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THE PARISH. THE NATION. THE WORLD.
au',day
Western Australia's award winning Catholic newspaper
I 7 2007
Perth,
GOLDEN GIRLS: Seven sisters celebrate long-term anniversaries Page 4
GUY'S BACK: oz Idol winner wins Page 2 WYD anthem competition
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$2
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL'S STAND: I won't Page 7 permit HPV vaccinations
Perth teaches London Marriage seminar offered by Perth couple a hit with the British in Aussie first
Perth's Melkites celebrate
A call answered: Perth Melkite Catholic Priest Fr Samer Drouby, at left, looks on with Melkite Archbishop lssam Darwish, Perth Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton, newly-vested Fr Kevin Cummins and Melkite Auxiliary Richop Paul Abdallah at Fr —" END, Cummins's ordination on April 29. Story - Page 2
International educators: Luke and Vannessa Van Beek, a Kalamunda couple, became the first to offer the popular PHOTO COURTESsr LUKE AND VANNESSA VAN BEEK Celebrate Love seminar in the UK most recently in April.
Australian-developed course has been spreading in UK since 2006 The Celebrate Love seminar based on the Theology of the Body has been a smash hit in the United Kingdom since it was introduced by a young West Australian parish couple in May last year. Luke and Vannessa Van Beek of Kalamunda parish flew to London to facilitate London's third Celebrate Love seminar last month, and reported a surge in interst in the late Pope's teachings by English couples.
"This was a great opportunity to help the Westminster diocese run their own seminar," Luke said, after both he and Vannessa coached and mentored the London team. Twenty couples from the Westminster diocese attended the weekend held at St Benedict's Abbey in Ealing. "We were able to share with the London team what we have been doing in Perth and throughout Australia," Luke said. Vannessa said that just the idea of being part of a mission and spreading the good news about marriage was rewarding for them. There was much interest in this
seminar from not only married couples but also London's priests and Bishops. Couples in London were particularly interested in the spirituality of Marriage, which examines the spiritual dimension of a couple's relationship as a man and woman in love. Drawing on the insights of John Paul II's Theology of the Body, it explores the sacred nature of our marital intimacy and gives practical, achievable ways to grow closer together, and so make the Celebrate Love experience part of an ongoing renewal of their relationship. Continued on Page 8
Archaeologist seeks old photos
Looking for clues: Archaeologist Fr Robert Cross talks to visitors about the history of St Mary's Cathedral. He's appealing for old photos of the building. Full story - Page 8, Why Cathedrals matter - Vista 1
INDEX
A BISHOP NOT AFRAID
Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe visited Australia to urge this country to boycott Robert Mugabe's regime, while the President made ugly threats in the press.
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Letters 11.1
I say, I say The World Reviews Classifieds
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GOSPEL PERSONALITES
In recent months Pope Benedict XVI has been offering meditations on some of the key figures of the Gospels and Acts. Enjoy a jump into history with the Pope.
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May 172007, The Record
Perth Melkites welcome their new priest • By Sylvia Defendi
With the support of his wife, Fr Kevin Cummins brought the rich traditions of the eastern Catholic Church to Perth on April 29, as the Melkite Catholic community celebrated his ordination to the priesthood. The Melkite tradition requires permission from wives for ordination to the priesthood and does not require the couple to become celibate thereafter. Fr Cummins was ordained by Melkite Archbishop of Australia and New Zealand, Issam John Darwish, with the support of Bishop Donald Spoxton and the enthusiasm of a capacity congregation at Our Lady of the Annunciation Melkite Church in Inglewood. Celebrated largely in Arabic, the liturgy differed slightly to that commonly witnessed in the Roman tradition, with a necessity for the congregation to be greatly involved throughout. Once an English teacher in London, Fr Cummins said he always felt a calling to the priesthood and had great interest in the rich tradition and symbolism of eastern Catholic rites, which he experienced while
serve within the Melkite community of Perth. Of his status as a married Catholic priest, Fr Cummins believes that while celibacy has a place within the Church, married priests are also very much accepted and appreciated. "It is very common for married men to enter religious life as clergy within the Eastern Church, with the support of their
wives," commented Mrs Roula Cummins, adding that the couple has always been very active within the Church, so ordination seemed more like the continuation of a journey rather than a change. Fr Cummins will be serving as assistant priest at Our Lady of the Annunciation Melkite Church in Inglewood with Melkite parish priest Fr Samer Drouby and deacon Pierre Nahas.
Priestly duties: Newly ordaThed Fr Kevin Cummins assists in giving out
communion with the help of Melkite deacon Pierre Nahas.
living in Greece. Upon returning to England, some 12 years later, Fr Cummins became very involved within the Church and soon began theological studies at Cambridge University. It was not long before a local bishop invited him to become a permanent deacon under the diocese of North Hampton. However Fr Cummin's love for the eastern traditions saw him returning to Greece, where he trained as a deacon under the Greek Catholic Church in Athens.
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Fr Cummins was granted permission from Roman Catholic authorities to change his rite (from Roman to Greek) and was also accepted by the Greek Catholic authorities. In April of 1996, Fr Cummins became the first westerner to be ordained a deacon within the Greek Catholic rite in Greece and served in the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Athens. Fr Cummins then accepted an invitation by Archbishop Darwish to
Co s show faith through y work of serving others • By Sylvia Defendi
Showing faith through daily work is no longer as common as it may have once been; yet serving and retired police officers gathered at Our Lady Help of Christians Church in East Victoria Park on April 26 to prove that a strong faith and work ethic are not unheard of. A fter almost 20 years of silence, the newly founded Association of Catholic Police Officers of Western Australia were glad to once again show a strong presence at their first AGM that night, as they celebrated Mass, a short meeting and a meal. Beginning in 1960, 'the guild,' as it was then known, provided a forum for expressing solidarity, sharing in camaraderie and spreading the faith. Thousands would attend the annual Mass and they came in their hundreds to annual dinners and occasional meetings. Retired superintendent, Joe Mc Phail, was one of the first to enjoy the fruits of the Catholic guild, which he credits with the gift of constancy. "The guild was started to get like-minded people together to promote the faith and integrity. We kept each other strong in faith even though many witnessed horrific events as part of the job," he recalled. Another founding member, John Foley, remembered the many who came back to the faith or simply showed a keen interest as a result of the guild. EDITOR Peter Rosengren
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Emerging from the Middle East, the Melkite Catholic rite is in full communion with the Catholic Church, while retaining many ancient traditions of the early Church within its liturgy. The Melkite Catholic Church maintains the same theology and doctrine oasthe Roman Church and is fully accepted as a member of the universal Catholic Church. Mass is celebrated largely in Arabic and English, with elements of Greek as well. The liturgy is highly symbolic, structured and places great emphasis on sung prayers. The liturgy is longer than that of the Roman rite and uses the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom and St Basil the Great.
Melkite deacons have a large part to play during the Mass and are responsible for speaking almost half the liturgy. Within the Melkite rite, the physical altar does not hold great significance, rather Mass cannot be celebrated without a special cloth (Antimersion), which has a relic of a saint sewn into it, much as a Roman altar would have one embedded within it. Today the Melkite Catholic Church is one of the largest Catholic communities in the Middle East and has been established in Brazil, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia and Venezuela. 98% of Catholics belong to the Roman rite, while 2% belong to other rites, one of which is the Melkite rite. At present the Melkite Catholic Church has over a million members world-wide.
Who are the Melkites?
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However, as founding members retired in the late 80s, so did the guild. And while these days, involvement in the Association is not as strong as it once was, the determination of old and new members is evident. With current Commissioner of police, Karl O'Callaghan as patron and St Michael the Archangel as patron saint of the new Association, members are eager to rekindle the glory days of the guild - to give police officers, as current president of the Association, Paul Newman said, an opportunity to get together in fellowship, where rank is replaced by reflection and support. Support has been at the guild's core since its inception, and was especially felt at the Association's first AGM, where two Western Australian police chaplains attended, bringing with them an ecumenical solidarity. Current chaplain to the new Association, Fr Gregory Donovan said the support offered by the Association was paramount. "When the guild started there were only 1300 serving police officers, there are now over 5000 - There is great scope for a bigger Association," said Mr Mc Phail. "And there is an even bigger need for it these days, as the problems of the world become more complex," he added. Whether they know it or not, Mr Mc Phail believes serving police officers need the comfort of faith and camaraderie. For more information, contact Des Noonan on: 9291 8641, or email: nodes40@bigpond.net.au
in brief... Where will they play? A new state school in Britain has been designed without a playground. The principal of the 46.4 million pound Thomas Deacon Academy, catering for 2,200 pupils, says the public want "maximum learning" from their investment in education and kids can play in their own time, in their local communities. BBC NEWS
Teens hooked South Korean teens are "seriously addicted" to mobile phones, says Parents Union on Net, commenting on the average 60 messages a day that the National Statistical Office says are sent by young people aged 15 to 19. Young adults send about half that amount on average. Combined with over 12 hours a week of TV viewing, text messaging is helping to isolate youngsters from their families. Nearly a third say they are not satisfied with their relationship with their parents.
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May 172007, The Record
Page 3
Right Guy for the job Oz Idol winner gets the prize again
The theme song for the XXIII World Youth Day in 2008 (WYD 08) has been chosen — and it was written and composed by the first winner of the Australian Idol TV series. Written by Guy Sebastian, "Receive the Power" will become the anthem for Australia's hosting of the world's largest youth event in Sydney next year. "We wanted a song that was stirring and uplifting," WYD08 coordinator Bishop Anthony Fisher OP said. "Above all, it had to engage young people and capture the theme of World Youth Day 2008 namely, that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses." Bishop Fisher said when WYD08 organisers heard "Receive the Power", they knew they'd found their anthem.
No idolatry: Australian Idol winner Guy Sebastian, an openly Christian singer, wrote the WYD'08 anthem. "To put it simply, 'Receive the Power' hit the mark on every level. "Clearly, Guy knew we needed a song that would inspire the young people of the world to take up Christ's challenge to go to the ends of the Earth and be His witnesses; for many people in the northern hemisphere, Australia is the ends of the Earth!" Bishop Fisher said "Receive the Power" was selected after a two stage process. A song competition held last year drew more than 120 entries - many of them outstanding compositions in their own right - but the judging panel felt none quite delivered all the elements in a single package. Several composers were then invited to submit songs for consideration, from which "Receive the Power" emerged as the favoured
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WYD08 theme. A 'demo' recording was delivered to the Pontifical Council for the Laity - the Vatican body overseeing World Youth Day preparations - which granted its approval and support when Bishop Fisher visited in April. "The WYD08 theme had to measure up thematically and be anthemic - yet be easily sung by people of all language backgrounds," Bishop Fisher said. "We are confident 'Receive the Power' will rally young Catholics of all backgrounds to World Youth Day in 2008." Sebastian won the first Australian Idol in 2003. Since then, he has released three top five albums and seven top 20 singles, including three number ones. Guy started writing songs for his church when he was 13 years of age and is a prolific songwriter. He collaborated with singer/songwriter Gary Pinto in the final stages of the song. Australian born of Indian heritage, Gary fronted the multiplatinum selling R&B band CDB in the 1990s before embarking on a successful solo career. He has written songs for several Australian artists including Guy, Anthony Callea, Christine Anu, Jimmy Barnes, Jade MacRae, and American soul singer Taylor Dayne.
"Set out into the deep..." Speakers:
Fr Gino Henriques from Singapore; Mrs Julie Chircop from Sydney. Dates: Fri 25th May - Sun 27th May. Starts 7:30pm Friday Venue: Trinity College, via Nelson Ave, East Perth Costs: Rallies free; workshops $7 each or $20 for weekend. Meals: Some meals available at modest charge Enquiries: Pam 9381 2516 or Dan 9398 4973
Young angels: Archbishop Barry Hickey concelebrated a special Mass with 1 0 priests for the Portugese community and others at Fremantle's St Patrick's Basilica on Mothers Day to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the apparitions of Mary to three shepherd children. He then joined about 300 of the Mass crowd on a Marian procession, including many children dressed as angels and child shepherds through the streets of Fremantle. In his homily he said Mary listened to the Word of God then the word of God's Son, and is therefore PHOTO. SYLVIA DEFEND' Our model for listening and obeying the Word of God.
Today, as you read this, poverty and oppression are driving Christian faithful from the Holy Land. But you can help give our suffering brothers and sisters in Christ a reason to stay. Through a program we developed to support the distribution of rosaries handcrafted of local olive wood by Catholic artisans, Aid to the Church in Need is reaching out to faithful in need across the Holy Land. We provide a simple, dignified, and effective means for struggling faithful to keep food on the table for their families. Please help us strengthen and rebuild the Church. A beautiful, handcrafted rosary made of olive wood from the Holy Land will be sent for an offering of $12 or more to support the projects of Aid to the Church in Need in Bethlehem. Please tick the box if you would like to receive the olive wood rosary*. •••
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in brief... Nowhere to hide for MPs Dr Brigid McKenna of the Sydney Life Office said a "laboratory sub-class of human beings" could now be created and exploited, after Victoria's state parliament voted to legalise human cloning. The bill was backed by Victoria's Premier Steve Bracks, who is a Catholic. Five Labor MPs and eight of the 14 Liberal MPs opposed the bill. One Labor MP who opposed it, Education Minister John Lenders, stated: "I would rather crawl under a rock than vote, but I think frankly no MP can hide." The bill passed the parliament's upper house by 23 votes to 16.
God, keep Pius safe Life expectancy in Zimbabwe under dictator Robert Mugabe is now just 34 years for women and 37 years for men, the Australian bishops were told by Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo. The archbishop said he supported a boycott of his country by the Australian cricket team. The archbishop, who returned home after addressing the bishops, said his safety is in the hands of God. "I pray the Rosary daily for our country and if possible I pray another Rosary in the evening for my own safety. I can't explain why I've kept alive. It's just God's presence," he said.
May 17 2007, The Record
Celebrating a Two Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart celebrated staggering milestones earlier this year. Sr Florentina Duffy celebrated a staggering 80 years of Religious life and Sr Betty Brotherston celebrated 70 years of profession. On January 22, the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart gathered with families and friends at Holy Family Church in Como to celebrate the Jubilees of seven sisters, including these two marathon women. Sisters Philomena Kalmund, Margaret Kane, Diane Kingston, Veronica Ryan and Leonie Mayne celebrated their 50 years of professed life as Josephite Sisters on that day also. These sisters spent the major part of their ministry years in rural and suburban schools in Western Australia in classroom teaching, music teaching and extra curricula activities. During the early years of their school involvement, they all knew how to roll their sleeves up and
make "ends meet" when creating teaching aids for the classroom. Srs Florentina and Betty were part of that group of teachers that taught primary and secondary grades in one room and prepared students for the public examinations that were part of the school scene then. Both of these Sisters are now in Margaret Hubery House in Shelley. Sr Veronica Ryan has been part of the long-serving Josephite corn-
to the community munity in the East Kimberley schools and is still there assisting in curriculum advisory work. After leaving the school scene, Sr Diane was involved in chaplaincy work in PMH and Sr Philomena is now involved with the Congregational archives. Sr Margaret Kane nursed the sick in her early years of ministry but is now working in a pastoral support role with students. Sr Leonie engaged in the Retreat House at Safety Bay, is also current-
ly involved in the MacKillop Rural Network which serves the deaneries of Merredin and Northam. It is with deep gratitude to God, their families and close friends that these sisters continue to live out their consecrated life in joy, hope and peace. Honoured: (Top - L to R) Sr Florentina, Sr Betty, Sr Dianea; (Bottom - L to R) Sr Philomena, Sr Margaret, Sr Leonie and Sr Veronica.
Create "young heart" for the Church The "heart of the Church" should be made "young again" by training youth leaders, the bishops heard during their plenary meeting. "Christ lived and died as a young person" and created a young heart for his church," said Devitt O'Brien of the Young Christian Students movement. Sarah Taylor of the Young Christian Workers movement commended the "See, Judge and Act" method to the bishops, who also approved the establishment of a new advisory body, the Australian Catholic Youth Council, chaired by Bishop Joseph Grech. Its members include Erica Bernard and Victoria Burrows from WA.
Bishops host NCCA leader The bishops were addressed by the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches Australia, Rev. John Henderson. The bishops then discussed the NCCA and other ecumenical issues, and hosted Rev. Henderson for lunch. At the end of the bishops' meeting, Bishop Christopher Prowse was nominated as chairman of the Anglican dialogue, AustARCC, while Bishop Gregory O'Kelly SJ was appointed to the Lutheran-Catholic dialogue. The President of the Australian bishops' conference, Archbishop Philip Wilson, and Bishop Michael Putney were appointed as members of the Forums and Networks of the National Council of Churches Australia.
Politicians must acknowledge faith
• By Anthony Barich
Catholic politicians have a responsibility to obtain the wisdom offered by the Church to inform their conscience when voting on contentious issues, says LJ Goody Bioethics Centre consultant Fr Peter Hung Tran. "It's a basic requisite for any job that you do the research before undertaking a project," Fr Hung Tran said. "So it is with Catholic politicians, that they make the effort of consulting the Church, which is always ready to inform the consciences of its members, and others. "If you are a Catholic or Christian politician, your responsibility is higher. You must seek the truth before making a decision." Fr Hung Tran's comment comes after Pope Benedict XVI warned Catholic politicians they risked excommunication from the Church and should not receive Communion if they voted to support abortion. The Pope was asked whether he supported Mexican Church leaders threatening to excommunicate leftist parliamentarians who last month voted to
The Goody team: Fr Peter Hung Tran, Fr Joseph Parkinson and Natalie Tarkka.
legalise abortion in Mexico City. Redemptorist priest Fr Hung Tran says the Church is always available to pass on knowledge regarding life issues. Besides that, he believes all Christian politicians and most others would automatically know what the Church's stance is on issues like abortion. "It's a pretty basic fact that killing an innocent is always a serious sin," Fr Hung Tran said. "You know the consequence of abortion is that a human will be killed. That is a grave sin."
The Pope referred to Canon Law, saying that the Mexican Church would be doing "nothing new, surprising or arbitrary", but one is allowed by Canon Law which says that the killing of an innocent child is incompatible with receiving Communion, which is receiving the Body of Christ". Canon Law 1398 says: "A person who actually procures an abortion incurs a latae sententiae excommunication." However, it is up to the Mexican Bishops Conference to decide what should be done about politicians
who vote for the legalisation of abortion. Fr Hung Tran said that being excommunicated - being cut off from the Catholic Church altogether - is different from simply not receiving Communion. He said that if they are simply barred from receiving Holy Communion people can still participate in the Eucharist by attending Mass. In 2004, Pope Benedict XVI (then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) spoke on abortion and euthanasia regarding Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion, referring to the Encyclical letter Evangelium Vitae that, with reference to judicial decisions or civil laws that authorise or promote abortion or euthanasia, states there is "a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection". "In the case of unjust law, such as a law permitting abortion or euthanasia, it is therefore never licit to obey it or to take part in a propaganda campaign in favour of such a law or vote for it," he said. "Christians have a 'grave obligation of conscience not to cooperate formally in practices which, even if permitted by civil legislation, are contrary to God's law. "This cooperation can never be justified by invoking respect for the freedom of other "
May 17 2007, The Record
Page 5
Benedict's warning to ponies welcome Mexican abortion allowed in the wake of gender selection test on Net • By Paul Gray
p
ope BenediceXVI's statement warning of excommunication for Catholic politicians who endorse abortion laws has been warmly welcomed by leading Australian anti-abortion campaigner Margaret Tighe. Mrs Tighe, President of Right to Life Australia, told The Record that Catholic parliamentarians in Australia "dodge the issue" on abortion. She also criticised some Catholic MPs who, she said, liked to garner Catholic votes by attending church, but failed to speak out on abortion when in parliament. "I think that some of them, if they're concerned about the issue, they should be much more outspoken," Mrs Tighe said. She expressed disappointment with the performance on the abortion issue by some well-known Catholic MPs in Australia, but did not wish to name them. However she praised two federal MPs on the record, Liberal MHR Andrew Robb, and National Party Senator Barnaby Joyce. Mr Robb is an outstanding politician who has "very strong principles," Mrs Tighe said. She also said Right to Life holds "high hopes" for Senator Joyce's performance on the abortion issue during his parliamentary career, adding that Pope Benedict's excommunication comments on the abortion issue were welcome. "I think he expressed it very well when he said these politicians (those who support abortion laws, as has occurred recent-
ly in Mexico) excommunicate themselves. I think it was good that he said that, andI think he said it very well." However she expressed disappointment about the performance by nominally anti-abortion politicians in Australia, over many years. "We're still hoping for a William Wilberforce figure to come," referring to the legendary 19th century English anti-slavery campaigner who galvanised political opposition to the slavery issue, leading to its eventual abolition around the civilised world. In Australia now though, the Wilberforce figure has not yet arrived. "Hardly anyone's prepared to stick their necks out" on the issue, she said. Politicians "want to be popular." She said to be an anti-abortion politician, you have to be very strong. The Westminster system of government, which allows MPs to enter parliament only through parties, in effect, militates against effective anti-abortion politics. Even Catholic and anti-abortion politicians "are conscious of their own seats." Consequently, "they don't like to see the issue raised in parliament." Mrs Tighe was speaking in the wake of controversy over a new pregnancy test kit, which is sold over the internet, allowing couples to know the gender of a foetus just six weeks into a pregnancy. She slammed the concept in the national media last week, warning that it was a recipe for increased aborting of foetuses
Surrogacy Bill probed New Li Goody staffer to dig deep in bioethics issues that involve us all • By Sylvia Defendi
Meet Fr Peter Hung Manh Tran, Redemptorist priest, Doctor of Moral Theology, acclaimed author and the newest staff member at Perth's L J Goody Bioethics Centre (pictured on page four). He fills a new position, which will see the Centre develop and expand. Having arrived in Perth from Melbourne early in March, Fr Tran's interest in bioethics and moral issues was made all the more obvious in August last year when he visited Perth to launch his book, Advancing the Culture of Death: Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide. It was during the launch that director of the L J Goody Bioethics Centre, Fr Joe Parkinson, invited Fr Tran to join the Centre in promoting ethical decisions. These days, Fr Tran will be teaching social justice at the University of Notre Dame, preparing to set up a new website for the bioethics Centre, preparing ethicsinformation packages for schools and parishes, while being available for confidential consultation on moral issues regarding bioethics and working closely with the Vietnamese Catholic Community. Fr Trap mill also be researching and reviewing the current Surrogacy Bill (2007),
which he believes has not been properly discussed in a public forum. It is for this reason that the L J Goody Bioethics Centre will be hosting a 'Surrogacy Workshop,' with Fr Tran as one of the guest speakers. The workshop will be held at the Bioethics Centre on June 12 at 7.30pm, and will explore some of the underlying questions surrounding surrogacy. "It seems no one is willing to question surrogacy and while we are very sensitive to the needs of the couple, our concern is for the child who is born," Fr Parkinson said. The legislation requires the best interests of a child to be paramount, however fails to define exactly what these 'best interests' are. "We don't think it is in the best interests of a child to be treated as a contract - as the object of a two couples' agreement," Fr Parkinson said. For Fr Parkinson, one of the largest issues with surrogacy is its questioning of what it means to be a parent in today's world. "Is it the one who carries to full term, the one who raises the child or the one whose genetic material matches the child's? All these questions can be very traumatic for a child," he said. "Unless all of this is aired, not just in parliament, but also publicly we will not get just legislation," Fr Parkinson concluded. For further information, contact Natalie on 9242 4066. Advancing the Culture of Death, by Fr Peter Tran, can be bought through The Record by calling 9227 7080.
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of unwanted gender. Then she told The Record: "The major concern is that it would easily lead to an increase in sex selection abortions." "I can't imagine that people who use it wouldn't have abortion on their mind. What's the purpose of it?" Mrs Tighe said it is impossible to get figures on the number of sex selection abortions now taking place. Most people who become aware of the gender of the unborn baby do so because of ultrasound examinations. These usually occur later in a pregnancy, and can be justified on other grounds. The new kit, by contrast, can be used at six weeks. "It is user-friendly, and very tempting for those who want to use abortion for sex selection of their child. After all, abortion is there for the asking." Mrs Tighe said that after frequent denials that a baby in the womb is a human being, it is interesting that "even at six weeks, we can know if it's a boy or a girl." She described the controversy as "another illustration of the consumer society in which we live." She said the use of IVF for the sex selection of embryos in NSW is another illustration of consumerism. Earlier, Australian Health Minister Tony Abbott had responded to Mrs Tighe's comments, indicating that he thought the kit should be banned.
How it works: British company DNA Worldwide advertises their gender indicating test - it is available on the internet.
Mr Abbott said he regarded an unborn child as a "gift" rather than a "commodity." But he also indicated that the Government's Therapeutic Goods Administration was powerless to stop the pregnancy test product coming into Australia. Asked for her reaction to Mr Abbott's statements, Mrs Tighe said: "I wouldn't disagree with that comment." She added that we only need look to China and India, where there is a significant imbalance between males and females, to see the willingness of human beings to use abortion for sex selection and the inherent consequences. Right to Life Australia has continually targeted parliamentary candidates in federal and state elections, to draw attention to MPs' views on abortion. She said that at the recent election in Victoria, Right to Life could demonstrate it had been "effective" in four seats. She said they were delighted to note that the four candidates who were elected to parliament after their campaigning had helped secure their wins had all voted against a recent Victorian bill to allow human cloning. She promised that Right to Life would be active during the next federal election, and said the organisation would use the voting record from last year's federal parliamentary vote to legalise abortion drug RU486 as a campaigning tool against pro-abortion candidates.
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May 172007, The Record
Young priest loves challenge of vocations • By Anthony Barich
Fr Thai Vu admits he thought he was a tad young to land the vocations director post for the Archdiocese of Perth. But he's not worried. Truth be told, he relishes the challenge. A private chat with Archbishop Barry Hickey put his heart at rest. "Fr Armando (his predecessor) did an amazing job - just look at all the seminarians in St Charles Seminary," Fr Thai said. "But the Archbishop just told me not to compare myself to him, that I don't have to compete against other people," Fr Thai said. "He saidI just have to work hard on this Archdiocese and leave the rest to God." Apart from that, as a 29-yearold priest barely a couple of years out of St Charles Seminary, his enthusiasm and zeal for his vocation stand him in good stead to help others discern their vocation, according to St Charles' Rector Fr Don Hughes. Fr Hughes says that the Archbishop must have picked up on the fact that as one of Mgr Michael Keating's assistant parish priests at Bateman, Fr Thai has developed a popular following as an effective priest. Though comparisons are unfair and probably inappropriate with his predecessors, the multi-talented Fr Armando Carandang and Fr Timothy Deeter, a man of great energies and experience who came late to the priesthood, Fr Thai is also clearly happy and settled in his priesthood - a crucial requisite for the job, as Fr Hughes sees it. "A vocations director has to be able to show he's happy in his priesthood, is energetic in his priesthood and puts that happiness into practice, to look forward to help people come into seminaries," Fr Hughes said.
"When people approach him, they must see somebody who is convinced that he's in the right job, it's an important part of Church life as well. "He also has to be patient to accompany men who are thinking about the priesthood. "Sometimes it takes a few years to think about, and they need someone to accompany them on the way, like Jesus showing Himself to the Apostles on the way to Emmaus. "In my little knowledge of him, Fr Thai is a priest who is open to people, not afraid of hard work; a priest who is ready to listen to people, and is a priest who has a sense of humour, which is important too. "He obviously has his faith but he also has that sense of hope, that there's hope for the future of the world that things can only get better." The men who came before Fr Thai were of considerable character. Fr Deeter, who directed Casa Frassati Vocational Discernment Centre that provided guidance to women and men seeking to discern their vocation, was an American adopted by Perth. Last year he was poached by Cardinal George Pell to be his liturgy director. Proof of Fr Armando's effectiveness is St Charles Seminary's numbers. It currently has 25 men in residence, one out on parish placement, and three pending. The majority of these students have come through contact with Fr Armando, even those who have come from overseas. Fr Armando was posted to the University of WA as its chaplain and Fr Thai has been picked to head up his vocations team that promotes vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Though he was already part of Fr Armando's Vocation Team,
New input: Fr Thai Vu is the new priestly vocations director for the Archdoicese of Perth, but will also help men and women discern if they are called to life in religious orders. pHor ANTHoro BAR,, Fr Thai was still surprised at his appointment after others threw his name in the hat when Archbishop Barry Hickey asked for applicants. Fr Thai believed himself to be too young for the position of guiding people into the priesthood or Religious life. So it proved timely advice, given that Fr Thai, who spent all his priestly training at St Charles' Seminary, graduated barely two years ago and has a
fresher memory of seminary life than most. Fr Thai will point aspirants - "male and female, young and old" - in the direction of priestly life or any specific Religious Orders they want to discern. He will start at the "very basic level", speaking at various parishes, schools, retreat centres and other youth groups, especially using World Youth Day as a focus of evangelisation and discerning one's vocation.
Fr Armando's words provide ample assistance to Fr Thai: "To be a vocation director is to have the grace to see that priestly calling can come only from God. It is either there or not. "To prepare men for seminary formation is to test whether they are both truly willing and able to form themselves in the Spirit, and be formed through, and as necessary, beyond a seminary's or a diocese's resources."
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May 17 2007, The Record
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Zimbabwean prelate inspires journalist • By Paul Gray A full meeting of Australia's bishops made a dramatic political intervention by calling for the Australian cricket team to withdraw from its scheduled tour of Zimbabwe. Soon after the bishops' call, Prime Minister John Howard announced that the Federal Government would not allow the tour to go ahead. "That innocent families and communities, already afflicted by poverty and hardship, have been tormented under mass evictions and political persecutions can no longer be tolerated by the world community," said Archbishop Philip Wilson, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. "In light of this, we support recent calls for the Australian Cricket Team to withdraw from its upcoming tour of Zimbabwe and believe that this would be a significant symbolic stance against the oppressive regime in that country." Archbishop Wilson was speaking at the end of a plenary meeting of the bishops. The meeting had been addressed by Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulaweyo in Zimbabwe, who had been brought to Australia as a guest of the Australian Government. Archbishop Ncube has long been outspoken in his condemna-
Cardinal wrote. The 60-year-old Archbishop Ncube also spoke to aid groups and the secular media while visiting Australia. In an interview with The Age in Melbourne, he quoted extensively from the gospels of Luke and Matthew, to explain the stance taken by himself and his brother bishops in Zimbabwe. "We defend the poor and the disadvantaged," he said. "Christ teaches love for your neighbour, respect. He preaches Justice, peace and compassion. Uplifting people. Humility. And care for the disadvantaged - the widowed, the orphaned, the poor." Evidently impressed, the Age journalist, Jo Chandler, concluded her report with another Scriptural quote used by the Archbishop, from the Old Testament book of Amos, this one apparently aimed at those who do not raise their voices in protest at injustice. "Woe to those who lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat lambs from the flock and calves from the midst of the stall; who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp, and like David invent for themselves instruments of music; who drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the finest oils, but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph! "Therefore they shall now be the first of those to go into exile, and the revelry of those who stretch themselves shall pass away."
Solidarity: Archbishop Philip Wilson of Adelaide, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops' Conference, stands with Archbishpo Pius Ncube of Bulaweyo who has earned open threats from President Robert Mugabe for his outspoken opposition to Mugabe's human rights abuses and the regime's disintegration of the country. Now other bishops are being threatened. PHOTO: DEBRA VERMEER
tion of human rights abuses by Robert Mugabe's government in Zimbabwe. The visiting Zimbabwean bishop was praised by Archbishop Wilson, who said that Australians are becoming aware, "through the courageous stance of community and church leaders like Archbishop Ncube," of the oppressive con-
ditions of life and the abuses of human rights in Zimbabwe. Cricket writer Peter Roebuck wrote during the Archbishop's visit that most church leaders in Zimbabwe had been bribed or cowed into silence in the face of mounting human rights abuses by the Mugabe Government. Catholic However "the
Bulaweyo, of Archbishop Archbishop Pius Ncube, is a noble exception", Roebuck said. Cardinal George Pell wrote in his weekly column in a secular newspaper that Archbishop Ncube is a brave man who has decided to speak out whatever the condequences. "Criticised and vilified, he is allegedly on a death list," the
WhyIwill not cooperate with the push to vaccinate against the HPV An Australian principal objects to being pressganged into a scheme to vaccinate schoolgirls against the HPV virus. • By Graham Leo In the early 1990s an Australian medical research team headed by Dr Ian Frazer at the University of Queensland made an amazing breakthrough in the fight against cancer. Dr Frazer's team created a vaccine for one of the most aggressive cancers amongst women. We are now all familiar with it as Gardasil, the name given it by Merck, the drug company behind the project. Final trials of Gardasil show it to be 100 per cent effective against the most common strains of human papilloma virus (HPV) which causes an estimated 70 per cent of cervical cancers. This,Irepeat, is exciting medical research, the first successful vaccine against any form of cancer. My enthusiasm is tempered by misgivings, however, when I consider the nature of the disease and how the remedy will be dispensed. I don't want to sound like a grumpy old man, but the facts of this medical discovery have to be seen against the social background of the need for the vaccine. The genital HPV in question can only be transmitted through sexual contact.
Therefore, the vaccine is only relevant for people who have sexual contact outside of marriage, or for those who marry partners who have had such contact and who might bring the virus into the marriage relationship. Aside from the possibility of being assaulted by an HPV carrier, no one else who leads a sexually moral life needs to be at risk of this particular cause of cervical cancer. Incidentally, although the vaccine protects against cervical cancer, it does not protect women from many of the other common STDs, such as chlamydia, gonor-
lion dollars is a lot of money. But money is not my concern. What troubles me is that the vaccination program for girls is to be delivered through schools, and we have been informed that Emmanuel College will be among the first to participate. We have been press-ganged into this technical strategy for addressing a moral problem. It is not even clear how necessary mass vaccination is. Sigrid Fry-Revere, Director of Bioethics Studies at the Cato Institute, recently wrote in the New York Times expressing doubts about the vaccination pro-
"My enthusiasm is tempered by misgivings, however, whenI consider the nature of the disease and how the remedy will be dispensed. I don't want to sound like a grumpy old man, but the facts of this medical discovery have to be seen against the social background of the need for the vaccine." rhoea, hepatitis B or HIV/AIDS. Starting this year, however, the Australian Commonwealth government is funding an HPV vaccination program for all girls and women aged 12 to 26. The rationale is that the vaccine is most effective when given before a woman becomes sexually active, and the cost is expected to be around $436 million over the next three years. To a school principal struggling to provide the best possible education for his students, half a bil-
gram in the state of New York, where all girls from 11 years old are to be vaccinated. She said, "Gardasil is not all it's cracked up to be. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that among women aged 14 to 24, the rate of all 37 types of sexually transmitted HPV combined is 33.8 percent - much lower than the 50 percent figure quoted on Merck's web site. More important, the rates for HPV 16 and 18 - the two types responsible for 70
90 percent." (NY Times, March 25, 2007) Fry-Revere also questions the wisdom of government committing an entire generation of young women to exposure to a drug which is still very new, and whose long term side effects we cannot possibly know. But even if it turns out to he as Continued on page 14
percent of all cervical cancers are astronomically lower: only 1.5 percent and 0.8 percent, respectively... It's worth noting that the American Cancer Society sees its fight against cervical cancer as a success story even without Gardasil. When the disease is detected early through Pap testing, the survival rate is more than
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Assistant Accountant (Part Time) The Catholic Diocese of Bunbury is seeking an enthusiastic staff member to be responsible for the overall accounting and financial reporting function of the Diocese and its activities in accordance with acceptable accounting standards and principles. Reporting to the Finance & Accounting Manager, the position will attend to preparation of financial reports, statutory/taxation returns, assist with budget preparation and with monitoring and reporting on internal controls. The position is a part time position working a flexible 15-18 hours per week. The successful applicant will have experience in management accounting. CA/CPA qualified, you will have strong technical accounting skills coupled with sound communication and interpersonal skills and the capacity to manage multiple tasks. High level knowledge of MYOB and Excel is essential. Applicants should be attuned to the ethos of the Catholic Church. Applications including covering letter, curriculum vitae and references will be treated in strictest confidence and can be emailed to Ward Italians:), Finance and Accounting Manager at witaliano@bunburyca tholic.org.au Applications close Monday 28th May 2007. Catholic Diocese of Bunbury, PO Box 2005 Bunbury WA 6231 www.bunburycatholic.org.au
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Mary to be revered not adored
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Interaction after Mass is sharing In love: Vannessa and Luke Van Beek, conducted the seminar overseas.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LUKE AND VANESSA VAN BEEK
The Good news about Marriage Continued from Page 1
Applecross parish couple Stephen and Carmen Court have integrated some of the Celebrate Love experience into their everyday life, attending their first Celebrate Love seminar in May last year. "The strength of your marriage affects you as a person, your children, your whole family and your community," Stephen said. "Celebrate Love has taught us better life and love skills which strongly affirm the sacrament of Marriage within the context of our Catholic faith." Celebrate Love is a program of the Pastoral and Matrimonial Renewal Centre (PMRC) with a long history of developing rich resources designed to bring Catholics into a deeper experience of their belonging relationships. Embrace - Preparing to Live in Love is a new edition to the PMRC portfolio that is now available in almost every area where Celebrate Love has been established, and takes the insights of the seminar into the engaged context. Married couples are trained to run the DVD based course in their home for one or a small group of couples. With more offshore seminars being planned for New Zealand, Uganda, Italy and the Philippines, couples in Australia will be needed for outreach to these new areas. Closer to home the next Celebrate Love Seminar to be held in Perth will be hosted by St Benedict's parish in Applecross. Celebrate Love is a two-day seminar of workshops and reflective exercises to lead couples into deeper intimacy and to a greater appreciation of their masculine and feminine uniqueness and helps couples identify their individual needs for intimacy
and emotional support, freeing them to trust more fully and so rekindle the passion and joy of being 'in love'.
OW*brats Love -4,01,14\
A two day seminar for married couples exploring intimacy and spirituality in the Catholic context
May 26 & 27 Applecross
www.CelebrateLove.com.au The program is facilitated by married couples and explores the practical and spiritual significance of marital intimacy. Presentations are followed by selfdirected questionnaires and discussion so that husband and wife can explore the topics together in complete privacy. There is no group discussion or counselling. Celebrate Love is suitable for married couples of all ages. The seminar will be held at Aquinas College in Salter Point on May 26 and For information on the Perth Seminar contact Stephen and Carmen Court 08 9316 4434. To register book online at www.celebratelove.com.au.
allowed to have a second child, which is increasing the birth rate in some provinces. At the same time wealthy Chinese, including "celebrities", are having a second or even a third child in defiance of the one-child rule and with disdain for the fines incurred. Nearly 10 per cent of rich people have three children, according to a recent government survey.
Daniel Regnard Riverton
From the Editor: That is true - we regret our error. calls this dichotomy between liturgy and life, between the sacred and the secular "one of the gravest errors of our time." (Church in the Modern World 43), and exhorts us to recognise and honour the divine presence within ourselves and others. Neil Smith Bull Creek
We are creatures, not to be adored I should like to point out to Derek Boylen (letters May 10), that the Catholic faithful are part of the mystical body of Christ, not the body of Christ that the Sacred Host is. They therefore are very much less than Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament. We are mere creatures: we are not to be adored. Many Churches worldwide have signs up requesting silence in the church, including the great Cathedral at Santiago de Compostella in Spain: Its signs said (words to this effect): "As this Church is a house of God, visitors are asked to be silent or else converse in whispers if one must converse". Jerome Gonzalez Willetton
"Talk to me instead!" On the subject of talking (or not talking) in church, could we let the Lord Himself have the last word? In the porch of the Cathedral of Mosta, in Malta, we saw a notice requesting silence in the church, as if in the Lord's own words: "If you want to talk, why not talk to Me? Tell me your problems, and I am sure that together we can work something out." Janet Kovesi Watt Claremont
Sweet and simple My House shall be called a House of Prayer" Trevor Boardman
From the Editor: The Record is grateful to reader Paul Green, who rang in on Monday in response to the letter from Edwina Harris seeking a statue of St Francis. Mr Green advised us that statues of St Francis are made at Trevy Garden in Welshpool.
Looking for clues Archaeological facts and figures continue to be sought as St Mary's is developed.
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in brief... Early marriages and flouting of the one-child rule may subvert China's 30year -old population policy, complains the country's top family planning official, Zhang Weiquing. China's constitution rules that men may marry at 22 and women at 20, but earlier marriages still prevail in rural areas. Young couples born in the 1970s and 1980s and raised as only children are
Derek Boylen, in his 'hogging' of the letters to the editor, is to be commended rather than blamed. If his letters defending social interaction after Mass are an example, his insights are to be welcomed. His is a sound journalistic apostolate. Derek reminds us that "the faithful after Mass are the Body of Christ no less than in the Blessed Sacrament." Because we are the Body of Christ the Spirit of God dwells within each of us. St Augustine is accredited with the profound statement "The love with which God loves us is the same love with which we love one another." He was merely developing St Paul's exhortation to his Corinthian Christians "Don't you know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells within you? The temple of God is sacred and you are that temple." (Cor 1. 3:16) Our interaction with one another after Mass (and beyond) is a mutual sharing of the Holy Spirit love within each of us. There appears to be a suggestion in some of the letters in response that a distinction must be made between spiritual interaction with God and secular interaction with our neighbour, with a decided preference for the former. The Vatican Council
I refer to your article entitled " Outback Students adore Our Lady" by Harry Argus. I would like to point out that Catholics do not "adore" Our Lady. We revere Holy Mary as a saint, and we honour her as the mother of our Lord, Jesus Christ, but we do not "adore" her. Adoration is reserved for God alone. Scripture says, "you shall have no other gods before Me". Catholics can sometimes use the word "adore" loosely, but this will only cause scandal among protestants (quite rightly), and cause confusion among less discerning Catholics and the young. It can be a cause of disunity among Christians, a sin that we shall be called to account for.
Cathedral archaeologist Fr Robert Cross is appealing for photos of St Mary's Cathedral prior to 1910, both internal and external. There are few photos of the cathedral from the era he is particularly interested in, and any photographs could help him to date key features of the cathedral's history. Fr Cross has been carrying out the archaeological investigation of the cathedral as a significant part of it is demolished in preparation for its completion, estimated to be in late 2008.
"Externally, we have no photos of the original cathedral from the Royal Perth Hospital side, or from the Goderich Street end," he told The Record. The photos could help date certain parts or additions to St Mary's. While there are more photographs of the cathedral's exterior, "internally, there are hardly any photos of the original interior of the 1865 cathedral." He said anything, no matter how ordinary it may seem, could provide important information about what the cathedral was like inside. "Any angle would help us identify all sorts of things that we need to know. For example: the installation of electricity, movement of
pulpits, height of altar rails, shapes of windows, original floor materials, pews - all those sorts of thing are important," he said. Those who own such pictures "probably wouldn't recognise what we're looking for," he explained, adding that if anyone has a picture and is in doubt he is happy to assess it. "Such photos could be of weddings, first holy communions, anything like that," he told The Record. Fr Cross can be contacted on mob: 0418 602 080, or via the cathedral switchboard (08) 9223 1351. Anyone who wants to mail a photograph to him can do so at: 17 Victoria Ave, c/- Catholic Church Office, Perth WA 6000.
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weekend sees S the launch of the parish fundraising appeal in Perth for the completion of St Mary's Cathedral. But why are cathedrals really important? In 2002, the new Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Los Angeles was dedicated amid much pomp - and controversy. Although some criticised the new structure as too expensive and too modern architecturally, others praised it for the way it embodies and symbolises the Catholic tradition in its structure and adornments. Cardinal Francis Stafford, an American who now serves as president of the Vatican's Pontifical Council for the Laity and a member of several other Vatican situates congregations, himself in the latter camp and spoke about why, as well as about the deep significance they have everywhere.
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• By Colleen Smith I COLLEEN SMITH: You were born, raised and ordained in Baltimore, where one of America's landmark cathedrals, the Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, stands. Do you recall any pivotal experiences of the old cathedral as a young person? CARDINAL STAFFORD: Yes, I remember as an adolescent coming into the old cathedral designed by Benjamin Henry Latrobe. It was just after the Archbishop of Baltimore had died. I was a student. I paid my respects in the ancient cathedral, and I remember coming in and connecting with the specific role of the cathedral as the place where the bishop or archbishop teaches in the person of Christ. I CS: You served as the papal legate at the dedication of Our Lady of theAngels Cathedral in LosAngeles. What was your initial response to the exterior? C ARDINAL STAFFORD: My overall impression was one of the genius of the architect, Jose Rafael Moneo. By genius, I mean the immense faith which informed his talent. He immediately captured the site of the cathedral, which is next to the Hollywood Freeway like the river Seine is immediately attached to the Cathedral of Notre Continued - Vista 2
LAST OF THE GOTHIC Sacred Heart Cathedral in Bendigo is a landmark known across the whole State of Victoria and farther afield. With a population of
approximately 100,000 (about 60,000 when it was completed by then-Bishop Bernard Stewart in the late 1970s), Bendigonians are justifiably proud of their cathedral, which dominates the city skyline from a hilltop and which can bee seen from every direction for miles. The last Gothic cathedral that was built, its interior is not dark and gloomy but suffused with light and inspires.
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Dame in Paris. The waterway is replaced by the modern freeway. Moneo proclaimed the Paschal Mystery to all through that magnificent cross that shines forth in light, revealing the love that God has for us in giving His own Son upon the cross. • The cantilevered angles of the architecture speak of the tension of our being both body and soul and our constantly striving toward reaching up to God in our journey. One needs to stand before the exterior to allow it to enter into oneself. One doesn't quickly gather in the complexity of the exterior design. One must move to allow it to become a living piece of architecture. As one moves, the cathedral moves with one. The bell tower seems to be constantly moving, especially for people driving up the freeway. It's a very live piece of architecture, reflecting the vitality of the human body, as every piece of architecture reflects humanity. CS: What struck you most about the interior of the new cathedral?
CARDINAL STAFFORD: The interior reflects a mystery. We don't encounter immediately a vast expanse as in an ordinary cathedral. The portal is overshadowed by Mary, through whom the Messiah has come to us, Mother of God and Mother of the Church. She's not just a Madonna, but is Queen of Heaven. She is not haughty, but regal. She is a strong woman. She is very noble, speaking of the dignity of woman that needs to be articulated today -both for men and women. Inside, there is a long passage that eventually curves, and then the panorama of the vast interior unfolds. The great interior cross dominates the cathedral. It's placed to the left, and the tension of the asymmetry of the architecture speaks to us of the constant movement into God. And then there is the magnificent red marble altar, chosen by Cardinal Roger Mahony, symbolic of the Blood of the Lamb. ICS: Your early ordained ministry included social work through Catholic charities. Your leadership has demonstrated the
Church's preferential option for the poor. Is it good stewardship to spend $200 million on this structure when the Church of Los Angeles has so many people struggling with daily needs? CARDINAL STAFFORD: Ask the poor Latinos and Vietnamese waiting in line by the hundreds to enter the cathedral and then standing mutely before the interior crucifix. To touch that cross speaks to them of Isaiah 53, the suffering servant. They find, through touching that cross, some meaning to their suffering, their poverty. There is no way you can gainsay that. Materially poor people have deep hungers. How is that hunger to be filled? People, especially poor people, have been coming out in tens of thousands to greet Mary and be succoured, embraced and consoled at the cathedral. There is no way you can weigh those consolations in terms of money. We spend hundreds of millions of dollars on missiles for destruction and killing. Those missiles are costing $200 million each. We
send them off as if they're nothing; as a matter of fact, they're the cost of a cathedral. I think the Archbishop of Los Angeles had an intuition that his people still needed a place of gathering which in its form called them to something beyond everyday life, that is, to God.
"The cathedral is one of the great expressions of the dignity of the human person. It manifests what human religious sense can create from desire for transcendence and in praise of the transcendent."
His pastoral sense, his sense of the religious needs of the people proved correct. The cathedral is a confirmation of the Church's emphasis upon the importance of memory - "Do this in memory of me"contrary to Nietzsche's call to forget the past, be free of the past. The Church is saying our very humanity is dependent on recalling the past. The new
Modernity inspires: Worshippers gather for Mass in the new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in 200.2 Los k Profoundly modern, the cathedral spiritually lifts visitors and faithful in new ways. PHOTO: CNS
cathedral does that through the adobe style, reminiscent of the Franciscan missionaries up from Mexico. Owing to the vision and courage of the Cardinal and his confreres, the cathedral has truly become what it was intended to be: a spiritual heart of the city of Los Angeles. CS: In addition to functioning as "spiritual hearts' how have cathedrals impacted cultural history? CARDINAL STAFFORD: Cathedrals are our great tradition, a tradition that has built a continent - probably two. I visit enough cathedrals to be aware that the central meaning of Europe is to be found in its cathedrals. All of Europe was built around cathedrals. Europe is a creation of the cathedral. That would be true also for the United States. Moreover, when you think of the continent-wide experience of the American peoples, cathedrals have stabilised and renewed their cultural history. A cathedral not only makes use of the philosophical and theological understandings of a given people, but also gives form to materials available and to the technology of the day. With soaring buttresses, the Gothic cathedral spoke of spiritual hunger. People rejoiced in giving praise and thanksgiving to God through the best technology. The cathedral in Los Angeles does the same for us. It is built not only with the latest in materials, but also with sophisticated arithmetic, making best use of the available computer technology. There is only one 90-degree angle in the cathedral. That is not possible without the technology that allows architects and engineers to be so precise in planning.
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here has been a church on the site of St Peter's tomb since the fourth century but the current basilica, which covers just under five acres, was built mostly in the 16th century, designed primarily by Bramante at the behest of Pope Julius II. Michelangelo continued the work after Bramante 's death and designed the dome, which is an architectural wonder at 438 feet high. The famous colonnade, shaped like embracing arms, was designed by Bernini, as were the marble baldachino and St Peter's chair.
St Mar 's Cathedral, Perth
PHOTO. PE TER ROSEN6REN
BUILDING A FUTURE
St Mary's Cathedral in Perth currently looks a shell of its former self, but will soon be redeemed and restored to its original glory, and then some, according to the vision of the Bishops who have overseen its c onstruction over the decades, including Archbishop Patrick Clune, who shared Archbishop Barry Hickey's vision for it to be a "beautiful" rather than just a "functional" cathedral.
I CS: What predominant emotions do cathedrals stir for you? C ARDINAL STAFFORD: One never forgets walking into a great Gothic medieval c athedral. The cathedral is one of the great e xpressions of the dignity of the human person. It manifests what human religious sense can create from desire for transcendence and in praise of the transcendent. The cathedral calls us in its best expression to the mystery of God. We meet Him through coming together in the visible, artistic harmony of a cathedral - in what is beautiful, what is good, what is true. The cathedral is a reminder that all of the people of God are gathered together by the Spirit to proclaim the manifold gifts of the Spirit that inform the body of Christ. St. Peter's Basilica in Rome speaks to us
of 20 centuries of Catholic narrative. One is constantly uplifted by the unfolding of the Catholic tradition. St Peter's calls us to live the virtues; it speaks to us of what we have lost, for the most part, in postmodern society. Chartres is my favorite European cathedral. Chartres is a mystery of light. God is light. I remember attending a meeting held in one of the transepts in the cathedral in Seville, near an altar dedicated to Mary. One sits in wonder and awe before the reredos [elaborate screens attached to the back of the altar]. The stone architecture and sculptures unfold the mysteries of Christ and the Church in layers upon layers of geologic super-time. CS: As you know, master builders added the Seville cathedral to a mosque - an interesting layering of history and religion. Any comment on the current state of Islam?
Building up: A developing St Mary's Cathedral looks over the city of Perth.
PHOTO. PETER ROSENuREN
CARDINAL STAFFORD: Our two traditions - Christian and Islamic - can find some common foundations. When we are confronted with the political suicides of young men and women in Israel, we must go back to the story of Abraham, which is common to all three monotheistic religions. The sacrifice of Abraham questions the sacrifice of one's child. The tolerance of Islamic society's sacrifice of their sons and daughters for religion is intolerable in light of the story of Abraham. They are buying into the worst of Western existentialism. Sartre said that the only thing a thinking individual could do is commit suicide. An antidote to that is for Islamic leaders to forbid these suicides - which are a form of child sacrifice. I CS: In the third millennium since the Incarnation of Christ, can we come closer to God in a cathedral? CARDINAL STAFFORD: The architects of the great cathedrals had that as a paramount objective of design - that people would be removed from the distractions of daily life and called to the glory in which the experiences of daily life are constantly unfolding, that is, the glory of God. People who visit a cathedral are released, at least momentarily, from being earthbound. They seek things that are above. In a cathedral we're called to something that speaks of the ascension of humanity to the right hand of the Father. That's what a cathedral really calls us to: We human beings are destined to sit at the right hand of God with Christ.
La Familia Sagrada, Spain
MODERN, YET ANCIENT La Familia Sagrada (the Holy Family) Cathedral, in Barcelona, is one of the
most astonishing structures ever to be built and might truly be said to show what original genius can achieve when it is left unfettered. Built in the style known as 'Expressionism' the cathedral, begun in the 1890s, is still being completed and can be regarded as architect Antonio Gaudi's masterpiece. Today it continues to inspire - and to convert. Some who have studied it professionally have been moved to follow Christ as Catholics as a result.
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May 17 2007, The Record
Opinion
the family is the future
Spare the rod, spoil the child.., or not • with Derek Boylen
common verse quoted by pro - smackingparents with a fundamental of interpretation scripture is "spare the rod, spoil the child." Whenever I hear it I cringe. It is common practice for parents to smack their children from time to time as part of behaviour management and there is constant debate about it in the media. However, if you think God is pro-spanking, because of that particular verse in scripture, then think again. The Hebrew word in scripture that we translate as "rod" is "shebet." In Strong's Hebrew lexicon, shebet, has a number of possible
meanings: an actual rod or staff, a shaft, a club, a sceptre, a shepherd's crook, a clan or a tribe. Many people take the first option thinking that what is actually being said is that we should hit our children if we want them to grow up right. However, in scripture the word shebet is frequently used to symbolise guidance, heritage, and authority. Some examples include: • Psalms 23:4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." • Jeremiah 10:16 "The portion of Jacob is not like them: for he is the former of all things; and Israel is the rod of his inheritance: The Lord of hosts is his name." • Psalms 125:3 "For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity." • Ezekiel 19:11 "And she had strong rods for the sceptres of them that bear rule, and her stature was exalted among the thick branches, and she appeared in her height with the multitude of her branches." In only a small number of places
can the word shebet be translated to mean a literal rod used for hitting someone. An example would be: Exodus 21:20 "And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished." While most people know the phrase "spare the rod, spoil the child" it is actually only one of several such statements in Proverbs including: • Proverbs 13:24 "He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes." • Proverbs 22:1 "Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him." • Proverbs 23:13 "Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die." • Proverbs 23:14 "Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell." • Proverbs 29:15 "The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame." Interestingly it is very easy to substitute, in each of these verses, an interpretation of "rod" that
means authority rather than a literal stick. In just the same way other passages using the word "rod" refer to our heavenly Father's authority and not a white bearded man wielding a big stick. The scriptural interpretation of spare the rod, spoil the child" is not about smacking our children to get them to behave. It is an admonition to parents to take their parental duties seriously. God gives parents the authority and responsibility for the guidance of their children.
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The inspired writers of Proverbs are telling us parents that we need to take this authority and responsibility seriously for our children's sake. Taken this way the previously quoted gems are saying that when we exercise the authority to guide our children's behaviour we are loving them, helping them to grow in wisdom, leading them towards fullness of life, preparing them in faith and helping them to become people of whom we can be proud.
Couples Corner Hints for a Happy Marriage with Derek Boylen
Try natural family planning The current rate of divorce in our community is approximately 48%. However, research shows that couples who use a natural family planning method have a marital success rate of 95%. The natural methods are very effective for both achieving and avoiding pregnancy. If it is something you haven't considered before it's worth the effort to find out. Catholic Marriage $4 Education Services
To relish motherhood, first respect fatherhood Catherine Parish
© home
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topping to draw breath during our backyard slog to catch the verge green waste collection, I turned to watch my husband perched precariously on a ladder braced manfully by our oldest son, hacking away at the recalcitrant mulberry tree and passing down branches to the younger boys, myself and my daughter. There were so many other things he would rather have been doing. We would all rather have been doing almost anything else, in fact. But there he was, not just pruning a tree, but showing his children one aspect of manhood, part of the responsibility of being the father of a family - maintaining the family property! Looking back over our 15 years of marriage, I realise just how special the role of fatherhood is. This wonderful man who promised publicly in front of our families and friends, and in front of God Himself, to be my husband for better or for worse, until death do us part is sticking to his promise. The security it gives us both to know that neither of us ever intends to break that promise is such an integral part of our family happiness. This maturity, the ability to seri-
ously make that vow with every intention of keeping it no matter what - and to go on and do just that - is something that I think more men than women have difficulty with. The reluctance to commit because there is so much else out there that is often easier and appears to be more fun with less consequence is a blight that women have encouraged with their willingness to enter into a sexual relationship without marriage first. When women decide they want to bring children into these essentially uncommitted relationships, no wonder the blokes recoil with horror and scarper. Why should they take on that burden when everything is fine for them as it is? My husband's willingness to undertake the role of sole breadwinner in our family from the time he was first employed so I could stay at home with our children as they came along has meant that freedom, time and income that he could have spent a million very pleasant ways entirely on himself has always been devoted to providing for a growing family. Families are fun - but it is still a fundamentally unselfish, loving and life-affirming decision to make. And it is a telling lesson he is giving our children, that to have mum at home with them most or all of the time is much more important than the incomeIcould be earning in paid work. And whilst scooting out the door to work might sometimes be a welcome escape from the morning rush of a busy household (and I sometimes wish I could go with
him), I was in the paid workforce for long enough to know he is on his way to a stressful and busy environment, with its own burdens and worries. Not that he doesn't enjoy his work; there are many positives too. But he is still always so gratifyingly pleased to arrive home and the kids still often run out to greet him at the sound of the car arriving - we must be doing something right! His commitment has meant that we have grown together into a fam-
ily, we have grown into parents, and we are still learning and developing and growing as our children do. We have learned a tremendous amount together, have accumulated a store of priceless life experience, and, I would like to think, some wisdom along the way - and hopefully will garner still more as we continue along. We have become adults together and are ready to help our kids to develop into good, strong, adults with a secure sense of their own
identity and place in the world. There are so many unquantifiable, wonderful things his commitment has given me - along with grey hairs and wrinkles and 10 extra kilosI could do without! But that's all I'd willingly give away, mind you. Without dads, we wouldn't celebrate any Mothers' Day. If we want to really give proper status and value back to motherhood we have to teach our sons by example to relish the challenges of good fatherhood.
May 172007, The Record
Page 9
The World FEATURE
St Galvao a saintly first for Brazil Pope canonises Brazilian friar renowned for charity, healings • By John Thavis
p
ope Benedict XVI canonised Brazil's first native-born saint, an 18thcentury Franciscan friar renowned for his charity to the poor and his legacy of miraculous healings. At an outdoor Mass on May 11, the Pope read a decree proclaiming sainthood for Father Antonio Galvao, prompting a surge of applause among the hundreds of thousands of people who gathered at Sao Paulo's Campo de Marte Airport for the liturgy. As the saint's relics were brought in procession to the altar, the crowd sang and waved banners and flags in the sunshine. In the front row, wearing bright blue habits, were Conceptionist nuns, whose order used St Galvao as a spiritual adviser in the late 1700s. In his homily, which the Pope read in Portuguese, he said St Galvao, who died in 1822, was a model of Christian charity and service in Brazil, especially toward the poor and sick. He was sought out as a confessor and inspired people by his attitude of constant devotion to God, the Pope said. "The renown of his immense charity knew no bounds. People from all over the country went to Frei Galvao, who offered a fatherly welcome to everyone," the Pope said. The Pope did not mention a unique and popular form of devotion begun by St Galvao, in which people seeking cures are given tiny rice-paper pills inscribed with a prayer, which they ingest. Although the church hierarchy has not encouraged the practice, the "miracle pills" are distributed today by the cloistered nuns at the monastery where the saint is buried
Pope Benedict XVI greets a distant relative of St. Antonio Galvao at the new saint's canonization Mass at the Campo de Marte Airport in Sao Paulo, Brazil, May 11. PHOTO CNS and have been credited by devotees with thousands of healings. The Pope said St Galvao reminded people above all of the importance of God in their lives. That has significance for those seeking social progress and justice today, he said.
"Will the men and women of this world be able to find peace if they are not aware of the need to be reconciled with God, with their neighbour and with themselves?" the Pope asked. He said St Galvao's devotion to Mary and his commitment to
purity and virtue are also exemplary in a modern age "so full of hedonism." "The world needs transparent lives, clear souls, pure minds that refuse to be perceived as mere objects of pleasure. "It is necessary to oppose those
elements of the media that ridicule the sanctity of marriage and virginity before marriage," the Pope said. Those words prompted one of the strongest bursts of applause during the homily. The Pope said that today Mary remains "the best defence against the evils that afflict modern life." He encouraged Marian devotion, saying: "There is no fruit of grace in the history of salvation that does not have as its necessary instrument the mediation of Our Lady." The Pope closed his sermon by quoting from a talk he gave to young people in 2005: "Only from the saints, only from God does true revolution come, the definitive way to change the world." On his flight to Brazil, the Pope listed the canonisation as one of the highlights of his trip and said he hoped the new saint would stand as a model for those who want to create peace and social harmony. Shading his eyes against the morning sun, Franciscan Brother Fabio Tadeo Becasse called the canonisation "a gift and a blessing from God." He added, "It is a source of pride for Brazilians because he was a son of our land, and for all Franciscans this is a very special moment." Jurandy Boa Morte, 22, who had travelled to Sao Paulo with a dozen other people from the Diocese of Juazeiro in the northeastern state of Bahia, called the canonisation Mass "a moment of faith, a gathering of the faithful, a time to rethink, reaffirm and strengthen the faith." The canonisation "is important because Brazil is a Catholic country," he said. "People have come from all over, even from the Amazon region. Catholicism is a religion that embraces the entire country. We have enough people of faith here to have our own saint." St Galvao was the 10th person canonised by Pope Benedict; it was his first canonisation liturgy outside the Vatican. -CNS
'Infertile" woman tells of St Galvao's intercession to give her a son
B
enedict XVI greeted the Brazilian woman who attributes the birth of her son to the intercession of Blessed Antonio de Sant'Anna Galvao. Sandra Grossi de Almeida, 37, and her son Enzo, 8, were present today as the Pope canonised the priest. Enzo also received his first Communion from the Holy Father. More than 1 million people attended the open-air Mass on the airfield of Campo de Marte Airport in Sao Paulo. The woman gave birth to her son in 1999 after having taken "Father Galvao's pills," tiny ricepaper pills prepared by Sisters of the Monastery of Light.
Each pill, taken by people seeking cures for their illnesses, is inscribed with a prayer.
Before becoming pregnant with Enzo, she had suffered three miscarriages from a genetic problem known as a bicornuate uterus - also known as a heart-shaped uterus. Grossi de Almeida had a uterine malformation that should have made it impossible for her to carry a child for more than four
months. Her case was recognised as "scientifically inexplicable" by the team of medical experts on January 18, 2006, during the process of canonisation of Father Galvao (1739-1822). Grossi de Almeida said before her encounter with the Benedict XVI: "I believe that I will be so excited that I will just barely be able to thank him for approving the canonisation of Father Galvao here in Brazil, a gift for me and all Brazilians." Before becoming pregnant with Enzo, she had suffered three miscarriages from a genetic problem known as a bicornuate uterus - also known as a heart-shaped uterus.
"Gynecologists told me to be realistic; that they would do everything medically possible to help me but they told meI would most likely miscarry again," said Grossi de Almeida in the official Web page of the Pope's visit to Brazil. It was then that a family friend spoke to the expectant mother of Father Galvao's pills, which she decided to take. Grossi de Almeida said that the haemorrhaging stopped on the first night of the novena: "That was a sign that I could believe in the power of Father Galvao even more, and in his intercession." In the fifth month of pregnancy the doctors said that the
baby was too big, and that she was at risk for a miscarriage. "It was then that Iprayed again to Father Galvao," she recalled. The doctors performed a Caesarean section at 32 weeks of pregnancy without any complications. "The doctors said it was impossible, but not for God," she said. Enzo suffered from a serious lung problem at birth, a common cause of death for premature babies, but after his mother prayed again to Father Galvao, the baby was taken off the respirator the next day. Asked about Father Galvao, Enzo said: "It is thanks to him that I was born." -ZENIT
May 17 2007, The Record
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The World
Message of hope found among addicts Pope tells addicts that drug dealers will face God's judgment • By John Thavis
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n a meeting with recovering Brazilian drug addicts, Pope Benedict XVI said drug dealers will face God's judgment for the damage they have inflicted on individuals and society. The Pope made the remarks during a visit on May 12 to Fazenda da Esperanca, or Farm of Hope, a church-run drug rehabilitation centre in rural Brazil. A fter listening to emotional testimonials from young men and women who have struggled to break free of drug and alcohol dependency, the Pope urged those helped by the centre to become "ambassadors of hope" to other addicts. The Pope said the statistics on drug abuse in Brazil were alarming and that the rest of Latin America is not far behind. "I therefore urge the drug dealers to reflect on the grave harm they are inflicting on countless young people and on adults from every level of society," he said. "God will call you to account for your deeds. Human dignity cannot be trampled upon in this way," he said. The Pope spoke from a thatchroofed platform to about 3,000 people who gathered on the grounds of the 40-acre farm, where residents grow vegetables and raise livestock. The pontiff arrived after a long drive deep into the heart of the southern Brazil countryside, where rich valleys alternated with wooded
before the Pope and read testimonials about their experience at the farm. Antonio Eleuterio Neto described how his drug addiction since age 12 was broken when he was offered friendship and trust and was able to discover the importance of God in his life. A fter the young man spoke, the Pope gave him a hug. Sylvia Hartwich, a 20-year German immigrant, cried when describing her struggle with drugs and anorexia, which she overcame after being approached by three members of Farm of Hope. Today, she works as a volunteer in a German branch of the movement. Ricardo Correa Ribeirinha, the son of a prostitute, told of his personal experiences of sniffing glue, taking cocaine and smoking crack, and of the devastation caused society by the drug trade and the violence that surrounds it. People thought he would end up in jail or in an early grave, but he broke free after joining Farm of Hope, he said. In his talk, Pope Benedict praised the centre's approach of combining medical and psychological assistance with prayer, manual work and personal discipline. Pope Benedict XVI embraces a young woman during his visit to a church-run drug rehabilitation centre in Guaratingueta, PHOTO (NS When dealing with addiction, he Brazil on May 12. said, it was important to treat the Brazilian city of Guaratingueta grams and took substitute chemi- soul as well as the body. hills. Farmsteads along the route The personnel at the centre, he decorated their driveways in yellow ministers to about 100 addicts. cals, but it did not work, he said. are carrying out a emphasised, of Farm about heard had He after there Many of them arrive and white, the Vatican colours. as well as rehaconversion of work it. try to decided he so Hope, rehab other with failing and trying The Farm of Hope was founded bilitation. differwas method the "Here treatments. Franciscan, German a by in 1983 Farm of Hope says its success Filipe Kenji Diniz, a 27-year-old ent," he said. Father Hans Stapel. with addict rehabilitation is rate to God to talk to "I learned from Curitiba who sat near the Today, it is a movement with 33 than 80 percent, far better more God, I to talked I when And pray. 12 for tried he said papal stage, centres around the world, helpsimilar programs in other than and calm, very stayed I that found which habit, drug his kick to years mothing drug addicts, unwed ers, homeless and young people began with alcohol and ended with I didn't need the drugs anymore," Brazil. Before leaving, the Pope gave a gift of $100,000 to the cenhe said. crack cocaine. infected with HIV. -CNS tre. stood women and men Five proHe entered three hospital The main centre near the
Pope inspires in Brazil
Pope Pius XII to be voted venerable Italian sources report Sainthood congregation recommends Pope Pius XII be named venerable amongst lingering WWII controversy • By Cindy Wooden
the of Members Congregation for Saints' Causes met on May 8 to consider the cause of Pope Pius XII and apparently voted to recommend that Pope Benedict XVI formally declare him venerable. Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, vice director of the Vatican press office, confirmed the congregation had met, but since the result of the vote still had to be presented to the Pope he would not say on May 9 what the result was. Italian newspapers, citing
unnamed sources, said the congregation's cardinals and archbishops recommended that Pope Benedict formally recognise that Pope Pius lived the Christian virtues in a heroic manner. Once the Pope issues a decree recognising heroic virtues, the candidate is referred to as venerable. Before a candidate can be beatified, the Pope also must issue a decree recognising a miracle attributed to the candidate's intercession. A second miracle is needed for canonisation. The newspaper Corriere della Sera reported on May 9 that a minority of the congregation members had voted "no," urging Pope Benedict to delay issuing a decree until there is "a more favourable climate," particularly regarding the ongoing controversy over Pope Pius' actions during World War II. However, a Vatican source told Catholic News Service in
Rome on May 9 that the congregation's vote was unanimously in favour of issuing the decree. Jesuit Father Peter Gumpel, the promoter of Pope Pius' cause, was out of town on May 9 and unavailable for comment. Pope Pius led the Catholic Church from 1939 to 1958; immediately before his election, the then-Cardinal Eugenio Pacelli was the Vatican secretary of state. The May 8 vote of the congregation members was based on a review of a six-volume, 3,000-page "positio" or position paper prepared by the promoters of Pope Pius' sainthood cause. The report, given to the Vatican in 2004, included sworn testimony from witnesses, historical documents and a review of literature - both neutral and negative - pertaining to the Vatican's actions during World War II. -CNS
Pope, Brazilian president discuss youths, family, social concerns Pope Benedict XVI and Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva discussed youths, the family and social concerns when they met on May 10. Before the meeting, some analysts speculated that the president would try to steer the conversation away from abortion, which was in the news in Brazil in the days before the Pope's visit. A Vatican spokesman said the issue did not come up during the meeting, which lasted more than half an hour and was attended by first lady Marisa Leticia da Silva. The Pope expressed his hope that a concordat, an agreement on church-state relations, would be signed during his pontificate and the president's term in office. However, da Silva reiterated his commitment to a lay state. According to local media, Vera Barrouin Machado, Brazil's ambassador to the Vatican, quoted da Silva as saying, "It is our intention to preserve and conserve the lay state, with religion as a tool for addressing spiritual
matters and social problems." Da Silva mentioned his concerns about the problems of youths and young adults; more than 60 percent of the Brazilian population is under age 29. Pope Benedict and da Silva agreed that moral formation for young people must be a priority, and the president called for greater collaboration between church and state in that area. The president also highlighted the Catholic Church's support for peace and social and human development in Brazil. The Church's ministry for infants is credited with lowering malnutrition rates, especially in rural parts of the country, while other church offices address land rights for peasant farmers and issues related to indigenous peoples, A fro-Brazilians and young people. Da Silva asked the Pope to support efforts to promote greater justice in trade in Latin America. Brazil has spearheaded an initiative to create a South American economic community of nations and to foster fairer trade relations within the region and between Latin America and the United States and Latin America and the European Union. -CNS
May 17 2007, The Record
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The World
Facing up to our obligations on global warming Climate change an ethical, environmental issue, UN nuncio says
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lobal warming is not just an environmental issue but must be seen in "ethical, economic, social and political terms as well," Archbishop Celestino Migliore told a gathering of highranking development officials at the United Nations on May 10. The Vatican nuncio's statement to the international body warned that global warming and energy shortages could have a disproportionate effect on the world's poor. "The consequences of climate change ... will impact first and foremost the poorest and weakest who, even if they are among the least responsible for global warming, arc the most vulnerable because they have limited resources or live in areas at greater risk," he said. "Many of the most vulnerable societies, already facing energy problems, rely upon agriculture, the very sector most likely to suffer from climatic shifts." Archbishop Migliore spoke during the 15th session of the Commission on Sustainable Development of the UN Economic and Social Council. The theme of the meeting was "Turning Political Action, Commitments Into Working Together in Partnership." Also addressing the commission
Lights glow atop the stacks of TXU Monticello Steam Electric Station power plant near Mount Pleasant, Texas.
were high-ranking officials of the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, World Health Organisation, International Energy Agency and other international bodies. Senior government officials or representatives of more than two dozen nations also spoke.
"Ultimately, the earth is our common heritage and we have a grave and far-reaching responsibility to ourselves and to future generations for the actions we are due to take here," Archbishop Migliore said, adding that "the need for joint action at the international level does not lessen the responsibility of individual states."
Abdalla Salem el-Badri, secretary-general of OPEC, told the UN session that energy demand is projected to increase more than 50 percent by 2030, requiring an estimated $20 trillion in cumulative investment. A "common, global, long-term energy strategy" must be "capable of satisfying legitimate short- and
medium-term energy requirements, ensuring energy security, protecting human health and the environment, and establishing precise commitments to address the question of climate change," Archbishop Migliore said. To address "the double challenge" of climate change and energy shortages, the world must change from "the heedless pursuit of economic growth in the name of development" to an economic model that "heeds the consequences of its actions and is more respectful toward the creation we hold in common," the archbishop said. National education efforts also are needed that would "lead us all without exception to approach our daily patterns of consumption and production in a very different way and to demand a similar change throughout construction, transport, businesses and other institutions," he said. Solutions to the "worldwide, unprecedented ecological changes" already taking place are possible, but the choices made must not make things worse, especially for the poor," Archbishop Migliore said. "We cannot simply uninvent the modern world, but there is still time to use technology and education to promote universally sustainable development before it is too late," he added. -CNS
The elusive tomb of King Herod is discovered say archaeologists Israeli archaeologists say they have found King Herod's tomb A fter three and a half decades of scouring this dusty, heat-scorched mountainside, Israeli archaeologists said they have finally found the elusive tomb of King Herod the Great. The location and unique nature of the finds as well as the historical record leave no doubt that the finds are the remains of the king's burial site, despite there being no inscriptions, said Ehud Netzer, the Hebrew University professor of archaeology who has led the excavations at Herodium since 1972.
The dig uncovered the various buildings at the towering coneshaped site which King Herod, who ruled Judea on behalf of Rome from 37 BC to 4 BC, had constructed. Only one or two other sarcophagi of this monumental size and quality have been discovered, he said. "Not every rich Jewish citizen of the time could afford a sarcophagus like this," he said. "It is really a royal one. The stone work is very different. It is really an important, well-executed monument. It is a great satisfaction (to have found it.) I am not sure I myself have fully digested it yet." Because of ancient texts, archae-
news in brief
Zimbabwe bars priests The Zimbabwean government's antagonism toward the Catholic Church is shown in its refusal to renew the permits of foreign priests, said Archbishop Pius Ncube of Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. "In a sign of the government becoming anti-church," the archbishop said, two black South African priests were refused extensions of their permits to stay in Zimbabwe and had to return to their home country. In a May 14 telephone interview from Bulawayo, Archbishop Ncube called Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's recent comments about him "very disturbing." In the May edition of the Londonbased New African magazine, Mugabe, 83,
ologists have long known where King Herod was buried, but they had been unsuccessful until now in their search for the actual mausoleum. Over the past three years a team lead by Netzer began circling in on an area on the northeastern slope of the hillside which the ancient king, well-known for his architectural feats, had constructed some nine miles south of Jerusalem in commemoration of a military victory. The palace complex he built at the summit was said to be among the most spectacular of his building projects, and it was here that he chose to have his remains buried. In his numerous edicts, which
singled out Archbishop Ncube for condemnation and said he has "long been a lost bishop." After an Easter pastoral letter in which Zimbabwe's bishops said the country was in "deep crisis" and "extreme danger" because of its "overtly corrupt" leadership, Mugabe warned the bishops that they are treading "a dangerous path" by criticising the government.
Actor invests in faith If the story of the rich young man from the Gospel of Matthew had a sequel updated for modern times, it might resemble the life of actor Eduardo Verastegui, a Catholic who stars in the film "Bella." In the Gospel account, Jesus tells the young man to sell all he has and follow him, but the man goes away sorrowful. In the modern-day sequel,
included the killing of three of his sons and one of his wives, King Herod was also renowned for magnificent building projects. believe Archaeologists Herodium to be the most outstanding among the king's projects. Herodium is surrounded by Arab villages, with Bethlehem in view just on the horizon, and the Israeli excavation at the site was interrupted several times since 1980 because of violence associated with the first and second Palestinian uprisings. Toward the end of 2005, the dig was renewed after a five-year break. Their big break came one morning in late April, when work-
Verastegui sells all he has and is prepared to give up his budding acting career to follow Jesus. Verastegui had reached the zenith of Mexican celebrity as a soap star and singer who had toured at least 13 countries to sold-out crowds. His resume includes music videos and films. But while studying English in Los Angeles, he found himself drawn to a deeper faith in Jesus through the example of his Catholic teacher, and began to see all the reasons he had wanted to be an actor - fame, money and pleasure - as empty and vain. In 2004 he met movie producer Leo Severino while attending daily Mass. Not long after, Verastegui and Severino cofounded Metanoia Films to produce movies that could change lives and hearts. "Bella," released in 2006, is Metanoia's first film. It won the coveted People's Choice Award at last fall's Toronto Film Festival.
ers began finding large pieces of pinkish Jerusalem limestone with intricately engraved rosettes, part of a stone coffin. "I knew we had come to the right place the moment we started to find pieces of a sarcophagus. We started to understand we were getting close to our target," said Netzer. Josephus, who left a well preserved historical record, described the site of Herodium and the king's funeral in great detail but did not mention the tomb. He wrote that the lavish funeral procession that began in Jericho was attended by family members and a contingency -CNS of foreign guards .
Compromised message The chairman of the US bishops' Committee on Pro-Life Activities urged two congressional committees to maintain current funding levels for abstinence education and said programs that promote "safe sex" and contraception offer young people a "compromised" message. Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia said the more than 500 abstinence programs currently in place in the US "form character and educate our youth about the decisions they face, empowering them to make healthy choices that do not jeopardise their health and future." For every $1 the federal government spends on abstinence education it spends $12 on "safe sex' and contraceptive programs," he said. -CNS
May 17 2007, The Record
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Charity goes with evangelisation In another installment of Pope Benedict XVI's lessons on the great saints, here he speaks on what we can learn from Christianity's first martyr St Stephen. Dear Brothers and Sisters: Today we wish to pause on the person of St Stephen, celebrated by the Church on the day after Christmas. St Stephen is the most representative of a group of seven companions. Tradition sees in this group the seed of the future ministry of deacons, though we must point out that this name is not present in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. Stephen's importance, in any case, is clear by the fact that, in this important book, Luke dedicates two whole chapters to him. Luke's account begins by showing a subdivision that took place within the primitive Church of Jerusalem: It was made up completely of Christians of Jewish origin, but among the latter some were natives of the land of Israel and were called "Hebrews," while others came from the Jewish faith in the Old Testament from the diaspora of the Greek tongue and were called "Hellenists." Thus the problem began to take shape: The neediest among the Hellenists, especially widows devoid of any social support, ran the risk of being neglected in assistance for their daily sustenance. In order to overcome these difficulties, the apostles, reserving for themselves prayer and the ministry of the word as their main task, decided to appoint "seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom" to this duty, that is, to charitable social service. As Luke writes, with this objective and by invitation of the apostles, the disciples elected seven men. We have their names. They are: "Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles who prayed and laid hands on them" (Acts 6:5-6). The gesture of the imposition
of hands can have several meanings. In the Old Testament, the gesture has above all the meaning of transmitting an important duty, as Moses did with Joshua (Numbers 27:18-23), thus designating his successor. Following this line, the Church of Antioch would also use this gesture to send Paul and Barnabas on mission to the peoples of the world (Acts 13:3). Reference is made to a similar imposition of hands upon Timothy, to transmit an official duty, in two letters that St Paul addressed to him (1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6). The fact that it referred to an important action, which had to be carried out after a discernment is deduced from what is read in the first letter to Timothy: "Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, nor participate in another man's sins" (5:22). Therefore, we see that the gesture of the imposition of hands takes place in the line of a sacramental sign. In the case of Stephen and his companions it is certainly about the official transmission, on the part of the apostles, of a duty and at the same time of imploring for the grace to exercise it. What is most important is that, in addition to charitable services, Stephen also carried out a task of evangelisation among his fellow countrymen, the so-called "Hellenists." Luke, in fact, stresses the fact that he, "full of grace and power" (Acts 6:8), presents in Jesus' name a new interpretation of Moses and of the very Law of God, rereads the Old Testament in the light of the proclamation of the death and resurrection of Jesus. This rereading of the Old Testament, a Christological rereading, provokes the reactions of the Jews who interpret his words as blasphemous (Acts 6:11-14). For this reason, he is sentenced to stoning. And St Luke transmits to us the saint's last discourse, a synthesis of his preaching. As Jesus explained to the disciples of Emmaus that the whole of the Old Testament speaks of him, of his cross and of his resurrection, so St Stephen, following Jesus' teaching, reads the whole of the Old Testament in a Christological key. He demonstrates that the mystery of the cross is at the centre of
Stephen first century feast — December 26 Stephen, a Greek-speaking Jew, was among the first seven deacons chosen to help widows whose needs were being neglected in Jerusalem's Hellenist community His story appears in Acts 6-7. His "working great wonders and signs among the people" and his preaching antagonized Jewish leaders, who brought him before the Sanhedrin. In a long speech, he summarized Israel's history and called his listeners "stiff-necked people ... just like your ancestors." Saul, later the apostle Paul, witnessed Stephen's martyrdom by stoning. Saints for Tocia9
2006 (NS
Christ's first martyr: Upon being stoned to death, St Stephen prayed that the sin of his killers not be held against them.
the history of salvation narrated in the Old Testament, he truly shows that Jesus, the crucified and risen one, is the new and authentic "ternpie. Precisely this "no" to the temple and its worship provokes the condemnation of St Stephen who, in that moment - St Luke tells us - on turning his gaze to heaven saw the glory of God and Jesus at his right hand. And looking up to heaven, to God and to Jesus, St Stephen said: "Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). It was followed by his martyrdom, which in fact was conformed with the Passion of Jesus himself, as he gives his own spirit to the Lord Jesus and prays so that the sin of his killers not be held against them (Acts 7:59-60). The place of Stephen's martyrdom in Jerusalem is situated traditionally just beyond the Damascus Gate in the north, where in fact the church of St Stephen now is, near the well-known "Ecole Biblique" of the Dominicans. The murder of Stephen, Christ's first martyr, was followed by a local persecution against Jesus' disciples (Acts 8:1), the first verified in the history of the Church. It was the concrete opportunity that drove the group of Hebrew-Hellenist Christians to flee Jerusalem and be scattered. Expelled from Jerusalem, they became itinerant missionaries. "Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word" (Acts 8:4). The persecution and consequent scattering became mission. The Gospel was thus propagated in Samaria, Phoenicia, and Syria, until reaching the great city
of Antioch where, according to Luke, it was proclaimed for the first time to the pagans (Acts 11:19-20) and where the name "Christians" resounded for the first time (Acts 11:26). In particular, Luke specifies that those who stoned Stephen "laid down their garments at the feet of a young. man named Saul" (Acts 7:58), the same one who from persecutor would become a famous Apostle of the Gospel. This means that the young Saul must have heard Stephen's preaching, and knew the main contents. And St Paul was probably among those who, following and listening to this discourse, were enraged" and "ground their teeth against him" (Acts 7:54). Thus we can see the wonders of Divine Providence: Saul, hardened adversary of Stephen's vision, after the encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, takes up the Christological interpretation of the Old Testament made by the first martyr, furthers and completes it, and thus becomes the "Apostle to the Gentiles." The law is fulfilled, he teaches, in the cross of Christ. And faith in Christ, communion with the love of Christ, is the true fulfillment of the whole Law. This is the content of Paul's preaching. He thus shows that the God of Abraham becomes the God of all. And all believers in Christ Jesus, as sons of Abraham, become sharers in the promises; Stephen's vision is fulfilled in St Paul's mission. Stephen's story tells us much. For example, it teaches us that we must never dissociate the social commitment of charity from the courageous proclamation of the
faith. He was one of the seven entrusted above all with charity. But it was not possible to disassociate charity from proclamation. Thus, with charity, he proclaims Christ crucified, to the point of also accepting martyrdom. This is the first lesson that we can learn from the figure of St Stephen: Charity and proclamation always go together. St Stephen speaks to us above all of Christ, of Christ crucified and risen as the centre of history and of our life. We can understand that the Cross occupies always a central place in the life of the Church and also in our personal lives. Passion and persecution will never be lacking in the history of the Church. And, precisely persecution becomes, according to Tertullian's famous phrase, source of mission for the new Christians. I quote his words: "We multiply every time we are harvested by you: The blood of Christians is a seed" ("Apologetico" 50,13: "Plures efficimur quoties metimur a vobis: semen est sanguis christianorum"). But also in our lives the cross, which will never be lacking, becomes a blessing. And, accepting the cross, knowing that it becomes and is a blessing, we learn the joy of the Christian, even in moments of difficulty. The value of the testimony is irreplaceable, as the Gospel leads to him and the Church is nourished on him. St Stephen teaches us to learn these lessons, he teaches us to love the cross, as it is the way through which Jesus always makes himself present again among us. TRANSLATION BY ZENIT
May 172007, The Record
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Bringing out the best in young adults even know what it means to be a Catholic, or even what the Church is. Is it a beauracracy? Is it a multinational corpora-
• By Anthony Barich
In the heart of every young person there is a firm and deep desire to do something great with their life. No young person wants to set him or her self up to fall. But unless they are sub-terrestrial beings impervious to the culture that surrounds them, our youth, while still possessing God-given free will, can become misguided in these dreams. Fr Mark De Battista is 37. He spent three years in the United States as national chaplain of FOCUS - Fellowship of Catholic University Students. Prior to that he spent 18 months as assistant chaplain to University of Illinois, doing spiritual direction for the students. He is currently chaplain to the Australian Catholic Students Association while a young, enthusiastic diocesan priest of Wollongong. Having dealt with as many youths as he has, Fr Mark has seen first-hand that youth, while striving for something, need guidance, encouragement, clear direction and strong mentors who can point out the way for them to go forward. At 47, Melbourne Auxiliary Bishop Anthony Fisher, a friar of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) is the youngest Bishop in Australia. In his younger days he was dux of St Ignatius College in Riverview, NSW. He recently told a Vatican conference sponsored by the Pontifical Academy for life that "too often in recent years those desperate for for moral education have been fobbed off with 'follow your conscience' or 'do whatever seems right to you', without being helped to understand what a correct conscience is and how it is formed". Dr Tracey Rowland, the Dean of Melbourne's John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family, is an academic who believes intellectual, liturgical and social formation are crucial to helping youth fight the future that is growing increasing-
Inspirational: Young priest Fr Mark De Battista will speak at the 2028 Congress.
ly uncertain. These are but three Australian speakers among others who will address students and young adults at the Australian Catholic Students Association's (ACSA) "2028 Congress" from July 6-8 this year in Canberra, in what is being billed as "the most exciting event in the Australian Church's history". Organisers of next year's World Youth Day in Sydney would debate that claim, but then again, Archbishop Charles Chaput, a Franciscan Archbishop of Denver, USA that hosted World Youth Day in 1993, will also speak at the 2028 Congress. He will speak on how the Australian Church can use WYD 08 to bring the Gospel to Australians.
The Congress is called "2028" because that's the timeline targeted in which today's youth can form and influence the world they live in. It's tough being a young Catholic today - just ask any of them who were lucky enough to have attended university in WA around the time abortion was being legalised in 1998. Students go to university for intellectual stimulation, to attain a degree to get a job and to equip themselves with the knowledge to live in the world today. Yet the very knowledge they need is that which comes from the Truth of the Catholic Church. Trouble is, the chances are that most young Catholics don't
With over 100 staff and over
30 campus missions, FOCUS has
reached thousands of students. Now it's coming to Australia. Already with the approval of the tion? Australian Conference of Catholic The only answers they find are Bishops, FOCUS missionaries will from people who don't really know be entering universities around the any better. nation as soon as next year. This Dr Rowland will attack the conwill be a key part in enlarging the ference from the angle of anthropology, saying that you can't be impact of WYD 08 on university a Catholic in the world if you campuses. "We find that young people fredon't know what it means to be a quently turn to the idols of our age, Catholic. which our culture presents as mod"Young Catholics can't possibly try to engage the world from els on which to shape their lives," Fr a Catholic point of view unless Mark says. "Typically, such models they understand the fundamental will take the form of TV stars, rock stars and sports figures - the three point of what does it mean to be a lenses through which most young Catholic," she said. These ACSA conferences are people see themselves and others." However, Fr Mark says there is known for giving youth exactly a logical inconsistency that develthat. ops from this, as a person may be "You can't discount the intelleca great basketball player or great confertual formation that these musician or be a great actor, but ences offer," she says. this doesn't give them a platform "It's important that Catholic stufrom which to speak about moral dents get intellectual formation in their faith commensurate with the or faith issues. "Yet we have TV stars, musistandards of education they have in cians or other people in public life their professional lives." who, while being good in their own Then there are secondary bensphere, are being asked for their efits, like the opportunity to meet of what makes a person opinions and share to other Catholics and great and what's really worthwhile develop friendships with other doing, and these are shaping the Catholics. minds and hearts of young people The youth of Australia descendand their desire for greatness," Fr ing on Canberra for this Congress a year out from WYD is a powerful Mark said. Rock star Pink spoke out contromeans of telling people that this versially recently urging consumers World Youth Day has something to worldwide to boycott Australian say to all Australians, and in fact, wool, yet the most she's seen of the the whole world. plight of Australian farmers is... Fr Mark will visit Perth's Catholic well, a long way from any of our Pastoral Centre in Highgate at stadiums she's played in. 6.30pm on May 23 to talk about "The models held up by our culthe Congress and also promote a ture are false models of greatness, related passion of his - Missionary so we need to look for true models Year. He will ask young people, of greatness, and we find them in particularly graduates or undergraduates wanting to take time off people who not only talk the talk but walk the walk, who profess the study, to consider giving a year or gospel that they preach," Fr Mark two to God in evangelising at unisays. People like blessed Mother versity campuses. Theresa of Calcutta, Pope Benedict It was an idea he used as part of FOCUS (www.focusonline.org), XVI and John Paul II, are examwhich has existed for 10 years in ples of people who have dedicated themselves not so much living in the United States as one of the the limelight as to committing fastest growing and most effecthemselves to the Gospel that they tive ways to evangelise university learned from Jesus Christ. have studstudents, using small bible Contact Fr Mark on 0412 085 611 or 02 4655 8797 ies, discipleship and one-on-one friendship as its means of bringing on his visit to Perth, the ACSA 2028 Congress or his Mission program. Christ to them.
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May 172007, The Record
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1
Giving our daughters the wrong idea Continued from page 7
safe and effective as the drug companies say, how safe will it be for our children's moral character? Here in Queensland - and there is strong support at our national government level - state school canteens are required by law to restrict the sale of pies and chocolate because they "might" (not "will") make some children fat. Every school in the nation must, by law, display a poster listing the Commonwealth Government's list of Values in Australian Schools. We must display a poster advis-
"As a school principal, I'd rather tell my students about the values of living a chaste life rather than vaccinate them from the consequences of not doing so:' ing that we subscribe to something called the national "Safe Schools Framework". To fail in these things is to risk losing Commonwealth funding support for our schools. Am I the only one who sees an inconsistency here? Our society seems to be unwilling to teach young people to say "no". When it comes to something as insubstantial as a meat pie, we legislate to prevent young people engaging in "risky" behaviour, When it comes to life-threatening, socially and emotionally damaging sexual behaviour, we develop
This won't hurt a bit: Our society seems unwilling to teach our kids to say"no", so we give them injections to safeguard them from the consequences, and spend billions on safe sex programs and protecting them from the results of that behaviour.
safe sex" programs which encourage immoral behaviour, and then spend billions of dollars protecting them from the harmful results of that behaviour. The HPV virus is a public health problem. But, given the moral issues involved, instead of arranging mass vaccinations though schools, a better solution would surely be to make the vaccine available at no cost through a local medical practitioner for those who wish to take advantage of it.
There has been no thought to the invidious position in which this mass programme places a school principal. He or she must tell a 12 year old girl that she ought to have a vaccine which cannot be guaranteed to have no side effects, in order to protect her from the liberal sexual contacts that we expect her to have. As a school principal, I would rather tell my students about the values of living a chaste life until marriage, and that during
the next few years I expect them to engage in academic work, sport and music. As an educator and as a parent, I believe firmly in the principle of teaching young people from an early age to say "no" to things that may harm them. Only then will our young people refuse to get into cars with drunk or irresponsible drivers, or participate in other peer-encouraged risky behaviour. We repeatedly see tragic news stories of bereaved
parents blaming the police, the Prime Minister, the roads, the government, the schools and so on because their child died in a tragic speed chase by a police car, or in a drug overdose. How often do we hear a parent admit that they fell down on the job of forming the character of their child? I am well aware that no-one is perfect, and "There but for the grace of God, go I". But surely there is a place for schools which teach young people that responsibility can be spelt response-ability". The Hollywood set might regard drug intervention as a reasonable safety-valve for their immoral and personally faithless and superficial lifestyle. In my school we expect more of our students. Each of us is capable of making a response to each and every life situation. How we respond is usually our own choice. The safest choices have high price tags at the time of making the choice - we risk friends, popularity, "a good time". The wrong choices have extraordinarily high price tags at the end of the line: illness, relationship failures, crippling financial costs, quadriplegia and even death. In my school, it is my intention not to give up requiring children to make choices. And then to wear the cost of having made the choice. It used to be called being a good parent. I have a sneaking suspicion that most of our parents support this approach. Graham Leo is the principal of Emmanuel College on the Gold Coast of Australia.
P ANORAMA a roundup of events in the archdiocese Sunday May 20 RALLY FOR WORLD YOUTH DAY - THE JOURNEY BEGINS 1pm. Advice and discussion on what you need to know! And why you should go there. Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Drive Armadale. Parents and youth welcome. Sunday May 20 TAIZE MEDITATIVE PRAYER 7-8pm. Sisters of St Joseph Chapel, 16 York St, South Perth. Come and join in the Taize Prayer this month as we remember Sister Irene McCormack's 16th Anniversary of her death in Peru. We remember Irene's life and her giftedness, especially to the people in Peru. Come and bring your friends and pray in a candlelit chapel in stillness and peace. Bring a small torch. Enq: Sr Maree Riddler 0414 683 926. Sunday May 20 WUNDOWIE A Mass for the 50th Anniversary of the building of the Our Lady, Queen of Heaven Church will be held at 8am. Our inaugural Priest Fr Pat Cunningham will be returning to celebrate Mass with us. All welcome, especially past and present parishioners. Morning tea will be served after Mass. Sunday May 20 CATHOLIC POLICE OFFICERS BBQ Serving and former sworn/staff and families, are invited to a Marian BBQ/Picnic at the Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Dr, Armadale. Rosary at 12.30pm followed by BYO BBQ/Picnic. No BBQ available on site, will need to bring one if required. Thursday May 24 PILGRIMAGE The Legion of Mary, Eastern Districts Curia invites interested people to join them on a pilgrimage at the Mary Mackillop Centre, 6 York St, South Perth.
To learn more about our first Australian saint Blessed Mary MacKillop. 9.30-2pm BYO Lunch Enq: Sr Maree Riddler 9457 3371 or Barbara Wall 9272 4534. Thursday May 24 ANNUAL RALLY FOR LIFE Will be held from noon at Parliament House to remember the 72,000 babies killed by abortion in WA since 1998. Enq: Des Noonan 9291 8641. Thursday May 24 HELLO-GOODBYE MASS To remember those special babies lost before, during or soon after birth will be held in the Good Shepherd Church, cnr Morley Drive and Altone Road, Lockridge, 7pm. The parish prayer group will be available after Mass for individual prayer. Enq: Shirley 9279 9165 or Cath 9378 9806. May 25-27 CHARISMATIC RENEWAL PENTECOST CONFERENCE Entitled 'Set out into the Deep' At Trinity College, East Perth commencing 7.30pm. Speakers include Fr Gino Henriques CSsR & Mrs Julie Chircop. Evening rallies free; day workshops from $7. Enq: Dan 9398 4973. Friday May 25 NEW LIFE IN GOD'S SPIRIT SEMINAR 7.30 - 9.30pm 270 Camberwarra Drive Whitford/ Craigie.'Pentecost'the fire of God's love and power, the gift of God's Spirit freely given. Experience a personal Pentecost with talk by Fr Hugh Thomas and Mario Borg. Booklets $15 or $5 per session. CEO accredited seminar. Enq: Jenni Young 9445 1028 or 0404 389 679. Friday May 25 SAINT PIO'S BIRTHDAY Archbishop Hickey will be celebrating Mass at St Mary's Church 40 Franklin St, Leederville, 7pm.
Following there will be a presentation for the Saint Pio Prayer Groups and those interested in the Aranmore School Hall. Priests, Religious, Laity are invited to attend. Tea and Coffee provided, please bring a plate. Enq: 6278 1540.
and we encourage you to bring family and friends to this evening of fellowship. Enq: Rita 9272 1765 or Rose 0403 300 720.
Saturday May 26 NEW LIFE IN GOD'S SPIRIT SEMINARS Our Lady's 8 Weeks, Saturdays 2.30-4pm Assumption Parish, 356 Grand Promenade, Dianella. If interested please call Abraham: 9275 8464 or 0413 484 574, or Keith: 9443 1228 or 0411 108 525.
9am - 5pm St Joachim Church, Shepperton Road, Victoria Park. A video of Fatima will be shown at 9am. A day of prayer and instruction based upon the messages of Fatima. Includes Sacrament of Penance, Holy Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, Sermons, Rosaries, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament and stations of the Cross. BYO Lunch, Enq: CONTACT Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate 9250 8286.
Saturday May 26 FOOTPRINTS MEN'S SPIRITUALITY GROUP May Meeting. 10am -12pm Quinlan Room, St Thomas More College, Crawley. Guest Speakers: Pete and Pearl Summer. Topic: The Spiritual Teaching of Eckhart Tolle and why it is so liberating. All welcome, Ladies and Gents. Gold Coin Donation. Enq: Christian 9444 1734, Keith George 9457 6051 or John Dwyer 9245 2932. May CAN YOU NOT WATCH ONE HOUR WITH ME Why not consider joining the Perpetual Adoration family of over 250 permanent and fill-in Adorers at Bassendean Chapel? Adorers are welcome24/7. Fill-ins are needed to spend just 1 hour with Jesus on Mondays 1 1 am, Tuesdays 10pm, Thursdays 6am, Saturdays 1pm and 10pm. Enjoy the graces from spiritual meditation and adoration. Eng:Tina 6278 1013 or email marianfaithful@hotmail.com. Friday June 1 CATHOLIC FAITH RENEWAL - PRAISE & WORSHIP 7.30pm at St John and Paul's Church, Pinetree Gully Road, Willetton. A talk will be given by Most Rev B J Hickey and he is also the celebrant of the Thanksgiving Mass. There will be light refreshments after Mass. You are all welcome to attend
Saturdayt June 2 DAY WITH MARY
Sunday June 3 LAKE GRACE PARISH TURNS 50 Maria Regina Catholic Parish, Lake Grace invites all to a Solemn Mass. Commences at 10am with Most Rev Gerard Holohan DD, Bishop of Bunbury. Followed by lunch at the Cambinata Yabbies Shearing Shed in Kukerin. 'Sunday Roast Lunch' $ 15-adults, $40-Family, $5-Children. BYO. Cool drinks on sale. Please bring any Memorabilia. Enq: 9865 1248. Sunday June 3 BRIGIDINE 200 YEARS CELEBRATION This year commemorates the 200 year anniversary of the foundation of the congregation of Brigidine Sisters by Bishop Daniel Delany in Ireland 1807. Ex students and friends of the Brigidines are invited to join the celebration at St Cecilia's Church, Floreat. 9.30am Mass, followed by morning tea in the parish centre. Sunday June 3 DIVINE MERCY 1.30pm. An afternoon with Jesus and Mary will be held at St Joachim's Church, on the corner of Shepperton Road and Harper Street in Victoria
May 172007, The Record
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Classifieds
P ANORAMA continued
Park. Holy Rosary and reconciliation, Sermon: 'The Holy Spirit' by Fr Giovanni Fontana CRS followed by Divine Mercy Prayers and Benediction. Enq: John 9457 7771 or Linda 9275 6608. Friday June 8 40 HOUR EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Commencing 6pm right through to Sunday June 10, with 9am Holy Mass followed by Eucharistic Procession, concluding with Benediction and Fellowship at the Hall. Holy Trinity Church, 8 Burnett Street, Embleton. All are Welcome. Please Bring a Plate. Enq: 9271 5528 or 9272 1379 or 9275 5827. Saturday June 9 SINGLES DANCE PARTY 6pm, 'Integrity House' 67 Howe St, Osborne Park, near cnr Hutton. 18+ Dinner/Tea/Coffee $10, $5 conc. BYO Drinks. Run by Disciples of Jesus Catholic Community. RSVP Barbara 9341 5346 by June 4. Come and have lots of Fun! Bring your friends! Sunday June 10 MONSIGNOR TIM CORCORAN -40 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD Sacred Heart Parish Thornlie are holding a Celebration Mass and Lunch to honour 40 Years of Priesthood for MonsignorTim at 10am. Monsignor's former parishioners are cordially invited to join us on this happy occasion. RSVP 9459 4459 or email thornlie@perthcatholic.org.au. Sunday June 10 CORPUS CHRISTI PROCESSION - TOODYAY The annual procession will commence at St John the Baptist Parish Church, 36 Stirling Terrace, Toodyay at 12.30pm with Holy Mass at 10.30am. The procession will honour the Blessed Sacrament with Prayers, Hymns and Benediction. A reception will follow (please bring a plate). Bus services will be available - Contact: Nita Campbell 9367 1366 or Chia Sticca 9337 3831. Enq: Franciscans of the Immaculate 9574 5204. June 15 - 17 FESTIVAL OF PRAISE AND WORSHIP - PEMBERTON The Holy Spirit of Freedom Community invites all to attend their 10th annual festival for the Bunbury Diocese. The weekend will include the Eucharist and Reconciliation, praise and worship, teachings and sharings, prayer ministry and fellowship. Enq: Meryl Guimelli 9772 1172. Friday June 15 GOOMALLING CATHOLIC CHURCH IS 100 YEARS OLD Fr John Daly and the parishioners of Sacred Heart Catholic Church invite all past parishioners and interested people to join us for our 100th Anniversary Mass. The Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Barry Hickey at llam. Followed by a Buffet lunch at the Goomalling Pavilion. RSVP Mrs Carmel Bird 9629 1044 or Fr John Daly 9629 1147 for catering. Friday June 15 SOLEMNITY OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church, Keaney Place, City Beach. Commencing 6.50pm Holy Rosary and Litanies, 7.30pm Holy Mass and consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the immaculate Heart of Mary followed by Benediction. Celebrant Fr Don Kettle pp representing His Grace Archbishop BJ Hickey. (Novena Thurs 7 June - Fri 15 June 6.20 am before weekday 6.45am Holy Mass; after Saturday 6.30pm Holy Mass; after Sunday 5.30pm Holy Mass). Sunday May 27 HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE 'Watch and Pray' Every fourth Sunday a Holy Hour is held at Infant Jesus Parish, Morley 2-3pm with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The hour consists of some prayers and scripture, but is mostly silent prayer for Vocations. All Welcome. Please encourage others to come and pray. Prayer - it works! Enq: 9276 8500. Friday June 29 LA SALLE COLLEGE 3RD ANNUAL QUIZ NIGHT AND AUCTION 7.30pm in the Laurence Murphy Hall at La Salle College, Middle Swan. Tickets $10 each with Tables of 8. Alcohol and cool drinks will be on sale, BYO snacks. Tickets can be purchased at the College Administration Office or contact 9274 6266 for ticket bookings. Everyone is welcome. YCS PAST MEMBERS Have you ever been involved in YCS and are interested in what YCS is doing in 2007? Or would you
like to regain contact with friends from your YCS days? If so please email Vicky Burrows at the YCS Office at perth@ycs.org.au or call 9422 7911 so that we can put you on our data base to receive updates about YCS and past members. Last Sunday of the Month MONTHLY PILGRIMAGE BULLSBROOK Held on last Sunday of the month in honour of the Virgin of the Revelation. Anointing of the sick is administered for spiritual and physical healing during Holy Mass on the second Sunday of the month. The side entrance to the Church and the Shrine are open daily between 9am and 5pm for private prayer. Enq: Sacri 9447 3292. Every Fourth Monday SCRIPTURAL PRAYER PROGRAM The Council for Australian Catholic Women (CACW) is offering a Scriptural Prayer Program developed in the Jesuit tradition. This form of prayer can lead to more reflective living, greater spiritual depths and promotes lay spiritual leadership in the Church. Led by Kathleen Brennan (ibvm). May 28, June 25. Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor St, East Perth. Enq: Michelle Wood 9345 2555. All Welcome. Every Saturday PERPETUAL HELP DEVOTIONS 4.30pm The half hour Perpetual Novena Devotions to the Mother of Perpetual Help continue each Saturday at the Redemptorist Monastery Church 190 Vincent Street, North Perth. Reconciliation available before and after the Devotions. All welcome. Every Sunday BULLSBROOK PILGRIM SHRINE Sunday Pilgrim Mass is celebrated with Holy Rosary and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament 2pm at the Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation, 36 Chittering Road, Bullsbrook. Reconciliation is available in Italian and English before every celebration. Enq: Sacri 9447 3292. Every Sunday RADIO GATE OF HEAVEN 7.30-9pm, 107.9FM. 1. Council of Faith II w/Fr. John Triglio "The Christian Faith and Demonology". 2. The Web of Faith w/Fr. Robert Levus & Fr. John Triglio "Answering your questions as they come in Every Wednesday ADORATION, EVENING PRAYER, BENEDICTION St. Thomas Church, 2 College Road, Claremont. Adoration 1 pm to 5.30pm, followed by Evening Prayer and Benediction. Personal prayer before the Blessed Sacrament is Adoration of Jesus gift of Himself, of His love for you, for your loved ones and for our world. Come and thank Him. Fortnightly BIBLE REFLECTIONS The 'Workers in the Garden of the Holy Family' are conducting fortnightly Bible reflections at St Mary's Church, Parish Centre (40 Franklin St, Leederville) commencing at 7pm, May 30, followed by refreshments. For enquiries phone 9201 0337. Every Forth Sunday SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER The Perth Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order no longer meets at the Pro-Cathedral but instead assembles every fourth Sunday at 2.30pm in the Chapel of RSL Care, 51 Alexander Dr, Menora. Enquiries John 9385 5649. Every Monday WEIGHT MANAGEMENT FOR THOSE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS The Emmanuel Centre are offering to help people who gain weight because they are using medication for their mental illness. The group helps participants to manage their weight safely and healthily. Mind-Body-Life meets at the Emmanuel Centre on Mondays from 12.30-2.30pm. Free. The group starts with a weigh-in, then a talk on nutrition and healthy eating tips, goal setting and then half an hour of exercise. Enq: Amanda - Emmanuel Centre, 9328 8113. Every Fourth Sunday of Month HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE "WATCH AND PRAY" Held at Infant Jesus Parish, Morley from 2-3pm with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. The hour consists of some Prayers and Scripture but mostly the hour is silent prayer for Vocations. All welcome. Please encourage others to come and pray. Enq: 9276 8500.
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• BRICK RE-POINTING Phone Nigel 9242 2952 ▪ PERROTT PAINTING PTY LTD For all your residential, commercial painting requirements. Phone Tom Perrott 9444 1200.
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• PRAISE AND THANKS 0 Holy St Jude. Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue, rich in miracles. Near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need. To you I have cause from the depths of my heart and humbly beg you to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance help me now in my urgent need and grant my earnest petition. In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked.
Classifieds Must be submitted by fax, email or post no later than 12pm Tuesday. For more information contact 9227 7778.
Official Diary - MAY 18
Mass for Marian Movement of Priests' Retreat - Fr Brian O'Loughlin
18-20
Visitation and Confirmation, Wanneroo - Archbishop Hickey
20-25
Clergy Seminar - Archbishop Hickey
22
CEO Regional Meeting, South Eastern Region - Bishop Sproxton
25
Padre Pio Mass, Leederville - Archbishop Hickey Opening of Pentecost Conference, Trinity College - Bishop Sproxton
26
Gathering for 10th Anniversary of Sorry Day, Wellington Square - Archbishop Hickey
27
Kidney Health Australia Annual Ecumenical Service - Fr Sean Bredin OSCam
30
Caritas gathering of students, CEO - Archbishop Hickey
31
Catholic Education Commission meeting, Geraldton - Bishop Sproxton
Panorama Entries must be in by 5pm Monday. Contributions may be faxed to 9227 7087, emailed to administration@therecord.com.au or mailed to PO Box 75, Leederville, WA 6902. Submissions over 55 words will be edited or excluded. Inclusion is limited to 4 weeks. Events charging over $10 constitute a classified event, and will be charged accordingly. The Record reserves the right to decline or modify any advertisment. Please do not re-submit Panoramas once they are in print.
Page 16
May 17 2007, The Record
The Last Word
Restoring the glory of silence • By Sylvia Defendi
Not everyone likes to think during films. There are those who are entertained by being told, in detail, a gripping tale, all the while being carried on a journey until the end is reached and there is no further one can go. Whatever one's preferences may be, it is a rare occurrence when faced with a film that does not intend to lead its audience anywhere in particular, if at all. Into Great Silence, which chooses to omit dialogue for almost three continuous hours, does what many films would find almost impossible to do - it shows without telling.
Only in complete
silence, one starts to hear... only when language resigns, one starts to see. Its unpretentious depiction of the stringently silent Carthusian monks, situated in the French Alps, offers its viewers a hybrid form of cinema, which blends the true-to-life documentary form with the, at times, surreal nature of the feature film genre. Repeated pieces of scripture are interspersed throughout the film and coupled with focused shots of a flickering light at the tabernacle, a stream running through the surrounding alpine forest or a young monk in deep prayer within his cell. In doing so, director Philip Groning has created far more than an exposé of what goes on behind the closed doors of La Grand Chartreuse; rather, he has cleverly managed to transport his audience to the French monastery itself, so that each viewer is no longer observing the monks chanting the Office in the full of the night, but is inwardly learning the melodies and rhythms along side a new novice and reading the lines of music shown on full-screen, as the voices of the monks rise and fall. Groning, who waited 16 years
to gain permission to shoot the film, revelled in the conditions the Carthusian General Prior placed upon him - no music except the chants in the monastery, no interviews, no commentaries, no extra material, no artificial light and no additional team, just Groning. These 'restrictions' fitted perfectly with Groning's vision and are ultimately what turn an otherwise voyeuristic peek into the lives of these eremitic monks into an inspiring journey of discovery, understanding and acceptance - just as a newly accepted novice would. But, the film, which has surprised critics across the globe with its unprecedented sucess, goes one further. Groning's cinematography is impeccable and highlights his creative talent as scenes vary from crisp images of the 17th century monastery bathed in a mist that surrounds the Alps, to grainy and simple images of dew on the leaves of springing vegetables planted months before. The repetition of daily chores, such as gardening or distributing meals is far from mundane, as the seasons change and life within the monastery evolves. Indeed, Groning has said, "in the life of a contemplative monk identical prayers and psalms keep reappearing again and again. All his life." Likewise, the identical repetition of captioned scripture is used throughout the film, as a way of approaching life as led within the monastery, where a single prayer will change its meaning during the life of a monk, gaining deeper meaning, losing meaning and regaining it. This first and perhaps only captured footage of life within La Grand Chartreuse essentially portrays a simple, quiet life, which is, surprisingly perhaps to some, filled. For a silent film based on cleverly calculated repetition and rhythm, not one audience member was stirring. Into Great Silence will be screened at Luna Cinemas in Leederville as of May 24. Photo - A scene from Into Great Silence, by filmmaker Philip Groning. Photo: (NS courtesy of Zeitgeist Films.
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