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therecord.com.au
Denver Archbishop guides shocked faithful after US cinema massacre
Evil doesn’t have last word
By Nissa LaPoint
THE CONFUSION and carnage that unfolded in the dark Aurora theatre in Denver, Colorado on July 20th was surreal for Emily Stetson. The loud pops she heard and irri-
tating smoke she inhaled eventually forced her and the midnight moviegoers out of the packed theatres inside Century Aurora 16. In the lobby, she witnessed a police officer cradle a child with blood-stained clothes and hurry outside.
She watched the massacre and wondered about the presence of Christ, she said. “It’s hard to see God in something so sad,” said 21-year-old Stetson, a parishioner at Queen of Peace Church in Aurora. “But how
else can you hope to move on if this is all that life is? There’s got to be something better.” It was at an evening Mass the day of the shooting that Stetson found supportive friends and sympathetic words. She joined a large gathering
of faithful who sought healing and answers to the questions in their hearts. Denver Archbishop Samuel Aquila was the main celebrant of the Mass – joined by 25 deacons Please turn to Page 7
Big day out for Santa Clara youth a hit with all By Clarissa Quek Santa Clara Parish, Bentley THE PRAYERS of a few can be as powerful as the prayers of many. Just as thousands of youth united in prayer for favourable weather at World Youth Day 2008 so Bentley’s Santa Clara youth ministry gathered for the parish Youth Outing on July 15th were blessed with clear skies despite a wet weather prediction. God’s grace allowed Santa Clara’s youth ministry to carry out its mission of forming community within the youth of the parish. Oftentimes, our brothers and sisters quickly disperse from church immediately after Mass – leaving little opportunity to get to know their siblings-in-Christ in the parish and to form community. The youth group’s second event of the year, held at Kings Park and led by parish priest Fr Dennis Sudla, was a step towards changing that. The fun-filled and prayerful outing included games which tested the youths’ memory for names, movies and biblical events, and tasks which developed teamwork and team spirit among the youth. Even though the many have different backgrounds and experiences, and span a wide age range, what connected the group during the seven-hour event was their common Catholic faith. The Outing gave young people of Santa Clara an opportunity not only to unite in community, but to reconnect in faith and to be visible witnesses of Christ. This was through the event concluding with a time of prayer through the Rosary led by Fr Dennis and an action song – Jesus is My Rock – led by three of the youth group’s leaders.
Cold, but bright and sunny, a great day for an outing. Although poor weather had been forecast, July 15th turned out great for Bentley’s Santa Clara parish youth group planned activities which mixed fun, games, activities and prayer. PHOTO: COURTESY CLARISSA QUEK
A day of games and social activities were followed by praying the Rosary together in King’s Park. Praying collectively in the park was, as one of the young people, Constance Tang, shared: “A reminder that God is always with us, not only just when we are in church or when we are in need of Him. God can be with us in the midst of having fun and in the little things that
we do in our everyday life.” Fun and games are fleeting but the seeds of friendship and God’s grace planted in the hearts of the young people of Santa Clara through the Youth Outing hopefully, will continue to grow and bear fruit so that each young person may grow to support each other to truly be ‘planted and built up in Jesus Christ, firm in the faith’ (Col 2:7).
If anyone is interested in the Santa Clara Youth Group and its upcoming activities they can contact the parish on (08) 9458 2944 or via: youth.santaclara@gmail.com
Youth relax, at right, praying the Rosary in Kings’ Park. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Wheatbelt’s Christians celebrate a Year of Grace ON A CLEAR, cold Wheatbelt day some 47 people travelled from places such as Bencubbin, Trayning, Merredin, Bruce Rock, Southern Cross, York, Meckering, Cunderdin and even Esperance to attend an ecumenical Reflection Day in Kellerberrin on Wednesday, 25th July. Taking the theme of ‘The Year of Grace’, Sr Leonie Mayne rsj and Sr Dora Maguire rsj of the MacKillop Rural Network lead those Christians from across the Wheatbelt gather in Kellerberrin for an ecumenical reflection on the Year of Grace. PHOTO: ATTRIBUTION HERE
present in an opportunity to get know God Sisters Ellena Hynes rsj and Gemma Scott rsj and Fr Stephen Cooney, parish priest from York, were also present. The day commenced with morning tea which led into an enlightening session by Sr Dora about the life of John Newton, the creator of the 1779 hymn ‘Amazing Grace’. Sr Leonie gave some background to the icon chosen to pictorially represent The Year of Grace and also the symbol designed for this purpose. She also shared what grace means and entails, with segments taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Throughout the day Leonie and Dora ‘broke open The Word’ leading those present in the process of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). Dora also spoke of the meaning of the Parables, particularly the political, cultural and religious background in which they are set. With an enlightened understanding of those aspects, the messages the parables convey are as poignant and relevant in our age as when Jesus spoke them. It was a day of hospitality and spirituality, with people bringing food, good company and a desire to enrich their friendship with God.