The Record Newspaper - 09 April 2014

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Anxious young need answers: Pope POPE FRANCIS told a group of young people to be honest with themselves and others and figure out what they hold dear: money and pride or the desire to do good, in an interview with students on March 31.

The Pope spoke to six young students and reporters from Belgium in the papal study of the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace He told them he had made plenty of mistakes in life, being guilty of being too bossy and stubborn.

“They say mankind is the only

animal that falls in the same well twice,” he said.

While mistakes are the “great teachers” in life, “I think there are some I haven’t learned because I’m hardheaded,” he said, rapping his knuckles on his wooden desk and laughing.

“It’s not easy learning, but I learned from many mistakes, and this has done me good.”

When asked why the Pope agreed to do the interview with them, the Pope said because he sensed they had a feeling of “apprehension” or

unease about life and “I think it is my duty to serve young people,” to listen to and help guide their anxiety, which is “like a seed that grows

ful and ‘bad fear’ is something that ‘cancels’ you out, turns you into nothing,” preventing the person from doing anything, and that kind

Everyone is afraid, so the real issue is to figure out the difference between good fear and bad. and in time bears fruit.”

“Everyone is afraid, so the real issue is to figure out the difference between ‘good fear’ and ‘bad fear’.

‘Good fear’ is prudence, being care-

of fear must be “thrown out.”

The interpreter clarified that the woman who had asked the preceding question was specifically looking for a way to face her fear

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of evangelising, especially in such a secular culture. “If you go with your faith with a banner, like the Crusades, and you go and proselytise, that’s not good,” the Pope said.

Instead, “Give witness with simplicity” and humility, show people who you are “without triumphalism”.

“This isn’t scary. Don’t go on the Crusades,” he added.

One young man asked what mistakes the Pope had learned from.

The Pope laughed, saying, “I’ve continued page 4

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Marian consecration a family affair

Round-Up JUANITA SHEPHERD

Financial support pledged for ACRATH Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) is one of four organisations that will benefit from an increase in financial support announced by Minister for Justice Michael Keenan on March 25, pledging $1.44 million in funding for organisations that work to detect and prevent human trafficking and slavery. ACRATH will receive $360,000 over three years under the Grants to Australian Organisations Program. “This funding will be used for detection activities, direct support for individual victims of trafficking and slavery, and cutting-edge awareness programs to push our community to expose suspected exploitation,” Minister Keenan said. “Globally, human trafficking is one of the biggest sources of income for organised crime and the coalition government understands that the work of nongovernment organisations is crucial to the success of Australia’s strategy to combat human trafficking and slavery.” ACRATH works to facilitate community education and awareness programs, to provide direct support for victims of trafficking, and to network with like-minded organisations to advocate for measures to address human trafficking and slavery.

Minister Keenan wrote to ACRATH and formally congratulated the organisation for the work to raise awareness of the issue and provide support to victims of trafficking. “I understand ACRATH has engaged closely with the government over the last five years as a member of the National Roundtable on Human Trafficking and Slavery,” Mr

Twenty-five members of the Kiernan and Vakulcyzk families were formally consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary by Archbishop Emeritus Barry Hickey on April 5 at St Anne’s Church in Belmont. Geoff and Cathy Kiernan, their three children, Mark, Ruth and Troy, with their respective spouses, Kristy, Mark Vakulcyzk and Ngarie and children, were present for the consecration.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED Keenan said. “I assure you that the government remains committed to working in partnership with non-government organisations to combat human trafficking and slavery.” In the decade since the Howard government launched Australia’s strategy to combat human trafficking and slavery, there have been more than 400 Australian Federal Police investigations into allegations of trafficking and slaveryrelated offences where 228 victims have been identified.

Pallotines prepare to mark founder’s birth As Queen of Apostles Parish in Riverton prepares for the birthday of St Vincent Pallotti, the church’s patron, former parish priest Fr John Flynn SAC reflected on the life of the saint and his role in encouraging the laity to share in the mission of the Church. A Pallotine priest himself, Fr Flynn retired in November 2006 but he recalled why he joined the

Pallotines. “[St Vincent Pallotti] got the laity more and more involved in the apostolic mission of the Church,” Fr Flynn told The Record. It was this aspect of St Vincent Pallotti’s work that attracted Fr Flynn to join the Pallotines as he was attracted to the saint’s focus on involving the laity in the work of the Church.

“Whether you are a lawyer, doctor, bricklayer or carpenter, whatever you are, if you are a truly committed Christian, you will give witness to the fact that our lives are shaped by the Gospel and that is what St

Vincent Pallotti taught,” he said. Fr Flynn described St Vincent Pallotti as a spiritual and caring person who had a great desire to become a priest. St Vincent Pallotti’s work to get the laity involved in all aspects of the Church was recognised at the Second Vatican Council in 1963, the same year that he was canonised.

An Italian ecclesiastic, he was born in Rome in 1795 and died in 1850.

“He became a diocesan priest in Rome and he served in prisons, hospitals, seminaries and parishes,” Fr Flynn said. “He is the example of a priest totally dedicated to the priestly ministry in terms of outreach to others.” The Pallotines first came to Australia in 1901 as missionaries to the Aboriginal people and were based at Beagle Bay, north-west of Western Australia.

In 1951, the Queen of Apostles Parish was entrusted to the care of the Pallotines and it has remained this way ever since. “The parish and the Pallotine community share a special connection,” Fr Flynn said. St Vincent Pallotti’s 219th birthday will be celebrated on April 26 with Mass at 7.30am followed by a communal breakfast. “He is the founder of the Union of Catholic Apostolate,” Fr Flynn said. “To think of him is to think that every baptised person is not excluded but a lay person, by virtue, shares in the mission of the Church.”

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Blessed Savina Petrilli 1851 - 1923 feast - April 18

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Born in Siena, Italy, this foundress had a lifelong devotion to St. Catherine of Siena. As a young member of a Marian sodality, she taught catechism to street children and gradually felt called to serve abandoned children and the poor. At 22, she began the work of establishing the Congregation of the Sisters of the Poor of St. Catherine of Siena, which received papal approval in 1877.

Somewhat impulsive and impatient, Savina made a special vow never to deliberately refuse God anything. She counseled her sisters, “Whoever looks at us must see Jesus in us.” She died of cancer and was beatified in 1988. Her congregation serves today in Italy, South America, Asia and the United States.

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God not interested in humiliation, but in mercy WHEN Jesus forgave the adulteress, he was not questioning the sanctity of marriage; rather, he helped her recognize her sin and commanded she go in peace and sin no more, Pope Francis said.

“God forgives, not with a decree, but with a caress, caressing our wounds of sin,” he said in his homily April 7 during an early morning Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae.

Pope Francis’ homily focused on the day’s reading from the Book of John (8:1-11), in which the scribes and Pharisees bring a woman “caught in adultery” before Jesus and press him to say how she should be treated.

They tell him that, according to the law, “Moses commanded us to stone such women.

So what do you say?” They asked to test Jesus, to entrap him and

have some kind of charge to bring against him, the pope said.

He said it seemed that Jesus had only two ways to respond: He could have held to the letter of the law or dismissed the law outright.

“If Jesus had said, ‘Yes, yes, go ahead with the stoning,’ they would have told the people, ‘Hey, this teacher of yours who’s so good -- look at what he has done to this poor woman!’”

Underlining the seriousness of breaking one’s marriage vows of fidelity, the pope said when the sacrament of marriage is “ruined with adultery, the relationship God has with his people is also soiled.” ‘ Jesus does more than forgive her sins, the pope said; he offers her “the mystery of mercy,” which “is something that’s hard to understand.” Because of God’s mercy and forgiveness, a person’s sins are “set

aside” like stars in the night sky, the pope said. All the stars are visible in the darkness, but when God, his mercy, love and tenderness appear -- like the sun, “with so much light, you can’t see the stars.”

God “doesn’t humiliate, he doesn’t say ‘What did you do? Tell me?’” the pope said. He says, ‘Go and sin no more;” he’s directly “involved in our salvation,” “forgiving us, caressing us.”

- CNS

We must heal wounds, warm hearts ARCHBISHOP Timothy Costelloe SDB received a jubilant welcome upon his first visit to Holy Cross Parish, Hamilton Hill, on Sunday, April 6. The south-of-the-river parish is home to an ethnically diverse community, as well as being Perth’s main hub for Portuguese Catholics.

In his homily, Archbishop Costelloe spoke about the importance of being community, as Church, and of Christ being the very centre of every parish community.

“Our church has Jesus absolutely at the heart, at the centre of everything, and that means that everything we do as a church and therefore everything you do here as a parish community needs to makes sure that Jesus is at the heart of everything,” Archbishop Costelloe said.

“How can he be our teacher if we don’t listen to his teachings? How can he be our leader if we don’t follow in his footsteps? If he is not at the heart of everything then it’s just empty words to say we are a community of the disciples of Jesus.”

Archbishop Costelloe reminded parishioners of what Pope Francis said about the Church, last year, during an infamous interview printed in a Jesuit publication.

“Pope Francis said, “I like to think of the Church as a field hospital after a battle. When a wounded soldier is carried to the field hospital you don’t start treating him by checking his blood sugar levels or asking about his cholesterol, you heal his wounds.”

“The Pope went on to say this is

Above, Hamilton Hill parish priest Fr Nicholas Nweke incenses Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB at Mass, last Sunday.

the great task of the church, to be a great healer of wounds, and then he goes on to say not just a healer of wounds but a warmer of hearts.

“Just think what a difference it would make if all of us here this morning permitted ourselves with great seriousness to being even more of who we are already, heal-

ers of people’s wounds and warmers of people’s hearts.” “We all carry wounds and if I carry wounds then I’m pretty sure that everybody else around me carry’s wounds as well.

“Jesus who raised Lazarus from the dead, who gave sight to the man born blind, who healed the paralytic, who reached out to all

those who were wounded and gave them the gift of healing is saying to us if you want to be my disciple then keep your eyes open so that you can recognise when people are wounded and do something about it,” the Archbishop said.

Archbishop Costelloe was joined in celebrating the Mass by

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

Fr Nweke, Fr Julian Carasco and Fr Eduardo Luis Nobre, a priest from the Diocese of Setubal, Portugal.

At the conclusion of the Mass, Fr Nweke thanked the Archbishop for his visit before a brief account of the parish’s history was read to enable the Archbishop to know the heritage of the parish.

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Make sure it’s the ethical Easter Bunny

By Juanita Shepherd AUSTRALIAN Catholic Religious Against Trafficking in Humans (ACRATH) has joined the Slavery Free Chocolate for Easter campaign in an effort to save children, predominantly in West Africa, who are trafficked into picking cocoa to make chocolate.

The idea behind the campaign is to ensure that all chocolate is sourced from workers who have received decent and fair wages and that the children receive the necessary education that will assist in escaping debilitating poverty.

“Presently, children as young as 12-years-old are picking cocoa to make the chocolate we eat,” Presentation Sister Lucy van Kessel and ACRATH coordinator for WA told The Record.

“Some of these children are trafficked and most are forced to pick cocoa from an early age for minimal or no wages for long hours, in dangerous working conditions and without any possibility of attending school.”

Five years ago, Australian supermarkets didn’t have any Easter chocolate certified as slavery free but, in 2013, six slavery-free Easter eggs and rabbits became available.

Oxfam, Divine Eggs, Green and Black Eggs, Chocolatier Eggs, Chocolatier Rabbits and Cadbury Dairy Milk are all certified as slavery free.“We invite schools to join the campaign by putting up posters,

Australian religious are urging people to buy Easter Eggs made without child slavery.

informing other students about fair trade chocolate and visiting their local supermarket and asking if they sell fair trade chocolate Easter eggs,” Sr van Kessel said.

“When schools purchase chocolate this Easter for fundraising, we ask them to make sure that it

is slavery free.” The Slavery Free Chocolate for Easter Campaign has been very successful and it is hoped that in 2014, Haighs, the chocolate company will have slavery-free products to add to the list of the six chocolatiers in the country who are certified as slavery free.

PHOTO: ONLINE

“Most of the children who pick the cocoa have never tasted chocolate,” Sr van Kessel said.

“We encourage parents to buy slavery-free chocolates and if your store doesn’t sell fair trade chocolates ask the owner or manager why not.”

Couple’s love sent from above

By Juanita Shepherd GLENIS and Andrew Wight celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary with a special blessing at St Mary’s Cathedral on April 4.

The couple recited their wedding vows, followed by a blessing from Fr Michael Quynh Do. Beaming smiles erupted as Fr Quynh said, “You may kiss the bride”, in commemoration of that day half-a-century ago and the couple’s ongoing love for one another.

Both from Calcutta, India, Mr and Mrs Wight’s first meeting was the stuff of a matinee romance. It happened at a Christmas party where a Bobby Vinton song was playing; the song that brought them together.

“You are my special angel was playing on the stereo,” Mrs Wight told The Record. “Andrew came up to me and asked me to take down the words in short hand so I did, after that he asked me out and two years later we were married.”

The couple were married at St Thomas Cathedral in Calcutta.

They immigrated to Perth in 1960.

“My mother told me to make a vow to Our Lady,” Mrs Wight said.

“So we did and that was how we were able to come to Australia.”

Their devotion to the Queen of Heaven has been evident throughout their 55 years of marriage. They have visited Fatima eight times.

They have also been to Lourdes and have travelled around the world twice. Their travels also included the Holy Land as well as Europe and Asia. They are happy to still call Perth their home.

“My husband worked as a technician for 40 years and I worked as a secretary,” Mrs Wight said.

“After we paid up our house we hung up our boots and our enjoying retirement.”

Mr and Mrs Wight have one daughter named Candice and three grand children; James, Ebony and Melody.

They also have two great grandchildren, Melody’s son and daughter, Eliot and Ruby. The couple

NEWS IN BRIEF

Holy Hour first for UNDA Fremantle

THE FREMANTLE campus of Notre Dame University will be hosting a special holy hour at 12.30-1.30pm on Holy Thursday to anticipate the beginning of the Easter Tridiuum that evening. Held in the Malloy Courtyard, the Holy Hour will feature the newly formed Holy Spirit Choir from Notre Dame, which will sing a number of motets and hymns in polyphony to assist in the prayerful reflection. The choir, whose Advent recital last year was received with much enthusiasm, is directed by Cameron Van Reyk, director of the Lumina Choir and a vocalist on the acclaimed Renaissance quartet album Q. The holy hour is open to all and will be accompanied by various readings and reflections. “The Eucharist is the perfect sign of God’s beautiful love for us,” one of the choir members told The Record. “We encourage everyone to encounter the beauty of this love through this special holy hour.”

Pope Francis: young and anxious need answers Continued from Page 1

Infant Jesus, Morley parishioners, Glenis and Andrew Wight celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary at St Mary’s Cathedral with a special blessing on April 4.

PHOTO: JUANITA SHEPHERD

have been parishioners at Infant Jesus Parish in Morely for the past 45 years.

“We are first in church every

“My mother emphasised you have to pure when you get married,” Mrs Wight said. “We honoured our commitment to God that we

Marriage has its ups and downs but you must never go to be with an unresolved argument and you must put one another’s needs first. week, and we say a family rosary together,” Mrs Wight said. “In every way all things are possible with God.” Mrs Wight credits her successful marriage to her faith.

wouldn’t do anything before marriage; Andrew never had a girlfriend before he met me and I never had a boyfriend before I met him.”

Not only do the couple share their

faith and love but the number plate on their car is very special to them.

“Ever since the first car we bought we’ve had the same number plate.”

Mrs Wight said.

The number plate reads “two of us” and over the years when they’ve bought a new car they would simply attach the number plate onto the new vehicle.

“Marriage has its ups and downs but you must never go to bed with an unresolved argument,” Mrs Wight said. “We put the needs of one another before our own and we help each other out.”

made mistakes, I still make mistakes.” The example he highlighted was when he was elected superior of the Jesuit province of Argentina and Uruguay at the age of 36. “I was very young,” he said, “I was too authoritarian.”

But with time, he found a happy medium between being too hard and too lax, “but I still make mistakes, you know?” he said. When asked why he focused so much on the poor, the Pope said he knew some thought “‘This Pope is a communist’,” something he rejected. “No. This is the banner of the Gospel, not of communism;” all people have to do is read the Gospels and see how Christ put the poor at the centre, he said.

One woman told the Pope she did not believe in God, but “your acts and ideas inspire me”. She asked what kind of message he would give to the whole world - believers and nonbelievers alike. The important thing, Pope Francis said, is to “find a way to speak with authenticity”, which involves seeing and speaking to others as our brothers and sisters. Responding to the cameraman’s doubts about whether the human race is truly capable of caring for the world and each other, the Pope said: “When man finds himself, he seeks God. Perhaps he can’t find him, but he goes along a path of honesty, searching for the truth, for the path of goodness, the path of beauty.”

“It’s a long road. Some people don’t find him during their lifetime” or they’re not aware that they have found him. “For me, a young person who loves the truth and seeks it, loves goodness and is good, is a good person and looks for and loves beauty, he or she is on a good road and will find God for sure!”

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New body to channel people’s passion for justice

By Matthew Biddle MOTHER of three Carol Mitchell says she’s excited to be in charge of the newly established Justice, Ecology and Development Office (JEDO) for the Archdiocese of Perth.

The new agency, which opened last month, has replaced the Catholic Social Justice Council (CSJC), with Mrs Mitchell serving as the inaugural director.

Speaking to The Record recently, Mrs Mitchell said her experiences working with marginalised people – including prisoners, the disabled and immigrants – has prepared her well for her new role. “Social justice is an issue that’s a personal passion and I think that’s demonstrated through some of the places I’ve worked,” she said. “It’s something I’m really looking forward to.” Former director of the CSJC Jim Smith said establishing the new office was an important step for the Archdiocese to take.

“I was engaged in the role [of director of the CSJC] for two years and found that within the work of social justice there was a lot of opposition to actually moving forward, and felt there was a need for some significant change,” he said.

“We think the new office structure is a big step forward because it gives us a fresh start. It hasn’t abandoned social justice, but it

Carol Mitchell, the director of the recently established Justice, Ecology and Development Office (JEDO), and Jim Smith, the former director of the Catholic Social Justice Council.

PHOTO: MATTHEW BIDDLE

has broadened the scope a little by encouraging closer collaboration with [Catholic] Earthcare... and also with Caritas.”

The new agency’s mandate states that it is “concerned with defend-

ing individual human dignity, promoting solidarity and fostering the common good”.

“It works to cultivate personal and social responsibility, to stand with the marginalised and to

actively safeguard the integrity of all creation.” Mrs Mitchell said she sees her role as one of directing people to the area they are passionate about and enabling them to actively engage in that area. “There

are a lot of people who really do want to be more active,” she said.

“It’s not just about awareness-raising only, it’s trying to see if there are ways that we can actually get people through parishes and other community groups that are really interested in any of these issues – social justice, ecology and development – to go from having an awareness and interest to then wanting to do something.”

The first part of that process, Mrs Mitchell said, will be building relationships and identifying gaps.

“I see my role in the first instance as linking in with some parishes where there aren’t any social justice groups and just seeing if that is something they have talked about... and offering them some assistance in how they can move forward with that,” she said. But the new director also acknowledged that there would be challenges along the way.

“Even within our own Catholic circles there can be some particular elements that might be a bit more conservative and so may not see where we’re heading and understand why we’re heading there, but that’s the journey we’ll take together,” she said.

The Perth office, which is based at the Newman Siena Centre in Doubleview, will work closely with the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference Justice, Ecology and Development Commission.

Hearts entwined, Mary and Adeline ON TUESDAY, March 25, the joyful Marian Feast of the Annunciation, the Schoenstatt Shrine at Mt Richon was full as around 45 people came to witness another young adult ‘exchange her heart’ with the Blessed Mother in Schoenstatt’s Jubilee Year.

Adeline Bock Tuang Wern chose this feast to make her Covenant of Love with the Mother Thrice Admirable.

Before the ceremony, Fr Kenneth Asaba, parish priest of St Brigid’s, Midland was able to hear Adeline’s confession.

He then officiated in the ceremony in which Adeline received a blessed medal with the image of the Mother Thrice Admirable; a candle to symbolise her Baptismal covenant and a small Pilgrim Mother Shrine to take home with her. Adeline then knelt to pray her consecration prayer out loud.

“Of that moment,: Adeline said “I felt a sense of joy. I recalled my past life, which flashed before my mind and felt happy to have inwardly grown from then until now. And our Blessed Mother has been carrying me through.”

Adeline came forward and placed pieces of paper into the jar at the altar as a symbol of all the prayers and sacrifices she had made in preparation for her Covenant of Love.

These were her personal gifts to the Blessed Mother. Following this she signed the Covenant Book.

Adeline’s friends, members of the Schoenstatt Movement, the young women who made their preparation with Adeline and fellow parishioners from St Emily’s, Canning Vale, all came to celebrate with her after the ceremony.

Recalling the event a few days later, Adeline said: “I am still living that moment of my Covenant of Love. And I have been telling people about it.

“It felt so right, in my heart, to have made the decision to seal the Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother.

“I am so excited to begin my life’s journey again, anew and with a greater purpose in life.”

Adeline Bock Tuang Wern with flowers of congratulations, flanked by her friends and well-wishers, including Schoenstatt Sr Rebecca Sampang and Fr Kenneth Asaba, parish priest of St Brigid’s in Midland.

PHOTO: JUN SUAREZ

The next Novena Night is on Friday, 7.30pm, May 7 with the theme: The Covenant of Love in the

It felt so right, in my heart, to have made this decision.

Third Milestone 1949. Everyone is welcome to join.

SR REBECCA SAMPANG

m

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Maggie sets up project to fight poverty in India

By Mark Reidy PERSONALLY witnessing the poverty of people in the southern region of India has inspired Morley parishioner Maggie Box to establish RESTORE, a project that will offer Perth Catholics the chance to help improve the living conditions of those existing in substandard housing.

“When I visited this area with my son Matthew a number of years ago we were appalled by what we saw, which was a good thing, because it motivated us to become involved in the alleviation of poverty,” Mrs Box told The Record.

This is not the first project developed by Mrs Box, who, along

Pontifical role for Archbishop Hart

with friends, established Mission Partners Morley in 1988 and has been involved in successful overseas initiatives such as the establishment of small businesses and the building of an orphanage.

“RESTORE has been renovating homes in India for several years now and more recently in Myanmar,” Mrs Box said.

“But we are looking to increase our influence by teaming with likeminded people who will be able to follow the progress of individual projects.”

The initiative seeks groups or individuals to “adopt a house” and hold either a one-off or monthly event to raise funds for their project.

This could take the form of hosting a morning or afternoon tea, lunch, evening dinner or barbecue, where those involved could learn or be updated on the progress of their particular mission.

“It takes the form of a ‘Domestic Blitz’ approach,” Mrs Box explained.

“The group would be given a photo of the house before restoration begins and would be provided with details of the family involved such as occupations, size, health, schooling and living conditions.

On completion a double-sided ‘before/after’ photo would be provided.”

Funds raised would be used for improvements such as the mending of leaking roofs, concreting dirt

floors, weather proofing walls and adding windows, rooms or toilets to one-roomed dwellings.

Mrs Box said all projects were overseen by the Marthandam Integrated Development Society, a Catholic organisation based in southern India.

“Our current aim is to renovate 51 houses, with costs ranging from $636 to $1,727,” Mrs Box said.

“By becoming involved with one specific project the experience becomes personal and donors’ hearts will be touched.

“They are also wonderful gifts for people who have to exist on two dollars a day”.

Mrs Box said she would be available to encourage and inform groups

Cooking up a storm to support Caritas

Vale Bishop Putney of Townsville

Bishop Michael Putney’s funeral Mass attracted thousands of Catholics from Australia and beyond.

PHOTO: FILE

Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart has been appointed to the Pontifical Council for Culture.

PHOTO: FILE

THE HOLY Father Pope Francis has appointed Archbishop of Melbourne and President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) Archbishop Denis Hart to the Pontifical Council for Culture.

Established by Pope John Paul II on May 20, 1982, the Pontifical Council for Culture works to establish dialogue between the message of the Gospel and the culture of modern times. The Council seeks to address problems of unbelief and religious indifference, which are seen in modern society.

The Council also touches on other important areas of society: science, the arts, the economy, different mediums of communication, and the value and care of the artistic and historic patrimony of the Church. “I am honoured by this appointment as a further experience of how we can all engage with the modern world, bringing to it the fruit and attractiveness of the Gospel. I will be happy to contribute,” Archbishop Hart said.

throughout the project if required and explained that Mission Partner would be able to supplement costs if necessary to ensure all projects can be completed.

There would also be an opportunity for donors to visit the renovated house upon completion.

“Many people have never seen what I have seen and are never likely to visit a slum and I would like to change that by inviting them into this project,” she said.

“I know it is ambitious, but nothing is impossible with God”.

To become involved in RESTORE or for more information, contact Maggie Box on 9272 8263 or 0438 946 621 or email margaretbox7@ icloud.com

Students at St Pius X Catholic Primary School held an Asian food stall recently, raising almost $400 for Caritas’ Project Compassion. The students created persuasive posters for their stalls, and produced brochures which explained their foods, the country of origin and the recipe.

PHOTO: SUPPLIED

THOUSANDS of mourners farewelled Bishop Michael Putney of Townsville on April 7, with many more watching the funeral Mass via a live stream on the internet.

In a first for the Diocese of Townsville, the Mass at Ryan Catholic College was broadcast on the SacredHeartCathTSV YouTube channel.

Bishop Putney, who was appointed as the Bishop of Townsville in 2001, had initiated plans to provide live streaming of Masses in the diocese as a means of engaging youth, rurally-based Catholics, and ill parishioners.

Diocesan staff had recently carried out tests on the equipment, with the first live streaming due to take place at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday. However, due to the outpouring of sympathy following the death of Bishop Putney, the diocese decided to stream both the vigil and funeral Mass.

Bishop Putney was diagnosed with cancer in 2012, and in recent months his health had deteriorated.

He passed away on March 28, aged 67.

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Commemorating Christ’s Passion Spearwood and Rockingham parishioners gathered together on April 6 for a dramatised version of the Stations of the Cross, giving families the chance to reflect on Christ’s Passion in the lead up to Holy Week.

Above and at right, children from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish and St Jerome’s Parish acted out each station with aplomb, as their families reflected on the events of Christ’s Passion.

PHOTOS: LEANNE JOYCE

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Lutheran-Catholic divisions healing

By Peter Finney IT WAS the seminal event of Western Christianity over the past 500 years.

Martin Luther, a German Catholic monk, sent his “95 Theses,” or “Disputation on the Efficacy and Power of Indulgences,” to the local Archbishop on October 31, 1517. And he set into motion the Protestant Reformation that four years later prompted his excommunication by the Catholic Church and laid the groundwork for denominational splintering that over the centuries has led to the formation of thousands of Christian churches.

Over the past 50 years, especially with the impetus provided by the Second Vatican Council, those divisions between Catholics and Lutherans have begun to heal and the pace of concrete efforts toward restoring unity has quickened,

retired Archbishop Alfred Hughes of New Orleans told a recent ecumenical gathering at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Kenner.

“The international and national dialogues between Lutherans and Catholics in the last 50 years have yielded significant truth,” Archbishop Hughes said, prompt-

by the way in which authorities in Rome, during the papacy of Pope Leo X, treated him. A helpful place to begin is to note the need for both faith and repentance.”

Bishop Michael Rinehart, head of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, said there was

“[Luther] was bold, he was blunt, he was vulgar and mistakes were made, but he really didn’t want schism. He wanted to reform the Church he loved.” ing Catholics “to revisit the person and motivation of Martin Luther” in advance of the 500th anniversary in 2017 of the publication of Luther’s theses.

“His genuine desire to promote renewal in the Church cannot be denied,” Archbishop Hughes said.

“The personal struggle that marked his life was severely complicated

“a spirit of ecumenical hospitality right now that we need to enjoy while it is happening”.

“Luther did not want to leave,” Bishop Rinehart said at the March 25 gathering. “He was bold, he was blunt, he was vulgar and mistakes were made, but he really didn’t want schism. He wanted to reform the Church he loved.”

Bishop Rinehart said the 2017 anniversary naturally will elicit media coverage that may attempt to distill the reasons for the split and ask questions with a false premise: Why do Lutherans and Catholics hate each other?

“They don’t,” Bishop Rinehart said. Rather than “drive a wedge in Christendom,” he said, the commemoration could be “an opportunity to have conversation and bury the proverbial hatchet?”

Two of the concrete signposts of the fruitfulness of international dialogue, Archbishop Hughes said, are the 1999 joint statement

by Catholic and Lutheran leaders on the doctrine of justification, and another landmark statement, issued last July, called “From Conflict to Communion”. The forum was sponsored by Interfaith Communications International in cooperation with the Archdiocese of New Orleans.

- CNS

World keeps praying for missing flight passengers

VATICAN BRIEFS

Read the Gospels while commuting, Pope urges Come out from the dark cave of pride, sin and death and into the light of a new life with Christ, Pope Francis said recently. “Take away the stone of shame” that is keeping you trapped inside a life that is dead or painful and be raised up again by Christ, he said in a homily on April 6.

The Pope also gave away thousands of copies of a pocket-sized edition of the Gospels, telling people to always keep a copy with them to read snippets every day while in line or while commuting. But he said it was probably best not to read while standing in a crowded bus because it was better to keep an eye out for pickpockets. The Pope’s remarks came during a late afternoon visit to the Church of St Gregory the Great on the outskirts of Rome. Before he celebrated Mass, he met with young people, the sick and elderly and heard the confessions of a number of parishioners. In his homily and during his Angelus address at noon with pilgrims gathered in St Peter’s Square, the Pope spoke about the day’s Gospel reading from the Gospel of John (11:1-45), which recounts Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

When Jesus went to Lazarus’ tomb, he asked that the stone sealing the entrance be taken away. He then “cried out in a loud voice, ‘Lazarus come out!’ And the dead man came out,” the Gospel says.

Dutch Jesuit priest killed in Syria

People hold candles during an April 7 candlelight vigil for passengers onboard missing Flight MH370, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

PHOTO: CNS / SAMSUL SAID, REUTERS

‘Religious cleansing’ facing Ukrainians

By Jonathan Luxmoore A UKRAINIAN Catholic bishop has warned his Church could lose its legal status in Crimea under Russian rule and pledged to use “all possible means in the international arena” to defend it.

“Greek Catholic communities like ours are denied rights in the Russian Federation, which we see as a violation of freedom of conscience and religion,” said Bishop Bohdan Dzyurakh, secretarygeneral of the Ukrainian Catholic Synod of Bishops.

“We hoped these restrictions wouldn’t be applied to our Church in Crimea, but we’ve been told all religious communities must now re-register there. This means the local government usurps the power to reject those it sees as a threat.

After the recent ethnic cleansing, this will amount to religious cleansing.”

Bishop Dzyurakh spoke to Catholic News Service in early April as pro-Russian protesters stormed Ukrainian government buildings in the eastern cities of Donetsk, Lugansk and Kharkiv, raising fears of a new Russian military intervention after the March annexation of Crimea.

in some communities, and it’s hard to see how our pastoral work can survive,” he told CNS. “We’re consulting legal experts about our rights under international law, since these are issues of fundamental religious freedom too important to be left in the hands of local officials,” he said.

“Catholics who support Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity are being viewed as enemies.

Priests’ families are also being mistreated.”

He said the situation in Crimea remained “tense and dangerous” for Catholic clergy, after one priest was arrested and threatened with prison, and others were branded “Vatican agents” and warned to leave.

“Catholics are still leaving Crimea - hardly anyone remains

The bishop said two Redemptorist priests were currently running the Church in Crimea, and plans had been made to replace clergy with families with unmarried pastors from religious orders.

In Crimea, “the threats and accusations against us recall Soviet propaganda from when our Church

was suppressed in 1945-46, and we’ve no illusions as to what this portends,” Bishop Dzyurakh said.

“Catholics who support Ukraine’s independence and territorial integrity are being viewed as enemies.

Priests’ families are also being mistreated by people influenced

by Russian propaganda, which has succeeded in fuelling aggression between citizens who previously lived in peace.”

The Ukrainian Catholic Church, a Byzantine rite, was outlawed under Soviet rule from 1946 to 1989, when many clergy were imprisoned and most Church properties seized by the state or transferred to Russian Orthodox possession.

“A free democratic Ukraine will be a good partner for both its Western and its Eastern neighbours. All Churches and religious communities are united with the nation and praying God will save our country,” he said.

- CNS

A 75-year-old Dutch Jesuit who refused to leave war-torn Syria, instead staying in Homs to help the poor and homeless, was beaten by armed men and killed with two bullets to the head, according to an email sent by the Jesuits’ Middle East province to the Jesuit headquarters in Rome. Jesuit Fr Frans van der Lugt, who had worked in Syria since 1966, declined suggestions to leave because he wanted to help Syria’s suffering civilians - “Christians and Muslims - anyone in need,” said Fr Giuseppe Bellucci, head of the Jesuits’ press office. The email, reporting that armed men had taken Fr van der Lugt, beaten him and then shot him dead in front of the Jesuit residence in Homs, was sent to the Jesuit headquarters on April 7, Fr Bellucci said. “That’s all the information we have right now.” Fr van der Lugt became known around the world after appealing for aid for the people of the besieged city of Homs in a video posted on YouTube in late January. The United Nations supervised an evacuation of about 1,400 people from Homs in early February; arriving in Jordan, the refugees confirmed Fr van der Lugt’s accounts of people, especially young children, starving to death.

Jordanians commit to working for peace Less than seven weeks before the start of his trip to the Holy Land, Pope Francis welcomed Jordan’s King Abdullah II and Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal to his residence at the Vatican for tea and conversation on April 7. The Pope is scheduled to begin his visit to the Holy Land in Amman, the Jordanian capital, on May 24. He will be welcomed in the royal palace, celebrate Mass in a stadium and meet with refugees and disabled young people at one of the sites along the Jordan River associated with Jesus’ baptism. In addition to assuring the Pope of how hard Jordanians are working to prepare his welcome, the king also spoke of their commitment to working together for peace and interreligious dialogue, he said.

- CNS

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Christianity is not a do-gooders guide: Francis

By Carol Glatz CHRISTIANITY isn’t a philosophy or guide to survival, good behaviour and peace, it’s a relationship with a real person who died on the cross for our sins, Pope Francis said.

“Christianity can’t be understood without understanding this deep humiliation of the son of God, who abased himself, becoming a servant to the point of his death and death on the cross” in order

Vatican bank to continue with more transparency POPE Francis, accepting the recommendations of his international Council of Cardinals and other advisory groups, has decided the Vatican bank will continue to exist and has approved a plan to increase its transparency and accountability.

The Vatican press office issued a statement on April 7 saying the Pope “has approved a proposal on the future” of the Institute for the Words of Religion (IOR), the formal title of the bank, although no details were released.

In June 2013, Pope Francis established a commission to review the activities of the Vatican bank, asking the five commission members to study whether the bank was in harmony with the mission of the universal Church. During a news conference in July on his flight back from Rio de Janeiro, Pope Francis said some people had suggested the institute should be transformed into a “charitable fund, others say it should be closed”.

“I don’t know. I have confidence in the work of the people at IOR, who are working a lot, and in the commission,” he said.

“Whatever it ends up being whether a bank or a charitable fund - transparency and honesty are essential,” he said.

The Pope spoke only a few weeks after the bank’s director and deputy director both resigned, following the previous month’s arrest of an account holder, Mgr Nunzio Scarano, on charges of fraud, corruption and slander.

In 2010, Italian treasury police seized 23 million euros that the Vatican bank had deposited in a Rome bank account, but later released the funds when new financial laws, promulgated by Pope Benedict XVI, went into effect.

The Vatican statement said Australian Cardinal George Pell, head of the Vatican’s new Secretariat for the Economy, has asked the bank’s president and management to finalise plans and procedures “to ensure that the IOR can fulfill its mission as part of the new financial structures of the Holy See-Vatican City State”.

- CNS

to serve humanity, the Pope said.

In his homily on April 8 during an early morning Mass in the chapel of the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis focused on the day’s reading from the Book of John (8:21-30), in which Jesus tells the Pharisees and the Jews that those who belong to this world and do not believe in him “will die in your sins.”

Jesus tells them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will realise that I am,” the son of God, obeying God’s will.

“Christianity doesn’t exist without the cross and a cross doesn’t exist without Jesus Christ,” the Pope said, according to a report by Vatican Radio.

The cross, however, “isn’t an ornament” that is just placed in churches and on altars, and “it’s not a symbol” of identification, he said.

“The cross is the mystery, the mystery of God’s love, who lowers himself, who makes himself ‘nothing’” and takes on humanity’s sins, he said.

If people want to find their sins, he said, they should look to the cross, to “the Lord’s wounds,” and it’s there that their sins will be healed and forgiven.

God’s forgiveness doesn’t mean “the debt we have with him is erased: the forgiveness that God gives us are the wounds of his son on the cross, lifted up on the cross, in which he pulls us toward him and we let ourselves be healed.”

Jesus took everything upon himself, “all of our sins, our pride,

Queen meets Pope in a royal exchange

Queen Elizabeth and Pope Francis exchange gifts during a meeting at the Vatican on April 3. The Queen and Prince Philip made a one-day visit to meet with the Pope and Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

PHOTO: MARIA GRAZIA PICCIARELLA / CNS

our self-assurance, our vanity, our desire to become like God,” the Pope said. That is why “a Christian who doesn’t know how to glory in the crucified Christ hasn’t understood what being a Christian means.”

“Christianity isn’t a philosophical doctrine, it isn’t a guide to life for survival, for being well-behaved and for building peace. These are the results,” he said. “Christianity is a person, a person lifted up on the cross, a person who abased himself to save us.”

Peace still a work in progress in Rwanda JUST days before Rwanda was to begin a week long period of official mourning to mark the 20th anniversary of its genocide, Pope Francis urged the country’s bishops to be resolute in continuing the work of healing and reconciliation.

“Twenty years after those tragic events,” when as many as one million people were murdered in savage acts of ethnic violence, Pope Francis said, “reconciliation and the healing of wounds must remain the priority of the Church in Rwanda.”

Meeting the country’s bishops on April 3 during their ad limina visits to the Vatican, the Pope offered his prayers for all Rwandans “without distinction of religion, ethnicity or politics”.

Forgiveness for what happened and “authentic reconciliation can seem impossible from a human point of view,” the Pope said, but they are gifts people can “receive from Christ through a life of faith and prayer.”

“The path is long and requires patience, mutual respect and dialogue,” he said.

Rwandans began an official week of mourning on April 7 to mark the anniversary of the genocide, in which mostly Tutsis and some moderate Hutus, ethnic groups with a history of rivalry, were killed.

Some massacres took place in churches; in some cases, entire congregations were murdered. Leaders of various Christian churches, including the Catholic Church, were implicated in the violence because of ties to one or the other ethnic group.

Pope Francis said the schools and hospitals the Catholic Church operates in Rwanda have an essential role to play in ensuring a future of peace in the country, but nothing they do can be as effective as Catholics being united in love and allowing “the Gospel to touch and convert their hearts”.

Pope Francis asked those gathered in St Peter’s Square to pray with him to Our Lady of Kibeho and led the crowd in reciting the Hail Mary for the people of Rwanda.

- CNS

No miracles needed as Pope declares new saints

By Cindy Wooden WITHOUT a canonisation ceremony, Pope Francis declared three new saints for the Americas, pioneers of the Catholic Church in Brazil and in Canada.

Pope Francis signed decrees on April 3 recognising St Jose de Anchieta, a Spanish-born Jesuit who traveled to Brazil in 1553 and became known as the Apostle of Brazil; St Marie de l’Incarnation, a French Ursuline who traveled to

Quebec in 1639 and is known as the Mother of the Canadian Church; and St Francois de Laval, who arrived in Quebec 20 years after St Marie de l’Incarnation and became the first bishop of Quebec.

In declaring the three saints, the Pope used a procedure known as “equivalent canonisations,” which required a thorough study of the candidates’ life and writings, fame of holiness and reports of favours granted through their intercession.

Unlike a regular sainthood process,

though, it did not require the verification of a miracle through their intercession, nor further studies by historians and theologians working for the Congregation for Saints’ Causes.

At 2pm all Catholic churches in Sao Paulo rang their bells to celebrate St Anchieta. Sao Paulo’s Cardinal Odilo Scherer celebrated Mass at the city’s cathedral and said St Anchieta “should be considered the first anthropologist of Brazil due to his enormous interest in the

indigenous population and their culture”.

Pope Francis has used the “equivalent canonisation” twice before; in October he signed the decree recognising Italian St Angela of Foligno, and in December he signed a decree recognising St Peter Faber, one of the founding members of the Jesuits.

He also recognised the miracle needed for the beatification of Brother Luigi Bordino, an Italian member of the Brothers of St

Joseph Cottolegno, who died in 1977.

Pope Francis also declared eight men and women “venerable,” recognising they lived the Christian virtues in a heroic way.

The eight included three Italians, three Spaniards, a Brazilian and Assumptionist Fr Marie-Clement Staub, who was born in France and sent to the United States in 1909, before founding the Sisters of St Joan of Arc in 1914. He died in Quebec in 1936.

- CNS

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Saving Catholic culture from destruction

FROM THE GROUND UP Notwithstanding the ghetto mentality that pervaded some early 20th century Catholic communities, there was something stirring in what many local Catholic communities achieved and the beliefs that got them there, writes Michael Tamara. There are lessons from that time that are worth remembering and a fervent belief in providence that needs to be rediscovered.

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HAT kind of mindset built all the immigrant Catholic parishes of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in the Americas? Was it a way of thinking predicated on practical limitations; on being “realistic” in the mundane sense of the word? This can hardly be so.

Something deeply potent—and even slightly irrational to the modern mind— had to have been the driving force behind the postponement of personal comfort and social success long enough to establish a parish and build a worthy church.

Yet, the formula was simple enough: a solid reliance of the faithful, united with their shepherds, on their own gifts in cooperation with the providence of the Almighty. They simply believed, and their belief formed the very centre of their being.

Evidence of this mentality can be seen among the many fine churches of cities like Buffalo, New York. Most people outside of the immediate region have probably never heard of St. Ann’s Church and Shrine on the city’s East Side, built by the newly emigrated and first-generation German population in the 1880s. I, until quite recently, was one of them, but circumstances surrounding this massive neo-Gothic work of art have garnered significant attention over the past months.

Citing severe structural deterioration, the Diocese of Buffalo abruptly closed the church in 2012, and parishioners subsequently learned that it was in danger of being razed, because the unsafe conditions were deemed too costly to repair. As a last resort, a band of dedicated faithful made a formal appeal to the Holy See, and in January 2014, a very rare and unlikely thing happened—the Vatican’s Congregation of Clergy issued a ruling that St. Ann’s must not only be salvaged, but remain a functioning Catholic church.

This is no small development, and it may signal that even the Holy See is starting to question the wisdom behind the endless cycles of consolidations and closings that have befallen many United States dioceses in recent decades. One would think this extraordinary action would be enough to give the diocese pause, but Bishop Richard Malone has said he will appeal the ruling, determined that St. Ann’s will never again be used as a Catholic church.

In defence of His Excellency, an orthodox and forthright shepherd, this was an inherited problem. St. Ann’s had already been shuttered by the time of his installation less than two years ago and had to have suffered years of previous neglect in order to develop what even the former parishioners realize are serious problems.

To be sure, this particular situation is less than black and white.

However, St. Ann’s is just one case of what has become a creeping epidemic.

The real issue of concern is not the story of a single church that happened to make national mention because of its unusual eleventh hour reprieve. Newsworthy as that is, it only calls attention to a broader scenario that has been born out with an alarming degree of frequency across many areas of the country.

Simply put, many bishops, pastors, and parish councils seem to be planning for the eventual extinction of any meaningful Catholic presence in their regions. Though never presented in so many words—and possibly not even consciously realized by many of those

Above and left, the beautiful but dishevelled church of St Ann's in Buffalo, New York.

PHOTOS: ONLINE

behind the decisions—that would be the ultimate outcome of the current “downsizing” strategy, if taken to its logical end.

How have we gotten to this point?

Beyond the obvious problem of prolonged widespread catechetical deficiency, there are at least two ways in which the current mindset of many in the Church has departed from that of the builders of St. Ann’s and their ilk.

The first departure consists of a fundamentally worldly approach to problems, dictated almost entirely by human limitations and a practical forgetfulness that with God, all things are possible. Many in leadership positions will point out that it is up to parishioners to keep their parishes alive, and that the laity bears primary responsibility for the extent to which Catholic identity has flourished or disintegrated. A valid argument can

certainly be made for this, but those same lay people need to be encouraged, enabled, and supported in their endeavours by leaders with concrete authority, lest the morale of the parish and the wider community begin to flounder.

If the faithful are regularly reminded of the awesome depths of divine providence when combined with their efforts and sacrifices, they very likely will respond, and respond enthusiastically.

If, on the other hand, they constantly hear about their own limitations—be they financial or otherwise—and fallacies about how a robust Catholic vitality once known is no longer possible today; then malaise and apathy gradually set in, and faith can be weakened and even eventually lost.

This is most certainly not a Catholic attitude. Since when are we driven more

by apparent practical constraints than by faith and desire to do the will of God, even when it may be incredibly impractical, if not even seemingly impossible? Were mediocrity a product of the Christian mind, the Church would not have survived the first century. “Impossible” has never been in the vocabulary of any of

parish is nurtured and reinforced—to that of a simple collection of utilitarian assets and liabilities that are always up for potential negotiation. A common justification for such an undermining of the importance of sacred place in Catholic life is the assertion, ad nauseam, that the Church is the people of God and not a

In a short two or three generations, the “just a building” mantra has enabled the infliction of so extensive a devastation upon the physical fabric of the Catholic world—through careless loss, senseless disfigurement, and introduction of novel forms of banality—that it would cause any outside enemy of Christendom to

The common thread between radical departures from prior Catholic thinking has been the replacement of spiritual battle thinking with corporate management thinking. the saints, and it certainly was not part of the mindset of those whose tireless labour built up the Catholic world.

The second departure has been an unfortunate reduction of our understanding of the parish church and associated buildings—that is, the physical nucleus from which the very life of the

building.

This, of course, is entirely true, but was there ever really a time when faithful Catholics thought otherwise? This straw man argument has been used in recent decades to such an extent, that many have come to think the worship environment is a place no different than any other.

simply sit back with folded hands and smile.

In centuries past, those seeking to level or confiscate sacred edifices were the Church’s sworn adversaries, who tried to storm her fortresses and attack her from without. In this, our own day, however, there are Catholics in many places whose

biggest perennial fear is not savage invasion, but the euthanising of their parish at the hands of their very own bishops and pastors. Is it not time for an honest recognition and acknowledgement of the deep spiritual and psychological harm caused by this phenomenon?

The common thread between both of the aforementioned departures from traditional Catholic thinking is the replacement of a spiritual battle mentality with a corporate management mentality. In short, the Church Militant has become a Church stagnant, whose focus has come to rest more on the concerns and comforts of this fleeting life than the union of the faithful across time in preparation for eternal realities. Given this, can there be much wonder as to why pews have emptied and churches have closed by the hundreds?

At the same time, though, the spirit of past generations has not been lost and has never died; it’s just been forgotten and suppressed by so many of its stewards and shepherds over the course of a half century or more. The more we talk about it nostalgically, as a thing confined to history, the more it will remain just that, and evermore distantly so with the progression of time. Yet, what if serious solutions were explored that might proactively neutralize and even begin to reverse this entrenched “going out of business” mentality, rather than reactively accommodating it in perpetuity?

What we must realize is that a reversal of the decimation can begin at any point—we as a Church just need to decisively identify it as a critical priority, then work and sacrifice for it, and leave the rest to divine providence. It seems that

the small determined band of St. Ann’s parishioners gets this, and they have been given a healthy dose of hope all the way from Rome. There appears to be a loving care and genuine will to save their church and make it a centre of revitalization for the tired, surrounding neighbourhood.

Can it be done? That remains to be seen, but why insist on fighting the attempt?

The worst thing that could happen is that the fundraising goal would not be met, and the church would sadly be lost.

However, if the determined grassroots campaigners were to gain even only the verbal support of their bishop, it would almost certainly become a success story.

The first step, as it has been in any previous century, is for all—sheep and shepherds alike—to rally and simply believe.

- CRISIS MAGAZINE

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Hitchen’s

SELECTIVE MYOPIA Last year, Christian apologist Peter Hitchens was a strong advocate for marriage and Christianity on the ABC’s Q&A program. His assessment of the perilous situation in Crimea and his views on Vladimir Putin are something else altogether, argues Dr Andrew Kania.

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N AN ARTICLE for the London Daily Mail, “Russia is sick of being humiliated and pushed around by ignorant outsiders”, the English journalist and Christian apologist, Peter Hitchens announced during the recent and ongoing crisis in Ukraine, that: “We have been rubbing Russia up the wrong way for nearly 25 years. It is hard to see why. Moscow could have been our friend if we had wanted that. We rightly viewed the old Soviet Union as a global menace to freedom. But Russia is no such thing, just a major regional power sick of being humiliated and pushed around by ignorant outsiders. I watched the old Soviet menace vanish on the streets of Moscow in August 1991 when a KGB putsch failed, the Communist Party was shattered in pieces, and the USSR collapsed in a cloud of rust. Russians always believed there was an unspoken agreement that, in return for this, they would be allowed their dignity. They now believe that agreement has been broken. What was left after 1991 was Russia, a proud and courageous people living amid the wreckage left by 74 years of Marxism and hoping to revive their ravaged country. We could have helped them … Senior American, German and EU figures have gone to Kiev to egg on the anti-Russian crowds. Imagine how you would feel if Russia’s Foreign Minister turned up at SNP rallies in Edinburgh, backing Scottish independence.” (Hitchens, Daily Mail, 2/3/2014).

Today a well-known apologist for Christianity, Hitchens was in his youth an ardent Trostkyite, and although now presumably divested of the majority of these opinions, the comment he made regarding Russia’s attitude to Ukraine, would indicate that he harbors still a myopic support for Russian expansionism, and very little sympathy for the national sovereignty of Ukraine. In fact, in an address that Hitchens delivered at the University of Bristol’s International Affairs Society on October 15, 2013, he stated his reasons as to why he likes Vladimir Putin; a man he believes is no threat to the West, but potentially only a threat to Russia’s immediate geographic neighbours. Perhaps comforting words for those west of Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary, if history be any gauge.

From what we read and hear of

Above, UK journalist and renowned Christian apologist Peter Hitchens says the world has nothing to fear from Russian President Vladimir Putin’s apparent expansionism. Right, a man passes a mural showing a map of Crimea in the Russian national colours on a street in Moscow on March 25.

PHOTO: CNS

Peter Hitchens, communism has certainly gone out of his world paradigm, but political and cultural imperialism, (that was always an integral part of Moscow’s Soviet planning) may yet, it seems, find a resting place in his mindset. Is Hitchens unaware of the history of the Ukrainian people under both the Tsars as well as well as the Soviets? If he be ‘ignorant’ of these historical events, can Hitchens in fact be classified as one of those, that he describes, as ‘ignorant’ of Eastern European politics – such as those who are criticising Russia today? Has he never heard of the Holodomor – the deliberate starvation of the Eastern Ukrainian people, on what was then, and what is still today, the fertile black-soiled plains of the steppes? Of course to all of these rhetorical questions, Hitchens is far from ignorant. He knows the answers to these questions. So why does he readily side with the powerful over the weak?

In response to Peter Hitchens’ Daily Mail commentary, it would be useful to spend some time considering the writing of another Englishman, the historian Robert Conquest. In his ground-breaking text of 1986, The Harvest of Sorrow, Conquest concluded that the Stalin Famine was deliberately orchestrated, by Moscow for the spe-

cific purpose of destroying within Ukraine and among the heart of the Ukrainian people (including those Ukrainians residing outside of Ukrainian territory, but living within the borders of the Soviet Union), the culture, religion, language and spirit of self-determination of Ukraine. Conquest concluded in words that seem so

beyond that, Ukrainian liberty is, or should be, a key moral and political issue for the world as a whole.”

(Conquest, 1986, p. 347).

Moreover the murder of what Conquest equated to around ten million people was as Conquest well-remarks, not only planned as a basis for destroying Ukrainian identity, but was carried along by

Is Hitchens unaware of the history of the Ukrainian people, under the Tsars and the Soviets? Why does he readily side with the powerful over the weak.

- Dr Andrew Kania prescient today: “the crushing of Ukrainian nationhood was only temporary. Nor is that a local matter merely – if the word local can be used of a nation of nearly 50 million members. Even the true spokesmen of Russia itself, Andrei Sakharov and Alexander Solzhenitsyn, insist that the Ukraine (sic) must be free to choose its own future. And

the gale of Soviet atheism. Conquest quotes Vladimir Lenin, who two decades before the Holodomor instructed Maxim Gorki: “Every religious idea, every idea of God, even flirting with the idea of God, is unutterable vileness… of the most dangerous kind, ‘contagion’ of the most abominable kind. Millions of sins, filthy deeds, acts of violence

and physical contagions… are far less dangerous than the subtle, spiritual idea of God decked out in the smartest ‘ideological’ costumes …

Every defence or justification of God, even the most refined, the best intentioned, is a justification of reaction.’” (Conquest, 1986, p.

199). No one should have been surprised then, when later during the Holodomor, the Church, both Ukrainian Autocephalic and Ukrainian Catholic, were classified as ‘kulaks’, (a quite nebulous term invented by the Soviets to give a generic name to their enemies), and sent to martyrdom. Ukraine is, and as the communist regime grew painfully aware, was then, an ardently religious nation. It is now known, and beyond doubt that thousands of clergy were killed, and millions of the Christian Faithful, and members of other religions within Ukraine, were deported and liquidated, during the Stalin Famine. The ‘crime’ of these victims was not merely that they were religious Faithful, but of course, that they were Ukrainian, not only by birth, but by identity.

Yet despite all this historical information relating to the suffering and an infamous act of genocide against the Ukrainian people, all we hear from Peter Hitchens in his Daily Mail article, is that the world should

VISTA

therecord.com.au April 9, 2014

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Shrouded and veiled for all to see more I recently visited a church at the end of Lent where all the statues and the crucifix were covered by purple veils. Why is the cross hidden from view at the very time when we should be meditating more on the passion of Christ?

T

consider Vladimir Putin’s feelings.

As we come into the Easter season, perhaps we should consider the Roman soldier who flogged Christ, and as to whether or not he was ever treated for a repetitive strain injury.

Conquest also commented how George Orwell the author of Animal Farm, (poignantly, an allegory based on the Holodomor) appealed to the conscience of the West; in Orwell’s words: “‘Huge events like the Ukraine famine of 1933, involving the deaths of millions of people, have actually escaped the attention of the majority of English russophiles.’” (Conquest, 1986, p. 321).

The world knew adequately enough in 1932-1933 what was happening to the Ukrainian people. Ukrainian wheat was being exported to feed Russians in Russia, while starving Ukrainians who sought food from across the Russian border were turned back by armed guards.

Conquest lists media outlet after media outlet who were speaking out on the Holodomor. But there was also the alternate and loud voice of dis-information, and none better than another English author, Walter Duranty, a man who would go on to win the Pulitzer Prize for his writing that was as the New York Times described: “the most enlightening dispassionate

and readable despatches from a great nation in the making which appeared in any newspaper in the world.” (Conquest, 1986, p. 320). We know today that Duranty lied about life in Ukraine, and deliberately hid the reality of the Soviet terror campaign. Malcolm Muggeridge, and the Welsh journalist, Gareth Jones, smuggled out from Ukraine in diplomatic bags accurate reports; Muggeridge himself later writing that Duranty was: “’the greatest liar of any journalist I have met in fifty years in journalism’” (Conquest, 1986, p. 320). So how ironical is it that during the present crisis in Ukraine, Peter Hitchens expresses no concern for Ukraine’s right of self-determination while having received in 2010 the George Orwell prize for journalism. What would George Orwell say? Well, probably that English Russophile journalists obviously still exist.

But there is still yet a further irony to consider. In 2007, an English journalist went to Stanford in the United States to interview Robert Conquest. The journalist’s name was Hitchens; that is Christopher Hitchens, the now late, and older brother of Peter. The meeting that Christopher Hitchens would have with Conquest was later published in The Guardian and The Observer.

Oddly enough, Christopher

Hitchens, the atheist, was in admiration of Robert Conquest’s writing. Strangely enough, in a public debate at Grass Valley University in Michigan, USA, the two brothers debated Putin; Christopher Hitchens boldly declaring that the Russian leader had been the tyrannizer of Ukraine, Georgia and the Baltic States. So here we have it, two brothers, one an atheist who decries the acts of the mighty against the weak, and the other a Christian, who defends the right to might of an aggressor against the weak.

The political satirist and cleric, Jonathan Swift, noted in his ‘Polite Conversation’ of 1738, that: “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” It is one thing being ignorant of history, and yet another being knowledgeable of it, and refusing to admit the reality, for example, in the case of Walter Duranty.

Journalists have the power to shape public consciousness, and therefore must provide both a broad and honest vista for those who listen to, and read their words. They should declare their bias. The modern history of Ukraine has attracted to it, a variety of journalists, and in subsequence, various standards of journalism, and this should be kept in mind - as a world now watches anxiously on.

HE CUSTOM of covering the crucifix and other images in the church with purple veils from Passion Sunday, the fifth Sunday of Lent, until Holy Saturday was once very common but now is much less so. After the Second Vatican Council there were moves to abolish the custom altogether but fortunately it has survived. Even more, the Bishops’ Conference of each country can decide whether to make the custom obligatory in its territory.

Where the custom is lived the crucifix and all other statues in the church are covered with a purple cloth without ornamentation from First Vespers on Passion Sunday to before the Easter Vigil. The crucifix is unveiled after the Good Friday service, during which the cross is venerated by the faithful. The only images not covered by a veil are those on the Stations of the Cross and any stained glass windows.

The statue of St Joseph, if outside the sanctuary, may remain uncovered during the month of March, when his feast occurs and he is specially honoured.

What is the origin of the custom? According to Fr Edward McNamara (cf. Zenit 050308), it may have derived from a practice in Germany in the ninth century of extending a large cloth before the altar from the beginning of Lent. This cloth, known as the “Hungertuch” or hunger cloth, hid the altar from the view of the people until the reading of the Passion on Wednesday of Holy Week at the words “the veil of the temple was rent in two.” The veil in the temple of Jerusalem separated the Holy of Holies from the main body of the temple.

Some scholars say the custom was a remnant of the ancient practice of ritually expelling public penitents from the church at the beginning of Lent. After the custom of public penance fell into disuse and the entire congregation was symbolically incorporated into the order of penitents through the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday, it was no longer possible to expel them from the church and so instead the altar, or “Holy of Holies”, was shielded from view until they were reconciled with God at Easter.

Later on in the Middle Ages the images of crosses and saints were also covered from the start of Lent. The custom of limiting this veiling to the last two weeks of Lent, appears in the Ceremonial of Bishops in the seventeenth century.

The great nineteenthcentury Benedictine liturgist Dom Prosper Gueranger gives

Q&A FR JOHN FLADER

a mystical interpretation of the veiling, based on the Gospel of St John, which was formerly read on Passion Sunday. Just as Jesus hid himself from the Jews who wanted to stone him (cf.

Jn 8:59), so by the veils he is now hidden from the world in preparation for the mysteries of his passion. The statues of the saints are covered too since, if the Master himself is covered, so should be his servants.

Dom Gueranger also explains that while on the two feasts of the Finding and the Exaltation of the Holy Cross the cross is honoured as the throne of Christ’s victory, with its veiling in Lent it speaks to us of his suffering and humiliation.

Another view says the veiling is based on the fact that in Christ’s passion, not only was his divinity obscured, but his humanity also, so disfigured was he.

Another spiritual interpretation of the veiling is based on the fact that in Christ’s passion not only was his divinity obscured but so was, in a certain sense, his humanity.

He was so disfigured by the blows and scourges that he was hardly recognisable as a human being. We read in the prophet Isaiah’s depiction of the Suffering Servant, which has always been taken to refer to Christ: “As many were astonished at him – his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the sons of men – so shall he startle many nations” (Is 52:14). Likewise, we read in the psalm Jesus quoted while he hung on the cross: “But I am a worm, and no man; scorned by men, and despised by the people” (Ps 22:6). So, in a sense, the veil hides Our Lord’s divinity and humanity, as did the wounds suffered in his passion.

Regardless of the original meaning of the veiling of the crucifix and statues, it has much to commend it as a way of helping us prepare for Our Lord’s Passover in the last two weeks of Lent.

For more, go to fatherfladerblog.wordpress.com or contact Fr Flader on frjflader@gmail.com.

FUN FAITH With

APRIL 13, 2014 • MATTHEW 26: 14-27: 66 • PASSION (PALM) SUNDAY

CROSSWORD

TODAY’S GOSPEL Matthew: 26::14-27: 66

BODY THIRTY CUP BETRAY JUDAS Across

Down

3. And they gave him ____ pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

1. “Take this and eat it, for this is my ____.”

5. Then ____ Iscariot went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?”

2. While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will ____ me.”

4. And he took a ____ of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it...”

Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests and asked, “How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?” And they gave him thirty pieces of silver. From that time on, Judas began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus. On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?” ”As you go into the city,” he told them, “you will see a certain man. Tell him, `The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’” So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there. When it was evening, Jesus sat down at the table* with the twelve disciples. While they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.” Greatly distressed, each one asked in turn, “Am I the one, Lord?” He replied, “One of you who has just eaten from this bowl with me will betray me. For the Son of Man must die, as the Scriptures declared long ago. But how terrible it will be for the one who betrays him. It would be far better for that man if he had never been born!” Judas, the one who would betray him, also asked, “Rabbi, am I the one?” And Jesus told him, “You have said it.” As they were eating, Jesus took some bread and blessed it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.” And he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. He gave it to them and said, “Each of you drink from it...”

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Then he broke it ... and gave it to the disciples, saying, “Take this and eat it, for this is my body.”

VISTA

therecord.com.au April 9, 2014

A speech by Cardinal Walter Kasper in Rome in February garnered much attention for the controversial comments he made about divorce and remarriage.

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PHOTO: ONLINE

Honouring the integrity of marriage Given all the recent talk about divorce, remarriage, and reception of Communion in Rome, it’s urgent to think once more about annulments, writes Dr Richard Fitz Gibbons.

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ARRIAGE tribunals provide a valuable service for the Church and the sacrament of marriage. However, a radical change occurred in the Catholic diocesan tribunal work from evaluating a few dozens cases per year in the 1960s to struggling with hundreds of petitions per year in the 1990s. In 1969, 338 annulments were given in the Church in the US, in 1974 28,918 and in the 1990s roughly 40,000 per year were granted.

Some believe that this severe stress upon marriage tribunals led to a “rubber stamp” approach, as tribunals tried to clear the cases quickly without attending to the demands of law and justice. John Paul II regularly expressed concern about the granting of annulments, particularly in the United States, where 6 percent of the world’s Catholic population accounted for 80 percent of annulments.

My experience with Catholic couples suggests a failure of justice toward many spouses, children, and the marriage sacrament in annulment decisions. A typical example: a spouse with young children, low levels of marital conflict, severe family of origin conflicts in the petitioner, and financial stresses who left the marriage for an adulterous relationship. This spouse refused concealing with a priest or with a marital therapist primary because of the relationship. In spite of the Tribunal’s knowledge of all this, it granted an annulment.

This might have been fully resolved had the Tribunal taken a different approach. Dr. Howard Markham, a marriage scholar at the University of Denver, believes most divorces and most marital unhappiness can be prevented, which is also my clinical experience over the past thirty-five years.

Several steps need to be taken so that justice is done and the sacrament of marriage, spouses, children, and the culture are protected.

Most importantly, the spouse who seeks an annulment should not be

permitted to enter into the process until there is clear knowledge as to how this person’s emotional weaknesses and conflicts contributed to the marital stress and the divorce.

In addition, the petitioner should be required to demonstrate that at least two years of effort and hard work have occurred in addressing the petitioner’s weaknesses and those in the other spouse.

Ideally, a parish priest would be involved in the divorce prevention process and require that the couple attend a Retrouvaille program.

Also, a couple could be referred to a marital therapist who is loyal to the Church’s teachings. Trustworthy therapists can be found at www. marriagefriendlytherapists.com and www.catholictherapists.com.

Such requirements are essential if justice is to be served: too often, the petitioner presents himself/herself as a victim of the other spouse’s purported psychological or spiritual conflicts. In fact, con-

flicts emerge at every stage of marriage in varying degrees and can be resolved if each spouse is willing to work on growth in self-knowledge and in virtues and grace – and if the couple has support within the Catholic community.

In our narcissistic culture, many spouses who wounded their marriages and spouses severely by their controlling, angry, emotionally distant, disrespectful, and selfish

chological science, which demonstrates that marital conflicts can be resolved, even if a divorce has already occurred. One faithful, loyal spouse whose husband gave in to blind, selfish ambition recently wrote: “John Paul II regularly expressed concern about the granting of annulments, particularly in the United States, where 6 percent of the world’s Catholic popula-

Her husband refused to explore why he gave selfish ambition a greater value than self-giving. behaviours nevertheless feel entitled to an annulment. Unfortunately, we have clinical experience with many spouses who refused to address such conflicts and were, nonetheless, granted annulments.

Such actions by tribunals are a grave offense against justice and the sacrament of marriage. Tribunal staffs need an appreciation for psy-

tion accounted for 80 percent of annulments. I have very deep concerns about the Church’s granting of annulments in long-term marriages, and the message that it sends to the world on how the sanctity of marriage is viewed by the Church. Something is seriously wrong when the very ones who grant such annulments, at the

same time, believe it is a sacrament and gift from Christ. . . .Those in the Tribunal reminded me of the first Catholic marital therapist we saw who was more like a divorce therapist and who never challenged my husband on his selfishness and failure to respect and honour me as his vowed to God on our wedding day. They did not seem to be pro-marriage and also seemed to be divorce enablers as was the Catholic psychologist we saw.”

Her husband refused to explore why he gave selfish ambition in his career and failed to value and give himself to the sacrament of marriage and their children. It is no surprise that this man feels entitled to an annulment. Sadly, it may well be granted to him without digging into causes. His two children have serious psychological conflicts because of their father’s infidelity.

I would like to balance this call for justice with mercy. There are legitimate cases for annulment by petitioners who have suffered gravely because of a spouse who did not understand marriage or act properly. These petitioners should be given pastoral care along with the legal proceedings because of their emotional “wounds” which may have been occurring for years.

Tribunal staffs and priests would benefit from ongoing educational programs on the profound wisdom on John Paul II on the sacrament, and the psychological science that demonstrates marital healing can occur. As the pope told the Roman Rota in 2002: “Whenever a couple is going through difficulties, the sympathy of Pastors, and of the other faithful must be combined with clarity and fortitude in remembering that conjugal love is the way to work out a positive solution to their crisis. Given that God has united them by means of an indissoluble bond, the husband and wife by utilizing all their human resources, together with good will, and by, above all, confiding in the assistance of divine grace, can and should emerge from their moments of crisis renewed and strengthened.”

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OPINION

GUEST EDITORIAL

That annoying

DEVIL

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OMETIMES, it doesn’t take a tragedy to cause us to turn away from God. Rather, the devil can use a series of menial inconveniences to draw us away from our purpose. Today, I will write about the devil and his “sucker punch” tactics.

Last Sunday, the building next door to my apartment (with which I share a wall) burned down.

Thanks be to God that no one was home, no one was injured, and the entire event lasted little more than an hour. But within that narrow timeframe, an electrical surge caused the structure to catch fire, and the white smoke that billowed into the air carried the ash and soot of a family’s lifetime supply of belongings.

Just enough of that white smoke seeped through the cracks, crevices, door jams and window gaps into my apartment to render my living quarters temporarily uninhabitable.

The insurance company has required that I send all of my property to be cleaned and “ozonated” while the structure itself is sanded, repainted, and scoured for every last trace of campfire-scented particles. I am sad to admit that what was a tragedy for my neighbours has become somewhat of an inconvenience for me, and the temptation to mix up priorities and lose perspective keeps creeping in. Gasp! I have to live out of a suitcase for a month! I smell like a BBQ! I am on hold with the insurance company again!

On Monday morning, as I was explaining the situation to Fr Steve in the Word On Fire office, he offered his signature, game-changing wisdom: “The devil is just trying to annoy you”. Bam. There it is.

At first, I thought to myself, “Well, he is doing a heck of a good job!” Then, even that response hit me right between the eyes: I was practically patting him on the back. Now, I don’t mean to turn a charred apartment into the battlefield for spiritual warfare, but if you have ever read CS Lewis’ Screwtape Letters, Fr Steve’s explanation makes perfect sense.

If the devil can stir up just enough of a hassle to PO Box 3075 help me justify being a monAdelaide Terrace grel to people around me, or PERTH WA 6832 if he can entice me to walk around like a mopey Debbie office@therecord.com.au Downer entrenched in my #firstworldproblems, then he Tel: (08) 9220 5900 is, most shrewdly, employing Fax: (08) 9325 4580 me to do his work for him.

He doesn’t ever have to tempt me outright or, heaven forbid, actually show his face. He simply needs to be the life of the pity party I am throwing for myself.

When annoyances make us believe that because our little sinister actions are provoked (even if unintentionally) they are perfectly justifiable, we make ourselves into exactly the kind of people that Satan wants us to be. I can’t deal with this! I didn’t plan this! I don’t have time for this! (Substitute a pronoun for “this” and you can see where this can turn ugly in a hurry.)

Annoyance, it seems to me, is one of Satan’s most effective tools. And it is his “nanny nanny boo boo” tool, the one he uses when he hardly wants to lift a finger. He takes an inconvenience, an unexpected change of plans, or a grating habit — all things that are utterly inconsequential in the grand scheme — and he elevates it to ultimate concern.

He shifts our focus directly on that annoyance and its adverse effects on our wellbeing to the point that we lose perspective on the surrounding graces or the plight of anyone around us.

This is the breeding ground for a special kind of pride, and it acts as a scapegoat for all manner of devilish behaviour. Being Slightly Hungry, a Little Bit Tired, or In Traffic Yet Again can produce the very same monster as being annoyed. “I can’t be blamed for how I acted.

I didn’t even have lunch today!” It’s easy to see how even the smaller, more regular annoyances can more readily cause long term damage… or form great virtue.

The way we receive them can create monsters or saints. Again, St Thérèse of Lisieux provides the handbook for a creative path through annoyance to sanctity and joy: we look at each prickly habit, each unforeseen irritation, each bothersome situation, and we turn those into opportunities to say, “I see what you are doing here, Beelzebub.

Get thee behind me”. Then, we react so as to turn expectations upside down. We react with the creative, humble, and disarming love that characterises Christ and his saints, even after being on hold for 30 minutes with the insurance company... with Bette Davis Eyes playing as the hold music.

The ever quippy and poignant GK Chesterton had a better term for this type of scenario: “An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered”. When you transform inconveniences and annoyances into adventures and opportunities, everybody wins (well, except the devil, of course).

Annoyance is Satan’s “nanny nanny boo boo” tool, the one he uses when he hardly wants to lift a finger.

THE RECORD

Rozann Carter is the creative director at Word on Fire Catholic Ministries.

therecord.com.au

April 9, 2014

LETTERS

Elderly residents need more visitors LAST Sunday I visited an old man at Jim Watson House, which is part of St Bartholomew’s in Lime St, East Perth. I was saddened to see when I signed the visitor’s book at 3.30pm that I was the only visitor these 40 men had that day.

The accommodation is first-class and the staff are wonderful - they provided a birthday cake for one of the residents and I joined in their little celebration.

I know Jesus would not be pleased that these old people are left without visitors. Could I suggest that the Diocesan Pastoral Council conduct an audit of these homes in Perth and organise regular visitation by small family groups, teenagers and older people? This contact would give them so much happiness and to those who would see Jesus in these abandoned people.

Name and address withheld.

Marriage ruling ignores role of religion THE High Court’s ruling (December 12, 2013) that marriage is inclusive of single gender unions, was a radical rebuff to Christianity and its Biblical heritage in general, and the global public in particular, let alone us in Australia who were once the continent called the Great South Land of the Holy Spirit.

Belief in the certainty of God’s existence is actually an integral part of Australian culture. This is so since the presence of God is acknowledged, specifically his blessing upon us as a federating people, and explicitly written into the first recital within the Preamble to our Constitution.

In their wisdom, the original founding fathers of this nation established their own befitting Constitution ‘humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God’. By this deferential obeisance, the Infinite became an element of fledgling Australia’s politics, law and history.

And marriage being between a man and a woman was the original intent of the Constitution’s eminent legal authors. Respect for God, therefore, retains its independent standing and constitutional credibility irrespective of the High Court’s commitment, or lack of it, to faith in an omnipotent creator, of which we are the image.

The words which say ‘humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God’, cannot be removed from the Constitution Act at will, that sort of destructive endeavour must be sanctioned by referendum. A vote in favour of removal would probably need a simple majority of all of Australia’s electors, plus an affirmative vote in at least four of the six States (even perhaps all six of them), then be presented to the Governor-General for the Queen’s assent. These requirements are indeed quite some hurdle to clear, because referenda have a long history of failure.

By altering the meaning of so

seminally important a word as ‘marriage,’ in a complete contravention of the United Nation’s Declaration of 1948 and its International Covenant of 1966, both resolutions supportive of family, the High Court has apparently usurped the prerogative of the people and gone beyond its power. In its judgment, the arbitrary meaning the Court has given to marriage is utterly misplaced. It’s such that falsehood, which is now ‘truth,’ must need to be ignored.

Bishop Don Sproxton preaches that “the truth on marriage can never be changed”, thus, the moral sovereignty of the revealed Triune God is perforce still the necessary inference to draw from our national foundation document’s starkly unambiguous words. And those sacred words are in reference to that invisible being we call our Heavenly Father and Creator God. Let us not defile that transcendent Truth’s ineffable image.

Joseph Sutherland KELMSCOTT, WA

Something to say?

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR office@therecord.com.au

Why would anyone want to understand information theory?

New media can actually help us to understand that a conscious and intelligent mind is behind all matter, as Denyse O’Leary writes...

T

O BE THOUGHT a geek?

To actually be a geek? To understand new media better? How about because information, not matter, may be the basic substance of reality. Sound implausible? Read on.

Consider the following questions, asked by Baylor University computer science professor Robert Marks II: • When a paper document is shredded, is information being destroyed? Does it matter whether the shredded document is a copy of an un-shredded document and can be replaced?

• Likewise, when a digital picture is taken, is digital information being created or merely captured?

• The information on a DVD can be measured in bits. Does the amount of information differ if the DVD contains the movie Braveheart or a collection of randomly generated digital noise?

• When a human dies, is experiential information lost? If so, can birth and experience create information?

• If you are shown a document written in Japanese, does the document contain information whether or not you know Japanese? What if, instead, the document is written in an alien language unknowable to man?

The purpose of such questions is to help us see that information is real even though it is immaterial.

One consequence of information being immaterial is that it is not measured in any way commensurate with material nature.

Matter can be measured in grams and energy in joules, but information is measured in bits and bytes, which bear no relation to grams or joules. One consequence is that we often ignore information when we

consider life in our universe, even though the primary way that life forms differ from non-living forces or materials is the huge amount of information they embody.

Information differs from matter in a number of ways. Here are three, to set us thinking:

All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together. We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter.

1. Information is fundamentally a relational notion, that is, it exists as a relationship between realised and unrealised possibilities.

As information theorist William Dembski explains, information is created by ruling out possibilities.

A remembered numerical code is the one possibility among thousands that turns off an alarm system.

Everything about the system is material except the series of num-

bers that controls it.

2. Generally, information increases when we increase its resolution, and decreases when we decrease it (see David, above).

A person may be said to live in Canada, in the province of Saskatchewan, in the city of Saskatoon, on Fifth Avenue, at No. 438, Unit 1314. In the increasing resolution, nothing has changed about where the person lives; what changed is the amount you know about where to find that person.

We can observe from this that information is relational, not causal. Knowing the address does not cause you to contact the person, it only makes it possible.

3. Information can be stripped of all matter and transmitted immaterially from one medium to another but cannot be reduced to matter.

As great physicist John Wheeler put it, we get the “it” from the “bit,” not the other way around. Or, as quantum theorist Max Planck put it, “As a man who has devoted his whole life to the most clear headed science, to the study of matter, I can tell you as a result of my research about atoms this much: There is no matter as such”.

All matter originates and exists only by virtue of a force which brings the particle of an atom to vibration and holds this most minute solar system of the atom together.

We must assume behind this force the existence of a conscious and intelligent mind. This mind is the matrix of all matter.

This isn’t mysticism or woollyheadedness; it is just a fact. New media help us see this fact more clearly because of the way they seem to dispense with time and space.

- MERCATORNET.COM

OPINION

therecord.com.au April 9, 2014

17

Setbacks a chance to see the hand of God at work Even when things don’t work out the way we want them to, it is still possible to see God’s guidance in action...

S

OME 15 years ago, my agriculture-researcher husband changed jobs and we moved from a smallish city to a farming town about 300km distant.

Two years later, we returned to our original home for a weekend visit, and we enjoyed chatting with old friends after Sunday Mass. I remarked how good it was to be back, and one woman in our group (not a close friend, but someone with whom I had been on parish council) said, “Oh, have you been away?”

I had no desire to embarrass the poor lady, but replied a bit awkwardly, “Yes, we moved away two years ago”. Evidently she hadn’t missed me, but I didn’t take it personally; I hadn’t really missed her either.

Thus, dear Record readers will be forgiven if they have not noticed my absence from these pages these last few months. Some may have noticed and rejoiced, hoping it was a permanent thing. Time (and the editor’s good grace) will tell.

My hiatus was intentional, and

@ Home MARIETTE ULRICH

taken for various reasons: our family has struggled this past autumn and winter (in Canada, September-March) with numerous health, employment, academic, and personal challenges. Low points included difficulties with homeschooling (mum’s and kids’), husband’s job stress, too many health tests and one minor surgery (mum again), and kids getting sick repeatedly.

This was a very bad winter for respiratory infections, culminating on New Year’s Day when we rushed one university-age daughter to hospital via ambulance. She tested positive for an influenza strain (H1N1) that had killed several people in western Canada before and during the Christmas season (she recovered quickly and is fine now, praise God). Oh, and did I mention living amidst the ongoing ‘Do It Yourself ’ kitchen renovation, which, like

love in Colossians 3:14, “covers all things and binds them together in perfect harmony”, except it doesn’t?

You know you’re in trouble when the inability to find the coffee filters makes you break down and weep. At times I regret undertaking the reno, but once cabinets have been pulled off the wall, there’s no going back. Sometimes I think I might die (of old age, if not frustration) before it’s com-

table; any and all time off work is dedicated to finishing the kitchen.

I often joke that there is always something to complain about. The corollary is that there is also always something for which to be thankful. This Lent, I have been trying, with varying degrees of success, to abstain from the former, whilst spending more energy looking for (and thanking God for) the latter.

That includes seeing the upside

“No one knows himself except through trial, or receives a crown except after victory, or strives except against an enemy or temptations.” plete. This is not a criticism of my hard-working hubby; he simply doesn’t have enough time to work on it, except in fits and starts.

He and I had talked (and talked!) about a second honeymoon in Hawaii to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary, but somehow that never materialised (we will be married 28 years this October).

Holidays are now off the discussion

when things go down though it was a bit of a stretch to find anything positive about town-wide sewage backup problems the day after my husband left for a week-long business trip in March.

At precisely that moment (‘No Flushing Until Further Notice’ day), I was contacted by a friend, Deacon Ken, who helps organise a Catholic homeschool conference in a neigh-

bouring province: would I speak at their function next spring? Feeling overwhelmed by sewage and temporary single-parenthood, if not life in general, I almost declined.

What did I have to offer? Deacon Ken replied: “It is good to see the hand of God at work in the lives of other people; this makes it easier to recognise him in our own struggles too”. I guess without realising it, he just summed up my reason for writing, if not mothering, if not life.

Early on in Lent, I read this commentary on the psalms by Saint Augustine (Liturgy of the Hours, First Sunday of Lent): “Our pilgrimage on earth cannot be exempt from trial. We progress by means of trial. No one knows himself except through trial, or receives a crown except after victory, or strives except against an enemy or temptations.”

I hope you have had a fruitful Lent. Watch for the hand of God at work in your life today, during Holy Week, and throughout the forthcoming Easter season. And rejoice, even if a trip to Hawaii is not in the offing.

Handing on the faith through example Giving his four children a firm foundation in the faith is one of Jochen Diedler’s main priorities in life.

How I Pray AS TOLD TO DEBBIE WARRIER

I

WAS born after World War II in Germany in 1952. My parents and grandparents are very devout Catholics and strongly influenced me when I was growing up. Then, when I was old enough to work, I did my training in the hospitality industry.

This meant that I was working on Sundays and feast days. I used to profess that I was Catholic but at the time I did nothing about it. I came to Australia as an adult and met my wife Maria-Luise here. My then future father-in-law told me that if I wanted to date his daughter, I had to go to church with them.

Maria-Luise has always lived like this. So that was how I got back into my faith. We married in 1989 and have four children. Nicholas will be 20 in May. He has just joined St Charles’ Seminary in Guildford, I am very pleased to say. Then there are Stephanie (19), Alexander (16) and Maximilian (14). For the first four years of our marriage, we had no children and this gave us time to work out how best to raise them to be good Catholics. I am involved now in business but my faith and my family are my priorities.

From day one, we have been living our faith with our children. We pray a German prayer in the morning that includes us, our loved ones and the people around us and we have our daily activities blessed.

When we share a meal together we say prayers to bless our food and a Hail Mary. We have a routine for our evening prayers and the children lead it so they know it better than we do. On Monday, we have the prayer to St Michael and again we include our families, our loved ones and our daily activities.

Every day we include the souls in Purgatory. We have got some special cases of need in our family, like my brother in Germany. He needs God’s strength. We include those who think they don’t need God. On Tuesdays we have a special devotion to the Sacred Heart. Then on Wednesday is the Rosary for the souls that have been born and are

Jochen Diedler with wife Maria-Luise; and sons Nicholas (19) and Alexander (16).

to be baptised and the souls that died without baptism, so that they can all come to the Father’s loving heart. On Thursday we pray to 14 saints revered in Germany. There is a beautiful basilica near my parents’ place where they are said to have appeared to a shepherd boy. On Fridays, we do the Stations of the Cross. On Saturdays, we do a devotion to Mary and on Sundays, we do particular prayers for the Holy Souls of Purgatory as well as go to Mass. At the moment I am teaching them to say the daily Angelus at 12 noon and a minute of remembrance when Christ died at 3pm.

We are parishioners at St Mary’s Cathedral and if we can’t make it to the Cathedral we attend All

Saints Parish in Greenwood. I go to All Saints on Saturdays to say the Rosary in front of the Blessed Sacrament and my children go to Reconciliation. I make the midday Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral during the weekdays. The boys have been altar servers for the last 10 years and know the Mass off by heart. They know the Gloria; they know the Confiteor; they know the Creed. They know all of these because we pray it ourselves and we go to church. It becomes their second nature.

We found from the time they were babies, all our children loved routine, structure and boundaries.

When they rebel, they are only searching for where the bounda-

PHOTO: SUPPLIED;

ries are. If you want your children to follow your faith, you have to start early. We started from the day they were born. They never missed a Sunday Mass except for once during a school camp. They have never missed a holy day of obligation. School activities or holiday activities all come second to these days. We have holy water near our door in our house so people can bless themselves with it and protect themselves from all temptations. We have a shrine in the centre of our house that we call our altar which is devoted to Jesus and Mary.

That’s where we all kneel and do our morning and evening prayers.

We have fresh flowers and candles there. Stephanie looks after that.

One of the big topics in our house is life. What am I going to do with my life? Where am I going?

What’s life all about? We have fantastic dinner discussions. Most of them are based on religion and morality. How do you talk to your children about sin? You start with right and wrong and then you talk about Jesus Christ who died for our sins. One of the things that our children are very aware of is eternal life. We made the distinction between heaven and hell very simple. Be eternally happy or eternally unhappy. When they were around the age of five we would start having these conversations.

It helps them to make choices and to go to confession. We have made it our practice to invite priests into our house and that makes for some interesting discussions too. They hear them say what we say and it is like a confirmation.

My wife doesn’t often like to hear me say this, but I think children are a reflection of you. Sometimes I wish that wasn’t true! I find that when there are things about your children that you don’t like, you will often find that they are things you don’t like about yourself. Now they are in their teens I must say that I am very happy with the way they handle themselves. Rather than being influenced by peer pressure, we have found that a lot of the students have sided with them. They are popular at school and have high self esteem. Our children are all black belts and above in martial arts. A healthy body contains a healthy mind. They are very strong in their beliefs and they stand up for their beliefs. It is because we are that way and they can see the difference.

We spend all our time with the children and they are involved in whatever we are doing. For your children to be devout, I think you have to ask yourself, “Do I believe?”

Do you believe in Christ’s Passion and the Resurrection? Do you believe that Christ is the son of the Father? Do you believe in what’s written in the Bible? Do you believe in the Real Presence of God in the Church? If you can say yes to questions like those, then you can’t help but live your faith. And if you live it, then your children will too – it’s simple.

18

PANORAMA

SCHOENSTATT CELEBRATES 100 YEARS All welcome, 9 Talus Drive, Mt Richon.

More information - 9399 2349.

May 2 - 7.30pm The Covenant of Love in the Third Milestone 1949 June 6 - 7.30pm The Covenant of Love in the Fourth Milestone 1965 July 4 - 7.30pm The Covenant of Love and the Place of Grace Bring a picture of your Home Shrine August 1 - 7.30pm The Covenant of Love in its Depth Renewal of Crowning ‘Queen of the Family’ September 5 - 7.30pm The Covenant of Love in its Width Bring your Pilgrim Mother Shrine October 3 - 8pm The Covenant of Love in the Everyday Bring your Group Symbol

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5 TO SUNDAY, APRIL 13 40 Days for Life Daily Lenten Prayer Vigil 7am-5pm daily outside Midland abortion clinic, 8 Sayer St, Midland, for everyone affected by abortion. Come and join us. Enq: Tina 0415 382 541 or www.40daysforlife.com/perth.

FRIDAY, MARCH 7 TO APRIL 11 Lenten Contemplative Prayer 5.30-6.30pm every Friday in Lent in the Upper Room, St Joseph’s Parish Centre, 3 Salvado Rd, Subiaco. Deepening our prayer life in Lent through the practice of Centring Prayer. Enq: 9381 0400, www.stjosephssubiaco.org.au.

THURSDAY, APRIL 10 Healing Mass in Honour of St Peregrine 7pm at Sts John and Paul Church, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Patron of cancer sufferers and helper of all in need. There will be veneration of the relic of St Peregrine and anointing of the sick. Enq: Jim on 9457 1539.

Passion Stories in the Synoptic Gospels 7.30pm at Christian Brothers’ Support Centre, 53 Redmond St, Salter Point. One hour long PowerPoint presentation on the Passion stories in the Synoptic Gospels. No RSVP. No cost. Parking, tea/coffee available. Enq: Br Joe Murphy 9450 1061.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12 St Padre Pio Prayer Day 8.30am at St Mary’s Church, 21 James St, Guildford. 8.30am - St Padre Pio DVD in parish centre. 10am - Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Divine Mercy, Silent Adoration and Benediction. 11am - holy Mass, St Padre Pio Liturgy. Confessions available. 12pm - BYO for shared lunch, tea and coffee supplied. Enq: Des 6278 1540.

SUNDAY, APRIL 13 Divine Mercy Hour 3pm at St Pius X Church, 23 Paterson St, Manning.

Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Divine Mercy prayers, Rosary and Benediction. Please join us in prayer. Enq: Mrs K Henderson 9450 4195.

Latin Mass Palm Sunday 8.15am at The Good Shepherd Church, Streich Ave, Kelmscott. Easter Sunday, April 20, Mass starts with adult baptism and will be at 8am. Enq: John 9390 6646.

Passion (Palm) Sunday 9.30am at St Francis Xavier Church, cnr West Pde and Windsor St, Perth. Palm distribution and Mass with a blessing. Beginning of Holy Week. PowerPoint, Auslan Interpreter and Audio Induction Loop. Enq: Fr Paul 9328 8113.

TUESDAY, APRIL 15 Spirituality and Sunday Gospels - Holy Week 7-8pm at St Benedict’s Church, cnr Canning Hwy and 115 Ardross St, Applecross. The Gospel readings can deepen our faith and increase our peace.

Presenter Norma Woodcock. Cost: collection. Enq: 9487 1772, norma@normawoodcock.com, www. normawoodcock.com.

Chrism Mass 7pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, 17 Victoria Sq, Perth.

Blessing of oils to be used in all parishes of the Archdiocese. PowerPoint, Auslan Interpreter and Audio Induction Loop. Enq: Fr Paul 9328 8113.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16 Evangelising With Catholic DVDs 10.30-11.30am at St Joseph’s church library, 20 Hamilton St, Bassendean. This week’s DVD is Jews becoming Catholic. Enq: Catherine 9379 2691 or Merle 0414 794 224.

THURSDAY, APRIL 17 The Lord’s Supper 7pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, 17 Victoria Sq, Perth.

Mass and washing of feet and Adoration after Mass. PowerPoint, Auslan Interpreter and Audio Induction Loop. Enq: Fr Paul 9328 8113.

FRIDAY, APRIL 18 Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novena 3pm at Holy Family Parish, 34 Alcock St, Maddington. Followed by Good Friday service.

Enq: 9493 1703 or vincentiansperth@yahoo.com; www.vpcp.org.au.

Good Friday 3pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, 17 Victoria Sq, Perth. Reading of the Passion, honouring the Cross, receiving Communion. PowerPoint, Auslan Interpreter and Audio Induction Loop. Enq: Fr Paul 9328 8113.

Passion Play by the Disciples of Jesus Community 9.45am on Holy Spirit Parish school oval, City Beach. Dramatised Stations of the Cross. Free entry and non-threatening. Bring friends and family. Enq: Janny 0420 635 919.

Good Friday Ceremonies Bindoon 11am at Catholic Agricultural College, 3398 Bindoon-Dewars Pool Rd, 10k north of Bindoon.

Stations of the Cross followed by solemn ceremony of the Lord’s Passion. Confessions from 10.30am and after the Stations. Enq: Fr Paul 9571 8068.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19 Passion Play by the Disciples of Jesus Community 11.30am in High St Mall, Fremantle. Dramatised Stations of the Cross. Free entry and is nonthreatening. Bring friends and family. Enq: Janny Firth 0420 635 919.

therecord.com.au

April 9, 2014

Bove’s Farm, Roy Rd (off Bussell Hwy), Jindong, Busselton. 12.30pm: hymns. 1pm: concelebrated Mass led by Fr Tony Chiera. Rosary procession and Benediction following Mass. Afternoon tea provided. Bus from Perth. Ph: Francis 0404 893 877 or 9459 3873.

FRIDAY, MAY 16 Medjugorje Evening of Prayer 7-9pm St Bernadette’s Parish, 49 Jugan St, Glendalough. It is reported Our Blessed Mother has been appearing daily in Medjugorje since June 1981. In thanksgiving, the Medjugorje evening of prayer group meet at a different parish each month. There will be Eucharistic Adoration, Rosary, Benediction and holy Mass. Pilgrimage Italy and Medjugorje June and Oct. See pilgrimage advertisement. Enq: Eileen 9402 2480 mob 0407 471 256, medjugorje1947@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, MAY 25 Centenary Celebrations - Mt Barker Parish 10.30am at Sacred Heart Parish, Langton Rd, Mt Barker. You are invited to the celebration of 100 years with Mass, celebrant Bishop Gerard Holohan, followed by bring and share lunch. RSVP with your intention to attend. Enq: Fr John Brown 08 9851 1119 or Rose-Mary 9851 1695.

REGULAR EVENTS

SATURDAY, APRIL 19 TO SATURDAY, APRIL 26 Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novena 2.30-3pm at Holy Family Parish, 34 Alcock St, Maddington. Confession followed at 3pm by Divine Mercy Chaplet and Novena with preaching and healing prayers. Enq: 9493 1703.

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.

EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 20 9.30am Mass at St Francis Xavier Church, cnr West Pde and Windsor St. PowerPoint, Auslan Interpreter and Audio Induction Loop. Enq: Fr Paul 9328 8113.

Cathedral Cafe Cathedral Cafe open every Sunday 9.30am-1pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, downstairs after Mass. Coffee, tea, cakes, sweets, friendship with Cathedral parishioners. Further info: Tammy on smcperthwyd@yahoo.com.au or 0415 370 357.

Pilgrim Mass - Shrine of the Virgin of the Revelation 2pm at Shrine, 36 Chittering Rd, Bullsbrook. Starts with Rosary, then Benediction. Reconciliation available before every celebration. Anointing of the sick administered at Mass every second Sunday of 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 Rd, Joondanna. Followed by 6pm Mass.

Enq: Admin on admin@stdenis.com.au.

Mass with Sign Language Interpreter and PowerPoint 9.30am at St Francis Xavier Church, 23 Windsor St, East Perth. Enq: Voice 9328 8113, TTY 9328 9571, 0401 016 399 or www.emmanuelcentre.com.au.

MONDAY, APRIL 21 TO SATURDAY, APRIL 26 Easter Retreat 11am at St Catherine’s House of Hospitality, Tuart Hill. Our faith in light of God’s Sacred Universe story. Both live-in and live-out possibilities.

Finishes 4pm Saturday, April 26. Enq flyer and registration: Sr Shelley Barlow 0428 772 784; smbarlowrndm@gmail.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 27 6th Annual Celebration of the Feast of Divine Mercy 2-3pm Confession at Holy Family Parish, 34 Alcock St, Maddington. 3-5pm procession with Divine Mercy icon followed by Eucharistic Adoration, Divine Mercy Chaplet and healing prayers. 5pm Solemn Feast Mass. Enq: 9493 1703 or vincentiansperth@yahoo.com; www.vpcp.org.au.

Divine Mercy Sunday Pilgrimage 12 noon-4.30pm Divine Mercy Church, 34 Santa Gertrudis Dr, Lower Chittering.12 noon BYO lunch followed by holy Rosary, Adoration, confessions.

2.15pm holy Mass, Divine Mercy devotions, veneration of first class relic of St Faustina.

Afternoon tea and return to Perth. Transport, Francis 9459 3873, 0404 893 877. Enq: 9571 0978, 0448 833 472 or Fr Paul 9571 8068.

Feast of Divine Mercy 1.30pm at St Mary’s Cathedral, Perth. Begins with Reconciliation, holy Rosary and Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Main celebrant and homilist will be Rev Monsignor Kevin Long PHD, Rector of St Charles’ Seminary and his seminarians. Other priests welcome to concelebrate holy Mass at 2.30pm, followed by veneration of two first class relics of St Faustina Kowalska. Parking for clergy available outside St Mary’s Presbytery. Enq: John 9457 7771.

TUESDAY, APRIL 29 Day Of Reflection Marian Movement of Priests 10.30am-2pm at Holy Spirit Church, Keaney Pl, City Beach. Rosary, holy Mass, talk, confessions.

Includes holy hour of prayer for priests. Celebrant and speaker Rev Fr Giles (Friars of the Immaculate).

Bring lunch to share. Tea/coffee provided. Enq: 9341 8082.

FRIDAY, MAY 2 The Place of Sacraments in Family life 7.30-9pm at St Thomas More Parish, 100 Dean Rd, Bateman. Presented by Sr Margaret Scharf, the story of human rituals in one form or another interwoven with the presence of God will be told in order to celebrate and nurture our spiritual life.

The first church is the family, and the Sacraments are the signs of God’s loving presence. Do not miss this opportunity Enq: Sr Ann Cullinane 041 813 0200.

SATURDAY, MAY 3 Day with Mary 9am at Infant Jesus Church, 47 Wellington Rd, Morley. Day of prayer and instruction based on the Fatima message. Video; 10.10am holy Mass, Reconciliation, procession of the Blessed Sacrament, Eucharistic Adoration, two talks, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet and Stations of the Cross. Finish approx 5pm. BYO lunch. Enq: Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate 9437 2792.

SUNDAY, MAY 4 Busselton May Rosary Celebration Honouring of Our Lady 12.30pm at Queen of the Holy Rosary Shrine,

EVERY FIRST SUNDAY Singles Prayer and Social Group 6.30pm at All Saints Chapel, Allendale Sq, 77 St Georges Tce, Perth. Begins with holy hour followed by dinner at local restaurant. Meet new people, pray and socialise with others. Enq: Veronica 0403 841 202.

EVERY SECOND SUNDAY Healing Hour 7-8pm at St Lawrence, Balcatta. Songs of praise and worship, Exposition of Blessed Sacrament and prayers for sick. Enq: Fr Irek Czech SDS or office Tue-Thu, 9am-2.30pm on 9344 7066.

EVERY THIRD SUNDAY Oblates of St Benedict’s 2pm at St Joseph’s Convent, York St, South Perth.

We welcome all interested in studying the Rule of St Benedict and its relevance to the everyday life of today for laypeople. Vespers and afternoon tea conclude our meetings. Enq: Secretary 9457 5758.

Holy Hour with Exposition 3pm at All Saints Parish, 7 Liwara Pl, Greenwood.

Mercy Novena and Rosary during Holy Hour. Enq: Charles 9447 1989.

EVERY FOURTH SUNDAY Shrine Time for Young Adults 18-35 Years 7.30-8.30pm at Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Dr, Mt Richon; holy Hour with prayer, reflection, meditation, praise and worship; followed by a social gathering. Come and pray at a place of grace. Enq: shrinetimemtrichon@gmail.com.

Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood, Religious Life 2-3pm at Infant Jesus Parish, Wellington St, Morley. Includes Exposition of Blessed Sacrament, silent prayer, scripture, prayers of intercession.

Come and pray that those discerning vocations can hear clearly God’s call.

EVERY LAST SUNDAY Filipino Mass 3pm at Notre Dame Church, cnr Daley and Wright Sts, Cloverdale. Bring a plate to share after Mass.

Enq: Fr Nelson 0410 843 412, Elsa 0404 038 483.

LAST MONDAY 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 cuppa. Enq: Lynne 9293 3848 or 0435 252 941.

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.

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

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

Mercy Heritage Centre Open Day 10am-2pm at 86 Victoria Sq, Perth (cnr Goderich St) main entrance. Free tour of the 1871 Convent.

Enq: 08 9325 4155.

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

EVERY WEDNESDAY Holy Spirit of Freedom Community 7.30pm at Church of Christ, 111 Stirling St, Perth.

We welcome everyone to attend our praise meeting. Enq: 0423 907 869 or hsofperth@gmail.com.

Holy Hour - Catholic Youth Ministry 5.30pm at Catholic Pastoral Centre, 40A Mary St, Highgate. Mass followed at 6.30pm with Holy Hour. Supper $5 and fellowship later. Enq: 9422 7912 or admin@cym.com.au.

Subiaco Ladies Prayer Meeting 10am in the upper room at St Joseph’s Parish, 3 Salvado Rd, Subiaco. We welcome you to join us for prayer, praise, and fellowship. Phone Win 9387 2808, Colleen 9245 3277 or Noreen 9298 9938.

Evangelising with Catholic DVDs 10.30-11.30am at St Joseph’s Church, 20 Hamilton St, Bassendean Library. No price too high.

Pentecostal Rev Alex Jones came into the Catholic Church along with some of his own congregation at Easter in 2001. Incredible conversion story not to be missed! Enq: Catherine 9379 2691 or Merle 0414 794 224.

EVERY FIRST WEDNESDAY 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 at St Thomas More Parish, Dean Rd, Bateman. Accompanied by Exposition, then Benediction. Enq: George 9310 9493 or 6242 0702 (w).

Miracle Prayers 7.30pm at 67 Howe St, Osborne Park. An opportunity to receive prayers for healing of mind, body and soul. Enq: miracleprayers@disciplesofjesus. org or Michelle 0404 028 298.

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

St Mary’s Cathedral Praise Meeting 7.45pm at the Legion of Mary’s Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth. Includes praise, song and healing ministry. Enq: Kay 9382 3668 or fmi@ flameministries.org.

Group Fifty - Charismatic Renewal Group 7.30pm at Redemptorist Monastery, 150 Vincent St, North Perth. Includes prayer, praise and Mass.

Enq: Elaine 9440 3661.

EVERY FIRST THURSDAY Holy Hour Prayer for Priests 7-8pm at Holy Spirit Parish, 2 Keaney Pl, City Beach. All welcome. Enq: Linda 9341 3079.

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 Social Dinner (Young Adults aged up to 35) and Rosary Cenacle 6.30pm at St Bernadette’s Church, 49 Jugan St, Mt Hawthorn. Begins at 6.30pm with dinner at a local restaurant, followed at 8pm by a Rosary Cenacle, short talk and refreshments at the church. Great way to meet new people, pray and socialise! Enq: 9444 6131 or st.bernadettesyouth@gmail.com.

EVERY FRIDAY Eucharistic Adoration at Schoenstatt Shrine 10am at Schoenstatt Shrine, 9 Talus Dr, Mt Richon. Includes holy Mass, Exposition of Blessed Sacrament, silent Adoration till 8.15pm. Join us in prayer at a place of grace. Enq: Sisters of Schoenstatt 9399 2349.

Healing Mass 6pm at Holy Family Parish, Lot 375, Alcock St, Maddington. Begins with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Healing Mass followed by Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Enq: admin 9493 1703 or www.vpcp. org.au.

Eucharistic Adoration - Voice of the Voiceless Ministry 7.30-9pm at St Brigid’s Parish, 211 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. Eucharistic Adoration, beginning with praise and worship and reflection on the

scriptures. All welcome. Enq: adrianluke1999@ yahoo.com.abibleu.

EVERY FIRST FRIDAY Mass and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 11am-4pm at Little Sisters of the Poor Chapel, 2 Rawlins St, Glendalough. Exposition of Blessed Sacrament after Mass until 4pm, finishing with Rosary. Enq: Sr Marie MS.Perth@lsp.org.au.

Voice of the Voiceless Prayer Meeting during Lent 7.30-9.30pm (following parish Stations of the Cross at 6.30pm) at Holy Cross Church, 1 Dianne St, Hamilton Hill. Celebrant Fr Nicholas Nweke. Starts with Rosary prayers followed by Mass, concluding with Exposition of Blessed Sacrament. Enq: Frank 9296 7591.

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

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

Pro-life Witness – Mass and Procession 9.30am at St Brigid’s Parish, cnr Great Northern Hwy and Morrison Rd, Midland. Begins with Mass followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at nearby abortion clinic, 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.

Catholic Faith Renewal Evening 7.30pm at Sts John and Paul Parish, Pinetree Gully Rd, Willetton. Songs of praise, prayer, sharing by a priest, then thanksgiving Mass and light refreshments. Enq: Ivan 0428 898 833 or Ann 0412 166 164 or catholicfaithrenewal@gmail.com.

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

Holy Hour 7.30pm at St Bernadette’s Parish, cnr Jugan and Leeder Sts, Glendalough. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, music and chants, silence, readings and meditative decades of the holy Rosary. Tea/ coffee and cake to follow. Enq: Sean Tobin of Bl Elisabeth of the Trinity Choir 0439 720 066.

EVERY SECOND FRIDAY Discover Spirituality of St Francis of Assisi 12pm at St Brigid’s parish centre. The Secular Franciscans of Midland Fraternity have lunch, then 1-3pm meeting. Enq: Antoinette 9297 2314.

EVERY SATURDAY Our Lady of Sorrows Rosary 9am at St Denis Parish Church, cnr Roberts Rd and Osborne St, Joondanna. A warm invitation to those interested in praying Our Lady of Sorrows Rosary with us. Enq: Parish office 9242 2812.

EVERY FIRST SATURDAY Vigil for Life – Mass and Procession 8.30am at St Augustine Parish, Gladstone St, Rivervale. Begins with Mass celebrated by Fr Carey, followed by Rosary procession and prayer vigil at nearby abortion clinic. Please join us to pray for the conversion of hearts and an end to abortion. Enq: Helen 9402 0349.

Mission Rosary Making at the Legion of Mary 9.30am-2pm at 36 Windsor St, East Perth. All materials are supplied. The Rosaries made are distributed to schools, missions and those who ask for a Rosary. Please join us and learn the art of Rosary making on rope and chain. Enq: 0478 598 860.

EVERY SECOND SATURDAY Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Succour) and Divine Mercy Chaplet (Chant) 8.30am at Our Lady of the Mission Parish, Whitford, 270 Camberwarra Dr, Craigie. Holy Mass at 8.30am followed by Novena. Enq: Margaret 9307 2776.

EVERY FOURTH SATURDAY Voice of the Voiceless Healing Mass 11.30am at St Brigid’s Parish, 211 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. Bring a plate to share after Mass.

Enq: Frank 9296 7591 or 0408 183 325.

GENERAL Divine Mercy Church, Lower Chittering Come join the “$500 club” by donating that amount towards completion of the Divine Mercy Church in Lower Chittering. Your name will be included in a plaque and you will share in Masses offered for benefactors. Donate online: www. ginginchitteringparish.org.au or send cheque to DM Church Building Fund, PO Box 8, Bullsbrook WA 6084. May God bless you!

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

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

Sacred Heart Pioneers Would anyone like to know 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 Dr, Malaga. Mass of the day: Mon

CLASSIFIEDS

therecord.com.au April 9, 2014

19

CLASSIFIEDS Deadline: 11am Monday BEAUTY

Romans 15:2. Maggie: 9272 8263, 0438 946 621.

PILGRIMAGES

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.

TAX SERVICE

PILGRIMAGE TO ROME/ PADUA/ASSISI/VENICE AND MEDJUGORJE Departing Perth Mon, June 9. $4,474 for 16 days.

Price includes all flights, quality accommodation with ensuite facilities, bed/breakfast/evening meals, rest period in airport hotel for six hrs with bedroom/ ensuite, enabling you to arrive refreshed. English speaking guide 24/7, transfers in luxury coach. Taxes/tipping included.

Spiritual Director Rev Fr Ronan Murphy. Enq: Eileen 9402 2480, mob 0407 471 256 medjugorje1947@gmail.com.

RELIGIOUS PRODUCTS RICH HARVEST - YOUR CHRISTIAN SHOP Looking for Bibles, CDs, books, cards, gifts, statues, Baptism and Wedding candles, 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 vestments, Australianmade, embroidered, appliqued.

Ph: 9402 1318, 0409 114 093.

FUNDRAISING RESTORE is a “Domestic Blitz”type housing project sponsored

by Mission Partners Morley, est 1988. Renovations have been carried out for several years in India. BEFORE and AFTER PHOTOS AVAILABLE. Perth fundraisers needed for in-house BRING A PLATE AND DONATE morning/afternoon tea, luncheon, evening dinner or barbeque.

A one off or monthly event.

President Maggie Box attends to encourage and inform. Funds mend leaking roofs, concrete dirt floors, weatherproof walls and add a window, room or toilet to one-roomed dwellings. Projects overseen by a Catholic Pastoral Care organisation in India called MIDS extending now to Myanmar with annual visits by Perth committee members. “Let each of us bring joy to our neighbour, helping him to grow up in goodness”

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

Call Tony Marchei 0412 055 184 for appt. AXXO Accounting & Management, Unit 20/222 Walter Rd, Morley.

FURNITURE REMOVAL ALL AREAS. Competitive rates.

Mike Murphy Ph 0416 226 434.

TO LEASE MINING LEASE 9561 2415.

SERVICES BRENDAN HANDYMAN SERVICES Home, building maintenance, repairs and renovations.

NOR. Ph 0427 539 588.

PAINTERS IN PERTH since 1933. AJ Cochrane & Sons 08 9248 8211.

BOB’S PAINTING Registered and insured. Free quotes 0422 485 433 www.bobthepainter.com. au.

PERROTT PAINTING PTY LTD For all commercial and strata property requirements. Ph 9444 1200.

BRICK RE-POINTING Ph Nigel 9242 2952.

WANTED ACCOMMODATION - Mature aged gentleman, works fulltime at RPH. Surrounding areas near the city. Greg 0413 701 489.

- Single female looking for room, preferably family or female owner, Perth City. 0420 220 787.

8 DAYS ITALY incl Rome.

Monte Cassino, Castelpetroso, San Giovanni Rotondo, Monte Sant’Angelo, Corato, Lanciano, Collevalenza, Assisi, Medjugorje 7 days 1 night split. Oct 7-25.

Spiritual Director Rev Fr Doug Harris. Cost $4,999. Contact Eileen 9402 2480 mob 0407 471 256, email medjugorje1947@ gmail.com.

19 days: Cost from $7,080.

Poland, Italy, Lourdes and (Paris optional). Departs Perth Monday, September 22, 2014. Spiritual Director Fr Tadeusz Seremet SDS. 19 days: Cost from $4,980.

Jordan, Israel and Egypt.

Petra, Amman, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, Cana, Bethlehem, Taba, Mt Sinai, St Catherine’s, St Anthony’s, and St Paul’s Monastery, Sharm El-Sheikh, pyramids of Giza and Cairo.

Departs Perth on Sunday, January 18, 2015. Spiritual Director Fr Christopher Lim. Contact: Francis Williams T: 9459 3873 / M: 0404 893 877 (all-day) E: perthfamily888@gmail.com.

THE RECORD

Western Australia’s award-winning Catholic newspaper since 1874 Continued from Page 18 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 0414 683 926 or 08 9334 0933.

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

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

AA Alcoholics Anonymous Is alcohol costing you more than just money? Enq: AA 9325 3566.

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

Suggest a Cert IV course to discern God’s purpose. They will also learn more about the Catholic faith and develop skills in communication and leadership. Acts 2 College of Mission and Evangelisation (National Code 51452). Enq: Jane 9202 6859.

Acts 2 College, Perth’s Catholic Bible College Is now pleased to be able to offer tax deductibility for donations. If you are looking for an opportunity to help grow the faith of young people and 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.

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 services (ref www.abortiongrief.asn.au). Enq: Julie (08) 9313 1784.

Free Rosaries For The Missions If you or anybody you know are going to the missions and would like to send or take Rosaries to spread the faith locally or overseas or for school or First Holy Communion, please contact Felicia 0429 173 541 or Hiep 0409 128 638.

Saints and Sacred Relics Apostolate Invite SSRA Perth invites interested parties, parish priests, leaders of religious communities, lay associations to organise relic visitations to 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, Simon Stock and Blessed Pope John Paul II. Free of charge and all welcome. Enq: Giovanny 0478 201 092 or ssra-perth@catholic.org.

PERPETUAL ADORATION Would You Not Watch One Hour with Me? Adoration - St Jerome’s, Spearwood Adorers are needed. Please contact the office on 9418 1229.

Holy Hour Slots at St Bernadette’s, Glendalough “Every Holy Hour we make so pleases the Heart of Jesus that it will be recorded in heaven and retold for all eternity” ~ Blessed Mother Teresa. Adorers needed for: Monday 2-3am; Tuesday 10-11am; Wednesday midnight-2am; Friday 2-4am; and Saturday 1-2pm. If you would like one of these hours or more information, please call the parish office. Enquiries: 9444 6131.

Resource Centre For Personal Development 2014 Courses 197 High St, Fremantle. RCPD2 ‘Successful Relationships, Emotional Intelligence/ Communication Skills’; RCPD3 Part1 ‘Health – Mental, Physical and Spiritual’ ‘Understanding and Healing the Consequences of Emotional and Sexual Abuse’ Lecture and Discussion; RCPD11 ‘Therapeutic Workshop’; RCPD7 Part1 ‘Psychology and Christian Spirituality’; RCPD7 Part2 ‘Exorcists and Psychiatrists’.

Volunteers required for Op/Shop Drop-In Centre. Enq: 9418 1439, 0409 405 585 www.rcpd.net.au.

Love is born With a dark and troubled face When hope is dead And in the most unlikely place Love is born: Love is always born.

Michael Leunig

C R O S S W O R D ACROSS 3 His name was changed to Israel 9 A dove brought back this branch back to Noah 10 Joshua was buried in this hill country (Josh 24:30) 11 “…is now, and ___ shall be…”

12 Diocese or bishop starter 13 Clerical color 15 Second century pope 16 Enter by the ___ gate 17 Fish part for Jonah 20 “Regina ___” 22 Type of monastery 23 Church council 25 Member of the Society of Jesus 26 Worship 29 A no-coveting commandment 31 French Christmas 32 The Garden 35 St. John ___ (Basilica) 36 Possible Easter month 37 The disciples ate this on the Sabbath (Mt 12:1)

14 15 18 19 21 22 23 24 27 28 30 33 34

pope “___ et Orbi” Sacrament of the ___ ___ Minister David played one Divine time Hebrew month Biblical method of execution The Archdiocese of Abuja is in this African country Holy ___ Vestment made of a narrow strip of cloth What you should do when the herald angels sing Founder of Our Sunday Visitor newspaper, Fr. John ___ The Solemnity of Mary is celebrated in this month (abbr.)

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

DOWN 1 “…thy will be ___…”

2 “___ Night” 3 Governor Bush, convert to Catholicism 4 First bishop of America 5 Biblical city 6 Husband of Queen Jezebel 7 Secret place for Christians in Rome 8 White for a pope, black for no

CLASSIFIEDS - Short, Sharp and Cheap

W O R D S L E U T H

JPII CANONISATION

LIMITED STOCK Pope Francis had announced in late September that he would proclaim the two Popes saints in a single ceremony on April 27, Divine Mercy Sunday.

Blessed John Paul, known as a globetrotter who made 104 trips outside Italy, served as Pope from 1978 to 2005 and was beatified

by Pope Benedict XVI on Divine Mercy Sunday, May 1, 2011.

GET YOUR COMMEMORATIVE JOHN PAUL II MERCHANDISE BEFORE STOCKS RUN OUT!!!

BIBIANA KWARAMBA Bookshop Manager

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