Southern Central Region Hospitaller: Damian Wyld KMG
T
he Southern Central Region is perhaps unusually named, given that it now encompasses both South Australia and Western Australia. Such a vast area poses unique challenges, so it is encouraging to see how members there have continued striving to further the Order’s works. Lourdes Mass and Events February 2018 saw our annual Adelaide Lourdes Mass celebrated in St Patrick’s Church (due to the Cathedral undoing refurbishment). Members of the Order distributed bottles of Lourdes water following the Mass. The demand was considerable. Reflecting the Order’s charism to serve our Lords the poor and the sick, it was heartening to see those unwell, suffering disability or similar able to attend in good numbers. Around this time, region chaplain Fr Allan Winter hosted members for a screening of the movie Bernadette on the life of St Bernadette Soubirous, and the Lourdes story. It was great for the region to have three members attend the Order’s international Lourdes pilgrimage.
The Central and Western Region are now joined as a single entity. 22
Marian Procession In May, the Order sent a contingent to the Adelaide Archdiocese’s annual Marian procession. Along with members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, our members traditionally lead the bier carrying Our Lady through the city’s parklands during the recitation of the Rosary. The event
concluded with Benediction. Such events are also helpful in gradually increasing the Order’s profile in the broader Church. Coats for the Homeless The Order’s national Coats for the Homeless program remains a key focus in our region. In South Australia, 450 coats were purchased for those sleeping rough in 2018 to help them get through the cold and wet weather. Our distribution network across the Adelaide metropolitan area is now well established, comprising the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Hutt St Centre (Daughters of Charity), the Adelaide Day Centre, and the Otherway Aboriginal Catholic chaplaincy. In recent years, Confrere Phil Wyld has made good inroads into regional South Australia, where the Knights of the Southern Cross now assist in distributing coats to the needy in Port Augusta, Port Pirie, and Whyalla. The program now reaches as far as Port Lincoln, where the local Catholic parish not only assists with distribution, but also helps fund the program. Western Australia continues to punch well above its weight, with that part of our region alone distributing 350 coats. Distribution partners included The Shopfront in Maylands run by the Perth Archdiocese; St Vincent de Paul Society Canning Vale who provided the Coats to their homeless services in Northbridge, Mandurah and Albany; Day Dawn Advocacy Centre (Indigenous 2018 Australian Hospitaller
