The Record Newspaper 28 January 1988

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Community

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PERTH, WA: January 28, 1988

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Australia has increasingly tried to create an imrniqration based on fair pr" nciples bu it faces the danger of becoming selfish and arrogant, say Catholic lmrniqration Directors.

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BS ETS FRUI BA ETS HOCOLA . E BASKETS GOU ET B KE S Bl THDA E BA KETS O BA KET

An ideal and universally acceptable licy is difficult to achieve but moral and spiritual values are much more important th n economic factors when reviewing and planning immigration policies.

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From page 1

Social cohesi eness

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FLORIDA: t a meetin of us Catholic student

icentennial youth confere ce attracts 1 7 0 More than 170 young people gathered at Fairbridge village Pinjarra for the Catholic Youth Council Bicentennial Youth Conference last week.

Organiser Patrick Willix said that endorsement by the Bicentennial authority had made it impossible to find an Aboriginal speaker to address the conference.

The key note address was given

by Helen Cattalini former commissioner for multi-cultural and ethnic affairs.

Ms Cattalini raised many issues related to the Bicentennial celebration and invited the young people to make a response but to know first what it is they are celebrating.

She went on to speak about how, many at the party, are not necessarilly having a good time just because they are present young people have a chance to make good the wrongs in the world and begin in the world of youth.

One of the discussion groups t the Fairbridge youth conference included (from I ft): Brendon Trestrail (Whitfords), Terry Preston ( orley), K thy Joye (Harvey), Julie Della ,Franca (Yokine), Andrew artin (Wilson) and Tony Pereira Lawley), Len Dymond ( (Spearwood).

ame says • c I c

nativ metaphy ic t Univer ity Coll in Dublin.

ustra ia er ion of boriginal hi t ry i a lie a d the hi to f those ettl d h r 1

Pope's message

n-

pri t .

On th many chall n and probl ms facin th dioc s • Archbishop Connell aid hi inexp rien e obliged him to act n appr ntic to the uxiliary bishops of the dioce e.

PO Bo 62, H k tt A.C.T. 2602 Ph (062) 49 8 13

Pope John Paul has sent the following message for A yo th to Arc · hop Fo ey: 'To Ho y Father was pleased to earn of the Bicentennial Youth Conference being eld under e a spice of he Catholic Youth Council of We em Austrar a, and e a s you kindly to convey hi reetings and wi he to the org nisers and to all the young m n an wo en who a ath d or this important e nt.

"His oliness i confd t at by reflecting on what it means to be a yo ng Catholic Australian a this

elegates

Fairbridge gathering a success Mr Bob Pearce representing the Premier opened the conference.

He said he would neither sing the praises of the government or the education department but speak about his own beliefs and hopes for young Australians.

He disagreed with the frequently touted view that young people are losing hope and invited the participants to take a fresh and positive view of life.

He encouraged young people to understand why and how things worked and to get involved in the daily pol if cal processes of society.

Bishop Healy representing the Archbishop congratulated the organisers and delivered a special message from John Paul II. The pope recalled his words at Belmont racecourse in 1986 and invited young people to .. generous to Christ and generous o others".

The furthest traveller to the conference was Craig Hansen from Zimbabwe. e heard a ut t e conference at the An ioch meeting in Hamersley.

Why don't YOU put YOUR vacancies in The Record?

11111.!

the Gospel in everyday life, in keeping with his chal enge to the youth of Australia: "Be generous to others, be genera s to Christ" (Belmont Park Racecourse, 30 o m r1986). e Holy Father prays that hi Conference ·11 • I a

upon lovinq intercession of Mary, other of e Church and o r Moth r nd guide o our ea ly pilgrima , a d h cordi ly imparts to

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Re'cord Guest Editorial

THE CATHOLIC WEEKLY Sydney The Australian Catholic Bishops, in a pastoral letter which reflects great depth of understanding, wisdom and compassion, have given us the lead on how we should observe our country's Bicentenary.

One of the most significant points of the pastoral letter is its recognition of the rights of our Aboriginal people, whose history in this land predates that of white settlement to an extent beyond compare.

The bishops commit the Church "to influence the minds and hearts of the people of Australia to achieve justice and harmony and to uphold the dignity of the Aboriginal people whose ancestors settled here thousands of years before Abraham set off for the land of Canaan."

What a marvellous comparison the bishops have drawn!

Most of us think of Abraham, about whom we read in the Old Testament, as a figure drawn from antiquity.

How many of us have ever given a thought to the fact that our Aboriginal people had moulded their own civilisation, rich in culture and tradition, back in the Dream Time, right here in the land we now call Australia, generations and generations before Abraham was even bom?

Never would it enter our minds that Abrah m, the man who proved his willingness to s crifice his own son in obedience to God's command, should be the subject of anything but respect and honour.

How much more honour we owe our own Aborigines who, although not mentioned in the Bible, lived according to their understanding of the laws of a supernatural being thousands of years betore the Bible was written.

But, to our shame, we cannot overlook the way we have treated them, almost wiping them out of existence in a mere 200 years.

As we are reminded by our bishops, "January 25, 1788 was the last day on which Aborigines were in total and unquestioned occupation of the land. The following day, January 26, the history of this country and its people changed dramatically with the first Briti h settlement at Sydney Cove. The dislocation of Aboriginal society which subsequently occurred led to the disintegration of cultural and religious life. It is reflecte d today 'n high levels of infant mortality, intractable health problems, widespread unemployment, inadequate education, poor housing, high rates of imprisonment and in a cycle of poverty that crushes the human spirit. " Can we feel anything but shame?

Lest it be said that no one has recognised our responsibility to our Aboriginal people, we should give credit, as the bi hops have done, to those of goodwill who have set in motion the machinery to rectify this situation. But much more yet needs to be done.

It is time for us to heed the call of our bishops, to go out, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, one to another, in a spirit of love and mutual respect.

In particular, Catholics are called to be leaders of t. conciliation, seeking the unity in Christ that acknowledges but transcends all differences of culture, status and race.

As we contemplate our responsibility in this regard, we could well consider the worlds of the song, "Day by Day", from "Godspelt". The refrain is: "Day by day, three things i Pray: to see thee more clearly, to follow thee more nearly, to love three more dearly".

Those words, actually written by St Richard, apply, of course, to our a pirstions to see Jesus more clearly and to follow in his footsteps.

But as we should be able to s e Christ in each other as our bodi s are the mp/es of e Holy Spirit, we should pray on this Australia Day that forgiv ness and a ne pirit of resp ct will enable us to d. pt the e word as our th e in our future relationship with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters.

e Record, Jan . ry 28, 1988

a

HONG KO G ( C): m sionary, expert in C mese affairs, aid Chin 's government hou d apologise for the 30-year im r· onment o Bis op Ignatius Kung Pin-mei of S anghai, China, who wa released fro parole as reported in The Record, Jan ary,

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h DUBLIN: Bishop Wilfred Napier, president of the South African Bisho s Conference is resting "incognito" in Ireland to overcome exhaustion.

He had te ts in a Dublin hospital but they have not in icated anything serious.

Cont

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Bi hop apier was ho pitalis d m Rome for n arly a month following the Synod. He was said to tir d and ov r or He miss d the South African I ho ' limina vi it to . Ireland I th coun ry w ere Bishop api r Join d th Franci cans and studi d for the pri sthood.

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in st avoid Singapore a big revival ort-term lotions SINGAPORE: Non-Christians, together with their Catholic friends, flocked to the Redemptorist Novena Church Singapore, for the "Jesus for everyone" mission.

The misssion was the very first of its kind in a country with a population of slightly more than 2.5 million peopl , of hich over 10 000 are Catho le .

RO E: The

About 580 people were present on the first two nights.

The newly formed Archdiocesan Commission for issionary Activities organised the mission.

The mission's main aim was to reach out to nonChr0sbans.

One priest, one Religious brother and three married lay person spoke for the ive nights.

Pope Joh Paul repeats ca I

mor omen,' h

call f r a homeland for

mo que Jeru lern.

· SOiidarity 'gesture' .

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From page 4 Bishop Kung expressed "gratitude for the generosity of the government."

Father Barry is sceptical.

He said no admission of guilt was ever produced by the Shanghai court which had jurisdiction in Bishop Kung's case. ''Rather than Bishop Kung thanking the government for leniency, it seems it really should be the other way around," Father Barry said. "The government should be apologising to him for wrongly taking away 30 years of his life.

DOD "Putting a man behind bars for 30 years on a fal e charge does not appear to be at all lenient," he said.

Bishop Kung's trial took place durin the Anti-R"ght1 t Camp ign, a compllc ated tim for aid Fath r

BICENTENN AL

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1985

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the Church 1n Australia

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day morning conducted a small school in Ashfield.

The Zawada family played a fairly major role in administering and supporting the school, at least that was my perception.

I think prior to Ashfield, the school was at the Bassendean Catholic Primary. I never attended the Bassendean school.

I remember clearly Peter Czajka and my elf us d to catch the Saturday morning bus as far as the arratt Road and Guildford Road inte lion from wh re t nun \ ou pi

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I can remember the station wagon weighed down as we travelled across the Garratt Road Bridge and over to the Rivervale School. Sister Bridget would tell us to "make like you're a sardine". Sister Alexandra, a largish woman, gave us all an encounter of a special kind - cuddly!

I

am till in touch with these day .

Among a list of names like Krupa, F o ztadt, Szklarz, Orzanski, Czaj a and \'\: itkov ki, u tralian friend my Ga an Wood toad out and he mu t have at least rien d mild culture on his first Poli: h som rou h

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Poli h School supported my parents' influence on me. I eventually accepted m r ustralian/ Poli h heritaae \ "th areat pride.

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Pa torat In trucuon o I tutu auon)

Patterns; routines, To one degree or another they are

part of your existence -

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P•lti Clark helps her d•ughter Tin• with her skating. In the timid style of • new shier, people wishing lo enter the church l•h sm•II but import•nl steps th•I will le•d them on • lifelong pilgrim•ge. Reasons for seeking the Church •1111 gre,1/y •nd often cant be explained. The Catholic Church responds with an open door and an offer of Christ's hospitality.

recurring shapes in the way

life is conducted Sometimes it is assumed that routine is, by definition, boring. And sometimes it ,s, but not always.

Whatever the case. it 1s a fact of life that your routines will, from time to time. be

interrupted.

altered.

transformed.

I Circumstances outside you

may be the cause of this. Or. the causes may be quite personal. Perhaps • fresh outlook on life or the assumption of some new

responsibilities become the occasion for a personal .. breakthrough .. that makes an impact on how your time

is spent. how enerlis

consumed and where �· tion 1s focused.

Many occurrences

1••t

hfe can serve as the sbiJS

for altering some old 'll?s and for charting the 0;e mto the future with •w concentration on 's meaning

Sometimes these are hg occurrences: the loss a

best friend who has moved far away; a death m the family; an illness; divorce; the firsthand experience of genuine

injustice

These

occurrences cause people to take stock. to struggle with questions about the purpose

of their existence.

But there are other occurrences, less tragic that cause people to take stock: the

birth of a child; the entry into a new stage of life - midlife; the retirement years; the transition to the so-called empty-nest

after

one's

children leave home.

Or, the simple realisation at age 35 or 55 or 65 that one is still quite young can lead to taking stock and to looking to the future with renewed energy.

What is discovered on these occasions is that the human person is amazingly resourceful and always able to grow. At various points, a new desire to grow - as individuals, as a couple, as a family, etc - emerges.

This is as true for people in terms of their faith as it is in any other sense. At times people experience a campetl-

ing desire to grow in faith to come to terms with what faith is all about.

But what happens then' There is the risk that when this push toward faith growth is felt one might feel stranded, not knowing where to turn or to whom.

That is what th• mat,rials on thes« pages of your Catholic pap,r ar, about in

1986: tb« mu/tifacet,d up/oration und,rtakBn by any person who, for wha·

t1r1r rsson, 11p,r1ences a r1nt1wed dt1JJre to delve into

faith.

As th, year begins we ask:

What ar, some occurrences

that hare caused you to tak• stock of your life and to begin again to ask about th• meaning of faith for your /if•?

- Deborah could sense her commitment to the church slipping away and she didn't know what to do about it. In recent years, the fondness she always had had for the church was being replaced by a growing resentment toward it.

At 33, married and the mother of three children, Deborah was facing a major crisis offaith. It wasn't as though she didn't want to be a Christian any longer.

Quite the contrary.

She wanted to be a better Christian, but

Jesus' voice 'muffled' by 'too many hassles' The hall was empty after the retreat except for a young woman rummaging through her bag.

Somehow I knew she

by JANE WOLFORD HUGHES tell her stonc-, to show

was stalling for time her that vhc "as not alone to see me alone. in her discornfort, that Finally she ap· other people alvo go proached me and through a similar prohaltingly explained cc, , often again and that she sometimes again. felt very distant Steve and .\!,lite are from Jesus. uch a Courie. The) had ''II he " the vine and reached a point in their I'm a branch, I don't feel faith life" hich felt like a connected. What can I long winter with no vign Jo? Where do I find of pnng. They admitted him?" that listcrung to the Sun· The woman said that day Scripture rcadmgs when urnes arc bad. she was like <uting through turned to Jesus "to beg reruns of old movies. or blame. When thing, "The sense of God wav arc really super, I some- like a plume of smoke urnes thank him but most that floated through the of the time I'm too busv s·r·xc and disappeared celebrating my good bctorc we reached the fortune. .\t y conscious- • pa .mg lot," said .\\illic ncs s of his voice is Then a new priest came muffled by so manv other to their parish. He told sounds hassling me." stories that connected the She and I sat sipping readings to the morning the last of the coffee and newspaper, movies, com· talked about the common rnunity needs and parish human experience of happenmgs.

I remember the cnthusearching for and discovermg God. I trred to siastic way Steve explained

8 The Record, January 28, 1988

"hat happened using engineering terms: "Father Dan showed us how to

tear av.ay the insulation

we had packed around the word of God and helped us sec that us meaning could cnergtve

our daily lives!"

That was five vcars ago, he continued, .;;d "M11l1c and I are vnll continually as tornvhcd how each reading calls out to the reahtv of today " Bcckv and Tony arc another couple who went through a learning proccvs regarding their faith.

At the airport they looked h k e a h i g h-vp ir i t e d "yuppie" couple setnng off for a vacation in some exotic land. Passersby smiled upon them, sensing

that they were heading off on an adventure.

Adventure It was, but different from what met the eye at the airport Tony and Becky's dcvtination \\'3\ a poor village

in Brazil "here t hev would become la) missionancs for a year teaching carpentry and literacy,

Tony, a successful lawyer,

and Becky, a teacher,

have been married for 18 months.

"Av we grew rn our love for each other, we became

more and more scnvinve

Finally there 1 [ovial, 55 ·year-old Herb. "I wavn't urc what I was walking into," he said of h1� experience in sponsormg a prospecuvc convc rt to Cat h o h c ivm

enrolled in the Rite of Chrisrran Initiation of Adults program at h" pamh.

Herb thought u "a' his role to he fricndlv and helpful hut that the "hole RC! A process would he omcwhat impersonal. \'r rong.

Instead, Doug, the can· didatc Herb sponsored, became hke a brother as well as a dear fncnd.

felt the church was getting in the way.

Dunng the Second Vatican Council. wtuch had occurred a few years earlier, Deborah became excited about the poss, bihtres for a more open, modern church She wanted to see a church that fully accepted and respected her gifts as a woman She also

DISCUSSION POINTS What are some occurrences in life that cause people to take stock of the meaning of their existence?

What are some occurrences that cause people to want to grow in faith -to understand faith more, to live faith better?

What does it mean to say that people need to discover and rediscover their faith throughout their lives?

Neil Parent talks about the circumstances that led two people who were struggling with faith into adult parish programs. What two lessons does Parent draw from their experiences?

to the presence of God in our hfc together," Becky explained srmply "We needed to 8\ thank vou o this is thc.\\.'av \\C,arc doing it - by serving the poor and through them learning the meaning of rcallv Im mg as God loves U<;."

By Neil Parent

D of

AI 33, m,rrred •nd the mother

three

children,

Dellorah wu facing• m,jor crisis of f•ith.

It wun'f u I/tough she didn� w•nl to be • Chrisli•n ,ny longer.

Quito

the

contr,ry. She wanted lo lie , better Chris· li•n, but felt the Churcll wu getting in the w•r.

Strange happening on Damascus road Saul grew up in a strict Jewish home in the city of Tarsus about the same time Jesus was growing up in Nazareth.

When Saul was about 15, he went to Jerusalem to study at the temple.

Saul studied hard ";th a famous teacher and became a rabbi.

Saul was horrified to see small groups of people who were disci· pie,, of a rabbi from :slazareth named Jesus.

They claimed that a few years earlier Jesus ro� from the d,·.id after he was exe< uted by the Roman,.

Saul was so upset with thesr. followers of J1-,;us that he persecuted them.

He had man) put into jail

ODD

wanted to see car changes - in the ,y the church treated,e laity, in some are.1Jf human sexuality d family hfe But as the years ld1· ing the council wom. bringing only a fewoe changes she soet.

Deborah grew nnpait and then frustrated As sho sat in ch:h with her family I a bright Sunday moog tn

1969.

Oeb h

unhappily concl udeclat her membership ,nie church was neann n end She was alf 1e

more surpnsed. then. when after communion her interest was piqued by the descnption of a home-based adult education program on con· temporary issues of faith She struggled with confhctmq feelings about the program before say· ,ng under her breath, "One last chance I'll give the church one last chance " Edward sat tn the back of the church waiting for Mass to begin As he had over the past 10 years or so, he arrived early and took the last pew

Observing others entering the church. he began to wonder about their relatronstups with God He watched how some proceeded to the middle of the church and others went up front He con· eluded that for them to approach so close to the altar, their relancnship with God must be pretty good As for him, well, he needed to stay m the back He felt that rt would be hypocritical of him to move closer to the front Slipping forward a bit so that he was half-sining

•

and half·kneehng, Edward let his head rest against his hands on the back of the pew in front of him He began to think about his chaotic faith What could he possibly make of 111 For more years than he cared to count. he had harboured serious doubts about his faith, about the very existence of God Week after week. he came to church hoping things would change In his own mind, he was halt-believer. half· unbeliever and surely a

smooth All who walk rt may ftnd the going at one time relatively easy, at another time virtually unpossible.

Deborah and Edward got help when they needed 1t in ways that. as things turned out. met their needs But the rektndhng of faith can happen m many ways There are two lessons that can be drawn from the expenence of Deborah and Edward • One

rs

that

,t

rs

important to maintain a certain flex1b1hty in our faith lives. an openness to God's grace. so that when moments of change and growth pres· ent themselves. we will be ready • The other rs that we never allow ourselves to become so disheartened or so d1s1llus1oned by the challenges of authentic Christian hie that we abandon the Journey The pearl of great price does not come without risk and sacrifice

One da\ Saul set out to persecute Jesus· follow· ers in Damascus. On the city's outskirts a bright light from the sl.y fl.ished around Saul He fell to the ground.

He hoord someone asking him. "Saul. Saul. why do you p('rsccute me? ..

"Whoareyou,sirr Paul asked anxiously.

The YOice answered: "I am Jesus. the one vou are persecuting."

Saul got up but was blinded. People led him by hand into Damas<:us to a friend's home on Straight Street. There Saul re.,ted. prayed and fasted.

sinner

S,n,ng back again ,n the pew. he picked up a church bulletin His eye caught the osscnpnon of a Lenten program that dealt with contemporary spmtuahtv. f1nd1ng God in one's hfe. Edward had never attended a church program but. as he waited for the entrance hymn to begin, the idea of signing up began to assert itself

He tried v,suahsing how 1t would be to part1c1pate in the program but that only made him anxious How could he talk with behevers about not being able to fully beheve1 The idea was preposterous Still, 1t persisted ·What the heck I.. he thought as the organ signalled the beginning of Mass "I'm nearly 70.

It's now or never I've got to face up to this thing one way or another ·· Both Deborah and Edward are real people I learned their stones while working in the parish community to which they belonged When I met them. they were expenenc,ng serious problems with their faith But by no means are their stones unique The faith Journey ,s never

By Janaan Manternach

Three days later, Ana· nias, a follower of Jesus, came to see Saul and told him Jesus had sent him to help him to see and to receive the Holy Spirit.

Immediately Saul could see. He asked to be baptised then and there.

The angry persecutor of Jesus' follo\\.'ers no\\: \\'a'i one of them. He was called Paul now, rather than Saul.

It took time for the impact of Paul's dramatic experience to sink in and change his life. He spent three yoors pra)ing and thinl.ing in the dPsert. He then went bacl. to Damascus and Jerusalem.

Barnabas, an oorly fof. lower of Jesus in Jerusalem, introduced Paul to Peter and the other apostles. Then Paul went baclc to his hometmm Tarsus "here he lived in the community of Jesus' followers.

DOD

After about 10 ,-ears.

Barnabas hoord �bout the good that Paul was doing and invited him to Antioch. where Jesus' followers were first called Christians. They were so impressed with Paul they sent him with Barnabas to preach the Gospel in places it never had been heard.

For the rest of hlS life Paul journeyed from country to c:ountry preaching and founding Christian communili�.

He wrote many letters to these communitie,,.

Paul suffered perscculton himself and finallv was killed for his faith,� Rome about 67 AD. The church celebrate,, his conversion to Christ each January 25 and honours him with St Peter as an apostle every June 29.

Paul is 1.nown as the apostle to the gentiles.

Timid knock on door to faith

For many years I have been a part of people's entry into the church. Like many priests I have followed up on that first, casual comment or answered the first phone call or responded to a timid knock on the door that seems to be a part of many an adult conversion.

What is going on in their lives when they make the first contact? Because the answers vary so much I want to

BY FATHER

DAVID

O'ROURKE respond by des· cribing two quite different people and what they seemed to be going through.

In eYery situation, what I have "itne,,.sed is as pt'rsonal and indi,idual as the people themselves.

Maddr came ta .see ml' lx·cau.sc ,he wanted to have her new babJ baptised. She was not Catholic but her hus· band·s family was norni·

nalh Catholic "And he would like his little hny baptised;' I commented:

so:·

"I gue"s she said.

"But I'm the one who really "·ants it. I think that I want to be<:ome a Catholic myself."

Then shr lool.ed at me and burst into tears that quiclcly bl'came sobs.

"I've been through a lot," she 1,aid by way of explanation after she regained brr composure.

She went on to describe a troubled past - she'd suffered much physical ablLse when gro\\ing up - that had left many human wounds. .. So." she concluded,

still m tears. "I want to become a Catholic_·

I think she wanted to put that past behind her and develop a p('rsonal "holeness that would somehow equip hn to take care of her new famil\'. But that is inter· pretaiion on my part. All I knew was that thel't' was a bahv. a \\.·oman in pain and in tears. and a reque,,t for baptism.

Jack came to sec ml' bt·causc he wanted ta marry a Catholic girl. He was a quiet, scholarly individual who was mar· ried before.

Cont page 10

The Record, January 28, 1988

9

From page 9 Though Jack was not a Catholic, he was obviously well versed in the teachings of the church. For him, religion had b en on a ba k burner since his early teenage years. His life and his first marriage had been typically nonreligious.

But the pro peel of a pos ible marriage to a strong Catholi . required that he make en of hi first marriage and come to term with hi own faith or la k of it.

Religious matters could no longer b isnored, Sleeping q ue tions were going to hav to be answered.

• Cenfrecare's youth support headquarters ,n William Street

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Record, J

u ry 28, 1988

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wants 'more space to do more things'

Benefit of fasting!

"Remember six months ago when you visited us, you gently suggested that I try to get in touch with myself?" Alice said.

"I wasn't quite sure what you meant but we have known each other so long that I knew you sav beyond the per on others were applaudinz - the dutiful w ife car in o for her ill hu band. \ hat r in my friend i a a p control. an en ine prorammed to do what had to b d ne but

son who frequently fasted for , ·orld pea e? here was the friend of Jesus, rho once had a continuin daily conversation ith him?" lice "came face to face with the fact that I really didn't kno , -ho I , ra anymore." She mi d dinner the fir t day at the retreat hou and lunch the ne .t day.

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RECORD ClA I IED ADVE TISEMENTS BUILDING TRADES Painting quality work at the right price. John FreakI y. Phone 361 4349.

8ectricaJ Contr ctor J.V. D'Esterre, 5 Vivian St, Riverval . 30 yrs experi nee, expert, effici nt, reliabl .

Ring 362 4646, after hours 385 9660.

ELECTRICAL: For all types of electri al work phone 335 zm.

STIELWORK: All types of teel gate and balu trad mig w lding and arc weldin . Phon 335 'llTJ ..

JUDD Kyli Susan, first child of J nny and Robin wa bapti ed b Father Justin 058 at Ho/ Trinity Church, N w or ia on December 26. Witn ed by i. mily members in luding grandparents Brian and Pam Kell of Gillingarra and great Grandm Mrs Bat m n of Moora.

PERSO

URGE T! ! Computer graduate needs work.

Programm r, b ic, Pascal, P 1, Cobol, 082&3, Orad . Hold certificate in. computer programming. Completed 3rd year diploma cour e.

Contact Marc Poor

344 6495.

Up erer, semi retired

professional i interested to recov r and rep ir m II items. Kitchen chair . ntiqu ect. PH 1 9CJS.

Church charisms transform from Bernadette GUY, Balcatta Sir, I do not know whether to laugh or to cry at the comments of your Arnold Jago (The Record, January 7).

He takes issue with Father Foley's remark that the future priest's role will be as a 'witness to the charisms of communities'.

To .Jaqo's question, "What does that mean for goodness sake?" I reply with a story about a philosopher touring hell with a devil.

In a banquet room a crowd around a table was miserable and hungry, even though there was an abundance of food and drin .

In the New Year message Pope John Paul reminds us it is faith which brings people through a sincere gift of themselves to a complete fellowship with other human beings, in and through Jesus Our Lord.

This is our much needed updating, - not in structures, not in improved methods of communication, but in a faith which proclaims that Jesus is lord of our lives.

The mustard seed of faith will transform the world, and that transformation, the flowering of the Church, the bearing of fruit, will be here now.

Yet not from any human effort.

As for the charism, and talk, the time has come to open up all the gifts, to release the chansms, for there are many gifts and many sorts of service to be done.

I as , why are not all the church b lls ringing out proclaiming the Good ews, as Isaiah did, for the glory of God shall be revelaed, and II manmd shall s rt

from Richard KEAYS, Cl. remont

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From page 3

Material submitted to The Recod should preferably be typewritten or clearly and legibly handwritten, at least triple spaced with wide margins, in upper and lower case, and in style for the section for which it is intended.

Why not include a Pilgrimage in your itinerary?

12

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The obvious qu snon was: 'why do not y then feed each oth r?'

The crafty d vii repned, "1f they did reach out and help each other, if they had faith, they would not be living m hell!'

For God has not put us into a community, into

Sir, Your last issue (Th R cord Janu ry 21) w s to B1largely d vot Ce nte n ra I selfflag II non and br astb ating by our clergy.

It rs ironic that the most sensible articl on th subject appeared on th back page, contributed by the Mayor of Kai oorlre

Support Aussie families from Paul DONNEU Y

Sir - Bicentenary-wise we celebrate the success of 200 years of immigration and abundant family life amongst we who have settled in Australia.

Idle then of my good friend Mrs. Josie Leeden (:The Record January 21) to labour the obvious that immigration is good for Australia: rt is Australia.

It may be less clear to her and others that we past settlers established a pedigree based on European background, Christianity and abundant family life; but this may not hold for the future.

Indeed, feminism and the small family fashion developed since the Wh1tlam era make A.O. 1988 less a climax of European settlement and more a crisis of mcipient d chne.

Through th 1980's th Australian Bure u of Stans res h s annually report th t the m tern Ip rformance of Australian w m n , 1 b low population replac m nt n In I s 1985 re rt It pr diets tha by A D 2030 our pre nt Bicentennial p I wil aged, dying and m a decline. ewcomers from Asia, South Amer-

rca but less from European countries will begin to dominate.

This flushing out of old by new peoples is a new situation. The new no longer merely supplement the old: they now replace them. The effect is that we may become an entrepot of nationalities without any certain pedigree or philosophy.

Without a vigorous family life and Christian practice, other cults may develop of which Islam is the best organised. As we do not, it teaches and observes the Ten Commandments.

Thirty years ago I catalysed new life into Catholic Education associated with a vigorous and politically effective Parent's movement. Of that I have long been a dro ped pilot and the movement has fallen on sterile days.

The need rs to revive it to tackle the many evils aft cting Australian family hfe of which Mrs. Leed n is so nformmg at the end of h r letter.

Concerned as our good bishops are ov r the Dr am Trme p le of Austr ha the n rs for another Dani I to r d t wrinn on th wall, " en , m n , T el Upharth1m" - W ar 19 m h lance nd found wanun Our country wrll g1v n to - w II, od ly enough, I have recently b en helping Bahite, Persian migrants, - the s and the Persians - and Asians.

TH

FORUM

At br

kt t, J rrod Lu comb ( irr book ), Kylie Keegan (Kalgoorlie) and Jo Clear ( und ring).

Girls from everywhere, Nicole Eastough (Ger ldton), Emma Willis (North Beac ) Sue Spencer (Lesmurdie), Anita de San iguel (Riverton) nd Jackie cC/eary (Geral on).

RIGHT: t's go d to b

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ry 28, 1 88

13

hildren's Story Hour

China's greatest • • rmssronary

Four hundred years ago a small house in Chaoching, China, was crowded with visiting Chinese scholars and officials. What drew them was curiosity about an unusual foreigner they called Li Mat'ou in Chinese.

His real name was Father Matteo Ricci, Jesuit priest from far-away Italy.

Nev r before had these well-educated Chine e men heard a forel ner sp ak their langua e o well. v r before had th y e n a urop an ear Chinese clothes or tr at th m ith

Europe. It was the beginnings of the first library of European books in China.

The Chinese scholars had no idea people outside of China were so educated as to have books.

In another room hung several paintings from Europe. The Chinese scholars were fascinated.

They had never before een art other than Chinese rt.

This was the fir t showin of European art in China.

that broke light rays into many colours and mstruments sailors used to guide them across the oceans. Nothing like this had ever been seen in China.

In the centre of the room hung a map of the world made by Father Matteo. The scholars saw immediately th t it was better than any map h y had ever seen.

As the afternoon went on, Father atteo or LI at'ou, and his u ts talk d about

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about Jesus Christ, about whom they knew nothing.

The European priest was as impressed with the goodness and knowledge of his Chine e visitors as they were with him.

Some became his fast friends in the months that followed.

In the next years F th r Matt o worked hard to find points of contact between Chi-

DUT&AC :PUZZLE

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ary 28, 1988

• ·A look at books ---mus1e--art �

Man's passion to destroy

Brazil's epic tale

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KATANNING CELEBRATION Because of the finn foundations laid, the laity are now capable of carrying on a work no longer for the Sisters of Our Lady of the Mission because of a lack of vocations, Bishop Quinn said at the sisters, Katanning farewell.

The bishop stressed the missionary spirit of the Sisters who came to Katanning 62 years ago and the difficulties they had to face.

By their work in education, both secular and religious, they had nurtured a seed of faith sown by pioneer priests, he said. Another aspect of their influence was in the eld of music and singing.

The Mass of thanksgiving was also the celebration of the diamond Jubilee of Sister M. Austin Sutherland who spent many years in the local community.

Parishioners provided a buffet luncheon shared by visitors from as far as Perth, Albany and Bunbury including two first pupils at the school. Sisters M. Bernadette Mcleod and Marian Cronin. Mr Tino Alberti, president of the parish council, thanked the sisters on behalf of the community.

Sister Helen, on behalf of the provincial superior, Sister Catherine, said the difficutt decision to withdraw from Katanning was prompted by the exigencies of the situation made easier by laity being able to carry on the mission established by the sisters 62 years ago.

Kerry Lewis of ount Hawthorn Beverley Smith of Cloverdale.

At the Katannin mas for her di mond jubile Sister u tin receives communion from Bishop Quinn. Beside her · i ter Veronica Kerin a former uperior of he Katannin OL community.

ith

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the recent Attadale camp sponsored by SALESIAN CENTE ARY CCIH, Bernie Molloy of Riverton gives a The six Salesian priests in Perth hand to Troy Sandi/ands of East Victoria Father Adrian Wenting and Ow n Park.

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Mason in the Good Shepherd Parish at Kelmscott and Father Adrian Papworth, Anthony Moester, Lionel Henry and Michael Keogh at St Joachim's parish in Victoria P rk join the thou nd of oth r Sa ians al around th worid in humbl th k , pray rful r fl ction nd jubilant ce bration thi w on Jan ary 31 of the centenary of th th of th ir found r St John Bosco.

emphasis is giv n to the running of technical and a ricuttural school .

Th Salesian society afford its members a thorough training. th cerdotal candidat bein conducted through pirantat • novitiates, p ilo • phat d th ogat .

T

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LEEDERVILLE CWL

from term John Bo o wa th on of poor ltali n peasan . He was bom at Becchi, a viii n r Turin in Italy, on Augu 16, 1815 and died a saint on Jan ary 31, 1888. H wa tified by Pope Piu XI on Jun 2, 1929 nd canonised by th April 1, 1934.

The Catha ic Women's Leag Leederville will hold th ir annual m ting followed by the monthly meeting in St Mary's Pari h Centre Leedervill on Monday, February 8 t 1.30pm. All members are a eel to try to att nd also in di g m rs.

ana er rother Daniel Stafford CSsR Redemptorist Retreat House Confer nee C ntr J

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ry

P.O. Box 7

rth Perth A 6 Pho!le: 09) 328 6 pplications close Friday, F bruary 19 1988.

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