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W E S T E R N A U S T R A L I A’ S A WA R D - W I N N I N G C AT H O L I C N E W S P A P E R S I N C E 1 8 7 4
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Proud day for St Norbert
Outnumbered by ‘nones’ ?
Christopher Lim ordained a priest for the Norbertines of Queens Park - Pages 10 - 11
The data is in, and one Bishop says it’s time to reflect - Pages 12-13
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therecord.com.au
Her recovery paved the way for a canonisation. Kathleen Evans can say it with authority.
Good choice, Mia
By Robert Hiini E L EV E N - Y E A R- O L D Mi a Redgrove doesn’t have to wonder whether she made the right choice in picking St Mary MacKillop for her Confirmation name next month. The Holy Spirit Parish City Beach parishioner was fortunate enough to meet Kathleen Evans at her church last Sunday. Ms Evans, whose unexplained recovery from terminal cancer helped confirm Mary MacKillop’s sainthood, was visiting Western Australia to give a series of talks about her experience. The invitations to speak haven’t stopped for Ms Evans, after she was finally able to reveal her expe-
rience during her first talk in her home parish in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 2010: “That was one of the stipulations from Rome, that the story had to stay out of the media, so it was something like six years that the story had to stay quiet,” Ms Evans told The Record.
It wasn’t the miracle, but the opportunity to take stock of blessings. “We went back to our parish to say thank you and then it just skyrocketed from there.” When asked if being the recipient of a bona fide miracle makes a life of faith easier or whether things
go on much the same, Ms Evans gave an answer, perhaps befitting of her patron’s full title, St Mary MacKillop of the Cross. “My sickness has made me recognise the blessings I have got. The things that are around us, like people and environment, become more important to me. “Money’s become less important to me. I think I’ve found real value of life.” Mia Redgrove, a Year 6 student at Holy Spirit Catholic Primary, said she chose Mary MacKillop as her Confirmation saint because of her teaching. “I love her inspirational motto, that ‘we must teach more by example than by word’, and I really want to follow that throughout my life.”
Kathleen Evans, miraculous cancer survivor (top, second from left) with Mia Redgrove, 11, parents Ross and Deborah, and parish priest Fr Don Kettle. Above, Kathleen and Barry Evans at Holy Spirit, City Beach. PHOTOS: R HIINI