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• CHRISTIAN BROTHER, Brother Tom Pickett provides inspiration and leadership for students at St Mark's College, Bedford. See story pictures pages 6 and 7.
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• As the papal tour draws closer only eight weeks to go arrangements are coming together for the Masses and so on. See story, picture page 3. • As Australia builds up its welcome to Pope John Paul 11, his strong words on social justice and peace will remind us there is a serious side to his visit. See story page 2. • Sale of the Century TV quizmaster, Tony Barber, is again coming to WA to help Perth Youth Chaplain Father John Jegorow raise funds for valuable youth services. Story and picture page 2.
• Successful Perth businessman rose to chainnan of the Stock Exchange after serving in Wortd War II as a bomb aimer over Nazi Germany. See BOB DOYLE'S '/'.S story and pictures, pages 10 and
11.
Parliamentarians' fellowship
The archdiocese of Perth is to introduce special ministers of the eucharist and parish priests have to select candidates by January next year. The successful applicants will be trained in time for a special commissioning in Holy Week 1987. Candidates, male or female, should be distinguished by their Christian life faith and morals. They should have a devotion to the eucharist and be examples of piety and reverence. Their selection should not cause scandal.
Archbishop Goody, who introduced the Acolytate in Perth.
Distribute communion
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At the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship dinner were (from left) Kim Beazley snr; Senator Michael Tate, fellowship president and Sir Peter Kenilorea KBE, Prime Minister of the Solomon lslands.
Canberra turns to prayer
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The Canberra parliamentary dining room was "bulging at the seams," when the first ever national prayer breakfast was held recently. This was the verdict of Senator Michael Tate, president of the Australian Parliamentary Christian Fellowhip when describing the function attended by over 350 public figures in politics, law, church, business and the labour movement. A former minister of the Whitlam government, Kim Beazley Snr delivered the major address at the prayer breakfash which Senator Tate said "was a call to those in public life to assess their participation. "Drawing on his experience in the transition to independence in Papua New Guinea Kim Beazley recalled
the prayer and reflection which in his view averted another 'Sharpeville massacre' with all the tragedy this would have brought to our region," said Senator Tate. "Parliamentarians from every state and the Northern Territory joined their federal colleagues from all parties in this opportunity to declare a truce and share what we have in common. "In addition judges and ambassadors mingled with leaders of trade and commerce from both sides of industrial relations. Senator Tate said a highlight was the attendance of Sir Peter Kenilorea, Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands. "His presence symbolised our fellowship with Pacific nations," said Senator Tate.
The preparation of the new ministry is in the hands of a subcommittee of the Diocesan Liturgical Committee: Fathers William Fitzgerald O Praem and Donald Sproxton, Sisters Mary Berry (Maranatha Institute) and Kerry Willison, Mrs Elizabeth Chandler and Mr Owen Stanley.
Special ministers will be able to assist in the distribution of communion at Mass and to the sick at home or in hospital. Special ministers of the eucharist were first permitted in 1970 for missionary situations where there was a shortage of priests. In 1972 the faculty was extended to all dioceses.
In the same year the former clerical orders of acolyte and lector were made permanent lay ministries, with the acolyte also an becoming extraordinary minister of the eucharist. In 1974 Archbishop Goody pioneered the acolytate in Australia commissioning 334 aco-
lytes for Perth archdioceses. At present there are some 800 registered
acolytes. Bunbury diocese later introduced acolytes as did Sydney and other NSW dioceses. Other Australian dioceses did not introduce acolytes but special ministers of the eucharist.
Ecumenical day Pope John Paul II representatives of other churches and other principal religions of the world, will celebrate a day of prayer and fasting for peace in Assisi on October 27.
The celebration is within the framework of the World Year of Peace proclaimed by the United Nations Organisations. It was announced by Pope John Paul Il on January 25 at the Basilica of St Paul outside the Wals in Rome, after consultations with religious leaders He was speaking on peace in his homily at St Paul's for the closing of the Week for Christian Unity" (see also page 5).