The Record Newspaper 25 August 1988

Immigration issue

PERTH, WA: August 25, 1988

Catholic Migrant Centre's chief takes on . racism

Number 2598

Registered by Australia Post Publication No. WAR 0202

POST ADDRESS: PO Box 50, Northbridge, 6000 W.A. LOCATION: 26 John St, Northbridge (east off Fitzgerald St}.

TELEPHO E: (09) 328 1388 1

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FAX (09) 328 7307

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PRICE 60¢

spread message on da gers of sex and drugs • See Pages 10, 11

• See Page 3

:H@]ifig·_an unhappy marriage? Thell next week's issue ls a 'must'

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The head of the Catholic Migrant Centre in Perth replies to Opposition views

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'We belie that a e eq al in th eyes of God. Now is the time to Ii e that belief and in whate er way e can make Asians feel elco e, respected a d cepted as equals' - Gerald earle, Director of Catholic Migrant Centre

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R«rcord The ritual bringi g down of the Budget cannot be diverted from its annual appointment with the nation but neit er can the weather which ring the lenty, and the havoc, about hich budget have so much to say.

While Australians set about a self indulgent argument whether to divert $5 billion from our grasping paws to pay off our gluttonous overseas debt, t ere wi be little time to think of the other countrie whic allow in debt they do not stand a ope of reducing.

As the Au tralian economy oaks up rains forecasting a good arvest with which to argain with he world's ungry here ill be sea t time to thi of the devastation caused by orre tial rains in E st Africa.

Australi nd other clu me hers of the First World w o have t e luxury of udget about ic to debate will o doubt ask the safe logical question why so any of the earth's wretched poor uild their shanty towns w ere t e Blue and hite ile for e into the outs irts of artoum, weeping families d their ho e away like debri . Our foreign inisters will ttut or wring th ir ands h lplessly at t e civil ars that av compounded the natura isasters in he Sudan a d nearby Ethiopia. It ill b eyond he ravel roe ure to know even here Burundi is, let alone ep for it m acred efug e .

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ARCHBISHOP'S LATEST CALL TO CATHOLICS hope of the Di e · of Cle eland that lo al theater ow rs will take this into onsid ration and n t offer th ilrn in the i ht· aunt '

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Im gine your own h me, not ju t flo ded, but qua h d flat. Th t i wh t h en d o e ud. e e after the recen torrential t. infa/1.

The oictur softhed va t t dsh ntytown k Ii e Hiro him ft r th fir. t nuct ar bomb w dropped. Th re i virtually nothing tett.

The victims h v Jr, ady tr. veil d hundred of mil. e ping to Kh rtoum from the w. r in the outh oft e country.

Ther they er, vi timi d and oppres ed by an ggr, ssive rebel rmy, prejudiced ig inst Chri tins.

They h ve h d to Ii ve their hom land nd travel to a nty town on the o ki. of Khartoum, the capital. They have hardly b n welcome visitor , rriving bereft of po ses ion , comp ting ith locals for food ndwork.

After all that, everything they have /eh in the orld is s ept a y by a natural disaster bich no-one c uld have for een or prevented. What ould you do?

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Bishops back 143 human rights are so prevalent.'

They objected "in the strong t possible terms" to a recent eries of bombings in whi h civilians were · eel Eleven people including at 1 t four whites have been killed this year and 1 8 oth , mo tly white, hav been injured in th bombin .

atta on civili ns and we corned the pro pect of peace in amibia and Ang la. They also criticised overnment attempts to eep church leaders from speaking out on controversial u .

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ziland, Botsv an and 1 Iamibia, and the bish p welcomed the pro o peace in amibia and Angola.

age SE

Remo el t at ol ba hr Add PRESTIGE and VALU to your home

ornam nts.

03

Opti and

two old ong that tell w "we ain't seen nothing yet" and "the b ·t is yet to come."

On the Year of 1Ss10n (Yo ) calendar. w have nm ' progre d b yond the commissioning and preparatory phas and p ishe ha •e b gun gathering Oral History.

This project ha a it basis the li e ording of p ple's mernori s of the •ith past, combined photo , n iw pap r uttin and o her pe nal memo bilia, to brine pari he ' pa t t lif in a unique an -ivid wa .

MISSION YEAR 88-89 Ju e-Oct 9

a d

ug-Sept Sept 10, 14 Oc 1 event.

Oct 10-30 ov 21-Dec 1 1989 Fe · arch

duling proved unworkable because the Grassroots Con ultations cl shed w "th dates for the priests' retreats and sch I holiday and h d to be moved ha into the Regional emblies timetahl .

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Grassroots Consultations can be lt out later.

Each of the e group · urged to participate by during the Yo reflecting on their parti ular mission in relation to its contribution to the life of the di .

• eh v mu h to l rn from the harin of our gifts, our e. rien e and out drea

said.

Th and

roots Consultation ?

Where is it all leading?

High on the Yol calendar is the Archdiocesan As embly on the w end of April 28-29 ne. year, attended by dele ate from parish nd other

path to the Archdiocesan embly next year, the combination of Oral History and Grassroots Consultations forms the fir t process in the movement from local parish to diocesan haring of concerns and dreams for the future Church.

There is a e ond in the preparap tory chain. It is an dvent-Lenten proramm in two parts, th

•••

March.

The Advent-Lenten programme is based on the Gospel readings for the coming liturgical ·ear. And the Go pel for the liturgical year is that of Luke, author also of the Acts of the po tles.

These two boo consti-

lt'/e

people

Jerusalem to ' the ends of the earth" whi h to the early Chri tian was synonymous 'th Rome, centre of civilisation and power (the journey in the Acts of the Apo tles).

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On Penteco t Sunday '89 ( ay 14), there will be a celebration for the whole Archdioc e to v rind up our Year of is ion. Then the wor of Stage Three - to translate the hdi e-

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to me. "Come and stay with me," said a girl in traction wailing for a badly broken leg to heal.

by

George TOMBS When I started as a volunteer at a children's hospital, the job looked easy. "Spend time with the adolescents," I was told. "Listen to them, play with them, bring some cheer into their lives."

As I walked along the

ward patients called out

"Don't forget me," said a

boy who'd fallen off a horse and injured his back.

I chatted and played cards, and could see the smiles lighting up their faces. Helping them made me feel good, even important - until a doctor stopped me in the corridor. There were big

circles under his eyes and a fat clipboard under his arm.

"Have you been here long? No? You should try spending time with the really sick patients," he said.

'1'hey won't ask you, but they need you."

The doctor referred me to a nurse who gave me the names of a few children, Suddenly the ward looked completely different. Sure there

were rooms ringing with the laughter of visitors.

But there also were painfully quiet rooms.

My first patient from this group was Jake, a boy who hadn't spoken for three days. He had been flown down from a village in the far north because his kidney problem couldn't be treated there.

My questions met with stony silence. He looked al me gravely, then at his

intravenous bottle.

"Everything here is junk," he said at last.

What would he rather be doing?

"I'm missing the hunt," said Jake. "My dad was going to take me with him."

I realised this 12-year old boy was in a strange place without family.

And he didn't understand what was wrong with him. But after a few days Jake started to play with the other children.

So I knew I could meet some new patients.

A nurse took me to Sophie's room. "We don't know what's wrong with her," l was told. "She doesn't react to people at all. We're doing tests now. It could be a brain tumour or a severe personality disorder. Just sit with her."

After a few visits with the t6-year old l could see a glimmer of recognition in her eyes. Then she managed to smile. Once'l

"You're not very good at visiting, are you?

Don't come again unless you can give better answers." Those statements came from a homebound, arthritisracked parishioner. I was the visitor.

My house call was not unusual. The woman had been recommended to the church as someone who seldom had an opportunity to talk with

"The disciple

1ble lo nlk in the footsteps of someone who wu 1lw1ys blmin& • new conw, chan&· in& their out· look, movin& on." (Blsho, K e • n I th U•tener of $a&i111W, Mich.,

likemia and lay weahed in bed. He wanted s,eone to read to him. h could picture every titence as I read. '/hen I get out of here, h going to be a poet," he

sd,

,e was facing the qgest questions of his b and needed to share ht with somebody. But istill wanted to create .,1Jrld of beaut, and I th. He wanted �',()me"to share his dream. found I needed to

others. Her statement of dissatisfaction with me came after a half hour of her asking why God allows good people to suffer and my struggling to find an adequate answer,

A week later I happened to visit the same woman in the hospital.

With a twinkle in her eye, she said that she knew she had given me a rough time earlier. She went on to explain that al the time she just could not afford to let herself believe that someone would actually care about her.

Her affront had I a means of testir4 my sincerity.

It is a sad mdictnllon lhat our world to there are some wlnnl believe others 1Jllld really care. For Iese people, is<i on becomes a way ofll

because

am and what my gifts are, I don't have anything to give in friendship," she said.

Moreover, such 11lation is not confin 1the elderly or the hnebound. As l t it, isolation is th• all. pervasive human Ipe-

rience of our times can

be found interfiled with any variety <AJCial concerns.

- -••i-

How can 1nyone be aslled to knre their - ies?

But through friendship,, the knowledge we have of ourselv is deepened, expanded or challenged.

A friend "frees the best in us and confirms our own beliefs about what is best in us," Ms Ripple said.

It is like a child learning to play the piano. She may sense she possesses good musical talents. But she will need affirmation, encouragement and nurture by others to fully appreciate her gift and cultivate it.

Sometimes a friend is able to see good "qualities in us we have not yet seen in ourselves", Ms Ripple said Similarly, a friend can help us recognise and break from destructive or oppressive patterns in our lives.

A friend will not allow us "lo settle for less in

was

• A college student feeling at odds with his roommate noted that there was no one there when he needed advice.

• A factory worker admitted he started stopping at the bar after work because he wanted someone to show him some attention, even if it was only the bartender.

It is a sad indictment

on our _.Id to say that

there are some who can't believe others would really care about

them. For these people isolation becomes a way of life. The best response a compassionate community can make to an isolated individual is a personal expression of care and concern. There has to be a-opportunity for listening and sharing.

DISCUSSION POINTS

What is the scope of human need?

And why is the Christian comm nity

concerned about recognisi and understanding the many needs of people?

Isolation is a major problem for many people tllday, writes Father Her1>ert Weber. In his experience as a parish priest, it takes --- contact to help people realise they aren't alone, that others care, he comments.

Ge«ge Tombs discovered that it's easy to o,erlook the needs of some hospitalised children - the ones who don't ask for your attention. A

someone

starts

to

become disconnected from others. The person

physician's insiglrt led Tombs to pay attention to youths like Jake, an Eskimo far from home who didn't understand what was happening to him.

Joe Michael Feist tells of an elderly centleman who has a protound need to remain in close touch with the land he farmed for 50 ,ears. Other needs lound amon1 members of the human family include the need to create, to acquire knowledge and to find meanin& in life.

Father John Castelot points out that at the heart of Judaism and Christianity is a message about senin& those in need and working for a just _.Id.

may or may not know this is happening.

It can be associated with

a fragmented life where work, socialising, education, family and religious

bolls and sorghum grains.

shelter and clothing.

Less visible, perhaps, but just as real, are psychological needs.

When a two-year-old insists on dressing himself or getting his own cereal, he is exercising the need to achieve and the need to be independent.

When he puts everything he gets hold of into bis mouth, he is demonstrating his need to satisfy basic curiosity.

experiences are all separated from each other. It may be present when relationships with special persons lose their life-giving ability.

Isolation often is connected with tragic experiences where the bottom falls out and those involved look in vain for support systems. Interestingly, people often receive considerable compassion from others during life's biggest struggles. Yet this show of concern may be passing, and isolation follows after the immediate crisis is over.

Some encounters with isolation are temporary and of minor consequence. Others become crises. A manager, facing a layoff from the firm that had employed him for 29 years, was devastated. Because of the turmoil of this situation, he could no longer

becomes a way oflife and men and women learn to lead lives where th"} remain out of touch with others. It is not uncommon to discover these persons casting a lot ol blame at the world entering into hostile situations or moods ol depression.

church or community activities, or even on his family life.

Agencies and church groups respond to many social problems by creating programs and activities. Occasionally such efforts may work in overcoming the experience of isolation, but, m my experience. something more fundamental is required.

concentrate

on

his

His solution was to withdraw from them, but that caused even greater isolation.

Far too often isolation

ell -Scope of human needs-----

Isolation happens when

dreamed rd be time to experience each Friendship's urse is other's strengths or limnot always -,. One itations, both or which myth about frildship is can cause suffering. Ms Ripple said.

Another element of friendship not to be overlooked is playfulness - the ability to have fun with and really enjoy one another.

People shouldn't take a relationship so seriously "that it becomes grim", she said.

ourselves" than we are or the "dreamy oi'ln" that can become, she said. For it has nothins'do with

her. the lyrics of a song in the movie .. Evergreen" reveal friendship's transforming power 'When you look at me I'm all and more than I had ever

there

nowhere else to go.

FRIENDSHIP HELPS NOURISH THE LIFE OF TWO PEOPLE

The Record, August 25, 1988

share too. When I left the hospital at the end of the evening, I was troubled by the sick children.

Talking with a friend helped put things in perspective. "Continue serving at the hospital," he said. ''The children need you." �h work with the chiidren was teaching me something: the importanc.r of living day bv day with others and murh as possible for others.

• A woman caught in the clutches of domestic violence indicated she remained in her home

Love thv neighbour as I

responded. "God is here receive human friend- bours as ourselves. It is a with you." ship if we are to accept threefold relationship By lddressln& the Looking up at bis God's invitation to that tells us love for God, Cindy 1984� for others and for ourparents, Eric replied, "I friendship.

LIEBHART of tile Natioul selves cannot be separknow that God is here, Colltonolce of ated or compartmentabut l want someone in Diocesan Voulised, she said. here with skin on."

A mother and father tiN Directon While friendship eludes Paula relates Ripple were trying to get their "' Suttle). precise definition, some 3-year-Gld son Eric into that amusing anecdote in of its qualities can be "He ch1l· bed - evening. But her book "Called To Be described.

Friends" (Ave Maria going to bed was the. """ thea lo Press, 1980).

Paula Ripple said last thing Eric wanted tles is lo be friendship can be looked to do.

So he put forth Eric's desire for a flesh...ic-i111, lo upon as "a relationship be tile kind of his best efforts to stall, and-blood presence in between two people s,,,o.rtlu stretching out COii-· the darkness, a comfortwhich nourishes the life 1nlrou1ut sation with his parents. ing touch reassuring him How can anyone be of each person at the ........ UCH he is not alone, speaks It was a familiar tactic asked to 1cM their lie onrco•e expense of neither". one Eric's mother simply but powerfully of .. fllll$tiools - ies?

It is not a "blending" ri a truth about profound quickly recognised.

CH lie faced.• two people, nor a "giving (ftN.. Parisi! Gently she explained human existence. God's Mi•istries," that it was time to turn presence can come alive The call to friendship is away" of oneself, she etlitetl �Y out the lights and that he through the love of at the heart of Christian- said. Crucial to healthy others who wear our ity's two great command- friendships are people ..._ Heraof, should go to sleep. "human skins", ments, Ms Ripple said in who have a strong sense 1984, WiatN Press.)

"But I'm afraid in the of their own self-worth, Most of us cannot a recent interview, dark," Eric said. who recognise some of expect to experience "There is nothing to be God's love in isolation.

Jesus asks us to love God the gifts they possess.

"If I don't know who l _______. afraid of," his mother We need to give and to and to love our neigh-

B

she called me by name.

But the next time I came she didn't seem to know me and trembled with fear.

Her parents asked me if there was a chance of curing her. I explained I was only a volunteer, not a doctor. They needed hope that the daughter they loved would get well, that Sophie had a future.

It was when I met Joe, 19, that I really learned about needs He had

Facing the big test of sincerity By Father Herbert WEBER

••• Mrt

Comp led by • News Service

Ultimately, friendship becomes a force beyond the two people involved.

Mrs Ripple believes the love and strength people experience in friendships spill over into all their other relationships or encounters with people, however brief.

conflict, anger• hurt, Ms Ripple said "The only rd nships "Love is diffusive - it that are eas) "' new on ·• becaUS'at that scatters itself," Ms Ripple 0 point people lv' 't had said.

By Joe Michael FIEST

Out his back door the old man walks, past the pecan tree he planted when his hair was black and his step was jaunty, to his pickup truck.

He drives out of the small town to a plot of land beside a river - his farm, his "river place".

Long retired, the man doesn't visit his farm lo work. He simply has a fundamental need to reach down and grasp a handful of the reddish-brown dirt he had watered with the sweat of 50 years, the soil from which he coaxed an unimaginable number of cotton

He needs to see a sl\y uninterrupted, nature uncorrupted.

Human needs. What do they have to do with faith? Quite a lot as it turns out.

Even a casual listening to the Gospel on Sunday mornings will reveal a Jesus who placed great emphasis on the needs of others. But before any need can be met it must be recognised.

And trying to comprehend the scope of human needs is, in itself, a demanding task.

Closely related are the needs to create, to acquire knowledge and to find meaning in life. The need to understand one's world continues unabated throughout life.

Some needs are so basic that failure to meet them will result in injury or even death: the need for rest, food and water,

Then there is the need to feel love and affection. umerous studies have shown that, deprived of love, a person's psycholog-

ical growth will be severely stunted.

In recent years, scientific research bas demonstrated that love and affection even affect physical development. Infants who are not stroked or caressed will not develop physically, even if they receive adequate nourishment. And the need for affection does not diminish over the years. Members of the human family expe-

rience a

need to

belong to some form of family or group, and a need for companionship. They also need to be accepted, and understood respected, despite shortcomings.

This whole gamut of human needs acts like an ooea n tide for an individual, with needs rising and fal-

ling in intensity over time. Likewise, the importance of each need varies from person to person. o two people have exactly the same needs. Even in a developed society there are those who are malnourished, homeless or illclothed; those who are lonely and have little sense of belonging.

So parishes and dioceses assist the poor; establish support groups for the elderly who are lonely; foster ministries for the teenager who longs to belong. In a mobile society, more and more parishes strive through various small groups to substitute for the "extended family" that is missing from many people's lives. ln parish renewal groups, the unique ways individuals

search for happiness

and fulfilment gain and recognition respect.

When Pope John Paul n visited Canada, he addressed lay leaders in Halifax, 'ova Scotia. Serving others, the pope said, "is at the core of every vocation in the Church".

But human needs take many forms and the challenge Church's people in be ways, many indicated.

Said the pope: "The diversity of human needs requires a diverse response on the part of the Church." And the Church "counts on the diligence of her members to discover effective ways to face new problems and new needs".

The Record. August 25, 1988 9

win appeal

Catherne McAuley Ce tre in Station S reet, Wembley is ding a street appeal Sep ember 2 and a te o November 27, ich is tradif o ly d Gift Sunday.

this end more finances are needed as the figure of $30,0 0 will not meet the full amount required for the chapel's total upgrading.

remembered, too, in the name of Subiaco itself (birth place of St Benedict, in Italy) which is a transplant along with their ideas and olive trees.

Over the past few years the chapel has been used as a storag area and for small ervi es.

It has been left to slowly deteriorate and its potential negl ted. White ants have ompl tely de troy d the main floor an mo t f the ornate window fram .

Sister Pat Linnane, RSM is the recently appointed admini trator of the centre which was formerly und r the leaderhip of Sister ary artin elly, RSM (now d eased).

r isem n to:

Close noon edne days.

5 min. for fir. t 28 w rds.

Po

or deliver.

O B pti m (free) O Engagement O arriage O Silver edding O Golden wedding O Diamond wedding O Jubilee O Anniversary

O Death

0

O Sit

O Aecom.

anted

O Sits vacant

O Help anted O Teac er anted

O Teac r available O Buildin trade O or ale O Wanted o b iy

Sf LL ER

ADDI 10

n ed

O Aecom. available O W nted to rent O House to let O Fla to let O Hou e for le O Hou e anted D Holiday accom.

No phone call .

SSI IEDS

: 10 cents for each 4

D

0

O Death: Than s O In memoriam O Than s

O Wanted

O Public otice O Per anal O Information

'

ee agers a e ot a are at a si g e fected pa tner act o inte co rse "t a ay es t co actio of ST

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wa,

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I

T 1l phone 3281 88

KIMBERLEY LAY MISSIONARIES H TA

THEY?

They tart by being a erage pra tical Catholics prepa ed to share ate er expertise they have ith the Aboriginal children and adults of the orth- e t of Australia. The serve the Church, placing themse ves at the disposal of the Bishop, "as vicar and legatee of Christ". (Vat II, P382). and a sist him in a spirit of dedication.

They give themselves totally for 2 years, living in gro ps, co-operating in fraterna love in the spirit of the Go pels. serving on isolated missions and to ships They fully accept their Christian duty to evangelise according to their o individua abilities.

Under the patronage and guidance of the Bi hop, they have their o formally constituted Association and elected Council.

Lay ,ssionaries do not accept a salary, only their keep and po et mone . Their fare are paid and a small sum on completion of their service.

THE Kl BE L Y

yv

or the Diocese of Broome is the far orth- est part of Australia, roughly 3 times the size of Victoria. A subtropical region, "th a e sea on rough t e summer month of varied terrain "th beautiful beache but a large part ta en up by the Great Sa Desert.

Since 1959 many admirable Australia shave contributed ·n o small ay to the per gro th and education of the Aboriginal people a la ml · na ie . ey have fo clo e and la tin ties Other e n ed d to conti nd impro e e i tin e · ce .

OUR O.C.

ur

and tho e

Orientation Course commences December 30, 1987

I

��lJlJ � [2 � to the Editor

mmigrati on: Facts and f gures

from Paul DONNELLY, Claremont

Daniel v.25, "We are weighed in the balance and found wanting. Our kingdom wHI be given to the Medes and Persians."

BAPTISMS

BUILDING TRADES

Advert,sr free

BOWEN: Liam Michael, son of Guy and Joann (nee Lag e) was bep-

din St Patr 'ck's Church York, on Au u t 14.

t·

Immigrants to Australia in 1987 came from 67 different countries. To call this multiculturism is to state the obvious; but it is multiculturism with a strong anglophilic racist bias since by far the largest oohort, 19,887, 17.6 per cent of the total intake came from the United Kingdom.

The next nearest was 6,431, 5.7 per cent from the Philippines while the teeming millions of our nearest Indonesian neighbour was allotted but 2,067, only 1.8 per cent of the year's 113,309 immigrants.

Before this is confirmed as racial discrimination there must be taken into account that the otal Asian group of 12 peoples iving to the North of us contributed in total 36,214 migrants, 32 per cent, whereas ten years earlier their number was but 10, 700 being 15 per cent of the 1977 total 75,640 inta e.

Alarm at this ten year bui d up from this div rse group of Asians can be quietened when the totality of the ordic group from Europe, orth America and ew Zealand is found to be 44.03 per cent.

From New.Zealand some wili be Maori, from Europe ome fair Scandinavians, some very dark skinned Iberians and from orth America a mixture of most races of the earth.

Equally, tho e whom w call ianscan rang from the P rsian Gulf, th d s and P rsia s of the Script r s to the Kor ans p by t B nng Strait 1th but a common need or fooo and land and he possibility off nding hem in Aus ralia's a undanc .

Our living cap city is put at bout 50 million bu mor if w pi wat r fro th orth W st.

R gr ttabl in all this n ord r th di kum but now lowly in Sic ntennial p e of Oz who, in th past, re mai con ri utors to the rowth of our

c

.

lS

on

For some years past our Australian Bureau c Statistics has recorded a decline in Australia maternal productivity to below the critical average tw child family necessary to maintain population; and fa below the three children needed for steady growth.

In the 1960s the average was 3.5 children. It is no ....

1.83 and in long term such a low figure implies tha maternal productivity is under 90 per cent populatioi replacement needs.

This is not unexpected with social. economic am legislative measures in being which result in mon than half our married women being in the workforce many perforce since Family Allowances, once , valuable supplement to family income, now lag b� almost 100 per cent on Consumer Price Index.

It is because we lack children, because our abortiot rate is over 80,000 annually that we plan to doubt, a migrant inta e from the 75,000 to a future 150,00 yearly.

As there is average y a permanent departure o· 20.000 from our shores the net annual gain will b 130,000 to assimilate, employ, house and often teact to read and spea Enqlrsh - not an easy task.

By comparison, that 130,000 is to b set agains the natural increase of our present Bicentennia people - our surplus of d lining births ove increasing d aths This will be under 00,000 by hr turn of the century.

It is thus th t are w ig ed in the balance an found wanting an that our and will, rn long erm be p opled by others; not rmpr bly mainly by ar Asian mixt re.

It is to this ov mdmg robl m of Oz survival tha politicians ar d pundits n to be givm attent10 .

The w o v r' a w n v r of irnmlqratio more sur ly I ft tot ose alrea e n need rn tas of so ing out nd assimilating migrants a political nt rath r than bat

fea

00

hn

Our r ghts as Australians II only m mt I d by constant I tters to pohn-

DIAL-A- CAR PET

• from Mrs Barbara HARRIS, Emmanu I Centre Why 1 u tha people with

disabilities have to continually stru gle for recognition of their r g t as Catholi to fully partic pate n the life of the Cathol c Church?

Learn

at the church has to ay on:

from Patricia MURRAY, Pa ury Sir, Could the Catholic Bishop not hav coupl d their admoni ions on th fourth referendum question with some guidance on the morality of gerrymandering m regard to the s cond question?

Mary's Cathedral Peopl with h anng unpairm n s hav a struggle to hear God's word when an audio loop would at least give them a starun c nee to h ar

from Joan MASSAM, Greenwood A a moth r of two university students and most prob bly a third to attend university, I y a Catholic univ rsity will divid nd not unite the Western Australian community .

v

What rs n mo live-in university colle e , mo t co-ed, where stud nts study, at, play/attend sport and al o sociali e.

Perhaps some of the Parents and Friends may help at times too.

Greyhounds - wtth

The Recor.I T,pster

YOUTH FORUM

ur och • • I va 10

A success

iety about the d rn appeal. She v • alwa told not to worry.

thanks to late priest ,

Eagle fan headed for Subi and many others made the m t of an early Sprin .

" 'at-at-home" , a common mplaint from coll t rs who tarted after midday.

I

drill ( rd m t train-

0

Donations are till being counted and indications are that last y r's total will be urpass d.

Or ani er lamented the poor response from volunt rs.'\ 'here group ted

0

a parish bulletin, the were disappointed.

Door cnocking than rk nothing l o love. o t people do not enjoy a cin tran rs to m e a donati n, no matter hov , ·orthy the

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Mou�TAI� ruzz.t.e

hildren's Story Hour

Care for he age 28,800 years; Alalgar for 36,(X)O years.

ble to the trickery of his son Jacob. Of one of the kings of Judah we are told, "In his·

These are the first two entries on a list of

old age, Asa had an inflrmitv in his feet"

kings from Sumeria (modern Iraq} in the

(gout?) (1 Kings 15:23).

Alulim of Eridu reiqned as a king for

Nonetheless, a long life was intensely

third millenium B.C. The numbers are fantastic. Compared

desired, a sure sign of divine favour. King

with these people, the biblical patriarchs

Hezekiah, stricken with an apparently fatal

were pikers. Adam only lived 930 years;

illness, "turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord" (Isaiah 38:2). His prayer

Methuselah died at age 969.

Obviously these ages have svrnbolic meaning rather than mathematical preci-

was answered and he was assured of 15 more years of tite.

sion. Both the Sumerian lists and the

Of course, in he cu ture of biblical times

biblical genealogies come from he same

he elderly were held in high resp ct.

general cultural region, where symbolism

"Grandchildren are the crown of o d men

was highly valued. There have been all

·and the glory of children is their paren-

sorts of atte

tage . . .

pts to exp a· n the exact

strength and the dignity of o d men in grey

life was considered able si g.

hair" (Proverbs 17:6 20.29). esteemed a d cared for and in the

7:7). Th y were not applying for Social

extend d families of the day

Security, but embarking on a hazar ous.

observed

stressfu march into an un nown future.

attest.

Later we notice that "Moses was 120 hi

yes were

undimmed a d his vigor unabated" (Deuteronomy 34:7).

Speaking of God's blessings on the just, a psalmist exu ts: ' h y shall bear fruit even in old a e, vigorous and sturdy shal they e" (Pslam 92:15). However,

noth r

psa mis prays: "A d now that I am old nd grey, 0 God, forsake m o I put

n •

'h · did th • m th rat the

Bibl'ca ethics demanded that the old b

83 when they spoke to pharaoh" (Exodus

w en he died, ye

p

en is their

meaning, but one thing is certain: A long We read tha "Mos s wa 80 a d Aaron

3 S

e glory of young

you hav

m d

no . . .

me fee

hough

many biter

afflictions, you will again revive me"

(71 :18, 20) Old age may have been a blessing but

The

his was

aithfully, as countless texts

ew Te am nt refl cts this

Th

elderly couples in Lu e's infancy

narrative obviously are

eld up as mod Is.

Zechariah and Eliza eth, Simeon and Anna.

The attention paid o wido care is es

cialty instructiv

long section o

and their ere. On

t is subj ct indicates the

concern of Christians for the place of widows in t e life of the community (1 Timothy 5:3-16).

A truly Christian community resp cts

it was a not unmixed one. Poor old Isaac

and car s for the elder y in a lovin

was

practical way.

ridden and almo t blind, vulnera-

m

attitude, ven houg i gives fews ecifics.

and

on

by Fr Frank O'Dea What meaning can Garden of Eden. dam and E e, The Flood, have In a technological orld in the light of modern Biblical

14

Reco d, A

u

2 , 1988

• art A look at books ..... mus1e---

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by TOM BRANCH B Grade Table P2 23

Pl 22

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PA:E\ESB SCE=�E RIVERVALE REUNION

01 21 P3 20

St Augustine's School Reunion will be held on Sunday, September 25 from 1 pm. It will be appreciated if "historical" items could be e t for this afternoon. Enquiries 361 6158.

SB 19

CC8 02 7

L7

P41

REFLECTIO

CE TRE

The Catholic Charismatic Ce tre at 'Carmel', 26 Camboon Road, orley · s now open daily a d is availab e for people to drop in for a time of prayer or fe lowship. A prayer m ting takes pace on Thursday at 10am, and special programs wil be availab e from time to time. Paris or other groups are welco e to se the centre for days of reflectio or wee end retreats. Enquiri s 275 7898 (Cenre) or 409 7762, 339 3409.

CATHOL C

ETIBALLERS

Australian Catholic etball at the Syd ey championships September 24 to October 1 he following West Austra ia state teams ta e part:

MASS FOR BURMA

The Catholic Burmese Commu ity of WA will sponsor a Mass and prayers for the peop e of Burma in their struggle for peace, justice and harmony, with a remembrance also of those who ave lost their lives, on Sunday, September 4, at St Mary's Cathedral at 1.30pm, co celebrated Mass Co tact Father 0. Lewis 325 9557 - George Jacob 272 1379.

PAULI E

EEKE D

September 30 to October 2 at EAGLE'S EST G DGEGA NUP ($40 plus $10 registration fee).

A team from the Pau ia Association a d Rede ptorist lay Commu ity invite widowed, separated, divorced a d singe parents o ook at alone ess, wo hrough anger, denial and gref, fi d new directio , b ild sett esteem a d thro g e hea i g of the Euc arist coping with

God. E quiri s to D

457 9622.

ise 337 9076 or

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Manni

20 Confirm 21

K

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c v r d.

1 . CARLTON HOTEL with good old-fashioned hospitality in the heart of the city

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