Join John Paul II in prayer AUGUST General: That respect for the environment, '30d's gift to all men and women. may ncrease both on a personal level and on .rlat of world public opinion. Missionary: That in the vast shanty towns Jf the world the efforts of missionaries may -illeviate the suffering caused by injustice Ind foster the full clevoloprnont nf o-ncn w'10 !ye with thpm
FOR A GREAT DEAL
TEL: 9449 9000
ACCESSORIES, SERVICE, FINANCE OR ANY MAKE OF QUALITY USED CAR.
432 SCARBOROL GH BEACH RD OSBORNE PARK. DL 01191
3
WA's only Catholic weekly newspaper Perth: August 22 2002 Price: $1
CONVERSION Does Mel believe? STORY: Hope in SIGNS movie tragedy review Page 4 Page 14
, lilleined , .
Blueprint begins at conception, say scientists
A human embryo
By Victor Reklaitis
HONDA
HONDA, NORTH ON A NEW PARTS,
"The latest advances in embryology tend to confirm what the Catholic Church has said all along."
WASHINGTON (CNS) - The blueprint for the human body is being defined in the first few hours after conception, according to a report on recent advances in embryology in tureless 01.1) of cells. and that the cells Nature magazine. 'Where your head and feet would were only assigned specific roles sprout, and which side would form between the sixth and ninth days of your back and which your belly, were development, at about the time of i being defined in the minutes and mplantation into the uterine wall. Now, one research team at the Wellhours after egg and sperm united: come Trust/Cancer Research UK said the report in the July 8 issue of Institute has provided evidence' that the British magazine. even the point where the sperm The latest advances in embryology enters the egg influences the fate of tend to confirm what the Catholic each cell. The sperm's entry point Church has said all along: said determines where the first cell diviRichard Doerflinger, deputy director sion will take place and the resulting of the US Conference of Catholic Bish- cells have a bias toward certain roles, ops Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities. according to the team's leader, Mag'Human life is a continuum from con- dalena Zernicka-Goetz. ception onward." In another study, Richard Gardner Until about five years ago, according of Oxford University found that the to the report, many scientists said that four- to five-day old mammalian the early human embryo was a lea- embryo is not a symmetrical sphere
but instead has an identifiable headtail axis that corresponds to that of the fetus. Gardner first published his results five years ago, but other scientists were initially hostile to his conclusions and have only recently accepted them, Nature reported. The evidence for patterning information in the early human embryo provided by Gardner and ZernickaGoetz has led some scientists to reconsider practices that meddle with early development, said the report. For example, to test for inherited diseases, cells can be removed from an eight-cell embryo. One scientist said that it is possible this technique might be removing a cell with a predictable fate and causing damage. 'What is clear is that developmental biologists will no longer dismiss early mammalian embryos as featureless bundles of cells: said the report. 'and that leaves them with some work to do.' Edftorkd - Page 7
Pell stands down, denies allegations Catholics and others across ly George Pell's denial," Mr Australia were shocked by Howard said. the news on Monday In his statement to the evening that Archbishop media Archbishop Pell said: George Pell of Sydney is fac"Certain allegations have ing sex abuse allegations. been made about my conArchbishop Pell told media duct whenI was a seminarion Monday afternoon that an over 40 years ago. "for the good of the Church "lime allegations against me and to preserve the dignity of are lies andIdeny them totalthe office of Archbishop" he ly and utterly. would stand down until the "The alleged events never conclusion of a Church happened. I repeat, emphatInquiry ically, that the allegations are Archbishop Pell totally false. denied the allegations that as "An independent inquiry to a seminarian in the early Investigate these allegations 1960s he sexually molested has been set up by Archan unnamed male com- bishop Philip Wilson, Acting plainant who was aged 12. Co-Chairman of the Nation"I truly wish I could say al Committee for ProfessionStandards, which more right now," he told the al media. supervises the Church's "However, it is important Towards Healing' protocols. that! do not say anything that The inquiry will be conductcould be seen to prejudice ed.Iunderstand, by a retired the inquiry Therefore. I am Victorian Supreme Court unable to make further com- judge. "Iwill, of course, co-operate ment" On Tuesday Prime Minis- with this independent ter John Howard said he inquiry in every way possibelieved the Archbishop and ble - frankly openly, and had phoned him to offer his unreservedly" Continued- Page 2 support "I believe complete-
Pope goes home to hero's welcome
Nuns sing and wave flags as they wait for the arrival of Pope John Paul 11 at the Sanctuary of Divine Merry in Krakow-Lagievmiki on August 17. The Pope brought a demanding spiritual and social message to his fellow Poles, who responded with their cheers, their smiles and their attention. See centre pages for full story. Photo CNS/Reuters
22 August, 2002
No. 3324
The Record established in 1874, is distributed to Catholic Churches, presbyteries, religious houses and subscribers throughout the Archdiocese of Perth, Geraldton, Bunbury, Broome and overseas.
Managing Editor Peter Rosengren Production Eugen Mattes Ad Design Eugen Mattes Office Manager Carole McMillen
Bronwen Clune Neil Smith Stephen Spiteri
Caroline Gober
ReCord
This week... features 2,000,000 turn out in Poland to greet Pope John Paul II - Pages 8&9
articles of interest New life for St Benedict's rule - Page 16 Indians vote Mother Theresa their 'greatest' - Page 13 John Paul II appeals for peace in Middle East - Page 13
regulars I say, I say - Paul Gray Sunday Readings - Peter Dwan To Mary Through Jesus Editorial - Frozen Voices Letters to the Editor Words of Wisdom Record Reviews - St Therese Panorama
Springtime retreat with Fr Pierre beckons pilgrims
Hugh Ryan, Paul Gray, Fr Tim Deeter, Tony Evans, George Russo, Peter Dwan, Fr Anscar McPhee OSB, Norma Woodcock, Guy Crouchback
Subscribe to The Record $55 per year, 12 issues. Send subscription with cheque or money order. See subscription form
page 16
Editorial: Tuesday first mail Advertising: Booking: Monday midday Copy: Tuesday midday
587 Newcastle Street, West Perth, WA 6005 PO Box 75, Leederville, WA 6902 or find us on the web www.therecord.com.au Editor cathrec@iinet.net.au Classifieds/Advertising mattesrec@iinet.net.au Accounts carolerec@iinet.net.au Page 2
Pell stands down Continued from Page 1
The National Committee for Professional Standards is a committee "For the good of the Church and to preserve the dignity of the office established by the Australian of Archbishop,Iwill take leave from Catholic Bishops' Conference and today as Archbishop of Sydney until the Leaders of Religious Institutes to deal with allegations of sexual the inquiry is completed. "I repeat that the allegations are abuse in the church. Catholic Communications said lies and that I am determined to complainant had been "advised the refute them. "I welcome the inquiry and a and encouraged to report the matchance to clear my name, recognis- ter to the police, but at this stage has ing that I am not above civil and declined to do so: We have decided that the comChurch law plaint should be dealt with sub"Ihave taken a leading role in condemning and exposing sexual stantially in accordance with the abuse within the Catholic Church procedures laid down by Towards in Australia Six years ago in Mel- Healing. Accordingly, the Hon. Mr bourneIset up Australia's first Inde- Alec Southwell QC an eminent pendent Commission to inquire retired judge of the Supreme Court into sexual abuse by members of of Victoria has been retained to adjudicate upon the complaint and the Catholic clergy. "lb allege that I am now person- to report to us. "Mr Southwell will conduct such ally implicated in this evil is a smear investigations and hearings as are of the most vindictive kind. "Itruly wishIcould say more right necessary in order for him to be satnow However, it is important that I isfied, or not, that the complaint has do not say anything that could be been established. "Because the alleged offence seen to prejudice the inquiry. Therefore, I am unable to make further occurred when Dr Pell was a trainee priest in the Archdiocese of Melcomment: The Catholic Communications bourne, the complaint amid have office of the Archdiocese of Ade- been made to Mr Peter O'Callaghan laide announced on Monday QC Independent Commissioner for evening that a retired Victorian the Archdiocese of Melbourne. "However, because of the ComSupreme Court judge who is also a non-Catholic and a Queens Coun- missioner's professional relationsel. would head the investigation of ship with Dr Pell, the Conunissioner the allegation. would have advised Archbishop Archbishop Philip Wilson, Arch- Hart that it was not appropriate for bishop of Adelaide and Brother him to deal with the complaint. In Michael Hill are acting as the co- that event, we understand that Archchairpersons of the National Com- bishop Hart would have appointed mittee for Professional Standards the Hon. Mr Southwell to adjudi(NCPS). cate upon the complaint."
Archbishop Hickey issued the following statement on Wednesday afternoon: The news of the allegation against Archbishop Pell came as a great shock. My first reaction was like that of Archbishop Pell himself, that someone was being vindictive and trying to pull him down. Time will tell. I strongly support Archbishop Pell as a fine Churchman and a friend, and I hope he is found innocent He is to be admired
Betty Peaker, left, is looking forward to assisting the Springtime retreat at God's Farm in the picturesque Southwest.
God's Farm in Gracewood is holding a special Springtime retreat that will be led by Fr Pierre Angelo. He will be speaking on the inspiration of St John the Evangelist. Fr Pierre will celebrate Holy Mass daily, and be available for Reconciliation. The retreat will take place over the weekend of September 6 to 8. Fr Pierre's association with the Bunbury Diocese all began In 1997 when Bishop Peter Quinn, then Bishop of Bunbury invited htin to join the diocese. Believing that God's call is irrevocable, he decided to be part of the diocese and make his first move in 1997 where he had then his initial pastoral exposure in the parishes of Margaret River, Augusta and Busselton. Fr Pierre was ordained a deacon in the Bunbury Cathedral In the same year. He served his diaconate in the Philippines for almost 8 months before being ordained to the priesthood in January 1999.
Before entering the seminary, Fr Pierre went to university to fulfil his childhood dream of becoming a doctor, after four years of study, he received his call to life as a priest and entered the seminary instead. Although his family had reservations about him becoming a priest instead of a doctor. they are now extremely supportive of his decision. Fr Pierre considers himself blessed to have learnt what it means to surrender to God's will, and as he begins the new chapter of his life in Busselton he would like the opportunity to share it with the community. 'ftwansport to God's farm will be by bus which will leave Perth at 2.30pm on Friday 6 September and return at 2pm Sunday 8 arriving in Perth at 8pm. Suggested donations for the retreat is $80 and includes all meals and suppers. Bus fare $50. For more details or to make reservations contact Betty Peaker, God's Farm. Phone/Fax (08) 9755 6212.
for going public about the accusation. He did not have to do so as it was an internal allegation. However, he made the allegation public and stood himself down for the term of the investigation. I think this clearly indicates that matters are not being hushed up and that he himself m ists that matters be property investigated. Public figures are a target today. Archbishop Pell is often a target We should remember that an accusation is nothing more than that It says nothing about guilt
t osep4 Conopthnieeions 4tistr4ei4 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
Pregnant and need accommodation? Ring 9328 2929 for information
Miriam's House in Dianella provides a short-term safe, friendly, non-judgmental and caring home for expectant mothers needing accommodation
II Record
22 August, 2002
Bishop Lobo of Baruipur's mission visit By Glynnis Grainger An Indian Bishop who oversaw the beginning of Mother Theresa's cause for beatification visited Perth for two weeks and conducted a Mission at Santa Clara parish, Bentley, last week. Bishop Salvadore Lobo from Baruipur arrived in Perth via Singapore on August 10, and opened the Mission week with a sung Mass and talk, which was the pattern of the Mission for the rest of the week Bentley parish priest Fr Francis Ly invited him to Australia to give eight-day Missions in Perth, and V:etnamese parishes in Melbourne and Sydney Saturday and Sunday's Introduction theme was To Set our Hearts on God; on Monday he spoke about Faith on the Feast of St Clare, the patroness of the parish; on Tuesday he spoke about Love of God; on Wednesday, Hope; on Thursday, the Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady, his theme was Mother Teresa, Angel of Peace, and his homily was on Blessed is the Fruit of Your Womb; on Friday, he spoke about the Family; on Saturday, his theme was Commitment in Daily Life, and on Sunday was his Conclusion to the Mission. Last Wednesday there was an anointing Mass, followed by a light lunch in Brownlie Towers flats, then Bishop Lobo spoke to students at Santa Clara School from pre-primary to Year 7s. On the Thursday, there was a whole school Mass and talk in the morning and on the Friday, Cenacle, Novena and talk in the morning and parish Reconciliation, second rite, in the evening before his usual Mass and talk, followed
Bishop Salvadore Lobo by a clergy dinner with the bishop. Last Sunday August 18, at 9.30am, a Thanksgiving sung Mass was celebrated, followed by a parish morning tea, then a lunch at noon with Parish Council members' families. During his second week in Perth, on Monday August 19, Bishop Lobo had lunch with Archbishop Barry Hickey and visited Curtin University and on Tuesday August 20, Bishop Lobo visited the Bunbury diocese for the day. On Thursday August 22, he will
OPTOMETRISTS Contact Lens Consultants Mark Kalnenas (B. optom) Grove Plaza, Cotiesloe 9384 6720
Your Travel Business is our Business * Agents for Harvest Pilgrimages * Frequent Flyer Points Managed * Country Callers 18(X) 447 448
F1ight-m2r1d A (*.woo of Interworkl Travel Pry Ltd LK No 91A796
Michael Deering
Travel Services
Ground Floor, 200 St. George's Terrace, Perth WA 6000 Tel 9322 2914 Fax 9322 2915 Email admin@flightworld.com.au
By Stephen Spiteri
visit Notre Dame University, Fremantle, and on Friday August 23, will go to the monastery at New Norcia. After Mass at Queens Park parish at 6.30pm on Saturday, he will celebrate Mass at the Cathedral at 11.30am on Sunday, followed by Mass at Woodlands parish at 5.30pm. From 26 August to September 2, he will conduct a Mission at Fr Paul Tru's Altona North parish, Melbourne, and from September 2-9, lead a Mission at Fr Joseph Thanh's Fairfield parish, Sydney, and visited Canberra, before leaving for India on September 10. He told The Recordlast Tuesday at the Bentley parish presbytery, where he stayed, that he had been a missionary in Bengal for 13 years and he counsels youth and children who contact him by letter and phone. His diocese of eight million people, of whom 5Z000 are Catholics, is in South Bengal, in the suburbs of Calcutta, formerly known as Calcutta, and the famous forest known as Sunderbans "of the Royal Bengal Tiger fame lies in my diocese."
Bishop Lobo and Fr Francis Ly with students from Santa Clara School.
MANNING & ASSOCIATES
Radiating holiness, a saint in the making [Mother Teresa] dearly holy?" was put forward to all interBISHOP Salvadore Lobo, from viewed. The question was asked the Baruipur diocese in India in reference to Mother Teresa's recently visited Perth to speak love of God and love of neighspecifically on the beautifica- bour. tion of Mother Teresa. Bishop Lobo first met Mother Bishop Lobo, who has done Teresa on August 4 1968. He extensive research on the life of describes the meeting as, "very Mother Teresa of Calcutta, impressive". Bishop Lobo added headed the tribunal during the that he could not believe a lady diocesan inquiry in to the beau- of that faith could be so simple, tification, the first step taken in not only in appearance, but the the canonisation of a saint. way she goes about also. The process involved research, When asked the question, a collection of data and facts on "Was she clearly holy?" Bishop the life of Mother Teresa, and a Lobo himself answered, "Yes, witness inquiry of people who she was a radiation of holiness, are for and against Mother Tereshe was a reflection of God in sa becoming a saint. her own self in her selfless love 120 people were selected by Bishop Lobo to give witness to and giving." Bishop Lobo spoke specificalMother Teresa's life. Each of the 120 witnesses was ly on Mother Teresa during the asked from a list of 300 ques- parish mission last Thursday tions to give testimony of their evening at the parish of Santa encounter with Mother Teresa. Clara. At the conclusion of the misOn top of this, 38,000 pages worth of statements were sub- sion at 5.30pm last Sunday mitted giving documented August 18, an open forum and accounts of people who have supper took place in the Santa come in to contact with Mother Clara hall. Bishop Lobo answered quesTeresa. Of the questions asked to wit- tions regarding the beautificanesses. the question Was she tion of Mother Teresa.
Mother Teresa lived a life of "selfless love and giving".
St Mary's Cathedral Choir is now auditioning Year 5-7 boys for immediate entry and Year 3 & 4 boys for admission in February 2003. Choristers receive a partial scholarship to their Catholic school; other arrangements may be made for students from state schools. The Cathedral Choir sings
10am Mass on most Sundays, as well as major feasts and Archdiocesan celebrations. It presently consists of 19 boys from 'niftily College, 2 boys from other Catholic schools, and 8 men. The Choir toured England, Italy and Austria in 2000, with the highlight being their performance at the Papal Mass in St Peter's Square before nearly one million people. Rehearsals for Trinity boys are held on Tuesdays through Fridays at 7.45am; other boys rehearse on Thursdays at 4.45pm.
The men rehearse on Wednesdays at 7pm. For more information, contact: Fr Timothy Deeter, Master of the Choristers (9328 4518; casapgf@iinet.netau).
FR DANIEL O'LEARY
NORBERTINE CANONS
Irish Priest, Author, International Preacher will speak on Monday 2nd September Redemptorist Retreat House 2 Camelia St, North Perth 5.30pm: To Live in the Present Moment Living as an authentic human being 230pm: The Church of Tomorrow ...more human, ecumenical, collaborative Cost is $10 plus $5 for supper (optional) Bookings essential: 9328 6800 Books available.
ORDER OF CANONS REGULAR OF PREMONTRE
Sponsored by the WA Council of Religious and the Redemptorist Commtmity, North Perth
finding unity with the brethren on the way to God ... If you would like to know more about life as a Norbertine priest or
communily
brother, please contact: Fr Peter J Stiglich, 0.Praem. St Joseph's Priory PO Box 354 Cannington WA 6987 Telephone: (08) 9458 2729 Email: norbert@iinetnetau
liturgy ministry Page 3
22 August, 2002
Record II
Conversion stories.. T
•
his is not so much a story about why I became a Catholic, but what happened as I was making the journey. My background was 'high Anglican'. Later, whilst living in England we worshipped with the local Baptists and later still, whilst living overseas, we joined with Pentecostal missionaries as we were in a remote area. Shortly after returning to England in 1982, amidst the problems of relocation, financial worries and marital difficulties I experienced 'the dark night of the soul' and stopped going anywhere. Gradually I felt that I no longer believed anything and became very cynical about life. We came to Australia in 1989, experienced further marital difficulties culminating in divorce in 1991.1 now found myself with two teenage daughters to support and working full time. I felt quite bitter that there was no God - or if there was he certainly wasn't listening to me. In 1998 my younger daughter was 'searching for that elusive something that makes life worthwhile. After trying several churches of different denominations she decided to try our local Catholic parish. She went along, gradually got to know people and was invited to join the RCIA for that year. I began to notice changes in her as she became more thoughtful and she was an inspi-
The Record continues with Vocations stories Earlier this year Sister Joseph of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth celebrated the silver jubilee of her religious profession. Her many friends in North Beach congratulate her on this milestone and wish her happiness and many blessings in her future work For Reflections, Sister Joseph wrote about her religious journey: 'eldest of the three children of my parents, Stanislawa and Franciszek Masur. My mother died when I was aged nine. After mother's death, our father consecrated us children to the Virgin Mary, telling us: 'From now on, She is your Mother. Don't cry.. go to her with everything. She will always be there for you...' I took my father's words seriously and started my friendship with Our Lady. I was about to finish high school (technician engineering) when I said "Yes' to God's call. WhenIbecame a nun,Ichose Jesus' Mother as my patroness saint. At that time, like many young people that age, I thought a lot about the future and my place in the world. I prayed, read the Bible every day for half an hour, searching for the light to help me make life's most important decision. Help came like lightning. The Lord's grace hit me suddenly. I knew I was going to serve the Lord as a religious, but I wasn't sure what sort of religious. Page 4
Why I became a Catholic The Record, PO Box 75 Leederville WA 6902 email: cathrec@iinet.net.au
ration to me. When she had had three close bereavements shared meals or special cere(my daughter and two fathers). monies I was invited to come The shared experiences seemed along. I also got to know people to bind us together and the weektoo and two years later I joined ly meetings were an essential to RCIA. We little dreamt how our keep going. lives were about to change. Christ's teaching to "let your On a Saturday night in March light so shine before men that 2001, we were watching TV at they may see your good works 10.30pm when the police came and glorify your Father in heavto the door. They said, "I'm sorry en," was surely in evidence here. to tell you that Marianne died Now, 17 months later,Ilook back today". Marianne was my older and feel so grateful for all the daughter. She was suffering from wonderful support that we were depression and was in hospital. given. Following a broken relationship Our experience has made me earlier in the day, she told the aware of many things. I don't believe that we could have coped staff that she was going for a without our faith. Although Marwalk, went outside and commitianne was not a practising Christed suicide. She was 28. I had tian at the time of her deathI still spoken to her twice on the phone that afternoon, the last time at believe that she is now at peace and in a better place.Ialways get about 6.30pm. much comfort from the words in You can imagine our shock, the Mass when Father prays for pain and complete disbelief. It those who have died "whose was like living through a nightfaith only God can know". mare. Despite the time, our I am much more aware how parish priest, Father Tony Plies Important hospitality can be. came and also a friend. Jane. Rose MacAlpine courageously tells her story. They stayed until almost lam had plenty of food in the house Often we didn't even know who Sometimes the smallest act of kindness can mean so much to praying with us and talking and but were incapable of putting It was but we were comforted. listening as we tried to make anything together. Some wonOther people invited us out for someone in need. I am more some sense of it all. derful ladies provided the funer- a meal or a concert. One won- aware of the shattering experiThe following day we were vis- al lunch, others brought cakes, derful person gave time and sup- ence that death can bring and ited by Sister Ann Cullinane who tea, coffee, flowers and most of port during the coming months the need to nurse the bereaved gave wonderful support that day all, themselves. when there were difficulties with until they are able to think straight again. (including taking us to the morOne of my most enduring the estate. We have been much blessed in tuary) and in the coming months. memories is of several mornings Others gave gifts of money as In the following weeks we were at weekday Mass when one or we struggled to meet funeral and this past 17 months and we give thanks to God that we are supported by kindness in all other of us (and often both) burial costs. forms, as love was poured out on would break down in tears, lovThe support that I received Catholics and have been so lovus. People came daily with meals ing arms would be round our from my RCIA group was quite ingly supported. Rose MacAlpine during those first awful days. We shoulders just offering comfort. extraordinary. In that group we
Sr Joseph traces debt to Our Lady
4411was born in Poland, the
Do you have a conversion story to share? If so, why not send it in to:
Sr Joseph
God helped with that dilemma, too. A classmate invited me to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth's Prayer Day for Vocations where I met my destiny. I spent two years in the novitiate cloister, then was sent to Rome. The time in Rome was very special to me. It was my great privilege to meet the Holy Father and to talk to him several times. During my 25 years in the convent I have tried to serve Jesus and His people the best way 1 could. Today! am very grateful to God for the gift of life, my family, the gift of vocation, the Sisters, my extended Our Lady of Grace parish family and all my friends. Ipray that the Lord who made marvellous things for me will bless you always for your genuine kindness, love and support. Sister Joseph Courtesy of Reflections', Our Lady of Grace Church, North Beach
Deborah joins CDF Board The Catholic Development Fund has a new board member. At their Board meeting held on Wednesday of last week, members of the Board welcomed Deborah Hegarty to their ranks. Deborah was recently invited to Join the Board following the retirement of Terry Gabbedy at the end of last year. Having met with Greg Russo. Archdiocesan Financial Administrator, Deborah's appointment was subsequently formalised by His Grace, Archbishop Hickey. The CDF Board is a sub-committee of the Archbishop's Finance Advisory Committee and together with other committees is Vicki Hansen, left, Greg Gaunt, Chairman of the CDF Board, and Deborah charged with the responsibility of Hegarty at last week's Board Meeting. providing advice to His Grace, important that we work towards a highly valued' Brian added. HighArchbishop Hickey on matters better gender balance. Further, lights of Deborah's professional relating to the financial, temporal Debbie has extensive expertise career can be viewed on the CDF management and administration and knowledge in health, aged website of the Archdiocese. care and government. CDF fund- 'www.cdfcatholicwa.com'. 'Personally, I am very pleased ing to the Catholic hospital and Deborah and her husband Peter Debbie has joined our Board,' aged care sectors continues to have two sons. Deborah is activesays Brian Parry, Fund Manager. grow, and now represents a very ly involved in the Old Aquinians 'This is for two masons. Up until significant proportion of the over- Hockey Club and is also currentnow we have only had one lady all loans we enter into. Hence, ly Secretary/Treasurer of the on our Board and I believe Ills Debbie's added input will be Aquinas Boat Club.
1100 youth `regener8' for Jesus by Stephen Spiteri Youth, energy hype, bright lights and Jesus; this was the story for many during Youth Alive WA's Regener8' rally held at the Perth Entertainment Centre (PEC) on Saturday August 10 between seven and lOpm. People of all ages, from all denominations and backgrounds made their way to the PEC to be entertained by break dancers, Ens, live bands and guest speakers, not forgetting to make a necessary fuss over the main reason they were there, Jesus. With plans for the PEC to be demolished in the not too distant future, who would have expected that the very last event held at the
venue was going to be about God? topped mainstream music charts, Things at the 'Ent-Cent' - as it is exciting fans, setting the stage by also known - were going to finish playing an energetic set of punkoff with a bang. rock And it was bang right from the The Youth Alive band then took word 'go'. things over, leading the audience The front of the PEC was jam- In some praise and worship packed. People eagerly awaited before featured speaker, Jurgen the opening of the doors, and Matthesius, took the microphone when they were finally opened and delivered his message. bang on 7pm. Yet the most powerful and excitA stampede of clamorous young ing part of the evening was found Christians flooded the front gates within a time-space of only 10 entering the main lobbies, not for- minutes that evening. A call to all getting to be orderly in their those who wanted to commit or entrance avoiding any accidents re-commit their lives to Jesus in the rush. Christ saw around 1100 young A 60-second countdown lead to people put their hands up, a numone of the most exciting features ber which turned out to be a quarof the rally, Melbourne based ter of the people present at the band 'Antiskeptic' who have PEC that night.
II Record
22 August, 2002
A taste for uni life
Five days of renewal Sacred Heart Church in Thornlie is inviting all to a five-day event aimed at renewal of each person's life. The renewal mission will be led by Marist
By Stephen Spiteri Students at CBC Fremantle will be given the opportunity to begin university studies at Notre Dame in their final years of school under an agreement signed between the two institutions. Under the agreement, students who are performing well at school will be able to undertake units at the university while completing their TEE. If they do well in their university studies, they will be guaranteed a place at Notre Dame on completion of their TEE and the unit studied will count towards their degree. Headmaster of CBC Fremantle David McFadden said the program would encourage and reward academic achievement and give students a unique opportunity to begin their university degree studies while still at school. "Students will be able to experience study at university that supplements and CBC Fremantle students (L to R) Alex Fossilo, Bradley McLaughlin and Alex Blair-Jacobs. extends the TEE program, whilst providYear 11 students at the school will begin McLaughlin and Alex Blair-Jacobs, all ing an alternative means of entry in to their university degree studies by com- agreed that the program was an exceluniversity," Mr McFadden said. "You could not get a better final school pleting a General Studies Advanced lent idea and a great opportunity. Level Course from Cambridge Universi"It brings university closer to people at year preparation for university." Mr McFadden describes the program ty in the UK, which will be taught at the high school, gives us more time to do our degree and gets us out in to the work as a "seamless transition" for students school. CBC Students Alex Fossilo, Bradley force." wanting to pursue a tertiary education.
Mandurah's Catholics celebrate By Stephen Spited Thursday August 15 marked the Golden Jubilee celebrations for Our Lady's Assumption Catholic Church, the first Catholic Church built in Mandurah in 1952. The Parish community elected to mark this significant milestone with two special events fittingly on the feast of Our Lady's Assumption. A thanksgiving Mass con-celebrated by Parish priest Fr Ian Johnson. associate priest Fr Roy Pereira, Bishop of Bunbury Gerard Holohan, recently retired B:shop Peter Quinn, and a number of priests from the Bunbury and Perth archdiocese, led off the celebrations. Following the Mass, approximately 250 past and present parishioners attended a gala dinner at Mandurah Offshore Fishing Club providing a fitting climax for the special day. To commemorate the occasion, a beautifully designed bookmark featuring Our Lady and the Church was distributed to all present and to all school children at Catholic schools in the district. The wording on the reverse side of the bookmark says, "In love and thanksgiving to the
A timeline marking key events in the church's history.
ber at the parish church. Morning sessions will run from 9.30am to 11am and will be repeated in the evenings from 7.30 pm to 9
pm. Admission is free. Fr Thornhill is a Marist Father with an international reputation as a writer and lecturer in theology. He was a member of the International Theological Commission (1980-1985), appointed by Pope John Paul II. For several years he was a member of the Anglican / Roman Catholic International Commission (ARCIC II). In recent years he has been giving lectures to parish audiences throughout Australia and in neighbouring countries. He has published a number of books and numerous articles. Topics to be focussed on will be: Good News for the World, Jesus Christ Today, Do this in Memory of Me, Can Prayer Be A Satisfying Experience?, and The Community of the Lord's Disciples.
The Uniting Church Bookshop and Resource Centre
Having difficulty finding the books you want? Can we help you? Suppliers of theological and religious 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
PRINCIPALS OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL SCHOOL HILTON Our Lady of Mount Carmel School is situated in Hilton and caters for 276 children from K—Year 7. Founded in 1954, the school, to this day, remains faithful to the tradition of the Carmelites. The school motto of Truth, Prayer. Service and the strong community spirit bear witness to the ongoing influence of the Order. The school's curriculum recognises the need to educate the whole person and, in recognition of this, programs are offered in Physical Education, Music, Information Technology, Library and Italian. An instrumental program is available for children from Years 4-7. The completion of the Capital Development Program at Our Lady of Mount Cannel School has resulted in the opening of a new library, kindergarten and administration building along with extensive refurbishment of existing classrooms and playgrounds. A Strategic Plan is in place to shape the school board priorities for the next three years.
At the altar of OLA Catholic Church.
people who, 50 years ago made the decision to build the first Catholic Church in Mandurah, and in recognition of those who have sustained and developed our church over the past 50 years." Bishop Holohan said he was very honoured to be present for the Jubilee celebrations, and pleased with the efforts of the Mandurah Catholic community over the past 50 years.
Shrine to Our Lady near the altar.
GOOD SHEPHERD CATHOLIC SCHOOL LOCKRIDGE Good Shepherd Catholic School is a double stream primary school located in Lockridge. The school's current enrolment is 550 students, many of whom come from a multi-cultural background. The school's major catchment areas are Beechboro, Lockridge, Eden Hill and Morley. There is a very positive relationship between the school and the parish with strong pastoral care being a hallmark of the school. The curriculum at the school aims to foster the development of the whole person. Staff have worked diligently towards the implementation of the Curriculum Framework with many teachers competent in its application. A small group of students with special needs and those from non-English speaking backgrounds are catered for within the mainstream structure. The congregation is censed at the commencement of Mass.
( a thol ducat ion Commission Western A ustralia
Front stained glass window.
Father John Thornhill and will run in the mornings and evenings from 9 to 13 Septem-
The successful applicants will be required to take up these positions at the commencement of Term 1, 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 9212 9268 or Email: loney.martin@cathednet. wa.edu.au Application forms address to: The Director, Catholic Education Office. PO Box 198, Leederville WA 6903 by Friday 13 September 2002
Exterior view of Our Lady's Assumption Catholic Church as it is now.
Page 5
I Say, I Say....
with Paul Gray
If our political authorities cannot assure Of course, this does not prove that AmerThis shows that some wars can indeed flWar - what is it good for? "Absolutely nothing!' says the be justified. But of course, that is not the themselves and the Australian people that ica will make no moral mistakes in any same as saying that every decision made civilian attacks are categorically ruled out future war it launches. But it does give us song. Well, I don't agree with the song com- in the course of fighting such a war is there- by all military forces with whom Australia cause for confidence that in America, at is to act in unison during an upcoming least, the real issues involved in war, pletely. That's because sometimes, the cost fore justified also. including the moral ones, are being taken of NOT going to war can also be too high. Later in World War II, Britain engaged in war, then we should not enter it. Fortunately, there are solid grounds for seriously. The true art of discernment lies in know- extensive civilian bombings in Germany. War is sometimes justified - and Saddam believing that such assurances are possiing when those 'sometimes occur. Such Many German children died. Hussein has done enough large-scale discernment is a moral requirement that The USA not only used the atom bomb ble in the defence alliance between Australia and the United States. For a human rights abusing to warrant the susweighs particularly heavily on Christians against Japan - it also fire-bombed Tokyo, at any time of likely or possible war. setting the city aflame and burning many start, Australia and the US share a similar picion that in certain circumstances, a war A recent TV series about the Battle of civilians to death. democratic culture, with a relatively high to remove him from power could also be Britain highlights the point. The program However justified a decision to go to war degree of openness about military policy. justified. told the story of Britons bombed by the may be, who can ever justify a military In the US, there has even been a public That is why it is undoubtedly a mistake Nazis during World War II. decision to kill children in pursuit of the debate conducted formally by the US Sen- for people of good will to refuse, in a blanWe saw a woman recount surviving the war's military objectives? No-one. ate in recent weeks, on whether or not the ket way, to even consider the possibility sinking of a ship carrying a load of chilThis is a major moral issue in any con- US should attack Iraq. Expert witnesses that Australia should participate in a war dren to Canada. We heard reports of many sideration of a prospective war, I believe. have publicly testified about whether a against Saddam. children dying in a bombed school. How will that war be fought? military attack should be launched, and if But that does not mean we should blindWe heard a man describe seeing his Will civilians be considered legitimate so, when. In the history of warfare, this rep- ly support it either. As the debate unfolds. mother killed by a bomb. Such images and 'military" targets? This is not a decision for resents an almost unprecedented degree we should instead insist on clear moral stories stir the emotions, and lead us military authorities, but for the political of openness. As one commentator principles for the conduct of any war towards accepting as a rational proposi- authorities who employ the military. If Aus- humourously observed, if Saddam HusEspecially, we should insist that civilians tion the idea that sometimes, fighting a tralia is to enter another war, we need to sein wished to known when America was be protected at all times. For Australia, that war is justified. make it clear as a nation that attacks on going to attack, all he would have to do is should be the unbreakable condition for Britain's decision to fight back against civilians are completely unacceptable as a log on to the Internet, go to a US Govern- supporting our allies. Nazi Germany after the Nazis adopted the stratagem for fighting it. This includes ment web-site and follow the debate. policy of bombing civilian areas in London civilian attacks used by any allies we would be seen, by most people today as a may be joining in the fighting of the morally justified decision. war.
TO JESUS THROUGH MARY gt column of Marian devotion
RD on
Sunday
A layman's meditations, by Peter Dwan
F
ollowing Vatican II, the Church experienced a crisis of authority. There was widespread dissent when Pope Paul issued his encyclical Humanae Vitae which set out beautifully and profoundly the Church's teaching on human sexuality and love, especially in relation to reproduction. Many refused to accept what turned out to be a prescient and heroic teaching by Paul VI, ignoring the warnings of what would happen when love was separated from sex. The convert G.K. Chesterton once said that we don't need a Church that is right when we are right, we need a Church that is right when we are wrong. The theme of authority is introduced In the first reading (Isaiah 21:19-23). Because of the reference to the "key of the house of David", some of the Fathers of the Church saw in it a messianic prophecy, foretelling the removal from power of the Chosen People of the Old Testament, and the transfer of the power to Christ, who in turn handed it to Peter as head of the Church. The mention of the key of authority seems to be the reason why this reading was chosen for today when the gospel (Matthew 16:13-20) describes the giving of the keys to Peter. The reading begins: "Thus says the Lord of hosts to Shebna, the master of the palace: I dismiss you from your office, I remove you from your post." This steward, Shebna, was evidently abusing his power by urging the king Hezekiah (716-687) to revolt against Assyria and call Egypt to his aid. Isaiah was totally opposed to this; Judah should trust in her God, not in any pagan help.
"A Redemptorist priest once said that those Catholics who want to follow their own conscience rather than obey the Magisterium want to be Catholics and Protestants at the same time."
Page 6
But she did not, and this is what ultimately led to the destruction of Judah and Jerusalem 100 years later. Shebna was replaced by a true steward, Elikiam, "who shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the House of Judah" and be appointed by God. Jesus refers implicitly to this text when he gives to Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven: "whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven. whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven." In the second reading (Romans 11:3336) St Paul says: "How rich are the depths of God - how deep his wisdom and knowledge - and how impossible to penetrate his motives or understand his methods!" A famous convert, the late Group Captain Leonard Cheshire who was also a winner of the Victoria Cross and who founded the Cheshire Homes for the dying, once commented that there is no more room for private opinion in religious matters than in the sciences. Today's gospel records that "When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Phillipi he put this question to his disciples, "Who do the people say the Son of Man is?" And they said: "Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." Without authority, there will be differing views on the most basic religious questions. This is at the heart of doctrinal differences between the Churches. Our Lord continued: "But, you, who do you say I am?" Then Simon Peter spoke up: "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Simon, son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you. but my Father in heaven? A function of those who inhabit the papacy is to proclaim divinely revealed truths when necessary Christ continued: "You are Peter and on this rockI will build my Church and the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it." We Catholics are richly blessed to belong to a Church which teaches in Christ's name and with authority.
s reported in last week's Record, readers have an opportunity to resent Our Lady with a birthday gift of prayer over the weekend before her birthday on September 8. The schedule below can be filled in, cut out and sent or faxed to one of the following people:
Margaret Bowen 2 Suso St, Woodlands, WA 6018 fax: (08) 9446 1933 email: bowen iinet.net.au Janis Macken fax: (08) 9255 4182 Kathy Varady ph: (08) 9622 5693
Rosaries for the Bouquet Wednesday 4 Sept, 6pm to Friday 6 Sept, 6pm Wed
6-7pm
6-7pin
7-8pm
7-8pm
8-)pm
8-9pm
9-10pm
9-10pm
10-11pm
10-11pm
11-12pm
11-12pm
Thurs 12-lam
Fri
12-lam
1-2am
1-2am
2-3am
2-3am
3-4am
3-4am
4-5am
4-5ani
5-6am
5-6aM
6-7am
6-7am
7-8am
7-Barn
8-9am
8-9am
9-10am
9-10am
10-11am
10-ham
11-12am
11-12am
1 2- 11)111
12-1pm
1-2pm
1-2pm
2-3pm
2-3pm
3-4pm
3-4pm
4-5pm
4-5pm
5-6pm
5-6pm
...... --------
Milestones in the Culture of Death
The Record
The following guest editorial is an edited version of a talk delivered in May this year. It appeared in the August edition of The Australian Family, journal of the Australian Family Association. Its author is Richard Egan, State President of the National Civic Council.
PO Box 75, Leederville, WA 6902 Tel: (08) 9227 7080, Fax: (08) 9227 7087 cathrec@iinetnet.au
/
on the grounds that they are inevitably dying anyway and mankind could benefit form the knowledge gained. In that case what would distinguish the liberators form the Nazis? In Dostoievslci's The Brothers Karamazov the following question is posed. "Imagine that you are creating the fabric of human destiny with the object of making men happy in the end, giving them peace and rest at last, but it was essential to torture to death only one tiny human creature - that baby beating its fist, for instance - and to found that edifice on its unavenged tears, would you consent to be the architect of those conditions? "Tell me, and tell me the truth." To the shame of our nation our Prime Minister and Premiers have answered Dostoievski's question - they have consented to build the future healthcare of our nation on the unavenged dismemberment of our tiniest brothers and sisters who are, as we speak, voicelessly waiting frozen in concentration camps across the nation to be defrosted and consumed in this orgy of pseudo-scientific cannibalism. It is time, past time, for every person of good will in this country to stand up and give voice to the voiceless; to shout a resounding NO to the culture of death, to the cult of human sacrifice. Whether this decision goes down in history as another milestone for the culture of death depends, humanly speaking, on our response.
n 1857 the Supreme Court of the Unit- i ncluded the right of every woman to abor- empire of the culture of death all share ed States of America in the case of tion at any time up to birth. The Court two common themes: the denial of the Scott v. Stanford decided that Dred claimed fatuously that science could not humanity of a whole class of people comScott should remain a slave, that as a slave determine when human life began, bined with a ruthless utilitarianism which he was not a citizen of the US and thus not despite clear knowledge of the relevant is in any case prepared to sacrifice the eligible to bring suit in a federal court, and biology having been available for about a lives, the bodily integrity or the freedom that as a slave he was personal property century. of that class of people for the benefit of and thus had never been free. On May 26 1998 the Parliament of West- those who are more powerful or who are In 1927 the same court said in the case ern Australia determined that it would be considered (by those in power) to be more of Buck v. Bell: We have seen more than lawful for any medical practitioner to desirable. once that the public welfare may call upon abort a child up to 20 weeks' gestation for On April 5, 2002, the Prime Minister of the best citizens for their lives. It would be any reason or none and from 20 weeks to Australia, our six premiers and two Terristrange if it could not call upon those who birth if two doctors from a Government tory Chief Ministers shook hands already sap the strength of the State for appointed panel agreed it was 'necessary'. announced that Australia would proceed these lesser sacrifices, often not felt to be During the 1998 debate our present Pre- with uniform national legislation to such by those concerned, in order to pre- mier repeated the US Supreme Court's license scientists to conduct experiments vent our being swamped with incompe- nostrum that science can't tell us when on those human embryos determined to tence. It is better for all the world, if instead human life begins (if this was fatuous in be excess to the requirements of the in of waiting to execute degenerate offspring 1972 it was just plain ignorant in 1998 after vitro fertilisation programmes. for crime, or to let them starve for their 20 years of observation of the fertilisation Mr Howard explained that he could not Imbecility, society can prevent those who of human beings in IVF laboratories), see enough of an ethical gap between letare manifestly unfit from continuing their while Minister Sheila McHale, the present ting these "surplus" embryos die and using kind. The principle that sustains compul- Minister for Community Development, them in experiments that could benefit sory vaccination is broad enough to cover urged MPs to dismiss the notion that it the sick. cutting the Fallopian tubes... Three gener- was an unborn baby that was aborted, at The moral blindness is profoundly disations of imbeciles are enough.' 5-6 weeks it was not a human body We turbing. The ethical gap John Howard Just this month the State of Virginia final- are still waiting for Ms McHale, who voted can;t see is exactly the gap between the ly apologised to the tens of thousands of for abortionOon not just at 5-6 weeks but liberators of Auschwitz watching help'imbeciles sterilised under this Supreme at any gestational stage to tell what it is lessly as some of the surviving inmates Court decision between 1927 and 1972. that is suctioned or scraped out of a died from the irreversible effects of star- • The opinions sec-pressed in this editorIn 1973 the Supreme Court discovered woman's uterus in an abortion if it is not vation and ill-treatment and those libera- ial, and any other Record editorial, are not tors deciding to continue the experiments necessarily those of the Roman Catholic within he penumbra of the shadows of the the body of a human baby. These milestones in the building of the begun by the Nazis on these poor souls Archbishop of Perth. US Constitution that the right of privacy
Where does it all stop?
A
of these calling for "greater restriction of sex, violence, drug use and coarse language". Those calling for more restrictions cited principles 'b' and 'c' of the Code: (b)minors should be protected from material likely to harm or disturb them; c)everyone should be protected from exposure to unsolicited material that they find offensive. Those calling for lessening of restrictions were; a) users of media materials, and b) producers of the materials. Four of the 'Media Organisations' making submissions were makers of "adult" material. Individuals who were computer game players argued from principle 'a' of the Code: (a)adults should be able to read, hear and see what they want. A reading of the whole Report reveals a stark contrast between those concerned about others (minors) and those focussed entirely on themselves; between those wanting standards of decency and those seeking self-gratification and/or profit. In his final summary, Dr Brand uses definitions of "Censor" and "Classify" to maintain that the classification of films etc, by the OFLC, should not mean the censoring p lublic forum on Censorship is being of them. This now means that commereld at 16B, 190 Swansea St, Victoria cially vested interests and the consumers Park, on liresday, 27th August, from 11am of pornography and other vile material will till 2.30pm. Mrs Cheryl Edwardes will be most probably be given more freedom to do their damage. one of the guest speakers. Congratulations to those who made subIssues like sex, violence and coarse language on television, cinema screens, video missions. and radio, will be discussed. Mrs Carol V. Phillips I urgently implore readers to attend, if Queens Park only to learn a little more about how to fight the insidious influence of the secular media. If you are at all concerned about standards of morality and decency in the media, it is important that you do something. A Mass for babies who died before Meanwhile, as a follow-on to my plea last baptism is being held on 15th Septemyear to men of good-will to urgently make ber, at 5.30pm at Our Lady of Grace submissions to the Office of Film and LitChurch, 3 Kitchener St, North Beach. erature Classification, regarding the proThis Mass is to help those who have posed new Guidelines, the following may never had a chance to grieve or name be of interest. their baby. The 372 submissions were analysed by a Mothers, fathers, siblings grandparDr Brand, and reported in a document entients or any other interested persons tled Report on the Review of Classification are invited to attend. Please come Guidelines 2001. In this depressing, and along if you can. sometimes sickening, Report, the recommendation for "Issue 4" is of most concern: "It is recommended that the standards in the Guidelines be less restrictive than those in both the Draft Revised Guidelines and the existing Guidelines. Fifty three per cent of submissions to the OFLC were by individuals, and one third of these "sought protection of children from harmful or disturbing material", one third
American parents, but also for Australians. Talking on American television last week, he spoke of how, with the support of his local district attorney and the co-operation of six parents, he arranged for them to take their children, aged from five to ten years, to play in six different locations in a large park. Looking a bit sinister in very dark sunglasses, he told the parents he would drive up next to each child, to see if he could entice them to climb into his car. Six parents insisted he would not suc0 L ETTERS TO THE EDITOR ceed, as they had lectured their children at length on the dangers of child molesters, following a recent string of child.murders. When he approached the children, he told the younger ones he had some candy for them in the car. The older ones were Pornography encourages promiscuity asked if they would help him find his and in numerous identified cases, has puppy. The parents were horrified - five out of resulted in sexual assaults of women and the six children climbed into his car and children. he shut the door. B Peachy Frank Benet Woodlands Petrie Qld
6 the
s you know, parliamentarians have an important vote coming up in Federal Parliament concerning stemcell research. As this will be a conscience vote and not bound by part lines, I thought I would advise your readers of my position in relation to this important issue. Ibelieve that in the area of bioethics, clear lines for research have to be drawn especially when dealing with human life. The destruction of embryonic stem cells for research is such a line and if it was to proceed it could represent the thin edge of the wedge. I am concerned that if we proceed with this, further stretching of the boundaries may follow such as developing embryos specifically for harvest and possibly human cloning. While sympathetic to the need for research,Iam still not convinced that alternative research on adult stem cells and ngela Shanahan of the Australian in other material will not provide the results her answer to Industrial Relations that we are seeking. Minister Tony Abbot took up the point of Catholic education which, she indicated, Chris Ellison had a profound moral effect and influenced Senator for WA • many leaders of thought in our country. But, with Tony Abbot, she feels its 'loss of analytic rigour." Dart of the reason why sex abuse of G K Chesterton would not agree with her, .L women and children is common and though he probably would find the truth there are so many broken marriages can 'unpalatable'. be found on the finance pages of the West "Most of us" said Chesterton, "Are only Australian. half aware that the air we breathe is antiIn a recent report of the trading of the Catholic; that the history we are taught, the publicly listed company, Adultshop.com moral ideas behind the legal system we Ltd, which owns the Barbarella chain of obey, the restrictions imposed on us, the sex shops and a cyber-pornography busi- political conceptions embodied in every ness. It declared an income for the three public act, the general attitude towards formonths ending on 30 June, of a massive eign countries, are all the products of that $42.3 million. Nationalism which our non-Catholic felThis should ring alarm bells for all politi- low-citizens regards as the sacred emocians because it means that society is flood- tion". ed with pornography, some of which will He certainly does not agree that we must be viewed by children. go to war with the USA against Iraq? There is a substantial body of scientific That would be most unpalatable, and research that shows that massive exposure unemotional, as well as being morally at to non-violent, non-coercive, consensual Issue with our Catholic Faith. pornography can produce increasing calG Russo lousness towards women. Both men and Marmion women compare their intimate partner's appearance and sexual responses with the images displayed in pornography. Mature adults using pornography, come he spate of child abductions in Amerto view non-monogamous relationships as ica has prompted a private detective normal and natural behaviour and the triv- there to conduct an experiment, which ialisation of rape. should act as an eye-opener, not only for
An issue of faith
A
Pornography blamed...
Strangers with candy
T
Raising standards
Ai
BABIES MASS
News of the Church. Find it in The Record
Page 7
In the spotlight
WNMEMORY
Katowice Krakow :
•
the crowd from his residence window every evening. teasing well-wishers that if he had aged 23 years since n a four-day trip to his Polish homeland, Pope his first trip home so had they. On his last night, he sang John Paul II said the legacy of a local saint — a the crowd a goodbye song before dining with a group of devotional movement dedicated to God's heal- old friends. ing mercy -- offered the remedy to a world torn by sufBut he was not back in Krakow just to relive his memfering, conflict and sin. ories. He came to promote a prayer movement inspired The visit from August 16-19 to his former Archdiocese by the visions of St Faustina Kowalska more than 60 of Krakow was an emotional one, as the Pope retraced years ago; the movement has spread to many other counhis steps as a young man, a priest and a bishop. Poles tries. welcomed him as their favourite son, in a homecoming On August 17 he dedicated a new basilica next to St made all the more moving by the pontiff s frailty Faustina's former convent, the geographical heart of the `You are home,' they chanted. 'Stay with us.' Divine Mercy movement. The next day, at a Mass attend'With my heart and my thoughts, yes,' he said. ed by more than 2 million people, he beatified four Poles The 82-year-old Pope reminisced and bantered with - a bishop, two priests and a nun - who exemplified the saint's concept of mercy in action. On From august. 19 he prayed at a Calvary shrine and honoured Mary as the one who, at the foot of the cross, uniquely shared in divine mercy and knew its greatness. Every stop held deep meaning to residents of the Pope's native archdiocese, but his point was that these local traditions now have an echo in the universal church. 'How greatly today's world needs God's mercy,' the Pope said during a sermon at the dedication Mass at the Sanctuary of Divine Mercy. 'In every continent, from the depth of human suffering, a cry for mercy seems to rise up. Where hatred and thirst for revenge dominate, where war brings suffering and death to the innocent, there the grace of mercy is needed in order to settle human minds and hearts and to bring about peace,' he said. The Pope spoke inside a modernistic structure that soared above the Krakow suburban skyline, part of a $20 million pilgrimage complex. As part of the consecration rite, he poured holy oil on the bare marble altar and spread it with his bare palm. He struggled to pronounce the longer prayers of the three-hour-long liturgy but read his sermon in a strong voice that was easily understood by the thousands who packed the church and an adjacent field. The Pope recalled that before her death in 1938 St Faustina proclaimed that people should open their hearts to God's merciful love, which "is stronger than even the greatest sin.' He said that message has special relevance in our own time, when people feel 'bewilderment in the face of many manifestations of evil.' He received his longest applause when he formally entrusted the world to Divine Mercy — one of St FaustiPope John Paul II waves to Polish pilgrims as he arrives at the na's deepest desires. Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in the Lagiewniki suburb of Krakow, At the end of the Mass, the Pope reminisced about the Poland, August 17. Photo. CNS/Reuters days when, as a young worker at the nearby Solvay By John Thavis, CNS
0
psc
Page 8
er,ot
Pope John Paul II smiles as he shares a meal with old school friends at the archbishop's residence in Krakow, Poland, August 18. Photo CNS/Reuters
chemical plant during the Nazi occupation, he would walk past St Faustina's convent and sometimes stop in to pray at a church on the grounds. Although the two never met, as a young man the Pope had heard of the nun's visions and was intrigued by them. "Every day I walked this road coming to work for different shifts in wooden shoes that one used to wear those days. How could one imagine then that this man in wooden shoes would one day be consecrating a Basilica of Divine Mercy?" he said. In Krakow's Blonia Park, the Pope celebrated Mass From august. 18 for an estimated 2.2 million people, many of whom had spent the night in the grassy meadow. Local church officials said it was the largest crowd ever to attend a papal liturgy in Poland. The Pope beatified four Polish church figures and praised them as 'stupendous examples" of mercy in daily life: • Archbishop Sigmund Felinski, who as head of the Warsaw Archdiocese in the 19th century protested czarist persecutions and was exiled to Siberia. • Father John Balicki, known for his care for the poor and needy, who during World War II stayed in the Soviet-occupied portion of a Polish city in order to keep seminary formation alive.
A Krakow resident waits to see his beloved Pope John Paul II pass by on his way to the Lagiewniki suburb of Krakow on August 17. Photo' CNS/Reuters
• Jesuit Father John Beyzym, who founded the church's first hospital for leprosy patients in Madagascar in the early 1900s. •Sister Santia Szymkowiak, who ministered to English and French prisoners of war during the Nazi occupation of Poland until her death from tuberculosis in 1942. The massive crowd sent forth waves of applause when the Pope spoke of the need for mercy and charity in a world facing new threats to life, to the family and to social justice. A sea of banners and flags -- including the Stars and Stripes — waved in the sunshine after the liturgy, as the Pope pronounced greetings in a dozen languages to those who had come long distances for the weekend celebrations. He asked them to keep spreading the Divine Mercy message. The Pope met with Poland's political leaders during his stay and expressed confidence in the future path of Polish development. But he noted that "many Polish families, especially the largest ones, and many unemployed and elderly people are carrying the weight of social and economic change.' He reminded Poles that economic success cannot be built upon the impoverishment and suffering of 'our
brothers and sisters.' That, too, is part of the Divine Mercy message, he said. Among those greeting the pontiff was President Aleksander Kwasniewski, who has championed Poland's efforts to make additional economic sacrifices that will allow the country to enter into the European Union in 2004. The Pope paid private visits to the Wawel Cathedral, where he celebrated his first Mass 56 years ago, and to the Krakow cemetery where his mother, father and brother are buried. At one point he stopped his Popemobile in front of the house where he lived as a boy with his father. 'The Pope has fond memories of his life here. Behind every corner is a memory,' said Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls. Pausing before the Church of St Florian, his first parish assignment, the Pope asked for prayers for the living and the dead and 'for the Pope, when he is alive and after he dies.' That wistful note was not to be found in the cheers and chants of Krakow Catholics, who urged him repeatedly to live '100 years' and to stay with them in his homeland. 'So you want me to abandon Rome!' he retorted. He celebrated a final liturgy at another place of personal significance: Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, a 400-yearold shrine dedicated to Christ's passion and Mary's compassion. Located some 30 miles outside Krakow, it was a place the future Pope visited as a boy with his father. In his sermon, the Pope asked for Mary's help in obtaining the physical and spiritual strength needed to carry out his mission 'to the end.' He also invoked Mary's special protection for the unemployed, the suffering and the young. 'Show young people a way and a horizon for the future. Cover children with the mantle of your protection, lest they be scandalised,' he said. Before leaving Poland for Rome, he took a helicopter ride over his home town of Wadowice. He told Poles he'd like to come back and see them again -- but added that this was "entirely in God's hands.'
- CNS
Main Photo: A crowd estimated at 2.2 million greets Pope John Paul II at an August 18 Mass in Blonia Par* in Krakow, Poland. Local church officials said it was the largest crowd ever to attend a papal liturgy in Poland. Photo at top right Pope John Paul II blesses the crowd as he prepares to celebrate a Mass in Krakow's Blonia Park August 18. The pope beatified four Polish church figures during the - Map at top left of Poland. Mass. Photos: CA
Pope John Paul II celebrates Mass at the Sanctuary of the Passion of Jesus and of the Sorrowful Mother in Kahvatia ZebrzyPhoto: CNS/Reuters dowska, Poland, August 19.
Y\C.7'e
Ce;
Page 9
22 August, 2002
Features
Record
Counting the cost of no restraint N
ew fears about levels of violence in the media have surfaced. In France, a 17-year-old was arrested after being named by a dying girl as her attacker, the British Guardian reported on June 6. The case was linked to the Wes Craven horrorfilm trilogy 'Scream.' Reportedly the youth admitted that he was obsessed with the film 'Scream,' which features a knifewielding killer attacking fellow students on a U.S. campus. "He told gendarmes that he viewed the video on the night of the attack and it was after that he decided to kill someone,' the prosecutor's report stated. It was France's third teen-age murder in two years linked to the influence of the 'Scream' trilogy, the British Observer noted on June 9. And the case brought to The movie which became a motive. nine the number of killings world- last year, compared with 4.7 in wide that were specifically linked 1999 and 4.1 in both 1998 and to Craven's movie. The newspa- 199Z No monitoring was carried per also reported that last year a out in 2000. The most marked rise study by the American Academy has been in children's program, of Pediatrics found that by the age where there were 6.4 such scenes of 18 the average young person per hour last year, against 4.2 in had seen 200,000 acts of violence 1999 and 1.3 in 1998. on television alone. By contrast. a March report In Germany, concern over vio- showed that levels of TV violence lent films was heightened by the in the United States have case of a 19-year-old who mur- declined. The study, 'Hollywood dered 16 teachers and students at Cleans Up Its Act: Changing Rates a school in Erfurt, the London of Sex and Violence in EntertainTimes reported May 3. Though ment Media,' was published by initial reports did not find a direct the Centre for Media and Public link between the youth's viewing Affairs. habits and the murders, GerThe report found that from 1999 many's broadcasting chiefs were to 2001, the amount of serious viocalled for a meeting with Chan- lence in television programs cellor Gerhard SchrOder to work decreased by 17%. The amount of out how to reduce the level of TV violence in the most popular theviolence. atre-release movies, however, The media summit, reported the remained unchanged. Times, could lead to greater selfIn 2000-2001 prime time, TV restraint by broadcasters who are series averaged 15 violent scenes worried that the government, in per hour, down from the 1998-99 the throes of an election cam- average of 18 scenes per hour. The paign, will try to tighten the rules greatest declines on broadcast on viewing. networks came at NBC (down In England a study showed that 25% from a very low base) and television violence has increased CBS (down 19%). sharply during the last four years, Do the shows affect behaviour? the Telegraph reported April 25. Lots of studies focus on the The study, by the television regu- effects of violence in the media on lators and BBC, found that for the viewers, particularly children. first time since monitoring began One such study shows that teenIn 199Z there are now more vio- agers and young adults who lent scenes before the 9 p.m. watched more than an hour of watershed than after. And the vio- television a day were more likely lence is increasingly graphic. to commit violent crimes and There was an average of 5.2 vio- engage in other forms of aggreslent scenes per hour of television sive behaviour later, the New York
A scene from the ultra violent movie that a teen killer admitted he was obsessed with. Cost: one girl's life.
Times reported March 29. The study, published in the journal Science, followed children in 707 families in two counties in upstate New York for 17 years. When adjusted for factors like differences in income, the likelihood of violent or aggressive behaviour among the viewers was 16% to 116% higher than among their counterparts. The research differs from other studies in that it found a link between violence and viewing of any TV programming, not just the violent sort. The study, which is continuing, began when the children were 1 to 10 years old. Details of the study published by Reuters on March 28 showed that 5.7% of the adolescents who watched less than an hour of television committed aggressive acts against other people in later years, compared with 22.5% of those who watched between one and three hours a day. And • 28.8% of those who watched three or more hours of television daily committed aggressive acts. The rate for males was 45%; females, 12.7%. Violent acts by males included assault and fighting, while violent behaviour by young women included robbery and threats. In the New York Times report, Dale Kunkel, a professor of communications at the University of
California at Santa Barbara, said the new study 'is another rock on an already huge pile of evidence documenting the relationship between media violence and realworld violence and aggression.' But others were more cautious, the newspaper noted. Dr. Steven Goodman, a statistician at johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, said studies that look for associations are beset with formidable obstacles. It can be impossible to know whether there were other factors besides television watching that distinguished the less-violent children from the others, he commented. Ethical guidelines In June 2000 the Pontifical Council for Social Communications published a document titled 'Ethics in Communications.' In the section concerning the cultural content of the media, No. 16, the council criticised the all-toofrequent recourse to sex and violence. The document called for greater responsibility, observing: 'It is no excuse to say the media reflect popular standards; for they also powerfully influence popular standards and so have a serious duty to uplift, not degrade, them.' Chapter IV of the document offers some ethical principles concerning the media. For openers, the council explained that
communication should be used 'for the integral development of persons.' On the question of restricting media content, the council affirms that 'the presumption should always be in favour of freedom of expression.' But the document qualifies this right: 'Considered from an ethical perspective, this presumption is not an absolute. indefeasible norm.' Audiences also have responsibilities, the document says: 'The first duty of recipients of social communication is to be discerning and selective.' Audiences need to be educated in the use of the media in order to 'form standards of good taste and truthful moral judgment.' Despite the power of the media, the council noted that 'the means of communication are, and will remain, only media -- that is to say: instruments, tools, available for both good and evil uses. The choice is ours.' The media do not call for a new ethic; they call for the application of established principles to new circumstances,' the council observed. If enough people apply ethical principles when choosing what programs they watch, the media will soon get the message about what they should be producing. - Zenit
Media coverage of China church politically motivated, observers say By Catholic News Service HONG KONG (CNS) — The wide media coverage recently given to the Catholic Church in Beijing has aroused the interest of observers of the church in China. Some said the media blitz is politically motivated, while others downplayed it as a publicity exercise. From July 28 to Aug. 8, China's official Xinhua News Agency put out at least nine reports on recent developments in the Beijing Diocese. IMost gave prominence to governmentappointed Bishop Michael Fu Tieshan of Beijing, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. The reports in Chinese and English included the first profession of final vows by nuns since 1949, inauguration of an institute for Christianity, training of young priests, restoration of the bishop's house, and church preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games. Anthony Lam Sul-ki, senior researcher of Holy Spirit Study Centre in Hong Kong, said the reports indicate the Chinese government's desire to improve its image on religious freedom. However, he said the move cannot make up for restrictions placed on religious groups not approved by the government. Page 10
aim to show, in advance of Chinese President Jiang Zernin's visit to the United States, that China has an open religious policy. The scheduled October meeting between Jiang and US President George W. Bush, he said, might follow up on Sino-Vatican relations, an issue broached by Bush during his visit to Beijing in February. China and the Vatican do not have diplomatic relations. However, Belgian Missionhurst Father Jeroom Heyndrickx, who has followed events in China for more than 50 years, said he thinks it is too early to relate the recent media coverage to such relations. Another source close to the Vatican told UCA News that China's 'media exercise' raises the question of why the move comes at this time. He expressed doubt that it has anything An unidentified woman prays during Mass at a Catholic church in Jilin City, China, in an undated to do with Sino-Vatican relations. In Beijing, Father Francis Xavier Zhang file photo. CNS Me photo by Sean Sprague Tianlu, vice secretary-general of Beijing Father Gianni Criveller, another Vatican, and a government-approved Chi- Municipal Catholic Patriotic Association researcher at the centre, said the reports nese Catholic Patriotic Association, which and Beijing diocesan secretary for external surprised him. rejects papal authority and elects bishops affairs, said the media merely reported the They seem to say that those who collab- without Vatican approval. diocese's new directions. orate with the government will thrive withUp to two-thirds of the governmentFather Zhang said it was an opportune in the church and in the political scene, he approved bishops are said to have recon- time for evangelisation, and the Beijing said. died secretly with the Vatican. Diocese has to fulfill its sacramental, moral, Since 195Z China has had an underAnother church observer writing under social and cultural roles, as well as manground church, which maintains ties to the the pen name Bao Rong said the reports age external relations.
• Rokord
more local news
Mercedes student wins NCC award Stories, pictures, by Carole McMillen A case of the flu nearly stopped Britt Ingerson from being presented with her prize for winning the National Council of Churches in Australia's Refugee and Migrant Sunday Poster competition. A quick phone call ensured she arrived at assembly in time for Reverend Eira Clapton of the Council of Churches in WA to present the Mercedes College student with a framed copy of her poster, which will be displayed in Churches all over Australian in recognition of Refugee and Migrant Sunday on August 25. Mrs Melissa Del Borello representing the Catholic Migrant Centre also awarded Britt with a winners certificate and a cheque for $200. The competition is open to all schools yearly, students from Mercedes College have been awarded a prize each year in this
22 August, 2002
Widows hold the fort...
The Austellarians celebrate 25 years at Holy Rosary parish in Nedlands.
Britt Ingleson with her award wining poster, accompanied by Ms Del Boren() and Reverend Bra Clapton.
competition. This year was the first year that Britt had entered, her inspiration came from the plight of refugees being brought to the forefront of the media, and the fact that her mother also is associated with Refugees in Perth.
Along with Britt, four other students from the school entered the competition and were awarded participation certificates, all five posters will be printed in this years Refugee and Migrant Sunday Calendar.
They have been meeting for 25 years and still have things to talk about,this was the case for the Austellarians, the widows group of the Knights of the Southern Cross, who had come together to celebrate their 25th Anniversary on August Z The group was started by the Knights 25 years ago when they noticed the number of widows of the Knights increasing.
Attending the function were 10 of its original members, along with 30-40 other members that have become a part of the Austellarians along the way. The group meet once a month at the Holy Rosary Parish and would like to invite any past members to come along and join them. The Austellarians can be contacted by phoning Fay Casey 9225 1145 or Marl Downie 9387 5141.
p hotoy essa Padre Pio Recognition by Carole McMillen
oughly 400 people followed the procession through Allendale Square
100 people filled the seats, the rest remained standing as they waited for the procession to begin.
e ssis
'This is your Mother' I LOVE you
The statue of Padre Pio is taken into the Chapel followig the procession
Archbishop Hickey prepares for Mass. The Archbishop and priests concelebrate the Mass.
The Archbishop prepares to follow in the procession.
Every vantage point within the Chapel was filled, upstairs and down.
Page 11
22 August, 2002
The World in brief
Homosexual subcultures WASHINGTON (CNS) - A study of priests in 2001 found that substantial numbers believed there were homosexual subcultures among priests in their dioceses and religious institutes, but priests were more concerned about such subcultures in seminaries. In a paper delivered on August 16 at the meeting in Chicago of the Association for the Sociology of Religion, the researchers said younger priests were more likely than older ones to describe their diocese or religious community or the seminary they attended as having a homosexual subculture. The paper also described significant differences from one age group to another in the attitudes priests have toward priestly celibacy and inviting resigned priests back Into active ministry, whether married or not. Authors of the paper were Dean Hoge, a sociology professor at The Catholic Univeisity of America in Washington. and his doctoral student and research assistant, Jacqueline Wenger. An advance copy of the text was given to Catholic News Service in Washington.
Priest indicted CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) - A Ugandan priest working in South Africa has been charged with raping a 21year-old woman a year ago. Father Joseph Mugera. who has denied the charge, was arrested on August 14 and released on bail the next day. The 33-year-old priest, who trained for the priesthood in South Africa and has been a parish priest in Mogopa in the Rustenburg Diocese for two years. has been placed on administrative leave by Bishop Kevin Dowling of Rustenburg until the trial is over. Noting that he will "cooperate fully with the judicial process," Bishop Dowling said. "justice must be done and be seen to be done." The woman who made the charge against Father Mugera alleges that he raped her on August 1Z 2001. at his home. She said she had accompanied the priest to a nearby town for business that day and they had returned to his home afterward.
Queue blues VATICAN CITY (CNS) - The mile-long lines of people waiting to get into the Vatican Museums are due, In part, to security checks at the entrance, the museum director said, but those checks are nothing new. Lucina Vattuone, director of the museums' press office, told Catholic News Service it was not unusual that morning that the queue waiting to enter the museums and the Sistine Chapel stretched past the colonnade of St Peter's Square. "It happens every once in a while," she said, "especially on the last Sunday of the month when admission is free and on Mondays when Italian state museums are closed." Page 12
International News
Record
Lack of debate Young authors book in bares war risk prayer
Iraqi men join in Islamic Friday prayers at a mosque in Baghdad. A British Catholic aid agency said recently that any pre-emptive military strike against Iraq would create a humanitarian catastrophe. Photo' CNS/Reuters
By Paulinus Barnes MANCHESTER. England (CNS) - Any pre-emptive military strike against Iraq by the West would create a humanitarian catastrophe, warned a British Catholic aid agency. In a report released on August 12, the Catholic Agency for Overseas Development said a military strike also would exacerbate the dangers of terrorism in the Middle East and undermine the authority of the United Nations. CAFOD is the official aid agency of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales. The report, "Iraq, Sanctions and the War on Terrorism," raised a number of questions about military action, in particular the precise objectives of any action and whether a military strike was ethically justifiable. The report expressed concern at the lack of public debate around the issue in the United Kingdom and accused senior politicians in the United States and Britain of being evasive and avoiding open political debate on the issue.
-"l'he stakes are high. A proper destroyed by a bombing camdebate is urgently overdue," the paign, and this will have a terrireport said. ble impact on the population," he "We seem to be moving inex- said. orably closer to war with Iraq, "We do not think that war is with a focus on the person of Sad- inevitable, but we do fear that it is dam Hussein while millions of going to happen. There has been poor Iraqis, who will be the ones a ratcheting up of the rhetoric in to suffer and who themselves do recent weeks, and this is a cause not have weapons of mass of great concern," he said. destruction, are seemingly left out Amid growing threats of military of consideration," said Julian Filo- action to oust Hussein, the United chowski, CAFOD director. States has demanded that Iraq Filochowski said the agency agree to renewed inspections to wanted to consider the preferen- ensure Iraq is not developing tial option for the poor. weapons of mass destruction. "If military action goes ahead, "I sincerely hope that the Iraqi there will be a colossal humani- government will want to demontarian crisis for these people," he strate to the world that they are told Catholic News Service. prepared to have the weapons Filochowski said that while inspectors back in and that this there are credible reports of wide- may be one way of averting the spread human rights abuses crisis," Filochowski said. against Hussein, a war with the The CAFOD report said a miligoal of toppling the Iraqi dictator tary response to terrorism was would create more terror for Iraqi "doomed to failure." civilians. "Only if the world is prepared to "The fear is that on top of the tackle the root causes of conflict killing and wounding. power is there a chance of arriving at plants, water treatment plants and durable and sustained solutions," all that infrastructure will be it said.
Defectors may cause reprisal HAVANA (CNS) - Catholic offi- ng to leave should choose ways cials are worried that the decision that do not damage the church's of 23 Cuban youths to remain in image. Canada after World Youth Day Bishop Baladron, president of will damage church-state rela- the Bishops' Youth Commission, tions in the Caribbean nation. said people in Canada not "The church respects the involved in World Youth Day options in something so personal encouraged the Cubans to defect. as the decision to emigrate, but it He said the majority of the can only express its sorrow in this youths returned to Cuba and that case, which affects our families, youths from other Third World all of society and the church," said countries also opted to remain in Bishop Carlos Baladron Valdes of Canada rather than return to their Guantanamo-Baracoa. homelands. Several church sources said the In Canada, the anti-Castro defections could result in govern- Cuban Canadian Foundation said ment reprisals against the church, it aided the defectors at their such as restricting future exit visas request. to laity wanting to go to religious Bishop Baladron's August 6 meetings in other countries. statement was released by the They said Cardinal Jaime Orte- bishops' conference but was not ga Alamino of Havana had con- published in the government-convinced Cuban President Fidel trolled national press. Castro to allow a large group of "The publicity given the case of Cuban youths to leave the coun- the Cubans indicates that a relitry for the religious event. gious event such as this and the Several Catholic lay leaders crit- decision to emigrate by those icised taking advantage of an seeking certain opportunities not event attended by Pope John Paul found in their own country can be II to defect, saying Cubans wanti- taken advantage of by people with
specific political interests," Bishop Baladron said. "It is true that these youths are old enough to be responsible for their acts. But from the beginning of our stay in Canada, notable efforts were made by some people residing there not connected to the (youth day) event to exhort Cubans not to return to their country," the bishop said. "We can affirm that the majority of the youths, who are now in Cuba, are sharing their rich experiences of this World Youth Day, which stimulated their commitment to their church and enriched their witness of faith and hope," he said. The bishops' conference previously had issued a statement acknowledging the defections after the July 28 closing youth day Papal Mass. That statement said most of the defectors were from the economically depressed interior dioceses of Pinar del Rio and Santiago de Cuba and that the defections were a cause of concern to the two dioceses.
MADISON, N.J. (CNS) Attention teens: Have you ever experienced a sense of peace and love while your parents are relentlessly nagging you? You can find God in this notso-perfect situation and in other circumstances in your everyday life, according to a new book on teen spirituality written by a group of Catholic high school students. The student-authors call themselves the Holy Bandits, and are enrolled at Bayley-Ellard Catholic High School in Madison, which is in the Paterson Diocese. "Sacred Stones Along the Way: 15 Mysteries of a Teenager's Life," is the title of the book, recently self-published by the student group and their high school. It is also being considered for publication by New York-based Crossroad Publishing Company. In the current 71-page edition, the authors have encouraged teens to pray the rosary for faith, strength and peace of mind, and also confront headon such difficult issues as back-stabbing friends, sex, the death of a loved one and the September 11 terrorist attacks. With a down-to-earth writing style, the 2-year-old Catholic spirituality group has shown how faith can be a guide through the minefield that is adolescence. They have coupled short Scriptural passages with powerful, faith-sustaining stories and reflections - some funny, others tragic which they plucked from their own life experiences. The book is divided into 15 chapters, each devoted to a rosary mystery. The students wrote individual reflections on each mystery, which were then edited into a seamless manuscript. In January, Robert Hopcke, a licensed marriage and family therapist. learned about the Holy Bandits from a Catholic News Service story about the teens' educational outreach to explain the rosary to youngsters in religious education classes. CNS had picked up the story from The Beacon, Paterson's diocesan newspaper. Hopcke wrote Linda Michalski, a former adviser for the student group and a former Bayley-Ellard religion teacher and guidance counsellor. In February, Michalski sent him some of the group's rosary reflections. "Their material is some of the best writing I've read on prayer," Hopcke told The Beacon. "It's clear, direct and heartfelt" "There is a youthful aspect to the rosary," he added, pointing out that it commemorates Jesus, who died at just age 33, and Mary, who was a teenager when Jesus was born. For more information on how to get the self-published book call Bayley-Ellard Catholic High School at (973) 377-2486. ext. 203. About 200 copies of the book are still available.
•Recmd
International News
22 August, 2002
Pope appeals for peace CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) - In his strongest comments in months on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, Pope John Paul II said terrorist attacks, high concrete walls and military reprisals will never bring peace. "There is no justification for indiscriminately killing defenceless civilians," the Pope said on August 11. Pope John Paul dedicated the midday Angelus address at his summer residence to his concern about the "almost daily episodes of abominable violence," which lead to the death of "so many of our brothers and sisters, victims of a deadly spiral of reprisals." The Pope also condemned as a violation of basic human rights the Israeli curfews on Palestinian towns, which prevent believers from going to their churches and mosques. Pope John Paul said his thoughts are with the region's Christians, "who despite not being involved in terrorist actions share so much suffering with their fellow citizens" that they are tempted to abandon the Holy Land. "When will it be understood that the coexistence of the Jewish and Palestinian peoples cannot flow from weapons?" the Pope asked. "Neither attacks, nor walls of separation, nor reprisals will ever lead to a just solution of the conflict under way," he said. "The Pope suffers with those who mourn the deaths and destruction; he is especially close to the numerous innocents who
Hundreds of balloons are released over Bethlehem's Nativity Square during a demonstration by the children of arrested Palestinians in the West Bank city. Pope John Paul ll strongly condemned the indiscriminate killing of civilians in continuing Middle east violence. Photo CNS Reuters
pay the price of such violence." Pope John Paul said the Palestinians and the Israelis have endured "unspeakable suffering" since the 1967 Six Day War when Israel gained control of the Golan Heights, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The Pope said the Palestinians have been "thrown off their land or forced, in recent times, into a state of permanent siege, the objects of an almost collective
punishment." The Israeli population has suffered as well, he said, "living with the daily terror of being the target of anonymous attackers." "No one can remain indifferent to the situation in the Middle East, which seems hopeless," he said. "This is why, once again,Iappeal to the Israeli and Palestinian political leaders to find again the path of negotiation." The Pope also asked the inter-
Mother Teresa voted greatest NEW DELHI, India (CNS) Mother Teresa has been voted the greatest person in India since its Independence, according to a survey conducted by a national English-language magazine to mark the country's 55th anniversary of independence. The Albanian-born Catholic nun was ranked ahead of India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, In the survey conducted by the weekly magazine Outlook, reported UCA News, an Asian church news agency based in Thailand. The results of the survey, to which about 50,000 people responded, were published in the August 15 special issue of the New Delhi-based weekly. The Issue marks the anniversary of India gaining freedom from British rule on August 15, 1947. Mother Teresa, who founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950 to work for the "poorest of the poor," was the only foreign-born person to figure in the list of 10 greatest Indians. Mahatma Gandhi, who led a nonviolent struggle against the British, was not included in the survey. The weekly said that was because it decided "to keep the
urban areas - Chennai, New Delhi and Calcutta, while Mumbai, the country's financial capital formerly called Bombay, ranked her second to business tycoon Dhirubhai Ambani. The survey showed that the life of Mother Teresa, who worked among the sick and destitute till her death in 199Z left a positive impact on young Indians. Mother Teresa became an Indian citizen in 1947 soon after India's independence. She was the first person born outside India to receive the Padma Sri, the nation's highest civilian award, in Mother Teresa father of the nation above a voting process." "A poll of the greatest Christians of all time would look rather ridiculous if it included Jesus Christ as one of the nominees," it said, explaining the exclusion of Gandhi. The Nobel laureate nun, whose cause for canonisation is under way, led the tally in "nearly every geographical zone, city and age group," the weekly said in an editorial. She was the top choice in three
1962.
The survey also showed Indians' disenchantment with present-day politicians. Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee was ranked 10th in the list. "The general feeling is `sab chor hain' (everyone is a crook)," wrote journalist Kushwant Singh in the magazine's lead article. "That explains the vote in favour of Mother Teresa, who had. nothing to do with any politician and was (not) unduly concerned about working in a Calcutta ruled by godless communists," he added.
Saved, death sentence repealed Mohammed. Ayub was found guilty and condemned to death ROME (CNS) - The Supreme under Pakistan's strict anti-blasCourt of Pakistan has ordered the phemy laws in 1998. immediate release of a Christian Bishop John Joseph of Faisalwhose 1998 death sentence for abad, who had led nationwide blasphemy led a Catholic bishop protests calling for the repeal of to commit suicide in protest. MISNA, a Rome-based mission- the laws, committed suicide outary news agency, reported on side a court 10 days later, after visAugust 16 that a day earlier the iting Ayub's family. Pakistan's anti-blasphemy laws, court ordered the release of Ayub Masih, who has been in jail for Introduced in 1986, have been almost six years on charges he criticised by human rights organinsulted the Muslim prophet isations, particularly because the By Cindy Wooden
testimony of a Muslim accuser is enough to win a conviction. In ordering Ayub's release, the Pakistan court accepted the argument of his lawyers that the accusations against him were motivated by Ayub's land dispute with a Muslim neighbour. Ayub had been accused of having told another man, "If you want to know the truth about Islam, read Salman Rushdie," author of the 1988 "Satanic Verses," which Muslims consider blasphemous.
national community to "commit itself with greater determination to being present on the ground," to offer mediation and to help create the conditions necessary for dialogue. He asked Christians around the world to join him in praying for peace in the region. Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem thanked Pope John Paul for his "clear and strong words" which remind the local
Christian community that the Pope is close to them. The patriarch, along with local Anglican and Lutheran bishops, paid separate visits on August 10 to Sheik Ahmed Yassin, spiritual leader of Hamas, in Gaza and to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, whose headquarters are in Ramallah, West Bank. Patriarch Sabbah told Vatican Radio on August 12 that the Christian leaders wanted to meet the Hamas leadership "in order to understand, to listen to their opinions about the situation, about peace and war." In their attempt to convince Israelis and Palestinians to stop the violence and return to negotiations, the Christian leaders also have requested a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, the patriarch said. In a statement released on August 12, the patriarchs and heads of Christian churches in Jerusalem said they also had appealed to Sharon to ease the curfews and closures of certain regions. The measures, the Christian leaders said, "are currently bringing untold hardship to thousands, whether in regard to employment, the purchase of food supplies, attention to medical needs or the freedom to worship." The leaders also announced a two-week schedule of special ecumenical prayer services for peace at churches and chapels throughout Jerusalem and neighbouring towns.
Christian Muslim treaty undermined MANADO, Indonesia (CNS) - trucks and buses to evacuate An Indonesian bishop has women and children of Matalco expressed concern over the village to Tentena." Fr Singal resurgence of violence in the said. No Catholic was injured and city of Poso. Bishop Joseph Suwatan of no Catholic-run facility was Manado denounced the recent attacked, "but people are very spate of attacks that he said scared because violence can undermined the peace treaty break out anytime," Fr Singal signed by Christians and Mus- said. lims last December, reported Brother Bruno Meing, secreUCA News, an Asian church tary of St Paul Church in the news agency based in Thailand. Central Sulawesi provincial The bishop expressed regret capital of Palu, said his church that people did not heed the call has been providing assistance that Christian and Muslim lead- to displaced people. ers made on July 15 to end vioHe said people of Poso and lence in Poso, after bomb blasts Palu have been trying to create killed a woman and injured sev- awareness about the peace pact signed in Malin° on December eral others. On August 13, at least six peo- 20 by Muslim and Christian repple were killed, and hundreds of resentatives from Poso, "but the houses and two Protestant (August 13) attack made them churches were set ablaze in pessimistic, even frustrated." Responding to the worsening attacks on three Christian vilsituation in Poso, some Christlages. The incidents coincided with ian organisations in Manado two days of talks between Mus- urged Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri to take lim and Christian leaders. "Local authorities were unable action against rioters in Poso. Lucky Senduk, chairman of the to prevent the violence," Bishop Legion of Christ, a Catholic Suwatan said. Fr Rony Marcelino Singal, who group that aims to defend peace, works in Tentena, blamed said the organisation has "about Islamic extremists for the attack 27,000 volunteers who are ready to help protect Poso from rioton Matako village. "The attack seemed planned ers." Meanwhile, negotiators of the as it coincided with the annual People's Consultative Assembly Malino pact met again from August 11-12 in Palu to discuss In Jakarta," he said. Human rights groups said ways of restoring peace and local residents told them that order in Poso. Ethnic and religious tensions Indonesian security forces, sent to the area to maintain order erupted throughout Indonesia after last year's violence, with- in 1999 as the 32-year rule of drew from the area shortly former President Suharto collapsed. before the attacks. A major economic crisis con"The crisis centre of Protestant and Catholic Churches used 20 tributed to the tensions. Page 13
Reviews
22 August, 2002
Rikord
Goosebumpingly thrilling By Anne Navarro NEW YORK (CNS) - In the suspenseful thriller "Signs" (Touchstone), writer-director-producer M. Night Shyamalan masterfully builds tension to frighten and unnerve the audience. From nearly the first frame, the viewer is on heightened alert that something or someone - strange is lurking about, ready to pounce around the next corner. Shyamalan is certainly a fine storyteller, playing on fears and building dread with each passing minute. His techniques, with Hitchcockian influences, shape the film. He understands that what the audience doesn't see is a lot scarier than what it does. However, the surprising weak link in an otherwise entertaining film is the narrative. The audience becomes absorbed, anxiously anticipating the outcome of a film that asks whether bizarre, precise patterns carved into a cornfield are a hoax perpetrated by pranksters or the announcement of an alien invasion. Yet the tale slips into stock scarymovie mode when it isolates the Hess family down in their cellar, cut off from the rest of the world where they fearfully play a waitand-see game with an unyielding Intruder. There is still much to like In "Signs" and it is a credit to Shyamalan that he can keep the audience on pins and needles despite a lightweight story which doesn't provide as powerful a punch as the fear and anxiety that surrounds the viewer. Of particular interest, however, is that the central character is also struggling with loss of faith after the horrible accidental death of his wife six months earlier. Graham (Mel Gibson) has turned his
characters, the director incorporates issues of faith and coincidence versus providence, making "Signs" more than a standard scifi flick about little green men coming to Earth. Some of the scariest moments involve not the threat of extraterrestrials, but mundane occurrences. When Morgan has an asthma attack and is unable to get his medicine, Graham holds him, trying to soothe and calm him. The possibility of having one's children harmed in any way is terrifying. Yet Shyamalan balances the terror with a wry, ironic wit that allows the audience to exhale and chuckle before being scared again. A humourous scene involving tinfoil hats captures giggles-to-goosebumps these transitions. The cast performances are fine indeed. In particular, Culkin and Breslin are natural and convincing as siblings, and there is little doubt that this family really is a family. In a coy move, Shyamalan has cast himself as the town veterinarian and although his performance is not as nuanced and Joaquin Phoenix, Mel Gibson, Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin star in the film "Signs." Photo CNS/Touch.stone attractive as Gibson's, he does back on God and faith and no would hope, its inclusion opens the stems of the corn stalks bent fairly well. Phoenix and Cherry Jones, who plays a local cop, are longer considers himself an Epis- the door to viewer reflection on at exacting angles. copalian minister. He angrily the spiritual life and not waiting Soon after Graham's discovery, also top-notch. refuses to believe in the existence until the last moment to nurture the TV news reports similar findShyamalan shows his preferof anything greater than himself It. for old-fashioned ings in India and England; eerily, ence guiding and comforting people. The story is set in Bucks Coun- these circles spring up all over the moviemaking, no small feat in a But in declaring his hatred of God, ty, Pennsylvania, where farmer world. Then odd beams of light, special-effects crazed movie he acknowledges that there is a Graham lives with his young chil- strangely resembling UFOs, hover world. He keeps it simple but higher being watching over us dren, Morgan (Rory Culkin) and over Mexico City. Slowly the makes every detail count, which whom he feels failed him when Bo (Abigail Breslin), and his whole world begins to have the is what makes "Signs" stay in the his wife died. brother Merrill (Joaquin same question Graham and his viewer's mind long after the film However, there is little mean- Phoenix). Graham wakes up one family have: Is this a hoax or real? has finished. ingful exploration of this, and the day to find five perfect and dis- And with this, Shyamalan is able Due to some intensely frightenfilm's pat ending further under- tinct circles chiselled into his to rouse up a world-threatening ing moments and scattered occalines the superficial manner in cornfield. The natural assumption menace without leaving the fam- sional expressions. the US which Graham's crisis is treated. is that they are the work of some ily farm. Conference of Catholic Bishops Although Shyamalan doesn't teen-age hoodlums, but the enorAs the possibility of the world classification is All - adults and probe this as insightfully as one mous spheres are flawless, with coming to an end looms over the adolescents.
St Therese of Lisieux's echoing of the heart of God by Fr Jordan Perry OP
T
he beautiful title of this book is taken from a letter to St Therese from her eldest sister (who was also godmother at her baptism) Sr Marie of the Sacred Heart: "these lines .... are not of this earth, but are an echo of the Heart of God". In 1997 Pope John Paul II declared St Therese to be a Doctor of the Church, the thirty-third, the youngest and only the third woman writer to be so honoured. In 1921 Pope Benedict XV said of her, "...there is a call to the Faithful of every nation, no matter what may be their age, sex, or state of life, to enter wholeheartedly into the little way which led Sister Therese to the sununit of heroic virtue". His successor, Pope Pius XI, who canonised her in 1925 said, "We desire earnestly that all the Faithful of Christ should render themselves worthy partaking in the abundant profusion of graces resulting from the intercession of 'little Therese'. "But we desire much more earnestly that "all the faithful should study her in order to copy her." "An Echo of the Heart of God" does not claim to be a life of St Therese in the unusual sense, in fact it tells her life-story in seventeen pages, out of 298. Rather, this work concentrates on Therese's prayer and her message; it takes us into very deep territory, it plumbs the heights of her spirituality and the depth of her suffering. After reading it you may agree that we may have to redefine the little of her little way. This book is a composite, it is based on an original PhD thesis in 1968 by Dr Giovanni Gennari, with "Studies of the SelfOffering of St Therese of Lisieux" by a Discalced Carmelite nun. Section one gives us Dr Gennari's contriPage 14
These qualities pale as we read the last 30. The pain was then unrelieved agony three pages telling of Therese's dying of day and night, and Therese gasped, cried tuberculosis. Most of us have been at a sick out, wept, groaned and fainted. bed and seen others getting close to death There was no analgesic, as the then priwith all the discomfort this may bring, but oress considered it an inappropriate conthese pages put very clearly the extreme of cession for a Carmelite nun. the sufferings of this saint. "Throughout Therese warned her sisters to take poiApril and May of the last year of her life she was still dragging herself to duties and sonous medications out of her reach, as community activities in spite of weakness, she could lose her mind with the pain, and fever, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, tuber- take her life. In many ways the spirituality of St cular haemorrhages, headaches and severe Therese can be summed up in her "Offercouching fits. There were also painful treatments, repul- ing to merciful Love", or "Act of Oblation". She could live in one act of perfect love. sive concoctions to swallow, and sessions during which red-hot needles were jabbed The ruling principle of activity within her into her back or side. could become no longer her will, but the AN ECHat There was also that added suffering Holy Spirit: OF THE endured by so many sick and dying peoIn the spirit and through the Spirit, ple; she was thought to be exaggerating her Therese could love Jesus as he desires to GOD illness. be loved. Through allowing Merciful Love By Dr. G. Gennart After all, her manner remained so gra- to take fullest possession of her soul, she cious, and her face so pretty, especially was enabled to love him with all his heart. & Studies of the Self-OfJ(i iq Of with the unaccustomed pink cheeks of her The book really does give an insight in to St. Theirtse of (islet or high fever. As well as the community, there were the doctor and the priest who mis- the world and mind of one of the most loved saints of recent times, but above all button, while the three parts of Section two read her true condition. It invites us to be led by the hand by the Her last three months of extreme helpare by the religious sister. "Little Flower" to the Merciful Love of God. lessness (July, august, September) were The effective merging of the two parts is Let us study her and copy her. Indicated by the titles of the divisions of spent in the infirmary. Therese lost blood day and night, spitting, coughsection two: Praying with Therese, seeing life through the eyes of Therese, and Liv- ing and vomiting it up. Burning with fever, she drenched ing with Therese. her clothing, pillow and mattress with It is from these sections that the thrill for profuse sweating. most people will come, as they learn to She was, of course, badly dehydratby Dr G. Gennari pray as St Therese prayed, and learn to ed, was parched and ravenous, but accept suffering as she did. Price $18 plus postage unable to satisfy these needs. To take this last point first: the very last She was too weak to make the sign Available from: section of the book deals with Penance. of the cross, or even more her hands, The Prioress Various aspects of her spiritual heroism and the least noise distressed her. Carmelite Monastery are noted, she never looked for consolation However, she was ingenious in Adelina Rd, Nedlands WA 6009 for herself but lovingly sacrificed herself cheering up her carers. Phone (08) 9386 3672, Fax (08) 9386 3681 for others, she attempted to mortify all her The two periods of worst suffering natural desires. were August 15-27 and September 17-
$
HEART OF
An Echo of the Heart of God
eye atcher CLASSIFIEDS Classified ads: $3 per line (plus GST)
BUILDING TRADES
BUILDING TRADES
LIC. PLUMBER/gas fitter, Contact John on 9457 7771, Mobile 0412 185 209.
K AVANAGH'S POOL SERVICE, for all your pool needs. Ph 9349 0223
BRICK re-pointing. Phone Nigel 9242 2952 PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd for all your residential. commercial painting requirements. Phone Tom Perrott 9444 1200.
FURNITURE REMOVAL ALL areas. Mike Murphy 0416 226 434.
ELECTRICIAN, Power/light points from 550 each. Rewiring our speciality. 0418 941 286, 9279 5008.
PICASSO Painting. Top service. Phone 9345 0557, fax 9345 0505.
24-hour Hotline: 9227 7778
MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT
DEATH
WANTED
VESTMENTS
CHRISTIAN Mental Health support - David 9379 1029
SCULLY, Thomas sincere sympathy to Patricia, Terry, Anne Marie and family especially Joe and Therese. Felicity Louise, Katherine Maria and Gloria Rose, may his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. Imelda, Michael Michelle and Rachelle Aslett.
RUAH CENTRE, Northbridge, requires a matureaged, volunteer health professional for a few hours per week to co-ordinate a small health clinic. Further information from Helen Ph: 9330 3781.
DESIGNED to meet the needs of today's Church, made to measure in quality fabrics. Ph: 9378 4752.
HERBALIFE PRODUCTS
'THANKS
NEED additional income? Genuine opportunity. www. workfromhomeindustry. For products ph 9487 1787.
INFANT Jesus of Prague, Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Saint Anne, Saint Anthony, Mary McKillop, St Peregrine. Cured my cancer. HD
official diary panorama AUGUST Visit Confirmation candidates, Lesmurdie Archbishop Hickey Presentation of Youth Book to Year 12s, Lumen Christi Archbishop Hickey Visit St Charles' Seminary - Archbishop Hickey
Confirmation, Mirrabooka - Bishop Quinn
Gethsemane Prison Ministry Reflection Day Archbishop Hickey
Confirmation, Osborne Park - Archbishop Hickey Confirmation, Bassendean - Bishop Sproxton Confirmation, lnnaloo - Fr Greg Carroll
Clergy Retreat - Archbishop Hickey
Visit Confirmation candidates, Willetton - Bishop Sproxton Meet with Foundations Catholic Ministry - Bishop Sproxton
Visit Confirmation candidates, Clarkson - Bishop Sproxton
Confirmation. Greenwood - Mgr Tim Corcoran
Mass for Padre Pio Prayer Group, Como Parish Archbishop Hickey Confirmation, Hilton - Fr Greg Carroll
Canonical Visitation, Willetton/Brentwood - Bishop Sproxton
SEPTEMBER Mass at Melkite Church - Archbishop Hickey Confirmation, Gosnells - Mgr P McCrann
Runic*¶1 -Mumclw Clergy Retreat - Bishop Sproxton
`Irko®@dcF
-71}namc*
Central Commission, Canberra - Archbishop Hickey
Wi®.@Inwlw Confirmation, Lockridge - Mgr Tim Corcoran
Uhiltimday Catholic Students' Mass, Murdoch University - Bishop Sproxton
Ylbaborp. ?sdrawkcab siht gnidaer uoy era.
Stargazing
I, ith Or AfoonunIt I, icanstare PhD (Oxen) Dip. Fencing. A sociallv aware column developed throls07 tile consultative process. Capricorn or once, things seem more optimistic for Capricornians who are, nevertheless, gathered collectively under the sign of the Goat. I believe that an important part of your overall personal improvement will come the more you cease banging your head on the dinner table whenever anything which excites you is said. Unfortunately, the bad news is that your stupidity is insurmountable. Lucky number: 5 .5 Lucky objects: ducks, jet engines, mud, alluvial sand.
F
Deadline: 5pm Monday
Saturday September 21 ST PADRE PIO DAY St Mary's Cathedral 7.30am - Exposition, 11.00am Mass, 12 noon - Close. Sunday August 25 ARCHBISHOP'S TEN POINT PLAN ON AIR! " The Layman's Hour" with Raymond and Theresa de Souza (Radio Fremantle 107.9 FM) at 7.30pm and participate in the discussion on point 7 of Archbishop Hickey's ten-point plan: Vocations. Are vocations on the decline? Are there hopes of improvement? What could be done to attract more vocations? Sponsored by the Knights of the Southern Cross (Cathedral Branch). Ring 9494 2100 and have your say. Wednesday August 28 SPIRITUALITY IN THE PUB Promoting peace in a time of turmoil, this is the topic o f the talks being held at the Elephant and the Wheelbarrow on Wed night between 7.30pm and 9.10. Both Reverend Canon Frank Sheehan and Dr Samina Yasmeen will be holding the talks, contact A ndrew McGaw PH: 0422 305 742. Friday August 30 BUSINESS PERSON'S MASS All Saints Chapel, Allendale Square, at 7am followed by a breakfast meeting at the WA Club, 101 St George's Terrace. Cost S15.00. Guest speaker Des O'Sullivan, Director of Professional Standards for the Church in WA. Enq Ph: 9384 0809. Friday August 30 SANTO PIO PRAYER GROUP 8th Anniversary Celebration Mass will be celebrated by His Grace Archbishop Hickey at 7pm at the Holy Family Church, Como. Rosary at 6.30pm. a light supper will be provided. Ph: 9367 8632, 9367 9561 Saturday August 31 SAVING AN INNOCENT LIFE A moving talk by Paul Kelly on one of the greatest tragedies of our times - Abortion see the video The Hard Truth, at the Legion of Mary Headquarters, 36 Windsor Street, East Perth at 2.30pm. Come and find out how you can help save an innocent life! There is no cost involved. For further details contact Catherine Ph: 9451 4045. Sunday September 1 DIVINE MERCY An afternoon with Jesus and Mary at St Mary's Cathedral, Victoria Square, at 1.30pm. Programme: Holy rosary and Reconciliation, Sermon: (Mother of Mercy) with Fr Hugh Thomas followed by divine mercy prayers and Benediction. Enq Ph: John - 9457 7771, Linda - 9275 6608. Thursday September 5 HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS For men and women discerning a call to Priesthood or Consecrated Life. Pro Cathedral, Victoria Avenue, 7.30 - 8.30pm. Enquiries, Fr Doug Harris Ph: 9223 1350
A SMALL parish in need of a statue of Our Lady approximately 2 feet high. If you can help contact Pat Spencer Ph: 9291 7110.
Advertising Works
a roundup of events in the archdiocese
Friday September 6 ALLIANCE AND TRIUMPH OF THE TWO HEARTS ALL NIGHT EUCHARISTIC ADORATION R eparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary will commence at 9pm with Holy Mass at Our Lady of Mercy. Girrawheen. Concludes with parish Mass at 7.15am. (Hourly prayers, hymns. reflections and refreshments during the night). All are welcome. September 6 - 8 THE BEGINNING EXPERIENCE This is a program for widowed, separated or divorced persons. The program seeks to close the door gently on the former relationship in order to begin new life. For further information, please contact: Dianne Ph: 9301 0525. September 6 - 8 GOD'S FARM BUS PILGRIMAGE A springtime Pilgrimage to God's Farm, for a weekend retreat, will be led by Father Pierangelo Repuyan. Speaking on the inspiration of St John the Evangelist. celebrate Holy Mass daily. the prayers of the Church. Bus leaves Perth 2.30pm on Sept 6 and returns Sept 8 arriving in Perth at 6pm. God's Farm Gracewood. PO Box 24 Cowaramup, 6284. Donation S80. Bus fare S50. Details, reservations Betty Peaker. God's Farm Phone/Fax 9755 6212. Saturday September 7 OUR LADY'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS AT ST MARY'S CATHEDRAL (1st Saturday). Program: 8am Eucharistic Adoration, praying especially for our Holy Father. Pope John Paul II. 9.45am Meditative Rosary led by Fr Timothy Deeter. 10.30am Holy Mass (Rosary bouquet to be taken up with Offertory gifts). Sunday September 8 BULLSBROOK PILGRIMAGE For Our Lady's Birthday at the Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation, 36 Chittering Rd. Bullsbrook. Celebrations commence in the Shrine at 2pm with the recitation of the Holy Rosary. followed by a Marian procession to the Church for Holy Mass.The anointing of the sick will take place during Mass. Bus bookings 9277 5378. Inquiries: SACRI 9447 3292. September 9- 13 ISSUES FACING CATHOLICS LIVING IN TODAY'S SOCIETY A series of talks at St Joseph Pignatelli Parish. 35 Davidson Rd, Attadale. Sept 9, Therese Temby Catholic Schools Meeting the Challenges of Today's Society. Sept 10: Archbishop Barry J Hickey -The Family. Sept 11: Fr Walter Black - Director. LJ Goody Bioethics Centre - Moral Issues. Sept 12: Fr Paul Baczynski - Director, Crossroads Community Youth. Sept 13: Gerry O'Neil - director of Spirituality, - Building Parish Community. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be provided. Ending with a supper on Friday, please bring a plate. Inq: Fr Geoff Beyer Ph: 9330 3727.
September 5 - 7 FEAST OF OUR LADY MARIA SANTISSIMA DEL TINDARI The celebrations will begin with a Triduum, which will be preached by Father Carlo Bertolini OME in the Basilica Saint Patrick Fremantle at 7.45pm. The concelebrated Solemn Mass will be held on Sunday, September 8 at 9.45am. Principal celebrant: Fr Carlo Bertolini. The procession starts at 2pm.
DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR The Divine mercy Apostolate invites all parishioners to a Holy Hour of Adoration on each Saturday of the month (except the 1st Saturday) from 2.30 to 3.30pm at St Francis Xavier's Church, 25 Windsor Street. On the 2nd Saturday there is Anointing of the sick, celebrant Fr Marcellinus Meilak OFM. The afternoon concludes with refreshments, please bring a plate to share. (Also at Sts. John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Road, off South St, Willetton from 11am to 12 noon every Wednesday). Enq John Ph: 9457 7771
Friday September 6 ALL NIGHT EUCHARISTIC ADORATION All Saints Chapel, Allendale Square, 77 St George's Terrace. First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and First Saturday to the Immaculate Heart of Mary commencing 9pm with Holy Mass, Rosaries, hymns and prayers. Concluding with Holy Mass at 7am. Inq: Catherine 9444 1940, Yolanda 9385 8563.
Thursday Evenings CONFRATERNITY OF ST MICHAEL Meets on Thursday evenings at 7.30pm at Gibney House, 50 Vincent St, Mt Lawley. Prayer, faith education, an social time together are the focus of these gatherings for young adults (and young at heart). Contact: Fr Tim Deeter (9328 4518 or Lee-Anne McDonnell (9204 3759).
Page 15
Melbourne authors give new life to Benedict's Rule r
oe Gift of Saint Benedict, a She spoke of the contemporary beautifully illustrated book issues reflected in the book arguing n The Rule of Saint Bene- that they were as relevant today as dict by two Melbourne authors, has over 1500 years ago when they were achieved immediate success with written. "Like our own," she remarked, the sale of 5000 copies to US publisher Ave Maria Press and a distri- "Benedict's was an age that witbution deal in the UK with nessed great charge as a result of war and social and economic inseRedemptorist Publications. The authors, Sr Verna Holyhead curity. The Church was being quesfrom the Good Samaritan Sisters in tioned and there was a great deal of Thornbury and award-winning chil- debate surrounding religious pracdren's artist, Lynne Muir recently tice." "I wanted to share Benedict's wiscelebrated the overseas sale and the Australian launch at Santa Maria dom because it continues to help so many people to live more creativeCollege, Northcote. Fr Michael Casey from Tarrawar- ly. I chose ten themes to provide a ra Abbey launched the book with a brief introduction. I am delighted lecture on Benedict's Rule focussing that Lynne Muir's illustrations have on the themes of moderation and so elegantly enhanced my presentations," Sr Verna said. stability. Lynne Muir who reminded Fr Sr Verna, whose Order lives by The Rule, is an experienced lectur- Casey that she had designed the cover for his first book. Toward God, er, retreat leader and writer. She selected the passages from many years ago, described how she The Rule and provided introduc- collaborated with Sr Verna. She explained that after Sr Verna tions to the 10 themes in the book.
selected the themes and text she designed borders and illustrations based on the stylised form of medieval decoration, landscape and figures. Her illustrations introduce each theme and her borders decorate the extracts. Last year Lynne completed a series of cards on the wisdom of the mystics, which have been sold to Canada. She is currently working on a similar series on the psalms. As Uniting Church minister the Rev Dick Wootton who acknowledges that The Rule sustained him in his justice work in Australia and Korea, later commented, "This is a beautiful book. It even feels nice to hold and read the portions of The Rule so carefully selected. As an old reader of The Rule, I hope this little book appeals to a new generation." "After all it has served the Church for 1500 years. No mean achievement."
il" The Gift of Saint Benetrall' Introduced by Verna Holyhead sgs. illustrated by Lynne Muir. Garratt Publishing, Tel (03) 9545 3111. RRP $19.95.
We had a retirement village vision. BGC made it a
magnificent reality.” Southern Cross Care is a 'not-for-profit' organisation which has been committed to providing quality over 55's residential and care facilities since 1966. BGC has proved to be the ideal partner for us on three major retirement village
BGC is a genuine retirement and aged care accommodation specialist which has completed
projects. They've assisted with everything from planning and community consultation
over twenty major Western
to providing pragmatic, cost-effective and innovative construction solutions.
Australian projects in this area.
As importantly, they've always delivered their comprehensive, integrated services on budget and on time. I'd commend BGC Construction to any organisation which cannot afford to fail."
If you'd like to find out more about the many substantial successes we've created for Southern Cross Care. the RAAFA. Freemasons. Murdoch University. the RSL and others, simply talk to Gerry Forde on (08) 9261 1700
KEN HAMILTON General Manager - Property Division, Southern Cross Care (W.A )
13GC Construction
Page 16