1Record PERTH, WA: October 26, 1995
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What's Inside . . . Archbishop Barry Hickey makes an plea in his weekly Perspective column on Page 2 for an end to ways of lobbying in the Church that borrow more from secular politics than the life of charity of the Body of Christ, the Church. The spiritual union of Christ's followers with Jesus Himself in the Church transcends the forms of political organisation that exist in the world, he says, pointing out that matters of faith are not decided by majority vote or powerful lobbies.
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Religions discuss Ti or By Peter Rosengren A preparatory meeting for religious leaders of the five constitutionally recognised religions of Indonesia has been held in Dili, East Timor, to try to establish common grounds for inter-religious dialogue and defuse the religious tensions that have already caused riots in the troubled Indonesian province. The five officially recognised religions of the Indonesian republic are Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Catholicism and Protestantism. The apostolic administrator of the Dili Catholic diocese, Bishop Carlos Belo, attended the meeting which took place recently. The meeting came just days before the Indonesian Minister for Religious Affairs, Tarmizi Taher, left to visit the Vatican, possibly to discuss the religious
and nationalist tensions in the former Portuguese colony. Mr Taher's visit to Rome was planned as a reciprocal trip following the visit to Indonesia last year by Cardinal Frances Arinze, president of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue. Bishop Belo, speaking to The Record from Dili, the capital of East Timor, said the purpose of the meeting had been to seek harmony between the religions and had been of a preparatory nature. It had lasted only about one hour, he said. The Jakarta-backed meeting had reportedly been called to address the problem of how to deal with the religious conflicts in East Timor recently. Press reports have indicated riots broke out in East Timor in September following remarks concerning Catholicism, the
However, he told The Record drafting the Universal DeclaratVirgin Mary and the Immaculate Conception allegedly made by a that while he had heard what he ion of Human Rights. Bishop Deakin said that one of described as "a rumour" conMuslim official. East Timor is a predominantly cerning his nomination for the the major qualities of Bishop Roman Catholic country with prestigious prize, which has also Belo which had motivated his over eighty per cent of its popu- been awarded to Mother Teresa, nomination for the Nobel Prize, he had heard nothing else con- had been his "persistent efforts at lation counted as Catholic. inducing peace in his homeland, Speaking from Melbourne, cerning the nomination. Bishop Belo was nominated for over against the awful tensions of Auxiliary Bishop Hilton Deakin, who has closely followed devel- this year's Nobel Prize by suppression that prevails beopments in East Timor, said the Archbishop Desmond Tutu of cause of the military occupation, religious leaders wanted to "sit South Africa and Irish human because of the Indonesians." "He's done it persistently over down and talk through these rights activist Maired Maguire. He has also been awarded the the years but even more so as madnesses that occur from time to time, like personally insulting John Humphrey Freedom Award time's gone on," he said. Bishop Deakin said that over the Virgin Mary, as happened in for his promotion of human Milliama - that brought on these rights in East Timor, according to the years. because of his own the US-based Catholic News personal bravery, had gained the terrible riots among the youth." the admiration and consequent "Anything that prevents the ter- Service agency. The award is given each year support of many more of his rible misery that all of this indicates is worth an effort," he said. by the International Center for priests. Bishop Belo has played a key Bishop Belo was appointed ap- Human Rights and Democratic ostolic administrator of the Dili Development, based in Canada. role in UN-brokered peace talks diocese in 1983, was also recent- It is named after John Peter in East Timor, which was invadly nominated for the Nobel Peace Humphrey, a Canadian human ed by Indonesian troops in 1975 rights activist instrumental in and then annexed. Prize.
Blessing of the fleet a booming, colourful success
Young Halo-Australian women, left, carry the silver statue of Our Lady of Capo d'Orlando through Fremantle before the blessing and procession of the fleet, above, in Fremantle Harbour. Bishop Healy, above right, at the festival of the blessing.
By Peter Rosengren Colour, 'pzazz', brass bands, national costumes, a parade, thousands of participants and onlookers and the best of Italian Catholicism in Australia. . . . it was all on display at the annual Blessing of the Fleet Festival conducted in Fremantle last Sunday afternoon. And the centres of attraction were Madonna dei Martini (Our Lady of the Martyrs) and Madonna del Capo d'Orlando (Our Lady of Capo d'Orlando). The two statues of Our Lady wound their way in procession with thousands of followers from St Patrick's basilica church in Adelaide Street down to the waterfront where fishing boats and other gaily decorated craft bobbed gently on the water. On a bright late-spring afternoon it was a special blessing from God, the interces-
sion of a Queen and the protection of a Mother which was being sought for the fishing fleet - a fleet which not only provides an honourable livelihood for those who sail in it but which provides a significant addition to the Western Australian economy. Bishop Robert Healy, Auxiliary Bishop of Perth, was present to conduct the blessing. His boat led a flotilla of more than thirty ocean-going fishing boats around Fremantle harbour as the benedictions and blessings were made. Many of the boats are named to honour the Mother of God. This year's honoured vessels, chosen to carry the statues, were the Leo Maria owned by brothers Angelo and Giuseppe Paparella (carrying Our Lady of Martyrs), and the Karumba, owned by Michele Azzollini, which carried Our Lady of Cape d'Orlando. Among the favours being
asked of Our Lady were those of blessings for the fishermen and a plentiful harvest for the coming year. And why not? Earning a living from the sea is as old as humanity and has always carried the constant threat of death. The festival saw the joyful and proud participation also of the Portuguese whom, it scarcely needs to be said, are great fishermen as well. Forty seven years ago a group of migrants from the Italian coastal town of Molfetta first staged the blessing of the fleet, following a tradition stretching back to the 12th century. As last Sunday's procession snaked through the old streets, a constant stream of Ave Maria's and hymns to the Blessed Virgin poured forth, alternately drowned out by brass hands or bagpipes. Only the Japanese tourists looked slightly mystified.
Some aspects of the festival are preChristian. As the procession wound its way towards the harbour loud, sudden, explosions rocked the city and scared flocks of screaming seagulls into the bright skies above. The explosions, he explained enthusiastically, came from the ancient practice of warding away the evil spirits from the fleet. The explosions may or may not have scared the evil spirits away. They scared the living daylights out of certain journalists, much to the amusement of some. But it was a great day and a great display of simple faith and national character as well, which ultimately emphasised the timeless quality of a Queen's motherly love and the faith of generations. One felt a connection in the Antipodes, however remote, with the former ramparts of Christendom in Europe.