months. much like the church. The church the diocesan paper is a needed The media, feeling aggrieved and is undemocratic, so the media antidote to the omissions and disbetrayed, certainly didn't promote sees its teachings as autocratic tortions so rampant in so much of it; it was largely ignored when it and arbitrary. The church also is what the media reports as news.
by Carol McMillen
Widen OMEN*..11.6041bi~Sigiiik.0.1.1*.
. 1111.41.1.4
rale -
76ffloo
wwwJnyfriendmagazine.com My Friend is a site hosted by the Daughters of St Paul. It is a Catholic magazine aimed at helping parents walk with their children through the wonderful and sometimes tough years of their children's early youth. Besides games and stories, faith and saints for kids, this site provides accessible information and specific formation for parents. In this fast-paced world it may be hard to find the time and the resources to satisfy the spiritual thirst so natural to children. Children will enjoy both the interactive games, graded for their convenience, while learning about Christianity and the printable colouring pages and games which will entertain even the most hard to please child. Children can also submit a trouble or desire to be prayed for by the Daughters of St Paul. Just for the record, today is St Botvid's day. •
'Spider-Man' a classic tale about good vs. evil says Jesuit magazine
D
By Cindy Wooden
espite its "militaristic patriotism' and exaltation of all things American, the film 'Spider-Man' offers moral lessons that more and more people are finding only in the movies today, said an influential Jesuit magazine. A classic tale of the struggle between good and evil, the film illustrates the point that, while science can give one power, ills up to the individual 'to use it for good or evil.' said the article in La Civilta Cattolica. The filin's success is due not simply to its special effects, but to the fact that it was able 'to create a hero and a myth that mea-
Page 14
sure up to Western culture,' said the Romebased magazine that is reviewed at the Vatican before publication. The story's hero, Peter Parker, is the stereotypical 'good guy,' not the most popular, not rich, but good at school and 'Godfearing,' the magazine said. The bad guy, Norman Osborn, is rich, famous, ambitious, "a symbol of the distrust people have for the ruling class, to which are attributed the origins of many of the world's ills,' it said. Both, however, share a passion for science, which gives them each superpowers, 'but with a difference,' it said. Military research is the origin of Osborn's power, and profit is the prime motive behind using it, the magazine said, while Parker's pow-
ers come from a spider genetically modified by university researchers, and he uses them for the common good. The power of science and of good and evil are not the only powers at play in the film, the magazine said. The repeated shots of the U.S. flag, particularly in the film's final scene and the film's use of 'ground zero' as a backdrop, would make it easy 'once again to stigmatise the Americans with the accusation of militaristic patriotism and an incurable cowboy complex, but alongside the selfexaltation of the film, one cannot deny there also is a certain amount of self-criticism,' the article said. The rich, the ruling class, scientific research for military pur-
poses and even the media are criticised, it said. La Civilta Cattolica said the film can be interpreted as calling on the United States to remember the message of Parker's uncle: Great responsibility must accompany great power. 'The success of 'Spider-Man' shows how cinema is increasingly becoming the place where the public looks for things it used to find elsewhere: heroes, moral values, explanations for the origin of the uneasiness widespread today and indications of where to seek salvation,' the magazine said. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops classified 'Spider-Man' AIII - adults, due to sporadic stylised action violence and menace with fleeting crass language.
1117778 :°
Official Engagements
Record EYE4inATCHER
JULY 26 Performing Arts Mass, CEO Chapel - Bishop Sproxton 28 Mass at Bayswater Parish - Bishop Sproxton 30 Commissioning of Catechists, CEO Chapel - Bishop Sproxton AUGUST
Slf Classified ads: $3 per line (plus GST)
2
Presentation of Youth Book to Year 12s at Aranmore Catholic College, St Mary's Parish Centre - Archbishop Hickey Opening Ceremony 10th Conference of ASEACCU, University of Notre Dame Australia - Archbishop Hickey
24-hour hotline Phone 9227 7778 Deadline for classie ads: 5pm Monday
Catholic Education Commission - Bishop Sproxton 2-4 Parish Visitation, Wongan Hills - Bishop Sproxton
BUILDING TRADES
BUILDING TRADES
LIC. PLUMBER gas fitter, Contact John on 9457 7771, Mobile 0412 185 209.
PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd for all your residential, commercial painting requirements. Phone Tom Perrott 9444 1200.
PICASSO Painting. Top service. Phone 9345 0557, fax 9345 0505. K AVANAGH'S POOL SERVICE for all your pool needs Ph 9349 0223
FURNITURE REMOVAL
ELECTRICIAN, Power/light points from $50 each. Rewiring our speciality. 0418 941 286. 9279 5008.
ALL areas. Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.
BRICK re-pointing. Phone Nigel 9242 2952
HERBALIFE PRODUCTS NEED additional income? Genuine opportunity. www. workfromhomeindustry. For products ph 9487 1787.
PART-TIME WORK WANTED STUDENT looking for job, SOR. Fremantle preferred. Ring Patrick 9418 7497
AdVertiser if co(44 work!
Stargazing v,tth Libra
Llawizinu atamtare PhD (Oxen) Dip. Fencinv. a Federally funded Community outreach initiative
I
realise that your motives, as a lector, last week were honourable in the interests of enhanced communication. But you should at least have consulted Father before trying to mime the Acts of the Apostles at the second reading. The bit where you played St Paul falling off his horse, to put it kindly, mystified the congregation and was completely embarrassing to your family members. A considerable number of the congregation at the 9.30 Mass also thought you were pretending to be the horse. and not St Paul. Beware body odour problems.
Record Managing Editor Postal address: Street address:
No: 3320 ISSN: 1327 - 3531
Peter Rosengren PO Box 75, Leederville, WA, 6902 587 Newcastle Street, West Perth, WA, 6005. (08) 9227 7080. Fax: (08) 9227 7087
Phone: e-mail: cathrec@iinet.netau Publisher. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth. The Record, established in 1874, is distributed to Catholic churches, presbyteries, religious houses and subscribers throughout the Archdiocese of Perth and the Dioceses of Geraldton. Bunbury and Broome Advertising rates Display: $6.60 col cm (GST included) Classifieds: $3.30 a line (GST included) Deadlines: Editorial: Tuesday, first mail. Booking: Monday midday. Advertising: Copy: Tuesday midday. Member Aust Catholic Press Association; Aust Religious Press Association. The Record follows the Holy Spirit's teaching at the Second Vatican Council on the role of the Catholic print media. The Record will not return copy or photographs submitted for publication unless specifically requested in writing upon submission. The editor reserves the right to accept or reject any material submitted and to edit such material for clarity and brevity without recourse to the author.
Unarmed civilians killed By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The bitterness and hatred sown by the killing of civilians, especially children, will be much harder to overcome than the clashing territorial claims of Israelis and Palestinians, the Vatican newspaper said. The comments in L'Osservatore Romano came in a front-page editorial published with a news story on the July 23 Israeli missile attack on Gaza City The military's target, Hamas militant leader Sheik Salah Shehada. was killed in the attack, along with 14 other people, including seven or eight children. Palestinian officials also said more than 140 others were wounded in the attack While Israeli government officials said they regretted the loss of civil-
ians lives, they claimed the operation was a success and a necessary step in preventing further terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens. 'Killing unarmed civilians erects barriers of hatred far more difficult to tear down than a wall; it constructs ideological barricades which are more difficult to cross than any roadblock,' the Vatican newspaper said. L'Osservatore said that, when diplomatic efforts finally manage to end the disagreements, "when the last strand of barbed wire is removed, when in the territories there is a state which guarantees the autonomy of the Palestinians and the security of the Israelis, then it will be clear how the rancour accumulated on both sides because of the death of children represents the main obstacle to peaceful coexistence."
3
TO LET ATTADALE, $220pw (neg). Lge duplex, clse river, quiet St. Ph: 0417 178 094 a/h: 93301412
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
Mass and Blessing of stained glass window, All Saints' Chapel Archbishop Hickey Confirmation, Highgate- Bishop Quinn
4
Parish Mass and Blessing of stained glass window followed by Blessing of school shrine, Yangebup - Archbishop Hickey
7
Visit Confirmation candidates, Cloverdale School Archbishop Hickey
8
Council of Priests' Meeting. Glendalough - Archbishop Hickey. Bishop Sproxton
CHRISTIAN Mental Health support - David 9379 1029
Archcliocesan Panorama FEAST OF BLESSED MARY MACKILLOP The Sisters of St Joseph extend a welcome to all to celebrate with us the feast of Blessed Mary MacKillop on Thursday August 8 at Mary MacKillop Centre, 16 York St, South Perth. Mass at 9am in the Chapel. followed by morning tea. ALL NIGHT EUCHARISTIC VIGIL 1st Friday devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the 1st Saturday to the Immaculate Heart of Mary at All Saints Chapel, Allendale Square on August 2 to 3 inclusive. Commencing 9pm with Mass, Rosaries, hymns and prayers, concluding with Mass at 7am. Inquiries Catherine 9444 1940 or Yolanda 9385 8563. 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF AUSTELLARIANS Any past members of the Austellarians, the widows group of the Knights of the Southern Cross. are invited to join 15th Anniversary Celebrations at Mass at Holy Rosary parish. Thomas St, Nedlands, 12noon on Wednesday August 7. Luncheon will follow in the parish centre. Contact Fay Casey 9225 1145 or Marj Downie 9387 5141. DIVINE MERCY An afternoon with Jesus and Mary at St Mary's Cathedral, Victoria Square. Perth on Sunday August 4 at 1.30pm. Program: Holy rosary and Reconciliation, Sermon (Fr Douglas Harris on St John Vianney) followed by Divine Mercy prayers and Benediction. Inquiries: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608. DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR All parishioners in the Metropolitan area are invited to a Holy Hour of Adoration each Saturday of the month (except 1st Saturday) - from 2.303.30pm at St Francis Xavier Church, 25 Windsor St, East Perth. Celebrant: Fr Marcellinus Meliak OFM. Please bring a plate to share. Inquiries: John 9457 7771. PRO-LIFE PROCESSION MIDLAND The First Friday Mass, procession and Rosary Vigil will beheld on August 2, commencing at 9.30am with Mass celebrated at St Brigid's Church, Midland. The Franciscan Friars of he Immaculate will lead us. All are invited to witness for the sanctity of life and pray for the conversion of hearts. Inquiries: Helen 9402 0349. WITNESS FOR LIFE PROCESSION The next First Saturday Mass, procession and Rosary Vigil will be held on August 3, commencing with Mass at 8.30am, St Anne's Church, Hehir St, Belmont. We proceed prayerfully to the Rivervale abortion centre and conclude with Rosary, led by Fr Paul Carey SSC. Please join us to pray peacefully for the conversion of hearts. Inquiries: Francette 9279 3934. GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH Revival Rally Sunday August 18 from 2-4.30pm at Good Shepherd Catholic Church cnr Morley Dye & Altone Rd, Kiara. Speaker Eddie Russell. Rally will conclude with cuppa and fellowship. Inquiries Colleen 9377 5133 or Shirley 9279 9165. Everyone Welcome. 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. $14 return. (Contact Francis Williams 9459 3873 or 0404 893 877). During the day: video at 9am, 10.30am Mass, Reconciliation, Adoration,
talks. Rosary, 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 experienced 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 ($20 per person), 7.30pm at the Mandurah Offshore Fishing Club. Bookings necessary. Details: Parish Office. weekdays 9am4pm on 9581 2061. MASS FOR FEAST OF ST DOMINIC 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. 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 $20. 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. 90TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS Sacred Heart Catholic School, Gomalling, 20th and 21st Sept. Classrooms are open for viewing all week, as well as a photo display in the school library. Please contact the school, if you are attending, so a list can be compiled. Phone 9629 1174, fax 9629 1486, e-mail sheart@avon.net.au 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 commencing at 10am and finishing at 2pm. Includes Cenacle, Holy Mass, Talks & Benediction. Please bring a plate of food for shared lunch. 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 $80. Bus fare $50. Details, reservations Betty Peaker, God's Farm Phone/Fax 9755 6212.
Page 15
The Last Word
Traditional dancers perform outside the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. Indigenous peoples of Mexico were celebrating the upcoming canonisation of Juan Diego, a Nahuatl Indiwill canonise Juan Diego during a Mass at the basilica on July 31. Pftoto CNSMaire-
an who converted to Catholicism and experienced a vision of Mary in 1531. Pope John Paul
Mexico prepares for Saint Juan Diego A
rising tide of enthusiasm in Mexico City has accompanied the countdown to the canonisation of Blessed Juan Diego, whose 16th-century visions of Mary are at the heart of Mexican Catholicism. Tomas Sanchez, a 70-year-old cook, decided to make a special trip to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in northern Mexico City before the big event to ask Juan Diego's help with his health. 'I asked him to intervene in my favour before the Virgin and before God: said Sanchez, pointing to his leg swollen with varicose veins. 'I would be very grateful.' Sanchez sat on a low wall in the basilica complex built on the site where Juan Diego, a Nahuatl Indian who converted to Catholi-
cism. saw Mary in December 1531. just 10 years after the Spanish conquistadors took Mexico City It is here that Pope John Paul H is due to make Mexico's most famous convert a saint on July 31 before a crowd of a few thousand; millions are likely to watch the event on television. The canonisation is being presented by the Mexican church as the long-overdue recognition of the importance of indigenous people within the Catholic tradition. It comes at a time when Protestant churches are gaining influence, particularly among poor Mexicans and in indigenous areas. 'It is a great honour for all Mexicans that Juan Diego is to be made a saint,' said Felipe Lopez, 21, as he came out of the
basilica with his baby in his arms and his wife by his side. It was a phrase echoed by many others milling around the basilica in the days before the canonisation. 'It is a recognition of the loyalty of poor and humble Mexicans to the church,' added Lopez, repeating another commonly heard explanation of Juan Diego's importance. Inside the huge tent-like church behind him, rows of young and old listened to a homily exhorting all Mexicans to recognise their debt to the Indian who saw the Virgin Mary and whose story was key to the consolidation of the Catholic faith in Mexico during Spanish colonial rule. A montage of the pope holding the hands of Juan Diego has been hung over the basilica's front entrance and in several places inside. Meanwhile, a steady stream of devotees made their way to the back of the church to have their images of the soon-tobe-saint blessed. The images were bought largely from the many vendors hawking religious memorabilia in the streets around the basilica. It is all part of what the media has dubbed Juan Diego-mania. But the phrase can be misleading, as devotion to Juan Diego has neither risen suddenly out of nowhere, nor does it appear to be close to its culmination. Awareness of Juan Diego as a potential figure for devotion has evolved slowly during the tortuous process of his canonisation that has been dogged by sceptics who question whether he existed. 'It is all proved now,' said Bernardo Gomez, 71. Mexican pilgrims from the state of Queretaro carry banners showing an image of Our Lady of But, while Gomez said he was 'delighted' Guadalupe as they make their way to Mexico City. that Juan Diego was being officially recogPhoto: CNS/Reuters
Family Subscription $55 for 52 issues of The Record Name
Please debit my
Address
Visa Card
Suburb
Bankcard
Mastercard
A Message from Archbishop Hickey
No
Postcode ..... I enclose cheque/money order for $ Page 16
Expiry Date:
nised, he added he personally found it difficult to think of him as a holder of saintly powers. 'Juan Diego was an ordinary man chosen by the Virgin as her messenger. That's what he did: the retired bus driver told Catholic News Service. A little later he added the qualifier, 'But they say he has done some miracles.' Many Mexican Catholics struggle with reconciling Juan Diego as a peasant selected by Mary because of his lowly status against his status as a saint. A veteran salesman of religious figures, Felipe Avila, said this is why new Jose Escobar makes a pilgrimthe range of Juan age on his knees to the BasiliDiego images ca of Our Lady of Guadalupe standing on while holding his baby son. his own have not sold well. Standing in front of his stall displaying a variety of garish and glitzy statues, pictures, key rings and trinkets, Avila said the increase in Juan Diego's sales before the canonisation had come primarily from purchases of the traditional image of the Indian kneeling before Mary - CNS
.I...—. Signature:
Send to: The Record, PO Box 75, Leederville WA 6902
the Record is our own Catholic weekly newspaper. It tells us what's happening in the Church locally and internationally. The television and the daily newspaper don't give much space to the Church and when they do, it's often bad news. Find out what is really going on. There is always something in The Record to interest and inspire every member of the family. Buy it every week