The Record Newspaper - 05 September 2012

Record

W E S T E R N A U S T R A L I A’ S A WA R D - W I N N I N G C AT H O L I C N E W S P A P E R S I N C E 1 8 7 4

the

We d n e s d a y, S e p t e m b e r 5 , 2 0 1 2

DID EVE

EXIST?

If some figures and events in the Bible are myth, does this mean they didn’t exist? asks Fr Sean Fernandez - Pages 12-13

the

Parish.

the

N at i o n .

the

World.

$2.00

therecord.com.au

DEAF, BLIND BUT WITH A

VISION He is, by any standards, a remarkable man. Mark Reidy reports on Fr Cyril Axelrod, the priest who is blind and deaf - Page 10-11

‘Be not afraid’ says Royal Perth chaplain

By Sarah Motherwell TWENTY-FOUR hours a day Fr Jeronimo Flamenco-Castillo is on call, ready to assist God in shepherding the sick and dying to the other side.

It is a journey he has witnessed often over the past two years in his role as Catholic Chaplain of Royal Perth Hospital, where about 25 per cent of patients admitted identify themselves as Roman Catholic.

When he started his journey to priesthood Fr Jeronimo never thought he would find himself working as a hospital chaplain.

Taking up an invitation from then-Archbishop Barry Hickey to study at St Charles’ seminary in Perth, he travelled from his home country, the Republic of El Salvador (which translates in English to the Republic of the Savior) in May 2006.

After spending some time as an assistant priest at Bateman and then St Mary’s Cathedral, it took Fr Jeronimo some time to adjust to his new commitment to the hospital.

“Very often I’ll be deep in sleep when the phone goes. In the beginning I’d say ‘why do people go in the early morning because I don’t want to get up?’ but, after that, it came to my mind, what Jesus is doing is giving a quick end to those who suffer.”

When Fr Jeronimo talks about the suffering he sees, he remembers the moment when he and Mercy Sister Joan Buckham witnessed the death of a 21-year-old patient and describes how the experience touched him deeply.

“When I saw that young girl dying, a tear came from my eye and I started to cry, because sometimes you don’t have enough words to tell the family ... the only thing I can tell them is that life is a beautiful

gift and a big mystery; we know so well how we came but how we go, no one knows.”

The entire pastoral care team of Geraldine Taylor, Deacon Albert Atkinson, Sr Perpetua Della-Marta and Sr Buckham at Royal Perth Hospital is dedicated to supporting patients and Fr Jeronimo in his role.

Nurses are also involved in the pastoral care process and will contact the duty chaplain to let him know when a patient appears close to death so that the chaplain can visit them.

For Fr Jeronimo, sometimes there are no words to say to a dying

Sometimes you can’t use words, but your presence is good enough to be there.

Just a quick hello to them makes a big difference in their life. person or a family, but he believes just his presence can be enough to help their passing.

“I go to the ear of the dying person and I say, ‘please, you don’t need to be afraid because God is with you and your family is here next to you. And I say to them but if it’s the time to go, God gave you strong wings and you can fly with your wings... go in peace.”

“I say to them I guarantee to you that God only takes the best and you know that you are the best.

After that I ask the permission of the family that I will touch the forehead of the dying person and anoint them.”

Continued on Page 5

Hospital chaplain Fr Jeronimo stands outside Royal Perth where he is on call 24 hours a day to tend to the sick and dying.

PHOTO: PETER ROSENGREN

Calling all Parents and Teachers!

A SPECIAL INVITATION FROM The Record: World expert Dr Gerard O’Shea, from the John Paul II Institute for Studies in Marriage and the Family will be at St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Centre on September 27 to speak on Christian formation for children in human sexuality. Dr O’Shea is the author of As I Have Loved You, a resource for parents and all those charged with the profound duty of introducing the young to God’s plan for life and love in the context of the Christian faith. This is a rare and unique opportunity - don’t miss out! TURN TO PAGE 6 FOR DETAILS.

2

LOCAL

therecord.com.au

September 5, 2012

Move to the beat of a political Drum A CLOSER examination of federalism, the legitimacy of government and freedom of speech in the media can develop a greater understanding of Australian politics at a Commonwealth level.

These are some of the central issues considered in a new textbook titled; Politics in Australia: Assessing the Evidence, co-authored

by Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations on The University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle Campus, Martin Drum.

The latest addition to Dr Drum’s growing list of scholarly publications is the result of a collaboration with Senior Lecturer in Politics at The University of Newcastle Australia, New South Wales, John William Tate.

The textbook, which is now available to politics and international relations students nationally, was launched by one of Western Australia’s most respected political journalists Peter Kennedy on August 10.

Mr Kennedy is also an Adjunct Professor in Communications and Media on the University’s Fremantle Campus.

Fremantle Mayor, Brad Pettitt, attended the launch along with a number of Western Australian parliamentarians, Notre Dame staff and Dr Drum’s friends and family.

Politics in Australia: Assessing the Evidence takes a historical and conceptual approach to examining issues, such as democracy and liberalism in the Australian political system throughout the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.

The Assessing the Evidence series was first pitched to publishers Palgrave MacMillan in 2011 by Associate Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences in Fremantle, Associate Professor Deborah Gare,

Peter Kennedy, Dr Martin Drum and Associate Professor Dylan Korczynskyj at the launch of the book Politics in Australia: Assessing the Evidence.

as one which focussed on the evidence for key political and cultural issues in Australia.

Dr Drum says the book will serve as a valuable tool to provide readers of all ages with a broader understanding of the roles and functions of the Australian political system.

“It is important for students

studying political science to understand that politics is nothing more or less than a contest of different ideas about how our society should be run,” Dr Drum said.

“The book helps to put our political system into context and explains many of the basic principles which underpin our political

SAINT OF THE WEEK

1813-1853 September 8

Peter Rosengren

editor@therecord.com.au

Accounts Officer Phil Van Reyk

accounts@therecord.com.au

Journalists Mark Reidy m.reidy@therecord.com.au Robert Hiini r.hiini@therecord.com.au Sarah Motherwell s.motherwell@therecord.com.au Juanita Shepherd Mat De Sousa

At Frederic’s 1997 beatification in Paris, Pope John Paul II called him a model for Catholic laypeople. Though he earned a doctorate in law and his father hoped he would become a judge, Frederic turned to literature and charity for his life’s work. He taught literature at the Sorbonne, was happily married and had a daughter. Beginning in 1831 he was part of a group of young Catholic intellectuals who discussed literature, history and society, while also visiting the poor and sick at home. They became the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, which is still active worldwide. Frederic joined the Third Order of St. Francis shortly before his death at age 40.

production@therecord.com.au

Take to the waves in Style with a cruise from our extensive selection.

Classifieds/Panoramas/Subscriptions Catherine Gallo-Martinez

CNS

Saints

Advertising/Production

office@therecord.com.au

Bibiana Kwaramba bookshop@therecord.com.au Proofreaders Chris Jaques

Contributors Debbie Warrier Barbara Harris Bernard Toutounji

•

CRUISING

•

FLIGHTS

•

TOURS

•

The Record PO Box 3075 Adelaide Terrace PERTH WA 6832 21 Victoria Square, Perth 6000 Tel: (08) 9220 5900 Fax: (08) 9325 4580 Website: www.therecord.com.au

Monday 10th - Green 1st Reading: 1 Cor 5:1-8

Pursue sincerity and

truth Responsorial Ps 5:5-7, 12 Psalm: Love God’s name Gospel Reading: Lk 6:6-11

Cure on the Sabbath Tuesday 11th - Green 1st Reading: 1 Cor 6:1-11

Settle difference Responsorial Ps 149:1-6, 9 Psalm: Sing a new song Gospel Reading: Lk 6:12-19

Whole night in prayer

200 St. George’s Terrace, Perth WA 6000 Tel: 9322 2914 Fax: 9322 2915 michael@flightworld.com.au www.flightworld.com.au

Psalm: Listen to my words Gospel Reading: Lk 6:20-26

Happy the poor Thursday 13th - Green ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, BISHOP, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (M) 1st Reading: 1 Cor 8:1-7, 11-13

Love gives growth Responsorial Ps 138:1-3, 13-14, Psalms: 23-24

You created my being Gospel Reading: Lk 6:27-38

Love your enemies!

Friday 14th - Red THE TRIUMPH OF THE CROSS (FEAST) 1st Reading: Num 21:4-9

People lost patience Responsorial Ps 77:1-2, 34-38 Psalm: Heed my teaching 2nd Reading: Phil 2:6-11 Jesus emptied himself Gospel Reading: Jn 3:13-17

God sent his Son Saturday 15th - White OUR LADY OF SORROWS (M) 1st Reading: Heb 5:7-9

Source of salvation Responsorial Ps 30:2-6, 15-16, 20 Psalm: I trust in you, Lord Gospel Reading: Jn 19:25-27

This is your son

Send your Year of Grace stories to parishes@therecord.com.au

divisionof ofInterworld InterworldTravel TravelPty PtyLtd LtdABN Lic No. 9TA796 AA division 21 061 625 027 Lic. No 9TA 796

Mariette Ulrich Fr John Flader Glynnis Grainger

Sunday 9th - Green 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 1st Reading: Is 35:4-7 God is coming Responsorial Ps 145:7-10 Psalm: The Lord is faithful 2nd Reading: Jas 2:1-5 Two standards?

Gospel Reading: Mk 7:31-37 Deaf hear, dumb speak

Wednesday 12th - Green HOLY NAME OF MARY (O) 1st Reading: 1 Cor 7:25-31

Time is growing short Responsorial Ps 44:11-12, 14-17

Record Bookshop

Eugen Mattes

“The launch of this new book is a celebration for Dr Drum and the School of Arts and Sciences, and is a fantastic contribution to the study of Australian politics,” Associate Professor Korczynskyj said.

Politics in Australia: Assessing the Evidence is now available for purchase at the Co-Op Bookshop.

READINGS OF THE WEEK

Blessed Frederic Ozanam Editor

institutions and processes.” Dean of the School of Arts and Science in Fremantle, Associate Professor Dylan Korczynskyj, congratulated Dr Drum on his “phenomenal effort” in writing the book.

Associate Professor Korczynskyj believes the book provides a refreshing insight into Australian politics.

PHOTO: UNDA

Michael Deering 9322 2914

Catholic clarity for complex times CATHOLIC families and those searching for truth need resources to help them negotiate the complexities of modern life. At The Record’s bookshop you can find great books for the family at good prices.

Turn to Page 20 for some brilliant deals NOW!!

LOCAL

therecord.com.au September 5, 2012

3

Tasmanian Polley won’t cross the bridge too far

By Sarah Motherwell THE ONLY Labor member to cross the floor during the vote to pass the same-sex marriage bill in Tasmania, the member for Lyons and Speaker, Michael Polley says same-sex marriage is a bridge too far.

The Labor-Green bill passed 13 votes to 11, with all members of the Liberal Opposition voting against the bill.

Mr Polley crossed the floor on August 31 for the first time in his 41 years in parliament and says he stood up for what he believes in and had a moral guidance to do so.

“I am not homophobic. I supported decriminalisation ... I just believe marriage is too far,” he told The Record in a telephone interview. “I have my particular beliefs, I stood up for what I believe in and if people don’t agree, then [we will see] in the next general election.”

Mr Polley is open about his Catholic faith and says his main reason for not supporting the bill is faith-based.

“My faith base is that the family is based on the mum and the dad and the children.”

“Once you move past a certain thing, as the years roll on they’ll

become the norm and history has shown people drop their standards.”

Tasmania was the last state in Australia to decriminalise homosexuality in 1997 and was the first state to establish a civil union scheme for same-sex couples and the second to allow civil unions in 2009. Overseas same-sex marriages are currently regonised in Tasmania.

A 2011 survey by Roy Morgan found 74 per cent of people support same-sex marriage in Tasmania but Mr Polley says the results of polls cannot be relied on to determine government policy. “The State

Government isn’t based on opinion polls, you govern on what is right.”

The Marriage Act is set to be debated in both houses of Federal parliament in late September.

Mr Polley says marriage laws have always been national and the potential for a High Court case also influenced his decision to cross the floor.

“If you start having states with separate laws - if we are the only state in Australia that passes the law, are these marriages recognised in Queensland, are they recognised in Western Australia?”

Mr Polley’s action drew both

praise and criticism from the Australian public but the true reaction to his vote will be evident in the 2014 Tasmanian general election. “At least people will know where I stand when they go to vote”.

Mr Polley says he will also cross the floor when the proposed euthanasia bill comes before parliament next year.

Tasmania’s religious leaders, Catholic Archbishop of Adrian Doyle and Anglican Bishop John Harrower, have urged the upper house to reject the same-sex marriage bill when parliament resumes in late September.

Vincentian duo to light the WA way

By Sarah Motherwell AGE is no barrier for the like-minded duo set to lead the St Vincent de Paul Society in WA through the next four years.

Newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Mark Fitzpatrick and President Jeff Trew both say they have a good working relationship and a shared vision to help the community.

Mr Trew, who took over from outgoing State President Clément Astruc, was commissioned on September 1 at St Mary’s Cathedral.

The role of State President is a voluntary position that is voted on and elected by the Society’s membership and is served over a four year term.

Mr Trew first joined the Society in the early 60s where he volunteered at the Palmyra Conference while starting a family.

“We were newly-married at that stage and just beginning our family but there was a realisation from a friend there were people living not far from us that were really struggling and had a lot less than we did, and we didn’t have much.”

After serving as the founding President of the Society’s Myaree Conference, Mr Trew took a break to focus on raising a family and rejoined the Woodlands Conference in 2005.

Unlike Mr Trew, this is his counterpart’s first role in the organisation. Mr Fitzpatrick, the 37-yearold CEO, has a history working for Catholic not-for-profits including Southern Cross Care and says for

St Vincent de Paul Society’s WA CEO Mark Fitzpatrick, left, shakes hands with newly-appointed President Jeff Trew.

him it’s about making a difference.

“We keep getting more and more demand for our services, which is a real shame. If I had my way I’d be doing us out of business because [of] no demand, but unfortunately I’m probably not going to get to that

Serviced accommodation for working aged people with disabilities.

Westcare Accommodation Services is a not for profit organisation, providing a range of support services to adults with disabilities.

Applications now being accepted at Florence Hummerston Village, Shenton Park.

Furnished accommodation is situated in beautifully maintained gardens for independent working age people with a disability.

Suitable applicants will have low support needs.

Manage own personal care and medication.

Be motivated to maintain independence.

Have active support from family and friends.

Prospective residents with intellectual, cognitive, neurological, sensory or physical disability and low support needs may apply.

Interested families, LAC’s or employment coordinators who would like to visit or complete an application, please contact the manager on 9381 1916. www.westcare.com.au/shentonpark@westcare.com.au

THE RECORD ON MOBILE PHONES Information is now shared in numerous ways.

Many people, especially the young, increasingly use mobile devices such as smart-phones to surf from information. Being able to access The Record’s web presence during a break between meetings or commuting on the way to work is now far simpler.

in my lifetime.” Mr Trew says the Society is experiencing the opposite with more and more people knocking on their door, with homelessness and the lack of affordable housing the biggest problems in WA. “These people are on a knife-

edge all the time. You and I can’t understand that or fully appreciate that; we don’t live like that. It only takes a single bill to push them over the edge,” he says. “That’s our roll, to help them over this little hiccup and get them back on their feet.”

PHOTO: SARAH MOTHERWELL

The Vincentian duo say they will work together over the next four years to ensure the immediate welfare benefits and services are provided but also that through advocacy and justice, they will make a difference to society.

4

LOCAL

therecord.com.au

September 5, 2012

THE INTERVIEW WITH CAMERON VAN REYK

Music is in his blood. It’s been a part of his life for as long as he can remember - from singing in the car with his father to being a part of St Mary’s Cathedral choir. He graduated from WAPPA and has an album titled Tenebrae Reflections under his belt. Cameron van Reyk tells The Record what songs he has on his iPod, what being part of the ‘Lumina’ means to him and how his one year old nephew brightens up his day and the amazing experience of singing for Pope John Paul II at a canonisation Mass.

Q A

What does music mean to you?

Music has been all around me since I can remember. It pretty much makes my day.

My earliest memories of music are of my Dad when he would sing in the car. He has an amazing ear, and can sing harmonies like you wouldn’t believe.

I think I owe a lot to him for my musicianship. Music can cheer you up after a long hard day of work, and it can also bring back memories of the past whether good or bad.

Music also means friendship to me as I have met most of my friends through either singing or playing, and quite often if I am playing music it means I’m having fun hanging out with them.

Q

Can you tell us a bit about singing with the Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral?

A

Singing with the Cathedral Choir was one of the best experiences in my life. Not only did it further my knowledge of music theory and solidify my aural training as a musician, it also provided me with very strong friendships that I have maintained to this day.

The Cathedral Choir also gave me amazing opportunities like travelling to Europe and singing for Pope John Paul II at a canonisation Mass.

Q

If you could meet any musician (living or dead) who would it be and why?

A

Being a jazz saxophonist I think meeting Charlie Parker who was an influential musician in the history of jazz would be amazing. Just to sit and have a beer and talk about who he played with and met during his life would be fantastic! As a singer, I think I would love to have met the composer Tomas Luis de Victoria.

I love singing his music and have done so for many years with my closest friends since forming a vocal group ‘Quartessence’.

His music especially set for Easter is incredible and I would love to have a lesson in composition from him.

Q A

What is your favourite genre of music?

This is a very hard one to choose just one. If you were to flick through my ipod you would see a lot of music ranging from the early 1500’s all the way up to the Top 40 songs of today.

I think Renaissance polyphony and Hard Bop Jazz would be my favourites if I had to choose.

Q

What is your favourite song and how do you feel when you listen to it?

A

I have too many favourites to really pick one. I think when I choose to really sit and listen to a piece of music, be it choral, instrumental or even Top 40, I listen to it for the emotions it brings out in myself, be it happiness, sadness, madness, or even just to relax after a long day at work.

Q A

Do you believe that music brings people together?

Of course. I sing in a sacred choral choir called “Lumina”. We sing at masses and other occasions.

Whilst we love the music, we also get together more for a social gathering as well, as we are all friends and it means we get to see each other as we all have busy lives, and why not get together over music!

Everyone loves music, music is in everyone’s lives be it in the car, in movies, and anyone can hum a tune.

Music has been a great tool for charity as well and has helped a lot of people in need, with special concert fundraisers all over the world in varying degrees where people all come together to listen to music whilst giving donations to charity.

I think that is an incredible thing.

Q

Which musical instrument do you find to be the most annoying? (i.e the bag pipes etc..)

A

I find there are amazing qualities in all instruments.

Each one has its own unique qualities that can bring certain colours to music.

I think growing up, I didn’t have the patience to try and teach myself the guitar, so that would be annoying purely because I’d have no idea if someone put one in my hands and said “play.”

Q

why?

If you could sing with anyone who would it be and

A

The Tallis Scholars. This choir is one of the best in the world at singing music from the Renaissance Period. I was fortunate enough to see and hear them when they sang at the Perth Concert Hall.

It was incredible, just to hear some amazing, and technically difficult music being sung by some of the finest singers.

Q A

What do you do on your days off?

I have a nephew who is one year old so when I get some free time I love hanging out with him, as a smile and hug from the lil guy can brighten the most hard/tiring day.

I also love just heading out for coffees or drinks with mates and catching up over a gig.

WAPPA graduate Cameron van Reyk talks about his music, accomplishments and hopes for the future.

Q life?

How does your faith help you in your day-to-day

A

I teach saxophone as one of my jobs and I think, for the most part, trying to set the right example for my students is something I strive for and making sure that not only are they getting a good music education but also instilling good morals that I have grown up with from my parents and also the Church (through the Cathedral Choir) is important to me.

Q A

What are your dreams for the future?

I am a passionate teacher, and I would love to have my own music school.

Seeing my students perform is one of the coolest things ever and seeing how they grow as a musician and also a person is an amazing thing.

Musically I think just to keep striving to be the best musician I can be is my main goal.

Q A

What has been your greatest achievement so far?

I think graduating from WAAPA has been my greatest achievement. It was a lot of hard work over three years and to come out with a Bachelor’s degree is something I can be proud of.

Q

Have you encountered any obstacles along the way, regarding your career as a musician; if so what are they?

A

I think being a musician is a hard road to really pursue.

You have to practise for many hours a day to reach your goals and sometimes that comes with a lot of sacrifices. You have to have a massive amount of belief in yourself that these sacrifices will help reach your end goal, and I think for me, sometimes I doubt myself and would often not have that inspiration to push for the greater outcome.

Q A

What do you enjoy about teaching?

I love every aspect of teaching. I am lucky enough to have taught some amazingly talented students and when I get to hear/see them perform it makes me incredibly proud. Also being able to help my students achieve their goals and knowing that I helped in some way is great.

Q

What would be your dream gig? (i.e whom would you want to perform in front of?)

A

I think my dream gig for singing would be singing in front of a choir like the Tallis

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Scholars, and just learning from them, as they have a wealth of knowledge about the music they sing. In terms of playing sax, I think playing a gig in New York would just be the most fantastic thing ever.

Q

Do you ever get nervous performing? If so, how do you calm your nerves?

A

I do get nervous performing, as you pretty much wear your heart on your sleeve when you are playing a gig and showing the viewing and listening audience what you are so passionate about. I am lucky enough to play and sing with my very good mates, so just being able to hang and have a laugh with them helps to settle the nerves. To be honest a drink before a gig can also calm me down as well.

Q

Which company would you want to sign a contract with and why?

A

In terms of record labels I think Bluenote for saxophone would be great as it has produced many great jazz albums. I would also love to sign a contract with a big band like Count Basie’s Big Band or Maria Schneider and tour with the amazing musicians that play in those bands.

Interview by Juanita Shepherd.

LOCAL

therecord.com.au September 5, 2012

Virtue of grace extolled for all women YOU do not have to be graceful to attend Women of Grace but you do have to be a woman – however exceptions can be granted, like the one given to Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey.

More than 100 women attended the retreat organised by the Catholic Women’s Group at the Good Shepherd parish in Lockeridge on August 25.

Lecturer from the Maranatha Institute and the Biblical Foundation, Michelle Jones, spoke at the event about how prayer nurtures and deepens lives.

“If the heart of prayer is the basic decision to remain open to the inflowing of divine love, then the role of any particular method that we may choose is to help us to maintain this decision,” Dr Jones said.

“Being a woman of grace, or living with the life of Jesus, means sharing in Jesus’ total openness to the Father’s love and allowing him to incarnate within us his generous, selfless love of others,” she said.

Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey, the only man allowed to attend the event, spoke about two documents by the late Pope John Paul II, Novo Millennio Inuente (At the Beginning of the New Millennium) and Mulieris Dignitatem (On the Dignity and Vocation of Women), which highlight Jesus’ special respect for the dignity of women.

“We can see how universal Jesus’ love was, especially for women,” Archbishop Emeritus Hickey said.

In his talk, Archbishop Hickey recommended ways women can contemplate the face of Christ

Chaplaincy role a work of God’s love

Fr Jeronimo.

Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey, the only man in the room, speaks at the Women of Grace retreat.

through the stories in the gospels.

“Contemplate Jesus at Bethlehem; Jesus in the desert; Jesus on the lake of Galilee; Jesus in the synagogue; Jesus at the transfiguration; Jesus on the cross; and Jesus risen from the dead,” he told those present.

The founder of the Catholic Women’s Group, Lydia Stanley, said the day was greatly appreciated by

the attendees and it has proven to be a rewarding event for Catholic women of all ages. “The ladies like how it is only for half a day once or twice a year as their time is often limited by household chores, family and work commitments,” she said.

Ms Stanley first set up the retreat to allow women to connect with their faith and overcome the dis-

all the convenience without the penalty

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

tractions of life. “I saw the need for Catholic women to take time out of their busy lives and to set aside that time for prayer and faith nourishment,” she says.

For more information about the Catholic Women’s Group or future retreat days send your contact details to catholicwomen.perth@ gmail.com.

5

PHOTO: PETER ROSENGREN

Continued from Page 1 “[If] the dying person is conscious I offer them Holy Communion but if they are unconscious I offer it to the family... this is really a touching moment in my life when I administer the Sacrament of the Last Rites.”

Each day at the hospital brings a new challenge for Fr Jeronimo and the pastoral team but for them it is a rewarding vocation, one which gives the chance to witness God as a person who suffered for all human kind.

“It’s a big challenge. Not everybody... wants to hear about God, about religion, about the Church.

[Some] are angry and I feel many patients are angry at themselves but I tell them ‘don’t worry, I’m just coming to say hello as a friend’,” Fr Jeronimo says.

“Sometimes you can’t use words, but your presence is good enough to be there... they are prisoners in their bed. Sometimes I say hello to them, and just a quick ‘hello’ canmake a big difference in their life.”

pay By the Month at no eXtRa coSt*

At Catholic Church Insurances (CCI) we care about people, not just property. That’s why you can choose to pay your personal insurance premiums (Home Building and Contents, Motor Vehicle, Landlord, Caravan and Trailer+ ) with us by the month, at no extra cost*. Some other insurance companies may charge a fee for this service.

With CCI pay by the month, your yearly premium is simply divided by 12. Easy!

By spreading your payments evenly throughout the year, you can better budget for life’s other necessities.

CALL 1300 655 003 OR VISIT CATHOLICINSURANCES.COM.AU FOR A COMPETITIVE QUOTE TODAY this insurance is underwritten by allianz australia insurance limited (allianz) aBn 15 000 122 850, aFS licence no. 234708. catholic church insurances limited aBn 76 000 005 210 aFS licence no. 235415, 485 la trobe St, Melbourne 3000, arranges this insurance as a promoter for allianz. we do not provide any advice on this insurance based on any consideration of your objectives, financial situation or needs. to decide if it is right for you please refer to the relevant product Disclosure Statement, which can be requested by calling 1300 655 003; or online from www.catholicinsurances.com.au. if you purchase insurance, catholic churches insurances limited will receive a commission that is a percentage of the premium depending on the product. ask for more details before we provide you with any services on any of these products. * premiums payable by instalments may be subject to minor adjustments (upwards or downwards) due to rounding and financial institution transaction fees may apply. + not available with travel or personal accident products.

CCI TheRecord ad SEP12.indd 1

31/08/2012 3:21:43 PM

6

THE WORLD

therecord.com.au

September 5, 2012

The ‘Scholar of Milan’ dies, 85 ITALIAN Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, a renowned biblical scholar and former archbishop of Milan, died on August 31 at the age of 85 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Pope Benedict XVI met privately with the cardinal during a visit to Milan in June, and was informed of his ailing health on August 30. In a telegram to Cardinal Angelo Scola of Milan, Pope Benedict praised Cardinal Martini’s generous service to the Gospel and the Church and his “intense apostolic work” as a Jesuit, a professor and “authoritative biblicist.” As archbishop of Milan, the pope said, Cardinal Martini helped open for the Church community “the treasures of the sacred

Scriptures.” The pope prayed that God would welcome the cardinal into “the heavenly Jerusalem.”

The cardinal was a prolific author whose books were best-sellers in Italy and included everything from scholarly biblical exegesis to poetry and prayer guides. He retired as archbishop of Milan in 2002, where he was known as a strong pastor and administrator, and as a very careful, thoughtful advocate of wider discussion and dialogue on some delicate and controversial Church positions.

At various times, he expressed openness to the possibility of allowing married Latin-rite priests under certain circumstances, ordaining women as deacons and allowing

Communion for some divorced Catholics in subsequent marriages not approved by the Church.

During a special Synod of Bishops for Europe in 1999, he made waves when he proposed a new churchwide council or assembly to unravel “doctrinal and disciplinary knots” such as the shortage of priests, the role of women, the role of laity and the discipline of marriage.

His carefully worded remarks reflected his belief that the Church would benefit from a wider exercise of collegiality, or the shared responsibility of bishops for the governance of the Church. The idea of a new council was not taken up formally by the synod.

- CNS

VATICAN

Benedict XVI first to sign up for WYD 2013

Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini, a renowned biblical scholar and former archbishop of Milan, died on August 31 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 85.

PHOTO: CNS

Calling all Parents The Record Bookshop invites you to

Germans are known for being punctual, so perhaps it should be no surprise that Pope Benedict XVI was the first person signed up for World Youth Day 2013. Registration officially opened on August 28, and, according to organisers, the pope was the first pilgrim to be registered for the event, which will be held in Rio de Janeiro from July 23-28. Organisers said that more than 220 groups of young people from five continents signed up in the first 24 hours after registration opened. Pilgrims from the United States, Canada, Australia, China, Aruba and the United Arab Emirates were among the first of the early registrants.

KOREA

Korea cancels RU-486 counter sales plan The Korean government cancelled a plan to offer an over-the-counter morning-after contraceptive pill despite previously indicating it would reform existing laws. In an announcement on August 30 that had been expected to confirm that the sale of the contraceptive would be permitted without prescription, Kim Won-jong, director for medical policy at the Ministry of Health, instead confirmed that legislation would remain unchanged, the Asian church news agency UCA News reported. “The pill will not be switched from prescription to overthe-counter,” he said during a news conference. Cho Ki-won, director of medicine safety at the Korea Food and Drug Administration, said authorities would monitor the effects of the pill over the next few years before a possible change in policy.

VATICAN

Lawyer for papal butler quits defense team

Date Thursday September 27th, 2012 Time 7.30pm Host The Record Bookshop Venue St Mary’s Cathedral Parish Centre Victoria Square, Perth Cost Free of charge RSVP Bibiana or Catherine 9220 5900 / office@ therecord.com.au

$22

$22

Copies of As I have loved you will be available for purchase on the evening.

Dr O’Shea will be available to meet, answer questions and advise parents.

Visit us at www.therecord.com.au

Carlo Fusco, the lawyer for the papal assistant charged with stealing Vatican documents, has left his client’s defense team, citing a difference over defense strategies.

Fusco told news agencies on August 30 that he and Paolo Gabriele, who was arrested in May and formally charged with aggravated theft on August 13, spoke at length on August 23 and, in the end, “Paolo and I continued to have differences over the strategy to use. Whoever succeeds me will do what he thinks is best, obviously,” Fusco said.

“I’m sorry to leave, but I could not continue. There were just too many differences,” he told the Italian agency AdnKronos. Fusco and Gabriele have been friends since childhood.

TURKEY

Orthodox Patriarch speaks out on pollution Praying for the protection of the environment includes asking God’s forgiveness for the small or serious ways each individual contributes to pollution, said the Ecumenical Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople. Patriarch Bartholomew, the Istanbul-based spiritual leader of the world’s Orthodox and a longtime promoter of Christian ecology, issued a message on the environment on August 27 in preparation for the celebration on September 1 of the Day of Prayer for the Environment.

The September 1 observance was begun by Patriarch Bartholomew’s predecessor in 1989 and has been adopted by other Christians, including the Catholic Church in Italy. Pope Benedict XVI has said the day of prayer is an important ecumenical initiative.

- CNS

THE WORLD

therecord.com.au September 5, 2012

7

Schönborn: Ecumenism of key importance to Pope POPE Benedict XVI’s decision to meet with his former students for a discussion about ecumenical relations, especially Catholic relations with Anglicans and Lutherans, demonstrates the importance he gives the search for Christian unity, said Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna.

The Austrian cardinal, one of the former doctoral students of the former Professor Joseph Ratzinger, spoke on August 30, the eve of the annual three-day meeting of the “Ratzinger Schülerkreis” – literally, the Ratzinger student circle.

“The fact that the Holy Father

chose this theme for this year’s meeting is a sign that for him the ecumenical question is of primary importance,” especially as the Catholic Church prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, which formally set out the Church’s ecumenical agenda, the cardinal said.

The pope’s former doctoral students will discuss retired German Cardinal Walter Kasper’s book, Harvesting the Fruits, a comparative collection of the agreements reached in theological dialogues with the Anglicans, Lutherans,

Methodists and Reformed communities since Vatican II. Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch, who succeeded Cardinal Kasper as president of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, will participate in the August 31-September 2 meeting of the Schülerkreis in Castel Gandolfo, the pope’s summer residence about 20 kilometres southeast of Rome.

The pope and his students have invited guest speakers to the closed-door meeting: retired Lutheran Bishop Ulrich Wilckens, a New Testament scholar; Theodor Dieter, director of the Institute for

Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, France; and Swiss Bishop Charles Morerod of Lausanne.

The choice of focusing on relations with Anglicans and with Lutherans, Cardinal Schönborn said, reflects that the two communities came out of the Reformation and the churches are preparing commemorations of the Reformation’s 500th anniversary in 2017.

Cardinal Schönborn also said he expects a discussion about what it really means to speak of the reform of the Church, which is “a theme of utmost importance to the Holy Father. We only have to think of all

that he has said and taught about reform in continuity (with tradition) as a model of Catholic reform.

Of course, as part of the jubilee of the Reformation there will be a lot of talk about what constitutes real reform, which we need even today.”

The cardinal said the students have been holding the annual meetings with their former professor since 1977 and real friendships have developed. However, he said, what really counts at the meetings is the scholarly validity and rigor of the arguments advanced, the reflection, discussions and search for truth.

- CNS

A place where life begins again

Alice Khakame, left, takes a break from jewelry making at a center for HIV patients in Nairobi, Kenya, on August 25. Khakame is being counselled and medically treated for HIV and working through a Catholic program called “Uzima.” Meanwhile, Jesuit Father Stephen Nzioki, program director of Uzima’s self-help group, jokes with members at the centre.

PHOTO: JAMES MARTONE, CNS

HIV-infected Kangemi residents, most of them women. There are no exact figures for Kenyans living with HIV, but a 2012 US Agency for International Development report on Kenya indicates women there are almost 50 per cent more likely than men to contract the disease.

AIDS activists say this can be due to many factors, including reluctance of men to be tested and the stigma surrounding HIV in the male-dominated society.

At the time of Uzima’s inception,

This time, when Alice went for a blood test, her husband refused to go. He was gone when she got back.

By James Martone WHEN Alice Khakame knew she was pregnant again, she set off to get blood tests at the government maternity clinic where she lives in Kangemi, a poverty-ridden area of about 100,000 people on the outskirts of Nairobi.

Her husband had accompanied her for such tests in the past, but this time he refused to go. He was gone when she got back, before her blood tests showed she was HIVpositive.

“I think he knew what he had done and so he disappeared,” she said. “And then I left the house, too, because of the stigma of the disease.”

Pregnant and with her small son and daughter in tow, Khakame shifted from rented room to rented room on the other side of the slums, fearing she would die and avoiding telling anyone her husband had infected her with HIV, out of fear that her small family would be ostracised.

Without her day-laborer husband’s salary, she soon fell into utter poverty and went untreated until a counselor from a local Catholic support group heard about her case.

“I was just hiding in the house, afraid, and then there was a lady who came from the church ... and she told me I would find people like me and I would share with them.

And so I got to know that I am not

alone.” Six years later, Khakame is surrounded by people with similar stories, all of them now being counselled and medically treated for HIV, and all of them working through a Catholic program called “Uzima.”

“I am saving money, making beads out of paper for necklaces, here and at home,” said Khakame, who uses the money for rent and the daily needs of her three children, none of whom contracted the disease.

“Uzima,” or “life” in Swahili, one of Kenya’s national languages, was founded by Kangemi’s Jesuit-run Church of St Joseph the Worker in 2004.

Using the Jesuit parish’s facilities, the program now helps about 120

the stated goals were to provide support and cure to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, said the program’s director, Jesuit Father Stephen Nzioki.

But he said those goals have evolved to include an emphasis on economic independence, thanks to new technologies and drugs that allow HIV-infected people to live full lives.

“At the beginning, the focus was on treating ... and helping those who were dying to do so peacefully,” said Father Nzioki. “Now people are not dying. These people are healthy, so they need to do something to provide for their own lives and for their families,” especially now, because of dwindling funds to HIV-related projects in Kenya.

“We have to think of ways to supplement,” he said.

Until this year at least, Uzima has an annual budget of 4 million Kenyan shillings (US $48,000) provided by the Irish Catholic charity, Trocaire.

The program employs two

AIDS counsellors and two social workers who create public awareness for HIV in Kangemi, assisted

by Catholic families living there.

Together, they locate HIV-infected residents and encourage them to seek antiretroviral treatment at public clinics.

The infected residents are counselled and offered membership in Uzima’s support group, which offers training in handicraft production, gardening and poultry-rearing.

They ply their new trades alongside others on Jesuit parish facilities and put a monthly percentage of their earnings into a common bank account, from which they can then ask for interest-free loans to expand, said Emily Night, a Uzima social worker.

“As long as you have put in savings for at least six months, you can acquire a loan,” she said. “And if you have savings of 1,000 shillings, you can borrow 3,000.”

Everlyne Muchabi arrived at Uzima in 2007. She was poor, HIVpositive and raising five children alone. Her husband had died of an AIDS-related illness the year before.

She joined the support group and took classes in bead-making, after being counselled by Uzima staff to start antiretroviral treatments.

“I got a loan for 10,000 shillings and bought materials to make more beads and to pay for school fees for my daughter and to pay for daily needs,” said Muchabi.

Khakame, meanwhile, said she no longer wants her husband to come back. She said she has learned through Uzima’s support group to create a new life for herself and her children, despite often unkind looks and taunts from many.

“They look at me and say that only HIV-positive people are making jewelry from paper, but I don’t care,” she said. “I meet with others like me at Uzima. We share our experiences. And then I go ... and make more jewelry.”

- CNS

8

WORLD

therecord.com.au

September 5, 2012

Signatures sought to end Congo conflict CONGO’S Catholic bishops helped other religious leaders circulate a petition asking UN SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon and the international community to end the continuing conflict in eastern Congo.

The UN-run Radio Okapi reported that the petition had about 10 million signatures; Congo has a population of 65 million.

At a late-August ecumenical service in the Protestant Centenary

Cathedral, the petition, launched on July 12, was formally closed.

Church leaders announced that the next stage will be to take it to New York to present to the UN. It has already been presented to the Congolese minister of foreign affairs, Raymond Tshibanda.

Father Donatien Shole, deputy secretary-general of the Congolese bishops’ conference and spokesman for the heads of religious groups represented, said the Congolese

churches are demanding that the Rwandan government stop “once and for all the invasion of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the looting of its wealth, and rapes of Congolese women.”

Echoing the Catholic bishops’ call in July against the “balkanisation” of Congo, Imam Cheikh Abdallah Mangala Luaba said, “All we want is an end to divisions in the country and for the Congolese people to remain united.”

The petition also calls on the international community not to negotiate with the “eternal criminals” in Congo, including M23, a group of soldiers who rebelled and broke off from the army in May this year and are responsible for continuing conflict in the eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.

A UN report has pointed a finger at Rwanda for allegedly funding and supporting the group - CNS

Benedict reminds servers they are close to Christ

VATICAN

Pope calls Christians not to compromise Marking the feast of the martyrdom of St John the Baptist, Pope Benedict XVI said Christians must not bow to the pressure of the powerful who demand a denial of Christ or of the truth he taught. “The truth is the truth and there is no compromise,” the pope said at his weekly general audience on August 29, the day the Church remembers St John the Baptist’s beheading. An estimated 2,500 people gathered in the town square just outside the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo for the main part of the pope’s audience.

Walking with a cane, the pope then held a second, mini-audience in the courtyard of the papal villa with 2,600 French altar servers, boys and girls, (see photo, this page) who were on a pilgrimage to Rome. Pope Benedict told the young people they were blessed to be “particularly close to Christ Jesus in the Eucharist.

You have the enormous privilege of being close to the altar, close to the Lord.” The pope prayed that being an altar server would help the young people deepen their friendship with Christ and enthusiastically share God’s love with their friends and families. “And, if one day you feel called to follow the path to the priesthood or religious life, respond generously,” he told the youngsters.

In his main audience talk, the pope said St John the Baptist, “out of love for the truth, would not compromise with the powerful” who wanted him to deny Christ.

US

Chief financial officer sentenced to jail

Altar servers from Malta arrive to attend Pope Benedict XVI’s general audience in Castel Gandolfo, Italy, on August 29.

PHOTO: PAUL HARING, CNS

Ukrainian leader greets Canadian flock THE MAJOR archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church sent greetings to Canada’s Ukrainian Catholics as he prepared for a multicity visit that includes leading the Church’s Synod of Bishops.

Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, Ukraine, said the synod would “fill all our Canadian community with the special blessing of the Holy Spirit, blowing the fresh wind of this Spirit into the sails of the Ukrainian Church in this country.”

His remarks were contained in a message to be read in Canada’s Ukrainian Catholic churches on September 2.

Canada will host the annual worldwide Synod of Ukrainian Catholic bishops in Winnipeg from September 9-16 to mark the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Ukrainian Catholic Bishop Nykyta Budka in Canada in 1912.

The bishop, now beatified and known as Blessed Nykyta, laid the groundwork for a united Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada, gathering the scattered clergy, religious and laypeople.

Though the synod agenda has not been released, earlier this year Ukrainian Catholic Archbishop Lawrence Huculak of Winnipeg said it would renew ties between

the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ukraine and Canada and would “affirm the struggle of ... the early pioneers who did so much to establish our Church in Canada and bring it to what it is today.”

In his message to the Canadians, Archbishop Shevchuk appealed for their prayers and support for the synod members. He also expressed thanks for the Canadians’ preservation of the Church’s religious and cultural traditions and for their help after the Ukrainian Catholic Church – a Byzantine rite – began emerging from decades of communist oppression in Ukraine late in the 20th century.

- CNS

The former chief financial officer of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia will spend the next two to seven years in state prison for embezzling more than US $900,000 from the Church over seven years. In court on August 29, Anita Guzzardi, 44, sat downcast in a black business suit as Assistant District Attorney Lisa Caulfield described what she called the “lavish lifestyle” Guzzardi fueled through funds she embezzled in her work as a trusted senior financial officer of the archdiocese.

US

Archbishop apologises over driving arrest

Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Kiev-Halych, major archbishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. P HARING

Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone, to be installed in October as archbishop of San Francisco, was arrested in San Diego early on August 26 for driving under the influence. The archbishop, a San Diego native, had his mother in the car after attending a famiy gathering. In an August 27 statement the prelate apologised “for my error in judgment” and said he felt “shame for the disgrace I have brought upon the Church and myself.”

- CNS

Ditch the Facebook entry: a real pilgrimage takes

By Cindy Wooden FATHER Caesar Atuire is not naive enough to ask his pilgrims to leave their smartphones at home.

However, the CEO of a Vaticanrelated pilgrimage agency does ask his pilgrims to at least look at the holy sites – perhaps even say a prayer – before clicking and capturing the moment in a photo, text message, Tweet or Facebook post.

Father Atuire, a Ghanaian-born Fat h e r Ca e s a r At u i re, c h i e f executive officer of Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, a Vatican-related pilgrimage agency, talks about the pilgrim experience in his Rome office.

PHOTO: ROBERT DUNCAN, CNS

priest of the Diocese of Rome, personally leads at least three of the pilgrimages he oversees each year for Opera Romana Pellegrinaggi, which organises spiritual travel from Rome for 40,000-50,000 people each year and assists about 700,000 pilgrims visiting the Eternal City annually.

More and more, he said, helping travellers become pilgrims means overcoming a fixation with images that completely overshadows experiencing the reality of setting off on a journey, meeting new people, exploring different cultures and entering into prayer.

People at audiences and Masses with Pope Benedict XVI see the pope through their camera lens,

cellphones and iPads. The same thing happens at Christian holy sites around the world, he said.

“What I insist with our pilgrims is live the experience and, if the experience is so powerful, then try to immortalise it with an image, but don’t start off with the image,” he said.

A second, similar modern obstacle to an authentic pilgrim experience is Facebook or other social networks and the general ease of communicating with others anywhere in the world.

Father Atuire talks about “being present, but absent.” He said, “I can be here with you, but all that I’m doing is geared toward telling people elsewhere what I’m doing right

WORLD

therecord.com.au September 5, 2012

9

Court keeps Pakistani Down girl in jail on ‘blasphemy’ A PAKISTANI court considering the case of a Christian girl allegedly found with burned pages of the Quran, the Muslim holy book, adjourned on August 30 without granting bail.

The girl, Rimsha Masih, 11, who has Down syndrome, was charged under the country’s strict blasphemy law and has been held since August 18.

Chances for her release received a boost on August 29 when district court Judge Jawad Hasan confirmed she was a minor suffering from a mental disability, reported the Asian church news agency UCA News. Medical tests had deter-

mined Rimsha was about 14 years old. Under Pakistani law, children under 15 must be tried in a juvenile court, while those under 12 are deemed to be incapable of taking responsibility for their own actions and cannot be found guilty.

Although medical examinations presented to the court countered claims by the girl’s parents that she is only 11, her lawyer, Tahir Naveed Chaudhry, said he was confident the court would release her during the August 30 hearing.

“The proof of her illiteracy, being underage and mental illness increase the prospects for her freedom,” he said. “All facts and figures

US Church agencies, dioceses, sue Obama plan

Sisters gather to wish founder a Happy 102nd

IN A DOZEN courts around the US, lawyers representing more than 40 Catholic dioceses or institutions have filed briefs arguing against the federal government’s call to dismiss lawsuits against its contraceptive mandate.

The Catholic entities are seeking to overturn a requirement that most religious employers provide contraceptives and sterilisation to their employees.

The simultaneous filings on August 27 were in response to an August 6 brief in which the Obama administration asked the courts to summarily dismiss the suits, saying they were premature and that the plaintiffs had no standing to challenge the Department of Health and Human Services’ mandate.

“This case is about important rights to religious freedom protected by our founders under the First Amendment, assured by Congress under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, but trampled by Defendants under haphazard rulemaking,” says the 36-page brief filed on behalf of the University of Notre Dame in the US. Forty-three Catholic dioceses, schools, hospitals, social service agencies and other institutions initially filed suit in federal court on May 21 to stop three government agencies from implementing a mandate that would require them to cover contraceptives and sterilisation in their health plans. The Diocese of Peoria in Illinois, and Catholic Charities of Chicago have since joined the lawsuits.

Catholic organisations have objected to the contraceptive

support her.” However, the court did not grant bail and continued the hearing until September 1 to get further clarification of the medical tests, the Associated Press reported.

International news agencies reported this week that Pakistani police say they are investigating whether a Muslim cleric who allegedly tried to frame Rimsha for blasphemy should be charged with insulting Islam himself.

Police officer Munir Jafferi says officials registered the blasphemy case against Khalid Chisti on Monday. Police arrested Chisti on Saturday after a member of the cleric’s mosque accused him of stashing

A family rides past the locked house of Rimsha Masih, a Pakistani Christian girl accused of blasphemy, in Islamabad.

PHOTO: FAISAL MAHMOOD, REUTERS

pages of a Koran in Rimsha’s bag to make it seem like she burned the Islamic holy book. Chaudhry told media his client will remain in prison until at least Friday after her bail

hearing was delayed for the second time Monday.

Last year, two officials were killed for expressing opposition to Pakistan’s anti-blasphemy laws. - CNS

Members of the Missionaries of Charity pray in front of a portrait of Blessed Teresa of Kolkata marking her 102nd birthday in Kolkata, India, on August 26. Mother Teresa, a Nobel Peace laureate who died in 1997, was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 2003 at the Vatican.

PHOTO: RUPAK DE CHOWDHURI, REUTERS

mandate since it was announced on August 1, 2011, by Kathleen Sebelius, HHS secretary. Unless they are subject to a narrow religious exemption employers will be required to pay for sterilisations and contraceptives, including some abortion-inducing drugs, as part of their health coverage.

In the briefs, filed by Jones Day, an international law firm with more

than 2,400 lawyers on five continents, the dioceses and Catholic institutions rebut arguments that the courts should not hear the cases because a “temporary enforcement safe harbor” protects them from immediate government action against them if they fail to comply with the mandate.

In addition, the government argues that the final rule on the

mandate is likely to be amended before it takes effect in August 2013.

The University of Notre Dame argues in its brief that the government’s “plans to make some asyet-undefined amendment to the US government mandate does not deprive Notre Dame of its ability to challenge the law as it exists now, particularly where, as here, it is imposing both imminent and cur-

rent harms.” In a similar brief, the Archdiocese of Washington said it could incur penalties of nearly $145 million a year, “simply for practicing our faith,” or could be forced to cancel health insurance benefits for its 4,000 archdiocesan employees and their dependents.

It said either scenario is unthinkable, and planning for such action is itself a grave burden.

- CNS

time and lots of reflection to experience its reality now. That’s a kind of absenteeism that’s becoming very pronounced even in our pilgrimages.”

The third big risk is speed, he said.

“It takes 90 minutes to fly from Rome to Lourdes,” and as soon as the plane lands, he said, people are calling home, “asking the kids to take the laundry out of the machine. And I say, ‘Wait a minute, you still aren’t here.’”

People’s minds, hearts and souls need time to move from thoughts of work, home or school, Father Atuire said, so his agency offers catechesis on the planes. In addition, each morning guides conduct a brief meeting to remind people of where they are and what they’re

about to do. All people need a break from the daily grind now and then, he said. They need to get in touch again with their families, with nature, with themselves and with God. If a person isn’t travelling for work, they usually either are “running away from something or searching for something,” the priest said.

The key difference between leisure travel and a pilgrimage is the search for a spiritual encounter, he said, and throughout history certain shrines and sites have become known as places with “a density of God’s presence,” he said.

For the priest, who travels often, the three places that top his list for

“spiritual density” are the chapel of Christ’s tomb in Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulcher; the grotto where Mary appeared to St Bernadette in Lourdes, France; and the Sea of Galilee in the silence of the early morning or late evening.

“I don’t think you can do anything but pray” in those places, he said.

“Religious experience has a corporal dimension,” Father Atuire said. “When people are in search of a deep religious experience, the body somehow needs to be involved,” so setting off from home and going on a pilgrimage is quite natural, not only for Christians, but also for members of most other major religions.

Unfortunately though, he said, too many people today focus so much on getting to the holy places that they lose sight of the fact that a pilgrimage is a journey: “The road is the pilgrimage and it prepares you for the encounter.”

While a pilgrimage is a purposeful break from one’s normal routine, it’s not a break from rules and good manners, he said.

“A pilgrimage is putting order into your life, going back to put real order in your life – order in terms of your relationships with other persons, order in terms of your relationship with God,” he said. “Sin is disorder, and a pilgrimage is an opportunity to recover that harmony that has been lost through eve-

ryday life. That’s why it’s a deeply religious experience.”

Father Atuire also has a dream file, and it already includes a detailed itinerary. He just needs to find time, resources and pilgrims.

One day, he said, he’d love to take a group to the Marian shrine at Kibeho, Rwanda, where young people reported apparitions of Mary in the 1980s; the local bishop has recognised the apparitions as authentic.

“It’s a region of Africa that is struggling to find peace, stability and growth” following the genocide of the 1990s, Father Atuire said.

He would like to bring a group of pilgrims with him, “look into Our Lady’s message and see what signs of hope we can find there.” - CNS

10

VISTA

therecord.com.au

September 5, 2012

VISTA

therecord.com.au September 5, 2012

Vices and virtues: the making of our morality

DEAF,

BLIND

I know a woman who frequently goes to confession, yet doesn't seem to make any progress in virtue, remaining an habitual and vicious gossip. What elements are necessary for a valid confession?

AND WITH A

VISION

A

He is a man of contradictions. He cannot hear, yet he has been heard by thousands. He cannot see, yet he has opened the eyes of many. He did not speak his first word until he was nine, yet he has an understanding of seven spoken languages and nine forms of sign language.

He could not walk until he was three years old, but now he travels around the world with a vision of God's love, equality and acceptance, writes Mark Reidy.

Deaf interpreter, Patricia Levitzke-Gray, communicates questions from Record journalist Mark Reidy to Fr Cyril Axelrod during an interview at The Record's offices.

W

HEN I asked the world's first recorded Deafblind priest whether he had ever prayed to God for physical healing he becomes more animated than at any other time in our interview. “No, no, no”, Fr Cyril Axelrod states emphatically, “My deafness and blindness are gifts from God. My prayer to Him is that I can help those who are not blind to see.”

It is a statement that epitomises this humble and joyous priest, who has shone the light of Christ into some of the darkest corners of the globe for over four decades. Born deaf and afflicted with Usher's Syndrome, a disease that caused his eyesight to gradually deteriorate in his adult years, Fr Cyril's many achievements include advocating for the rights of deaf black children at the height of apartheid in South Africa and opening a doorway for deaf children in China who were once hidden away in shame from their communities.

The interview process itself reflects a microcosm of the challenges that face Fr Cyril each day as he travels the globe on a mission to open the eyes and ears of those who can see and hear. With the use of two interpreters I was able to delve into the life and mind of an extraordinary individual who sees stepping stones where others see hurdles.

My questions to Fr Cyril would be conveyed by an Auslan interpreter to a Deaf interpreter who was holding Fr Cyril's hands and would convey my questions to him using Tactile Sign language. Fr Cyril would then communicate his answers to the Auslan interpreter who would verbalise them to me.

Father Cyril lives in darkness and in silence, yet it is these “gifts”, he says, that have allowed him to become a bridge between those who can hear and see and those who cannot. “Because of my own experience I am able to connect with people”, he explained. “I can share my own struggles of loneliness and isolation and help others to accept themselves as deaf and blind and to improve their attitude about self. I can also tell their parents that they should not be frightened – that they have been given a gift. Hopefully I can be the bridge that brings these worlds closer together.”

Born in South Africa in 1942 to poor Jewish parents, Fr Cyril's journey is as unlikely as it is inspirational. There were difficult early years as Abe and Yetta Axelrod came to terms with their only child's deafness and the reality that communication between them would always be limited.

At the time there were no schools for deaf Jewish children and his parents had to reluctantly send him to the only alternative – a Catholic school run by Dominican Sisters –

11

knowing that this could jeopardise the continuation of their Jewish heritage.

Life at home was not always easy despite the love between Cyril and his parents as each struggled with the helplessness of the other to effectively express themselves. It was a sensitivity that Cyril would later utilise in his interactions with families who faced similar difficulties. In his biography published in 2005, And the Journey Begins, Fr

Born deaf and later losing his sight to Usher's Syndrome, Fr Cyril has never been alone in the darkness.

Cyril acknowledged that it was his parents struggle to communicate, their religious practice and their love and service without words that would later motivate him in his own call. “They showed me that there can be communication without words and to me this is something beautiful, like God.” Fr Cyril's exposure to Catholicism did, as his parents feared, lead him to explore the faith more deeply, but only after he had been rejected in his effort to become a Rabbi because of his “disability”. He was

15, and his dreams were shattered.

He became confused about his religious identity, but a series of events, including a dream in which he was surrounded by a mysterious orange light, led him to discover more about the Catholic faith.

Fr Cyril describes how he visited a church and in a moment of revelation recognised the orange light shining through a stained-glass window. “I knew it was God calling me to become a Catholic”, he recalls.

His decision led into another painful chapter in his journey as his mother refused to accept his decision. “If you become a Catholic; do not come and see me again”, she stated. It was a painful choice, but Fr Cyril knew that God was calling him, not just to become Catholic, but to be ordained as a priest. He was estranged from his mother for three years, before she accepted his decision.”I do not understand your faith”, she said to him, “But I accept it so long as you do God's work with deaf people.” She attended his ordination in Johannesburg in 1970.

Father Cyril's entry into the priesthood also opened the door to a world of injustice and poverty that he had been shielded from throughout his life. He was shocked at the oppression inflicted under apartheid in all areas, including education and job opportunities and was particularly horrified at society's neglect of black deaf Africans. It

was an affront to the understanding of human dignity that had been moulded by his Jewish upbringing and confirmed by his new faith.

For the next 18 years Fr Cyril was assigned to various locations throughout South Africa where he battled government policy and officials and an ingrained attitude of discrimination to become a champion of some of the country's most marginalised people. Amongst his many projects he successfully campaigned for black deaf people to be taught in English and soon after was able to open a school for deaf children in Soweto as well as programs designed to bridge the communication and geographical gaps that were separating families.

He acknowledges that he encountered many difficulties in the pursuit of justice and recognition for those that had been forgotten by society, but his desire to assist the broader community in seeing the uniqueness and worth of each individual, and for those with deafness to recognise their own value, was a motivation that kept him going.

It was during this time that Fr Cyril realised that his eyesight was deteriorating. Following the typical symptoms of Usher's Syndrome, tunnel vision began to slowly envelope the world around him. “I was like a good monk with my hood up”, he would later joke, but at the time he was completely devastated by the doctor's diagnosis that he

would eventually be totally blind.

“It was like a light slowly going out, like a candle flame dwindling”, he described.

However the gradual deterioration allowed Fr Cyril to emotionally and practically prepare and adjust to his impending blindness. “It was a painful and distressing experience”, he shares. He went through a period of anger as he battled to accept what was happening, but eventually accepted that God had a plan for him and would provide everything that he would need.

“God had used my deafness to reach out to those who are deaf '”, he explained during our interview, “I knew that He would also use my blindness for those who could not see”.

Once he accepted his blindness as a gift he used it to drive himself with even more vigour and passion, leading him into China to confront an underlying attitude of shame and guilt which dogged Deaf children throughout that country.

Here he discovered children with deafness and blindness who were kept isolated from their communities because they were considered to be a burden and source of shame for the family.

Fr Cyril uses himself as an example to those he interacts with, showing them that disabilities do not have to be barriers for people to being effective and equal members of society. “I think that out

of all the projects I have, the most important one is myself as a model”, he explains. By allowing others to see that his deafness and blindness were not hinderances to developing his unique skills and talents, he could become a living example of hope for them.

Not only did Fr Cyril become an Honorary Consultant for the Hong Kong Association for the blind, but he was also able to assist with the development of a Specialist

They showed me that there can be communication without words ... this is something beautiful.

Education Centre that would allow parents to spend time with their children and learn more effective ways to communicate with them.

In addition he was able to establish training courses to maximise the gifts of those with deafness and blindness and to assist the seeing community in recognising the uniqueness of each person with a disability.

Father Cyril, who currently lives independently in London, spent his time in Perth as a guest of the Emmanuel Centre, a Catholic selfhelp centre for people with dis-

abilities and addressed numerous schools, disability services and deaf communities in his role as bridgemaker.

He did not take long to recognise the need for improving disability services in Perth, stating that he hopes that one day he would have the opportunity to reside here to assist the Emmanuel Centre in the wonderful and effective ways in which they are providing services to deaf and blind people.

During our interview Fr Cyril passionately shared his views on two topics close to his heart - his visions of Inclusive Communities and Educational Empowerment.

“We are all people of God and we belong to one community”, he expresses passionately. “Regardless of whether we are hearing or deaf or have any other disability, we are all equal and must have the same rights to education and work. We need to understand each other's differences, but not be frightened... we have to respect one another.”

It is a passion that has driven this globe-trotting priest as he seeks to open the eyes of those blinded by the disability of others. It is a mission that provides no shortage of challenges as he travels independently from country to country, but Fr Cyril is adamant that he is never on his own. “I thank God for the strength and faith He gives me”, he says. “Nothing is impossible...God makes everything possible for me”.

LTHOUGH I answered in an earlier column the question about what true sorrow and the resolution not to sin again imply in confession your question involves another important aspect of moral life: the influence of habits on the morality of our actions.

It is important to deal with it now since there are many people battling to overcome entrenched habits and they may find what I have to say helpful.

We know that we form habits easily by repeating acts of any sort. For example, in driving a car, learning a language, playing a musical instrument or engaging in some sport, the more often we do it the better we get at it. We form habits that facilitate actions.

Similarly in the moral sphere, we form habits by repeating acts of any type. If our acts are morally disordered, like drinking alcohol to excess, indulging in impurity, using bad language, telling lies or gossiping, the more we do these things the more we develop a habit of doing them. This bad habit, which facilitates immoral acts, is called a vice.

On the other hand, when our actions are directed to our true last end and hence are morally good, like praying, being kind and generous or fulfilling our duties, again the more we do them the easier they become.

We form good habits, called virtues, which facilitate good acts.

How do virtues and vices influence the morality of our acts?

Let us begin with virtues.

Obviously, the more virtues we have and the stronger they are, the easier it is to do good acts, acts which help us to live a life that is pleasing to God and to grow in holiness. So we should do all the good acts we can, since they will form virtues and make successive good acts that much easier. Those acts are pleasing to God and they store up treasure in heaven. They speed up our journey to eternal life and they give us joy here on earth.

Turning to bad habits or vices, the more vices we have the easier it is to commit sin and the harder it is to do the will of God. But there is another aspect to bad habits that is very important.

Let us consider two stages.

In the first, the person willingly carries out the sins and does little or nothing to avoid them.

He or she is fully responsible for those actions and for the vices they gradually form.

Consider, for example, a

Q&A FR JOHN FLADER

person who habitually uses bad language or who engages in sexual activity outside of marriage and makes no effort to avoid it. Those actions and the bad habits they form are fully voluntary. Because the person is committing the sins deliberately, they have a greater malice and can be punished more severely by God. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “Sin committed through malice, by deliberate choice of evil, is the gravest” (CCC 1860).

If, at a later stage, that person comes to realise how bad those actions are and sincerely repents of them and strives to overcome the habit, inevitably he or she will still fall into some of the bad actions, because of the entrenched habit. But those sins will have

As long as we sincerely struggle to overcome the habit, there is a reduced culpability for those actions. less culpability, less guilt before God, precisely because of the habit.

Rather than being sins of malice, they will be more what are called “sins of weakness”, sins committed with a will that desires to please God but is weakened by some factor like an entrenched habit. The culpability or guilt before God of sins of weakness is less than in sins of malice.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church gives as an example the sin of masturbation: “To form an equitable judgment about the subjects’ moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety, or other psychological or social factors that can lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability” (CCC 2352).

The same can be said of any bad habit. As long as we are sorry for our bad actions and are sincerely struggling to overcome the habit, there is a reduced culpability for those actions. We may have to struggle all our life to overcome the habit, but as long as we are struggling the sins have less culpability.

12

VISTA

therecord.com.au

September 5, 2012

Getting to the bottom of When senior Church leaders describe figures and events in the Bible as myths, it does not mean they have It is really all to do with the developments of modern Catholic

D

uring the course of a discussion on a recent episode of ABC TV’s Q&A program, Cardinal George Pell of Sydney referred to the story of Adam and Eve as a myth. When I heard this, I knew that I was going to hear from some unhappy people in the course of the next few days and indeed I did. Some told me that, as a result, they did not know what to believe anymore.

But the insight was not original to the Cardinal, nor did it just magically appear. Catholics, alas, have not been generally exposed to the insights of modern Scripture scholarship, one lasting effect of the theological drama of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation of the sixteenth century. The story of modern Scripture studies goes back at least three hundred years, but let us begin with the great discoveries of the nineteenth century.

When the Rosetta Stone, an ancient Egyptian stele, was translated by Jean-François Champollion in Paris in 1822 and the Bisitun stones in Iran over the next two decades, much of the literature of the ancient worlds of Egypt and Babylon were dramatically opened to scholars. These discoveries were to have a profound impact on the study of the Bible as scholars began to compare it with other literature of the Ancient Near East. Scholarly study of the biblical text developed as the tools of literary and historical criticism were applied to the texts;

broadly what we call the historicalcritical method. In recent years, the Pontifical Biblical Commission has set out the principles of the method in its 1993 document, The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church. This method studies the significance of texts from a historical point of view and the complex processes which led to their current form; it seeks to discover the various communities to which the texts were addressed at different points in time and uses scientific criteria in its studies, commenting on them as human constructs. All this is meant to allow the exegete to gain a better grasp of the content of divine revelation.

Catholic scholars however had become wary of the new critical approaches from the end of the eighteenth century. Under the influence of the comparative history of religions, such as it then was, or on the basis of certain philosophical ideas, some exegetes expressed highly negative judgments against the Bible. Pope Leo XIII recognised that scholars had to deal with the results of the new scholarship and gave a fillip to Catholic biblical scholarship with his 1893 encyclical, Providentissimus Deus.

But this encouragement was not to last. The newly-created Pontifical Biblical Commission (PBC) issued 18 documents between 1905 and 1933 dealing with the some of the results of the historical-critical approach to Scripture. These documents consisted of detailed ques-

tions on such topics as the historical nature of the first three chapters of Genesis and the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, with very short responses, usually in the negative.

These responses upheld what was perceived to be Catholic orthodoxy with regard to biblical texts.

Though the responses of the PBC were not infallible, Catholic biblical scholars were bound by the decisions of the Commission and the atmosphere became extremely repressive. Among the results were an impoverished catechesis about

In the Bible there are many mythical stories, history, prayer and poetry. If someone asserts something is a ‘myth’ we might conclude it is not true. the bible and the enduring suspicion among some Catholics about biblical scholarship.

Fortunately, change was to come.

A 1941 PBC letter Un opuscolo anonimo denigratorio (An anonymous, denigrative brochure) was seen as opening the door to the use of the historical-critical method in Catholic biblical scholarship once again. More importantly, in 1943 Pope Pius XII issued the encyclical letter, Divino Afflante Spiritu,

which not only encouraged biblical scholars but led to an enrichment of theology. The PBC recognised the changing reality and in a 1948 letter to Cardinal Suhard, Des sources du Pentateuque et de l’historicité de Genèse 1-11 (Of the sources of the Pentateuch and the historicity of Genesis 1-11), its secretary, Fr Vosté, wrote that the previous “responses are not in any way opposed to a further, truly scientific study of these problems as a result of the knowledge acquired in the last forty years.”

The impetus for renewal reached its apogee with the Second Vatican Council. In the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, the Council teaches that “since God speaks in Sacred Scripture through men in human fashion, the interpreter of Sacred Scripture, in order to see clearly what God wanted to communicate to us, should carefully investigate what meaning the sacred writers really intended, and what God wanted to manifest by means of their words.... The interpreter must investigate what meaning the sacred writer intended to express and actually expressed in particular circumstances by using contemporary literary forms in accordance with the situation of his own time and culture.”

Today, Catholic biblical scholarship has moved on a great deal since the repression of the early twentieth century and we are reaping the benefits of its vigorous and critical development.

The texts which make up our Bible have their origin in different periods of time and circumstances. When we read a text, we need to place it in its time and try to discover what the text is saying.

Sometimes this is easy. We know, for example, where and when Amos carried out his prophetic ministry; the Book of Amos starts with this information: “in the days of King Uzziah of Judah and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.”

In the Bible we find mythical stories, history, prayer, poetry and many other forms of writing. When we hear someone assert that something ‘is a myth’, we can immediately think that the person is saying that it is not true. But that is clearly not what Cardinal Pell meant in using the word. Myths are stories using familiar imagery which can express very profound ideas about ourselves, our place in the world and our relationship with the Creator. Not all myths are so revealing; some expose us to the wisdom of ancient peoples, such as the Greek myth of Narcissus, while others are forgotten with the passage of time. But the Bible is not just a book of human wisdom. And while Biblical scholars have varying theories about the time when the story of Adam and Eve was conceived, these theories help open our eyes to the richness of the text, the meaning the composers or writers were conveying and help us appre-

VISTA

therecord.com.au September 5, 2012

Breakdown of the Bible for Catholics

biblical myth stopped believing in Scripture, writes Fr Sean Fernandez. biblical scholarship.

Reviewed by Brian Welter Catholic News Service

T

Adam and Eve - real people or a myth which helps us understand a deeper truth about God’s creation of the human race? The answer’s not as straightfor ward as many might think, writes Fr Sean Fernandez. For example, Cardinal Pell’s recent description of the myth of humanity’s first couple may have led some to think the Genesis accounts are not true.

ciate what they say to us now. The narrative of Adam and Eve not only assists us in understanding the rest of the Bible, it helps us interpret common human experience. It is not a scientific treatise answering questions beyond the ken of those who composed it. It expresses faithfilled insights into profound questions of meaning: Why is the world the way it is? Why do we experience brokenness? Is this brokenness intended by God? What is the place of man and woman in the world? – and so on.

The account of Adam and Eve, together with the sweep of the biblical narrative, helps us interpret our experience of sin, estrangement and futility. It tells us, amongst other things, that evil does not originate with God, that God’s will for his creation is benign and gracious, that

evil is a mystery and that we experience its effects in estrangement from God, from one another, from ourselves and from creation. We can appreciate the beauty of the creation account in Genesis even more when we compare it with a Babylonian myth, the Enuma Elish.

In this pagan text, one of the gods, Marduk, speaks of his intention in making man: “I will take blood and fashion bone. I will establish a savage, ‘man’ shall be his name. Truly, savage-man I will create. He shall be charged with the service of the gods. That they might be at ease!”

It’s not a comforting view.

In contrast, the Genesis Creation myth expresses a faith in the goodness of God and creation and the benign place of humanity within this creation. Personally, I am unsure as to the scientific evi-

13

dence for a first man and woman.

‘Mitochondrial Eve’ is not the Eve of Genesis; Nick Lane writing in Nature, one of the world’s most respected interdisciplinary scientific journals, explains it this way: “Mitochondrial Eve did not live alone, so why has all humanity inherited her mitochondrial DNA? The standard answer invokes a bottleneck that reduced the number of humans down to a few thousand individuals, whose descendants took over the world.” Whatever the sciences may tell us about the processes, the Adam and Eve myth will continue to speak truly to us of the meaningfulness of our existence in God’s creation.

Fr Sean Fernandez is Parish Priest of Attadale and a lecturer in Theology at Notre Dame University in Fremantle.

HREE books offer three views and uses of the Bible for Catholics, showing the rich and diverse nature of our faith.

In A Year with the Bible, prolific Catholic writer Patrick Madrid presents readings from every part of Scripture to address the ups and downs of Christian life. Madrid demonstrates the Bible’s path to a devotional life through accompanying thoughts and prayers to selected brief readings.

The three scholarly authors of The Bible and the Believer – one for each of the Jewish, Catholic and Protestant traditions – challenge readers religiously and intellectually. They examine their respective traditions’ use of the Old Testament by reflecting on the historicalcritical method together with a religious reading.

The Jewish writer Marc Zvi Brettler notes, “Reading a text religiously means connecting it to your community in the present. In contrast, reading a text from a historical-critical perspective means connecting it to its original author and setting.”

Each of the three authors shows clearly how the historical-critical method, which unearths inconsistencies and strives for new understandings of much-loved readings, caused a stir when it developed out of 19th-century German Protestantism. While each of the three faith groups did eventually accept this approach, religious authorities have only done so while finding a way to continue their traditionally religious way of reading Scripture.

Catholics rely on tradition, reason and the Bible, all officiated by the magisterium, so we are somewhat insulated against new findings that for strict Biblicists might hurt their faith. Jesuit scholar Father Daniel Harrington outlines the Catholic acceptance of the historical-critical method. He notes how the spiritual or religious reading of Scripture still takes center place, though the scholarly method begins most discussions.

Catholics will learn much about Protestantism, and the vulnerability of their faith to different readings of the Bible.

Without a similarly developed tradition-reason aspect to the faith, and lacking a central religious authority such as the pope, the winds of academic change often carry them away.

Many have gone down the

“slippery slope to unbelief,” while others built a fortress against the outside world in a vain effort to keep their Protestant faith pure.

Catholics have much to be thankful for, in other words, with our deposit of faith. ‘Sola Scriptura’ (Scripture alone), well defined by Protestant Peter Enns, makes the Bible into the final arbiter for theological disputes. Yet the Bible is much more chaotic, diverse, and inconsistent than the Protestant reformers could have imagined. Sola Scriptura has therefore brought about unceasing dispute and division among Protestants, not only because of the rebellious nature of Protestantism, but because of this nature of the Bible, which has failed to live up to the uniformity and consistency that Protestants have asked from it.

Enns wisely suggests that Protestants stop asking the Bible to do the impossible for them. He calls for more Catholic-type contemplation, since that tradition assumed and invited the type of spiritual struggle and critical examination of old religious beliefs and the self that Protestants have long avoided.

Readers will learn from the Jewish scholar Brettler that the Jewish reverence for a lively, engaged tradition parallels Catholicism, and that Protestants share the same endless division and disagreement with Jews resulting from not having a central religious authority.

John Bergsma’s “Bible Basics for Catholics” offers a clear, consistent, and faithful introduction to the Bible that does assume a unified whole to Scripture. He concentrates on this unity by avoiding particularities. His bird’s eye view of sacred history notes how God has called humanity to “divine filiation”, or a father-child relationship, with humans from the beginning. Bergsma traces the various attempts by God to establish a living, fruitful covenant with humans through Adam, Noah, Moses, David and the new David, Jesus, who re-established the Davidic covenant while also fulfilling it.

This followed God’s promise, spoken through the prophets, that he would write the law on our hearts.

Bergsma’s consistent theological reading of the Bible introduces basic dogma as well.

These three books, by varying so greatly from each other, reflect the diverse Catholic uses for the Bible, depending on the occasion and need.

FUN FAITH WITH

SEPTEMBER 9, 2012 • MK 7: 31-37• 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

JOHN SCHILLING, AGED 6

WORD SEARCH

And his ears were opened, and at once the impediment of his tongue was loosened and he spoke clearly. - Mk 7: 31-37 ADMIRATION HAND JESUS SPITTLE GALILEE SPOKE HEAVEN

CROSSWORD

Across 1. And his ears were opened, and at once the impediment of his tongue was loosened and he _______ clearly.

4. Their ___________ was unbounded, and they said, ‘Everything he does is good, he makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.’

6. Then looking up to______ he sighed; and he said to him, ‘Ephphatha,’ that is, ‘Be opened.’

JESUS

WIN!!

WORD LIST

ADMIRATION HEAVEN Down 1. He took him aside to be by themselves, away from the crowd, put his fingers into the man’s ears and touched his tongue with _______.

2. And they brought him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they asked him to lay

SEND YOUR COLOURED IN PICTURE TO THE RECORD AT PO BOX 3075, ADELAIDE TERRACE, PERTH WA 6832 TO BE IN THE RUNNNG TO WIN THIS WEEK’S PRIZE.

HAND

SPOKE

GALILEE

SPITTLE

his _____ on him.

3. Returning from the territory of Tyre, he went by way of Sidon towards the Lake of ______, right through the Decapolis territory.

5. And _______ ordered them to tell no one about it, but the more he insisted, the more widely they proclaimed it.

therecord.com.au September 5, 2012

TheTRecord he Record Last W in ord 1911 The Bookshop

VISTA

September 5, 2012, The Record

15

Kids Catalogue ACTIVITIES AND BIBLE STORIES

FROM

$2

95

BOOK OF SAINTS FOR CHILDREN SERIES FROM

$3 BIBIANA KWARAMBA Bookshop Manager

Telephone: 9220 5912 Email: bookshop@therecord.com.au Address: 21 Victoria Square, Perth 6000

16

OPINION

EDITORIAL

The heavens reveal the wonder of God

W

hen American astronaut Neil Armstrong passed away on August 25 just days after turning 82 the whole world stopped, just as it had on July 21, 1969, when Armstrong descended the ladder of the Eagle lunar lander and set foot on the moon. On hearing the news of Armstrong’s death, millions of people around the world were taken back, in an instant, to the event which seemed, for three days, to unite the world as it watched on flickering black and white television sets (in Australia, that is) one of the most momentous events of history unfold.

Lesser known, however, and still largely obscured by the scale of the achievement of Apollo 11 and the NASA missions that were its successors, is the way in which many, if not all, of the 24 men who travelled to the moon between 1969 and 1972 were profoundly changed by their experiences in their attitudes to life and its meaning. This is a matter of considerable interest to anyone who believes in God and probably of even more relevance now, over four decades later.

Astronaut Edgar Mitchell, who flew on Apollo 14, said that “The biggest joy was on the way home. In my cockpit window [I saw] the earth, the moon, the sun and the whole 360 degrees panorama of the heavens. And that was the powerful, overwhelming experience. And suddenly I realised that the molecules of my body, and the molecules of the spacecraft and the molecules in the bodies of my partners were prototyped and manufactured in some ancient generations of the stars.

And that was an overwhelming sense of one-ness, of connectedness.

It wasn’t ‘them’ and ‘us’. It was ‘that’s me, that’s all of us, it’s one thing’.

And it was accompanied by an ecstasy, a sense of “oh my god, wow, yes! An insight. An epiphany.”

The sense of an epiphany, of having glimpsed something divine, or near-divine, was not uncommon. Today, we have displaced God from our lives as a nation and often individually, having sought to drive the Creator of the Universe out of any mention in the public square of the nation’s life and in a seamingly increasing number of cultures at a global level. We worship instead the god whose name begins with ‘w.w.w.’ Yet Gene Cernan, who flew on both the Apollo 10 and 17 missions, reflected that the experience taught him in the most powerful way possible the limits of science and technology. “I felt,” he said, “that I was literally standing on a plateau out there somewhere in space, a plateau that science and technology had allowed me to get to. But now what I was seeing, and even more importantly what I was feeling, at that moment in time was that science and technology had no answers for it, literally no answers, because there I was and there you are - there you were, the earth – dynamic, overwhelming, and I felt that the world had just too much purpose, too much logic. It was just too beautiful to have ever happened by accident. There has to be somebody bigger than you and bigger than me and I mean this in a spiritual sense, not a religious sense, there has to be a creator of the universe who stands above the religions that we create ourselves to govern our lives.”

But more eloquent than any editorial is Charlie Duke, who flew on Apollo 16. When he returned, he said, “A friend of ours got us to go to a Bible study at the tennis club. And, after that weekend, I said to Jesus, I said, ‘I give you my life’ and ‘If you’re real, come into my life’ and ‘I believe.’ And He did. And I had this sense of peace that was… hard to describe. It was so dramatic that we started sharing our story.

[Now] I say my walk on the moon lasted three days and it was a great adventure. But my walk with God lasts forever.”

Astronaut Gene Cernan said it became obvious the world is just too beautiful to be an accident. There had to be someone bigger than us.

Brothers and sisters, persecuted for believing the words of Jesus

T

he case of Pakistani Christian girl Rimshah Masih, aged 11, (see story, page 9) should give all of us pause to reflect on several important things: how lucky our lives are here in Australia, how much others suffer around the world, how backward some countries are and how many Christians suffer for their faith, forced to submit to injustice, prejudice violence and ignorance – among others. Her cause, and that of her family, also confronts we who are Christians in Australia with a question of fundamental importance: do we pray for our brothers and sisters who are persecuted for believing in the Lord, a state of being which is effectively regarded by many countries as a crime against the state? If we do not, why not? In a wider sense, therefore, Rimshah’s story is about the power of prayer and one of the most touching and poignant illustrations accompanying the story of Rimshah, who suffers from Down Syndrome, appeared in the international press over the last week. A photo showed fellow Pakistani Christians gathered in an urban forrest of Islamabad on August 27 to pray for Rimshah and her family. There is no question they were doing so at considerable risk to themselves. We lucky Christians in countries such as Australia, as yet, do not have such problems and should therefore remember that prayer has the actual power to bring about God’s will – that we are expected to pray, by God, and that our brothers and sisters persecuted for their faith have a right to turn to us for the aid which, ultimately, brings nothing less than the power of heaven to bear on their behalf. Pray for Rimshah and her family. We cannot turn away from them in their hour of need.

therecord.com.au

September 5, 2012

LETTERS

Disappointed by Diana comments I HAVE never felt impelled to write a critical letter to you, but have often thought I would like to compliment you, the editor, on the content of editorials. I regret I have not done so in the past and further regret that I am writing on this occasion to express my dismay at the Guy Crouchback article in this week’s paper.

Although I felt the whole tenor of the article to be in poor taste, I think it is not a Christian approach to label a dead woman “pigeon brained” We ought all be sufficiently aware of our own weaknesses, sin and failures to live up to our ideals, that we could see that to bring further publicity to the misdemeanours of a young man, even one of such a public profile, is of little value.

If Mr Crouchback was seeking to uphold the Royal Family in this article, the purpose was not enhanced by criticisms of either Prince Harry or his deceased mother.

I am of the opinion that Mr Crouchback’s article and in his approach shown therein, was not of the standard we have come to expect in our weekly Catholic newspaper.

Suellen Horgan MT LAWLEY, WA

Article on Prince was tasteless I JUST want to say how disappointed I was to read the tasteless article on Prince Harry.

Normally I enjoy his columns but this one was awful. And why would a Catholic paper bother to go along with this royal scandal in the first place.

Rosemary Chandler SHELLEY, WA

Deadly decision to keep women in the dark THE DECISION of the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to make the so-called abortion drug RU486 widely available to Australian women is another disaster for unborn children and will have serious health consequences for the women who use it. Some may die.

The ministerial veto imposed by the Howard Government over RU486 (Mifepristone and Misoprostol) was lifted by Parliament in 2006, but it had only very limited availability because only a small number of general practitioners were granted permission to import and prescribe the drug. The TGA decision was made because Marie Stopes International, a large, wealthy, abortion provider, has established a subsidiary company, MS Health, to import, market and distribute the drug to other medical practitioners.

The headline “Abortion pill ‘effective’ in the Weekend West of September 1-2 is deceptive and does not tell women the whole story. The article says “The abortion pill is a relatively safe and effective way for Australian women to terminate an unwanted pregnancy.”

Women should be informed that RU486 is a dangerous drug that has caused many women to suffer serious complications and has caused some to die.

The article quotes from a ‘study’ produced by the abortion organisation Marie Stopes International, the body approved by the Therapeutics Goods Administration to import

the drug. The the study reports on the 13,345 women who had early medical abortions at 15 Marie Stopes International clinics around Australia.

The ‘study’ does not inform women that several hundred suffered the ignominy of being hospitalised to have surgery to remove a dead foetus that had not been expressed. Even worse it did not report that a woman died from group A streptococcus sepsis, a severe bacterial infection of the bloodstream – some days after being prescribed a regimen of two drugs, RU-486 (mifepristone) and misoprostol, from a Marie Stopes International Australia clinic in 2010.

These important matters were not included in the so-called study. They were only revealed when Senator Boswell, in the Parliament sought information from the Minister for Health in March 2012. Other adverse effects were revealed such as haemorrhage, which required blood transfusions.

It is also important that Australian women should be made be aware of number of deaths directly related to the use of RU486 in other countries, especially Europe and the United States.

Brian Peachey WOODLANDS, WA

We need to have the courage of our faith ON AUGUST 29 we celebrated the birth of John the Baptist, ‘ A voice crying in the wilderness.’

This same voice cries in the Church today, but do we believe or are we like his father Zachary, struck dumb because of our disbelief? This applies to everyone in the Church. Certainly John the Baptist was no mute. He called a spade a spade and lost his head as a result.

Our Blessed Mother did not spare the three children at Fatima a vision of hell. Yet today there is a great reluctance on the part of many priests to speak on Sin, Hell, sacrilegious communion and the need for personal Reconciliation. But if you love someone then proper instruction is a must.

We could all start by going to She who knows her divine Son completely, Mary , Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church, noting that the Church has always taught “To Jesus Through Mary”.

Attilio Panizza WATERFORD , WA

Thanks to The Record for Vincentian story WE WOULD like to thank your reporter Glynnis Grainger for her excellent coverage of our work, with the Bentley Conference of St Vincent De Paul.

She has put together a concise report of the workings of St Vincent at the grass root level and her headline: ‘Society’s little chapter carry out a mighty work’ - says it all. We have also had good feedback from the Belmont office of St Vincent De Paul. Thankyou again.

Tom Thomas BENTLEY, WA

Oppsition leader must answer on refugees WHAT IS truth?, Pontius Pilate asks Jesus.

In the contemporary context of the asylum seeker debate, I would pose another question: does truth

matter? Apparently not, according to the Leader of the Opposition, Tony Abbott, when referring to the scale and status of so-called boat people. In regard to the status of asylum seekers (specifically those coming by boat), Abbott deliberately and repeatedly refers to them as “illegal arrivals.”

The last time I checked, it was not illegal to seek asylum in Australia.

The last time I checked, Australia was still a signatory to the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees (1951), which recognises the right of all people to seek asylum. Nor has Australia revoked the Migration Act (1958), which similarly allows for those seeking asylum to enter the country.

When Mr Abbott describes asylum seekers as illegal arrivals, he does so confident of two things.

Firstly, it will appeal to the ignorance and prejudice of some members of the public. Sadly, there are few issues on which the Australian electorate is more eager to be misled than the asylum seeker debate, and Abbott is only too happy to oblige.

Secondly, Mr Abbott knows that his pixellation of the facts will go largely unchallenged by the mainstream media. Even the Catholic leadership and media are seemingly silent on Mr Abbott’s egregious misrepresentation of the status of asylum seekers. That apparent reluctance by representatives of the Catholic Church compels me, a Catholic, to ask an uncomfortable question. Might it have anything to do with the fact that Mr Abbott once trained for the priesthood, and that he is reportedly a practising Catholic?

In the last year, I have written two letters to The Record on the asylum seeker issue. In the second of those letters, I invoked the parable of the Good Samaritan to contrast its message with the conduct of Mr Abbott and the Shadow Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Scott Morrison.

The asylum seeker issue is profoundly suffused with moral implications, yet regardless of the divergent views of individuals, surely any valid debate must begin with the truth. Pontius Pilate may have asked what is truth, but today, are those of us who perceive the truth holding to account those who seek to distort it?

Mitchel Peters MARANGAROO, WA

Apology IN LAST week’s edition of The Record an article by Guy Crouchback carried an offensive line about the late Princess Diana of Wales. This was not intended for publication, but a major disruption to the production process on the day the paper went to print meant that an unedited or incomplete version of the article appeared instead of an edited version. The Record very much regrets this error as the line would be offensive to many and the view expressed was that of the author and did not reflect the opinion of the paper. The Record apologises for this error.

Keep up to date with local, national and world news on our website. www.therecord.com.au

OPINION

therecord.com.au September 5, 2012

17

God’s grace is like the rain that gives a garden life Nothing gives a glimpse of the spiritual life like the trials and joys of gardening and observing the cycle of the seasons.

I

T’S late August as I write, and even though our summer in Canada officially lasts until the Autumnal Equinox (22 September), the season is waning.

The grass is dry and fading; leaves are turning yellow; my vegetable garden has nearly expired but for the corn and pumpkin—and the weeds, of course. For some reason, they seem to have incredible staying power. Funny that.

Horticulture and I have had an evolving relationship. I disliked it as a child growing up on my parents’ farm, because it involved work. My summer chores included helping to sow, weed, hoe, and harvest the family garden patch. Well, it wasn’t a ‘patch’, exactly—it seemed to us youngsters more the size of a football field. Was it just my imagination, or were those rows of beans over 100 yards long? Throw in scorching temperatures and a few thousand mosquitoes (wet years) or grasshoppers (dry years) and you’ll know why I loathed gardening as a kid.

With adulthood came respon-

@ Home MARIETTE ULRICH

sibility for my own small-town property, which includes a vegetable plot, trees, lawn, hedges, shrubs, and numerous flowerbeds.

Gardening—especially of lilies— has become an enjoyable pastime.

Though it still involves work (and, alas, mosquitoes), it is therapeutic and satisfying to have an attractive yard and home-grown fruits and vegetables. It is a great blessing to produce so much food in such a short growing season.

Jesus employed many parables about plant cultivation; metaphors relating to seeding, growth, abundance and death are apropos to the spiritual life, and easy to understand. There are so many such lessons that it would take an entire book, or perhaps a continuing series to do them justice. So I limited myself to a few observa-

tions about the lowly yet pernicious weed.

Keeping one’s yard weed-free is far more labour-intensive and timeconsuming than sowing or reaping.

Making an initial decision to follow Christ, or even ultimately dying for him are the work of a moment; the greatest challenge comes from a lifetime of the daily struggle against sin and striving for virtue.

Beyond this life is the Garden of gardens where there will be no sickness or sorrow, no mosquitoes and definitely no weeds.

When weeds are tiny seedlings, you may be tempted to ignore them. Don’t, because you’ll never return to them at (what you imagine is) the ‘right time.’ They invariably get out of control and go to

seed. Just like sin, it’s best to uproot and eradicate weeds at the very first sign.

Some weeds come out entirely if you pull them gently and slowly; if you rip them out quickly and impatiently they break, leaving roots in the soil. Now apply this lesson to the training and admonition of children. On a related note, weeds are generally easier to remove after a rain. God’s grace (especially in the sacrament of Penance) is like the rain.

Occasionally, you become weary of kneeling in the dirt hour upon hour and gingerly plucking weeds from amongst your flowers; you feel overwhelmed and want to pull out the whole works: weeds, flowers, and perhaps even some of your hair. This frustration may be the result of too much (or the wrong kind of) ambition—you should see the size of my perennial flowerbeds.

It may be better to start small and keep things simple; I’m not saying you shouldn’t grow a big garden or do great things for God, but it is wise to know one’s limits. In

gardening, as in life, you need the time and energy to keep up with everything.

You must commit to working diligently and daily—sporadic bursts of effort interspersed with lazy stretches rarely produce good gardens (been there, done that).

Weeds gain the upper hand; fruits and vegetables get too old or spoil.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen used to say (I paraphrase) that there is no coasting in the spiritual life; you are either going forward or falling behind.

Finally, there is an end to the gardening season, at least for those of us in climes with sub-zero winters. As much as I enjoy the taste of fresh peas or the sight of thousands of flowers blooming, I do tire of the labour. I look forward to the garden’s winter slumber. We are to cherish the life God has given us, of course, but we are not to fear death. For beyond it is the Garden of gardens, where there will be no sickness or sorrow, and (I fervently hope) no grasshoppers, mosquitoes or weeds.

When faith is the rock of life

Australia’s first official saint, a pope and contemporary Catholic apologists all help Renato Bonasera in the journey of life.

How I Pray DEBBIE WARRIER

I

AM a secondary teacher teaching Religious Education and involved in the organisation of Year 7–10 retreats at Aquinas College. My wife Therese and I have three children – Joshua five and a half, Jacob four and Marie Grace almost two. I am involved in the Society of Catholic Teachers Australia and the Catholic Men’s Fellowship in Perth.

I am aware of the need to allow more time for prayer in my life than I already do. I see prayer mostly as an opportunity to connect with God and try to find a balance between making petition and thanksgiving.

The first thing I try and be conscious of is my need to make my morning offering. I do this in union with my patron saints, but especially with Our Lady who has truly been a mother to me in my spiritual life. The morning offering reflects my understanding that nothing should be wasted in our lives – our daily toils, fears, joys, struggles and hopefully the attitudes of trust and desire for forgiveness that I hope the Spirit inspires me with. United with the sufferings and love of Jesus I believe my smallest action can be of value in the world. Even my many sins can be transformed into grace through His mercy, which I rely on each day.

When I am struggling or when I need to ask for a significant grace I find the Divine Mercy chaplet very powerful – it inspires me and has resulted in amazing graces in my life, so much so that I can’t deny its power. Calling upon the blood of Jesus to transform a situation makes all the difference and highlights that we can do nothing unless we are united with Christ’s redeeming sacrifice.

I feel more and more called to make Scripture the centre of my prayer life. I really enjoy Lectio Divina when I finally take the step and practice it – it really brings Scripture alive for me. I struggle with the Rosary but when I do pray it I find I need the support of images and Scripture to help with

Catholic teacher Renato Bonasera finds support for his faith from a wide variety of spiritual practices and figures.

the meditations. When I remember to thank God I try to use wellknown scripture passages to help me show my thanks. Perhaps above all I pray best through song. I used to be a cantor at Mass and enjoyed singing the responsorial psalm.

and present – from Abraham to modern day saints, whether canonised or building God’s Kingdom in their educational institutions or in the work of social justice. They remind me of what God has been trying to teach His people through-

are in the arms of a loving God, especially my wife and children and that God can overcome our weaknesses and failings.

The best experiences of God I’ve had are my conversion at the age of 16, answered prayers, God-

The best experiences of God I’ve had were my conversion at 16, answered prayers and signs of God working in my life and those around me.

When I hear the psalms sung well at Mass I find that deeply spiritual. As parents, my wife and I use song to pray with our young children using jingles that are both traditional and more contemporary. Sometimes it is better to pray in the fashion of the Wiggles than not at all.

I have been inspired by the witness of holy and wise people, past

out history – to accept His love and mercy; to say yes to the perennial question God is asking us throughout history: Do you trust me?

My faith is my rock of safety – without it life would be less rich and would have less meaning especially in times of difficulty and struggle.

It helps me to see the bigger picture and reminds me that those I love

incidences - signs of God’s power and healing working in my life and the lives of friends and family members. In great part they have inspired me to begin the writing of a book entitled A Legacy of Grace which I hope to publish in the next few years, God willing.

Faith means truly believing from the heart. As Catholics we try and

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

place our trust in the Lord and walk on water like St Peter, hoping that fear won’t enter and take that trust away. We are afraid of trusting in God’s goodness in the midst of the storms of life and afraid to trust the truth He has entrusted to the teaching authority of the Church as it often requires heroism and can be counter-cultural.

We are blessed with role models such as St Mary of the Cross and Blessed Pope John Paul II and his amazing witness to life. I have a great appreciation for Catholic educators and apologists such as Scott Hahn, Jeff Cavins, Tim Staples and the like. Their work and love for the faith is inspirational and they remind me that our faith can only survive as long as our passion for it remains.

18

PANORAMA

therecord.com.au

September 5, 2012

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22

EVERY THIRD SUNDAY

Discovering Culture Night – Indian 7pm at Gosnells Parish, 175 Corfield St, Gosnells.

Celebrating the multi cultural nature of our parish community with a series entitled “Discovering Culture”. Join us for the food, fun and just a hint of “Bollywood” in the St Munchin’s School Hall.

Tickets and Enq: Arlene 0432 630 108 or Sandra 9398 8583.

St Padre Pio Pilgrimage 8am-4pm at St John the Baptist, Stirling Terrace, Toodyay. 8am – Buses depart ($17 per person); 10.15am – DVD; 11.30am – Mass, Confession available; 1pm – Lunch (BYO); 2.30pm Eucharistic Procession, Rosary, Adoration, Divine Mercy and Benediction. 4pm – Depart to Perth. Enq: Catrina 9255 1938.

Oblates of St Benedict – Meeting 2pm at St Joseph’s Convent, York St, South Perth.

For all interested in studying the Rule of St Benedict and its relevance to the everyday life of today for laypeople: Vespers and afternoon tea afterwards. Enq: Secretary 9457 5758.

Early Spiritual Exercises - Seminar 9-12pm at The MacKillop Room (Multi-Purpose Room) John XXIII College, Mooro Dr, Mt Claremont.

Presenter: Chris Gardener. St Ignatius of Loyola suggested people engage to have some spiritual conversations around their desires in life; their faith and what God’s desires may be for them.

Chris has been involved with Ignatian Spirituality for 25 years. Experience some early exercises using a format that St Ignatius suggested. Cost: donation (for Inigo centre). Registration and enq: Murray 9383 0444 or graham.murray@johnxxiii. edu.au

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 23

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life 2-3pm at Infant Jesus Parish, Wellington St, Morley. The hour includes exposition of the Blessed Eucharist, silent prayer, scripture and prayers of intercession. Come and pray that those discerning vocations can hear clearly God’s call.

Meditation Day 10am-3.30pm at Ned Kenny Centre, Kent St, Busselton (next to St. Joseph’s Parish). Presenters: Stephanie Wood, John Coleman, Monica Mulcahy.

The presenters will be introducing and exploring the ancient art of meditation within the Christian tradition. BYO lunch. Tea and coffee provided. Cost: Donation. Books and tapes available for sale. Enq: Jenny 9754 4006 or 0407 544 205.

The Birth of Our Blessed Virgin Mary Mass – Legion of Mary 12pm at St Joachim’s Parish, Cnr of Shepperton Rd and Harper St, Victoria Park. Main celebrant: Archbishop Costelloe. Enq: Rosemary 9328 2726 or fax 9328 2782 by September 7) Our Heavenly Mother’s Birthday in the Parish Centre.

6.30pm at St Jude’s Parish, 20 Prendiville Way, Langford. Please bring a plate of finger food and refreshments. Sun 7.30am, 9am and 5.30pm.

Enqs.: Parish Office 9458 1946.

Divine Mercy Healing Mass 2.30pm at St Francis Xavier’s Parish, Windsor St, East Perth. Main Celebrant: Fr Marcellinus Meilak.

Reconciliation in English and Italian offered. Divine Mercy prayers followed by Veneration of First Class Relic of St Faustina Kowalska. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: John 9457 7771.

SATURDAY TO SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8-9 menAlive Men’s Weekend 8am at St Denis Parish, Cnr Roberts and Osborne Sts, Joondana. Finishes 1.30pm Sunday. Enq: Ben 0407 088 431.

NEXT WEEK SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 Eucharist Hour – The World Apostolate 3pm at Holy Spirit Parish, 2 Keaney Pl, City Beach.

Enq: Diana 9339 2614.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 The Healing Power of the Cross - Seminar 7-8pm at St Benedict’s School Hall Alness St Applecross. Presented by Norma Woodcock.

View a weekly short video broadcast at www. thefaith.org.au. Cost: collection. Accreditation recognition by the CEO. Enq: Norma 9487 1772 or www.normawoodcock.com SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15 Stigmata of St Francis of Assisi Celebration Secular Franciscan Order 2.30pm at the Chapel of the Redemptorist retreat house, 190 Vincent St, North Perth. Followed by afternoon tea. Enq: Anthony 0449 864 287 or anthony.porrins@gmail.com or Angela 9275 5658 or angelmich@bigpond.com ‘Growing in love’ Seminar by Richard Rohr 9am-12pm at John XXIII College, The MackKillop Room, Mooro Dr, Mt Claremont. We will explore the Spirituality of Love: that we are loved and the vital importance of this for our own loving.

There will be input reflecting 19 years of Inigo international and other speakers and Scriptural meditation. Teachers: this counts 3 hours as a CEO approved faith development course. Cost: donation for Inigo Centre. RSVP and Enq: Murray 93830444 or graham.murray@Johnxxiii.edu.au

UPCOMING SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 Focolare - Faith in Families 2-4.30pm at Our Lady’s Assumption Parish, 356 Grand Promenade, Dianella. Children program held simultaneously. The Faith in Families afternoon is aimed at helping unite families through discovering God’s love and finding practical ways that families can bring Christ into the home.

Focolare 9349 4052 or ffperth@iprimus.com.au.

FRIDAY TO SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 14-16 ‘Contemplating the Face of Christ in the Franciscan Tradition’ Retreat Retreat live in/live out at the Redemptorist Retreat House, 190 Vincent St, North Perth. Leader: Fr John Cooper from Sydney. Enq: Anthony 0449 864 287 or anthony.porrins@gmail.com and Angela 9275 5658 or 0408 801 215 or angelmich@bigpond.com.

Latin Mass – Kelmscott Parish 2pm at Good Shepherd Parish, Streich Ave, Kelmscott. Enq: John 9390 6646 FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 Medjugorje Evening of Prayer 7-9pm at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament.

175 Corfield St, Gosnells. In thanksgiving for reported daily apparitions of Our Blessed Mother in Medjugorje. Includes: Eucharistic Adoration Rosary. Benediction and Holy Mass. Free DVDs on Donald Calloway’s life of drugs and crime to his conversion and priesthood; also info on pilgrimage: Rome/Medjugorje May/June 2013. Enq: Eileen 9402 2480 or 0407 471 256 or medjugorje@ y7mail.com.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29 ‘The Theology of Islam from a Roman Catholic Perspective’ Workshop.

9am-12.30pm at St Denis Parish, Cnr Roberts Rd, and Osborne St, Joondanna. Enq: Admin admin@ stdenis.com.au.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 Divine Mercy Thanksgiving Mass – St Jerome’s Divine Mercy Prayer Group 2-4pm at St. Jerome’s Parish, 36 Troode St, Munster. In Honour of the Divine Mercy and Saint Faustina. Main celebrant: Fr. Parackal. 2-3pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Divine Mercy Chaplet. 3-4pm: Mass and talk on Divine Mercy and St. Faustina spirituality. Refreshments afterwards. Enq: Connie 9494 1495.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 TO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7 God’s Farm 25th Anniversary Retreat 7.30pm at The Stone Chapel on God’s Farm. Fr Brian Morgan will offer Holy Mass daily. Friday 7.30pm; Brother Andrew’s 12th Thanksgiving Mass. Saturday 10.30am 25th Anniversary Mass with retreat topic/homily: God the Father of all Mankind’. More details, bookings for retreat: Betty 9755 6212. Bus reservations: Yvonne 9343 1897.

FRIDAYTO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12-14

EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY

EVERY SECOND AND FOURTH MONDAY A Ministry to the Un-Churched 12.30-1.30pm at St John’s Pro-Cathedral, Victoria Ave, Perth (opposite church offices). With charismatic praise, and prayer teams available. Help us ‘reach out to the pagans’ or soak in the praise. Enq: Dan 9398 4973.

EVERY LAST SUNDAY OF THE MONTH Filipino Mass 3pm at Notre Dame Church, cnr Daley and Wright Sts, Cloverdale. Please bring a plate to share for socialisation after Mass. Enq: Fr Nelson Po 0410 843 412, Elsa 0404 038 483.

EVERY MONDAY Evening Adoration and Mass 7pm at St Thomas Parish, Claremont, cnr Melville St and College Rd. Eucharistic Adoration, Reconciliation, evening prayer and Benediction, followed by Mass and night prayer at 8pm. Enq: Kim on 9384 0598 or email to claremont@perthcatholic. org.au.

LAST MONDAY OF THE MONTH Be Still in His Presence – Ecumenical Christian Program 7.30-8.45pm at St Swithun Anglican Church, 195 Lesmurdie St, Lesmurdie (hall behind church).

Begins with songs of praise and worship, silent time, lectio divina, small group sharing and a cuppa at the end. Enq: Lynne 9293 3848 or 043 5252 941.

EVERY TUESDAY Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal 6pm at Pater Noster Church, Marmion and Evershed Sts, Myaree. Mass at 5.30pm followed by Benediction. Enq: John 0408 952 194.

Inner Healing Retreat (live-in) 7.30am Epiphany Retreat Centre, 50 Fifth Ave, Rossmoyne. A time to be healed and renewed.

Leaders: Vincentian Father. Regn and Enq: Melanie 0410 605 743 or m.fonseca@curtin.edu.au.

Novena to God the Father 7.30pm at St Joachim’s parish hall, Victoria Park.

Novena followed by reflection and discussions on forthcoming Sunday Gospel. Enq: Jan 9284 1662.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26

Short MMP Cenacle for Priests 2pm at Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. Enq: Fr Watt 9376 1734.

Alan Ames Healing Service 6pm at St Luke’s Parish, Cnr Parkside Ramble & Duffy Tce, Woodvale. Begins with Mass followed by healing service. Enq: Admin carver1@iinet. net.au.

REGULAR EVENTS EVERY SUNDAY Gate of Heaven Catholic Radio Join the Franciscans of the Immaculate from 7.309pm on Radio Fremantle 107.9FM for Catholic radio broadcast of EWTN and our own live shows. Enq: radio@ausmaria.com.

Pilgrim Mass - Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation 2pm at Shrine, 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook.

Commencing with Rosary followed by Benediction.

Reconciliation available before every celebration.

Anointing of the sick administered during Mass every second Sunday of the month. Pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of the Revelation last Sunday of the month. Side entrance to church and shrine open daily between 9am-5pm. Enq Sacri 9447 3292.

Praise and Worship 5.30pm at St Denis Parish, Cnr. Osborne St and Roberts Rr, Joondanna. Followed by 6pm Mass.

Enq: Admin admin@stdenis.com.au.

EVERY FIRST SUNDAY St Mary’s Cathedral Youth Group – Fellowship with Pizza 5pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, 17 Victoria Sq, Perth.

Begins with youth Mass followed by fellowship downstairs in parish centre. Bring a plate to share.

Enq: Bradley on youthfromsmc@gmail.com.

Singles Prayer and Social Group 7pm at All Saints Chapel, Allendale Sq, 77 St George’s Tce, Perth. Begins with Holy Hour (Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary and teaching) followed by dinner at local restaurant. Meet new people, pray and socialise with other single men and women. Enq: Veronica 0403 841 202.

EVERY SECOND SUNDAY Healing Hour 7-8pm at St Lawrence Parish, Balcatta. Join us for songs of praise and worship, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and prayers for the sick. Enq: Fr Irek Czech SDS or parish office Tue-Thu, 9am2.30pm 9344 7066.

EVERY FIRST TUESDAY

EVERY WEDNESDAY Holy Spirit of Freedom Community 7.30pm at The Church of Christ, 111 Stirling St, Perth. We are delighted to welcome everyone to attend our Holy Spirit of Freedom praise meeting.

Enq: 0423 907 869 or hsofperth@gmail.com.

Bible Study at Cathedral 6.15pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, 17 Victoria Sq, Perth.

Deepen your faith through reading and reflecting on holy Scripture by Fr Jean-Noel. Meeting room beneath Cathedral. Enq: Marie 9223 1372.

Holy Hour - Catholic Youth Ministry Mass at 5.30pm and Holy Hour (Adoration) at 6.30pm at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, 40A Mary St, Highgate. Enq: www.cym.com or 9422 7912.

Adonai Ladies Prayer Group 10am in the upper room of St Joseph’s Parish, 3 Salvado Rd, Subiaco. Come and join us for charismatic prayer and praise. Enq: Win 9387 2808 or Noreen 9298 9935.

EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY Holy Hour Prayer for Priests 7.30-8.30pm at Holy Spirit Parish, 2 Keaney Pl, City Beach. All welcome. Enq: Linda 9341 3079.

Novena to St Mary of the Cross MacKillop 7-7.45pm at Blessed Mary MacKillop Parish, cnr Cassowary Dr and Pelican Pde, Ballajura. Begins with Mass, novena prayers and Benediction.

Followed by healing prayers and anointing of the sick. Enq: Madi 9249 9093 or Gerry 0417 187 240.

EVERY SECOND WEDNESDAY Chaplets of Divine Mercy 7.30pm St Thomas More Catholic Parish, Dean Rd Bateman. It will be accompanied by Exposition and followed by Benediction. Enq: George 9310 9493 or 6242 0702 (w).

EVERY THURSDAY

praise, song and healing ministry. Enq: Kay 9382 3668 or fmi@flameministries.org.

Group Fifty - Charismatic Renewal Group 7.30pm at the Redemptorist Monastery, 150 Vincent St, North Perth. Includes prayer, praise and Mass. Enq: Elaine 9440 3661.

EVERY FIRST THURSDAY OF THE MONTH Prayer in Style of Taizé 7.30-8.30pm at Our Lady of Grace Parish, 3 Kitchener St, North Beach. Includes prayer, song and silence in candlelight – symbol of Christ the light of the world. Taizé info: www.taize.fr. Enq: secretary 9448 4888 or 9448 4457.

FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAY Dinner and Rosary Cenacle - St Bernadette’s Young Adults.

6.30pm at Hans Cafe, 140 Oxford St, Leederville.

Begins with dinner, followed by Rosary cenacle at St Bernadette’s Parish, 49 Jugan St, Glendalough.

Cenacle includes: 8pm reflection by Fr Doug and Rosary. Tea and coffee afterwards. By repeating words of love to Mary and offering up each decade for our intentions, we take the shortcut to Jesus, which is to pass through the heart of Mary. Enq: Fr Doug st.bernadettesyouth@gmail.com EVERY THIRD THURSDAY Auslan Café – Sign language workshop 12.30pm at St Francis Xavier’s Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor St, Perth. It’s Australian Sign Language - Auslan Café is a social setting for anybody who would like to learn or practice Auslan in a relaxing and fun atmosphere. Light lunch provided. Enq: Emma emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au EVERY FRIDAY Eucharistic Adoration at the Schoenstatt Shrine 10am at Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Drive, Mt Richon. Includes: Holy Mass, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Silent adoration till 8.15pm.

In this Year of Grace join us in prayer at a place of grace. Enq: Sisters of Schoenstatt 9399 2349.

EVERY FIRST FRIDAY Healing Mass 7pm at St Peter’s Parish, Inglewood. Praise and worship, Exposition and Eucharistic Adoration, Benediction and anointing of the sick followed by holy Mass and fellowship. Celebrants Fr Dat and invited priests. 6.45pm Reconciliation. Enq: Mary Ann 0409 672 304, Prescilla 0433 457 352 and Catherine 0433 923 083.

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life 7pm at Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins St, Glendalough. Mass followed by Adoration with Fr Doug Harris. All welcome. Refreshments provided.

Healing and Anointing Mass 8.45am Pater Noster Church, Evershed St, Myaree.

Begins with Reconciliation followed by 9am Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, anointing of the sick and prayers to St Peregrine. Enq: Joy 9337 7189.

Catholic Faith Renewal Evening 7.30pm at Ss John and Paul Parish, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton – Songs of Praise and Prayer, sharing by a priest followed by thanksgiving Mass and light refreshments after Mass.

Enq: Kathy 9295 0913 or Ann 0412 166 164 or catholicfaithrenewal@gmail.com.

Communion of Reparation All Night Vigils 7pm-1.30am at Corpus Christi Church, Lochee St, Mosman Park or St Gerard Majella Church, cnr Ravenswood Dr/Majella Rd, Westminster (Mirrabooka). The Vigils consist of two Masses, Adoration, Benediction, prayers and Confession in reparation for the outrages committed against the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Enq: Vicky 0400 282 357 or Fr Giosue 9349 2315or John/Joy 9344 2609.

Pro-Life Witness Holy Mass at St Brigid’s Midland at 9.30am, followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at nearby abortion clinic, and led by the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate. Please join us to pray for an end to abortion and the conversion of hearts.

Enq Helen 9402 0349.

EVERY SECOND FRIDAY OF THE MONTH Discover the Spirituality of St Francis of Assisi 12pm at St Brigid’s Catholic Parish Centre. The Secular Franciscans of Midland Fraternity meet for lunch followed by 1-3pm meeting. Enq: Antoinette 9297 2314.

EVERY FIRST SATURDAY OF THE MONTH Healing Mass 12.35pm at St Thomas Parish, cnr Melville St and College Rd, Claremont. Spiritual leader Fr Waddell.

Enq: Kim 9384 0598, claremont@perthcatholic.org. au.

EVERY LAST SATURDAY

Divine Mercy 11am at Ss John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Pray the Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy and for the consecrated life, especially here in John Paul Parish. Concludes with veneration of the first class relic of St Faustina. Enq: John 9457 7771.

Novena Devotions – Our Lady Vailankanni of Good Health 5pm at Holy Trinity Parish, 8 Burnett St, Embleton.

Followed by Mass at 6pm. Enq: George 9272 1379.

St Mary’s Cathedral Praise Meeting 7.45pm every Thursday at the Legion of Mary’s Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. Includes

Voice of the Voiceless Healing Mass 12pm at St Brigid’s Parish, 211 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. Bring a plate to share after Mass.

EVERY FOURTH SATURDAY OF THE MONTH

Enq: Frank 9296 7591 or 0408 183 325.

GENERAL Free Divine Mercy Image for Parishes High quality oil painting and glossy print – Divine Mercy Promotions. Images are of very high quality.

For any parish willing to accept and place inside the church. Oil paintings - 160 x 90cm and glossy print - 100 x 60cm. Enq: Irene 9417 3267 (w).

Sacred Heart Pioneers Is there anyone out there who would like to know more about the Sacred Heart pioneers? If so, please contact Spiritual Director Fr Doug Harris 9444 6131 or John 9457 7771.

St Philomena’s Chapel 3/24 Juna Drive, Malaga. Mass of the day: Mon 6.45am. Vigil Masses: Mon-Fri 4.45pm. Enq: Fr David 9376 1734.

Mary MacKillop Merchandise Available for sale from Mary MacKillop Centre. Enq: Sr Maree 041 4683 926 or 08 9334 0933.

Financially Disadvantaged People Requiring Low Care Aged Care Placement The Little Sisters of the Poor community set in beautiful gardens in suburb of Glendalough.

“Making the elderly happy, that is everything!” St Jeanne Jugan (foundress). Registration and enq: Sr Marie 9443 3155.

Resource Centre for Personal Development The Holistic Health Seminar “The Instinct to Heal’’, every Tuesday 3-4.30pm; and RCPD2 “Internalise Principles of Successful Relationships and Use Emotional Intelligence and Communication Skills” every Tuesday 4.30-6.30pm, 197 High St, Fremantle - Tuesdays 3-4.30pm. Enq: Eva 0409 405 585. Bookings are essential.

Is your son or daughter unsure of what to do this year?

Suggest a Certificate IV course to discern God’s purpose for their life. They will also learn more about the Catholic faith and develop skills in communication and leadership. Acts 2 College of Mission & Evangelisation (National Code 51452).

Enq: Jane 9202 6859.

AA Alcoholics Anonymous Is alcohol costing you more than just money? Enq: AA9523 3566.

Saints and Sacred Relics Apostolate Invite SSRA, Perth invites interested parties, parish priests, leaders of religious communities, lay associations, to organise relic visitations to their own parishes, communities, etc.

We have available authenticated relics, mostly first-class, of Catholic saints and blesseds including Sts Mary Mackillop, Padre Pio, Anthony of Padua, Therese of Lisieux, Maximilian Kolbe and Simon Stock and Blessed Pope John Paul II. Free of charge and all welcome. Enq: Giovanny 0478 201 092 or ssra-perth@catholic.org.

Enrolments, Year 7, 2014 La Salle College is now accepting enrolments for Year 7, 2014. For a prospectus and enrolment form please contact college reception on 9274 6266 or email lasalle@lasalle.wa.edu.au.

Pellegrini Books Wanted An order of Sisters in Italy is looking for the following: The Living Pyx of Jesus, Fervourings From Galilee’s Hills, Fervourings From the LoveBroken Heart of Christ, Fervourings From the Lips of the Master, Listening to the Indwelling Presence, Sheltering the Divine Outcast, Daily Inspection and Cleansing of the Living Temple of God, and Staunch Friends of Jesus, the Lover of Youth. If you are able to help, please contact Justine on 0419 964 624 or justine@waterempire.com.

Novena Devotion to Our Lady Acts 2 College, Perth’s Catholic Bible College, is now pleased to be able to offer tax deductibility for donations to the College. If you are looking for an opportunity to help grow the faith of young people and to evangelise the next generation of apostles, please contact Jane Borg, Principal at Acts 2 College on 0401 692 690 or principal@ acts2come.wa.edu.au.

Divine Mercy Church Pews Would you like to assist, at the same time becoming part of the history of the new Divine Mercy Church in Lower Chittering, by donating a beautifully handcrafted jarrah pew currently under construction, costing only $1,000 each. A beautiful brass plaque with your inscription will be placed at the end of the pew. Please make cheques payable to Divine Mercy Church Building fund and send with inscription to: PO Box 8, Bullsbrook WA 6084.

Enq: Fr Paul 0427 085 093.

Abortion Grief Association Inc. A not-for-profit association is looking for premises to establish a Trauma Recovery Centre (pref.SOR) in response to increasing demand for our services. (ref.www.abortiongrief.asn.au). Enq: Julie (08) 9313 1784.

Panorama deadline The deadline for Panorama’s is Friday 5pm the week before the edition is published.

CLASSIFIEDS

therecord.com.au September 5, 2012

19

CLASSIFIEDS Deadline: 11am Monday RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS

NOVENA

FURNITURE REMOVAL

CATHOLICS CORNER Retailer of Catholic products specialising in gifts, cards and apparel for Baptism, Communion and Confirmation. Ph 9456 1777.

Shop 12, 64-66 Bannister Rd, Canning Vale. Open Mon-Sat.

NOVENA TO ST CLAIRE Say nine Hail Marys for nine days.

Powerful Novena. “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised, adored, glorified and loved today and every day throughout the world forever. Amen” TG

ALL AREAS. Competitive rates.

Mike Murphy Ph 0416 226 434.

RICH HARVEST - YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, Baptism/Communion apparel, religious vestments, etc. Visit us at 39 Hulme Ct (off McCoy St), Myaree. Ph 9329 9889 (after 10.30am Mon to Sat).

We are here to serve.

KINLAR VESTMENTS www.kinlarvestments.com.au Quality handmade and decorated vestments: albs, stoles, chasubles, altar linen, banners. Ph Vickii on 9402 1318, 0409 114 093 or kinlar. vestments@gmail.com.

BOOK BINDING RESTORATION BOOKBINDING and conservation, general book repairs, Bibles, Breviaries, sad, old and leather bindings renewed.

Tel: 0401 941 577.

ACCOMMODATION HOLIDAY ACCOMMODATION Esperance holiday accommodation, three bedroom house, fully furnished. Phone 08 9076 5083.

TO LET – MELVILLE AREA. Unfurnished; 3 bed, 1 bathroom, large living, separate entry. Rent negotioable. Enq: 0426 447 284

WANTED HONEST, RETIRED, COUNTRY COUPLE offering 12.5% interest for a $5,000 loan. CAVEAT security offered. 0429 685 596. Ring and enquiry if you can help.

SETTLEMENTS ARE YOU BUYING OR SELLING real estate or a business?

Why not ask Excel Settlements for a quote for your settlement.

We offer reasonable fees, excellent service and no hidden costs.

Ring Excel on 9481 4499 for a quote. Check our web site on www.excelsettlements.com.au.

TAX SERVICE QUALITY TAX RETURNS PREPARED by registered tax agent with over 35 years’ experience.

Call Tony Marchei on 0412 055 184 for appointment. AXXO Accounting & Management, Unit 20/222 Walter Rd, Morley.Trade services BRENDAN HANDYMAN SERVICES Home, building maintenance, repairs and renovations. NOR. Ph 0427 539 588.

BRICK RE-POINTING Ph Nigel 9242 2952.

SERVICES PRIME ART PICTURE FRAMING. See Simone for all your framing needs. We offer expert advice and quality for all types of framing, especially religious items. Prices are competitive and all work guaranteed. For a limited time we offer a special discount of 30%. 240 Main St Osborne Park 9344 8641.

RURI STUDIO FOR HAIR Vincent and Miki welcome you to their newly opened, international, award-winning salon. Shop 2, 401 Oxford St, Leederville.

9444 3113. Ruri-studio-for-hair@ hotmail.com EL’OHIM CLINICFERTILITYCARE AND HOLISTIC CHRISTIAN COUNSELLING -Providing Natural & Holistic Healthcare - Achieving & Avoiding Pregnancy - Natural Alternative to IVF - Women’s Health Issues - Holistic Counselling Call 0435 403 131 www.elohimclinic.com

PICASSO PAINTING Top service. Ph 0419 915 836, 9345 0557 or fax 9345 0505.

PERROTT PAINTING Pty Ltd For all your residential, commercial painting requirements. Ph Tom Perrott 9444 1200.

WRR LAWN MOWING AND WEED SPRAYING Garden clean ups and rubbish removal. Get rid of bindii, jojo and other unsightly weeds. Based in Tuart Hill. Enq: 6161 3264 or 0402 326 637.

The

Record

Catholic insights for the parish, the nation, and the world www.therecord.com.au

THE RECORD ON TABLET The modern tablet computer is winning more and more attention not only as a work tool but also as a convenient, highly portable and mobile personal computing platform. The Record’s electronic platform means you can stay in touch with the nation’s best weekly and, when you want, use it as a launchpad into the best of the Catholic presence on the world wide web.

Subscribe!!!

For $85 you can receive a year’s worth of The Record delivered to your house

Name:

_____________

Address:

_____________

Suburb:

_____________

Postcode:

_____________

Telephone:

______________

I enclose cheque/money order for $85 Please debit my

Bankcard

Mastercard

Visa Card

No Expiry Date: ____/____ Signature: _____________ Name on card: I wish to be invoiced Send to: The Record, PO Box 3075, Adelaide Terrace WA 6832

C R O S S W O R D ACROSS 3 “___ Fideles” 9 Evil king of Israel 10 Catholic actor Connery 11 St. ___ de Paul 12 Bible book about the early Christians 14 Our Lady, ___ of Christians 16 Jewish month of Passover 17 Ishmael, to Jacob 18 Another name for Jacob 20 “…the ___ of life” (Gen 2:7) 22 Simon of ___ 24 Chant, as a monk 26 “So the last will be ___” (Mt 20:16) 27 Second century pope 30 Patron saint of Norway 32 “Angels we have heard on ___…”

34 Nationality of most popes 35 Abbr. for two OT books 36 God is the Supreme Being who ___ all things and keeps them in existence 37 St. Mary’s Cathedral is this New South Wales capital

8 13 15 17 19 21 23 24 25 26 28 29 31 33

Woman in the Book of Judges who killed Sisera First word in the name of Parisian basilica Former DRE Pope (II) who called for the Crusades College of Cardinals’ task regarding the pope “…as we forgive those who ___…”

The Church Militant is here “Altared” words Divine ___ St. Therese of Lisieux is a patron of this country Day on which Jesus rose “Feed my ___.” (Jn 21:17) Wife of Jacob “Dies ___”

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

DOWN 1 David married his widow 2 Cain traveled this direction from Eden (Gen 4:16) 4 Pertaining to God 5 What the choir does 6 Divine time 7 AKA Hadassah

Send us your Year of Grace stories to parishes@therecord.com.au

W O R D S L E U T H

“If some of you hear the call to follow Christ more closely, to dedicate your entire heart to Him, like the apostles John and Paul, be generous, do not be afraid, because you have nothing to fear when the prize that you await is God himself” - Bl Pope John Paul II

Vocations

ENQUIRY DAY Sunday, September 16, 2012 You are welcome to join us for

9.30am Morning Prayer

11.30am Holy Mass

12.30pm Lunch For Catering purposes RSVP to Helen by September 9 on 9279 1310.

For further information

please contact Fr John O’Reilly on 9279 1310.

For Single males 17 years and Over

ST CHARLES’

SEMINARY Guildford, Western Australia Email: admin@seminary-perth.org.au

www.stcharlesseminary.org.au