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How I came Home If the Church operates Catholic media, what’s if the media isn’t9 A former radical feminist tells why she embracedthe thepoint Church PAGE
Perth men savour the experience of Rome studies
Special dash of MacKillop colour for Schools Mass
Travelling with Fr John Jegorow and Ballajura pilgrims, Record journalist ANTHONY BARICH caught up with Perth seminarians studying at the Pontifical North American College in Rome ...
T
he ten Australian seminarians staying at the Pontifical North American College (PNAC) in Rome witnessed an estimated 8,000 of their countrymen descend on the Eternal City with something approaching a sense of wonder last month for St Mary MacKillop’s canonisation. While Rome was filled with over 50,000 pilgrims from Spain, Italy, Australia, Poland and Canada for the canonisation of six beati from their respective countries, the major event was yet another fascinating day in a constant stream of events the seminarians get to witness while studying for the priesthood in the Eternal City. On a clear day, when the Rome smog is penetrable by the eye, they watch pilgrims mill around on the balcony of the St Peter’s Basilica dome from their dormitory rooms. PNAC first-year Mark Baumgarten reckons he’s got the best view in the whole college, but Brennan Sia may beg to differ. “It only hit me for the first time that I’m actually living in Rome when I woke up and looked out the window as I brushed my teeth Please turn to Page 3
MacKillop Tartan: Trinity College pipers Luke Geoghegan, left, Jack Kay, Peter Walsh and Gerard Ryan outside St Mary’s Cathedral shortly before entering for the beginning of the Catholic Mission Schools Mass, which saw 79 Catholic schools participate. The red tartan worn by Mr Walsh is MacKillop clan tartan, worn over the shoulder especially for the occasion. PHOTO: PETER ROSENGREN
Perth seminarian Brennan Sia in the Pontifical North American College chapel in Rome. He and other Perth and Australian seminarians are enjoying immensely the experience of preparing for the priesthood in Rome. PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH
More than 740 students representing 79 Catholic schools gathered on Wednesday, 20 October for the annual Catholic Mission Schools Mass. It wasn’t a record, but it was a significant gathering of Catholic student leaders expressing their solidarity and concern for the suffering children of the world, and drawing inspiration for their missionary leadership through the example and intercession of St Mary MacKillop, said Perth
Catholic Mission Director Francis Leong. “Bishop Donald Sproxton’s compelling challenge to those gathered, reinforced by by Sr Maree Riddler’s final words and the recessional hymn, Go, make a Difference, reminded us that our baptismal call to Mission is the liturgy after the liturgy, and that as our Holy Father recently put it; “… those who eat the Bread of Christ cannot remain indifferent before those who lack daily bread …”
“As evident in this year’s turn out for yet another vibrant Eucharistic celebration after eight years on the trot, the Mission Mass continues to be a tangible sign of the strength and vitality of our missionary identity as an Archdiocesan community as manifest and affirmed in the presence and participation of the youth from our schools, our parishes and the various agencies ministering to them,” he said. Please turn to Page 6
After 25 years, God’s Sanctuary is doing OK BORN of a vision and an array of happy meetings, a Pemberton retreat house is marking 25 years of existence by doing what it has always done; inviting people in. Karriholm God’s Sanctuary, the motherhouse of the Holy Spirit of Freedom Community, will hold a retreat, candlelight procession and dinner dance on the weekend of the Feast of Christ the King (19-21 November) to celebrate their quarter century. Situated high on a hill in Pemberton in the southwest of Western Australia, Karriholm has been a spiritual hub of activity since it was blessed and opened by Bishop Peter Quinn in 1985. The seeds for the retreat house were planted a few years earlier when a young man named Steve moved to the town; sharing his experience of Christ with a small group of locals. They formed into a prayer group made up of Mick and Jo Bendotti and Ernie and Connie Tartaglia under the leadership of Parish Priest, Fr Hubert Kelly. Early in 1985, Connie told the group a vision she believed Christ had given her of a healing centre among tall trees. Two weeks later, when Connie and her husband Ernie were at early morning Mass, out of nowhere the word Karriholm popped into her mind. All she knew about Karriholm was that it was a run down guesthouse and motel somewhere up the road, which had been passed in at an auction. After sharing it with Ernie, she promptly forgot about it. Later in the day when they were working at their supermarket, Connie overheard two women speaking. One of them said: “Have you heard that the Orange People [Rahjneeshes] have taken over Karri Valley and they want to take over the Gloucester Motel and Karriholm Lodge?” Hearing the word “Karriholm” twice in a few hours, Connie told The Record she knew it was no coincidence. Connie and Ernie gathered the prayer group to discern whether God was calling them to buy Karriholm and use it for His service. By 12 February they had purchased Karriholm and following a blessing from Fr Kelly, the first prayer meeting to be held there took place on 5 March. After months of scraping, cleaning, repairing, painting and sewing, Karriholm was ready for its official opening in December. By God’s grace and without Please turn to Page 4