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THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
No. 3339
The Record, established in 1874, is distributed to Catholic Churches, presbyteries, religious houses and subscribers throughout the Archdiocese of Perth, Geraldton, Bunbury, Broome and overseas.
Afig'oftm Misha
cut from tan-coloured felt which they had brought with them from the US. The orphans were busy assembling their manger as the missionaries walked among them to see if they needed any help. Here the missionary continues: All went well until I got to one table where little Misha sat - he looked to be about 6 years old and had finished his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger. I was startled to see not one, but two babies in the manger. Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the boy why there were two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the story very seriously." For such a young boy, who had only heard the Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately until he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then Misha made up his own ending to the story as he said: ind when Maria laid the baby the manger. Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had a place to stay.Itold himIhave no mamma and I have no papa, so I don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much. I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I thought maybe if I kept him warm. that would be a good gift. So I asked Jesus, "If I keep you warm, will that be a good enough gift?" "And Jesus told me. "If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me." So I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and he told me I could stay with him - for always." As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face, his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed and sobbed. At last, the little orphan had found someone who would never abandon nor abuse him, someone who would stay with him - for always.
Managing Editor Peter Rosengren Production/ Advertising Eugen Mattes Office Manager Carole McMillen
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A
round Christmas time. 1994, two young American missionaries found themselves teaching religion to a group of boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in an orphanage in Moscow. Many of the children had never heard of the story of Christmas. So these two young missionaries spoke about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem, and how, finding no room in the inn, they went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened. Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word. To complete the story, the missionaries gave the children three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper square, cut from some yellow napkins. No coloured paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children 12 tore the paper and carefully laid ti strips in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel, cut from a worn- 6 out nightgown, were used for the baby's blanket. A doll-like baby was k
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OVING FATHER help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds and the worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift, and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. Amen. g y .Woerf Louis 6leeenson
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Nativity scene is depicted in a detail from the painting "The Adoration of the Magi" by Sienese artist Benvenuto di Giovanni The 15th-century work is a holding of the National Gallery of Art in Washington (CNS photo by Nancy Wiechec).
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THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
3
Don't forget the sick or old Holiday season doesn't mean taking a Dreak from believing in God. Well-known Perth priest MONSIGNOR SEAN O'SHEA reflects on how we can spend the 'hols' in a Christian way
- Pope John Paul II relaxes in the moun-
Ems rapos end tains.
W
ith the big summer break upon usthe prospect of summer holidays looms close for many. In the light of recent sad events in our part of the world it is possible many Australians will spend their holidays entirely in Australia this coming holiday season. I take the opportunity of commenting briefly on how we might spend these holidays in a Christian way by looking at some of the initiatives that have been taken in other parts of the world. The Spanish Bishops have come up with a set of Ten Commandments on how to spend the holidays in a Christian way (see page 6). As an alternative many young Europeans decide to spend their holidays in big cities helping those who are alone over the summer. In Italy there are 10 million elderly people who don't go away on holiday, many of them poor and ill. Pope John Paul II addressed himself to them, as well as to prisoners and the needy, from Castel Gondolfo before leaving for Toronto. The Holy Father expressed his appreciation for those who "voluntarily dedicate themselves to looking after the needy, the sick and whoever is in difficulty. Loneliness during the summer can be very hard to bear, and is worsened, especially in big cities, by a feeling of being abandoned. Two highlights of this current year have been the Holy Father's message on the World Day of Tourism on September 27 and the fact that 2002 is being observed as the International Year of Ecotourism. The Holy Father in his message stressed the importance
for any tourism development of tourists need_ And when the holidays "recovering the spiritual dimension are over and life returns to normal there are adjustments that need to of the relationship with creation". In Australia, though we receive very be made andI once again quote the many holiday makers or tourists words of the Holy Father on his from abroad, as well as internal return from Toronto, "Psychologicaltourists, we are not always as sensi- ly speaking, going back to everyday tive to the pastoral needs and pas- life is not always easy and may even toral care of people on holiday. Many involve problems in readapting to parish communities where holiday everyday commitments. "However, it's in our 'everydayness' makers abound go out of their way to reach out to the temporary that God calls upon us to achieve strangers in their midst with various spiritual maturity, which consists of living ordinary things in an extraorpastoral initiatives. Efforts are also made to support dinary way". Ten Holiday 'Commandments' those people who provide the multi- Page 6 ple services that holiday makers and
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"Dear Childen! In this time of grace,Icall you to become friends of Jesus. Pray for peace in your hearts and work for your personal conversion. Little children, only in this way will you be able to become witnesses of peace and of the love of Jesus in the zvorld...I am close to you andIbless you all. Thank you for having responded to my call" Our Lady of Medjugorje, 25 February 2002
Departing 27 February 2003 Accompanied by Fr Maurice Cahill
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This is a journey into the heritage of Catholic faith, to the holy shrines of Europe in the paths of the saints. Accompanied by Bishop John Gerry
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Lisbon • Fatima • Avila Garabandal • Loyola • Lourdes A 15 day pilgrimage journey
Fr Patrick Vaughan
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Padua • Florence • Assisi •Loreto San Giovanni Rotondo • Rome A 12 day pilgrimage journey
In the paths of some of the Church's greatest saints, encounter the beauty ...journey to some of the most & grace of the best of Italy. venerated Marian shrines of the world. Depart 30 Sep with Fr Peter Dwyer Departing 10 May, 9 Jun, 10 Sep Also 29 April, 29 May, 18 July '03. & 10 Oct 2003
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PATHWAYS OF ST PAUL
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Lourdes • Rocamadour (pictured) Paray le Monial • Chartres • Lisieux Optional 2 night Paris extension An 11 day pilgrimage journey
Departing 18 Sept 2003 with Fr Peter Dwyer Aslo departing 18 May, 29 July.
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4 19 DECEMBER 2002
Pastoral Care Course in Mental Health Graylands Hospital each Friday from 4 July - 24 October 2003. Pastoral, health care workers and others may apply. Contact Pastoral Care Department on
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THE RECORD
Port Kennedy parishioners responding to a call from Pope John Paul
Crib gives a message
Monday to Friday 9am - 3pm.
The Church's message is reaching thousands of Christmas shoppers at Warnbro's shopping centre as they pass a Nativity scene prepared by a retired couple for St Bernadette's local Catholic primary school. Jim and Audrey O'Callaghan rose to the occasion when Warnbro parish priest, Father Richard Doyle, asked them to build the Nativity crib for the church. Purpose of the crib is to remind people of what happened when Christ was born - and to highlight the work of the Church and its agencies in the parish. The crib was displayed at the Warnbro Fair Shopping Centre so that it could be shared with the community. It is also part of a drive to attract people to the church's evangalisalion program launched by the Archbishop of Perth Barry Hickey in October, in line with an appeal by Pope John Paul ll for parishes to take positive action In evangelising. Fr Doyle said the crib was "a visual thing and was to remind us and to help us focus on Christ and his birthday." Fr Doyle said: We tried to use our imagination - to think what Bethlehem would have looked like 2000 years ago.
*Knights of
the Southern Cross (WA) Incorporated
KSC EDUCATION FOUNDATION
The Trustee of the KSC Education Foundation Inc (a project of the Knights of the Southern Cross) takes pleasure in announcing the award of scholarships to the following teachers of Religious Education in Catholic Schools for further study at the University of Notre Dame Australia in 2003. First name Surname School Region Helen Adamos Mary MacKillop Perth Kimberley Baker Aramnore Leederville Perth Baldry Peter St Benedict's Perth Jennifer Blomfleld Mt Carmel Perth Louise Cimetta St Francis Xavier Perth Simone Clews Kalgoorlie! St Mary's Megan Mel Maria Perth Cooper Beverley Egan Ursula Frayne Perth Glen Emslie Our Lady of the Cape Bunbury Monique Field Perth St Jerome's Louise Firth St mary's Broome! Marianne Foster Iona Primary Perth Jennifer Gregory St Joseph's Northam Chris Hackett Mazenod College Perth Helen Hartwig Star of the Sea Esperance Joan Hassan Iona Presentation Perth Broome Michelle Head Luuprna Robert Henderson Perth St Norbert Hill Perth nacy Mater Christi Kath Jones Bu.sselton St Joseph's Helena Martins-Lamb Mater Del Perth Nydia Morel Iona Primary Perth Perth Andrea Moyses St Francis Xavier Coniclia Nicholas Mary MacKillop Perth Michelle Rigg Albany St Joseph's Kay Savage-Morton Sacred Head Perth Margaret Scott Broom(‘ Holy Rosary Simone Taylor Our Lady Assumpt. Perth Kerry 'froost Mel Maria Perth Seminarians Redemptoris Mater Morley The total amount distributed was $35.418. The 'Trustee would like to thank all applicants and congratulate the recipients. Neville Ward. Secretary. KSC Education Foundation Inc
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Port Kennedy showing the drive for the evangelisation A crib in a shopping centre drawing new parishioners.
Saint Bernadette's Catholic Community at Warnbro, south of hope and he was pleased St Bernadette's parishioners were Perth, has mounted a major evangelisation campaign through- showing the Catholic-Christian way. out its parish. Anne Irvine, also of St Bernadette's Care, explained the group The campaign began in October when parish leaders took was there to help the community in various ways, from prothe initiative and called a meeting to set a program for the cam- viding meals to the needy, baby sitting, home-help, transport to foster and respite care. paign. The Perth Archbishop Barry Hickey attended the meeting, She said the children of a lot of families who had been helped along with Father Richard Doyle and parish leaders Cathy had since become Baptised. Flynn, Robbie Burgess, Gary Burgess, David Anderson, Jenny Gary Burgess explained it was the Catholic Education Office's Olejko, Louise Peters„ Lucy Cummock, Jill Triscari, Lynne policy that every school has an evangelisation program. Sadler, Eddie Slitenbachs, Nick and Belinda Beard, James Delegates were given copies of the draft plan to study, and it Woolfrey, Anne and Lisa Irvine, Brenda Hicks and Claire was pointed out the Vision Statement and preamble were the Andrew. key focus for Port Kennedy and Warnbro. They represented the RCIA, Liturgy Team, Parish Team, the The plan provides for shared vision - the Church being the School Board, Youth Group and Luke 18, Pastoral Council, St base of the community with the school its educative arm. Bernadette's Care and Family Group. It also discusses the role of the parish priest - being of prime James Woolfrey, of St Bernadette's Care group suggested a Importance in employing staff and meeting all new families. community business register be compiled for the whole of Port Most teachers at the school take on extra curriculum activities. Kennedy so that parishioners could patronise the communi- David Anderson - representing the school board - explained ty's businesses. He also spoke about the Shelter House - a it consisted of community elected officers, elected for a two home in Port Kennedy to accommodate refugees. year term. The home to be provided by a visionary parishioner, will be The board however comes under the overall purview of the allocated to a family and parishioners would help them until Catholic Education Commission. they blended into the surrounding society. It plans for the present and future operation of the school. Mr Woolfrey said all people needed to lead by example and He pointed out a lot of building had proceeded since 1994. He said although it was a school board, the board's whole focus was the parish and not just the school. Mr Denis McInerney Cathy Flynn the Sacrament Co-ordinator said Dealer Principal of programs were conducted during school terms two, three and four, and were open to all children and adults in the St Bernadette's community. Reconciliation was a feature of term two for those in year three or older, and Confirmation was in term three also for those in year seven or older. First Holy Communion was in term four for Management and staff along with those in year four or older. She said that Sunday Paul Zappia thank you for your School - a part of the Mass - was conducted dursupport and would like to take this ing school terms. Both Sunday School and Sacraopportunity in wishing you all a mental Programs were advertised in all school happy and holy safe Festive Season. newsletters at the beginning of each year. Robbie Burgess representing the Liturgy Committee and RCIA program said members tried to anticipate Church needs and were responsible We look forward to your continuing for practical aspects of the Mass - hanging bansupport in 2003. ners, preparing tables and so on. The RCIA program had been proceeding since 1995 for those Paul Zappia 239 Walter Rd, Morley, Tel. 9275 1222 Inquiring about the Catholic faith and wanting to a/h 9275 1531 DI, 2871 know more about it.
THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002 5
Woman claims cure
Gatto Christian Shop Retailer of Religious Gifts, Churchware and Books
Another miracle claimed for Rockingham statue By Stephen Spited An elderly Lynwood woman has claimed she was miraculously healed of disabling severe vertigo by the weeping statue of Mary in the parish of Rockingham. At her request, "Mrs P", aged 82, from Lynwood, asked The Record not to reveal her identity. Mrs P developed cervical cancer approximately 16 years ago around the same time the Pope came to visit Australia. Due to her medical condition, she was unfit to take part in the papal visit A few years later, she developed secondary lung cancer and minor liver cancer, which remain dormant Two years ago according to Mrs P, she was preparing for her morning prayers and as she was walking towards her shrine she suddenly collapsed to the floor and could not stand upright It was later discovered that Mrs P had developed vertigo, and according to doctors, the condition was permanent. Vertigo is a condition that effects a person's balance; vertigo sufferers constantly feel dizzy and unable to maintain their balance. Mrs P said the condition had robbed her of her independence, as she regularly attended Mass and prayer cenacles in her local area. As a result she
was overcome with depression. At the time the relics of St Therese of Lisieux were in Perth for their world tour Mrs P felt a strong desire to visit them, but due to her condition could not leave the house. Mrs P's husband encouraged her to pray and ask God to grant her desire to see the relics of St Therese. Although hobbling on a walking stick, she finally felt fit enough to leave the house. As Mrs P was praying in front of the relics, she felt she should ask for a sign that God was listening to her, so she prayed to St Therese asking, "If you're listening to me, can you give me a sign?" As Mrs P and her husband were leaving the church, a man approached her and presented her with a rose petal. She said the man simply said "I found this on the ground and I felt that I should give it to you." Mrs P felt her prayers had been answered because St Therese of Lisieux is also known as "the little flower". Later on in the year, Mrs P heard about the weeping statue in Rockingham, and felt a strong desire to make the pilgrimage and see it. Using a walking stick she caught a bus to Rockingham with her husband to see the statue. The couple arrived at the Rockingham church and prayed
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before the statue. She told The Record that it was while she was praying that she heard a voice say to her, "Have faith, have courage". At that moment, she said, she was overcome with joy and started to cry. Her husband asked her what was wrong, and she simply replied that she knew Our Lady was looking after her. The next morning, Mrs P was getting out of bed preparing for a normal day. She reached for her walking stick, which she keeps by her bed, stood up and began to walk After taking one or two steps, she said, she felt "right as rain." Gesturing with her walking stick, she said to her husband "I don't need this any more", then let it fall to the floor and began walking without it. Mrs P said she has no doubt that it was Our Lady who had healed her. She believes that being in the presence of the weeping statue had a strong influence on her recovery She told The Record that the people of her parish began to notice her improved condition, and asked her if she had been miraculously healed. Mrs P said she felt she was not worthy of such a divine blessing, but was ever-grateful for the healing she has claimed as a miracle.
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May the Joy and Beauty of Holy Night be with you, and may Peace be with you and about you at Christmas and all through the coming year. If you're looking to improve your life and find the keys to an everlasting kingdom, please consider our invitation to become a Knight of the Southern Cross and live the new year with us... from the State Chairman, State Council and Members of the Knights of the Southern Cross (WA).
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6
THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
The Church and Homosexuality Visiting speaker 2 February 2003 Fr John Harvey, with the encouragement of the late Cardinal Terence Cooke of New York, founded Courage. Since 1980 Courage has offered a program for Catholics who experience same sex attractions. It affirms Church teaching and fosters the virtue of chastity. Courage is present in 60 American dioceses. It is also active in Canada, England, Ireland, the Philippines, Poland, New Zealand and Australia. Fr Harvey will be speaking at the LJ Goody Bioethics Centre, 39 Jugan St, Glendalough on Sunday 2 February 2003 at 7.30pm. His topic is the foundation of the Church's teaching on homosexuality. Dr Peter Rudegeair will also be visiting Perth briefly. He is a Catholic Psychologist and a member of the American Catholic Medical Association (ACMA). Dr Rudegeair contributed to the ACMA's statement "Homosexuality and Hope-. His current focus is the Catholic psychologist and the integration of Pastoral Care with Church teaching. For further information contact the 14 Goody Bioethics Centre on 9242 4066 during office hours.
Pastoral Care Course in Mental Health Graylands Hospital each Friday from 4 July - 24 October 2003. Pastoral, health care workers and others may apply. Contact Pastoral Care Department on
9347 6635 Monday to Friday 9am - 3pm.
7osep4 ecn4iftitnie4tions 4tistr4Ci4 Catholic Faith education on audio and video The True Meaning of Christmas By Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Fondly remembered for his pioneering work in Catholic broadcasting. Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen was one of the best-loved and most influential preachers of the 20th century. Now in this new digitally mastered presentation. St. Joseph Communications has combined classic recordings of Archbishop Sheen's timeless reflections on the true meaning of Christmas with the Biblical story of Our Lord's Nativity. Gregorian chant and beloved seasonal music to create a holiday listening experience that's sure to become a family favorite. #51 (1 audio tape) $ 7.95 Call us for a catalogue of many wonderful presentations studying the Bible and many other great insights "Ignorance of the Scriptures is Ignorance of lesuc"
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when you're wondering 1 110 11.1* A Everyone has times in life when they wonder what they will do next. It is at these times that the call to life in a religious
Behold the Child A Christmas message from Archbishop Barry Hickey be on my account that they will do all this, because they do not know the one who sent me. (John 15:18-21). This he said the night before his enemies captured and crucified him. Jesus is not contradicting himself about peace. He did not give his gift of peace to the Apostles only to undermine it by promising persecution. EACE IS what most His deep abiding peace people pray for at would remain as long as his Christmas, yet it seems Apostles remained one with as remote as ever. To all the him, no matter what others conflicts occurring in numer- did to them. This reminds me of the stoous corners of the world we must now add world terror- ries of so many martyrs who ism, especially since the hor- calmly accepted death with ror of September 11, 2001. peace in their hearts and forArchbishop Barry Hickey Bali, this year, reminds us that giveness on their lips. Their atrocious acts of terrorism can faith in Christ was unshaken call to help spread the Good News wherever we are to help occur anywhere at any time and their peace untouched. This can help us understand people rise to the dignity of a without warning. Instead of working for peace the role of Christians in pro- redeemed people? Evangelinations are now preparing for moting world peace. It is clear sation is the way to peace. war. Yet the message of from the words of Christ him- Nothing else will affect Christmas must still be peace self that there would never be human beings so deeply that because it is the message of peace among nations, or they will put away their desire among communities of peo- for vengeance, their greed, Christ. ple without an inner conver- their lust for power and Jesus offered his Apostles sion to Christ and an accept one another as brothinner peace as a gift. PeaceI acceptance of his ways. ers and sisters in Christ. bequeath to you, my own Of course we must oppose Let us this Christmas accept peaceIgive you, a peace the terrorism. Nations have every eagerly the gift of inner peace world cannot give, this is my right to protect themselves. that Christ offers. By our faith gift to you. (John 14:27) But Jesus was giving us a In him as our Saviour, by our At the same time Jesus much broader vision. response to him in living good warned his Apostles that they He knew well of the tenden- lives, by our efforts to remain would have to face persecu- cy to sin that came with the one with him, especially in tion because of him. disobedience of Adam and prayer and the devout recepIf the world hates you. Eve. War and terror are clear tion of the Sacraments, we will remember that it hated me evidence of that. He also won be open to receive his gift of before you. If you belonged the grace to rise above the peace in our hearts. to the world, the world would effects of our wounded We pray that this Christmas love you as its own: but humanity by his own death the gift of peace will be prebecause my choice withdrew and resurrection. sent in our loving family ciryou from the world, therefore Our Christian communities cles so that we can truly the world hates you. Remem- are meant to be examples of celebrate the birth of the ber the wordsIsaid to you: A how people can love one Prince of Peace. servant is not greater than his another and live in the peace On behalf of Bishop Sproxmaster. If they persecutedme, of Christ. ton and myself I wish all our they will persecute you too; if Is the world ready for that priests, Religious and people they kept my word, they will conversion? Are we, as fol- of the Church a Happy and a keep yours as well. But it will lowers of Christ, aware of our Holy Christmas.
p
community often comes. It is a time when you might take "time out" to reflect on your options - perhaps make a retreat or spend some time with a vocations' counsellor. Choosing a vocation from the many options available today is not necessarily easy. In most religious vocations it can take some years of discernment before you have to make a final commitment. There are options today where you can make a voluntary commitment while you explore the possibilities.
Christian Brothers For information contact Br. Tony Hackett cfc Telephone: (08) 9450 5912 Email: tonyhackett@bigpond.com Visit: www.ozvocations.catholic.org.au/christianbrothers.htm
We wish all the readers of The Record joy and happiness for the Christmas season and God's blessinp for the New Year Editor and staff of The Record
Ten holiday 'commandments' The Spanish Bishops' suggestions for a quality summer break
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set of Ten Commandments on how to spend the holidays in a Christian way, with the accent on rest, spirituality and human development, was posted by the Spanish Bishops' Conference at their web site: www.conferenciaepiscopal.es 1. Live nature. Discover the presence of God on the beach, in the mountains and in the countryside. Praise him for having made it so beautiful. 2. Live who you are and your Christianity. During the summer don't be ashamed of being Christian. You would only falsify your identity. 3. Live Sunday. During the holidays, Sunday continues to be the day of the Lord. God doesn't go on holiday. Go to Holy Mass on Sunday. Take advantage of the extra free time. 4. Live your family. Talk, play and joke with your loved ones without haste. Pray together as a family. Go to church with them too. 5. Live life. Life is a great gift from God. Don't risk your own life or put the lives of other in danger. 6. Live friendship. This involves listening, trust, help, enrichment and respect for the sacred dignity of other people. 7. Live justice. Don't expect everything to be done for you. Other people work so that you can enjoy your holidays. They too have rights. Respect
Vietnamese girls take a break from selling Santa Claus masks on a Hanoi street. Photo: CNS/Fieuters
them and their possessions. 8. Live truth. Avoid hypocrisy, lies, criticism, deceitful and self-serving arrogance and idle boastfulness. 9. Live the transparency of the heart. Overcome greed, selfishness and hedonism. Holidays don't mean the same as permissiveness. 10. Live solidarity. Don't covet everything for yourself. Think of those who have no holidays, because they don't even have enough to eat. Charity doesn't go on holiday either.
THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
7
Welcome home
The Record
0
ne of the great joys of Christmas is the huge crowds that turn out for Mass on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It is a sure sign that Jesus is working in many hearts, and people are still responding to His silent, insistent call that He loves us and wants to share His goodness with us. They are wonderful gifts he shares with us through the Church, gifts he wants us to enjoy not only at Christmas but throughout the year. The first of them is Himself. The Christmas baby lying in a manger (a feeding trough) is the symbol that Jesus is the food through which God nourishes creation. In modern terms, He is the health food without which the world suffers confusion, aggression, and the serious disorientation which is so evident in the family of man. He offers us this food in the Eucharist, but the nourishment goes out to the world only if we receive it and take it with us. He enjoys giving us the opportunity to experience His peace and to
to make monstrous errors, the Church insistently reminds us that the forgiveness of God and the Church is always available. With clarity and courage, the Church urges us not to let our lives be PO Box 75, Leederville, WA 6902 shaped by the wrongs we have done or Tel: (08) 9227 7080, Fax: (08) 9227 7087 the mistakes we have made, nor by the cathrec@iinetnetau wrongs and mistakes of others whose actions disappoint and confuse us. We are urged instead to turn towards goodThey have shown us through their lives share it with others. Jesus also offers us and through their remarkable works that ness and decide to associate ourselves Himself in the Church which is His with that in hope, in attitude and in the spiritual world is close at hand and body, His home as well as ours. And a behaviour. is available to all who call on it. They wonderful Church it is He offers us. We don't have to do all the work there is have shown us over and over that what Since the time of the Resurrection, the to be done in our world. The real work we can see is not all there is, and that Church has been carrying the message for all of us is to decide that we want to the kingdom of God is here now as well of Jesus to all the corners of the earth. It belong to the light, that we want to be as being our hope in eternity. has been telling mankind that there is part of the community that is spiritually, The tradition continues around the meaning and purpose in life, that there mentally and physically united with world today. Wherever there is need, is good sense and goodness pervading Jesus. The rest will take care of itself as there is the Church. Extraordinary peoeverything if only we will acknowledge people respond to the prompting of the ple like Mother Teresa and her sisters it and attach ourselves to it. Holy Spirit. The Church has protected and preserved serving the poorest of the poor have We need only to choose for ourselves become the most obvious and the most Jesus' message against all manner of and to pass on to our children the life of newsworthy, but in every corner of the arguments and people who would have globe there are men and women, includ- truth, fidelity and love which far surpassturned it into a merely human philosoes the confused and confusing messages ing more than 12Z000 lay missionaries, phy riddled by the errors of the day. that come from other sources. It is the who are living out the message: Love Throughout the centuries, the Church best gift we can give to ourselves and God and love your neighbour. has produced an endless stream of ordipass on to our children and grandchilIn our own comfortable society, the nary people whose extraordinary lives dren. Church is at the forefront of those helphave demonstrated to us the truth and ing people who are not so comfortable - It is in the choosing and in the unity that value of that message by showing us those with AIDS, those with physical and we experience the strength and the what humanity can be when it makes wholeness we cannot generate alone. the right choices. These most interesting intellectual disabilities, those with menWelcome home. Stay with us. tal illness, those trying to escape from of all people, whom we call saints, have alcohol drugs and prostitution, and shown us over and over, year by year, decade by decade, and century by centu- those who are just plain suffering. This remarkable home of ours, the ry that it is goodness, not wealth or • The opinions expressed in this editorChurch, also offers the great gift of forpower or even intelligence, that proial, and any other Record editorial, are not necessarily those of the Roman Catholic giveness, now and forever. Constantly duces the really admirable people on aware of our weakness and our capacity Archbishop of Perth. this planet
Violence Against Christians in the Year 2001
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his extensive report by Dr Gyula Orban, of Aid to the Church in Need reveals the dramatic extent of current persecution of Christians throughout the world and fills a void in our lack of information on this topic.
Violence against Christians in the year 2001
It is estimated that every year some where between 130,000 — 170,000 people die worldwide as a result of violence directed against Christianity.
A peekaboo by Aid to the
Did you know that ...
Church in Hong
TO HE CHURCH N MEW
• Christians form the most persecuted religious group in the world. • Christians in China, as well as in North Korea and Laos are being arrested and tortured. In Southern Sudan they are sold as slaves and become victims of the worst form of psychological and physical abuse. In Muslim countries, people who convert to Christianity are often tortured and killed, as Islam does not tolerate apostasy. • Religious liberty as a fundamental human right is being criminally neglected by world public opinion, above all by politicians and the media. And yet religious liberty is one of the most vital preconditions for democracy. You will find no better report about your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who are persecuted for their faith. Please pray for them.
Flame Congress
teriog the - steries Light 4th to
e d Heart Col lege P arade, Sorrento Archbishop Hickey, Bishop Don Sproxton, Fr Bob Carden, Raymond de Souza, Steve Peake and Eddie Russell will unfold the Biblical depths of the New Meditations of the Holy Rosary during a series of registered sessions on Sat 25 and Sun 26 January. The evening sessions on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings begin at 7.30pm and will be open to the public with no registration fees.
Be informed, read the report!
To view or down load the report free of charge go to the Australian website of the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need at www.aidtochurch.org
The Congress will feature New Music by fmm as well as new theatrical pieces from Damien Doherty fmi Dramas and Musical by: Flame Youth Ministry.
The REAL news is the Church. Read about it in The Record.
26th 2003
This Congress is presented by: FLAME MINISTRIES INTERNATIONAL For information and brochure: Phone Linda Furey 08 9382 3668 Fax: 08 9382 4080 E-mail: fmi@flameministries.org ACCOMMODATION AND CHILDREN'S MINISTRY AVAILABLE
THE EVENING SESSIONS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITH NO REGISTRATION THE DAYTIME SESSIONS ON THE MYSTERIES REGISTERED DELEGATES ONLY
8
THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
WAS THAT CHILD DIVINE?
This Christmas, give to your loved ones a gift that will enhance their Faith. About 2,000 years ago, a Child was born in a poor stable in Bethlehem - and was destined to change world History for ever. He spent most of His life working as a carpenter in an obscure province of the Roman Empire, and yet He grew up to be a preacher of a powerful message to the world: He claimed to be the Way, the Truth and the Life. Today, about 1.5 billion people believe that Child was indeed God Incarnate, and affirm the truthfulness of His claim of being THE SON OF GOD, risen from the dead. Yet, other world religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam, also having around a billion followers each, teach quite different messages. Why, then, be a Christian at all? Does it make sense to believe that Jesus Christ, and He alone, is the Saviour of the world? Does it make sense to believe in His claim of being the Son of God'? Does it make sense to obey His command and preach His message to the whole world? * * * This Christmas, let us give our loved ones a gift that will enhance their Faith in Jesus Christ. Especially those loved ones who deny, doubt, or are not sure of, the truth of His divinity. Because, if His claim of divinity was true, then the whole world must be invited to come to Him to be saved. But if it wasn't, faith in Him is in vain. Thus, it is imperative to find out. The gift we. suggest to be given to your loved ones is very helpful in this regard - it is also simple and inexpensive:
Order the audiotape "Rediscovering Christ in the new Millennium". In a thought-provoking address, it puts forward a convincing case for Jesus Christ, in a language easily understood by anyone who is prepared to think with an unbiased mind. Logical reasoning. Clear thinking, step-by-step consistency from premise to conclusion. This audiotape will provide you - and your loved ones - with a variety of logical arguments to demonstrate that it makes perfect sense to believe that the Child born in Bethlehem was truly God made Man. The 90-minute audiotape costs only $9.95 - plus $1.05 for postage and handling.
This is a non-profit venture. Net proceeds to help the Catholic Faith Resources Centre to provide educational material to help Re-Evangelise the Baptised. This audiotape is a recording of a talk given before a live audience at the Cathedral Parish Centre by Raymond de Souza, founder and director of St Gabriel Communications. Send no payment now. Order the tape and listen to Raymond's presentation of Catholic Apologetics - and put him to the test. You will not be disappointed. Archbishop Hickey read the text of Raymond's address and wrote that it was... " Very concise and clear, and in fidl accord with Catholic teaching. ... A refreshing change. ... [It] does present a convincing argument that Jesus was Divine, the only Son of God. Still, if, after listening to the tape, you are not satisfied that the argumentation is sufficiently persuasive to show that it makes sense to believe that Jesus was telling the truth when He claimed to be the Son of God, then return the tape to us. Yes, this Christmas give a gift to your loved ones that will be cherished for a long time: help strengthen their Faith in the only One who can give them authentic happiness, both here in this life and in the hereafter. To order, just ring St Gabriel Communications office at the Cathedral Parish Centre (08) 9202 1300 and give your name, postal address and telephone number. If the phone is unattended, please record your details after the beep. Email to: admin@saintgabriel.linet.net.au or write to PO Box 111 Forrestfield WA 6058.
HAVE A HAPPY AND HOLY CHRISTMAS! THE LAYMAN'S HOUR' with Raymond and Theresa de Souza
The voice of Lay Catholics in Perth - Reaching out to the Catholic Community and beyond! On Sunday evening, turn off the TV and switch on the radio - The Layman's Hour' is aforumfor you to learn more about the Faith andparticipate in discussions about what is going on in the Church in Australia and the world Have your say on the Catholic issues of the day! Proudly sponsored by
St Gabriel Communications and the Cathedral Knights
Radio Fremantle 1107.9 FM) Sundays at 7:30 PM AD2000 Australia's leading journal of religious affairs Features key developments - positive and negative - in liturgy, catechetics and evangelisation. Subscribe now at $33 for 11 monthly issues and receive (while stocks last) 3 free books including the Price of Freedom by the late B.A. Santamaria. Mail payment to: Reply Paid 1369 Perth 6845 or for credit card payment telephone 9321 2822.
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THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 9
UN bans mothers' aid group MaterCare International, a Catholic medical organisation established to help mothers and children in third world countries, was barred from East Timor by the UN administration because it would not provide abortion and sterilisation programs.
Poll Devi fans her 2-year-old daughter at a camp in Devipur near Jammu, India, Photo: CNS/Reuters on May 27.
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his was revealed by Dr Robert Walley, the Newfoundland-based executive director of the organisation in an Interview with ZENIT in Rome. Dr Walley said the problem arose when MaterCare sought to provide emergency obstetrical care in East Timor when it was under UN administration. "We explained that we did not provide abortion and sterilisation because they are irrelevant to mothers who are bleeding to death or are in obstructed labor," he said. MaterCare International was established with "a preferential option for mothers" wherever they may be because mothers are frequently among the poorest of the poor. "Our mission is to provide mothers and babies, both born and unborn, with the best of medical care, based on life, hope and love, rather than the death and despair which is abortion," Dr Walley said. "We are demonstrating that as Catholics we can provide relevant health care for mothers through new initiatives of essential obstetrical service, training of health workers and research based on the ethics of Evangelium Vitae.
"We are challenging the medical status quo that bases the care of mothers on "reproductive health" - a euphemism for abortion and birth control. "Thus we have few friends in governments, international health agencies or the professions. We need all the help we can get from colleagues and friends." He said millions of Third World women suffered death or serious injury from treatable and avoidable complications surrounding childbirth, yet many Western nations and medical organisations have shown more interest in contraception and abortion than In saving and improving the lives of mothers. In the 15 years since the World Health Organization's Safe Moth-
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erhood conference in Nairobi response from the international demonstration project is located "there has not been enough community so far has been insuf- in the Diocese of Sunyani, in a ficient, and the reason for this rural area of Ghana, West Africa. progress," Dr Walley said. " It is an international disgrace inaction, according to UNICEF is MaterCare has developed an that mothers in poor countries a "conspiracy of silence" and a essential obstetrical care service should be experiencing unimag- "lack of initiative," to which must for a rural area consisting of proinable suffering, due to a scan- be added a lack of compassion grams designed to improve the dalous lack of effective care and political will and a reliance survival of mothers by training during pregnancy and childbirth on abortion and contraception to traditional birth attendants which is resulting in 600,000 the exclusion of emergency TBAs - who are responsible for 70% of all deliveries, to recognize obstetrical care. dying annually. and refer high risk mothers to our "Mothers are dying alone in district hospital, using a pictorial small villages a few at a time, com- Programs antenatal card; by improving the hemorrhage, from monly "Mater Care International is care given to mothers in rural obstructed labor, pregnancy induced hypertension and even introducing programs which con- maternity centres by nurse/midfrom induced abortions. Howev- sider the needs of mothers, such wives using a labor partograph; er, these deaths represent the tip as the West African Maternal by introducing a safe and efficient Health project. Begun in 1998, this Continued page 18 of the iceberg. "It is estimated that for every death, 30 more suffer longterm damage to their health, for example, from obstetric fistulas arising from neglected obstructed labor. The result is that the baby dies and, because of damage to the The Board of Governors, staff and students bladder and rectum, the mother becomes incontinent of The University ofNotre Dame Australia with regard to urine and-or feces, and thus becomes a wish everyone a complete outcast and is treated worse than a leper by her husband, family and society, simply because she is wet and offensive to them. "Such mothers suffer pain, humiliation and lifelong debility if not treated. There are estimated to be 2 million mothers with the condition, mostly in sub-Saharan Africa; Applications for Semester One, 2003 close January 31 50,000 to 100,000 are added each year. The tragedy is that most of this mortality and morbidity is preventable with proper maternity care, and obstetric fistula can be treated surgically, but at present Please contact us for further information regarding there are not enough trained our fees, courses and admission requirements: doctors, nurses or adequate facilities. Prospective Student Office "The 1987 Safe Motherhood PO Box 1225, Fremantle Western Australia 6959 Conference in Nairobi first Tel: (08) 9239 5506 • Fax: (08) 9239 5544 drew attention to this tragedy futureOnd.edu.au • www.nd.edu.au Email: experienced by mothers and issued a call to action. The
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THE RECORD
10 19 DECEMBER 2002
Reviews The Catholic perspective on popular culture itarianism is probably one of the most critical factors in the culture-war today. It is this lecture of Geogre Pell's, the inaugural Acton Lecture, which, if the samples quoted here are any guide, should be 'rushed into print as soon as possible' and widely distributed. It covers many important aspects of modern culture and has wise and true things to say. Tess Livingstone, unlike too many other religious writers, is aware of church life in the context of other major political and cultural issues, including Catholic and Protestant churches support for pro-Soviet and other communist political organisations George Pell internationally in the 1980s (she rightly gives some credit to Melbourne columnist By Tess Livingstone, published by Michael Barnard for his work in exposing Duffy and Snellgrove this). RRP $22.00 She also shows where Pell's witness has been its most unfashionable, important Review by Hal GP Colebatch and courageous: his emphasis that substituting gimmicky, New-Age, watered-down, feely-touchy fads for the central beliefs and practices of Christianity will not achieve any good at all. espite some flaws, this is a most She quotes Pell: 'Catholic lite has been Important and illuminating book, advertised and sold in some places for Invaluable - I would say some years now. It has been a failure. inescapable - reading for anyone wishing Young Catholics won't buy it. The taste is to know more about not only its distin- off.' guished subject but also about the present The last chapters, dealing with allegaFourth World War: the culture-war raging of sexual assault made anonymously tions through both the church and Western civilthe Archbishop, after an alleged against isation. lapse of more than 40 years, could be The book is neither a collection of inof- expanded into a book in themselves, not fensive, unenlightening platitudes or a because of any salicious content, which is hatchet-job, but widely well-informed and entirely absent, but because of what they culturally literate. reveal about much of the media and the My copy is dog-eared and festooned with adversary-culture in general. slickers flagging a score of important matAllegations of sexual improprietry are ters I would have referred to had space easy to make, hard to disprove, and can permitted. have a particularly demoralising effect on One flaw: Tess Livingstone nearly loses those who, innocent or otherwise, are the me early in the piece with her enthusiasm target of them. The point is made early for the works of Teilhard de Chardin. She that: 'Christ reserves some of his heaviest comments that 'the church would do itself crosses for his closest friends: a massive favour by rushing them into print as soon as possible.' The last chapters, dealing with Hardly. There are more than enough cranks in print already. If the Archbishop allegations of sexual assault made had such an enthusiasm it is to be hoped anonymously against the he grew out of it. Archbishop, after an alleged lapse The book hardly explains, although it sets out, what strikes me as Archbishop Pell's of more than 40 years, could be greatest and most incomprehensible error: themhis high-profile support for the 'Rumbullite expanded into a book in republic modeL selves, not because of any saliIt was an unnecessary public stance cious content, which is entirely which had nothing to do with church doctrine or discipline, and had the potential of absent, but because of what they being deeply divisive, even on the worst reveal about much of the media old-style sectarian lines. lobbying Clancy Perhaps, like Cardinal and the adversary-culture in for compulsory student unions (with the general. likes of those well-known religious figures Natasha Stott-Despoja and Phillip Adams), Judging from reports the evidence in this he had no idea how profoundly many intelligent and responsible people believed this case was so defective it should have been cause was not only politically but morally thrown out without more ado, as happens quite frequently when baseless and scanwrong. His claim, quoted here, that 'The monar- dalous accusations are made against pubchists are relying on apathy, ignorance and lic figures. The media and chattering classes camthose who want a directly elected president. Their argument is bankrupt' was paign was beaten up not only to vicariousdeeply and gratuitously offensive to many ly get John Howard, a focus for barely people who opposed the republic model coherent rage among important sections of on offer from conviction and after serious the chattering classes ever since the defeat of the Republic referendum, but also study of its implications. Monarchists and direct-electionists who because Pell had emerged as a fearless saw anti-democratic traps there included champion of traditional values and a penpeople of the highest intelligence, probity, etrating critic of the adversary culture, and public service, scholarship in the area and destroying Pell, or even irreparably tarpractical experience, such as Professor nishing his reputation, would strike a heavy David Flint, the late Professor Patrick blow at traditional values in the church O'Brien, the Rt Hon. Reg Withers and the and in Australian society and traditional Rt. Hon. Bill Hayden - not an easy lot to dis- middle-culture in general. The great Australian Catholic poet James miss. On a much more admirable note, Pell's McAuley once wrote: 'Across the twilit Tom 1999 speech to The Centre for Indepen- Tiddler's ground of shallow humanism, dent Studies is quoted: 'Nearly all the 12- l'radition and Anti-Tradition confront one year-olds I speak to know of Hitler, very another, each recognising its supreme antagonist: few have heard of Stalin. The truth of that is made plain here. There "I could not even obtain a tax deduction for donations to the descendents of the is no doubt that much of the adversary culprisoners of the Gulag, who survive today, ture regards itself as being at war, and the millions of them, in Siberia, originally from destruction of the whole framework of traditions as a strategic military objective. many different nations." The words of certain of its spokespeople That needed to be said. The skew in the West's popular historical memory of total- quoted here, and the network of connections, including political connections,
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which Tess Livingstone reveals, are This book says that, interviewed on the ABC's Lateline, Pell's fellow Catholic bishextremely illuminating. If the book dealt with nothing else, this op and ideological opponent, Patrick would make it important reading. She quite Power, was not prepared to join the rightly alerts us to: 'the ferocity of hatred Methodist Howard in unequivocally some of his opponents feel for him and defending the Archbishop so. bishops like him.' Opposition Leader Simon Crean claimed These opponents are not only left-liber- Howard was making a 'serious misjudgeals, within and without the church. This ment' in supporting Pell so strongly, while book suggests there are also Satanists at Labor front-bencher Mark Latham sneered the fringes of the campaign to discredit the at Liberal Minister and ex-seminarian Tony Abbott that: 'It's a bad day for seminarians: Archbishop. seems What inflamed the greatest hatred By the coldest letter of the Law, Crean to have been his rejection of that liberalis- was probably right. But this episode shows tic position which another great Australian something else. By defending Pell so poet, Vincent Buckley excoriated as being unequivocally Howard, a lawyer as well as 'unbiased between right and wrong' (Arch- an experienced politician, knew he was bishop Pell will never,Ithink, unlike anoth- leaving himself wide open if by any chance er religious figure I read of, actually be the allegations were found to be true. praised by a progressive religious journalThe Hollingworth affair had demonstratist for being 'non-judgemental'!) ed how the media would have made it a At least one left-wing commentator insin- double crucifixion. uated in a newspaper column that the comIt showed a chivalrous, brave, even plainant might have had a criminal record side to Howard that he at once Quixotic, abused. been had he because faith in Pell and took this risk his showed record criminal complainant's the fact In often wish politicians would so we don't as set out here does not point to psychiatric of daring and demonstration some make disturbance. how little we appreciate it when they do! He had among other things many conWhat emerges at the end is not only a victions for drug-trafficking, which an disturbing chart of the cultural sometimes senoriginal the appeal court agreed with tencing judge had been done 'purely for conflicts in our society today. the purposes of profit.' It is also a compelling picture of George The whole episode is an important snap- Pell as a man of dauntless courage and shot of Australian society today.It was nasty faith in a jungle of pygmies armed with and squalid but lit by some beams of faith, poison darts. hope, charity and loyalty, as well as by Pell's One feels sure at its conclusion that Ausown courage in what must have been a ter- tralia, the church and the world are forturible ordeal. nate to have him. - Hal GP Colebatch. Prime Minister John Howard at once defended Archbishop Pell, claiming: 'I Hal GP Colebatch attended an Anglican school believe completely George Pell's denial.' and describes himself as non-denominational
THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 11
Reviews The Catholic perspective on popular culture
Worth the long wait The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers Starring Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Christopher Lee Review by David DiCerto Catholic News Service
ollowing last year's highly successful 'The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring,' director Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth with 'The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers' (New Line), the much anticipated second installment of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic fantasy trilogy 'The Lord of the Rings.' Having garnered 13 Oscar nominations, including Best Picture, last time around, Jackson once again flexes considerable creative muscle. He impressively orchestrates an army of technicians and crew and a cast of thousands, seamlessly blending live action and cutting-edge digital effects in bringing to life a timeless fable of the eternal struggle between good and evil. With an epic price tag of $300 million for the trilogy, New Line has a lot riding on the film's ability to work similar magic at the box office as its predecessor did. 'The TWo Towers' takes up the action where the last film left off. The Fellowship — a band of nine companions representing the free races of men, elves, dwarves and hobbits — has been broken. Their quest to destroy
As in the first installment, 'The Two into the mysterious forest of disadvantage.It would be well worth watching 'The Fellowship of the Towers,' filmed entirely in Jackson's Fanghorn. Among the forest's eerie boles, Ring,' available on video and DVD, native New Zealand, boasts breaththey encounter an unlikely ally, before seeing 'The Two Towers' — or, taking vistas. In addition to the solid performances and innovative visuan Ent named Treebeard (voice better yet, reading the books. Having originally been conceived als, tech credits for production of John Rhys-Davies). An Ent is a sage-like tree shepherd and as part of a single story, "The Two design, makeup, costumes and come one of Middle-earth's most Towers' seems more like the middle music should be recognized installment, final The time. Oscar tradia than work longer a of act ancient inhabitants, whose foris due to be est has been decimated by tional sequel. Despite the film's 'The Return of the King,' 2003. Christmas around released porlarge time, running i mposing Saruman. gory scenes of battle many to Due be to had tome the of 400-page tions the remaining Meanwhile, frightening members — the valiant warrior, streamlined, resulting in much of the violence with several Conference of U.S. the mages, i pace, dizzying a at unfolding action the Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), classification is Aelfin archer, Legolas (Orlando without the luxury of the clarifying Catholic Bishops adults. ifi film. rust the by afforded exposition Bloom), and the bellicose dwarf, Gimli (also John Rhys-Davies) - track their comrades to Fanghorn. To their disbelief, they happen upon Gandalf, resurrected and transfigured as an ethereal Christ-like figure. He journeys with them to the besieged kingdom of Rohan, a Viking-like nation of horsemen. Rohan's king, Theoden (Bernard Hill), has been bewitched by Saruman through the manipulations of the duplicitous court adviser Wormtongue (Brad Dourif). With Sarw-nan's vast army on the warpath, Aragorn and Gandalf must forge an alliance with Theoden and ready Rohan for a massive, climactic battle against the forces of darkness, with the future of mankind and all Mid- Dominic Monoghan and Billy Boyd star in a scene from Me Lord of the Rings: The dle-earth hanging in the bal- Two Towers." Photo CNSiNew Line Productions ance. Though much of the box-office appeal of 'The Two Towers' is sure to be generated by the film's spectacular visual effects and epic scope, Tolkien — a lifethe One Ring seems all but long, devout Catholic — chose to doomed. Already, two of their emphasize the underlying relinumber have fallen: Boromir gious concepts as the wellspring (Sean Bean) and GandaIf (Ian of his story's lasting appeal. McKellen), the benevolent and While borrowing heavily from wise wizard, lost in mortal com- classical Celtic and Norse bat with the Balrog, a fire mythology for inspiration, espedemon, at the climax of the pre- cially the Icelandic sagas, it is vious film. orthodox Catholic theology that In his tower fortress of Barad- forms the bedrock upon which dur, the dark lord, Sauron, who the various themes explored are forged the Ring ages before, has built. set his malicious will on True to the spirit of the book. reclaiming it, and wielding its Jackson incorporates several power to master all of Middle- such themes into the film. The earth. Vying with Sauron for Two Towers' is a veritable pascontrol of the Ring is Sartunan sion play, with Frodo serving as (Christopher Lee), an evil wiz- a Christ figure, bearing the Ring, ard of insatiable ambition. From an emblem of sin, like a cross his own stronghold at Isengard, on his own Via Dolorosa — selfthe second "tower' of the title, lessly exercising free will, willhe has unleashed his army of ing to sacrifice even his life so vicious Uruk-hai orcs to seek out others might live. his coveted prize. The Ring symbolizes the Splintered into three groups, Catholic understanding of the the ragtag members of the Fel- parasitic nature of evil. The lowship remain firm in their Ring, in and of itself, has no resolve to see their mission power beyond its subtle but through to completion, no mat- potent ability to corrupt the ter what the cost. desires of all who come in conFrodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), tact with it. the Ringbearer and reluctant Other Christian motifs recurhero, along with his fellow hob- ring throughout the film include bit and trusted friend, Sam the redemption of sinners (GolGamgee (Sean Astin), find them- lum), communion with nature selves alone and lost in a deso- versus materialistic industriallate wasteland. Chosen by fate ization, death and immortality. to carry the Ring into the shad- Even the Elfin 'Lembas bread,' owy region of Mordor and cast which sustains Frodo and Sam It back into the fires of Mount throughout their trials, echoes Doom from which it came, the Eucharist. The story's overFrodo is already showing signs all message of hope in strife, and of wearying under its corrosive the ultimate victory of light and weight. They soon discover they goodness over darkness are as are being trailed by Gollum reassuring to our troubled times (Andy Serkis), a pathetic, mer- as they were when Tolkien curial creature, himself warped wrote it during the horrors of by the Ring. His familiarity with the Second World War. 1.1 Though aficionados should the terrain is equaled only by his lust for 'his precious" (the respond enthusiastically, the Ring), making him a valuable film's myriad characters and but dangerous traveling com- three-hour length may prove daunting to the uninitiated. panion. Pippin (Billy Boyd) and Merry While strangers to Middle-earth QUAl ITA (Dominic Monaghan), also hob- can still enjoy the ffim's exciting, bits, abducted in the last film by escapist tenor and stunning Saruman's orcs, have escaped effects, those unfamiliar with their savage captors and fled Tolkien's work are at a distinct
7A'e D'Orsogna rnify tvis4you anof anof yourfam4 a very A'appy Chrisbnas anof a sale ar2of prosperous Yew9ear.
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THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2007
THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER
13
Animal rights
FEATURE
Pet peeves with a beastly bias Is the animal rights lobby taking things too far while humans starve?
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tories of poverty in Third World countries are common enough, but acquire a new dimension when contrasted with the enormous sums being spent on animal care. On November 20 a report published by the World Health Organisation, UNICEF and the World Bank made a dramatic appeal for additional funds to ensure vaccinations for poor children. A press release on 'The State of the World's Vaccines and Immunisation' report warned that 'if urgent and strategic action is not taken to close the gaps in funding, research and global immunisation coverage, the world will see the reintroduction of old diseases and the emergence of new infections.' In sub-Saharan Africa, for example, only half the children have access to basic immunisation against common diseases such as tuberculosis, measles, tetanus and whooping cough. 'In many regions of the world,' explained Gro Harlem Brundtland, director-general of the World Health Organisation, 'it is more the rule than the exception for children to die of common childhood conditions such as measles, which alone causes about 700,000 deaths a year.' Foreign aid to developing countries for immunisation now amounts to about US $1.56 billion a year. With US $250 million more a year, at least 10 million more children would be reached with basic vaccines. And a further US $100 million a year would cover the cost of newer vaccines, including those for hepatitis B and Hib, or Haemophilus influenza type B. The report estimates that every year these Iwo diseases cause almost a million deaths among children. The same day the press release was published, the Associated Press reported on how pets in Palm Beach, Florida, were about to have their very own society magazine. The new publication is designed 'to chart the season's biggest canine social events, the latest designs in dog beds and the general comings and goings that make pedigreed purebreds the talk of weekly grooming sessions.'
The glossy Palm Beach Pet Society is edited by Joanne Cutner, who according to the report, wants to make sure the animals are treated as well as their owners. The glossy Palm Beach Pet Society is edited by Joanne Cutner, who, according to the report, wants to make sure the animals are treated as well as their owners. Palm Beach pets already attend lavish US $1,000-plus birthday parties and are adorned with US $75 designer collars, US $100 sweaters and even pricier diamond and pearl jewelliy. And then there is health insurance. In Canada, the National Post newspaper reported on August 1 that pet owners are now taking out policies for about US $15 a month. The policies would pay up to US $3,100 or more if, say, an animal were hit by a car. The newspaper quoted a May 2001 estimate by a Euromonitor report that less than one per cent of the 8.6 million dogs and cats in Canada are insured. This is far behind European countries. In the United Kingdom, for example, 13.2 per cent of the 14.4 million dogs and cats are insured. Randy Valpy, vice president and general manager of Winnipeg, Manitoba-based Pet Plan Insurance, expects the number of insured pets in Canada to grow to 11 per cent within 25 years. Pet Plan estimates the Canadian pet health insurance market is capable of generating up to US $222 million a year in gross premium income.
Kill the unborn, save the seals Also on November 20, a Rhode Island newspaper, The Narragansett Times, reported on a biomedical ethicist who called for the selective abortion of fetuses known to be handicapped. Dan Brock, speaking at the University of Rhode Island's 10th Honours Colloquium lecture, contended that society might be better off if it prevents the birth of blind and severely disabled children. 'It's considered a misfor-
tune to be born blind or with a serious cognitive disability,' he said. 'But if it's a bad thing for a born person, then why not prevent these conditions in someone who will be born?' In his lecture titled, 'Genetic Testing and Selection: A Response to the Disability Movement's Critique,' Brock said he upholds the 'full and equal moral status' of disabled people. Yet, he added, 'we should distinguish between preventing people and becoming disabled from preventing the existence of disabled people.' Brock works for the Department of Clinical Bioethics at the National Institutes of Health In Bethesda, Maryland. He justified aborting children by saying it would result in 'less suffering and loss of opportunity in the world.' Not so for animals, some say. On October 22 the London-based Independent newspaper reported on animal rights activists who protested plans to kill a group of sick seals. Originally, the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, hoping to reduce the spread of the phocine distemper virus, had organised six marksmen to shoot the sick seals. The idea was to kill the animals before they could infect other seals. Scotland is home to around 80 per cent of the UK's seal population of 150,000, so a spreading infection could wreak havoc. But Les Ward, of the group Advocates for Animals, wants special holding pens for the Infected seals, while they recover from the disease. Ross Flett of the Orkney Seal Rescue Centre also opposed killing off the sick animals.
Distressed chickens flik A pro-beast bias also appears in the cinema. The British daily The Guardian reported on October 23 that the country's censors have approved, \\v. uncut, the rape scene portrayed in Gaspar Noe's fi.lin Irreversible. The film is due out next spring. The author of the article, who defends the use of the scene, notes that the film 'has been described as a misogynistic, repulsively sensationalist, gratuitous and grotesque example of 'directionless machismo." In an October 21 press release, the British Board of Film Classification justified allowing the rape scene saying it 'contains no explicit sexual images and is not designed to titillate.' But when the film was screened during this year's Cannes Film Festival, it was so shocking that 250 people walked out, the BBC reported on May 26. As well, fire wardens had to administer oxygen to 20 people who fainted during the film. Some critics who walked out of the screening of Irreversible described it as 'sick' and 'gratuitous," the BBC noted. Yet, while it deemed a violently graphic rape scene fit for moviegoers, the same British Board of Film Classification had serious qualms about animal welfare. The Telegraph newspaper reported on November 14 that the film board and lawyers had a heated argument over a scene in John Malkovich's film The Dancer Upstairs, due to be screened at the London Film Festival. The film is based on a novel that describes how the Shining Path guerrillas destabilised Peru during the 1980s and 1990s. The Maoist guerrillas would often attach explosives to animals, and then blow them up In crowded areas. The board was particularly worried about two scenes in the film, showing a chicken and a dog with fake sticks of dynamite tied to them. The animals are shown walking into crowds, but the film changes scene before the explosions commence. The board said the animals were 'clearly distressed,' and that it would not grant a certificate unless both scenes were cut.
The Telegraph noted it was curious that the board made no complaint about other scenes in the film depicting children similarly strapped with explosives. Malkovich wondered if the censors had consulted a chicken psychiatrist before concluding that the bird was distressed. After a long debate, the board approved the film, without cuts to the animal scenes. Society 'should be animated by a just hierarchy of values,' notes the Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1895. It seems that quite a few are in urgent need of a refresher course on the subject -Zenit
14 19 DECEMBER 2002
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lead the way Those in our times who think Thomas was naive about angels, simply betray that they have never bothered to read him. Angels are spiritual realities that reveal themselves to women and uring a recent visit to men in moments of vision, and Rome, Basilian Father also break in on human conThomas Rosica, the chief sciousness in dreams, flooding it organizer of World Youth Day in with awareness and wonder and Toronto, spoke with Zenit about fear. Angels are mysteriously in the the apparent popularity of angels presence of God on our behalf, in the modern world. Father Rosica said that over the and simultaneously with us on past three years, as he moved our behalf. What a tender gesture around the world, and particular- of our loving Creator! Guardian ly throughout North America, to angels provide free, womb-tomeet with young people who tomb guidance -- lighting and were preparing to attend World guarding, ruling and guiding ... all Youth Day 2002, he was struck by the days of our lives. Angels move our imaginations the sheer volume of artwork, depictions of angels that seem to with good thoughts and impulses, occupy much space in the lives of and impel us toward goodness ... through secret impulse, intuition, young people. "There is an unwelcome com- without the benefit of our actualmercial aspect to this, but I also ly seeing or hearing them. They pray with us and for us, think that their presence reveals a deep hunger and thirst for spiri- and in transporting our prayers to tuality, especially in the lives of God make them more perfect. young people, who are searching They protect us in times of danand seeking for meaning and for ger, in the physical as well as in the spiritual life. closeness with God," he said. Our Church ancestors also warn Father Rosica said angels were an element of Christian piety us of a whole army of rebel or fallen angels, led by Lucifer, who simfrom the beginning, but it was ilarly employ our imaginations not until 325 that the Counto tempt us away from God. cil of Nicaea made belief Father Rosica studied in angels a part of Scripture in Toronto, dogma. Rome and Jerusalem The study of before serving as angels, angeloldirector of the Newogy, took off man Centre Catholic in the mission at the University early of Toronto and lecturer in sixth sacred Scripture at the century, Toronto School of Theology when the from 1994-2000. theologian He said the angels of the ChristDionysius mas and Easter stories are not the Areabsurd, for the Spirit that fills holy opagite first seasons like Christmas and Eastclassified them. er helps us realize that life and His celestial hierarchy also later elaborated by St. living are not as simple as we Thomas Aquinas, the Italian sometimes think When we remember and relive Dominican scholar of the 13th century who is known as the the events of Bethlehem, Gethse'angelic doctor', not because of mane, the Holy Sepulchre, the his holy life, but rather because of powers of heaven come close. The his profound teaching about veil that separates us from the world of the Spirit is drawn back angels.
Whenever God breaks through, to think his thoughts and to see unless you change and become we are surrounded by angelic the world around us through his like children, you will never enter powers. eyes. the kingdom of heaven. The stories of Jesus childhood The pagan world, today as in the Whoever becomes humble like contain many mentions of angels. past, is always happy to tolerate a this child is the greatest in the An angel informs Zechariah church that neglects the Christian kingdom of heaven. about the birth of his son John, mind. Whoever welcomes one such and the angel foretells the birth of When we think of how the child in my name welcomes me. Mary's son, Jesus. An angel advis- Christian Gospel inspired and Take care that you do not despise es Joseph to accept Mary's pregshaped the one of these little ones; for, I tell nancy, and the angels announce civilizayou, in heaven their angels conthe good news to the shepherds tion tinually see the face of my Father in the fields. we in heaven.' An angel warns Joseph of the St. Augustine captured this well danger he's in from Herod, and when he said, 'It was pride that later returns to give Joseph the 'all changed angels into devils; it is clear.' humility that makes men as The only other page of the angels.' Gospel which has anything like Children and angels this number of angels is the story know how to delight of the resurrection, where they and how to rejoice! are mentioned seven times. In the midst of our The stories of the angels in the busy lives,Ifear that life of Jesus have a power which we have lost the art no lecture or broadcast could ever of delighting and have. have rejoicing. How often do When we read the story of his inheritwe focus on our disapbirth of a virgin mother, it speaks ed, how pointments, rather than to us of the utter kindness and it taught our delights! generosity of God, and of his cre- generaThe angels invite us to ative power which can draw new tions to become angels and messenlife out of empty wombs and bar- look at the gers for one another. For what is ren tombs. human ultimately their role — to be mesWhen we read the story of the drama through the lens sengers, bearers of words of conturmoil this child brought into of Christ, and inspired not only solation, hope, peace, joy, people's lives -- Mary, Joseph, the the glories of art, music, poetry protection ... to remind others of Magi, Herod, the whole of and architecture, but also the the beauty and consolation of Jerusalem, and all the babes of thinkers and theologians who God's presence ... to invite us ever Bethlehem -- we are forced to ask swayed our destinies, then we more deeply into the mystery of ourselves whether the risen must have a different vision of our God ... to mirror God and God's Christ challenges and moves our religious heritage. glory to others ... to gently lead life in the same way. How often do we hear: "I don't others to God. When we read the story of the want to look at the world through Those who do not recognize shepherds and their vision of any lens at all, especially angelic them, who persistently refuse to angelic choirs, we discover anew ones: I want to look at the facts admit their existence, have little that in Christ, the heavens open and let them speak for them- chance to avoid the destructive and God breaks into our life to selves." powers in the human psyche and bring us peace on earth. This is a great heresy of our in the universe. Angels are very Our Christmas hymns describe times: the myth of objectivity -- important, because they show us a world more fully real than the the belief that the factors of life that God is intimately involved in materialistic world in which so around us need no interpretation. human life. There is much more many of us have been brainThe angels have much to teach to life than meets our eyes here washed. us -- they offer us ways of looking and now. The angels show us what it at Christ and at the world. So much of the resurgence of means to put on the mind of The angels also teach us about angels today and this angel mania Christ. simplicity, about delighting in is pure sentimentality — devoid of To truly love someone is not only God's presence. any authentic spirituality. But to adore their face and their exterResponding to the question of some of it is not. Some of it nal reality, but to enter their mind who was the greatest, Jesus called betrays deep human longing for and heart. a child, whom he put among God, for whom our hearts are restWe must, more and more, learn them, and said, 'Truly, I tell you, less until they rest in him. - Zenit
THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
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U Ae 9.111of.1 A short story for Christmas By 7ony Cvans 66
et that out of here!" The matron's voice thundered. Her conunand reverberated around the large reception area and even up the handsome old staircase to the first floor. Matron, plump, starched, be-spectacled, chief of the Hayward Clinic, was clearly disturbed - more than disturbed, she was livid. "What on earth are you thinking of child, setting that thing up here of all places! Clear it all away! At once! At Once!' she repeated. Brenda froze where she was, feeling at a strategic disadvantage on her knees, the angry words tingling the back of her neck. She had only seen the matron once before when the forbidding presence materialised in the office where Brenda was temping. On that occasion Matron had barely acknowledged her presence and she got the distinct impression that even the pffice staff were uneasy, only relaxing again when the presence left the room. Brenda had enjoyed arranging the Christmas crib in the disused fireplace of the reception area. How unfair that she was now being criticised and ordered to dismantle it. This was Christmas Eve wasn't it? Even the Hayward Clinic, where it was business as usual, couldn't entirely ignore the general festivities. And after all, Brenda was only obeying instructions. "Make it Christmassy and more friendly, Brenda", the Supervisor had suggested. "You should find a large cardboard box marked with its contents in the basement under the stairs. Bring it up here and see what you can do." Well, she had done as she been asked. The agency had recommended Brenda for her accurate work, her conscientiousness and particularly for her discretion. Being discreet was important at the Hayward Clinic. The agency manager had asked her: "You know about the Hayward Clinic do you, Brenda? You know what they do there?" Brenda said she did know, and explained that she had an old school friend who had been careless and had visited as a patient. For Brenda putting up Christmas decorations was a welcome respite from sitting at her desk in front of a computer all day. To begin with she hadn't liked exploring the basement very much. Very creepy, she thought. The Hayward Clinic had been functioning less than a year. Previously the large old two storey house had been a nursing home; the two airy rooms at the back wing of the building, once the guests' recreation rooms, had been converted into operating theatres with all modern equipment. The solid period furniture in the rest of the house, together with an assortment of pictures and ornaments, had been included in the tenancy. The lease arrangements also included use of the garden tools, games, and cleaning equipment and presumably the Christmas decorations in the basement. The large cardboard box marked 'Xmas Decorations' was soon found, but proved heavy and an awkward size for Brenda to carry up the stairs. Several streamers and rolls of tinsel over-flowed the top, and tumbled out, leaving a trail of somewhat frayed and worse-for-wear streamers, assorted bells, stars, and plastic holly scattered across the floor. When this had been gathered up Brenda set about choosing the best of the collection which she set aside for later use. The unexpected weight of the box was soon explained by the presence of an ancient crib set almost hidden at the bottom under paper and straw. Brenda brought out the painted plaster figures: first the Virgin, then the shepherds and the animals, one by one. The standing figures were a fair size, about 35 centimetres tall, the others in proportion; but sadly, the whole collection, once of superior quality, had now, like the decorations suffered injury from years of use and careless storage. The once bright colours had faded and were badly scratched, and the three shepherds had limbs damaged, a couple of arms and a leg lay undetected at the bottom of the box. Joseph's knee had given way with age so that he couldn't stay upright. Luckily he could lean on his staff, decided Brenda. Mary's face had been chipped and her halo was twisted out of shape. When Brenda burrowed into the box once more and brought forth the Christ child she was relieved to see the figure in reasonable health. True, one of his fingers was missing from his right arm, the arm raised as if giving a blessing. Brenda loved the smile on his face, and she smiled too, but she thought he was too mature and well developed to be considered a few hours old. Perhaps, she thought, that was the tradition with Christmas cribs. She had only a hazy idea of the Christmas story learned solely from carols dimly remembered from school-days. Brenda spent a happy hour arranging the figures on the straw. They fitted neatly into the
fire-place cavity which served well as a stable. Judging from the amount of soot and dust stains the figures would have occupied that same position over many Christmases in the past. Their admirers old and sick retirees for whom a visit to the crib would have been an essential annual rituaL And now when the work was almost completed Brenda was being asked to clear it away. How unjust! She jumped to her feet and met the Matron's fearsome glare. "I'm sorry, Matron,Ididn't know," she said. "I was asked..." she began to explain but didn't finish the sentence because she didn't like to blame the Supervisor who was very kind to her. The matron stared back coldly allowing the silence to speak eloquently of her disapproval. "You should have known", she said. "This sort of thing may be all right for kindergartens and churches but patients here face enough trauma without having to confront sentimental scenes like, like that " She pointed in the direction of the fire-place. Brenda, now very upset and close to tears, managed to mumble, "What shallI do with them, Matron?" "Get rid of them. We shan't want them here". Matron turned away, prepared to stomp off, but then stopped and looked back. Another thought had occurred to her. "Don't return them to the basement Brenda; some other thoughtless person may try to display them. You'd better dump them outside in a bin. Then they can do nobody any harm." With those words she finally departed, much to Brenda's relief.
Brenda faced her new task more in anger than in sorrow. It didn't much matter to her that the clinic would be without a Christmas crib. She didn't believe the virgin birth story anyway.
and turned ashen, staring not at Brenda herself, but at the black plastic bag on Brenda's back. To Brenda's astonishment the driver's door opened slowly and the women leaned half way out and vomited. She then shut the door smartly, started the engine, turned and quickly backed out of the yard, the tires screeching, and disappeared at high speed down the street. Brenda shook her head in disbelief. What had made the women so upset? She seemed perfectly all right when she came into the car park but had changed in an Brenda faced her new task more in anger than in sorinstant Brenda reasoned that she might have suffered row. It didn't much matter to her that the clinic would morning sickness - a common enough condition among be without a Christmas crib. She didn't believe the virthose who came to the clinic. If so the patient would gin birth story anyway, and she could still put the decohave found a sympathetic hearing inside. Why had she rations up. First, however, she would have to find a left so hurriedly? large bin liner for the crib figures. She didn't want to Brenda shrugged. It was not her concern. She had to use the cardboard box which would serve for replacing dispose of the plastic bag and get back to the Christmas the other decorations in the basement after use. Her decorations. She opened the rubbish bin with one hand friend the Supervisor was a help there. She directed and swung the bag around into a position ready to tip it Brenda to a large cupboard in the hall where all the cleaning materials and brushes were stored. She select- inside. It was then that she noticed the large split in the plased one of the large shiny black bags and took it back to the fire-place. Stacking the crib figures in the bag wasn't tic out of which was poking the chubby white arm of the Christ child, clearly visible, its hand raised as if in the best method of transporting them she discovered, blessing. It didn't occur to Brenda at the time that this is but by then Brenda didn't much care. She tossed them what the woman in the car must have seen so unexpectIn, not very carefully. She guessed some more of them eclly. would be damaged, but it didn't matter now; they were y years later I was told the story of the going out with the rubbish. The final figure to be tossed garbage bag at the clinic. It was in my last In the bag was the Christ child and Brenda did feel a year in primary school and mother, for a pang of regret there because she felt a strange empathy treat, took me into the city to see the Christmas lights. with the little figure whose smile seemed to instantly We enjoyed the atmosphere of the warm night, the jolly forgive the rough treatment it was receiving. crowd, and the street music. We paused in front of the An ominous crack sounded as the plaster hit the figDavid Jones windows to admire the illuminated ures already inside. Brenda gathered up the plastic bag, twisted the top and tableaux, mostly all tinsel and reindeer and moving pupheaved it over her shoulder like Santa Claus making his pets. UnconsciouslyIwas drawn to the window with a nativity scene, partly I guess, because of the animals rounds. She found difficulty walking with her burden on her back; it was heavier then expected. As she made which were very realistic. Ihad already made up my mind that Iwanted to be a vet whenI left school. Sec towards the exit door she sensed rather than heard, a tug the figure of the lifeless baby in the crib, which tear in the plastic and she feared one of the figures seemed to be much too big to be lately born, must have mercifully it ground. But would come crashing to the awoken a memory for my mother. As we stood pressed did not and she managed to reach the car park beside against the glass she whispered to me of how she had the house without further incident. The rubbish bins arrived at the Hayward Clinic for one purpose only but were on the far side by the wall which required careful had been frightened into changing her mind when she manoeuvrering between the half-dozen cars parked in saw what she took to be a baby figure, protruding from the marked bays in the centre. More than once the bag a garbage bag. hit the sides of cars as she passed. She feared the split "Of course, it wasn't a real baby." she said, "I realised In the bag might have got worse. that later." And my mother laughed. As the full signifiAs she neared the bins on the far side a car came into cance of what she was saying dawned on me slowly,I the yard, perhaps it belonged to one of the doctors. But stared down at the figure in the crib. The fixed smile on the car wasn't smart enough, most likely a new patient. face was curiously reassuring and seemed to look its driver, a young This proved to be the case when the right at me; the baby's right arm was raised as if 'to bless blond women lowered her window and called out to all who took the trouble to look in. I realised then with Brenda. a wave of exhilerating joy that I owed my life to a simi"Is this where patients park for the Clinic?" lar figure which had been discarded with the rubbish "Yes, anywhere here." replied Brenda. "Take your bin eleven years ago. AsI turned away to hide my face, pick." my mother said impatiently "Stop crying, a big lad like All at once the look on the face of the driver changed you! Do you want the people in the street to see your from one of polite enquiry, to one of horror. She froze
J./
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THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
Monks nuns) and nectar of the gods With bottles bearing the stamp of Catholic religious orders hitting bottleshop shelves in recent months Perth writer and philosopherturned-home-brewer, BARRY MORGAN, looks at the Catholic connections and roots of one of the world's favourite drinks - beer
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tien our family crossed the Nullabour in 1976, the wo songs we sang with most gusto both related to alcohol; one was Old Dogs and Children and Water Melon Wine and the other with the far les subtle title,ILike Beer, the words of which ran - "Whiskey's too rough, Champagne costs too much, Vodka puts my mouth in gear. I hope this little refrain, Will help me explain, As a matter of fact, I like beer." Readers concerned about the effects upon our small children of singing along about the pleasures of beer will be pleased to know none of them developed any symptoms of incipient alcoholism. Brewing has its origins long ago in the settlement of nomadic tribes and the development of grain-based agriculture. Either by accident or design somebody discovered how to turn grain into alcohol and ale made its way into our language. The first ales were low in alcohol content, but about 3000 BC Mesopotamian brewers learned to turn barley into malt. They were able to make dark and light beers and increase the amount of alcohol. In Egypt brewing grew into a major industry. This all came to an end with the Islamic invasion in the 8th century The Koran forbids alcohol. When Julius Caesar led his conquering armies through the land of the Belgae, now known as Belgium, in the first century BC, he found the inhabitants were already making beer. Quotations from the Greeks and Romans indicate that beer was well received by those civilisations: "He was a wise man who invented beer" - Plato, "I recommend...bread, meat, vegetables and beer" - Sophocles, "Beer..."a high and mighty liquor." - Julius Ceaser. "No poems can live long or please that are written by water drinkers." - Horace. The development of brewing continued in Bohemia, Bavaria and the land of the Celts. It was the Germans who introduced the use of hops as a flavour and preservative. The 11th century Benedictine mystic, St Hildegard of Bingen, renowned for her visions and
extraordinary medical and dietary knowledge wrote about hops, "...when put in ale, stops putrefaction and lends durability". The word beer comes from the German word bier. In the early centuries AD numerous religious orders, got into the brewing business and it was not long before the monasteries and convents were producing an extraordinary and diverse range of beers. Some say the bishops encouraged the monopolisation of brewing to 'cure the excesses of the Anglo-Saxons'; who knows? Whatever the reason, it is recorded that in medieval Germany alone there were 4 - 500 monastic breweries, most of which were Benedictines. The 'frappists, part of the Benedictine order, still produce worldrenowned beers in a number of distinctive styles; at around 9% alcohol they are not to be trifled with. Barry Morgan samples some of the Benedictine beer This cautionary note is particularly applicable to a brew from The Celtic monks proved just as the one remaining 11.appist brew- adept as their European brothers. ery in the Netherlands which has There is considerable documenan alcoholic content of 30%. The tary and archeological evidence brewing art reached a very high in England and Wales that each degree of expertise, and competi- monastery had its own mini brewtion between the various ecclesi- ery for in house consumption. astical breweries was apparently Descriptions of twelve small Yorkextremely keen. shire monasteries show that In France the bishops of Liege eleven of them included brewand Cologne fought to get hopped eries. ale (beer) banned because it was Excavations of Castle Acre Pricompeting with their ales, which ory in Norfolk reveal the monks were flavoured with different, operated a substantial grain prohighly secret ingredients. Histo- cessing and brewing complex ry tells us that some of these there. There are also references included, juniper berries, various to commercial brewing at the herbs, fruits and even spruce Welsh Cistercian abbeys of Basbuds. ingwerk, Margam, Strata Florida Monastic brewers are also cred- and Llantarnam. ited with the invention of the douIn England the major figure ble-bottomed vat, which allowed responsible for the demise of the two successive infusions of the monasteries and their breweries mash. The second produced was that well documented 16th something called the cervisa century philanderer Henry VIII. Chimay beers brewed by Trappist monks feature in a promotion of Belgian sedilis, the small beer, the drink He seized the monasteries and of novices, poor pilgrims and their often substantial landhold- brews at the Queens Tavern in Highgate. nuns. ings, and handed the proceeds colonization of the Americas. Is to know that in their search for Quotes from the period show over to his supporters. The there a tenuous link between the the perfect brew they are followthey took their brewing seriously demise of the monasteries and blind pride of an English king, the ing in the footsteps of those happy in those days. An 11th century their breweries paved the way for destruction of an ordered and Industrious monks of centuries edict from the city of Danzig says the rise of the commercial brewsimple way of life and the rise of ago. - "Whoever makes a poor beer is eries. the corporate conglomerates, It is at this time of the year as we transferred to the dung-hill", and Interestingly it was only a few many of which today include celebrate the happiest birthday in the 13th century the City of decades later that the idea of brewing? the world has ever known, and Augsburg decreed, "The selling of incorporation was put into effect It is comforting to think that in one which it desperately needs to bad beer is a crime against Chris- to advance the cause of English today's world of the impersonal be reminded of, that we should tian love". calculus of markets and market remember the words of GK share, of mass consumerism, Chesterton - "Drink because you mass marketing and planned are happy, but never because you obsolescence where people's are miserable". humanity is reduced to the cateAnd among family and friends gory of consumers, the flame of let those who raise a glass of their independence still burns in the own home made amber, rememheart of the humble home-brew- ber the words of St Columbanus er. in 612 AD, "It is my design to die Not for them the mass-pro- in the brew-house; let ale be duced, homogenised, pasteurised placed to my mouth when I am bland hop water made for the expiring, that when the choirs of desensitised tastes of the masses. angels come, they may say, "God Many of them would be surprised be propitious to this drinker".
Away in a manger... I
ieederville Parish's baby boom in the last few months created a good supply of real babies to play Jesus in the manger of their Nativity setting. Four babies will have the opportunity to play baby Jesus over the four Masses being held during the Christmas Celebrations. Matthew Guy, born on October 12, the third child of Cathy and James, was chosen as baby Jesus for the Children's Mass held at 7pm Christmas Eve. He is pictured here in the manger setting, with Joseph and Mary looking on. Matthew also received a special T-shirt saying that he had played baby Jesus at the Church. Similar shirts were also presented to each of the other babies. Matthew Guy has a trial run at being Baby Jesus at Leederville Parish
Three different varieftes of the Chimay brews.
THE RECORD
28 NOVEMBER 2002
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Carlisle parishioners showing Christmas concern for children worldwide Message A group of generous and committed people from the Holy Name parish in Carlisle is exemplifying the Christmas spirit of compassion for, and solidarity with, suffering children throughout the world. Co-ordinated by Lorna O'Brien, the group of about 80 parishioners regularly contributes to the Children's Mission Partners program. The group used to sponsor a number of children through a non-Catholic organisation, however upon hearing a mission speaker mention Catholic Mission's Children's Mission Partners initiative, which flows from the 158 year tradition of the Catholic Church providing direct assistance to children, it decided to add its weight to the cause. Harking back to the original model from which Catholic Mission originated. Lorna facilitates the collection of the money from a circle of concerned and committed friends each month; since
of Thanks..
Holy Name Parish Children's Mission partners Co-ordinator Lorna O'Brien December 1998, a staggering
$19,125 has been raised by the Holy Name group. This money contributes to projects for children, such as providing food and clothing, and the building of orphanages, childcare centres and schools, in over 180
the world. Michelle Jones has recently been appointed the co-ordinator of the Children's Mission Partners program in the Archdiocese of Perth. If you would like more information about the program, call her on 9325 5264. countries around
Thank you for your generosity And your prayers throughout the year For such support sustains and strengthens Christ's presence in the lives of many The missionaries and those they serve Throughout our troubled world Especially on Christmas Day. Thank you for your voice Your prayers and participation Nearly 300,000 of us Asking our national leaders To Remember the Children Do more for poverty Less for war Especially on Christmas Day
May your Christmas be
Peace-filled and Holy A Christmas that heals the brokenness Around and within A Christmas that gives us hope For a more tolerant and compassionate world. And on this page we have some stories That need your prayers and affirmation Especially on Christmas Day. Francis Leong Catholic Mission Office
Emmanuel brings hope to Afghan children in WA.
Mission experience kindles compassion and concern 'The people we met had only one goal in life. Freedom. It was so sad to leave them. Now we know them I think of them every day living without freedom. We have so many goals. They only have one.' Thus reflects year eleven Newman College student Lauren Lenz about the people in the Detention Centre in Port Hedland. Lauren, along with fellow Newman College students Amy Hutchinson, Daniel Boland, Rachel Lang, Vincent Holland, and Mark Palmer, and the school's
Faith and Ministry Co-ordinator, Stewart Palmer, have recently returned from a 10 day mission placement in Port Hedland. As well as spending time listening to the stories of asylum seekers from Iran, Afghanistan and Sri Lanka within the Detention Centre, the Newman College missionaries had the opportunity to visit St Cecilia's Primary School and to meet with children from the Centre who were attending the school. The shocking encounter with the dehumanis-
Newman college students gain Missionary experience in Port Hedland.
ing conditions in which those seeking asylum in Australia live has kindled within the team members a conviction that these conditions must change, and a passion to share their experience with others. While in Port Hedland, the Newman group were invited to meet some of the local indigenous elders and to hear first-hand Yr 10 student Emma Guliker shares the Christmas spirit with Afghan children. accounts of the stolen generation The students experienced the As part of their Christmas Misexperience. with the Afghani chilnteraction i through coordinated Project, sion They were also introduced to members of a special indigenous the Perth Catholic Mission Office, dren as not only enjoyable and academic group that is expected year 9 and 10 students from fun, but also a powerful means of to be a role model for those in Emmanuel Catholic College raising their awareness of the indigenous communities who wrote cards and letters of hope plight of refugees. Year ten student Natasha Harpaspire to tertiary study. These and welcome to asylum-seeking encounters with Aboriginal peo- children in the Detention Centre er commented that she couldn't 'believe that doing something so ple led Daniel Boland to comment at Port Hedland. They also bought presents for small and simple would bring so that the 'suffering of indigenous some Afghan children living in much joy to the little children who people goes unnoticed.' Since their return to Perth, the Perth who are on Temporary Pro- had so often missed out on the students have shared their expe- tection Visas and have little hope joys of life that we tend to take for rience with the Newman Col- of staying in Australia. Eleven of granted.' Classmate Samantha McFadyen lege's year ten class, and already the students joined the Mt Pleasthat the exercise 'helped us added to outreach Church's Uniting ant have students these of some expressed interest in pursuing a Afghani women and children for to understand the life the refugee children have.' similar mission placement next their Christmas celebration. Reflecting on the day, Michael Here, they had the opportunity year. This year's participants are to present the Afghani children Radonich, also from the year ten available to share their story with with their gifts, and also to spend class, concluded that 'it was a real groups in the wider cormnunity. time playing with the children, privilege to be able to help the Please contact the Catholic Mis- and assisting them with their craft children and give them Christmas activities. sion Office for more details.
Surprised by the Holy Spirit This new chapter in Louise's If you had told Perth woman life is something of a culminaLouise Monteiro last Christmas tion of the various missionary that she would be spending this activities with which she has Christmas in the mission fields been previously involved. As a of Roebourne she definitely 19 year old primary school wouldn't have believed you! teacher in Goa, Louise was Louise's presence amongst Roestruck by the needs of the chilbourne's indigenous families dren in her area and responded this festive season shows that by requesting local businesses surprising things can happen to donate money for the chilwhen you are open to the Holy Louise Monteiro dren's books and clothes. In Spirit. During this year's Catholic Mission more recent times, Louise, together with Fr appeal at the Holy Name parish in Carlisle, Giulio Ghezzi, has initiated a ministry to Louise began to realise that her personal the dying at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital. Louise began her six week mission placeinvolvement in mission meant more than putting money in the appeal envelope. ment in Roebourne in mid-November. Though in retirement, Louise felt prompt- Since her arrival, she has been working ed to explore the possibility of mission alongside the Daughters of Charity in their work Initially drawn by the idea of over- Pastoral Work If you would like to know more about seas missionary activities, Louise was soon compelled by the needs within Western short-term mission placements, feel free to Australia, and through the Catholic Mis- contact Francis Leong at the Catholic Mission Office was linked up with the Daugh- sion Office to confidentially discuss the possibilities. ters of Charity in Roebourne.
want to share the compassionWin a Mission pack! Aate They love of God with other people. Want to win lots of cool mission stuff, including posters, tattoos, and a CD? Have a go at our mission quiz that is for schoolaged children, and the compassionate child in each of us! The first 20 correct entries will receive a mission pack in the mail. What a great Christmas present!! Write the correct answers on the back of an envelope, along with your name and address, and send it to: Catholic Mission Perth, 23 Victoria Square, Perth WA 6000. 1. Christmas reminds us about mission because: A We might get the Mission: Impossible DVD as a present. B Christmas reminds us that we should love and care for each other, all year round. C It can be a tough mission to eat all of the Christmas dinner. 2. Missionaries decide to do mission work because:
B They get paid well. C They enjoy the risk of contracting a serious disease. 3. A missionary is an adult who travels overseas to a faraway land to do strange and dangerous work A True because only adults can do missionary work B False, because missionary work can also be done in our own communities, by people of all ages. 4. The number of children who die each year from easily preventable causes is: A 98,200 B 320,000 C 10 million 5. A missionary concern in Australia is:
A Children are suffering in Detention Centres. B Building relationships between our different cultures. C The youth suicide rate. D All of the above.
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THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
Five new priests ordained for Perth An international flavour predominates as five young men from different countries are ordained for the archdiocese
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'ye priests were ordained by Archbishop Barry Hickey in St Mary's Cathedral last Friday night, December 13. Another priest was ordained by Bishop Gerard Holohan in St Patrick's Cathedral in Bunbury on Monday, December 15. The ordinations on Friday night mean that 35 priests have been ordained in the Perth Archdiocese in the last five years. The five priests are Fr Sagayaraj Arokiyadoss, who came from India, Fr Benedict Lee, from Korea, Fr Abraham Martin, from Spain, Fr Corran Pike, born in Western Australia, and Fr Dat Vuong, originally from Vietnam, but a West Australian for the last 18 years. Ordained in Bunbury was Fr Gayan Thamel, from Sri Lanka. Archbishop Hickey was supported by Bishops Don Sproxton, Gerard Holohan, and Peter Quinn, and more than 100 priests at Friday night's ceremony before a packed crowd in St Mary's Cathedral. The five ordained were formally presented by the Rector of St Charles's Seminary, Mgr Tim Corcoran, and the Rector of Redemptolls Mater Seminary Fr Micheal Moore, accepted by Archbishop Hickey, and received with applause by the congregation. Archbishop Hickey told the men that acceptance by the people was Important because they were ordained not for themselves but for the service of the people. It was a temptation for newly ordained priests to see themselves as someone special, perhaps better than others. "Our calling from God is not because of our worthiness," he said. "It is because of our unworthiness, and our willingness to come forward in all our weakness to serve God and His Church. "Ordination to the priesthood is a call to serve, a call to lead, a call to live up to the expectations of Him who calls you." Drawing from Pope John Paul ll's recent letter to priests, the Archbishop offered them five guiding principles for their life as priests: • Total self-giving in the service of the Church and its people. • Make the Blessed Eucharist in the Mass and in the tabernacle the centre of the life of your community. • Preach the good news with zeal and let the Holy Spirit touch the hearts of your hearers. • Work and pray for vocations. • Especially for young priests starting out, always be men of
Benedict Lee, left, Abraham Martin and Corran Pike prostrate themselves in the sanctuary of St Mary's Cathedral last Friday as the ancient Litany of the Saints is chanted by the congregation. Sagayaraj Arokiyadoss and Dat Vuong are out of sight on the other side of Archbishop Hickey and acolytes.
prayer because with prayer you can do anything. Referring to St Mark's Gospel read earlier in the ceremony with Its instruction to those chosen and sent forth that they would be able to pick up snakes in their hands and be unharmed if they drink poison, Archbishop Hickey said they would encounter many poisonous situations with the potential to harm them. "Jesus says to go into those threatening situations for His sake and they will not harm you," he explained. "Go out and preach the good news to a world badly in need of it," he concluded. Following the examination of the candidates and their promise of obedience to the Archbishop and his successors, the five men prostrated themselves on the sanctuary floor while Fr Timothy Deeter Intoned the Litany of Saints, Including among the great names of the Church's history the Martyrs of Korea, the Martyrs of Vietnam and Australia's Blessed Mary McKillop. The Archbishop then performed the central act of ordination, the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration.
The choir sang the Von!, Creator Spiritus in Latin and English as the assembled bishops and priests filed past, praying over each of the newly ordained priests individually. The priests were then vested in their priestly stole and chasuble after which the Archbishop anointed their hands with chrism. Family and friends then came forward with the Offertory gifts and gifts of patens and chalices which the Archbishop presented to each of the new priests. He then bestowed the kiss of peace and the ordination Mass proceeded with the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
from Korea to join family members already in Australia. Included in the Korean party were three priests who were Fr Benedict's classmates when he began his seminary studies in Korea. Fr John Yoon is serving in Korea, Fr Francis Xavier works among the Korean people in Sin-
gapore, and Fr ignatio serves the Korean community in Melbourne. Visa difficulties prevented Fr Arokiyadoss's family traveling from India. Photographs from the ordination ceremony will appear in next week's Record.
International Guests The very catholic nature of the ordinations was highlighted by the large number of international guests who made the long journey to Perth for the occasion. There were 22 people from Spain, including Fr Martin's parents, his six brothers and three sisters. Although few spoke English, they made their presence felt at the reception after Mass with joyous singing and guitar music. Fr Benedict Lee's parents and eight other relatives came out
UN bans aid organisation from Timor Continued from page 9 means of transporting mothers with obstetrical emergencies to the district hospital; and by providing a maternal blood transfusion service. "We believe that this model can be used in any developing country. We have been asked to consider developing these programs In Sierra Leone and East Timor. "A basic research program is under way to evaluate an oral, effective and inexpensive method of managing postpartum hemorrhage, one of the main causes of maternal mortality. If these studies prove successful, the final
objective is to develop protocols for the use of misoprostol by traditional birth attendants, who do most of the deliveries in lifethreatening situations, when medical help is not available. We think it could be a major breakthrough in preventing maternal deaths. "A West African Regional Birth Trauma Centre is being developed in the Archdiocese of Cape Coast, Ghana, which will provide treatment and rehabilitation programs for mothers with obstetric fistula, and will have a special interest in training doctors and nurses in their surgery.
There is no international organisation that provides emergency care for refugee mothers. Modecins sans Frontieres does excellent work in front-line areas, as does the International Red Cross. We believe that there is a place for such an organization as ours, since half of all refugees are mothers, most are young and it is fairly easy to calculate the numbers who are pregnant and who face possible pregnancy complications in addition to bombs, guns or natural disasters. MCI is trying to develop itself to fill a vacuum.
The five new priests pray after the celebration of their ordination Mass.
THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
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The power Precious memories of love C A Christmas message from BishopDonald Sproxton
A Christmas message from Bishop Justin Bianchini
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ecently I read about the siege at the Church of the Nativity, the place of Jesus' birth in Bethlehem. On April 2, 2002, some 200 Palestinians made a forced entry Into the Church. They were by no means encouraged to set up camp in the nave of the Church. Once they were though, the Franciscans fed, tended the wounded, and during the 39 day-siege, removed from the Church two of the dead bodies of the Palestinians. The Friars at the same time kept in contact with the Israelis. They were free to come and go Inside the compound and if they so wished, go to Jerusalem. Although the media Bishop Justin Bianchini did not communicate it, the Friars were mediators, trying to because it reminded him that construct a bridge of under- "only Christian love can neither hearts; standing between the two change sides. The Friars loved both weapons, nor threats nor the groups equally and came to the media can do so". Jesus at Bethlehem gives the help of those who were in fact lead. These disciples of Jesus in captivity. How fitting was the role of the that Ihave mentioned have folFriars in the birthplace of Jesus. lowed. As you read this, many wars They, like him, were as defenceless as an infant. They are taking place across the had no weapons but they had globe with much violence. Terrorism is gaining momentum. the power of love. This is the reason why they September 11, 2001, in New are still in the Holy Land and York and Washington, and are the guardians of the Chris- October 12, 2002, in Bali, show tian Holy Places. They remain the ugly and destructive face of as they were 500 years ago terrorism. Where there is conflict and when they came to the Holy quite often there is violence, by Land. They were accepted the Muslims at the time, attack, counter-attack and so because they were not "men of on. When this happens many the sword" but "men of the innocent lives are lost and cord". They espoused Jesus' much pain and suffering caused - with no solution. approach of non-violence. On the individual level, vioThis little infant is God enfleshed. As God he has all lence is growing, both locally power and yet has become and worldwide. As the beautiful feast of powerless. At Bethlehem he strikingly demonstrates that he Christmas returns, as disciples Is not the "lover of power" but of Jesus, let us be more committed in our own lives to nonthe "power of love". violence and the "power of love Cardinal 16, On September Francis Xavier Nguyen Van - the power of Jesus' love". It's Thuan, head of the Pontifical the only way. As we pray for one another Council for Justice and Peace Christmas and each day, this in Rome, died. In Vietnam as a Bishop he was arrested in let us keep praying that the 1975 and imprisoned without power of God's love will touch all hearts and that this love will trial for 13 years. In prison he made a small prevail. I pray for and wish each and cross of wood and wire. Cardinal Thuan wore the cross every one of you a very happy every day for the rest of his life Christmas.
"THE POWER" OF LOVE Watch out for next week's
SPECIAL ISSUE!
Get in early for The Record's 4-page liftout on Mother Teresa
luistmas conjures up all sorts of memories of people and events. One which is very precious to me concerns the Christmas Eve Mass two years ago that Bishop Healy celebrated for the parish of St Gerard's, Mirrabooka, while I was parish priest. The Bishop had received news that his retirement from Office was accepted by the Holy Father. He came to open and bless extensions to Majella School and before he left that morning, he asked if he could come to celebrate the Children's Mass on Christmas Eve. We were all delighted. Christmas evening was quite mild and a very large number of families came to the school's new undercover area. He also had brought some family members along who were visiting from overseas. Bishop Healy was relaxed and obviously enjoyed celebrating with the young families. Bishop Healy spoke directly to the children in a grandfatherly way. The Bishop's visit to us that night will remain one of the lovely memories which showed his warmth and special affection for our young people. Young people are often criticised today for not getting involved in the life of the parish. This is not always the case. I
experienced what can be achieved when young people are given a place in our parish communities. At Silver Jubilee celebrations in which Father Tony Pires and I concelebrated Mass in the parish of Armadale,I was privileged to hear a youth choir give beauty and meaning to our Liturgy. After the Mass we gathered with the parish community for a wonderful party. There were sincere expressions of gratitude for Fr Tony's dedication to the parishioners and his ability to work with all the different communities, especially the young. In his homily at the Mass, Fr Tony reflected on the many pressures the family must face today and how he often marvels at the strength and courage, faith and hope he sees in married couples. As well as this he highlighted the suspicions deepening between nations and the real threat of war. The Bali bombings and the "war on terrorism" have brought international concerns to our doorstep. The horror of the Bali bombing and killings associated with racial and religious conflict in many other places are most vivid to us in Australia. Christmas comes at the end of the year to proclaim new hope and offer our world a way to peace.
Bishop Sproxton
Amid the strife and division, the greed and hatred once more comes the Church's proclamation of God's love for us and His belief in us. God reckons that He can work with us to bring true peace on earth. He continues to give the signs of His goodness and His grace in the lives of people who live in this time of uncertahity. I believe Christmas is about the new beginning and new life God constantly offers. It's about hope. I pray that the Proclamation of Hope will be listened to by each of us and that we will shine like bright stars in the darkness by giving witness to Christ and the Gospel.
Oh come all ye.
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A Christmas message from Bishop Christopher Saunders 0 COME ALL YE FAITHFUL 0 COME LET US ADORE HIM CHRIST THE LORD o you remember John Lennon's song - So, this is Christmas? And what have we done? This joyful season is threatening to overwhelm us once again. The invitations, the lists of guests, the parties, the late nights. The angel said to Joseph: "She has conceived by the Holy Spirit and now she will bear a son. You shall call him Jesus for he will save his people from their sins." The tinsel, the lights, the crass decorations. Then Mary said: "I Arn the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you said." The puddings, the presents, the turkeys, the hot stove and the bon-bons. They were in Bethlehem when the time came for her to have a child and she gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She laid Him in the manger because there was no room for them at the Inn. The cocktails, the farewells, the speeches, the holiday preparations. Today a Saviour has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. The hamper, the stockings, the endless cards, and the ominous sound of busy cash registers. The shepherds came hurriedly and found Mary and Joseph
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with the baby lying in the manger. They gave glory and praise to God for all they had heard and seen just as the angels had told them. (Luke Ch.2). Christmas for some this year will be difficult; the loved ones who have died, the children no longer at home, the friends who have passed away. For others it might well be a nasty experience of arguments, fights and the traumas of self-indulgence. Christmas can be an exercise that plunges us into poverty: living beyond our means, encourBishop Christopher Saunders aging us to spend foolishly, Christmas beckons to be a striving for a satisfaction that is time of boundless generosity unattainable. Christmas can be very differ- and sharing; for the sake of the ent. It is after all a very special family, the neighbourhood, the moment in an otherwise busy community and the life that we and distracting life. Ills a mar- are called to celebrate together. May all of us be committed to vellous invitation to contemchance we have to put back the living of values plate the higher an authentic human existence. into Christmas some of the holiIt is a graphic demonstration ness and grace that defined the of the love that God has for us - very first Christmas. It was such a simple scene, cast such a love that he sent into the misfortune turned glorious n i the Christ, the son, his world one who is to give meaning to by the eyes of faith and the love our travail, the one who guides of the moment. Oh Come Let us adore him. us continually through the territhe Lord. Christ life. of ble disappointments Iwish you and your family and Christmas promises to be full of pleasant surprises; presents our community God's choicest that last a life-time, a veritable blessings this Christmas. May feast of joy that can give us a the peace and happiness of this taste of the banquet of heaven event fill our lives with faithful purpose. yet to come.
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THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
There is another way. A Christmas message from Bishop Holohan
Deportation is recalled GLASGOW, (Zenit.).- Glasgow Archbishop Mario Conti has compared attacks on the Catholic school system to the racist and anti-Catholic campaigns to deport the Irish from Scotland in the 1920s. In an article in the Herald newspaper. Archbishop Conti defended the Church's record on ecumenical dialogue and the promotion of religious harmony, and criticised "those liberals who ... purport to provide a place for everyone, and then refuse to some their legitimate aspirations to do things in their own way.' Archbishop Conti went on to say that 'to seek a solution in the abolition or amalgamation of Catholic schools is tantamount to asking for the repatriation of the Irish, and just as offensive.' He asked if 'the Catholic community [has] a place, its place, in today's Scotland.' Critics who blame Catholic schools for fostering Scotland's sectarian violence have focused on recent remarks by Motherwell Bishop Joseph Devine that 'Roman Catholic schooling is divisive,' but that 'sometimes it's a price worth paying.' 'The Catholic community believes that with denominational schooling comes the creation of a common set of values -- a coherent system that has the academic curriculum and moral and spiritual life in tandem,' Bishop Devine went on to say, according to a BBC report.
Children die of cold VATICAN CITY, DEC. 15, 2002 (Zenit.org).- At least 40 chil-
dren have died of the cold weather in refugee camps near the Afghan-Pakistani border, reports L'Osservatore Romano. Quoting humanitarian sources, the semiofficial Vatican newspaper today reported on conditions at the camps near Spin Boldak, seven kilometers from the Afghan border. 'The dramatic conditions of life in these places have now been made unbearable because of an exceptional cold wave,' the newspaper said. Temperatures have fallen to 15 C (5 F), it added.
Unbelievers LONDON, (Zenit).- Almost half of Britain's 12-year-olds are so ignorant of Christian teaching that they don't know Easter celebrates Jesus' resurrection, a new survey says. The survey of more than 500 school pupils also found that some youngsters believed that Jesus was the son of Joseph, not God. Six percent did not believe that Jesus had ever existed, the Telegraph reported today.
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or Christians, Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as a human person. They remember that Jesus came to bring peace on earth! The tragedy of the Bali bombing, the threat of wars and growing conflict in marriages and families all cause us to wonder 'Where is this peace?' Growth in drugs, alcohol and suicide makes us ask 'Why do so many lack inner peace?' Many today forget the teaching of Jesus is that the only path to true peace is the path to God. Peace grows within people as they follow this path. There can be no Christmas peace without God. And as peace grows within people, peace grows also between people. Sociology teaches us that there has been a severe decline in religious interest and practice in Australia over the past 40 years.
The suggested causes of this, ways that is leading to so many read in the light of the Gospel, of the problems people stem from the adoption of mate- encounter today. rialistic values and ambitions. Growing conflict and turmoil The decline in religious prac- in an age of declining interest in tice has been accompanied by Christianity can hardly be surother declines. As well as from prising, therefore, to anyone declines in marriage and family who recalls the original meanlife, there have been declines in ing of Christmas. For those who respect for the human person, are troubled, Christmas is a people giving of their time and reminder that there is another skills to voluntary organisations way. (including Church organisaAs we gather in our families tions) business ethics, the notion and with friends this Christmas, of social responsibility (particu- let us remind those who may be larly for banks and big business) troubled of the declines that and general psychological grow with religious decline. For health and Wellbeing. Violence, troubled people to suggest that home break-ins, homelessness Christian faith is irrelevant is like and seriously confused people a bulimic person rejecting food. are on the increase. Helping people see the link These problems are inevitable between religion and life is a when people turn from the path fundamental element in proto God and the revealed truths claiming the Gospel. It certainly Christ gave us. God's ways are Is an essential element for pronot our ways, and it is the turn- claiming the Gospel to those ing from God's ways to human who have given up the practice
Bishop Holohan
of their faith. May this Christmas be a time for renewed efforts to remind others that Jesus came to reveal the only way to true peace. And may this Christmas also be a time of peace and love for all.
Cardinal Law steps down at Vatican meeting By John Norton, Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Following a yearlong scandal over the
handling of priestly misconduct cases in the Archdiocese of Boston, Pope John Paul II accepted the resignation of Cardinal Bernard Law and named a temporary administrator to head the archdiocese. In a brief December 13 statement, the Vatican said the Pope accepted the resignation of Cardinal Law, Boston's archbishop since 1984, under a church law provision for 'illness or other serious reason.' It said the Pope appointed Boston's Auxiliary Bishop, Richard Lennon, 55, to serve as the archdiocese's apostolic administrator, or interim leader. Bishop Lennon served two years as rector of the archdiocese's seminary until being made auxiliary bishop last year. Cardinal Bernard F. Law meets with Pope John Paul II In a statement released by the archbishop of Boston was announced at the Vatican. Dec. 13. Less than an hour after they met his resignation as Photo CNS/Catholic Press Photo Vatican, Cardinal Law, 71, said he was 'profoundly grateful' to the In 1991, a Canadian archbishop pope for accepting his resigna- Castrillon Hoyos, prefect of the under Chapter 11 of the Federal tion, which he said he hoped Congregation for Clergy, and Car- Bankruptcy Code because of the resigned after he was accused of would help the archdiocese dinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect financial burden of 450 pending covering up priestly sexual abuse 'experience the healing, reconcil- of the Congregation for Bishops. lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of and doing little to help victims. Dioceses must seek authorisa- minors by Boston priests. American Vatican officials in iation and unity which are so destion from the clergy congregation It was also unclear what public Rome contacted by Catholic perately needed.' 'To all those who have suffered for any major financial decisions, role, if any, Cardinal Law would News Service declined to comcontinue to play in the Church. ment on Cardinal Law's resignafrom my shortcomings and mis- Including bankruptcy filings. The bishops' congregation is As a cardinal, he retains his right tion. takes, I both apologise and from responsible for preparing episco- to vote in a papal conclave until Jesuit Father Thomas Reese, edithem, beg forgiveness,' he said. tor of America magazine in New 'The particular circumstances of pal appointments and resigna- he turns 80 in November 2011. A Vatican press official said the York, said the cardinal's resignathis time suggest a quiet depar- tions for the Pope. The cardinal's trip to Rome had cardinal also would remain a tion shows that the Church recogture. "Please keep me in your coincided with growing anger member of the various Vatican nises 'that it can never go back to among sex abuse victims' groups congregations and commissions business as usual and simply prayers,' he added. move an abusive priest from one Cardinal Law's resignation was In early December over newly on which he serves. Born in Mexico and ordained in parish to another.' announced less than an hour after released archdiocesan files that He said Cardinal Law's handling he met privately with the Pope at showed some accused priests had 1961 for the Diocese of Jackson, the end of a weeklong unan- received or retained assignments Missisippi, Cardinal Law served of the sex abuse crisis was 'unusudespite recommendations against 11 years as bishop of Springfield- ally bad' because it continued nounced visit to the Vatican. Cape Girardeau, Mo., before after the US bishops established The cardinal was in Rome for them. About 60 of the archdiocese's being named archbishop of national sex abuse guidelines in consultations amid further disclo1993. sures of cases of priestly miscon- 900 priests also signed a petition Boston in January 1984. He was made a cardinal by the "If he had followed these guideduct in Boston and the spectre of calling on the cardinal to resign. The Vatican's statement did not Pope in 1985. lines like most bishops did, he a potential archdiocesan bankmention the question of a potenCardinal Law's resignation would not be in the trouble he is ruptcy filing. The Pope was 'deeply sad- tial bankruptcy filing for the arch- makes him the first US prelate to today. step down over the handling of "His resignation will allow dened' by the resignation, a Vati- diocese. In early December, the archdio- priestly sex abuse cases, although someone new to clean up the can press official said. In addition to the Pope, Vatican cese's finance council voted to several other US bishops have problem without the baggage of officials said the cardinal also met allow Cardinal Law to pursue resigned amid allegations that having been responsible for creating it,' Father Reese said. separately with Cardinal Dario reorganizing the archdiocese they committed abuse.
THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
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official diary DECEMBER 21
Mass to celebrate 40 years of Ordination to Priesthood of Mgr Michael Keating, Bateman - Archbishop Hickey Christmas Party for the Shopfront, Maylands Archbishop Hickey
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Mass to celebrate 25 years of Ordination to Priesthood, Mirrabooka - Bishop Sproxton
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Midnight Mass of Christmas, St Mary's Cathedral Archbishop Hickey Vigil Mass of Christmas, Lockridge - Bishop Sproxton
25
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Solemn Sung Mass of Christmas, 10 am, St Mary's Cathedral Archbishop Hickey Mass to celebrate Fest of the Holy Family, All Saints' Chapel Archbishop Hickey
The Catholic Church Office will close at 10.30 am on Tuesday 24 December and re-open on Monday 30 December at 9.00 am Anyone needing to speak to a priest urgently during this time can contact the Ccathedral Presbytery in person or by phoning 9223 1350
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2. Christ's self -revelation at the marriage at Cana A ere Jesus changed I water into wine thanks
as teacher with her ,,stnie • Son to at of us "Do whatevef he tells you-, an instruci which echoes her acceptance of God, it done unto me ac your word". The mysteni • demonstrates that He turn our water into wine -
Prayers of the Rosary, including reflections on each of the new Mysteries of Light. Cost: $1 each for a full-colour, handy purse or missal-sized card.
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Stargazing
with Dr Moonunit Vacanstare PhD (Oxen) Dip. Fencing, a community outreach initiative operating under an Arts Council grant and in accordance with consultatively-developed principals of correct behaviour and thinking. All the star signs It is the time to follow the star that brought the wise men to Bethlehem. May you find the Christchild in the crib and adore Him. And say a prayer to Mary that she w ill' ask her son for favours on your behalf. Have a happy and joyful Christmas, and may you be guided by that special star.
of events panorama a inroundup the archdiocese Sunday 22 December CHRISTMAS ON AIR! Was that child born in Bethlehem truly God incarnate? Does it make sense to believe such a story? Why do we celebrate Christmas anyway? This Sunday switch on to 'The Laymans' Hour' with Raymond and Theresa de Souza and find out why it makes sense to be a Christian and celebrate the birth of Christ. Radio Fremantle (107.9 FM) at 7.30pm - ring 9494 2100 to ask a question or make a comment. 28th December REUNION OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH MISSION AND MINISTRY TEAM (1990-1995) We'd like to say G'day, have a drink and catch up with past members of the "Team". A casual get together has been organised at the Como Hotel (241 Canning Hwy. Como) from 2pm, Saturday the 28th Dec. You are welcome to bring your spouse boy girlfriend and kids if you want. Phone Dirk 0403 346 403 or Jenni 0438 447100. Sunday December 29 CHINESE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY ONE DAY SEMINAR A one day seminar is conducted by Fr Dominic Lee (San Francisco) and Fr Kwok Hung Lee (HK) in Cantonese at the Mary MacKillop Centre, 16 York Street, South Perth, between 9 and 3 pm. Info: Sr Margaret Ng 9477 4192, Augustine Lai: 9310 4532. Mass for the Feast of the Holy Family will be celebrated at Holy Family Church (Como) 4pm. Tuesday December 31 BULLSBROOK CELEBRATION The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God will be celebrated on New Year's Eve at the Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation, 36 Chittering Road, Bullsbrook. The evening commences at 11.30pm with a candlelight procession with the Holy Rosary recited for world peace, followed by Holy Mass at Midnight.This also is the World Day of Peace as proclaimed by the 1-.1o1V Father. Eng: SACRI 9447 3292. Tuesday December 31 NEW YEAR'S VIGIL AND MIDNIGHT MASS Principal Celebrant; Archbishop Hickey. St Mary's Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth. Begins at 11pm with Rosary (confessions), Midnight Mass and prayer of dedication of the New Millenium to the protection of Mary, followed by Exposition. Prayers, Benediction till 7am Holy Mass. Tea coffee provided, parking in Cathedral grounds. Friday January 3 ALLIANCE AND TRIUMPH OF THE TWO HEARTS ALL NIGHT EUCHARISTIC ADORATION First Fri-Sat devotions and reparation to the Sacred
Sunday January 5 DIVINE MERCY An afternoon with Jesus and Mary at St Mary's Cathedral, Victoria Square, Perth at 1.30pm. Holy Rosary and Reconciliation, Sermon: The Epiphany with Fr Jordan Percy OP followed by Divine Mercy Prayers and Benediction. Eng: John 9457 7771, Linda: 9275 6608. Thursday January 23 FAREWELL TO FR JOHN O'REILLY At the end of January, 2003, Father John O'Reilly will retire as parish Priest of St Benedict's parish, Applecross. Parishioners, past parishioners and friends of Father O'Reilly are invited to gather on the school lawn to farewell him in a memorable manner from 6 - 9pm on Thursday. BYO food, drinks and seating. Barbecues will be provided. DIVINE MERCY HOLY HOUR All parishioners are invited to a Holy Hour of Adoration on each Saturday of the month (except the 1st Saturday) from 2.30 to 3.30pm at St Francis Xavier's Church, 25 Windsor Street. On the 2nd Saturday there is Anointing of the sick, celebrant Fr Marcellinus Meilak OFM. Afternoon concludes with refreshments, please bring a plate to share. (Also at Sts. John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Road, off South St, Willetton from 11am to 12 noon every Wednesday). Ing John, Ph: 9457 7771 t e ,
a ma as a s s the food which God nourishes creation This symbol became reality in the Eucharist which is now known as the source and the Stimr,it nt the spin
ç
ith the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty of the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love Pope John Paul II, Rossrfum Virginia Marine On the most Holy Rosary October 2002
Saturday January 4 WITNESS FOR LIFE PROCESSION The first Saturday Mass procession and Rosary Vigil will be held on Saturday commencing at 8.30 with Mass celebrated at St Anne's Church, Hehir St. Belmont. We proceed prayerfully to the Rivervale Abortion Centre and conclude with Rosary led by Fr Paul Carey SSC. Please join us to pray for the conversion of hearts. Ing: Helen 9402 0349.
5 The irstitutiOn Eucha,st
which is infinitely wiser, deeper, and more futfiling than the various philosophies and psychologies offered by anyone else.
and Jesus really was. strengthened them for what was to come, and foreshadowed the transfiguration of their . lives and ours both ii this life and the next if we allow the Spirit to dwell in us During the Transfiguration the Father again was heard and this time. in a sense, echoed the words of Mary at Cana when she told the Apostles listen to him",
Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary will be held at Our Lady of Mercy Church, Girrawheen on Friday. Confessions from 8.15pm. Holy Mass at 9pm includes anointing of the sick followed by candlelight rosary and eucharistic procession. Vigil concludes on Saturday morning with Mass at 7.10am. Celebrants: Fr Doug Harris and Bishop Don Sproxton. Eng: 9342 5845 Friday January 3 PRO LIFE PROCESSION - MIDLAND The first Friday Mass procession and Rosary Vigil will be held on Friday commencing at 9.30am with Mass celebrated at St Brigid's Chruch, Midland.The Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate will lead us. All are invited to witness for the sancitity of life and pray for the conversion of hearts.
ant sacramental expression of the Pas, the saving power of Jesus death an, brought about for us and in us
g gT
he Rosary, reclaimed in its full meaning,
goes to the very heart of Christian fife, it offers a familiar yet fruitful spiritual and educational opportunity for personal contemplation. the formation of the People of God, and the new evangelisation.' - Pope John Paul II Rossnum Virginia Manse
incorporatingW new
Mysteries of Light
22 19 DECEMBER 2002
We all know that we celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas time. Here we look at some less obvious things you might not know about Christmas. Why do people give each other presents on Christmas day? The tradition of gifts seems to have started with the gifts that the wise men (the Magi) brought to Jesus. As recounted in the Gospel of Matthew, "On coming to the house they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." However, no one was really in the habit of exchanging elaborate gifts until late in the 1800s. The Santa Claus story, combined with an amazing retailing phenomenon that flourished throughout the 20th century, has made gift giving a central focus of the Christmas tradition. Is December 25 really the day Jesus was born? No one really knows. What is known is that Christian leaders in 336 A.D. set the date of December 25 in an attempt to eclipse a popular pagan holiday in Rome (Saturnalia) that celebrated the winter solstice. Originally, the celebration of Christmas involved a simple Mass, but over time Christmas has replaced a number of other holidays in many other countries, and a large number of traditions have been absorbed into the celebration in the process.
THE RECORD
Where does the tradition of the Christmas tree come from? This is a German tradition, started as early as 700 A.D. In the 1800s the tradition of a Christmas tree was widespread in Germany, then moved to England and then to America through Pennsylvanian German immigrants. Why do people give each other Christmas cards? Christmas cards started in London in 1843 and in America in 1846. Today. about two billion Christmas cards are exchanged every year in the United States. Where does the story of Rudolf come from? ...who guides Santa's sleigh with the biological aberration of a red, glowing nose capable of penetrating thick fog? The story of Rudolf appeared in 1939. Santas at Montgomery Ward stores gave away 2.4 million copies of a booklet entitled 'Rudolf the Red-Nose Reindeer.' The story was written by a person in the advertising department named Robert May, and the booklet was illustrated by Denver Gillen. The original name of the reindeer was not Rudolf, according to the book 'Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things,' by Charles Panati. The original name was Rollo, but executives did not like that name, nor Reginald. The name Rudolf came from the author's young daughter! In 1949, Gene Autry sang a musical version of the poem and it was a runaway best-seller. The Rudolf song is second only to 'White Christmas' in popularity.
Christmas Crossword Make al l the words fit into this crossword. Each word is only used once.
JOY LORD MARY JESUS KINGS GLORY PEACE JOSEPH ANGELS CHRIST MANGER SAVIOUR SHEPHERDS BETHLEHEM
This page desperately needs some colour, so make sure you use some bright Christmas colours.
THE RECORD
19 DECEMBER 2002
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CkisImas rAnyels by P.Z. Mann The Whittles lived in Huinbleburg, As poor as poor can be, But all their neighbours loved them, For their generosity. For though the Whittles' shelves were bare, Their cottage tumbledown, When Christmas came they made a toy, For every child in town. One Christmas Eve they climbed in bed, After all the toys were made; And while they dreamed of better times, The Whittles were repaid. That night three Christmas angels came, lb give them a reward — For heaven won't let any act Of kindness be ignored. One angel searched the cupboard And found just a crust of bread; 'Now, this won't do", she whispered, 'Let's prepare a feast instead!' The angels flapped their magic wings, As only they are able, And in a flash a flood of food Filled all the shelves and table!
Two angels trimmed the pretty tree; The third flew to and fro, Hanging bells and holly boughs, And sprigs of mistletoe. Outside, the angels dressed the house With icicles and snow, And on the door they placed a wreath, Complete with a bright red bow! They finished all they came to do, Before the break of day, And as the Whittles roused from sleep, The angels flew away. Now, when the Whittles saw the food And all the decoration, They pinched themselves and wept for joy, Then danced in celebration! As word spread through the village Of their heaven-sent surprise; Every Humbleburger came To see with their own two eyes! The Whittles shared their Christmas feastThey emptied all the shelves; Their kindness wouldn't let them keep Good fortune to themselves.
The tiny house still looked quite drab, It needed to be cheered; And as the angels waved their wings, A Christmas tree appeared!
When everyone had cleaned their plate, They all joined in a song; And up above-though no one heardThe angels sang along!
What beats his chest and swings from Christmascake to Christmas cake? Tarzipan ! What did the big cracker say to the little cracker? My pop is bigger than yours ! Who is never hungry at Christmas ? The turkey - he s always stuffed ! What s the best thing to put into a Christmas cake ? Your teeth ! Whats happens if you eat the Christmas decorations? You get tinsel-itus ! What did one Angel say to the other? Halo there ! How do cats greet each other at Christmas? A furry merry Christmas & Happy mew year ! What does Dracula write on his Christmas cards? Best vicious of the season How do sheep greet each other at Christmas? A merry Christmas to ewe What does Father Christmas write on his Christmas cards? ABCDEFGHIJKMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ (No-L !!) ! What do you get if you cross Father Christmas with a detective? Santa Clues! What do the reindeer sing to Father Christmas on his birthday? F reeze a jolly good fellow! What do you call a man who claps at Christmas? Santapplause ! Why does Father Christmas like to work in the garden? Because he likes to hoe, hoe, hoe !
Grow some snow! In order to grow snow in a jar you will need:
The Science Behind the Fun
* string * wide mouth pint jar * white pipe cleaners * blue food coloring (optional) * boiling water (with adult help) * borax (available at grocery stores in the laundry soap section), * pencil
Borax is an example of crystal - "a solid with flat sides and a symmetrical shape because its molecules are arranged in a unique, repeating pattern." Every crystal has a repeating pattern based on it's unique shape. They may be big or little, but they all have the same "shape". Salt, sugar, and Epsom salts are all examples of crystals. Salt crystals are always cube-shaped while snow crystals form a six-sided structure.
Directions:
With a little kitchen science you can create How do the Borax crystals grow? long lasting snowflakes as sparkly as the real ones. Cut a white pipe cleaner into 3 equal sec- Hot water holds more borax tions. Twist the sections together in the centre crystals than cold water. so that you have a "six-sided" star shape. That's because heated water If your points are not even, trim the pipe-clean- • molecules move farther er sections to the same length. Now attach apart, making room for string along the outer edges to form a more of the borax cryssnowflake pattern. Attach a piece of string to tals to dissolve. the top of one of the pipe cleaners and tie the When no more of other end to a pencil (this is to hang it from). the solution can Fill a widemouth jar with boiling water. be dissolved, you Mix borax into the water one tablespoon at a have reached satutime. ration. As this soluUse 3 tablespoons of borax per cup of water. tion cools, the Stir until dissolved, (don't worry if there is pow- water molecules der settling on the bottom of the jar). If you move closer want you can add a little blue food coloring together again. Now there's now to give the snowflake a bluish hue. Insert less room for the solution to your pipe cleaner snowflake into the jar so that hold onto as much of the disthe pencil is resting on the lip of the jar and solved borax. Crystals begin to the snowflake is freely suspended in the borax form and build on one another solution. as the water lets go of the excess and evapoWait overnight and by morning the snowflake rates. will be covered with shiny crystals. Hang in a This also applies to snowflakes - As water cools window as a sun-catcher or use as a decora- the molecules move closer together. Since all tion. water molecules are shaped the same (H20) they align in a six sided crystal.
C
PERTH Telephone: (08) 9223 1333
CATHOLIC DEVELOPMENT FUND
Telephone: (08) 9921 3221 WEBSITE www.cdfcatholicwa.com.au
GERALDTON
Telenhone 9223 1333
he Catholic Development Fund Chairman, Committee Members, Fund Manager and Staff extend to von and vour family
this Chri_conas
_ may vou have the Spirit of Christmas which is Peace the Gladness of Christmas which is Hope the Heart of Christmas which is Love 1003
Our hope for the coming vear is that there will be a many parts of our troubled world, restoration of PEACE to • • amongst commumtics across our own moon a - nd cspccialiv within ail ramilies.