.•••
PERTH, WA: December 6, 1990
Number 2717
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).
TELEPHONE: (09) 328 1388
FAX (09) 328 7307
PRICE 60C
Exciting chance An exciting opportunity to be in a Church at a very critical point of its planning and direction is how the new director of pastoral planning sees her appointment in Perth archdiocese.
Good Samaritan Sister Sonia Wagner takes over in February from Mrs Anne Fox who was seconded from the Catholic Institute for the first planning phase. Mrs Fox said this week Sonia's Sister of appointment: "It is very satisfying to know that we have such an experienced person to take over. "We have completed five years work on this the project in Archdiocese. "First we had to get a picture of how the Archdiocese functioned. "Then through the Year
of Mission and other initiatives we carried through consultation with the people, the parishes and the priests. "Finally we have formulated strategies to implement the Call to Mission of the Archdiocese. These are now being implemented." Sister Sonia says she is excited at the prospect of putting into action some of what she gained in her doctorate of ministry from the Chicago theological seminary and her Masters in Pastoral StuLoyola from dies University. "I'm about a collaborative, participative and inclusive mission," she said, referring to the Perth Pastoral Mission statement. She uses the image of the ripple effect in a pond and not of one person doing the work of others
"In Christifideles Laice we are all called into the vineyard and we have to call others. We've been ok at responding to the call but not as passing on that call.
Sister Sonia said she is excited at the future of the Church which she wants to see become a more inclusive, participative communion of communities. "Ihope we will be more vigorous about a new evangelisation and sese of mission. We have been very blessed in the Australian Church and we are tripping over each other with talent.
"When challenged we have been generous, such as in Catholic education and other works, but we stopped them. The question now is how can we include others, by going constantly beyond the horizon. It is a great challenge; it is not a leap that is definable or challengeable.
"Yet there is a world out there and we've got to reach out and service. We've got to be tougher in what we do."
Sister Sonia Wagner, who became a Good Samaritan sister 25 years ago after a year at university in Brisbane has taught at secondary and tertiary level, taking up youth
ministry and adult before e ducation doing higher degrees and becoming the last the of d irector N ational Pastoral Institute before its closure two years ago.
Perth Christians are being urged this Christmas to pray for peace in the Middle East. In a pastoral letter for Advent the heads of 11 churches say: "Now, just as at the time of the coming of our Lord some two thousand years ago, the world is experiencing the torment and unrest, the cruelty and the horror of violence and war. "Daily we hear about the threats to peace in the countries of the Middle East, the disturbances in Africa and South America, the unrest in eastern Europe.
Sister Sonia... She said her order is excited at having a bigger presence in Western Australia. After a visit to Perth last August to look over the Perth Pastoral Planning Office
she thought the director's position might not be an option because of her position in the order, but the "mother general found other ways", she said. In the past five
for peace
"As we prepare ourselves in Advent and look forward to the season when we will celebrate 'Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All Mankind', it seems right and proper that we should now especially pray to God that he might come once more amongst us with his healing and guiding hands to grant us His Peace.
"We, the heads of the Christian Churches in Perth, call on all members of the Christian community to pray with fervour and with great hope, that our loving Father will intervene in the hearts of people so that disputes can be solved
by ways other than violence and war. "Let us pray particularly that the spectre of international conflict may be lifted from the longsuffering people of the Middle East and that God may grant His Peace to the region at this crucial time." Signing the statement were Archbishop Foley and the heads of the following churches: Anglican, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Churches of Christ, Coptic Orthodox, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Society of Friends, Salvation Army, Uniting.
Medjugorje happenings... ZAGREB, YUGOSLAVIA: The Yugoslav bishops have held a special session for an in-depth look at Medjugorje developments but have decided not to issue an immediate statement. At the start of the meeting, the bishops said they were going to hear evidence and, if necessary, publish pastoral directives for priests and faithful who wish to visit the site in western
years, 11 Good Samaritan Sisters have come to Western Australia taking up positions in Mount Magnet, New Norcia and Perth. Some more are expected next year.
Yugoslavia. tions began in 1981 After the meeting when six children ended, however, the claimed they were bishops' conference having daily visions of said it would not issue Mary. Since then, pastoral norms at this Medjugorje supporters say, Mary's time. A source in Rome appearances have consaid the decision tinued on a regular reflected the delicate basis. nature of the conflict at Medjugorje, which Most members of a has pitted the local diocesan investigative bishop against the panel concluded that Franciscan pastors the events were not who guide the young supernatural, but their visionaries. report was never The reported appari- published.
At the Vatican's request, a nationwide commission of Yugoslavian church and medical experts was convened in 1987 to further study the Medjugorje events. This commission presented an extensive report to the bishops at their latest meeting in Zagreb. Bishop Zanic of Mostar-Duvno, the diocese that includes Medjugorje, said that the bishops would
publish a statement on the events at a later time. He said he had attended the meeting, but could not comment on what was discussed. Bishop Zanic has complained for years about the influx of pilgrims to Medjugorje. He has also questioned the authenticity of the alleged apparitions. In 1984 and 1987, the Yugoslavian bishops
asked for an end to fle of Augsburg, organised Church pil- Germany. grimages to Cardinal Ratzinger, Medjugorje. noting that a German Their statements group was organising were published by the Vatican newspaper, Medjugorje pilgrimL 'Osservatore ages under the spiritual leadership of priRomano. ests, told the bishop The ban on church- that the rules against organised pilgrimages such initiatives "are was reiterated last still valid". May in a letter from Cardinal Joseph Rat- Pilgrims, including zinger, head of the many priests, continue Congregation for the to flock to Medjugorje Doctrine of the Faith, from around the to Bishop Josef Stimp- world.