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Perth: October 31, 1996
Hope blossoms at Wandalgu school and difficult journey of reconcilia- school exchange where some of the tion between Europeans and Abo- Wandalgu children came to Perth rigines. for a week and experienced school This school, like every other life at Our Lady of Fatima School, Catholic school, exists to give its Palmyra. students the basic education and A few weeks later, the students at life skills that they need to max- Wandalgu hosted a return visit to imise the gifts and talents God has their school from Our Lady of Fatigiven to them. Most of the children ma School. This is a story about the relation- at Wandalgu are Aboriginal. I covered the visit of the Wandalship between the original AusLast Friday morning I witnessed a gu children to Our Lady of Fatima tralians and those who came later small event in the life of the stu- School and their excursion to a to their land, of how young Abo- dents from Wandalgu and of the training session at Subiaco Oval to riginal and European Australians students at another Catholic pri- watch the West Coast Eagles. can have the confidence to build a mary school here in Perth that The students from Wandalgu I united Australia. moved me deeply. met then were "different" to many Wandalgu Catholic Primary Over a year ago the present prin- of the other young people I see in School at Tardun is one of the cipal of St Thomas School. Clare- the same age range in our other places where the Church. through mont, Ms Geri O'Keefe, was schools around the State. the Pallotine Fathers and Catholic principal at Wandalgu. In May last It was their disposition. They teachers, has continued the long year. Ms O'Keefe arranged a cross- appeared to be timid and self-conscious of who they were. In a sense, they seemed like "strangers in their own land". Last Friday I met many of those same Wandalgu children again. The difference in their disposition as they expressed pride in their culture could not have been more profound than had I witnessed a miracle. This year Ms O'Keefe invited them to visit the children at her new school, St Thomas'. and to perform some of the stories they have been learning from their own culture and history. These children are members of the Yamaji people from the Murchison. Continued on Page 2 St Thomas's principal Geri O'Keefe speaks to the Wandalgu children Debate about the views of Federal MP Pauline Hanson have worried Australians. Here is a story from the media officer of the Catholic Education Office of WA, Brian Coyne, that shows there is hope for the future
The Yamaji people had discovered "the strength and beauty of fire".
Evolution more than a hypothesis: Pope By Lynne Weil ROME (CNS) - In a message to international scientists, Pope John Paul II said the Church accepts evolution as a theory well-supported by research in a variety of scientific fields. At the same time, though, the Pope said the development of the spiritual aspect of human life cannot be explained scientifically. Pope John Paul said in a statement on 22 October to the plenary session of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, there was meaning in the fact that several scientific disciplines had come up with evidence of evolution independent of one another. "More than 'the theory' of evolution, it is appropriate to speak of 'the theories' of evolution," he said. "This plurality accounts, on the one hand, for the diversity of
explanations that have been proposed as the mechanism of evolution and, on the other hand, for diverse philosophies." The Pope noted that he was not the first pontiff to state that science and Church can find points of agreement in this area. He said Pope Pius XII, for example, wrote in a 1950 encyclical that there was no conflict between evolution and the doctrine of the faith, as long as it was understood there were firm points of faith where no concession could be made. "Today, nearly half a century after the publication of the encyclical, new knowledge leads to recognition of the theory of evolution as more than a hypothesis," Pope John Paul said. Charles Darwin popularised evolutionary theory in the 19th century with his book, On
Can you name this likely lad? -Page II
the Origin of Species by Means theory. Its main theme was The Origins and the Evolution of of Natural Selection. The book and its adherents met Life: Reflections on Science at the with stark opposition from the Dawn of the Third Millennium. In his statement, Pope John Paul Church at the outset. But this tension has gradually eased with the explained that it is in the Church's refinement of evolutionary con- interest to develop its scientific cepts and modified biblical stud- knowledge. "In the domain of inanimate and ies from the late 19th century onward. animate nature, the evolution of The Vatican of late has shown a science and its applications gives heightened interest in evolution rise to new questions," he said. theory. At a June symposium, co- "The Church can understand its sponsored by the Vatican Obser- importance all the better vatory and encouraged by the by recognising its essential Pope, participants suggested that aspects." Speaking in general about the to view the development of human life in terms of an "on- scientific method. the Pope pointgoing creation" is a scenario that ed out that "a theory proves its makes increasing sense, scientifi- validity with the degree to which it submits to verification." cally and theologically. "It is constantly measured by the In its late-October plenary session. the Pontifical Academy accumulation of facts," he continof Sciences set out to refine theo- ued. Continued on Page 15 logical expression of evolution
Notre Dame's new Stations of the Cross - Page 2
Jubilee Year join in call Archbishop Barry Hickey has asked Perth Archdiocese Catholics to join in the three years of special preparation for the Jubilee Year 2000, when Christians world wide will celebrate the 2000th anniversary of the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. Archbishop Hickey says in this weeks Perspective on Page 2 of The Record that next year, the first year of preparation. will be the Year of Jesus to be followed by the Year of the Holy Spirit in 1998 and the Year of God the Father in 1999, leading to a trinitarian celebration of the beginning of the Third Millennium. "This coming year will be a time when the person of Jesus can truly come alive for us," he said. "He is, in the words of Hebrews, "the only Saviour of the world, yesterday, today and forever" (Heb 13:8)." The Archbishop will travel to to Rome on 9 November to help organise the Synod of Oceania which will take place before the Year 2000.
Christmas Lifelink Appeal - Page 3