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BUNBURY BISHO HOLOHAN ADDRESSES 'THE SEX ABUSE ISSU Page 2
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"Priests and religious have felt bewildered and embarrassed to learn of the crime committed by priests and religious of earlier decades. "They feel particularly betrayed by those among their ranks who in more recent times have violated the ideals of their vocations."
Statue weeps in Perth
i
FULL STORY Page 3
As I crossed Church St there were thousands of people standing around staring at the towers. I looked up to see both towers on fiILe. I kept walking and sneaked another look before my work colleague and I decided to get the hell out of there."
PERTH \IAN PETER GLRRY (JIVES A FIRST-HAND ACCOUNT OF HIS ESCAPE FROM THE SECOND TWIN TOWER ON I sEVI EMBER.
S
it
r Mary Ryan, rsj, from the National Vocations Office in Sydney, said it was the best Australian Catholic newspaper coverage on vocations that she had seen. We agree."
- Letters, page 7
Missionaries of Charity heading for Bentley •F
ur nuns from the Missionaries of Charity are due to arrive in Perth for the official opening of their new convent on October 15. The Missionaries of Charity have become world renowned because of the work of their founder, Mother Teresa, in Calcutta, India. The work of the order has spread around the world and it now includes nuns and priests. In Australia, they are already working in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin and Katherine, in the Northern TerritoIT. The four nuns coming to Perth will establish a new foundation in the Bent-
ley Parish, and a house has already been set aside for them to use as a convent. Perth Archbishop Barry Hickey said this week he is delighted that the sisters II are coming to Perth. "Their work among the poor and their witness to a life of prayer and poverty is recognised throughout the world." the Archbishop said. The four coming to Perth will be led by their Superior, Sister Eliezer. Sister Eliezer said this week the nature of their work would be assessed after examining needs after their arrival. They also were eager to meet the family of Bmther Steve, a Perth man who is about to be ordained into the order's
priesthood in Guatemala, in Central America. The four nuns corning to Perth include an Australian, an Indian, a Bangladeshi and a Filipino. All four have worked in various parts of Australia but they had been working in Sydney until their appointment it) Western Australia. At present it was planned for only four nuns to be assigned to Perth, but that would also be reviewed according to future needs, Sister Eliezer said. While their convent would be set up in the Bentley parish, their work would probably take them to other parts of the city and the state. Sister Eliezer said. - Neil Smith
5.September,,2002
No. 3326
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A hurt and betrayal felt by all Catholics C
atholics have felt hurt and betrayed by clerical and religious abusers of children, Bunbury's Bishop Holohan says in a pastoral letter to parishioners this week. Many now felt confused, torn between love and loyalty to the Church on one hand, and the natural repugnance against the crimes reported in the media on the other. Society had been affected and bewildered by the media coverage of the abuse by a small minority of clergy - perhaps one percent of clergy - Bishop Holohan said. "We have felt horror at the sufferings of the victims, and the betrayal of their right to have complete trust in any and every priest and religious," Bishop Holohan said. "Priests and religious have felt bewildered and embarrassed to learn of the crime committed by priests and religious of earlier decades. "They feel particularly betrayed by those among their ranks who in more recent times have violated the ideals of their vocations. "While there have been many expressions of support by Catholics for the vast majority of faithful priests and religious today, there is a fear that the sacred trust between priests and people may be weakened," the bishop said. There had also been anger in the Catholic community at the sensationalism used by some media in reporting the abuse. "The commonly stated opinion expressed to me is that some media reporting tends to tarnish the Church, and to create a climate of suspicion against the vast majority of priests and religious
Bishop Holohan
who have given their lives to the service of God and others." In making a series of recommendations for Catholics to deal with situation and associated problems, Bishop Holohan said it was the cause of trials for many Catholics. Apart from those already mentioned there were: • problems raised by snide remarks and ridicule against the Church by those wishing to harm to it • the sense that the credibility of the Church and Catholics in general is under question • the sense that some angry at the Church's moral teachings on contemporary issues, including sexuality, are exploiting the situation Bishop Holohan said : "the trials experienced by Catholics today are Christ's trials. Those who remain faithful earn the appreciation of Christ." He said the credibility of the Church rests on its founder Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who
This week... features page 6 In I SAY I SAY Colin Redmond asks how others' desperate needs can possibly be a gift from God
articles of interest News from the parishes
is also human - not on good or bad behaviour of its members. "No-one in the Church claims to be perfect. "In the Church, we Pope, bishops, priests or people must recognise our sinfulness and do all we can to reconcile ourselves with God. "The apostles, including Peter, showed how followers of Christ could sin again. "People who believe priests and religious can do no wrong misunderstand the nature of the Church." Bishop Holohan urged all Catholics - all people - to pray daily for all victims of sex abuse, that they may find the healing and peace the Lord alone can give. He pointed out there are many victims - the families of the victims and families and close friends of the perpetrators. Bishop Holohan said the Church like other authorities lacked Insight in earlier times in the effect of sex abuse on victims, and the psychology of offenders. Mistakes then were because of that lack of insight. But since 1996, the Church in Australia has had a comprehensive plan for dealing with all aspects of sexual abuse, that includes the development of preventive principles and standards of behaviour by priests and religious in the exercise of their ministries. The plan is the Integrity in Ministry document, which can be accessed through local parishes. He said a common claim in the community, the abuse would not occur if priests and religious were permitted to marry overlooks statistical evidence that most sex abuse occurs within extended families. It also misunderstands the nature of celibacy.
The bishop said: "Celibacy is a form of Christian love that is open to all people, and dedicated to their service." It was the love found in the heart of Jesus, and expressed in His life and ministry. Just as married love cannot be understood correctly if seen solely in terms of losing the right to marry another, celibate love cannot be understood in terms of the rejection of marriage. "Catholics can help others to understand the vocation of celibacy by helping them first to understand the love of Jesus." Bishop Holohan said.
I
t is important for Catholics to talk about deeper feelings stirred by revelations of the sex abuse crimes by priests and religious. Opportunities to so may arise within the family, a group of friends or with fellow parishioners. It would be good to speak also with priests and religious, for they have been hurt no less than others. Sharing feelings with them enables them too to share their feelings with parishioners. As well as discussing facts such as those mentioned above, may our discussions include always the promises of Jesus, and his encouragement to those who remain faithful despite their trials.
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Raord
Our Lady of Lourdes weeps, why? A statue of Our Lady has started to weep at a home in Rockingham. The phenomenon has brought a lot of people back to the Church, although it is yet to be officially investigated.
always a good thing,' he said. He said there had been reports of people claiming to have been cured by the oil, one man from cancer, although he did not know whether this was actually the case.
By Bronwen Clune
A
statue of Our lady of Lourdes has started weeping what appears to be a kind of 'rose oil' at a home in Rockingham. The statue's owner, Penny (not her real name) bought it about eight years ago in Thailand and before March this year it had never wept before. Penny first noticed the statue weeping on March 19, St Joseph's Feast day. She says she was praying as she usually does every day after work, when she looked up and noticed that Mary was weeping. She was surprised by the event but was not startled and accepted the phenomenon as genuine. The statue did not weep again until 10 days later, which was Good Friday, and then continued to weep over Easter. It wasn't until August, when she returned home to find the house filled with a strong smell of roses, that she informed the local parish
The Record, visited the home on 14 and this reporter, together with a second independent witness saw the statue weeping. Tears appeared to well in the eyes and fall down the statue. Photos taken by The Record show the statue's face saturated with a liquid substance. Though no tests have been done on the statue to date, the substance appeared to be an oil and had a very strong smell of roses. Penny did not have anything to collect the oil and it pooled on the table during the course of the interview. Penny said the experience had deepened her own prayer life. As to why it was happening she didn't know. 'It has brought a few people I know of back to the Church and people do seem to get a real sense of peace out of it, she said. 'I am just guided by the Holy Spirit on this one and continually ask for guidance about what to do.' The statue has been placed in the Rockingham church on Sundays and many people have come to see it there. Currently it is kept at Penny's home during the week, but she said where it would be put next was entirely up to the Holy Spirit. She would continue to take it up to the Parish on Sundays in the August
The statue of our lady of Lourdes, with "tears of oil" falling down her face. The statue will be on display in the Rockingham Parish between 3.30 and 5.30pm on Sundays.
priest, Fr Henry Walsh, about what was going on. She took the statue to hirn and said he was 'very accepting about what was happening! Fr Walsh said there had been strong response to the statue and
What does it mean?
In 1995 there were a number of reports of weeping statues in Italy, which sparked off a debate about what it all meant. The Record reproduces a CNS article written at the time, examining the issue.
A
s Italian news media swelled with reports of crying statues of Mary, theologians debated the value of Marian tears. The reported weeping is a sign of Mary's concern for a world bent on self-destruction in the name of sexual freedom, said Father Rene Laurentin, author of books on Marian theology. "A crying Madonna is an overload of pessimism and pain" not in keeping with the Bible, said Father Bruno Secondin. professor of spirituality at Rome's Gregorian University Both theologians agreed that reports of miracles abound during uncertain and hard times. Father Laurentin interpreted the phenomena as a sign of divine compassion for human events. Father Secondin warned that the reports should not divert people from solving earthly problems. Father Laurentin said Mary is sensitive to a world "abandoning itself to sin" as witnessed by the striving for power, possessions and sensuality "With the language of tears, which is the language of a mother, the Virgin makes us understand that we must pay attention, that there is a need for a great conversion in the church and in the world." Father Laurentin said. "The Virgin always lives the compassion that she had for Christ on Calvary and now lives it especially for us." Father Secondin said that crying statues are out-of-step with the "sobriety," and "positive serenity" of the Bible. "I do not believe that these phenomena produce the typical biblical profile of the Virgin Mary" he said. "From the point of view of faith, these are very secondary"
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people had been making small pilgrimages up to the Rockingham church, Our Lady of Lourdes. 'People have been coming and praying the rosary and spending time in the Church, which is
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mean time. Fr Walsh said that while the statue continued to weep it would be on display at the Rockingham church on Sundays between 3.30 and 5.30pm. The oil was being collected at this stage, because the statue was weeping continually. People are able to take some oil home if they wanted. Both Penny and Fr Walsh are concerned that people do not treat the event with hysteria although they are expecting that many people would probably want to see the statue. Editorial - Page 7
Archbishop Hickey's view on the statue
A
rchbishop Hickey, who has the authority to valdate the events, visited the home last week and told The Record that the weeping statue was a 'truly remarkable phenomenon.' 'Whether it is of natural or supernatural origin I cannot say, as no official investigation has been made,' he said. 'Nevertheless the sight of Mary's statue weeping tears has already had powerful spiritual effects, causing many people to return to God.'
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ReCord
,o. ords Conversion stories.
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et another much neglected Catholic w riter of the first half of t he last century is Maurice Baring, close friend and contemporary of Belloc and Chesterton. He was the lammt.. f ifth son of Lord Reveltz stoke, the Bart ing who c reated Barings Bank much in the I news a few years ago, near -ruined by the improper share -dealings of one of its senior employees. Baring had a genius for languages which led him to a career in the Diplomatic Service. In 1904 he resigned and became a correspondent first in Manchuria and then in Moscow where he wrote about the Russian Revolution for the Morning Post. Baring wrote several novels, travel books and poetry all of which showed the influence of his strong Catholic Faith. He is a charming writer, well worth re -visiting today. He h ad a great reverence for priests many of whom were his friends. t has often struck me that 1 one of the differences between the Catholic and the Angl ican Church is this: in the Anglican Church personality is all-important: a clergyman attracts attention and commands a following by his p ersonality, or even by his peculiarities; by being like a pillar box, as it were, if it were painted sky-blue. "In the Catholic Church a priest is like an ordinary pillar box, indistinguishable from a million others; but sometimes owing to the sanctity of the individual priest, one of these pillar boxes will become as transparent as crystal, and the light within it will shine upon the world like the lamp of a lighthouse. "These are the angels in disguise that Newman talks of 'Those rare saints of God who rise up from time to time in the Catholic Church like angels in disguise.—
/
The Record, PO Box 75
am eighteen years old and Leederville WA 6902 born into an awesome famiemail: cathrec©iinet.net.au ly. My parents are very corntionship with the Lord. Iwas also nutted Catholics, so ever since I playing soccer at State League can remember we've been to reglevel which was great fun. ular weekday Mass, prayed the The idea of being a member of Rosary, etc. the Disciples Youth Mission Growing up I had a very strong Team in 2002 was sort of on my Catholic faith instilled in me. mind for most of last year, then However, it hasn't been until the one day in September while I last year or two that I've actually was praying the Lord spoke realised this. straight into my heart and I just I never rebelled against the knew He wanted me to do it. nightly Rosary, the morning It was a bit of a decision to make decade, the daily Mass, I simply I guess, since I'd also been went with the family flow. offered an opportunity to play But it never really meant much with the Perth Glory developto me. I was too distracted with ment team and so fulfil my life's other things. dream. I was into my soccer in a huge A team member once told me way. I used to have around 185 they did team to show the Lord pictures of soccer players up on just how much they loved Him. I my bedroom wall, I played, David Haydon too wanted to do this. I looked at watched, lived, breathed, dreacalled "Youth Force" and met the etc. Ididn't want to go for prayer the crucifix and saw how Jesus med, ate (if I could), soccer. It was my life, and while I had Disciples Youth Mission Team until someone had a word of had sacrificed His life for me. I a large number of other hobbies, through that. (I was in the same knowledge which said someone said to Him that I would make a Iguess you'd call soccer my God. parish as the team which is how was in the mom who was afraid sacrifice of my own to show just to go up and not to fear the Lord. how precious He was to me. I never took or thought about I heard about 'Youth Force'). A team member once told me So I went up and during the So here I find myself on Team, God seriously even though we prayed so much. Actually that's a something whichI'd never heard prayer for the first time I experi- and loving every second of it. It is such an honour to be used bit of a lie because if you had before in my heart. It was that I enced an overwhelming sense of seen me kneeling down, praying, could have a personal relation- God's love for me. I was crying as a tool for the Lord, to proclaim eyes closed, I was more likely ship with Jesus. That hit me from a really deep place inside, Him to other young people, and shaking, the Holy Spirit was real- to watch His power at work in so dreaming of the day I'd become Inside. I was invited to go to one of ly working powerfully on me. many amazing ways. When you a pro player. At that time I said Lord I'm work for the Lord. Go Your HardOr replaying the last game I'd their Community Gatherings. I seen over again in my mind. So ended up going to it and then yours totally, forever, I want to est!!! that was me. Until God decided went a second time. At the sec- know you Jesus as a friend. That The Disciples of Jesus webto take over. At the end of 2001I ond Gathering it was more like a was early 2001. Throughout that site can be visited on the Net started to go to a youth group ministry time, with prayer teams year I started to grow in my rela- at www.disciplesofjesus.org
Dear Padre/
Fr Tim Deeter answers your questions. You can send questions to Dear Padre, PO Box 75 Leederville, WA 6902
Q. Does a person have to attend the whole of the Mass to be eligible to receive Holy Communion at that Mass?
I
presume you are not referring to a Sunday obligation Mass, when Mass attendance is a matter of Church precept. But even with reference to a weekday Mass, yes, one ordinarily should attend the entire Mass if Communion is to be received. Vatican Council II stressed the link between the Mass and the reception of Communion: The more perfect form of participation in the Mass whereby the faithful, after the priest's communion, receive the Lord's Body from the same sacrifice, is warmly recommended.' (1963 Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, 53). Subsequently, the Church said: 'It is necessary to accustom the faithful to receive communion during the actual celebration of the Eucharist.' (1967 Instruction on the Worship of the Eucharistic
Mystery, Il.iii.C1). Someone might argue that if a person attends just part of the Mass and then receives Communion, the law is being fulfilled. But which part of the Mass is attended? If one enters the church during the Eucharistic Pope John Paul ll gives Communion to a young boy at World Youth Day in Prayer, that person has missed the Toronto July 28. The Mass closed the eighth international World Youth Day. scripture readings. Canon Law . •..• terS says: 'It is highly recommended that the faithful receive Holy ing Communion? The Church reception of Communion should Communion during the celebra- does not wish to deny the be the highpoint of one's particition of the Eucharist itself, but it Eucharist to those who are unable pation in the entire Mass. Receivshould be administered outside to assist at the celebration of the ing Communion without Mass to those who request it for Eucharist; but there is an integral participating in any other liturgia just cause, the liturgical rites relationship between Commu- cal rites, for no 'just cause', would nion and the Sacrifice of the Mass be a violation of the canon cited being observed.' (Canon 918) What are 'the liturgical rites' for itself; this was emphasised in the above. Communion outside Mass? 1973 Decree on Holy Communion And since the Mass is a comThese include prayers, a Scrip- and the Worship of the Eucharis- munity act of worship, to habituture reading and even a short tic Mystery outside Mass. ally come to Mass late only to homily, some time for reflection, There are exceptional situations. receive Communion and to etc. - in other words, a full Com- However, one must have a good ignore the community's celebramunion service. If the Church reason for coming late for Mass tion of the liturgy would be to treat requires these rites for Commu- and only receiving Communion. the sacrament solely as a personnion outside Mass, could a per- Entering the church only to al gift, rather than as a gift `to you son justify coming into church receive Communion, without a and to all' (cf. words of consecraduring Mass, say, at the time of serious mason, would be missing tion of the Precious Blood), as the Lord's Prayer and then receiv- the Church's teaching that the Jesus intended.
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Page 4
Why I became a Catholic
5 September, 2002
Raord
Surprises in Irish survey /
jess than half of Ireland's young Catholics believe sexual intercourse to be a sign of total and final commitment, a survey which contains many surprises has found. Two in three unmarried Catholics between the ages of 20 and 35 said that they were sexually active, the wide-ranging study found. The survey was undertaken by Father Desmond O'Donnell, a psychologist and also an Oblate priest formerly based in Fremantle and published earlier this year in the Irish Independent. Fr 0-Donnell said the survey results showed it was hardly surprising that one in every three Irish babies was now being born outside marriage. As recently as 1980 the figure was only one in every 20. Few baptised Catholics possess a copy of the New Testament (fewer than two in every five between the ages of 20 and
What does it mean? A former Fremantle Oblate priest has conducted a survey on the lifestyle, faith and beliefs of young Irish Catholics and produced some surprising theories on sex, marriage, commitment, attending Mass and general lifestyle decisions.
30.).
But overwhelming numbers of young Catholics still have an experience which they attribute to God. They mainly use words such as peace, trust and being loved to describe that experience. Yet, hal' of them see all religions as equally useful or useless. Missing Mass on Sunday, contraception and living with someone you intend to marry (in that order) come bottom of a list of 28 types of behaviour that young people were asked to rate in degrees of seriousness. Top of the list are sexual abuse of children and constant physical or verbal abuse in marriage. High up too were abortion because another child would be an inconvenience and abortion because of unwanted pregnancy, but abortion in the case of rape or incest was not an option polled. Fifth last in sinful importance was casual sexual interthe Damaging course. environment is much worse than missing Mass on Sunday. The survey found many baptised Catholics were disengaged from religion as a way of life. Fewer than one in three young men prayed daily, although most do so occasionally. Almost one in every two did not bother to attend Mass weekly, an omission which was regarded not long ago as a mortal sin. The survey indicated that young people were not turning
'411, %419
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Youth in Ireland have responded to a survey with some revealing beliefs Photo CNS on commitment.
elsewhere for religious inspiration. While the hierarchy circulated leaflets and letters leading up to a contentious abortion referendum earlier in the year, 68 per cent of young baptised Catholics say they had never read a spiritual book. 59 per cent say they did not own a New Testament, 50 per cent said they never discussed deeper matters and 30 per cent said that they did so only occasionally. Only two out of every three young Irish Catholics believe that Jesus Christ was God in human form, a third appearing to reject one of the central tenets of the tradition into which they were baptised. Yet, only a tiny four per cent say that Jesus is irrelevant to lives. their Only one in 10 of those under believed 35 most that priests understood young people.
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More than 700 nurses, trainee police, army cadets and students at 11 higher level colleges co-operated with O'Donnell, whose study attempted to discover how baptised Catholics themselves define their faith and morals. O'Donnell carefully avoided any suggestion that young people were immoral simply because they did not behave in a manner consistent with traditional Catholic thinking. His is a wide ranging study that explores why young people do what they think is right, even when it is difficult. Most said they did what is right because they feel true to themselves when they do. Many also acknowledged the power of social censure by parents and friends, or a feeling of guilt. Only 10 per cent feared that God might punish them, suggesting that hell and damnation do not feature in the Irish psyche as they once did. O'Donnell said there was no support for the assumption that young adults lived by an 'a la carte morality.' In all participants, age-groups and in both sexes, and among both the married and the unmarried, there was a consistency in moral choices on every issue. He noted that the high disapproval rate for living a life of pretence and hypocrisy might help explain the very vigorous media exposure of those in the public eye who did not live up to their obligations or to what they professed. Official figures for births outside marriage also showed that a distinction must be made
between rejecting traditional teaching and being irresponsible. Most of those births seemed to be to couples in cohabiting unions, many of which later become marriages. Nevertheless, the number of loneparent families had doubled since 1980, and the great majority of those lone parents tended to have lower levels of education and to be working out of the home more than marsimilar with women ried characteristics. This suggested that the children of unmarried unions may be disadvantaged by their parents' decision to have casual sex. Taking pride in a new liberal attitude towards sex, Irish people might
also be dodging what O'Donnell said was a serious anthropological question about the very meaning of sexual intercourse. His study is a map of the spiritual heart of Irish people under 35. It showed that churches still had a chance to move from static or stagnated forms of faith to a living relationship with the population at large. But O'Donnell warns that people are developing in every other aspect of personhood, especially in the rapidly changing post-modern world. A static Irish church, experienced as having an impoverished liturgical and intellectual life, cannot hope to meet their needs or change their minds.
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Opinion &Reflection
I Say, I Say.. --1
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ow often have you heard it said own human limitations and to love and be the final richness. The poorest is richer in "How could a loving God let that loved by their patients. something, perhaps love, than their neighhappen"? Perhaps there is an The starving would be grateful for even bour. The richest may be the poorest in the answer other than the usual platitudes and the excess food which, daily, we put into same commodity. In my need,I can always evasions. Maybe it is possible to recognise refuse bins. Their need is our opportunity see someone who needs something I have human needs as gifts from God? If, for a moment, we recognise that the and, in the sharing, we are both enriched. The person with a burning thirst is grate- money spent on armaments would more God's gifts to us, including our needs, are ful to the water carrier for a drink The than meet the cost of the transfer of our richer by far than we can imagine and also water carrier is grateful for the other's thirst excess to their real needs and result in a divinely balanced. and the opportunities it gives to help some- world not only better off in human terms We might ask "how could a loving God one else, out of respect for their humanity but also a lot safer, then perhaps we can let that happen?" about the Crucifixion, forto be ennobled before God in the process also recognise that politicians and bankers, getting that Jesus is God crucified. He felt and to reduce their own burden by even a blind and venal as they are, also need love it necessary to die in such a manner so that, cupful. and understanding as well as forgiveness. at least at our level, we might recognise The terminally ill, who, perhaps, think Philosophers, ancient and modern, speak what to do and what not to do. For exameuthanasia would be a blessing, could miss of the importance of 'balance'. There is a ple, in our daily lives we are often called a God-given opportunity, through patience, balance between those who need and upon to decide between what is morally to recognise 'time' for the illusion it is and those who can meet their need. This bal- correct and in our power and what is politto experience the genuine love, so willing- ance is achieved in the varying degrees of ically expedient. So too was Pontius Pilate. ly given, of their carers. They could also need and ability to meet need. My neighDo we, perhaps, make decisions similar deprive their doctors and nurses of the bour's need for a new spade doesn't to his or do we, knowing the outcome of opportunity to practise the skills they require the facilities of the International his, make different decisions. Our need to worked so hard to learn, as well as the Monetary Fund. Like the recipe for a Christ- know what to do is met by Pilate's examtriple opportunities to marvel at the won- mas Pudding, it is the variety of ingredients ple through Jesus' love. When we see the der of God's creation to recognise their and their different quantities that produces socially unacceptable, struggling, do we
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with Colin Redmond remember Simon of Cyrene and help them to carry their cross? When we see the utterly distressed, do we remember Veronica's towel for Jesus' face and, following her example, comfort them as best we can from our own resources. Even a brief scan through history since the crucifixion shows that many, many people have, from these examples, had their need for inspiration met and acted accordingly. The barbarous nature which surrounded Jesus' great act of love ensured that no generations which followed would fail to have their needs for examples of how to live met, in love. There is no human need which cannot be met out of the love of another human being and engender reciprocal love in the process. Human needs are, indeed, gifts from God to help us to "Love one another". Failure to recognise this in our daily life is no sin but it may be a God-given opportunity to think again what to say when we are asked "how could a loving God let that happen?"
TO JESUS THROUGH MARY A column of Marian devotion
Sunday
A layman's meditations, by Peter Dwan r
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i he theme of today's readings is fraternal correction, a necessary task within the Christian community. The first reading, (Ezekiel 33:7-9), comes from the prophet Ezekiel, one of the four major prophets of the Old Testament, who prophesied from 593 571BC. In 597 he was deported by Nebuchadnezzar from Jerusalem to Babylon together with King Joachim of Judah and most of the country's nobles.
"Worse was still to come. Jerusalem and its temple (which had been desecrated by unworthy priests) would be razed..." Some four years after arriving in Babylon, God appointed him to speak to his fellow exiles. He preached that Judah had brought this exile on herself by her infidelity to God. Worse was still to come. Jerusalem and its temple (which had been desecrated by unworthy priests) would be razed; Judah would cease to exist as a country and all the able-bodied people would be carried as slaves to Babylon. As he (and Jeremiah also) had foretold, all this happened in 58Z Then, in the latter half of his ministry, Ezekiel began to console the exiles and to promise them that, having undergone their just punishment, they would be restored to their homeland. Today's reading from Ezekiel gives us the warning, which God gave to his prophets. As God's representatives they have a grave responsibility for their people's salvation. Correction should be where God's law is involved. If parents are on their children's back over comparatively minor things such as hairstyle, there is the danger that children will consider their parent's "square", and refuse to heed their correction on moral matters. Parents have a duty to correct their children and teenagers. Parents would do well to heed Don Bosco's advice to his Salesians: "Make yourselves loved". If Page 6
children love their parents, they will obey them. The reading continues: "If I say to a wicked man: Wicked wretch, you are to die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked man to renounce his ways, then he shall die in his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death. lf, however, you do warn a wicked man to renounce his ways and repent, and he does not repent, then he shall die for his sin, but you yourself will have saved your life." The duty to correct is therefore a serious one. The response to today's responsorial psalm, (Psalm 94,) is "0 that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts." God wants us to denounce evil and correct the sinner. The late Mother Teresa of Calcutta repeatedly denounced abortion, whereas some Catholics today don't see abortion as evil. Some sex education courses present abortion as just another method of birth control! In today's second reading, (Romans 13:8-10) St Paul says: "Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love." Love is to be the motive for our correction of others. A Redemptorist priest once said that some parents take the attitude: "I brought you into the world, now you can go to hell!"
Redemptorist priest once said that some parents take the attitude: "I brought you Into the world, now you can go to hell!"" The gospel, (Matthew 18: 15-20), is Christ's teaching on fraternal correction. A key point about correction is that in the first place it should be private. One to one correction is the best. Our Lord Indicated that in some cases this doesn't succeed, saying: "If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge." "But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the community, and if he refuses to listen to the community, treat him like a pagan or tax collector."
A woman prays the rosary in New Ifedes Union Square last September 17 at a memorial site for victims of the World Trade Centre terrorist attacks. Photo CNS/Reuters
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s we begin to speak of the Rosary, For their part the monks recited the 150 our thoughts go immediately to the psalms of the Bible, as they continue to do definition which Pope Paul VI gave in the Liturgy of the Hours. For their lay conof it: "A compendium of all the Gospels." freres, who often did not even know how to The fundamental characteristic of this read, 150 Our Fathers replaced the psalms prayer is to be at the same time a prayer and, to help them, they would use a circle and a meditation on the principal myster- of 150 beads for ease in keeping count. ies of our Christian faith. Notice that the use of a string of beads for And for this reason, the Madonna at Fati- counting prayers was already in vogue ma proposes the Rosary as an antidote to among Christians as well as among other atheism: the average person today has more religions even many centuries before Christ. need than ever to pray and meditate on the When in the second half of the twelfth cengreat revealed truths of the faith. The insis- tury, the Hail Mary replaced the Our Father, tence of the popes in recommending this the Marian Psalter was born. prayer (you think, for example, of the twelve Only at the end of the fifteenth century did encyclicals on the Rosary penned by Leo the use of the second part of the Hail Mary XIII) does not surprise us, therefore, nor become widespread. Also at about that time does the fact that insistence on this prayer the Cistercian Enrico di Kalkar had the played such a part in the apparitions of happy idea of subdividing the 150 Hail Lourdes and Fatima. Mary's into fifteen decades, separated by an John XXM, with his endearing good cheer, Our Father. let us, "his dear children," know that "the The more widespread the use of this Pope's day is not over until I have recited prayer became, the more widespread were the fifteen mysteries of the Rosary" the confraternities of the Rosary. A little The Rosary did not come into being all at later the meditations from episodes in the once. It is the fruit of a gradual evolution Gospels began to accompany the recitation and we will understand it better if we of the Rosary. review its long history over five centuries, from the twelfth to the seventeenth. We begin with the twelfth century when From The Gospel of Mary the Hail Mary was widespread, limited, T E - a month with the Mother however, to just the first part. Prior to that GOSPEL of God by Fr Gabriel Amorth time only the angel's salutation was recited SSP, St Paul Publications, (we have evidence of this from an antiphon OF RRP $23.50 MARY of the sixth century, though not with the repetition we now know).
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Miracles: a gift, a mystery and a trial
iracles are true wonders, but for all their wonder they are remarkably common in the life of the Church from Abraham, our father in faith, through to the present day. They come in extraordinary variety and although they are easy to believe they are mysterious beyond understanding. And like all the mysteries associated with God, they can be something of a trial for believers and unbelievers alike. For unbelievers, the attempts to explain them away have been legion and continue to be so. In the last few centuries in particular, large numbers of prominent people have come up with an almost endless variety of pseudo scientific philosophies which accept the reality of the events, but try to explain why they are not miracles, or why miracles are not a possibility. None of them lasted much longer than it took to publish them. The nearest things to these philosophies in the present day is the sort of "logic" by which Anglican Primate Peter Carnley attempts to explain that a human life is not really a human life until it has lived long enough and developed far enough for him to accept it as a human life. Other unbelievers simply refuse to consider the facts or any possible explanation. It is a classic case of blind faith: If I keep my mind tightly closed,I won't have to see what is going on around me. For believers, miracles are not a problem. There are too many of them to allow for doubt. But the possibility of a particular miracle, especially one close to home
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which does not appear to have a clear and All of them come from the goodness of evident origin or purpose, can be a trial God and all of them are designed to lead for many. One would not like to be taken people to the goodness of God. in by a hoax or a natural phenomenon, Just as Mary attracts hearts in order to but one would also not like to deny a gen- betray them to Jesus, as St Bernard put it, uine miracle, and, finally, how does one so Marian miracles and miracles associexplain it to sceptical friends when there ated with the saints serve the same puris no definitive information on which to pose. The miracle itself is not the focus of attention, and even people whose lives base an explanation? The weeping statue at Rockingham (see have been profoundly changed by a miracPage 3) is a good example. A miracle? ulous event seldom stay closely attached Here? In suburban Perth? What are we to to that event. They move on in the life of grace as they follow the sacramental and make of it? Archbishop Hickey has not answered moral life the Church offers. Many Catholics, most of us probably, the question of the curious about a miracle, but has unerringly pointed to the have experienced specific moments of Divine Providence when we have been meaning and purpose of miracles. After visiting the home where the statue aware of the certainty of God's love for us, weeps, he said: "... the sight of Mary's stat- experiences or moments that are identifiue weeping tears has already had power- ably different from our underlying awareful spiritual effects, causing many people ness of God's presence in our lives. Few build their faith life around these events, to return to God." This is the meaning and purpose of all but instead focus on God himself. The importance of miracles - and the miracles - to remind us, to enlighten us, to inspire us to recognise the reality of the importance of the frequency of their spiritual world and our own place in it so occurrence - is that they confirm what we that we may adjust our beliefs and our already know, which is the reality of God behaviour accordingly. Miracles are not and the spiritual world. In a society which has abandoned relimere curiosities or sources of controversy.
Plaudits for the vocations edition
Stem cell deaths
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gion and now finds itself hungry for spirituality, there are important messages in miracles and the Church's response to them. Modern secular spirituality suffers severely from the fact that it has no content and requires no particular behaviour. That it is why it is so popular with a generation which wants everything to be subjective, optional and immediately gratifying. This is a period in which there is deep resentment about being told that any behaviour is necessary or even better than another. Religion, on the other hand, and the Catholic religion in particular, has very serious content - God's revelation of himself - and very serious teaching about the moral law which is written into the heart of mankind. We have options about whether we obey the moral law, but we have no options about what it is because it is the true nature of humanity. Miracles are the almost constant nudging that God gives us from his love to remind us to look in his direction and learn from his revelation. Whether they are large and serious nudges, like Our Lady's apparitions at Guadalupe, Lourdes, Fatima and other places, or more localised events, or personal interventions, all of them are gifts of love from the God of love. The gifts call for a response to the giver. • The opinions expressed in this editorial, and any other Record editorial, are not necessarily those of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth.
nancy and have her baby adopted. What is being notice is the beautit has been a great disappointment ful change in atmosphere within the that both our esteemed politicians Church where 24 hours a day, 7 days a week one can enter the Church Hon. John Howard and Treasurer and find a number of people so obvi- Peter Costello seem hell bent in ously happy in prayer and medita- allowing "surplus" embryos for experimentation. tion. They should consider the followAs well as the people who form the core roster there are people com- ing questions: Should a human embryo using IVF ing form quite distant parishes including some who come by taxi to be created as an expendable item? Should capital punishment be respend some hours with Jesus each Introduced? week. If their answer is "YES" to either There is a taxi driver who takes and hour off his work most days, to of the questions, then Australia is going down the path of the Taliban be in prayer with Him. From our experience over these as the Parliament legislates to experpast 5 months there is a longing for iment with and brutally destroy spiritual meaning and experience in human life. aaThereby capital punishment is our community and for some the Perpetual Adoration of the blessed re-introduced in a most inhumane Sacrament provides that meaning way on the innocent and most vulnerable. and purpose in a beautiful way. In addition, the prayers of the Ador- Present research using adult stem ers are having a real effect in the cells has had very positive results. Leave embryonic stem cells alone! community. Deirdre Lyra Legion of Mary Team Forrestfield Belmont-Redcliffe
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ast night at the monthly meeting of the Western Australian Vocations Network we reviewed National Vocations Awareness Week 2002. It was agreed that a highlight of National Vocations Awareness Week was the Vocations Edition of The Record ) Z. L ETTERS TO THE EDITOR We were delighted with the quality and variety of the articles, the extensive local input into the articles, the attractiveness of presentation and most especially, with the Vatican II inclusive notion of vocation as being the universal call to holiness for all people. we think we are. According to UNHCR data, 71 Such an edition does just not appear! It takes countries around the world accept refugees and enormous time, energy and creativity. asylum seekers, and of the 71, Australia is ranked We offer our deepest gratitude to you and all the 32nd. On a per capita basis, Australia is ranked staff at The Record who made this edition possi- 38th most generous, slightly behind Kazakhstan ble and so successful. and Djibouti. Sr Mary Ryan, rsj, from the National Vocations An Australian Supreme Court justice remarked: Office in Sydney, said it was the best Australian Isn't it strange how we can always find plenty of Catholic newspaper coverage on vocations that money and boundless commitment to wage war, she had seen. We agree. but never enough to save people. Who sets such Thank you for your tremendous support which values and priorities? In whose name are they is greatly valued. set? Certainly not mine. Just to let you know that National Vocations There is no call to appear strong by attacking Week in 2003 is August 3-10. the weak. The strength of any society is shown by Bro lbny Hackett, cfc how it protects the weak For a long time refugees and migrants have been this country's history. Secretary, WAVN Nearly everyone in this church has come from elsewhere to make a new life in Australia. may for a time appear weak But in the Refugees Sunrefugee on t seems appropriate that today they are the strength of our nation. term, long day, we should take the time to reflect on the Gale Marianne lives of the 22 million or more refugees and internally displaced people now astride the world, as Bateman Parish well as Australia's obligations to those seeking asylum here. Sane people simply cannot understand the from St Anne's Church Belmont genocide, cruelty and violence committed by the I Pand surrounding parishes are reporting what powerful against the weak. But these horrors are can only be described as miraculous changes alive and well in our civilised world at the dawn since Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacraof the 21st century. ment commenced at St Anne's on April 8 this In a papal message for world migration day in year. 2000, the Pope wrote: "The Church hears the sufThat day was co-incidentally the day that our fering cry of all who are uprooted from their own former Deacon and now locum priest Fr Demetri land, of families forcefully separated, of those Roh was ordained in Korea. who in the rapid changes of our day are unable One of the most remarkable and beautiful to find a stable home anywhere. At the same time, changes is the return of many lapsed or complastates with a relative abundance tighten their bor- cent Catholics who had drifted away from the ders under pressure from public opinion dis- Church. turbed by the inconveniences that accompany They have now comeback to spiritual life the phenomenon of immigration. It is impossible through the Sacrament of Reconciliation and regto hear these words of the Pope without thinking ular participation in the Eucharist. about what we are doing here in Australia. Indeed there has been a big increase in attenAs Christians we can see that refugees are dance at Morning Mass where Perpetual Adorahuman just like the rest of us. Their aspirations tion is held. for peaceful, stable personal lives are indistinA young lady with an unplanned pregnancy guishable from our own. We have always prided who was determined to have an abortion has had ourselves on being a multicultural nation that a change of plan. offers a fair go for all. Let us hope that Australia After much prayer support from a group of Perremains that way. petual Adorers she will continue with her pregWe are not as generous in accepting refugees as
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A fair go for all?
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Eucharistic blessings
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Remembering September 1 Perth man Peter Gurry was in Two World Trade Centre on the morning of September 11. He was one of the lucky survivors of the catastrophe that followed. This is an extract of an email he sent to family and friends in the week following 9/11. By Peter Gurry Class of '87 Mazenod College, Perth
At around 8.30 on Tuesday morning, September 11 2001, I arrived at my desk on the 62nd floor of Two World Trade Centre. I had just finished setting up my laptop and had responded to a couple of e-mails when some workmates arrived. At around 8.45am as we were talking the lights flickered on and off and the building seemed to shake. We were all startled and were asking each other if they had noticed anything when someone yelled. 'Oh my God' and pointed out one of the windows. Outside paper and other debris was spewing past. At first I thought that it may be tickertape until I noticed yellow pieces of office paper floating past. Less than 30 seconds after the impact a guy came running around to our area of the floor yelling 'A plane has crashed into World Trade One. Get to the stairs and get out!' No warning sirens were going off but luckily my workmates and I considered the danger imminent enough to warrant us leaving the building. I quickly grabbed the small valuables sitting on my desk and made my way to the stairs with everyone else. At first there was slight panic on the stairs as people tried to stay with their friends, but after two flights it seemed like any orderly fire drill (although there were still no sirens). At that stage someone remarked that it was an American Airlines jet. I had originally thought that it would have been a light aircraft out of control as a commercial pilot would never crash the plane into Manhattan. After descending 30 flights the public address system announced 'There is an incident at World Trade One. World Trade Two is secure. You may return to your offices." This message was repeated several times but only seemed to have an impact on a couple of evacuees. I heard some guy mention that he would prefer to save his 'old legs' from a further 20 floors of climbing. Iwas descending with one of the women that I work with and we were in no doubt about where we were going - we were going out - our safety was paramount. The descent continued to be relatively normal until we were on the 7th floor. We heard a huge noise, the lights went out for a couple of seconds, people shrieked. My workmates knees buckled and went into my back and I just stared at the ceiling expecting it to collapse at any second. This was the first time that I felt afraid. At that stage we had no idea what had caused the noise and resulting 'earthquake like' conditions - I assumed it had been the fuel tanks from the aircraft exploding. Once again the building felt safe. I had seen a TV program earlier in the year explaining how the towers could withstand even the impact of a jet aircraft, so I felt safe and was able to keep calm. A couple of minutes later we exited the stairs at the Mezzanine level (for those who have been up the World Trade Tower this is where you buy tickets and line up before taking the elevators). I looked out over the plaza between all the buildings. This is usually very bright with people walking through it on their way to work. It looked completely different. Everything was covered in ash and little fires were burning everywhere. I remember thinking at the time that it reminded me of the
Emergency workers comb The tangled remains of the fallen World Trade Photo CNS/Reuters Centre towers in New York on September 13, 2001.
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People run down Broadway as smoke and dust flies down the street from the collapsing World Trade Centre in New York on September 11, 2001. Both towers fell after being attacked by two hijacked commerPhoto CNSiFteuters cial planes.
nuclear scenes in Terminator. In fact after that point I felt like I must be in a movie. Everything was surreal. Being directed by security guards and police officers at this stage we took the escalators - which were now stopped - to the Mall level. As we entered the Mall under the towers all the shops were dosed, the lights were off and the place was desolate except for full coffee cups thrown over the floor and those people who had exited from our stairs. We were directed to some other escalators where we escaped the complex from one of the smaller World Trade Towers. As Icrossed Church St there were thousands of people standing around staring at the towers. I looked up to see both towers on fire. I kept walking and sneaked another look before my work colleague and I decided to get the hell out of there. I was lucky that I didn't stay for too long - many of my friends were unlucky enough to see over a dozen people jump. We passed thousands of people standing around within a couple of blocks of the towers - I remember thinking at the time that there was no way I was hanging around to see what happened. As we continued uptown along Broadway. passing people walking towards the towers,Imentioned to my colleague that both towers had been on fire. She had not realised and nearly fainted. We tried to call people on our mobiles but the grid was jammed. My instinct was to head home to get to my phone. Lines had already started to form at public phones. We got to Canal St and descended into the subway. It was on the subway that I heard that my tower had also been hit by an American Airlines jet and that there had been a plane crash at the Pentagon. My workmate and I men tioned that we may as well get home because there would be no way that we would be allowed back into the building for about a
week. In about another 25 minutesI was home.Iturned on the TV and watched live what many of you were also watching. I called my fiancee, Jo and left her a message on her voicemail, thought that she must have been in a meeting, but she was at a mate's office watching it on TV I was lucky enough to get through to home and the UK and to send out a quick e-mail from home. It was during one of these calls that I watched in disbelief as my building collapsed - I was so sure that it wouldn't fall. That was probably the thing that had kept me so calm during the whole experience. I left another message on Jo's voicemail. Unfortunately she had just seen the building fall also. She was convinced that we couldn't have made it out. Needless to say, when we finally spoke 90 minutes after the event she was extremely distraught, so much so that I was not let out of her sight for the next three days. Her reaction made one of the biggest impacts on me for the day, I have never seen her so worked up. We spent the rest of the day at home with friends watching the tragedy that was occurring only 51cm away. By the end of the day - after Ihad seen the second plane hit my building for the 100th time - it finally hit home that that was what I had experienced on the seventh floor. And for one of the first times I shivered. Since then New York City has been a very very different place. People are quieter and don't go out as much, traffic is less and more orderly and every plane that goes overhead sends shivers down your spine. But at least we are here to experience it. Peter Gurry marriedJoanna Dye in Perth on New Year's Eve. They are now living in New York
An original block inscribed "September 11, 2001," charred from the terrorist attack on the Pentagon, is the only remaining evidence of the attack that can be seen on the rebuilt portion of the US defence building outside Washington. Photo CNS Bob Roiier
THIS PAGE: Rosaries hang from a cross on August 12 at the site near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where United Airlines Flight 93 crashed on September 11, 2001. Fortyfour people, including four hijackers, died instantly in the crash. In the year since, the nation witnessed an outpouring of patriotism and spiritual awakenings and launched itseff into a war and other efforts to combat terrorism. Photo CNS/Reuters
Forgotten victims W
The hat worn by engineer Jeffrey Belcher displays patriotic messages as he works at the site of the rebuilt portion of the Pentagon just outside of Washington on August Photo CNS,Reuters 27.
A woman throws a single flower into the World Trade Centre disaster site following a Photo CNS Reot memorial service on June 2 in New York.
hen foreign terrorists attacked the United States last September, immigrants in the US suddenly felt their status change, both as a result of new government policies and in unofficial ways. Mere days before the September 11 attacks, the outlook for immigrants seemed rosier than it had in years. President Bush and Mexican President Vicente Fox were talking about how to make the US-Mexico border more open. And Bush had recently announced an almost unheard-of expansion of the number of refugees who would be admitted to the country in the coming year. Today, not only are those developments stuck on the shelf, but a series of policy changes and new laws have made life increasingly difficult for immigrants, both legal and illegal. Programs to help immigrants with everything from their legal problems to job training have been swamped. In the New York City area, in particular, church-run programs expanded to meet new demand from people who lost their jobs after the World Trade Centre towers collapsed. Dina Maniotis, director of the Catholic Conununi:ty Centre run by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of rooklyn in the north Queens region, said many people in the area lost their jobs within a few weeks after September 11. Some had their workplaces destroyed, she said. Others were caught in ripple effects, as the New _ York economy struggled to absorb the loss of entire companies, and of a significant amount of commercial office space. Since last September, Catholic Charities in Queens alone has helped about 1,400 families affected by the terrorist attacks, on top of the usual caseload of about 2,000 families a year, Margolis said. An esti'mated 75,000 jobs and US $4.5 billion in income .*rwere lost in New York as a result of the attacks. At the Catholic Community Centre. about 75 per cent ,,of the people seeking help are immigrants, according to Maniotis. What most need is financial help to make a rent or mortgage payment, but many also take advantage of job training and classes offered there. With new funding - some of which came _through the 9/11 United Services Group, a consortium of New York human services organisations disbursing billions of dollars in public contributions -the centre has been able to add staff, increase the number of classes offered and help out hundreds of -people in financial need. Meanwhile, what Maniotis really could use is more mployers who have jobs to rill. Job struggles aren't the wily difficulties facing immigrants. More than 30 new executive orders from the federal government now restrict how immigrants may come and go, or otherwise control leir movements in ways not previously used. For instance, an order signed in June requires about a million tourists, students and business travellers jrom 26 countries to register and report regularly to •the Immigration and Naturalisation Service. Failure to comply with the procedures means the visitors will be considered national security threats, subject to deportation and barred from re-entering the country. Another order calls for cracking down on violations of requirements to notify the Immigration and Naturalisation Service of address changes within 10 days of a move. Again, the penalty goes as far as deportation for violation of a regulation that the National Immigration Forum notes hasn't been - CNS efenforced in 50 years. Page 9
Local News
5 September, 2002
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Goomalling has its 90th A
rrangements are gathering momentum for a gala weekend to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Sacred Heart Catholic School in the wheatbelt town of Goomalling, 134 km north east of Perth. Students will bury a time capsule in the school grounds at 2pm on Friday, September 20 to mark the beginning of the three days of celebrations. Celebratory Masses will be held at 10.30 am on Saturday, September 21, and at 11am on Sunday. A special lunch has been arranged for Saturday and a barbecue will be held on the Sunday. Past students and staff and community members have been invit- The Goomalling principal, Darren Stanbury, with students of 2002. ed to attend the celebrations. established at the convent and The Presentation Sisters The Presentation Sisters estab- was one of the main sources of remained in Goomalling unti11986 lished the school in 1912 and in income for the nuns. Many of the when Robyn Masters took up the its early days it provided a board- Goomalling community would position as the school's first lay ing facility for boys and girls from remember the music lessons at principal. surrounding districts. the convent, regardless of Mrs Masters, Jack Keay, Matthew A thriving music centre was whether they attended the school. Mann, Peter Baldry and the cur-
A Spring afternoon in Monet's garden Just imagine yourself in the village of Giverny. in the Normandy countryside in France. Become immersed in the beauty of this famous garden, as if appeared in April this year. There will be beautiful pink tulips in front of the green shuttered pink house, and the mauve wisteria cascading over the green bridge spanning the lily pond. Gayle Monzu an experienced lecturer, gardener and garden tour leader will present an inspiring talk, and afterwards you enjoy a sumptuous afternoon tea with your friends. It will also be a chance for you to help the work being carried out by The Companions of The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. Proceeds go directly to support the Franciscan Sisters working in schools in Kenya. Ethiopia and Uganda. Saturday September 21 at 2pm - The Palms Community Centre Nicholson Road, Subiaco, $15 per person Tickets: Jan Gardner 9381 4317, Dorothy French 9291 6248 or Glenda Foster 9332 1253.
The Sacred Heart Primary at Goomalling is having an anniversary.
rent principal, Darren Stanbury continued the high standard of educations the sisters provided. Sacred Heart school is now a coeducational school, from kindergarten to year seven, with 35 students. The warm, friendly, corn-
Korea's flower village blooms Can you help this worthy cause?
K
.kottongne, which is also known as the Flower Village, is a place of extraordinary love just outside Seoul, the capital of South Korea. When Archbishop Hickey visited it in April he described it as a remarkable initiative arising from a deep faith and love of the poor. It is an enormous complex with a hospital, a hospice, and homes for abandoned children with disabilities, for homeless adults with physical and mentally disabilities, and for people with psychiatric disorders. At any one time it is home for more than 4000 people who are cared for by five priests, 91 brothers, 250 sisters plus thousands of volunteers. What is remarkable is that all this is only possible because members form Korea and around the world sustain it with donations of $2 a month. Work is now underway to extend Flower Village's work into the Philippines Where abandoned girls and boys aged 6 to 13 are being gathered off the streets for care and education. The work was started by Fr John Oh who was appointed parish
priest of the area in 1976. His currently working in the Belmont inspiration came from a remark- parish. able old man known as Grandpa Fr Demetri told The Record that Choi Kwi-dong, who, before his arrangements have been made to death on January 4, 1990 came to purchase 5000 square metros of be known also as Small Jesus land on the outskirts of Manilla because of his great love and ded- where the cost is $25 a square ication to the homeless and the metre, in order to build premises broken. His own physical and mental for the homeless and the handihealth had been broken by tor- capped. With Archbishop Hickey's ture in a Japanese forced labour camp during the war and when approval, he is appealing to peohe finally found his way home, in ple in Western Australia to buy the wreckage of post-war Korea one or more square metres of the his wife and his parents were no land. Those who do will be kept longer there. Informed of the progress of the He became a beggar, but when buildings and of the boys and Fr Oh found him in 1976 he was girls. using the scraps of food he Fr Demetri leaves Perth late this obtained by begging to feed 18 month to continue his work in the other people who had even less Philippines and Korea, and he capacity than himself. They lived would love to know that the In a makeshift shelter that was no money is available before he goes. protection from the bitter Korean Donations should be sent to Fr winters. Demetri Roh (Flower Village) at Behind the drive to expand into the Philippines is Fr Demetri Roh, the Catholic Development Fund, a member of the Kkottongne com- 21 Victoria Square, where a spemunity who did all his seminary cial account has been opened. The spirit of Flower Village is training at St Charles' seminary in Guildford, and who was ordained Grandpa Choi's motto: It is a In Korea in April with Archbish- blessing of God's grace even to op Hickey present, and who is have the strength to beg for food."
Lockridge's Father Dan stays on in retirement
T
he blessing and official opening of the new presbytery for the Good Shepherd Parish at Lockridge was a day of celebration for parishioners. The day was made special for a number of reasons. Locluidge is one of the few parishes - and possibly the only parish - to see their parish priest retire at the Parish. But this simple act meant much to the parishioners because of the very high esteem in which they hold Fr Dan Foley. He is truly loved, cherished and admired by the people of The Good Shepherd Parish. Fr Vinh who served as assistant Parish Priest to Father Dan, has always looked on Fr Dan as his spiritual father. It must mean very much to him to be instrumental in building a home for his spiritual father. So all these factors made the day a very special one indeed. Page 10
But those were not the only reasons for the celebrations. The extension, now called the St John Vianney unit, was paid for and built entirely by the parishioners. Tradesmen from the parish donated their time under the leadership of the very able Nick De Luca and those who were not able to donate talents made donations of materials or money. The end result is a beautiful two room fully furnished unit, which anywhere else would have cost more than $60,000 but came in at less than $20,000. The evening started with a celebration of the Eucharist with Bishop Sproxton, Fr Vinh Dong, Fr Dan Foley and Deacon Gayan. Before the blessing the congregation was treated to a slide show depicting the progress of the extension - from the clearing of the land to the finished product. After the slide show, presenta-
The Mass emitting the blessing of extensions to Loaridge presbytery.
lions were made to the tradesmen the congregation processed to the who worked continuously new extension and it was blessed through this project. and opened by Bishop Sproxton. Music was supplied by the very When the official proceedings professional Good Shepherd were over, the evening continued Parish Music Ministry. After Mass In the newly named Fr Dan Foley
munity-based atmosphere is very welcoming and the children enjoy good resources and facilities, with music lessons, a networked computer system, spacious, air-conditioned and heated classrooms, and a staff most schools would envy.
Attadale to host talks Archbishop Barry Hickey will be a featured speaker at a series of five lectures on the theme of issues facing Catholics living in today's society from Monday, September 9 to Friday, September 13 at the St Joseph Pignatelli Parish. Attadale. The first of the lectures is'Catholic Schools Meeting the Challenge of Today's Society, and will be delivered by the director of Catholic Education. Therese Temby. Archbishop Hickey's lecture entitle The Family follows on Thesday, with the director of the L I Goody Bioethics Centre, Father Walter Black's talk on Moral Issues on Wednesday. Father Paul Baczynski, the director of the Crossroads Community will deliver a talk entitled Youth, on Thursday, and the series concludes with Gerry O'Neil, director of Spirituality at Aquinas College talking on Building Parish Community on Friday. Each of the lectures run from 7pm to 9pm, and will be introduced by a choir. Choirs taking part are those of Santa Maria College, the Julian Singers, Mel Maria Primary School and the WASIMH Choir. Tea, coffee, and biscuits will be available each night. and a supper is scheduled for the Friday night. (Please bring a plate). Further information is available from Fr Geoff Beyer, on 9330 372Z Parish Centre. Food came from the many contributors within the Parish. During the evening a singalong was organised by the everwilling members of the Music Ministry and a wonderful evening was enjoyed by all. Thanks to Fr Vinh Dong for his thoughtfulness, his planning and his energy. But thanks too to the several members of the Parish who all contributed wonderfully to make this an example of what a community can achieve together.
Local News
Record
Couples mark 110 years of marriage Two couples who have been settled many years in Perth after marrying in distant places have celebrated major milestones in their marriages. Marie and Sydney Gasper, formerly of Burma and now of Kelmscott, celebrated their 50th anniversary with a special Mass at St Mary's Cathedral, during which they renewed their vows and Cathedral Dean Monsignor Thomas McDonald presented them with a special Papal Blessing. Philippe and Paulette PerombeIon, formerly of Mauritius and now of Bayswater, celebrated their 60th anniversary with family and friends. Marie and Sydney Gasper wed
on June 25, 1952, after growing up together in the same village in Burma, and came to Perth on October 6, 1967 Sydney is an acolyte at St Mary's and Maria is a special Minister of the Eucharist Mr Gasper served 20 years with the Burmese army, retiring as a warrant officer, but since coming to Australia, he and Mrs Gasper worked for the Government. They arrived in Perth with five children aged between five and 15 and celebrated the anniversary with children, their 18 grandchildren and four great grand children. Three other grandsons living in England plan to return to WA later in the year to celebrate their
grandparent's milestone. Mrs Gasper said she and her husband had one simple message for all friends and family - 'love everyone, irrespective of who and what they are - and to believe there is a God for everyone.' Philippe and Paulette PerombeIon were wed on Mauritius on August 31, 1942, in St John's Church. It had been love at first sight for the young couple, they said. She was 19 and he was a 23year-old dashing policeman. The couple now have seven children, 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Their family sponsored them to settle in Perth on December 1Z 1984. - Neil Smith
5 September, 2002
Philippe and Paulette Perombelon - married 60 years.
Sydney and Marie Gasper - married 50 years.
The day Fr Long sparked a stampede In his Perspective last week, the East Perth cemetery. The story Archbishop Hickey asked of his involvement with the whether readers of The Record unsuccessful gold rush was told could remember Fr Long in rela- by journalist John Marshall in his tion to the Goldfields. book Battling for Gold, published Archdiocesan archivist Sr in Melbourne by E. W. Cole in Frances Stibi provided Fr Long's 1903. The chapter was entitled story to The Record. 'Father Long and his Sacred Fr Denis Paul Long was born at Nugget'. Cork in Ireland. He was ordained Marshall told how a report at All Hallows College, Dublin, on attributed to Fr Long appeared in June 24 1895 and came to West- the goldfields papers one mornern Australia. ing in July 1898 telling of an His first appointment was to Cue 'exceptionally rich slug of gold, and he was then assistant priest weighing nearly 100113'. Some at Coolgardie before being placed prospectors had purportedly in charge at Kanowna. It was at found it near Kanowna but Fr Kanowna that he became nation- Long was not permitted to divulge ally known for his involvement in their names or the location. Marshall wrote: 'As the weeks an unsuccessful gold rush in 1898. He was recalled to Perth and went by, public excitement, died in Perth Public Hospital of instead of abating, actually typhoid fever on May 14, 1899 at increased; hundreds arrived from the age of 29. He was buried in the Eastern Colonies, drawn, of
Vinnies open store
nort4ern ekposttre
course, by the reported find of the men who had found the 'Golden monster nugget. At last the excite- Sickle Nugget' or the 'Sacred ment rose to such a feverish pitch Slug' as it had become known, that the authorities were fearful of and said: 'The nugget has been a disturbance taking place, and Fr found a quarter of a mile on this Long was pressed to disclose side of the nearest lake on the where the alleged nugget had KlimaIpi road.' been found.' Marshall wrote: 'Scarcely had He agreed to make a public the last words left the speaker's announcement from the balcony mouth that a great roar was heard. of a hotel at 2pm on August 11, the vast mass of men suddenly ... 1898. broke and scattered, then fled as Marshall reported: 'By one o'clock there were over 4000 per- if a thousand demons had been sons in the street and at ten min- let loose on them.' There were utes to two another large numerous injuries in the rush, but contingent, numbering at least within a short while 'several hun2000 persons, arrived from Kal- dred mining claims had been taken possession of. goorlie.' 'When a week had passed away Fr Long appeared at 2pm, said he was in "a most unenviable and without the smallest degree of position', success, the diggers 'slung it and disadvantageous repeated that he did not have per- a few days after not a single digmission to reveal the names of the ger could be seen at work."
Bidyadanga style By Fr P De Silva
The St Vincent de Paul Society opened a low cost retail centre in Toodyay this week. St Vincents, the state's largest chairty, already has 43 shops around the state. They sell good quality, low cost items inclduing clothing, furniture, white goods and manchester. The society's president and former WA Police Commissioner, Brian Bull, officially opened the new easily accessible shop on Monday at 10am. Proceeds from the sale of goods at the shop will be used to assist those in need throughout the state. Mr Bull said: 'we are pleased that Toodyay residents will be able to benefit from the St Vinnies shop while also helping fellow Western Australians." Volunteers will run the shop in Stirling Terrace. St Vinnies assists more than 150,000 people each year.
The patron saint of a remote Aboriginal community in WA's far north is St John the Baptist. And so it was that Bidyadanga-La Grange celebrated the feast day of its patron on June 23. A significant part of the day was the confirmation of some 14 candidates by Bishop Christpopher Saunders of Broome (shown at left). Mass was followed by mornming tea and a barbecue lunch. For the locals and many visitors from Broome and elsewhere it was a most enjoyable day.
Photo. Sr Pat Seafey
From The Kimberley Community Profile. Diocese of Broome
MercyCare looking for house MercyCare is in need of a 56 bedroom house to rent within a 10 kilometre radius of Wembley. MercyCare will be familiar to long-term Perth residents under the name St Joseph's Orphanage and more recently the Catherine McAuley Family Centre. The agency wants to establish a residential group home in the community for up to four school-aged children. Residential Care is based on a family model where a carer couple reside in the house to care for the children. The ideal home is a house where the carers have their own facilities and so two or more bathrooms are a must. The house needs also to be child-friendly with plenty of room for play, and close to transport. Lyn Pushong, Operations Supervisor in the Family Services Branch at MercyCare said' Because of the area, size, and nature of the property we are seeking to secure, the rental market is quite restricted. "There may be church properties meeting the criteria, available now or in the next few months, that Parish Councils would be happy to rent to us. "Also by appealing to parishes it helps widen the net beyond estate agents. "There may be parishioners thinking of leasing their own homes or are aware of others in the community that would like to lease houses for community purposes.' Lyn can be contacted at MercyCare phone 9442 3444. She would be pleased to supply further information. Page 11
5 September, 2002
l eNi4°ct
International News
A language problem By Jonathan Luxmoore
Saint Pio scams ROME (CNS) - Nine Italians, including a Capuchin friar, were arrested in late August on charges of fraudulently collecting $200,000 in donations by using Saint Pio's name. Italian authorities said members of the alleged fraud ring ran an association called "Padre Pio With the Children" that sold mail-order Saint Pio videos and books with the claim that the bulk of the money would benefit children in developing countries. Capuchin Father Alfonso Parente, 40, once a member of the famous Italian saint's friary in the southern town of San Giovanni Rotondo, served as honourary president of the association and provided a written endorsement guaranteeing that the beneficiaries would be children. Italian investigators said none of the money collected went to charity.
WARSAW, Poland (CNS) - A leading Russian newspaper has blamed visiting Polish priests for current Catholic-Orthodox tensions and accused them of being "ignorant of Russian language and culture." A late-August story in the Niezavisimaya Gazieta newspaper said the Catholic Church in Russia had too much of a Polish influence, with the Polish language dominating Church services. This contributes to tensions with the Orthodox Church, the newspaper said. However, a Church spokesman in Moscow said Polish priests had made an "enormous contribution" to religious recovery. Father Igor Kowalewski of Moscow told the Polish Press Agency that there were "no conflicts" between Christians of Polish and Russian origin. "Most Masses are conducted in Russian, and claims about the use of Polish don't stand up," Father
Kowalewski said. "The Catholic Catholic priests - only 15 of whom Church's official language in Rus- are ethnic Russians - as well as a sia is Russian. Foreign priests large proportion of the Church's either know it before arriving, or 1.3 million members. they learn it," he said. In the article, Niezavisimaya "The Catholic Church isn't Gazieta said Catholic priests were Polonising Russia - on the con- "distinguished for their ignorance trary, the Polish minority here is of Russian language and culture," strongly Russified. We've no as well as their "hostility to Rusintention of resisting this, since it sia and Orthodoxy." isn't our mission," he said. It added that the "Polish quesNiezavisimaya Gazieta said the tion" was a "bone of contention" Vatican displayed "a complete between Russia and the Vatican lack of understanding for the his- and said the Catholic Church torical conditions in which Polish should not be "linked with 'Polish clergy were active in Russia." faith.'" The article said Polish CatholiThe director of the Polish cism was identified with the Church's Office to Aid the Church Imposition of an "alien faith" dur- In the East, Father Jozef Kubicki, ing 17th-century Polish incursions said that since the 1989-91 colinto Russia as well as with Polish lapse of communism, Polish Church support for anti-Russian priests had made an "inestimable uprisings. contribution" to religious revival It added that the Catholic in Russia and other post-Soviet Church's "domination" by Polish republics. priests in Russia had "automati"Of course, their command of cally caused conflict with the Russian depends on their lanOrthodox majority." guage capacity and how long Poles currently make up about they've been there." said the Wartwo-thirds of Russia's 285 saw-based priest.
Peace prayer on Mount of Olives
Mission arrests ROME (CNS) - Three European missionaries were detained by Ugandan soldiers for 24 hours after meeting with members of a rebel group, said MISNA. a Rome-based missionary news service. The Comboni priests, including MISNAs director, Italian Father Giulio Albanese, 43, were "ambushed" by soldiers in northern Uganda despite having received prior military permission to meet members of the Lord's Resistance Army, the news agency said. "It was a breakdown in the internal communications among military ranks," Father Albanese said. "Now the most important thing is that the dialogue (between rebels and the government) continues. This incident must not and cannot compromise the dialogue," he said.
Priest wed 50 years KILGORE, Texas (CNS) While any number of Catholic priests may take part in celebrations of 50th wedding anniversaries, it's certainly not every priest who gets to celebrate his own. But on August 22, Father John Whitsell of Our Lady Queen of Angels Church In Overton did just that - marking half a century of wedded bliss to the former Pat Price, the woman who makes up one half of the only "Father and Mrs." couple in the Diocese of Tyler. Since 1980, when the Vatican approved special US provisions under which former Episcopal priests who had become Catholics could apply for ordination in the Catholic priesthood, more than 100 married former Episcopal priests have become Catholic priests, along with a few married former Methodist and Lutheran ministers. "It's been a wonderful relationship," Father Whitsell said with a glance across the living room at his wife. "She is as called and as dedicated as I am." Page 12
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"It would be impossible to quantify all they've done in the past decade for evangelisation, catechisation and charity, or the enormous gratitude their work has generated from people of all denominations," he said. Tensions with the Orthodox Church increased in February after the Vatican created four dioceses for Russia. Russian Orthodox leaders were enraged by what they viewed as Catholic "expansionism," "spiritual poaching" and proselytising. Russian Orthodox believers held anti-Catholic demonstrations in at least a dozen Russian cities, and the country's parliament debated measures to restrict Catholic activity. In April, Bishop Jerzy Mazur of the Siberian Diocese of St. Joseph in Irkutsk was expelled without explanation. The 48-year-old Polish citizen had worked in the former Soviet Union since 1992. At least two other foreign missionaries also were denied re-entry visas or visa renewals.
Catholic clinic is a first in Vietnam Asian News
Carmelite Sister Agnes joins a special prayer service for peace in the Holy Land at the Pater Noster Church on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Leaders of various Christian Churches called for a period of daily prayers for peace in churches across Jerusalem in August "The picture presented to our children and young people is one of the wholesale disregard for human life and dignity as murder, assassination and destruction of homes continue," they said in a statement about the continuing Mideast violence. "We are convinced that God alone can rescue all of us from this intolerable position." Dot,tup Ho
Conversions blamed for hatred The council is an association of adult... and is guaranteed under the country's Protestant and the Indian Constitution." Orthodox Churches. Set up in In his letter, the bishop recalled NEW DELHI, India (CNS) - A 1978, the minority commission the visit of some 100 bishops to church official has urged India's evaluates the working of various the Golden Temple, the Sikhs' National Commission for Minori- constitutional safeguards to pro- holiest shrine, in the Punjab town ties to join the fight against sec- tect religious minorities and rec- of Amritsar, during the bishops' tarian hatred and mistrust amid a ommends further improvements. meeting in March. Punjab is Singh said conversions cause India's only Sikh-majority state. controversy about alleged Sikh Describing Christians as people tension in India; he called them "a conversions to Christianity. serious issue with all communi- extending their hands "in friendIn a letter to a commission ties." His letter cited two "recent ship and service," the archbishop member, Archbishop Vincent instances" where some Christians said the Church was eager to Concessao of New Delhi said all allegedly bribed poor Sikhs to "work out with all our common religions should be united in convert to destiny in peace and harmony." Christianity. fighting hunger, illiteracy and Singh told UCA News that he In his response, Archbishop other "common enemies" instead Concessao, first vice president of wrote the letter to "tell the Chrisof stoking the hatred and mistrust the Indian bishops' conference, tian leaders to leave the Sikhs spread by some groups, reported assured Singh that Christians "are alone." Observing that Sikhs and VGA News, a Church news not a threat to anyone" and that Christians are minorities in the agency based in Thailand. the Church does not believe in country, Singh said, "I am sure Tarlochan Singh, vice chairman converting people through fraud. Christians do not want to convert of the minority commission, The Church, the archbishop a few thousand Sikhs and create wrote to Archbishop Concessao added, was willing to "correct" its bad blood between the two sides." Sikhs, he added, have "a great and to the president of the Nation- mistakes, "if there are any," but al Council of Churches in India urged Singh not to judge the affection toward Christianity." He after a Christian sect reportedly Church based on the "acts of indi- recalled that their head priest led converted Sikh youths in the east- viduals." Conversion, the bishop a delegation to the Vatican in the ern state of Chhattisgarh. said. "has to he the decision of an spring.
Asian News
HO CHI MINH CITY. Vietnam (CNS) - The first Catholic-run clinic under communist rule in Ho Chi Minh City has opened as the government pushes for privatisation in health care. Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Pham Minh Man of Ho Chi Minh City inaugurated the clinic on August 16, reported VGA News, a Church news agency based in Thailand. Representatives of the state health care services, as well as priests and religious, attended the ceremony. Archbishop Man commended the clinic's 24 doctors and 26 nurses. Although Catholics worked together to establish the clinic, he told the staff he is confident they will serve all their compatriots regardless of religious affiliation. The new clinic appears to be part of an overall government drive since the early 1990s to privatise former state-controlled sectors, including education and health care. Before the inauguration, Dr. Joseph Dinh Viet Thuc, a Catholic, told UCA News that, while local authorities have given permits to privately run clinics, the new clinic is the first Catholic-run medical facility since the mid-1970s. In recent years, local author.ities have praised Catholic medical workers for their service to the poor, drug addicts and people with HIV/AIDS. A representative of the municipal health services said the clinic "will help ease the pressure on state-run health facilities." "The people will also benefit from the better services offered here," the representative said.
II Record
International News
5 September, 2002
Aboard the Pope's jet Priest's refusal
By John Thavis
VATICAN CITY (CNS) - When Pope John Paul II decided not to go to the Philippines this January, it seemed that an era of papal travel was drawing to a close. The decision leaves no trips on the Pope's calendar for the foreseeable future. It's doubtful the 82-year-old pontiff has permanently unpacked his suitcase, but future trips - to places like Croatia or Belarus - are likely to be shorter and less taxing on his stamina. It's been a long run since Pope John Paul made his lust journey to Mexico in 1979. In his 98 trips outside of Italy, he's visited 131 countries and spent 570 days on the road. For the Press corps that travels on the Pope's plane, it's been an equally long ride, with its share of scoops, adventures and curiosities. Every time the Pope takes off in his chartered jet, 50 to 75 journalists are right behind him, in the economy-class seats. They are considered part of the papal party and wear a tag with the magic words "Volo Papale" (papal flight). Seats on the papal plane are not easy to come by, since requests always outnumber available places. Some agencies - including Catholic News Service always get a spot, but many other media are left off. There are advantages and disadvantages to making the "Volo Papale" list. On the plus side, you've got an automatic ticket to an inflight papal press conference. But the Pope has dropped that habit in recent years, so reporters these days get the next best thing: Vatican spokesman Joaquin NavarroValls. The spokesman's spin
to wed praised
By Art Babych
Caffiollc News Service Rome bureau chief John Thavis greets Pope John Paul ll aboard a papal flight about to leave Plovdiv, Bulgaria, in May. (CNS photo by Arturo Man)
sessions can set the stage for a my class - sometimes on their But they're also closely convisit or help explain a papal quote. way to the bathroom. trolled, in ways that can make it Sometimes he conveys a message The longtime papal secretary, difficult to cover the Pope firstto the Pope's host, as when he Bishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, often hand. sharply criticised a Missouri gov- befriends reporters, handing out Their Vatican "minder" is Vik ernor's decision to execute a pris- rosaries and listening to whis- Van Brantegem, a Belgian whose oner the day after the Pope left pered requests. On the flight back by-the-book mindset is legendary town. (The governor later com- from Poland in August, one jour- among Vatican reporters. The muted the death sentence.) nalist asked him if those who had book is a minute-by-minute proJournalists on the plane are never met the Pope could come gram he prepares, instructing given papal speeches in advance, up and be introduced; the smiling journalists where they must be in In several languages. The first Bishop Dziwisz made it happen order not to miss a pool, a briefday's speeches are distributed en 10 minutes later. ing, a bus or an airplane. route; the rest are handed out Papal flights offer airlines a The Vatican reporters often find early every morning at the Vati- chance to impress the press. Ali- themselves with the best seats for can Press corps' hotel. talia does it with Italian charm, papal events, but unable to move There are other "Volo Papale" good food and gifts like toiletry around freely to talk to the people bonuses. About 20 Vatican aides kits and perfume. This summer, in attendance. On air travel days. travel with the Pope in the first- Alitalia finally dropped its prac- they must leave papal meetings class section, and they can be tice of handing out cartons of cig- or liturgies early so they can snagged for quick interviews arettes. In many ways, the flying board the plane well in advance when they meander into econo- Vatican Press corps is coddled. of the Pontiff.
Priest hides Militias a concern for Papuans from police By Stephen Steele
By Clan Molloy DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS) - An Irish priest has been forced into hiding in Zimbabwe after being targeted by President Robert Mugabe's security police, said Irish Church officials. Father Patrick "P.1." Kelly fled from his parish to a safe house following a visit from a mob claiming to be Mugabe's "war veterans," who ordered him to "stop spreading subversive politics." The London-based human rights group Amnesty International said Zimbabwe's "war veterans" are backed by the police and army and are able to act with impunity. In the last year, white farmers in Zimbabwe have been forced off their land by "war veterans" as part of Mugabe's land reform program. Father Kelly, 60, of 'Ribbercurry, Ireland, was ordained in 1967 at All Hallows College in Dublin, a seminary specifically set up to provide priests for service overseas. He served for four years in the Diocese of Plymouth, England, before going to the diocese's African mission in Kenya in 1971. In 1998 he was assigned to Zimbabwe.
WASHINGIUN (CNS) - Church leaders in Indonesia's West Papua province are concerned over the rise of trained militias in the region, a Papuan priest said. Militias organised and supported by the Indonesian military have sprouted throughout the eastern province, whose citizens have been waging a battle for selfdetermination for nearly 30 years. Church leaders are concerned that the militias' presence could result in violence similar to that which engulfed East Timor in 1999, when the former Indonesian province voted for its independence, said Father Neles Tebay, a Papuan human rights campaigner. "The greatest need for West Papuans is the security of their life," Father Tebay said. The priest told Catholic News Service during a Washington visit that Indonesian forces have used murder, torture, arbitrary detention and rape as tactics to defeat the self-determination movement. Indonesia deployed thousands of troops in West Papua after offering the province a special autonomy in 2000. Father Tebay said the emergence of the militias is an attempt to foment conflict among Papuans and between Papuans and migrant workers from other Indonesian provinces to squash the movement for self-determination. "Our conflict is not with each
other. Our conflict is with the cen- violent leader." Father Tebay said. tral government in Jakarta," he In the call for self-determination, said. Papuans have promoted a "genOf further concern was the pro- uine dialogue" with Indonesia. motion of Major General Mahidin not simply independence, Father Simbolon, an Indonesian officer Tebay said. linked to the creation of militias In 2000, Indonesia offered West in East Timor, as regional com- Papua a special autonomy, which mander of West Papua. Papuans rejected. West Papua, formerly called "We Papuans said `no.' We want Irian Jaya, was given to Indonesia dialogue, not an immediate soluby the United Nations in 1963. tion," Father Tebay said. Indonesia annexed the region in "If I am a sick person and you 1969 following a referendum are a doctor, how can you help widely condemned as rigged. me without examining me? As part of the "Act of Free "Any solution should be decidChoice," Indonesia hand-picked ed after a genuine dialogue," he 1025 people from a population of said. about 1.7 million to vote in the refPapuans are suspicious of erendum; voters were threatened with torture and death unless they autonomy because Indonesia has accepted Indonesian sovereignty. offered it several times during its About 100,000 Papuans have rule, but has never followed been killed or disappeared dur- through, said Papuan journalist ing Indonesian rule, Father Tebay Octovianus Mote, visiting fellow with the Genocide Studies Prosaid. gram at Yale University who travThe priest said human rights violations have been on the rise eled with Father Tebay. "Indonesia says, 'Forget all the since the 1998 fall of former human rights violations of the Indonesian President Suharto. Since 1998, nearly 140 Papuans past and accept this as a gift.' But (Indonesia's first President) have been killed by Indonesian security forces, with more than Sukarno gave Papuans autonomy, 800 reported cases of arbitrary which was never fulfilled." Mote said. detention and torture. Although a small, armed sepaLast November, Theys Eluay, a leader in the Papuan indepen- ratist movement exists in West dence movement, was killed by Papua, which shares an island members of the Indonesian spe- with Papua New Guinea, Father cial forces command known as Tebay said there has been no Kopassus in Jayapura, the provin- rebel activity since mid-2000. cial capital, . "Papuans are seeking an end to "His death was a big blow to the conflict by peaceful means; Papuans because he was our non- yet the killings continue," he said.
CfITAWA (CNS) - Canada's Catholic Civil Rights League praised an Alberta priest's decision to refuse a Catholic wedding for a woman who worked for Planned Parenthood. The league said in a statement that it was predictable that Father John Maes of Medicine Hat, Alberta, would be "held up for scorn by the media" for refusing to officiate at the wedding. "One of the strengths and reasons for the growth in the Catholic Church in Canada and throughout the world is the fact that we stand by our principles and are not swayed by the fashions of the moment," said Thomas Langan, league president. "The truth of Catholicism goes deeper than simple selfish needs of the moment." he said. Celina Ling, a Catholic, and Robert Symmonds, a nonCatholic, were to be married at St Patrick's Church in Medicine Hat on September 21, but Father Macs told them in late August that they could not be married in the Church because of Ling's involvement with Planned Parenthood. Langan said he believes the priest did the right thing. "Like all other sacraments. marriage requires repentance for grave sin prior to valid participation. Father Macs did not refuse this pro-abortion woman marriage because of her beliefs," he said. "Rather, he informed her that continued unrepentant involvement with the abortion industry renders her ineligible to receive the sacrament," Langan said. Father Macs declined comment, deferring to Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary, who said he supports the priest's decision not to marry the couple. "No Catholic can responsibly take a pro-choice stand when the choice in question involves the taking of innocent human life," the bishop said. Bishop Henry said Ling could be excommunicated for her work at Planned Parenthood if she's "involved in counseling someone to get an abortion or facilitating it." Planned Parenthood Alberta's executive director, Melanie Anderson, told the Medicine Hat News the Church's action could result in people boycotting it. "I think the Church should be concerned about what kind of precedent they're setting. They could find themselves with some very empty pews," she said. Anderson said Planned Parenthood has about 200 volunteers, employees and affiliates around the province, and many are married to or members of the Catholic Church. Ling said she is pro-choice, not pro-abortion, and that she will not quit her job. She also said she would not return to her parish and was not likely to attend any Catholic church in the future. Page 13
ir 5 September, 2002
Record Reviews
I Record
Ya-ya a bit of an extended yawn By Anne Navarro, CNS
frugal character development that often crosses the line into carican "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya ture. And, unfortunately, "Ya-Ya" is Sisterhood" (Warner Bros.), encumbered by confusing flashwriter-director Callie Khouri adapts Rebecca Wells popular backs from two time periods and the use of three different sets of novel with mixed results. Calling to mind other films such cast members to play the women as "Beaches," "Fried Green Toma- during different stages in their toes" and "Steel Magnolias," lives. Yet it's likely to strike a chord which also paid tribute to the with many in its target audience fruits of female friendship and - women - while possibly pulling rocky mother-daughter relation- in a few male viewers along for ships, "Ya-Ya" centres around an the ride as it showcases the conestranged Southern mother and siderable aptitude these grand playwright daughter and an dames have for portraying the eccentric circle of aging Southern colourful but shallow characters. In a magazine interview, sucbelles who try to salvage the mother-daughter relationship. In cessful New York City playwright the way it presents women's rela- Sidda Lee Walker (Sandra Bultionships, particularly Southern lock) takes a few swipes at her women, the film sporadically Louisiana mother's parenting makes an emotional connection skills, unintentionally setting off a with the audience. And the tal- bitter feud with her bigger-thanented cast and snappy dialogue life mother, Vivi (Ellen Burstyn). soften the high melodrama of the Scurrying to the rescue are Vivi's talky film. long-time pals: widow Necie But more often than not, it may (Shirley Knight), who holds the leave viewers dissatisfied with moral compass of the group; Caro
I
Ellen Burslyn, Maggie Smith, Fionnula Flanagan and Shirley Knight star in the movie "Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood." Photo: CNShVarter Bros
(Maggie Smith), who throws back book - about their lives, loves and chinks as often as she reaches for losses. The film rolls out these her oxygen mask; and Teensy memories in a series of flashbacks (Fionnula Flanagan), a wealthy with Ashley Judd conveying the Alcoholics Anonymous member Inner demons that the young Vivi who drives a canary-yellow con- suffered. However, the film never vertible Rolls-Royce. Now elderly probes deeper than the surface to members of the secret childhood examine Vivi's emotions and frussociety, the Ya-Ya Sisterhood (of trations or how her actions which Vivi was the ringleader), Impacted Sidda, the oldest of four the trio trot off to the Big Apple children, who bore the brunt of and stage an "intervention," Ya-Ya Vivi's tantrums. And by the time style. They kidnap Sidda and take the film reaches its dramatic cliher back to Louisiana to show her max, revealing the truth behind all the things she never knew Vivi's erratic behaviour and then about her mother - which turns the reconciliation between mothout to be a lot - and possibly to er and daughter, it is a letdown. help Sidda understand the fear of Nonetheless, "Divine Secrets of commitment that has kept her the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" does have a from marrying her Celtic beau few gems to offer. Foremost is the Connor (Angus MacFadyen) of cast, but most surprising is the seven years. film's spiritual side. Pained by the The women share with Sidda all guilt over her sins, Vivi confesses their "divine secrets" - as careful- to her local priest regularly, and ly recorded in an old, frilly scrap- faith seems to have been a con-
stant in her life regardless of the turmoil surrounding her. In her own extravagant way, Vivi prays to the Blessed Virgin asking her to Intercede and take her prayer to God and Jesus. And although the spiritual aspects are somewhat downplayed, they do exist and are presented in a confident manner In keeping with the character. Fans of the book as well as those who never picked up the novel may find that, although screenwriter Khouri tried to cram in as much as possible, so much more Is missing, particularly in the background and stories of the characters. Due to a live-in relationship, a scene of child abuse, mature thematic elements and intermittent profanity and crass language with an instance of rough language, the US Conference of Catholic Bishops classification is Alll - adults.
Timely book on Christian Brothers Beyond Dreams in Stone, (a history of the Christian Brothers' colleges In Western Australia 1894 -2000) by Kevin Paull Reviewed by George Russo
M
uch has been written about achievements in education, and the Catholic religious Orders have fared well, but none is more deserving of recognition and praise than the Christian Brothers who have dominated the nation's educational history from the beginning of settlement. And, now, this timely book details that history for Western Australia. Its author, Kevin Paull, is a Christian Brother and a respected historian, with many years teaching experience, which only recently terminated with his period as Principal of Aquinas College. He modestly states his aim for the book: "To give a fuller account of the schools and what they tried to accomplish "focusing on philosophical, political and social factors", all of which "have influenced the changing cultures of the schools." An early chapter entitled, "Dreams in Stone," traces the pioneering years -building schools, staffing them, and meeting the challenges of the time - and culminates with a chapter on the future, "Beyond Dreams in Stone." The Christian Brothers, sadly, have now come to a time when their numbers are diminishing, and they are forced to restructure and rely upon lay teachers for the future running of their schools. Nevertheless, the author shows the Christian Brothers, as they were from the beginning, a dedicated Order of men whose high Christian principles and thorough learning enabled them to Impart to Aussie youth the best in education. Their schools were famous throughout the nation, and in other Page 14
parts of the western world, for specialising in the education of children, with a distinct bias for the poor and underprivileged. His approach is completely out of kilter with contemporary secularism, which totally accommodates to the growing forces of irreligion in modern education. Brother Paull is concerned to give the true history of the Christian Brothers and their schools, and demonstrate their legacy as 'beyond dreams.' He shows that out of an alien secularism, foisted on Australian education, came the educative principles and hard work of the Christian Brothers. Religious education was solid in their curriculum, as he ably demonstrates. But so were the other subjects required for an educated person. The Brothers were well-trained, with higher degrees from the best Universities, religiously minded, cultured, and fully dedicated to Christian education. Without dismissing the often paltry criticism of their schools, Paull sets out to show their legacy with a vengeance. Not for him the biased selection of the secularists; nor the selectivity that serves their cause; rather, he outlines in full the true achievements of the Christian Brothers in their schools and colleges. He shows that there was a cultural crisis in colonial times- with text books! "In the parliamentary debates,' writes Paull, "it was said the textbooks 'savoured of Romanism' and were 'distinctly disloyal to the British crown'." But, as Paull shows, this did not stop the Brothers from teaching according to their own methods and with their own texts. Of course they may have incorporated a little bit of old Ireland, but that was natural when one considers the number of Irish brothers in their ranks. It is against this background that Paull gives a balanced, lucid history of the Christian Brothers schools in this State, and evaluates their performance. There were some impressive performances over the years - Rhodes scholars, University exhibitionists and bursary winners.
He demonstrates the methods used by the Brothers to transmit knowledge, understanding and wisdom so that their young graduates could meet the challenges of the adult world. The Brothers themselves were well-trained teachers and superb educators, who wanted to integrate secular learning with religious training within the one educational program." But, says the author, more importantly "there was the belief that a child learns more from the actions of the instructor than his words", demonstrating the importance of example in all religious instruction. These fit the order's motto: facere et docere - "To do and to teach." As the Provincial himself said, and Brother Paull quoted aptly, in the present secular climate of 'insecurities and unknowns, "Our identity as Christian Brothers lies not in what we do but who we are and what we believe." The future of the Christian Brothers and indeed, Christian education, is at stake, and what will be the standards in the future nobody knows. But, it remains with our educators like the valiant Christian Brothers, to provide the example for the future. He wants us to be aware of the present an age that is 'simply irreligious'-in the context of educating children. With the Christian Brothers this was not a problem; but, with their successors lies the continuing task to have a clear, consistent knowledge of revealed truth, and know the best way to pass it on to children. Consistency is persuasive in itself and effective, provided that teachers are well-instructed Catholics like their predecessors. The book is copiously illustrated, with photographs of Brothers and old boys, of the present and distant past. What a valuable historical record this book is, in the information it provides, and in the examples it gives. As one former student remarked so well, "Whatever good them is in me,Iowe, under grace, to the time I spent with the Christ-
ili4ory of the Christian Boxhi:rs 'ikemern Australia 189 ;- 2; H
Ian Brothers." Every school library should have a copy, so that it can be read and studied by present and prospective teachers. Certainly, as Cardinal Newman said, "There is no missionary like a well-instructed Catholic." May I also quote Newman in the present context of confronting scandals in the Church, even if it does not explain, the insoluble problem of evil among us today. Newman wrote: "Christ died to destroy sin; yet strangely it continued to exist, even In the Church." Indeed, the history of the Catholic Church exhibited the most serious scandals; but, insisted Newman, "the great question to me is, not what evil is left in the Church, but what good has energised it and been practically exercised in it, and has left its mark for all posterity." Something for contemporary educators to contemplate and remember.
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official diary September 6& 7
Confirmation. Lesmurdie - Archbishop Hickey
7
Confirmation, Southern Cross - Fr G Carroll Mass and Rosary Procession. Belmont Bishop Sproxton
8
Confirmation for Adults, St Mary's Cathedral Archbishop Hickey Confirmation, Belmont - Mgr Thomas McDonald Confirmation. Clarkson - Bishop Sproxton Confirmation, DianeIla - Mgr Tim Corcoran Procession and Benediction for Feast of Maria SS del Tindari, Fremantle - Archbishop Hickey
9
Candidacy, St Mary's Cathedral - Archbishop Hickey
10
Attadale Parish Mission - Archbishop Hickey Mass at St Gerard's School, Westminster Bishop Sproxton Performing Arts Awards for Excellence, Perth Concert Hall - Bishop Sproxton
11
Visit Confirmation Candidates. Langford Archbishop Hickey
12
Visit Confirmation Candidates, Mercedes College Archbishop Hickey Visit Confirmation Candidates, Attadale Archbishop Hickey
12-26
Colloquium for New Bishops, Rome - Bishop Sproxton
13
Confirmation, Kwinana - Bishop Healy
14
Confirmation, Gingin-Chittering - Mgr Thomas McDonald Ministry of Acolyte, North Beach Parish Archbishop Hickey
15
Confirmation, Armadale - Mgr Tim Corcoran Confirmation, Lynwood/Langford - Archbishop Hickey Confirmation, Midland - Mgr Thomas McDonald Confirmation, Port Kennedy - Mgr P McCrann Mass to celebrate 100th birthday of Sr Florentine Byrnes RSJ - Bishop Healy Golden Jubilee, Sisters of Mercy - Bishop Healy
16
Celebration of the Word, Midland - Bishop Healy
17
Visit Confirmation Candidates, Woodvale Archbishop Hickey Confirmation, Mercedes College - Archbishop Hickey
17/18/21 Confirmation, Whitford - Bishop Healy 19
Meeting with CEO Team - Archbishop Hickey
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Stargazing Libra Standing on your roof and holding a chicken in each hand whilst reciting Shapkespeare"s soliloqoys was perhaps not the brightest way to convince your family and friends that your personality problems have gone for good. Your position as chairman of the parish council may be reviewed as a result. In the meantime your intense feelings of paranoia are completely misfounded. This month Librans should beware Virgans, Leo's, Cancerians and Quokkans, (formerly Gemini) together with Taurans. Pisceans and Arians. who are all plotting your ruin. Do not believe those who condemn Librans as gullible. Lucky objects: dynamite. Lucky number: a2cos9. Biorythms: + .45 Dr Mnonunit Vacanstare PhD (Oxen) Dip. Fencing has visited many places and eaten many animals, vegetables and minerals.
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of events panorama a inroundup the archdiocese Sunday September 8 KNOW YOUR FAITH: APOLOGETICS ON AIR! Why should anyone believe that a Jewish carpenter who died like a common criminal, was truly God in the Flesh? Switch on to Radio Fremantle (107.9 FM) on Sun 8 Sep at 7:30 PM and listen to Raymond de Souza expounding on the reasons for the belief in the divinity of Christ. Sunday September 8 VISITING BIOETHICIST L J Goody Bioethics Centre. 39 Jugan St, Glendalough 7.30-9.30pm. The culture of life: stem cells, the human genome and the edges of life. Entry by donation. Enq Nat: 9242 4066. September 8 PRAYER SERVICE Prayer Service against sickness and evil held every second Sunday of the month at St John's Pro-Cathedral, Victoria Ave. 2.30-4.30pm. Ind: Fr John 9361 2000. September 9- 13 GET TOGETHER, BODY AND SOUL Mater Christi Parish Mission 2002. at Mater Christi Church, 340 Yangebup Road. Yangebup 7.30 - 8.45 pm. conducted by the Redemptorists - Fr John Hodgson and Fr Gerard Nagle. All welcome. Wednesday September 11 CURRENT ISSUES IN THE STEM CELL DEBATE Speakers Prof Alan Harvey and Rev Parkinson. Open to all health professionals, 6.15 for 6.30 start at St John of God, Subiaco Conf Centre, level 3 McCourt St Clinic. R SVP Natalie 9242 4066. Saturday September 14 IGNITING THE PASSION IN OUR PARISHES Workshop presented by Fr Chiera. Vicar General Bunbury Diocese, designed to benefit Priests, parish Pastoral Councils, Liturgy Committees, RCIA teams. 1-4pm, Willetton Parish Centre, Pinetree Gully Road. Tel: 9221 1548 Fax: 9221 3694, Email: litrcia@nw.com.au September 14/15 TWILIGHT RETREAT 'Young people at prayer'. We welcome back all the pilgrims from World Youth Day, Toronto and invite all youth to a Twilight retreat on Saturday Sept 14 at 3pm. The retreat will consist of talks with inspirations from WYD.: Presentations will continue until Sunday morning concludes with Holy Mass 6am. Info: Sr Lisette 9399 2349. Sunday September 15 OUR LADY OF SORROW MASS The Chapel of Servite College, 134 Cape St, Tuart Hill, at 2.00pm. The St Juliana Community of Secular Servites cordially invite all interested to the above Mass (Cel: Fr Christopher Ross) followed by a Rosary procession to the Servite Priory. Ind: David 9305 9741. Monday September 16 AN EVENING WITH FR IVANHOE - FOR MEN At the Schoenstatt Shrine 7.30pm, 9 Talus Drive, Armadale. Making God a reality every day. All men welcome. Ind: Ralph Ph: 9457 0762, or Schoenstatt Sisters Ph: 9399 2349. September 16/17 REFLECTION DAYS FOR WOMEN Conducted by Fr I Allies. Schoenstatt Father. Monday and Tuesday 9.45-2pm, at the Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Drive, Armadale. Talks, reflection time, Reconciliation and Holy Mass, BYO shared lunch. Tea/coffee provided. Cost by donation. Inq: Schoenstatt Sisters Ph: 9399 2349. Friday/Saturday September 20/21 EUCHARISTIC TEACHINGS - FR ERASTO FERNANDEZ SSS Eucharist as the Prayer of Praise Fri, 9-10am, St Gerard's Church, 36 Changton Way, Mirrabooka. Eucharist - The challenge to be radically new, Fri, 7-9pm, St Anne's Church, 11 Hehir Street, Belmont. Eucharist - As covenant, Sat 10.10-11.15am, Holy Sprit Church, 2 Keaney
Place. City Beach. Eucharist as covenant, The call to die and rise again. Sat 4-6pm. Holy Trinity Church. 8 Burnett Street, Embleton. Eucharist-Builds Community Sun 9.3010.30am. Holy Trinity Church. 215 Morley Drive. Kiara. Please bring a plate. Saturday September 21 ST PADRE PIO DAY St Mary's Cathedral 7.30am - Exposition. 11.00am Mass. 12 noon - Close. Saturday September 21 CHARITY BALL AND PARISH RAFFLE Gingin-Chittering parish invites all to our Charity Ball at Queens Park Recreation Centre. Cnr of Centre and George St. Tickets S12.00 per adult & S6.00 per child (under 12). BYOG.Tickets: Francis Williams 9459 3873 or mob: 0404 893 877 or Fr Paul 9571 1839. 1st Prize: S10.000. All proceeds will go towards building a small church in the parish. Saturday September 21 A SPRING AFTERNOON IN MONET'S GARDEN Gayle Monzu. an experienced lecturer, gardener. will present an inspiring talk, accompanied by a wonderful visual of this beautiful garden created and painted by Monet. Enjoy afternoon tea. The Palms Community Centre, Nicholson Road. Subiaco at 2pm. S15 per person. proceeds going to support the Franciscan Sisters. Tickets: Jan Gardner 9381 4317, Dorothy French 9291 6248. Sunday September 22 PILGRIM MOTHER At the Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Drive. Armadale. 1.30pm. Talk by Fr Allies. 3pm. Covenant Devotions and Benediction at the Shrine. Recommissioning of Coordinators of the Pilgrim Mother Apostolate. Afternoon tea. all welcome (11am Holy Mass for those who would like to spend the day at the Shrine). September 27 - 30 WEEKEND RETREAT FOR 'YOUNG KNIGHTS" An intense schedule of prayer and activities beginning with Holy Mass, few instructions concerning the Fatima message. Latest Ind: Sun 22. Contact: Franc Friars of the Immaculate 9574 5204 or PO Box 1028 Toodyay, 6566 (No fees, alms graciously accepted. bring bedding!) October 4-6 BROTHER ANDREW RETREAT Marist Priest, Fr Paul Glynn well known author of "Healing fire from Frozen Earth" will celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of Brother Andrew's going to God, with a retreat at God's Farm. Holy Mass daily, Prayers of the Church, and confession available. God's Farm. Gracewood. 7.30pm Oct 4, to 2pm Oct 6. Suggested donation S80 inc meals. Contact Betty Peaker PO Box 24, Cowaramup, 6284. Phone/Fax 97 556212. RESOURCE CENTRE FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT This centre is a nationally registered training organisation, specialising in personal and spiritual growth and relationship education. With the aim to promote mental spiritual health and family life. Professional training an counselling available. THE DIVINE OFFICE Few people know that all of us are allowed to use the E viary. In fact, Pope John Paul II has urged the laity to the liturgy of the hours. Come along and learn the 'I gy of the hours' on Friday evenings, 6pm. at The Pr' Office. Inq: Mark Balnaves, 9370 6867. DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR The Divine Mercy Apostolate invites all parishioners Holy Hour of Adoration on each Saturday of the mc (except the 1st Saturday) from 2.30 to 3.30pm at St Fr. cis Xavier's Church. 25 Windsor Street, Perth. On the 2. Saturday there is Anointing of the sick, celebrant Fr M cellinus Meilak OFM. The afternoon concludes v% refreshments, please bring a plate to share. (Also at John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Road, off South Willetton from 11am to 12 noon every Wednesday). Er John Ph: 9457 7771
The Last Word
Ce4y's story
the Sexual Revolution if; . . increasingly apparent that the Church i• that understands humim beings as they r: in. . me from a pn- . the best witnesses to quarter - gay men and women. Here, one woman tells her
S
ix years ago, I was living what I thought was a good life. I owned a home with my same-sex partner, and together we were raising my two children from a previous marriage. I accepted myself as a person with same-sex attractions .and I truly felt there was nothing wrong with having a same-sex relationship.... until the Lord began to speak to my heart. Only He sent His Mother first. In January of 1996,I lost my sister to Multiple Sclerosis. I too have M.S.; however, at the time of my sister's death, I was managing okay with the M.S., with little trouble in that past year. My sister's death really hit me hard, and three months later major problems with the M.S. crept back into my life causing me to become partially paralysed. During the next several months I was homebound and became depressed. I began to cry out to God for an answer to suffering, death, and eternal life. This is when Our Lord sent me His Mother. I thought I was going crazy, because I began to feel the Blessed Mother whispering in my very soul. Now this, I thought. was really crazy, because I had never before felt close to the Blessed Mother. Yet here she was and I knew she was calling me back into the Church. I don't know how I knew it was the Blessed Mother, but I just did. I even told her that Ididn't feel close to her... that I felt close to her Son Jesus, but not to her (I think I always thought she was this perfect woman and mother and, to me, was someone who was unapproachable). Ever so gently, she kept speaking to my heart.I finally gave up and quit fighting her and asked her to reveal to me who she really was. I guess that was an invitation for her to really come into my heart, and... WOW! What she revealed about herself was so different from my perception of her! She revealed to my heart how she is perfect compassion, understanding, joy, peace, and love.Ibegan to feel a joy and peace in my heart that Inever knew existed (like I said,
before this experience, I thought I was doing alright). I began to feel I was being led into going to Mass, so I began going to daily Mass... and I loved it. Years ago, I used to go out of obligation, but now I found myself actually craving the Mass and most importantly, Our Lord in the Eucharist. I also felt the very gentle hand of Our Blessed Mother and Our Lord Jesus took care of that situation, and they leading me into a desire to live a chaste life. are now both good, practising Catholics. Now I really thought I was going mad. Our Lord has also shown me what true How was I ever going to do that? I would love is... a love, too, that I had never known lose everything if I listened to that calling. before. I could never go back to the way I But the calling was too strong, andIknew was living before my conversion. I could no longer keep this new peace and To do so would be to deny the truth... and joy unless I listened to my heart and lived the truth has truly set me free - free to love a chaste life. As difficult asIknew life would with God's love, a holy love.Iknow my life become, is forever changed, and it hasn't been easy; Iknew! had to make the decision to begin however,! have found this precious pearl... living a chaste life. The decision for chasti- the one that is so awesome and beautiful ty wasn't really difficult because I already that one would sell every thing else in order had that desire. It was the fact that I could to keep it. lose everything by making this choice, that Before this experience I truly did not scared me the most. Even though my life realise how much in bondage I was. Praise did change, it was these changes that Jesus for His mercy, because now I feel brought me into a deeper trust in Jesus' free!IthinkIhad some signs along the way love. about the consequences of living the 'gay' lifestyle, but I chose to ignore them when an uncomfortable thought came to mind. "That was six years ago. I I guess Our Lord sends His Mother to have since sold my house, some people first (the difficult cases). The Blessed Mother stayed very strong in my and moved into an life for about a year and then led me in her apartment. I am still good gentle loving way, into the heart of Our Jesus Christ. Lord friends with my ex-partner, She 'courts a soul', and then cleans it up even though it was hard at and presents it to her son Jesus. I have a strong devotion to The Immaculate Heart first." of Mary and to The Sacred Heart of Jesus, because I experienced what this devotion That was six years ago. I have since sold truly is. my house, and moved into an apartment.I It is the love of Jesus and through the love am still good friends with my ex-partner, of the Blessed Mother, we are led into this even though it was hard at first. I have love ever more deeply. Although I don't grown in my relationship with Christ and have a Courage group in my area,Ido keep still possess that wonderful peace and joy. in touch with some Courage members I am actually happier now• than I have through e-mail and phone, and I'm grateever been before. ful for their support. At first, my children did not understand I truly wish there was a strong Courage all the changes I was going through, but fellowship in my area. WhileIstill struggle
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Courage is an organisation of the Catholic Church established in the US by Fr John Harvey. Its website carries many valuable resources for same-sex attracted men and women as well as their family members. Among these are a number of inspiring personal testimonies. Here in Perth information about Courage is available by contacting 9242 4066. The US Courage website can be viewed on the Net at http://couragerc.net/
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and some times fall,Ihave no regrets about my decision for chastity because Jesus and His Blessed Mother have changed my life forever. God continues to guide me, one day at a time. I have found that the rewards of chastity far outweigh the moments of desire.I have found myself weakest to temptation when I allow my prayer life to weaken. Satan likes nothing better than to convince us that since we are only human, it is OK to engage in sinful activity to meet our human needs. Satan likes nothing worse then to rind us on our knees in humility and lifted up into the mercy of Jesus' love through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I am now doing very well with the M.S., and have been for the past six years. In fact, most people can't even tell I have M.S. unless I tell them. At one time, a physical healing was the most important desire I had. Now, it is not a thought most of the time becauseIam no longer afraid of suffering or even death. Our Lord and Blessed Mother have shown me a glimpse of the joy and peace of heaven, and the only thingI fear now, is not living eternally in that joy peace, and love of God and neighbour! - Courage newsletter
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