Catholic life aug13

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Catholic Life Publication of the Diocese of Sale

Popular priest’s funeral - Page 3

ISSUE 175

$2 million sought for Bairnsdale - Page 8

August 2013

Vocations Awareness feature - Pages 9-12

World youth celebrate

BRAZIL - An estimated 3 million people crowded into Rio De Janeiro for the final Mass of World Youth Day celebrated by Pope Francis.

More than 1000 Australians gathered on the sands and nearby streets with young Catholics from more than 100 countries.

Sale Diocese was represented by about 20 pilgrims, most of whom were part of the Victorian dioceses group, while others went as a Catholic Education Office contingent.

The all night vigil and final Mass was moved to the famous Copacobana Beach after

the planned site Campus Fidei (Field of Faith) to the west of the city was deemed unsuitable following unseasonable heavy rain had turned it into a quagmire.

The young people had camped on the beach for up to 12 hours, sitting on tarps and huddling together under disposable plastic raincoats to keep warm.

Pope Francis took the move in his stride and declared that he thought God was saying that the real field of faith was not a geographic location but those attending the Mass.

He also referred to Rio being the venue for next year’s World Cup soccer and said footballers had to train to stay in shape,

and so did the young faithful who needed to get in shape by praying, receiving the Eucharist and loving one another so they could become true “athletes” for Christ.

He urged WYD pilgrims to take their faith back home and to share their experiences with others.

He also announced that the next World Youth Day will be held in Krakow, Poland in 2016.

Our pilgrims left in several groups, each with different itineraries.

One group went first to Lima, Peru, where they spent a week working with the Christian Life Movement to build a staircase in a Pampolona shanty town.

They had time to tour Lima and learn about the Dominican saints of Peru.

A second group, which included Bishop Christopher Prowse went first to Santiago, Chile, where they were hosted in a Columban mission parish of San Matias as part of an outreach experience.

While there Bishop Prowse and other priests celebrated a Mass in memory of Fr John Allen who died as they were leaving to head overseas.

The other groups headed straight to Rio de Janeiro where they were able to spend a couple of days sightseeing, which included a visit to the world famous statue of Christ the Re-

deemer which overlooks the city.

However, if they thought that this 30m statue is large, they will be amazed if they visit Poland for the next World Youth Day to find that it is dwarfed by the newly completed Christ the King statue which is 52m high.

The Victorian diocese groups merged on the Monday of the week long festival and stayed with 1200 other Australians at an area dubbed Aussie Central.

Following WYD they Victorian group attended a short retreat out of the city.

• Photos and more stories Pages 16 and 17.

A local initiative for families in need A donation to the Bishop’s Family Foundation will aid needy families in the Diocese of Sale by funding much needed counselling and other programs.

Send tax deductible donations to: Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820 Phone 5622 6600 for more information

Page 2 - Catholic Life, August 2013

Pilgrimage in life and death D

ear Friends in Christ Jesus,

Pope Francis and the young people WYD, Rio de Janeiro I had the pleasure of accompanying recently our young people for the World Youth Day Pilgrimage to Rio de Janeiro.

Pope Francis was the host. He was able to make an immediate faith connection with the youth of the world. Even at the Final Mass at Copacabana Beach when over three million youth gathered, the Pope’s naturalness and simplicity of faith spoke directly to the youth. We could all see in his long rides in his Papal jeep through the crowds his desire to greet each one with a smile and welcome. He became like the parish priest of the youth of the

world.

You would surely be most proud of the Sale Diocese youth who joined the Victorian delegation to Rio. Some, like Jess Denehy, have emerged as prominent Catholic youth leaders at both state and national level.

I invite all youth in the Diocese to join these WYD “Veterans” for Australia’s first National Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne (December 5-7, 2013).

Youth really appreciate these International and National assemblies to gather and establish their place in the Church. Youth speaking to youth of their Catholic faith is a winning pastoral approach. I encourage all parishes and schools to send/sponsor youth to this upcoming Youth Festival (www.youthfestival.catholic.org.au).

To God’s People in the Catholic Diocese of Sale

Fr John Allen RIP Pilgrimage to Father of All Mercies THE recent death of Fr John Allen has saddened us all. He was a wonderful priest and served the Diocese faithfully for over 35 years.

He died courageously and with serenity after a relatively short illness. We continue to pray for the repose of his soul and especially pray too for his family and many close friends.

His final pilgrimage to the Father of all Mercies happened at the same time as the pilgrimage to World Youth Day.

Priest changes announced SEVERAL important changes are taking place among the clergy in Sale Diocese.

Bishop Christopher Prowse announced several clergy moves last week, including the arrival of the first Melkite priest to serve in this diocese.

The Oblate Fathers, who have run Moe parish since it was created, will also take over Newborough in the new year.

Newborough administrator Fr Stephen Onuoha is moving to Leongatha as assistant priest.

New to the diocese is Fr Luke Bell, a Melkite priest from Melbourne who also has faculties in the Latin rite.

The Melkites are a Greek Catholic Eparchy with DIOCESE OF SALE

Byzantine origins which came into communion with the Catholic Church in the mid 1750s.

Originally founded in Antioch as one of the original Christian churches, the Melkites claim to be the oldest Christian community in the world.

Fr Bell will become assistant priest at Newborough which will be administered initially by Fr Herman Hengel who is also parish priest at Warragul and Drouin.

Oblate provincial Fr Leo Mifsud OMI has given Bishop Prowse permission to publicly announce that the Oblates have agreed to take over the pastoral care at Newborough from

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They will continue to run neighboring Moe parish.

Bishop Prowse also announced the return of Fr Francis Otobo to Morwell as administrator of Morwell and Churchill parishes.

The popular Nigerian priest was assistant at Morwell but has been at Leongatha as assistant for most of this year.

He replaces Fr Hugh Brown OCarm, who has returned to the Carmelites after being in Sale Diocese for the past 12 years.

Fr Darek Jablonski will continue on in Morwell and Churchill as assistant priest and director of vocations.

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St James students into new technology

TRINITY and Charlotte using their iPads in class.

Editor: Colin Coomber

Deadline for advertising copy and editorial contributions for next issue is Monday, September 9 Issues distributed free through parishes and schools from September 18.

It reminds us that all our lives of faith are led on pilgrimage to the Saviour and Redeemer of us all – Jesus. The Lord is the destination of all Christian pilgrimage.

Jesus is also our Master guide as we make our pilgrimage in life. He is always “The Way, The Truth and The Life” (Jn 14:6).

We are all on pilgrimage to Jesus.

As we continue our pilgrimage on earth as Christians, let us support and encourage each other by our prayers and loving kindness – especially for our youth and faithful departed. + Bishop Christopher Prowse Catholic Bishop of Sale

MARK RIDDLE Consultant 2002900

NAR NAR GOON - Tech- savvy students at St James Catholic School are leading the way in technology assisted learning.

Student iPads have been introduced in the Grade 3/4 area with exceptional success thanks to a strategic roll-out plan developed by school staff.

The Grade 3/4’s are the first to access iPads to support their learning and are already using this dynamic learning tool in a number of ways.

Students receive homework electronically and are able to access assistance from their teacher and other students in their class via a secure communication network.

In the classroom the iPad is a multi-function tool; a calcu-

lator, dictionary, digital book, communication device, planning record and has many more applications.

In true St James spirit, the students, teachers and parents have worked together to improve student outcomes through the safe and purposeful use of technology. It will be fascinating to follow the development of digital literacy within the school as more classes are involved in this innovative program.

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Catholic Life, August 2013 - Page 3

Large crowds farewell a popular priest LAKES ENTRANCE – The diocese farewelled Fr John Allen in style with liturgies at both ends of Gippsland.

An estimated 1500 turned up at Narre Warren for Rosary and short liturgy the night before his funeral which was held at Lakes Entrance and attended by about 1000 people.

The dual liturgies gave everyone a chance to mourn his death.

Fr Allan, 61, the parish priest of Iona-Maryknoll and Koo Wee Rup died after a relatively short battle with pancreatic cancer.

In the later stages of his illness he returned home to Lakes Entrance where he was born and raised, but failing health forced him to be transferred to Cabrini Hospital where he died on July 12.

St Brendan’s Church was filled to overflowing for the requiem Mass, with there being standing room only in the school hall as well. Others chose to stand outside and watch the Mass through the windows.

Principal celebrant was Fr Allen’s cousin Fr Greg Bourke, concelebrating with vicar general Fr Peter Slater, Bishop Emeritus Jeremiah Coffey and Lakes Entrance parish priest Fr Bernard Buckley.

Before the service Sr Maureen Philp led the recitation of the Rosary.

Fr Allen’s brother in law, Graham Johnstone, said the two of them had often shared philosophical discussions on football but could be considered armchair experts on a range of sports shown late at night by Foxtel.

He then read a final message penned by Fr Allen in which he expressed his gratitude for those who had helped him through his illness which had “come suddenly, like a thief in the night”.

He praised his family in their love and care for him during his illness and again quoted scripture. “They lifted me up and carried me on eagles wings.”

Arthur Allen said his brother was a special person who touched the lives of many people.

He had a great love for his many nephews and nieces, most of whom had been baptised and married by him, and he had now been baptising the next generation too.

Since the death of their father Jack two years ago, John had taken on the role of patriarch of the large Allen family.

Mr Allen said his brother loved his sport and he recalled fondly the many great cricket matches played in front of their childhood home.

His great devotion to Essendon, marked by many mourners wearing red and black ribbons and ties, was well known across the diocese.

Fr Allen had been a first day student when St Brendan’s Primary School opened in Lakes Entrance and he attended there until grade two when he went onto St Patrick’s College in Sale.

The years after leaving school were difficult as Fr Allen tried to discern his vocation. He first went to teachers’ college, then worked at a hospital, and then gained a position in a bank in Sale which he never

Fr John Allen

Support the Fathers on Father’s Day THE Priest’s Welfare Fund has asked parishioners across the diocese to be generous in their response to the annual Father’s Day appeal next month.

Funds raised from the appeal are used to support sick and retired priests.

Envelopes will be available in all parishes during September, being placed either on the pews

or at the back of the church.

Parishioners are asked to put their donations in the envelope and return them via the collection plate.

There is provision on the rear of envelopes for people to fill in details for a credit card payment.

All donations over $2 are fully tax deductible.

FR John Allen’s plain wooden coffin is wheeled towards the waiting hearse at the conclusion of Requiem Mass at St Brendan’s Church.

Mr Allen’s son, Brendan, then his and Fr Allen’s lives in the started because Bishop Coffey spoke on behalf of the nieces priesthood. accepted him as a seminarian.

At the conclusion of Mass, Mr Allen said of his brother and nephews, recalling a few “He was a good priest and a anecdotes of his time with his children from St Brendan’s good man, a loved priest and a one-eyed Essendon supporting formed an honor guard for the uncle. hearse outside the church as it loved man.”

Fr Mark Godridge delivered made its way to the picturesque Fr Allen’s vocation was seen as a special gift to the Allen the homily and Fr Bourke Lakes Entrance cemetery where family and he always enjoyed delivered a short eulogy Fr Allen was laid to rest close to being around the wider family. recalling the parallels between his parents’ graves.

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The Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale is not subject to the provisions of the Corporation Act 2001 nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Deposits with the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale are guaranteed by CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for this purpose. We welcome your investment with the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale rather than with a profit orientated commercial organisation as a conscious commitment by you to support the Charitable, Religious and Educational works of the Catholic Church. Neither the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale nor the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Trust Corporation for the Diocese of Sale are prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority; contributions to the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale do not obtain the benefit of the depositor protection provisions of the Banking Act 1959; the Catholic Development Fund, Diocese of Sale is designed for investors who wish to promote the charitable purposes of the Catholic Diocese of Sale.

Page 4 - Catholic Life, August 2013

Cross blessed at St Vincent’s

A testing case

IF you were a lawyer who wanted to be better known than the many other legal eagles we guess that taking on an unusual case would be a good way to get publicity.

However, a Kenyan lawyer may be taking the idea a tad too far. He’s gone to the Internal Court of Justice in an attempt to have the trial and subsequent crucifixion of Jesus overturned because it was unlawful.

We wonder who he’ll call as witnesses!

Statue axed

INTERESTING to read that Pope Francis has ordered that a statue of him be removed from the cathedral in Buenos Aires where he was Archbishop before being appointed Pope earlier this year.

Tourists were coming to pay homage to the statue and be photographed with it.

Newspaper reports said Church sources told them that Francis was determined to avoid creating ‘a cult of personality’ like that enjoyed

by John Paul II. Since his election in March, he has gone to lengths to be seen as humble, showing little patience for the pomp and fuss that come with his position as head of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics.

Golden oldie

HANDS up who spotted the error in the piece on Fr John O’Kelly’s golden jubilee.

The item mentioned how he had been ordained by Bishop Patrick Phelan which would have been difficult considering the bishop died in 1925.

Of course, it should have mentioned Bishop Patrick Lyons.

A full story on the jubilee is in our vocations feature starting Page 9.

Another whinge

WE had a whinge an issue or two back about motorists travelling the roads at dusk and in the fog without their headlights on.

This latest whinge is not as bad on the safety stakes.

We are referring to the amazing amount of vehicles travelling with only one headlight or taillight.

The other night we spotted 11 vehicles out of 42 which only one headlight. That’s better than 25 percent!

Maybe the government should tackle the drivers of those vehicles as a way of raising revenue instead of slapping it on motorists who exceed the speed limit by 2kmh which is about half the difference a new set of tyres makes to a speedometer.

FR Darek Jablonski blesses the new cross at the St Vincent’s de Paul Primary School, aided by some of the children.

MORWELL EAST – A new how much he loved us, He blessing. The cross has been cross in the grounds of St Vin- opened the way to heaven by placed in a quiet area of the cent de Paul School has been dying for us on the cross. playground which will allow blessed by Fr Darek Jablonski.

He then invited everyone pre- children a place to go for quiet The cross is in the gardens sent to place their hand on the contemplation. outside the library. cross and he said a very special Father was joined by the children from the school’s sustainability team which includes representatives from every grade, along with school captains, principal Jodie Ware and religious education coordinator Angela Darling. kekara of Traralgon made reconFr Jablonski asked the chil- By John H. Cooney ciliation available. dren what the cross symbolised The women of the Charismatic TRARALGON – Some 20 men for them and they were very Prayer Group came to the rescue from Moe to Maffra, gathered thoughtful in their responses: of those who failed to bring their Jesus died for us, Jesus showed at St Mary of the Cross MacK- lunch. They also ensured that illop’s hall at Traralgon for a menALIVE retreat on July 27- they were not entirely dependent on biscuits for morning and after28.

Two of the presenters came noon tea.

The focus for Sunday was the from Hobart, one from Melbourne and one from Bendigo. Eucharist. The retreat ended early

Of all the decisions we make in our lifetime, making a valid will is among the most important.

This final testament speaks loudly of the values, causes and possessions we hold most dear. We bequest personal treasures and mementos to special friends and loved ones and ask them to care for them after our passing.

If you hold the Church dear, you may consider leaving a percentage of your estate or a specific amount to the Diocese of Sale.

The Diocese is grateful for the support of its benefactors, who have enabled the Church to grow in its service of its people, and invite you to share in this rich heritage.

20 participate in menALIVE weekend

The Traralgon team, Peter Glaubitz, Ben Kennedy, Peter Riggall and John Cooney welcomed the presenters on Friday afternoon.

They set up the hall and solved the inevitable glitches so that things got under way sharply at 9am on Saturday for a 12 hour day.

In the morning participants were confronted with their sins and sinfulness, but given the solution after lunch when Fr Bernie O’Brien OMI of Moe and Fr Babu Vadak-

Sunday afternoon when Fr Babu gave words of encouragement and his blessing.

Overall the retreat reminded everyone that we are sinners, but not the only sinners. Christ in his mercy makes reconciliation available and nourishes with his body and blood.

In short, participants were inducted into the deep insight of St Ireneaus. God is glorified when men are fully alive.

Maffra priest’s 40th anniversary MAFFRA – Fr Hilarion Fernando OSB, the priest in residence at Maffra, celebrated the 40th anniversary of his ordination on August 4.

Celebratory Masses were held at Maffra in the morning and then at Narre Warren, where he was joined by some members of the Old Antonian Social Club.

The social group comprises

former students at the college in Sri Lanka where he was on the staff more than 25 years. He was principal of St Anthony’s College from 1994-2006 and oversaw the school’s 150th anniversary.

Fr Fernando retired in 2006 and offered to come to Australia to relieve our shortage of priests. He has been in Maffra for almost 12 months.

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Catholic Life, August 2013 - Page 5

$2 million sought to restore iconic church BAIRNSDALE – The centenary of the iconic St Mary’s Church will coincide with an appeal to raise more than $2 million to restore the impressive structure.

The church, more properly known as Immaculate Conception Church, attracts thousands of visitors a year who call to view the paintings on the ceil-

ings and walls.

The parish is working excitedly towards celebrating the centenary which will be recognised with a dinner dance on Saturday, October 19. It is expected that 400 parishioners, past and present, will take part.

A book launch by local parishioner Shirley Tanner speaking to the exciting historical

Immaculate Conception Church, Bairnsdale

story of the Church of the Immaculate Conception will take place at 6pm.

Conservation Architect and Heritage Architect Arthur Andronas, whose works at St Mary’s Cathedral Sale, St Patrick’s Cathedral Melbourne, St Mary’s Church East St Kilda and many other churches is highly acclaimed, will speak about the three stage plan for important restoration works anticipated in a three to five year project.

The appeal launch will recognise the already enormous concentrated effort by the appeals committee currently putting the right procedures in place, especially gaining tax exemption status and the like.

Parish priest Fr Peter Bickley will speak and a key note address will be given by the Bishop of Sale Christopher Prowse On October 20 there will be Pontifical Concelebrated Mass of thanksgiving at 10.30am with Bishop Prowse being principal celebrant.

Those wishing to be at the dinner dance evening and the Sunday Mass should contact Pattie Pruscino on 5152 2942 or email stm.pattipruscino@ gmail.com.

Fr Bickley said quotes were still to be obtained for the restoration works but the final sum to be expended would be well over $2 million.

The floor of the church needed to be completely replaced and the sanctuary area would be

remodelled to move the sanctuary back towards the high altar.

However, the high altar would not be touched.

He said it was planned to update the pews, lectern, baptismal font and priest’s chair.

Extra space gained from remodelling the sanctuary would mean that the foyer area could be enlarged and the wooden doors would be replaced with

glass.

Fr Bickley said it was fortunate that the decorative ceiling paintings were still in good condition although in the sanctuary area some dampness had caused peeling which would need to be restored.

The tall tower at the front of the church would also need to be strengthened as part of necessary maintenance.

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Page 6 - Catholic Life, August 2013

Preps experience life on farm TRARALGON - Preps from St Michael’s Primary School have just started learning about farms as their inquiry unit this term.

They have been looking at different types of farms, what animals and people make up farms and the types of produce they give us.

The children got to experience a hands on farm adventure when they visited Warrook Cattle Farm in Monomeith, South Gippsland.

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herding a flock of sheep as well the shearing of a sheep.

Some of the many hands on activities included bottle feeding calves, milking a cow, a wagon ride and a visit to the fauna park to feed the ducks and kangaroos. They also saw new born lambs, wombats, a horse, a bull, guinea pigs, an emu and rabbits.

When asked about their trip to the cattle farm, Ava said, “I liked the little sheepdog, it was very cute and nice and little. I liked the baby cows because we got to feed them some milk.”

Blair said, “I liked feeding the baby cows because they were very thirsty and the emus because they went in the mud.”

School representative, Leanne McDonald said, “The Preps thoroughly enjoyed both days and now have a deeper understanding of what a farm is.”

Later this term the Preps are having an Auslan trained parent come to their class to teach them how to sign Old McDonald had a Farm in sign language and they are also planning to raise some chicks.

New Archbishop for Hobart

BISHOP Julian Porteous, an Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney, has been named new Archbishop of Hobart by Pope Francis.

He replaces Archbishop Adrian Doyle who has led the Tasmanian archdiocese since 1999, when Archbishop Eric D’Arcy retired.

Bishop Porteous, 64, will be installed as archbishop at St Mary’s Cathedral, Hobart, on September 17.

He has been a priest since 1974 and was ordained a bishop in September 2003.

President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Denis Hart welcomed the announcement on behalf of the bishops.

There are still several episcopal vacancies in Australia, most notably in Canberra which still does not have an archbishop or auxiliary bishop.

Bishop Porteous

Growing older gracefully NO matter what age we may be, we are all growing older.

There’s not much we can do about that!

Growing older ‘gracefully’, however, is a daily challenge.

Our lives can be either a source of blessing or frustration to those around us.

Ultimately, the choice is ours. Living gracefully allows the daily gift of God’s grace to shine through.

Grace above all is about relationship, about the quality of our relationship with God. Grace is the free and undeserved help that God gives to enable us to respond to God’s call to friendship.

Grace moves our hearts to participate in the life of God and moves us to sustain this relationship, to feel the comforting presence of God in the ordinary moments of our lives.

While grace is a free and undeserved gift from God, it is a gift we are meant to share.

Grace is not something to be hoarded, something that we squirrel away, nor are the Godgiven talents by which we express this free gift from a loving God in our lives.

Matthew expressed an essential ingredient of grace when he wrote “What you have received as a gift, give as a gift” (Mt 10:8).

Grace reminds us that we were created as beings not just capable of being loved and but also capable of loving. It is in the loving service of God through the service of others that we find meaning and true happiness.

Grace enables us to begin to see God’s presence in our world and in our lives. It unlocks, as it were, another level of seeing, another level of awareness.

God’s grace is about living in the presence of God. It has the potential to make us

Reflections

by Jim Quillinan more than we thought we could be as we discover in the Gospel stories of the gifts and talents (Matt 25 14-30 and Luke 19 12-26).

Those who used their talents found new ways to increase them, they discovered new talents. The one who buried his talent, let it wither away and it was lost.

Living gracefully no matter how old we are means being open to God and God’s daily invitation to life. It means working at being a blessing to others, recognizing that we need each other, that we can be vehicles of God’s grace to each other.

Living gracefully means that we are open to appreciating God’s gifts by enjoying the simple things of life, the greetings and smiles of others, the daily acts of kindness we receive each day, we stop to appreciate the seasons, the weather, creation itself.

It means being thankful and saying thanks often; it means telling the people you love that you love them and not just assuming they know!

It means we cherish our

health. It means living without envy, bitterness, or cynicism.

It means being able to forgive others and not living lives of regret because things haven’t quite turned out the way we had planned.

It means that we keep on learning, that we keep our minds and hearts open.

Thomas Aquinas puts the question whether, as a rule we act out of our anima magna or our anima pusila. The first is choosing to be generous, openhearted with both God and each other, letting go of hurts and annoyances, being able to forgive and forget.

The other is the habit of meanness, tending toward what is closed, negative and judgmental.

Which one we choose depends on keeping in touch with God through prayer, spending time with God, finding ways to enhance our relationship with God. The generous gift of God’s grace enables us to rise to the daily challenge of choosing to be a source of blessing to those around us.

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Catholic Life, August 2013 - Page 7

Interfaith fellowship journey continues LIZ Roberts, Sale Diocese’s participant in the Young Catholic Women’s Interfaith Fellowship attended her second residential program in Sydney in July.

During the four day visit the Pakenham parishioner had the opportunity to begin gaining some interfaith insights through excursions and lectures.

The two year fellowship is a project of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference and is being sponsored by various

religious congregations, institutions and Church agencies.

Liz’s highlight of her Sydney experience was attending a Jewish Synagogue on the Friday night.

“We visited the Emmanuel synagogue in Woollahra, which is a progressive Jewish community and met Rabbi Jacqueline Ninio. She talked to us about her community, showed us and read from the Torah - the Jewish teachings,” said Liz. The group witnessed a new-

Funding requests closing soon CHARITIES seeking funds from the Bishop’s Family Foundation have until the end of August to lodge their applications.

Only charities which have Deductible Gift Recipient status with the Australian Tax Office are eligible for funding.

The Bishop’s Family Foundation which is the trading name for the Catholic Diocese of Sale Charitable Fund has more than $100,000 to distribute towards family-orientated projects in Gippsland and the outer eastern suburbs.

This year’s disbursements will mean the foundation will have given away almost $1 million since its inception 13 years ago.

Charities interested in applying for funding for projects should go to the diocese web-

site www.sale.catholic.org. au and access details by using the tab Agencies, followed by Bishop’s Family Foundation.

After finding that the on-line application form did not work for some users who had older versions of Internet Explorer and early versions of Adobe Acrobat Reader, the form has now been changed to a Word document.

Applicants should save the form to their computer, then fill it out taking care not to include more information than the space allows. The completed form should then be printed off, signed and sent in.

Trustees will decide which projects to fund and all applicants should be advised by the end of October.

Prisons system must contribute to society PRISONS must contribute to building a safe and just society, by rehabilitating prisoners, and successfully reintegrating them into the community on release.

As the Victorian Government considers Expressions of Interest to build and operate a new prison at Ravenhall in the Western suburbs of Melbourne, the Interchurch Criminal Justice Taskforce has called on the Victorian Government to ensure that the new prison is focused on these key areas.

The Government requirements around the new prison include maximising rehabilitation, and the provision of high quality mental and general health services ,and effective transitional support.

Potential providers have been asked to outline how they would approach these and other issues.

Taskforce chairman Denis Fitzgerald said “The Government must provide a prison that incorporates best practice in all of the key areas of operation and responsibility. This will require that it take the best of the ideas that are put forward by the various bidders.

“Investment in good health and rehabilitation is cost effective for the community in the longer term, with reduced crime rates, and increased pro-

ductivity – cutting costs can jeopardise the building of a safer community.

“To maximise community safety, the ideas that emerge for best practice must also be incorporated into existing prisons in Victoria.”

He said the involvement of private operators in running the new prison brought added risks.

The longer-term safety of the community might be compromised in the search for financial efficiencies and higher profits.

The Taskforce is also very concerned that the focus on new prisons comes at the expense of broader efforts to improve community safety by tackling the causes of crime.

er type of Friday night Shabbat prayer for this community called “Shabbat Live”. The prayer is enhanced with musical instruments, beautiful melodies and creative readings.

“The community were welcoming and we did our best to join in where we could, there were young people participating in the readings and the music ministry.

“It was a very prayerful experience,” said Liz. Lectures were given on the Saturday by Dr Patricia Madigan OP which covered Australia’s religious landscape and interfaith dialogue, with an emphasis on women’s dialogue.

This served as a good introduction before the second semester of online study called ‘Religions and Cultures in Conversation’, in the Postgraduate Theology course, which forms part of the fellowship.

On Sunday, the group visited the Auburn Gallipoli Mosque.

“This Islamic house of worship was beautiful inside with Turkish inspired décor.

“A young Muslim woman showed us around the Mosque and shared about her faith openly with us,” Liz said.

“She was most generous with her time given it was during the holy season of Ramadan.”

The fellowship program which has 16 women participants from across Australia beLIZ Roberts outside Auburn Gallipoli Mosque in the Sydney subgan in February.

“We are getting to know urb of Auburn.

The participant’s leadership To learn more about Nationeach other a little better and becoming more open to shar- skills are also being developed al Office for the Participation ing our ideas and faith through and challenged. An interactive of Women’s activities and rethe shared experiences such as public speaking workshop run sources visit www.opw.catholic. pray, reflection and social time by Toastmasters International org.au and subscribe to email at the residential program,” Liz was the final activity of the the newsletter ‘Women Matter’ Sydney visit. for regular updates. said.

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Page 8 - Catholic Life, August 2013

Iona high tea again a tasty success IONA - The Iona Maryknoll branch of the Catholic Women’s League held its annual high tea last month.

About 60 parishioners attended and were treated to a four course meal of rainbow sandwiches, party pies and sausage rolls, Devonshire tea and a beautiful array of cakes and slices. The theme for this year was “An Afternoon of Music and Laughter”.

During the afternoon opera singer Margaret Orr entertained with some Irish songs and light musical with everyone joining in for a singalong.

Ashley Honan provided modern country tunes, Paddy O’Heigh country rock and Peter Feltham a variety of songs which made for a lovely musical afternoon.

There was much laughter when poet Gerard Cunningham recited some great Australian poetry.

Log fires were burning during the afternoon which made a great atmosphere. Some young girls from the parish donated their time to be our waitresses for the afternoon and did an excellent job together with mothers from Columba Primary School at Bunyip who made the majority of the cakes and slices.

Thanks go out to them for all their help.

A big thanks goes out to Val Feltham who introduced the high tea to the parish about six years ago and it has been run successfully every year since.

Val and members of the Iona CWL work hard to make it a great social day for the parish.

VAL Feltham and her troupe of helpers made the day a big success.

Working to preserve history

Away for a weekend and need to check local Mass times?

Use the QR scanning app on your smart phone and it will take you directly to the Diocese of Sale website

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WORKING on stitching the tapes are (from left) former Sion teachers Marg Robbins, Cece Kingwill, and Jenny Claxton, teacher Jennifer Fitzgerald, former teacher Anne Munro, and ex-parent and grandparent Maureen Cunningham. Looking on is deputy principal Peter Centra.

SALE - A group of the ‘Friends of Sion’ met in Sale recently to engage in an historic project.

Exquisite squares of tapestry have been found by the sisters.

These pieces were found in a box in storage on the third floor

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of the magnificent Our Lady of Sion building, where they had been for many years.

It is estimated that the tapestry squares date back to the 1920’s with some of the squares having names written on the back.

Friends of Sion committee member Cece Kingwill said that the work was very detailed and precise. She went on to say that the Sisters would have insisted upon it!

It is unknown whether the work would have been done as part of a sewing class or perhaps an activity for the borders in the evenings.

The project, which is a significant part of the protection of the college’s heritage, has been entrusted to Mrs Kingwill to coordinate by the Sion Sisters, who now reside in Box Hill.

She undertook to complete some unfinished squares before calling together a group of interested ladies to sew them together. Each one of the ladies are enjoying learning the tricks of the trade and enjoying the art of tapestry.

When completed, this magnificent piece of work will be on display at the Sion campus where it may be enjoyed by all.

It is hoped that the project will be completed by November and it will be displayed at the annual Friends of Sion gathering. It is hoped that memories

may be triggered when people see the tapestry.

The group are looking for more volunteers to assist in the completion of the project.

Anyone interested could contact Mrs Kingwill on the email below.

If you have any information on the tapestry squares or would like some information on the Friends of Sion group please contact Mrs Kingwill at wjcck@iinet.net.au.

THE intricate fleur de lis featured on the squares. The design has great significance as a symbol of the Trinity and is also is a strong link to France from where the Sion Sisters originated.

Catholic Life, August 2013 - Page 9

Vocations Awareness 2013 Gippsland bush a big drawcard for seminarian

By Colin Coomber A LOVE of Gippsland’s rugged beauty is what led to a young Melbourne seminarian deciding to become a priest for the Diocese of Sale.

Melbourne’s loss became our gain as Fr John O’Kelly has served throughout the diocese for the past 50 years.

He celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination three weeks ago with parishioners and friends at Bairnsdale, where he now lives in retirement.

Fr O’Kelly was ordained at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, by Bishop Patrick Lyons on July 27, 1963.

He was born in Melbourne and grew up in Sandringham, attending Sacred Heart Primary at Sandringham, St Thomas More Central School at St Kilda East and finally Xavier College, Kew. In 1956 he went straight from school to Corpus Christi Seminary at Werribee as a student for the priesthood for Melbourne Archdiocese and was among the first group of seminarians to transfer to the new Corpus Christi at Glen Waverley.

Fr O’Kelly said he had always loved the outdoor life and he had spent quite a bit of time on the beach and bushwalking, but it was after he met then Newborough parish priest Fr Frank Ruth that getting close to God through nature was reinforced.

He went on a bushwalking holiday with the legendary bushwalking priest who introduced him to Gippsland’s splendour.

“After that, I couldn’t get it out of my head that God wanted me to be a priest in Gippsland.

The beauty of Gippsland was a big attraction.”

Fr O’Kelly said he mentioned to the seminary that he was interested in transferring to Sale Diocese and was told to go away and rethink.

It was not mentioned until quite a while later when they asked if he still had it in mind to become a Sale priest and when he affirmed this, the necessary changes were made.

He said he already had considerable links to Gippsland as his grandfather Edward O’Kelly was headmaster at St Mary’s School in Sale until the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion arrived from France in the 1890s.

Two of Edward’s daughters (Fr O’Kelly’s aunts) went on to become Sion Sisters in Sale, known as Mother Raphaela and Mother Mary Leo. Another aunt, Louise had taught at the Sion College in Warragul, which was now the diocesan

headquarters known as Sion House.

Fr O’Kelly’s sister Sr Marie O’Kelly became a Brigidine sister and had taught at Traralgon.

Another sister Monica had also assisted him to run premarriage education classes for young couples in the diocese.

Fr O’Kelly said his life as a priest had been an interesting one right from the start because he had been educated in the pre-Vatican 2 Church and then ordained into the much different post-Vatican 2 Church.

The most significant thing for him, and the Catholic faithful, was that Mass could be celebrated in English, people could participate, and understand what was being said.

He said that having the Scriptures read in English had been a source of life for the people and he believed that it had revitalised the Church because it gave people a scriptural basis for prayer.

Flowing on from that was the extraordinary enrichment in faith life which was evident once people could hear the Gospels for themselves and learn more about the life of Jesus and his teachings.

Fr O’Kelly said he had served in parishes from one end of the diocese to the other but there was something which drew him to East Gippsland.

He first came to the area when transferred to Bairnsdale as assistant priest in 1970 and after four years there had become parish priest at Omeo for two years. In the 1980s he was parish priest at Orbost and then returned to Bairnsdale in 2003 when he was placed on light duties.

He said the East Gippsland parishes were different and at times could be challenging because the pastoral needs of the small scattered communities were often far removed from those encountered in larger parishes.

“The rural parishes have been where life has been best for me. I have enjoyed serving the people and being close to the outdoors.”

Fr O’Kelly said that since retiring he had enjoyed travelling around the diocese to fill in for priests at other parishes and wherever he went he found the people to always be supportive and affirming.

He said that retirement had enabled him to better enjoy the water and hills of East Gippsland and in summer he loved to spend time on his yacht in the Gippsland Lakes.

He has established a small garden and often spends hours in his shed, tinkering, model

Priest enjoying Golden years

Fr John O’Kelly making and doing maintenance to “sate the little engineer” inside him.

“I am a very happy man who has been blessed by his

family, God and the people of Gippsland who have been so supportive and welcoming.”

Celebrations of the jubilee continued last week when

priests of the diocese gathered in Bairnsdale to share lunch with him.

Is God calling you?

Could you be a priest for the Diocese of Sale?

Contact Fr Darek Jablonski vocations@sale.catholic.org.au

for a confidential discussion

Page 10 - Catholic Life, August 2013

Vocations Awareness 2013 THE Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Catholic people of Moe have formed over the years a vibrant Catholic Faith Community.

It all began in 1959 when the Oblates arrived as many were setting up home in the Latrobe Valley at a time when employment in the coal mines seemed so attractive to the flood of newly-arrived migrants from war-torn Europe.

Moe was one of those “dormitory” towns of the Valley. Newcomers are still warmly welcomed. The spirit of the people has remained optimistic and welcoming even in difficult times.

The Oblates and the Presentation Sisters with their spirit of closeness to the people have always valued the faith of the Moe community.

When in the late 1960s the Australian Oblates established their first overseas mission in Java the people organised to support them spiritually and financially. This missionary spirit was celebrated at St Kieran’s in early 2012 when Fr Bernard O’Brien OMI invited his classmate Fr Kevin Casey OMI to a joint celebration of the Golden Jubilee of their priesthood.

In poor health at the time, Fr Kevin returned soon after to Java. Then early this year, God called him Home, and he is buried in Java among the people he loved and served. Fr Kevin was one of the original Oblates to go to Java.

The beautiful Moe church, a vibrant Catholic school and a welcoming community centre

THE MISSIONARY OBLATES OF MARY IMMACULATE Besides missioning in Parishes and Colleges, the Oblates serve in Hospitals, Prisons, Rosies Youth Missions and Universities and where they find the greatest spiritual need.

Australian Oblates are also working in China, Indonesia, Kenya and Zimbabwe and support other Oblates missions in some 65 countries.

all help to nurture the parish community spirit. The recent blessing of a Resurrection Garden has given the parish a sacred space to prayerfully remember and celebrate the lives of those of the community who have entered eternal life.

The Oblate ministry in the Diocese of Sale has in the past inspire a number of locals to become Oblates - Fr Kevin Devine, Fr Tony Maher and his late brother Fr John Maher and Fr Harry Dyer.

The parish is proud also of the priestly vocations of Fr Eugene San SAC, the current Pallottine Provincial and Fr Frank Birrell a diocesan priest of the Broome Diocese.

The Oblates pray that others will hear a call to join them in their ministry of service in the Diocese of Sale and throughout Australia and overseas.

THE late Fr Kevin Casey OMI (right) and Fr Bernard O’Brien OMI celebrate their Golden Anniversary of Priesthood.

Marriage is a vocation in the Church VOCATIONS Awareness Week focusses not only on priestly and religious vocations but also on lay vocations.

Whether married or single, you can look on your life as a vocation within the Church.

Thousands upon thousands of people have been married in the Catholic Church which recognises their union as a sacrament. Unfortunately few couples look upon their marriage as a vocation within the Church.

Marriage is a sacrament which the couple administers to one another with the priest there to lead the ceremony, en-

sure that the couple is willingly entering the union and to witness the event.

Being married is much more than sharing a wedding day, a couple of golden rings, honeymoon and living together.

A marriage is a life journey with someone with whom you are committed to sharing the rest of your life.

In the context of a married vocation, a married person is a woman or man who: • Shares a relationship with a spouse which is self-giving, love- giving and life-giving.

• Lives a vow of faithful love to a spouse through the sacrament of marriage.

• Is committed to helping husband or wife grow to human and Christian maturity.

• Lives a life of faith and prayer so as to grow in their relationship with God. • Seeks to form a family home.

• With husband or wife are the first teachers of their children in Christian faith and values.

• May serve the parish community as lector, catechist, musician, liturgist, minister of Eucharist, in care and welfare groups, and on committees.

• May serve the Church community in ministries such as social work, health care, education, and lay missionary work, and the wider community wherever time, personal talents, resources and family responsibilities allow.

A married vocation is really about a couple living their life to the fullest in close relationship with God, their Church community and of course, themselves, their family and friends.

Catholic Life, August 2013 - Page 11

Vocations Awareness 2013 Many priestly events in Sale Diocese this year

By Fr Darek Jablonski Vocations Director THIS year in Sale Diocese is filled with many “priestly” events.

No matter how happy or sad they are, all of them are getting our closest attention.

We like to be updated with all the sensational news: birth of the Royal Baby, which teams will end up in the Grand Final, what will happen to the politicians after the forthcoming election.

A few months ago some assistant priests were shifted

around the diocese to gain some other pastoral experiences and to let the parishioners get to know them as most of them are fairly new to Australia.

In June we welcomed Fr Babu Vadakkekara VC who arrived from India to stay and work among us for three years.

In July Fr John Allen was shifted forever to the Heavenly Kingdom. It was very sad to see him going so suddenly.

Last week Fr Hugh Brown OCarm left the Diocese and to go back to live with Carmelite Fathers. He contributed a lot to

the Catholic Education Office in Warragul, as well as to the parishes in Berwick, Churchill and Morwell.

Fr John O’Kelly has just celebrated 50 years of being a priest and we are all happy and grateful for his presence among so many of us.

And finally in October Deacon Siju Xavier Mukalekalayil will become a priest for the Diocese of Sale.

Please ask yourself: Are you going to take these events as something sensational or as something that impacts you,

that touches you because you personally will be affected by it. Priests who live among us are of us and we identify ourselves with them, because they are wholly for us.

But those who are wholly for us are not enough. The harvest is much bigger and the laborers are fewer.

I would like to recall what Pope Francis said after ordaining priests for Rome (April 21, 2013 Regina Coeli): “Look! Here in the Square today there are so many of you!

I would like to ask you: have

you sometimes heard the Lord’s voice, in a desire, in a worry, did he invite you to follow him more closely? Have you heard him? I can’t hear you?

“There! Have you wanted to be apostles of Jesus? We must bet on youth for the great ideals. Do you think this? Do you agree? Ask Jesus what he wants of you and be brave! Be brave! Ask him this!”

If you are interested in becoming a priest for the Diocese of Sale feel free to contact me at vocations@sale. catholic.org.au.

Order priests and Capuchin Friars ordinations brotherly vocations MANY people struggle to understand the difference between a diocesan priest and one who is part of a religious community.

In most situations a diocesan priest works within a well-defined area, the diocese, alongside his bishop and fellow priests.

He most often works in a parish, but may also be involved in many other forms of ministry: teaching, hospital chaplaincy, prisons, university, migrants and disadvantaged groups.

A religious priest belongs to a community that may go beyond the geographical diocese.

He lives within a community of other like-minded men for mutual support in the meeting/ answering of a need of church and society, and freely commits himself to live a vowed life of poverty, celibacy and obedience.

There is an emphasis in community life on shared values, prayer and commitment to Christ.

In our diocese we also have order priests assisting on a diocesan level with permission from their various orders.

We have Oblate priest Fr Bernie O’Brien running the parish at Moe, a Third Order Franciscan Fr Mathew Joseph at Traralgon, Vincentians from India Fr Babu Vadekkaka in Traralgon and Fr Sabu Adimakiyil at Narre Warren and Benedictine Fr Hilarion Fernando at Maffra.

A Salesian Fr Joe Pulis helps out in the Bairnsdale parish and at Nagle College and arriving at Newborough this week is Melkite priest Fr Luke Bell who is not an order priest but from a different rite.

Carmelite Fr Hugh Brown has just left the diocese after serving at Morwell and Churchill.

We have previously had other orders working in our diocese

as well.

On the national scene we have order priests serving as bishops in several dioceses, noteably Bishop of Paramatta Anthony Fisher who is a Dominican, Bishop of Ballarat Paul Bird who is a Redemptorist, Archbishop of Perth Tim Costelloe who is a Salesian and Bishop of Port Pirie Fr Gregory O’Kelly who is a Jesuit.

And of course Pope Francis is also a Jesuit.

Another area where some people struggle is in differentiating between between a brother and a priest?

A brother is a member of a religious community who commits himself to Jesus by the same vows as a religious priest.

The fact that he is not ordained does not mean he is less a member of a community.

Rather, it shows community life to be a gathering of brothers, joined together in a common purpose.

Brothers work in just about every imaginable capacity; you name it, they probably do it!

The priest, on the other hand, has a distinctive sacramental role: celebrating Eucharist, Baptism and Penance. He may work in other areas as well, but sacramental life is his special ministry.

Religious communities arose in response to the needs of their times.

Founders sought ways of translating the message of Jesus into the daily life and language of their society. Each congregation has its own particular tradition/ spirit that distinguishes it from other orders.

Consequently, religious orders are not static, but by their nature are dynamic and evolving, seeking new ways of announcing the Kingdom of God.

FOUR newly ordained Capuchins (from left) Fr Thomas McFadden, Fr Dean Mathieson, Fr Ben Johnson and Fr James Grant.

THIS year has been one of great blessings for the Capuchin Friars in Australia. Four friars were ordained as priests, and another professed his perpetual vows.

These five young men have completed their initial formation and are now ministering to God’s people in a variety of ways in the different Capuchin presences in Australia. Another friar has just renewed his temporary vows in preparation for making his solemn commitment, whilst another will be ordained as a deacon later this year.

The friars have recently been expanding their presence in Australia, with new communities opened in South Melbourne, Moorooka QLD, and Blacktown, NSW. They now have three fraternities in Sydney, two in Melbourne, two in Brisbane and another in Adelaide.

They work in a variety of ministries including: ministering to the poor through van ministries and a soup kitchen; the pastoral care of parishes and a shrine; chaplaincy work for universities, colleges, schools, youth, migrants, nursing homes, various prayer movements and groups; and ministries within the fraternity.

The Capuchins are one of the largest men’s Religious Orders in the Church, with more than 10,000 friars in over 100 countries.

Inspired by St Francis of As-

sisi, they strive to live the Gospel as a fraternity of priests and brothers, praying together as a community, being a source of nourishment and strength to each other so as to go out and evangelise, sharing God’s love in mission to the world.

Their Franciscan charism of poverty and “minority” inspires

them to seek to be lesser in their relationships with others to help build and foster communion, brotherhood and peace.

For anyone interested in finding out more about the Capuchin Franciscan way of life, contact Fr Thomas: vocations@ capuchinfriars.org.au or visit: http://capuchinfriars.org.au.

CAPUCHIN FRIARS MINOR Following Christ in a radical way and inspired by the life and writings of St Francis of Assisi, we strive to authentically live a life of prayer, fraternity and ministry as brothers in simplicity, humility and joy.

Contact: Fr Thomas vocations@capuchinfriars.org.au 0432 362 052 www.capuchinfriars.org.au

Page 12 - Catholic Life, August 2013

Vocations Awareness 2013 Many women still answered to call to be sisters WHILE the number of religious sisters has declined considerably in the past 50 years, there are still many women making the commitment to serving God through entering a religious community.

There are dozens of different congregations doing all sorts of different work.

Some sisters belong to contemplative orders which have little contact with the outside world but most sisters are out working in the parishes and communities they serve.

There are teachers, social

workers, nurses and a host of other roles which sisters perform.

Initially most sisters live in community with other sisters but as their numbers have diminished, sisters often live alone in parishes acting as pastoral workers and is some cases even running day to day life in parishes which do not have a resident priest.

Sisters make a vow of chastity and poverty, and make a two step process to becoming a member of the religious congregation.

After a short time in which women decide whether the life they have chosen is for them, they make their first vows and then some years later make their final profession.

There are more than 70 religious congregations in Australia, some large and some very small, but many of them allow women to enter for a period of discernment before making any choices.

The Internet is a great tool to find out about the various congregations because the main ones all have Web sites.

The Catholic Vocation Ministry Australia Website is also a good starting place.

A Sister is a woman who • Is committed to sharing in the life and mission of a religious community.

• Lives a vow of poverty, living simply and sharing her personal gifts, time and resources with others.

• Lives a vow of chastity, living celibacy as an expression of her love of Jesus and all people, but not in an exclusive relationship.

• Lives a vow of obedience, living attentive to God’s call

through prayer and other people.

• Lives a life of faith and prayer so as to grow in her relationship with God. • May serve as a missionary to people of other cultures.

• May serve in education, health care, parish, youth ministry, spirituality, aged care, pastoral ministry, social work, and as a contemplative.

• May be commissioned by her community to serve wherever there is any need, especially among those who are poor.

Pallottines have a rich history of serving others PALLOTTINES have a rich and diverse history that finds at its very beginning Vincent Pallotti walking the streets of Rome and engaging in a wide range of ministries - prisons, seminaries and other chaplaincies - and responding to specific needs, especially among the poor and sick as needs randomly arose.

In his own time, Pallotti’s followers were already in England among Italian migrants, a ministry that continue to this day.

From such times Pallotti already saw that all were called to respond to God and he recognised the skills of people around him. This was radical, given the role of lay people was then considered a passive one.

Since that time the Pallottines have spread internationally as priests and brothers - Europe, North and South America, Africa and more recently with new initiatives in Asia.

In 1901 they arrived in the Kimberley region of Western Australia and remained among indigenous communities for more than 100 years. Through scholarships and other direct

contact this service continues in a more personal way.

Today the Pallottines find themselves in parishes in Western Australia and Victoria, and running a retreat centre at Millgrove in the Yarra Valley.

At various times they have ministered in German migrant chaplaincies, hospital and school chaplaincies and youth centres, and through initiatives suggested by the communities they are serving.

Regionally, Pallottines from international communities are found in Asia in different circumstances - from cities like Hong Kong to the mission parishes in Papua New Guinea and Korea, where they serve God’s people, often in the ordinary things of daily life.

Pallottines see each person as being uniquely gifted and called to play their role in Church and the wider society.

In Church-language we call this “vocation” but I am looking for a more explosive word that expresses the revolutionary idea that is given birth and yet is as old as Wisdom herself.

What ignites your passion?

Pallottines As a man of prayer ...

• priest among God’s people • brother, contemplative in community • with many opportunities to serve in Australia and Asia. www.pallottine.org.au Br Lindsay SAC (03) 9853 8506

THE chapel at Pallotti College retreat centre, Millgrove.

For what is said, way beyond historical perspectives is that we have a dignity, directly blessed by God. And St Vincent Pallotti reminds us also of the dignity of Creation as it too lis-

tens.

The Scriptures bear witness to nature attending to the call of Jesus - we might, with the disciples in the boat (Mark 4:41) ask “Who then is this, that even the

wind and the seas obey him?”

Well, who is this man? Where can we find him? And how do we respond?

These are some questions and your answers and mine are uniquely gifted.

Let me share one idea, indeed finding support through the musings of Pope Francis.

To paraphrase - in our prayer God looks at us, and always with love. Pallotti writes “with infinite love.”

The wildest kind of love, which is irrational, won’t listen to reason but is absolutely passionate and engrossed in the other. But it is an annoying, stirring, provocative love that calls for response - the yes or the no, but never indifference.

As so what is your response, your explosive word? Does our conversation continue.....?

Permanent deacons have role THE permanent diaconate should be seen within the context of expanded or shared ministry, a concept that recognises the ministry of the Church as proclaiming and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The deacon, whose ordination represents a lifetime commitment to service, is also a minister whose lifestyle and family places him in a unique way in the midst of the community which he serves.

Service is the crux of the deacon’s ministry. The name deacon is derived from the Greek work for ‘service’. Justice issues and advocacy for the poor are primary in a deacon’s ministry.

The permanent deacons never go on to become priests but serve the diocese, parishes and schools in various roles.

These men should not be confused with seminarians who become deacons usually for the final year before ordination as priests.

A permanent deacon is a man who: • Is called to be an ordained minister of the Church • Serves the bishop, priests and people of his parish and diocese through a variety of ministries: assisting at Eucharist, preaching, baptising, presiding at funerals, witnessing marriages, and providing pastoral care for the elderly, prisoners, the disadvantaged, or wherever the needs of the Church or people are greatest • Nourishes and fosters his relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer and service

• May be married, or single and celibate. If married, is assisted by his wife in his ministry.

(All permanent deacons in Sale Diocese are married).

• Is usually assigned to a parish, and may be employed there, either full-time or parttime.

• May continue to hold another position part-time to supplement his income.

• A deacon assists and preaches at liturgical celebrations. He may baptise, preside at marriages and funerals, and minister in other ways.

A vocations website THE website www. catholicozvocations.org.au has information on a variety of other vocations within the Church.

These include ones rarely heard of today including consecrated virgins and canonical hermits.

The site explains in detail

how to live out a lay vocation by becoming more involved in Church and parish life.

Having a vocation within your faith is not about becoming ordained or joining a religious order, it is more about becoming connected to your faith through various means and living your life as a Catholic more fully.

Catholic Life, August 2013 - Page 13

The aspiring leaders in Catholic schools Talking Catholic Education with Maria Kirkwood maintaining a Catholic culture in our schools.

Much of the discussion centred on the changed culture and context of schools (and society) and that while Catholic education was challenged in particular, the changing face of our Australian culture and context meant that to be contemporary thinkers and educators we had to engage with what was happening beyond the confines of a parish and diocese.

I was reminded of a homily I heard recently in which the priest noted that to be a good homilist one needed to engage with both scripture and the newspapers. I suggested the same applied to being good educators in Catholic schools.

We were fortunate at the time of the CDLP for Pope Francis to have featured rather extensively in the media, due to World Youth Day activities. One of the interesting headlines that had appeared that week related to President Obama and Pope Francis and their respective use of Twitter.

The article was actually looking at the use of Twitter as a vehicle for diplomats, but the connection between President

Obama and Pope Francis was that while the President had the greater number of “followers� the Pope was more influential due to the fact that more people forwarded his “tweets�.

The Second Vatican Council reminded us that the Holy Spirit speaks to us in a variety of ways but especially through Sacred Scripture and the through the “signs of the times� – “authentic signs of God’s presence and purpose in the happenings, needs and desires� of contemporary people.

(Gaudium et Spes n 11).

The second part of my session with these young aspiring leaders was to provide them with a snapshot of Catholic schools and students from a statistical perspective.

I used the figures provided by the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) for 2012 and it is worth looking at some of these and considering what the figures tell us about the Catholic education sector in Australia.

In 2012 there were 1706 Catholic schools serving 735,403 full time equivalent students. There had been an increase of 11,931 students from the 2011 figures.

Catholic students accounted for just over 522,000 students while non-Catholic students enrolled in Catholic schools 212,237. This was an increase of nearly 9,000 non-Catholic students.

There was a 1.6 percent increase in student numbers between 2011 and 2012 which is the largest percentage increase since records have been kept (1985). Since 1985 the increase has been 28 percent.

Victoria’s increase in numbers was the largest between the 2 years (4062 students). Apparent retention rates (from final year of primary to first year of secondary) have exceeded 100 percent in almost every

state and territory meaning that secondary education is for some students their first experience of a Catholic school.

The NCEC report notes that over the past seven years, Catholic enrolments in Australian Catholic schools have had a net increase of just 1266 students, while nonCatholic enrolments have increased by 46,519 students.

When speaking to Catholic educators and leaders, these figures need to be considered as we move into working towards enhancing the Catholic identity of our schools in what is, in the Australian context, a pluralist society.

Legal service welcome TRUTH Justice and Healing Council chief executive officer Francis Sullivan has welcomed the announcement by AttorneyGeneral, Mark Dreyfus QC, that the Federal Government will provide $18 million to establish a legal service to help people attend the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

The service, called Knowmore, will be run through the National Association of Community Legal Centres and will provide answers to questions and support for people wanting to go to the Royal Commission.

Mr Sullivan said it was important that access to the Royal Commission was made as easy as possible for victims and sur-

vivors of child sexual abuse. “Along with the funding the Government has provided for counselling services this money for legal services is recognition of the very real emotional and financial challenges victims face as they tell their stories to the Commission.�

Knowmore provides information about the Royal Commission, legal advice, links people with specialist counselling and support services and victims’ support groups, and helps prepare of statements and submissions.

Knowmore can be accessed via national free phone call: 1800 605 762 or online: www. knowmore.org.au

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LATE last month I presented at a program called Country Dioceses’ Leadership Program (CDLP).

This is a joint venture supported by the Victorian country dioceses Catholic Education Office staff (Sale, Ballarat and Sandhurst) aimed at supporting emerging leaders in Catholic schools. Participants are drawn from both primary and secondary schools across the three dioceses.

Each diocesan director takes responsibility for a session and the topic I was asked to address was Know the Situation – What is our Contemporary Catholic Culture and Context? Who are our schools, students, teachers and parents?

On the day prior to my presentation, the program had focused on assisting the participants to come to know themselves as leaders in Catholic education.

They were challenged to see leadership as an invitation to discipleship and that leadership was about mission and ministry.

It was obvious from the engaged responses to the work I was doing with the group that they had taken on board the seriousness of this choice to be leaders in Catholic schools.

I was greatly encouraged by the depth with which these young, emerging leaders in our schools were able to discuss and describe their understanding of what it is to be Catholic today and the challenges Catholic educators face in building and

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Page 14 - Catholic Life, August 2013

Superannuation - Inequality against women is clear WE'VE had officially equal pay for equal work laws for many years, yet it is still accepted that women (in general) earn less than men in most industries.

When we look at superannuation, women suffer even more, and for a variety of reasons.

There has been a number of articles recently about the “gender gap” in superannuation, and many reasons given for the differences between superannuation balances of men and women at various ages, and there’s been TV coverage as well.

Each of these seems to have focussed on a single (different) cause rather than providing solutions. We know the problem, but what can women do about it?

At various ages, including from their early 20’s, women have a noticeably lower average superannuation balance than men, and this disparity in balances only increases as people age.

The gap starts widening before the average child bearing age so it’s not all caused by women taking time out from the work force to have children.

That, of course, is probably the major reason why the gap widens even further between ages 30 and 45, but it still continues to widen after these ages, too.

There are number of other factors here, that affect all of us.

These days we have very few “defined benefit schemes” so most superannuation schemes rely on contributions and the fund performance to generate

Quick calendar

What’s on & when

August

DOLLAR$ & SENSE with David Wells

the balances available to members.

This means that lower levels of contributions will generate lower balance. Even if the performances are the same in percentage terms, the balance gap between low and high contribution levels will widen significantly as time goes on.

And the Superannuation Guarantee rising to 12 percent will exacerbate that. Women still historically earn less than men so contribute less, so have lower contributions and lower balances. Then they have time out of the workforce and so have lower balances again.

When present levels of contribution are only expected to cover half of the necessary balance to provide a reasonable income in retirement, then it also becomes necessary to make voluntary contributions in excess of the required minimum.

Many women who generally return to work after having children can’t afford the extra contributions necessary, while paying mortgages (or saving deposits), raising children and generally providing the house keeping.

She may also only be working

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Free Share Market Evening Dollars and Sense columnist David Wells will be talking about the sharemarket.

An informal evening of advice, anecdotes, prophecies and possibilities.

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part-time, or casual or for cash.

All of which will limit super.

This goes some way to explaining why women will nearly always have a lower superannuation balance than men of the same age, regardless of that age.

But what can be done about it?

Until there is truly equal pay then there can’t be truly equal contributions to super and equal balances.

Federal Government initiatives generally are based on the idea of full time workers over their normal working lives.

This actually legislates to the detriment of most women.

If a woman were to contribute an extra two percent of their income for all their lives when they were working this would almost close the balance gap.

But this is difficult for most women.

Spouse contributions are also possible – but not for single women. Low income co-contributions are also available, but these are capped in amount and qualifying income levels so, while useful of themselves, do not fix the problem.

In reality to fix the problem a woman will need to pay much more into superannuation than men, will need a better performing superannuation fund, and then need their partner (if she has one) to keep contributing to her super while she is raising children. That isn’t easy, or in many cases, even possible.

There is a mid level legal firm that recently announced that it will contribute an extra 2 percent of income to superannuation for all its female employees. That’s a great start.

And after all this? A recent survey found that most women felt that superannuation was beyond their understanding, control and not able to benefit them. That’s really scary and needs addressing.

I would advise any woman to get some professional advice regarding their own superannuation circumstances, so that they can make the best of their financial future.

• This report is intended to provide general advice. In preparing this advice, David Wells and Baillieu Holst Ltd did not take into account the investment objective, the financial situation and particular needs of any particular person.

Before making an investment decision on the basis of this advice, you need to consider, with or without the assistance of an adviser, whether the advice is appropriate in light of your particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances.

Social Welfare – CatholicCare Collection month 15 – Assumption solemnity (Holy Day) 15 – Valley region meeting, Traralgon, noon Mass, followed by meeting 17 - Diocesan pastoral council meeting, St Michael’s Parish Centre, Traralgon 20 – Central region meeting, Warragul, 7.30pm 21 – West region meeting, Nar Nar Goon, 10.30am 22 – Queenship of Mary memorial 25 – Migrant and Refugee Sunday Mass with Bishop Prowse, St Michael’s Church, Berwick, 2pm 30 – Closing date for funding requests to Bishop’s Family Foundation

September 1 – Father’s Day 1 – Priests’ Welfare Foundation annual Father’s Day Collection 1 – First Sunday devotions, St Joseph’s Church, Korumburra, 10am to noon 2 – Jewish New Year 2 – Deadline for September Catholic Life 4-6 – Australasian Catholic Press Association conference, Melbourne 6-8 – Australasian Religious Press Association conference, Melbourne 7 - Federal election. (Don't forget to vote!!)

10 – 20th anniversary of ordination of Fr Bernard Buckley, Lakes Entrance 11 – Catholic Life publication 14 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross Feast Day 16 – Silver jubilee of ordination of Fr Mark Godridge, Bunyip 20 – Third term ends 21 – International Day of Peace (UN) 21 – St Matthew Feast Day 23-25 – Secondary students youth camp 27 – St Vincent de Paul memorial 30 – Deadline for October Catholic Life

October 1 – International Day of Older Persons (UN) 1 – St Therese of the Child Jesus memorial 4 – St Francis of Assisi memorial 5 – Ordination of Deacon Siju Xavier as Sale Diocese priest, Thermala, Kerala, India 6 – Daylight Saving begins (turn clocks forward one hour) 7 – Fourth term begins 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary memorial 10 – World Mental Health Day 10 – Catholic Life publication 15 – St Theresa of Avila me-

morial 17 – Valley region meeting, St Mary’s, Newborough, noon 18 – St Luke Feast Day 19 - St Mary’s Church, Bairnsdale, centenary celebrations, appeal launch and dinner dance 20 - Concelebrated centenary Mass for St Mary’s Church, Bairnsdale, 10.30am 29 – Mission Sunday (special collection) 23 – South region meeting, Leongatha, 11.15am 27 – St Sofia Festival, Koo Wee Rup, with Italian Mass, 9.30am 28 – Sts Simon and Jude Feast Day

November 1 – All Saints solemnity 2 – All Souls solemnity 3 – Annual pilgrimage to shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale 4 – Deadline for November Catholic Life 5 – Melbourne Cup Day holiday 6 – East region meeting, Orbost, 10.30am 10 – Annual Our Lady of Sion College reunion, Sale 11 – Remembrance Day 12 – Diocesan pastoral council meeting, Sion House, Warragul 13 – Catholic Life publication 19 – Central region meeting, Drouin, 7.30pm 20 – West region meeting, Nar Nar Goon, 10.30am 21 – Presentation of the BVM memorial 24 – Christ the King solemnity 30 - St Andrew Feast Day

December 1 – Advent begins 2 – Deadline for December Catholic Life 3 – St Francis Xavier memorial 5 – Valley region Christmas lunch, Morwell Club, noon 5-7 – Australian Catholic Youth Festival, Melbourne 6 – St Nicholas memorial 8 – End of term for most secondary schools 9 – Immaculate Conception solemnity 11 – Catholic Life publication 20 – School holidays begin (primary schools) 24 – Christmas Eve 25 – Christmas Day (Holy Day) 26 – Boxing Day 26 – St Stephen Feast Day 27 – St John Feast Day 28 – Holy Innocents Feast Day 29 – Holy Family Feast Day 31 – New Year’s Eve

I do not fear tomorrow for I have seen today

Catholic Life, August 2013 - Page 15

The churches in Krakow and Warsaw, Poland PATRICK Morgan and his wife Ann have recently been in Europe, so he has written a series of articles on churches they visited there, in place of his normal column on Gippsland history.

P

OLAND has had a long and distinguished history as a European Catholic nation. But for the whole of the 19th century it was carved up by Germany, Russia and Austria and disappeared from the map.

During this period the area of southern Poland around Krakow was ruled by Catholic Austria, and Warsaw by the Prussians and Russians. After gaining its independence again in 1918 at the end of World War 1, Poland had only two decades of freedom before being invaded by Russia and Germany in 1939.

By 1945 the centre of the capital, Warsaw, had been virtually wiped out by German forces. Much of the historic Old Town has since been rebuilt as a faithful replica of what formerly existed.

Central Warsaw had about 20 Catholic Churches, of which only a handful survived the war.

Poland suffered proportionally the worst damage of any nation in the second world war, and then endured another 45 years of Communist repression before becoming independent again in 1990.

St Anne’s Church, built in 1454 and situated in the centre of the city on the town square, is one of the oldest in Warsaw.

The church was originally connected to a cloister of

History with Patrick Morgan Franciscan monks.

The interior walls and vaults It has been reconstructed of St Anne’s church and its six over the centuries, the façade side chapels are decorated with refashioned in the neo-classical frescoes depicting the life of its Greek temple form it retains patron saint. today.

The church was damaged by The interior was decorated in the Germans as they retreated the Baroque style on the orders from Warsaw in 1945. The of the Polish King Stanislaw Sunday sermon we heard Poniatowski. there recalled the German and The Baroque architectural Russian invasions of Poland style developed from the late during the war.

16th century as one expression The church, which has a of the Catholic Counter special chapel dedicated to Reformation against the Poland’s military history expansion of Protestantism. and its war dead, now serves Churches were transformed as the parish church for the by the addition of extravagant nearby university, whose staff ornamentation and embellishment.

The interior in Baroque churches acts as a shell used to display painting, sculpture, frescoes, embellished columns and other decorations which fill much of the wall, ceiling and dome space.

Opulence, color and gilding present an overwhelming visual experience. Baroque was a triumphalist expression of the church’s power, wealth and public position.

Baroque churches are now found principally in Italy, where the style originated, and in central and eastern ST Mary’s Church in Krakow Europe. town square.

Much to learn about St Francis Talking about Books

ST FRANCIS OF ASSISI - A Biography, by Omer Englebert, published by Servant Books, distributed by Rainbow Books, paperback, 332 pages, rrp $19.95.

EVER since Pope Francis took the name of this famous saint there had been a lot more interest in him.

There have been hundreds of books written about the holy man of Assisi since his death but this one is a classic.

It was first published in 1965 and is an ideal introduction to the charism of St Francis.

It is a scholarly book which has been well-rehearsed by the author who draws on traditional sources for a spiritual look at the popular religious figure.

The book goes through his life from his conversion to God’s will from his previous lifestyle.

It tells of him giving away his wealth and recruiting a group of like-minded men to become friars.

No story of St Francis can be told without mention of his soulmate St Clare who established the Order of Poor Ladies along similar lines to the Franciscan rule.

The book covers the missions to Christian and pagan lands, establishment of the third order and schools.

It tells of some of Francis’s mystical experiences as witnessed by other friars and his receiving the five stigmata of Christ.

And what book on St Francis of Assisi would be complete without the magnificent Canticle of Brother Sun?

prayerful teacher and protector of the poor.

The retelling is a prayerful journey and it is good to compare this work with the previously mentioned biography.

You really need to read both to get the full picture of St Francis.

FRANCIS AND JESUS by Murray Bodo, published by Franciscan Media, distributed by Rainbow Books, paperback, 145 pages, rrp $24.95.

ME TOO FAVORITE BIBLE STORIES by Marilyn Lashbrook, illustrated by Stephanie McFetridge Britt, published by Lion Hudson, distributed by Rainbow Books, hardback, 306 pages, rrp $19.95.

THIS is a new book on St Francis by a Franciscan priest who is an award winning author who leads annual pilgrimages to Rome and Assisi.

The author draws together the day to day life of the saint in a way in which it mirrors Jesus.

The story of St Francis is retold dramatically to stress the close relationship between the saint and Christ.

Fr Bodo depicts Francis as suffering, misunderstood and an itinerant who becomes a

THIS is a fantastic storybook for children, telling 10 favorite Bible stories with an accompanying CD which leads youngsters through the stories.

There are also songs with each story with the words which they can follow.

It represents great value and we can guarantee that the CD and book will be repeated over and over.

and students played an important role in the Solidarity movement in the 1980s, pressing for Polish independence from the Soviet Union and from Communism.

The church has an altar dedicated to Fr Popieluszko, murdered by the Communist secret police for supporting Solidarity.

Another altar is dedicated to St. Maximilian Kolbe, a Franciscan priest who gave his life in exchange for a condemned man in a Nazi concentration ST Anne’s Church in central Warsaw. camp.

Warsaw’s Carmelite custom began in medieval times Church of the Assumption, in and spread across Europe. It is the same street as St Anne’s, a major feast day of the church, was begun in the 1660s on the held on the Thursday or Sunday orders of the Polish Primate. after Trinity Sunday.

It replaced an earlier wooden Corpus Christi is a public church burnt down by invading holiday in Poland. We spent Swedes and Germans at the end the day at a cottage in the of the Thirty Years War. countryside 50km east of Like St Anne’s, it was later Warsaw. adapted to the Baroque style In a nearby town called with a neo-classical façade Pultusk we saw a Corpus Christi added. The interior has a procession passing through the sumptuous altar, extensive crowded town square before wall paintings and gilded re-entering the church. First decorations.

Communion is conducted This church was the place on this day and also on the where the composer and pianist following Saturday, which is Frederick Chopin gave his first the feast day for children. public recital.

Unlike Warsaw, Krakow was When the Russians crushed not destroyed during World a Polish uprising in 1864, War 2. Its church of St Mary they closed the Carmelite in the main square has a finer monastery, which had been a interior than any church we focal point of Polish national saw in Warsaw. Krakow has feeling. After World War 2 the an abundance of churches church, which had survived the on one street we saw four old German onslaught, was used stone churches each run by as Warsaw’s main church until a different order and with a the Cathedral of St John’s was different liturgy; each had wellrebuilt. The former monastery attended Masses. Catholicism is now used as a seminary, and is flourishing in Poland, with the church as the seminary nuns, seminary students and a church. devoted laity noticeable.

As we came out of the church The Wawel castle in Krakow, on a Sunday morning we saw the former capital of Poland, the Polish President, Bronislav was the home of the rulers of Komorowski, giving an address Poland - their tombs are in outside the Presidential Palace the cathedral. The presence of next door commemorating Pope John Paul II is noticeable Solidarity becoming the Polish everywhere in this, his home government in 1989, an event town. which precipitated the demise We also visited an 11th of Communism. After his talk century Benedictine monastery he came over and exchanged called Tyniec on the fertile greetings with those watching banks of the Vistula River the event. outside the town.

The day after we arrived in Warsaw, Krakow and Tyniec Poland, June 2, was the feast are all situated on fortified sites of Corpus Christi, the day on on rocky eminences high above which the Eucharist is honoured the Vistula River, defendable in by being carried around the past times from possible attack. streets in a monstrance in an elaborate procession. The

Central Catholic Bookshop 322 Lonsdale St., Melbourne (Next door to St Francis Church) Visit our Website at www.catholicbookshop.com.au

Browse through our range of books and sacramental and religious gifts, or search for specific items by author, title or keyword.

Open seven days Phone and mail orders welcome. Credit cards accepted.

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Page 16 - Catholic Life, August 2013

World Youth Day 2013

BISHOP Christopher Prowse with some fellow pilgrims on Copacabana Beach.

ALL decked out in the colors of the Australian flag. The normal green and gold is also the colors of Brazil so this time around most Aussie went with the blue of the flag.

FLYING the flag for Australia.

POPE Francis arrives in Rio.

A Gippsland pilgrim’s thoughts on WYD WORLD Youth Day 2013 was an exhilarating experience, and I was privileged to be able to share it with not only people from our diocese, but people from across the globe. To see so many diverse young people in the one place, brought together by their common faith, is purely exciting and inspiring.

The catechesis sessions with bishops from around the world gave me a chance to deepen and strengthen my faith as well as equipping me with ways to “go and make disciples of all nations.” This was my second World Youth Day, and both experiences were

equally worthwhile in their own ways, each giving me new perspectives and a “fired up” sense of joy and excitement in my faith.

I would strongly recommend World Youth Day to any young person who is looking to explore and strengthen their faith on a massive scale, while making strong friends and amazing memories in the process.

- Jarryd Atkinson, secondary schools youth minister at the Catholic Education Office, Warragul THE towering statue of Christ the Redeemer overlooks the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro and its famous Copacobana Beach.

PILGRIMS crowd the beach far into the distance.

LEFT: Mission Chile pilgrims on their first day in Santiago.

RUGGED up against the weather, a pilgrim is deep in prayer.

Catholic Life, August 2013 - Page 17

12 couples say “I do” again

OUR own Bishop Christopher Prowse speaking at one of the catechism sessions led by bishops from around the world.

THE loving couples who renewed their marriage vows are (from left) Jim and Betty O’Connor, John and Ann Larkins, Shelvy and Joseph Karipal, Barney and Naureen Keilor, Hazel and Jim Rossi, Jan and Ken Loughnan, Joy and Barney O’Meara, Sheley and Brock Churchill, Gaye and Frank Garry, Vic and Terri Ferrore, Alice and John Jefferis. Absent, Jackie and Chris Gourlay.

LOCH - Accompanied by a Karipal who wore the suit from for having the commitment to witness and in front of chil- his traditional Indian wedding. reaffirm those marriage vows. dren, grandchildren, famThe church was decorated His blessing included wishes ily, friends and parishioners, 12 with shades of red and white that they continue to have a couples renewed their marriage flowers to signify the various deep faith in each other that vows at St Vincent’s Catholic kinds of love and peace found strengthens their love as partChurch, Loch, during Mass on between each other, cultures ners for life.

Following the service over 80 July 7. and throughout the world.

Beautiful singing with muSignificantly, other decora- people shared a ‘wedding feast’ sic by organ, flute and guitar, tions throughout the church of soup, sausage rolls, sandfrom Ann, Danielle and Geral- were items borrowed from pa- wiches, cake and biscuits.

The finale of the evening was dine was equal to any cathedral rishioner’s weddings and birththe cutting of the wedding cake performance. days.

Of the 12 couples one has Fr Francis Otobo performed with everybody given a piece to been married for 61 years, an- the ceremony. When introduc- take home.

When the idea of renewing other less than six months. ing the renewal, Fr Otobo spoke Each couple brought their wed- of the path that each couple marriage vows was muted by ding photo to be displayed and have travelled since they first the parishioners some months compared. joined hands in marriage; shar- ago, it only took a short time Couples chose not to wear ing joys, blessings and other de- to gather the couples. Another ceremony is planned for sumtheir original wedding attire mands of marriage. with the exception of Joseph He congratulated the couples mer 2014.

Can drive amasses over 1500 WARRAGUL - St Joseph’s Primary School Warragul has chalked up a fantastic effort in their annual can challenge for 2013.

During winter each year the students are asked to donate food cans to the St Vincent de Paul Society over a two week period and this year they far exceeded their highest total yet.

One single class of students donated 180 cans.

Religious education co-or-

dinator Janelle Szkwarek said “Everyone did an absolutely amazing job, over 1500 cans is a huge effort and it was so good to see the interest and excitement this challenge bought to our students once again. Each year the total just keeps getting bigger and bigger!”

On June 28 two representatives from the St Vincent de Paul Society visited to accept the cans, they thanked the students immensely and spoke at

Mass about just how important the can challenge is for them every year, and the big need in Warragul for help.

The cans of food are given weekly to many needy families throughout Warragul and the students felt really proud of their efforts.

Students felt very happy in knowing just how important these cans are for so many families in their community this winter.

Calix for recovering alcoholics NO guessing where this pilgrim’s patriotism lies, but by the end of World Youth Day, the pilgrims of the many nations were united in their love of Jesus.

A FAMILIAR face in the crowd as Pope Francis makes his way to one of the World Youth Day events.

THE Twelve Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous is generally accepted as the best therapy for those afflicted with the disease of alcoholism.

The Calix Society, an organisation of recovering alcoholics, their friends and family, shares this view.

Many men and women, who have spent a long time, often many years, unwittingly developing a physical dependence on alcohol. Finally they reach the end of the line - physically, mentally and spiritually. They manage to put together a short period of sobriety and tentatively test the Twelve Step program. Their physical condition improves rapidly and, after a longer period, so does the emotional side of their lives.

For Catholics, however, something more is needed that can’t be found in their Twelve Step meetings. They realise that the program advocates recourse to a “higher power” and God, but they also know that the programs are necessarily nondenominational.

Having been raised in a church rich in tradition, dogma and ritual, these recovering alcoholics begin to yearn once again for the faith they probably have neglected or abandoned.

It is at this point that the Calix Society can say: “Come back home. You must maintain your sobriety through your affiliation with Alcoholics Anonymous, but let us help you to regain the spiritual life without which you may not succeed in the never-ending fight against your addiction.”

The “Credo” of the society succinctly tells the story: “Calix is an association of Catholic alcoholics who are maintaining their sobriety through affiliation with and participation in the Fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous.

“Our first concern is to interest Catholics with an alcoholic problem in the virtue of total abstinence. Our second stated purpose is to promote the spiritual development of our membership.

“Our conversation and our

association together should be a source of inspiration and encouragement to each other, geared to our growth toward spiritual maturity. Our participation in all other spiritual activities of Calix, such as the frequent celebration of the Liturgy, reception of the Sacraments, personal prayer and meditation, Holy Hours, Days of Recollection and retreats, aid us in our third objective, namely, to strive for the sanctification of the whole personality of each member.”

We are currently seeking expressions of interest from men, women, priests and religious who are in recovery, their families and any others that have an interest in this ministry, to explore the possibility of establishing the Calix Society in Australia, beginning in the Sale Diocese.

If you are interested please email Colleen, with your first name and email address only, at calixinaustralia@gmail.com Your privacy is assured.

Page 18 - Catholic Life, August 2013

For the Young and Young at Heart You can colour in the pirates

Time for a Laugh

THE new priest is nervous about hearing confessions, so he asks an older priest to sit in on his sessions. The new priest hears a couple confessions, then the old priest asks him to step out of the confessional for a few suggestions.

The old priest says, “Cross your arms over your chest and rub your chin with one hand.”

The new priest tries this.

The old priest suggests, “Try saying things like, ‘I see,’ ‘yes,’ ‘go on,’ ‘I understand,’ and ‘how did you feel about that?’”

The new priest says those things, trying them out. The old priest says, “Now, don’t you think that’s a little better than saying, ‘Whoa... What happened next?’”

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Age . . . . .

A POLICE officer pulls over a driver and informs him that he has just won $5000 in a safety competition, all because he is wearing his seat belt.

“What are you going to do with the prize money?” the officer asks.

The man responds, “I guess I’ll go to driving school and get my licence.”

His wife says, “Officer, don’t listen to him. He’s a smart aleck when he’s drunk.”

The guy in the back seat pops up out from under the blanket and says, “I knew we wouldn’t get far in this stolen car.”

Just then a knock comes from the boot and a voice calls out, “Are we over the border yet?”

ONE day a worker in a large government department was digging School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . through his office drawers when suddenly he came Send entries to Catholic Life Colouring Contest. c/- PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820. upon a magic lamp.

Since he’d heard these jokes before, he knew that he had to rub the lamp and make the genie come out.

So he rubbed the lamp and THIS month’s winner is - oh, surprise - out popped a Immanuel Saldanha, 8, who genie. attends St Brendan’s Primary The genie asked “What is School in Lakes Entrance. your first wish?”

It is good to have a winner The government worker from up east because thought about it for a second, recently most of our winners then replied, “I would like have been from the west and to be rich!” central regions.

So the genie granted him We will deliver Immanuel’s his wish, and poof the man prize soon. was surrounded by piles of We haven’t forgot last money rivalling the heaps of month’s winner from Mary Bill Gates.

McKillop Primary at Narre KIARA D’Sylva from Don Bosco Primary School, Narre Since the government Warren North. It will also be Warren, shows off her prize she won in the colouring contest worker knew the whole We published the wrong photo last month. there soon.

Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

This month’s Last month’s winner prize winner

wish process, the genie didn’t even have to ask for number two before he said, “My second wish is to be on an island with beautiful women surrounding me and obeying my every command!” And poof, he was there.

Then the government worker decided on his third wish, “I don’t want to do any work ever again!” and poof -- ironically he was back in his office.

A BIG dog lies in the yard and an old man in overalls sits on the porch.

“Excuse me, sir, but does your dog bite?” a jogger asks.

The old man looks over his newspaper and replies, “Nope.”

As soon as the jogger enters the yard, the dog begins snarling and growling, and then attacks the jogger’s legs. As the jogger flails around in the yard, he yells, “I thought you said your dog didn’t bite!”

The old man mutters, “It isn’t my dog.”

HOW do you know that carrots are good for your eyesight?

Rabbits don’t wear glasses?

A WOMAN (I’ll leave the hair colour up your imagination) wanted to go on a diet. She went to the doctor and asked for his advice. He said that she was going to go on a diet for three days “Eat anything and everything you want for the first two days of your diet.

Then skip the third day.”

So the woman went home and ate anything and everything she wanted for the first two days, then she skipped the third day.

The next day she went back to the doctor and he asked her, “How is your diet?”

She said, “Well, the first two days were easy but that third day was hard. Doing all that skipping made me really tired.”

A CROOK mistakenly made a counterfeit $8 bill instead of a $10 bill. He decided to try it out anyway.

He went to the local corner store and asked for change.

The shopkeeper looked at the $8 bill and gave the crook two $4 bills as change.

Catholic Life, August 2013 - Page 19

Schools welcome bipartisan support

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HOLY BEGINNINGS

HOLY SPIRIT You who makes me see everything and shows me the way to reach my ideals, you who gives me a divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me; in this short dialogue I want to thank you for everything and affirm once more that I never want to be separated from you, no matter how great the material desire may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in Your perpetual Glory. (Mention your request). Thank you Holy Spirit for your love towards me and my loved one. Amen This prayer should be said for 3 consecutive days. After the 3rd day the request will be granted, no matter how difficult it may be. While making the request one must either promise to publish on granting the favour or promise to circulate copies of it to as many people as possible.

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Priests & Deacons Are you considering a vocation as a priest or deacon for the Diocese of Sale?

If so please contact Diocesan Vocations Director

vocations@sale.catholic.org.au

bingo Sacred Heart School

The Bishop’s Family Foundation helps families by funding charitable projects throughout the Diocese of Sale.

You can help by making a bequest in your will.

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THE National Catholic Education Commission has welcomed the funding certainty delivered by the announcement that if elected the Coalition would

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honor the Commonwealth Government’s Better Schools funding plan for Catholic schools in 2014 and Commonwealth school funding over the forward estimates period to 2016-17.

NCEC executive director Ross Fox said the Coalition’s commitment establishes bipartisan support for the Commonwealth funding that will support Catholic schools and provides welcome certainty.

“Catholic education welcomes today’s commitment by Opposition Leader Tony Abbott and Shadow Education Minister Christopher Pyne to match current commonwealth school funding proposals to 2016-17,” Mr Fox said.

“Catholic schools and systems are currently budgeting for 2014 and beyond and this certainty will be welcomed.

This certainty will also assist Catholic education systems to plan to support the needs of schools and students into the years ahead.

“The NCEC particularly welcomes the Coalition’s commitment to review the Australian Education Act to ensure school systems maintain appropriate levels of autonomy.

“Catholic education has consistently raised issues through the legislative process in relation to preserving system autonomy and the scope of Ministerial power over schools.

This commitment represents a welcome opportunity to further consider these arrangements for the benefit of schools and systems.”

Mr Fox says the NCEC also acknowledges the significant work of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Education Minister Bill Shorten in clarifying the Better Schools funding arrangements with the Catholic sector in recent weeks.

“The Catholic sector looks forward to ongoing discussions with both the Government and Opposition about further development of their plans and policies for education in Australia,” he said.

The Australian Government’s Better Schools plan will progressively deliver increased Commonwealth funding to Catholic education systems in Australia based on common measures of student need across all education sectors.

One in five, or 735,403 Australian students currently attend the 1706 Catholic schools across the country.

Photo contribution reminder CONTRIBUTORS to Catholic Life are reminded that photographs should be emailed as JPG attachments and should not be part of Word, Publisher or PDF files.

Photos should be a minimum 250kb in size, but preferably around 1Mb, and care should be taken when emailing that they are sent “original size” and not one of the other options.

Page 20 - Catholic Life, August 2013

Emmaus active in first half of year EMMAUS Spirituality Ministry for the Diocese of Sale has been very active during the first half of 2013.

The Spiritual Formation Program, conducted over 16 Saturdays from September 2012 to February 2013, was held in the Pakenham Parish Centre, generously made available by Fr Bernie Mahony.

The program consisted of four units conducted one day per week for four weeks on the topics: How do I know what God wants of me, The Art of Prayer, Apostolic Leadership, and Preparing for the Future There were 17 participants who completed the first two units while 14 completed all four units. It is anticipated that two similar programs will be

Facing the Truth Log in to follow the Catholic Church response and latest on the Victorian Government inquiry into child abuse. www.facingthetruth.org.au

The fun of the bush camp

available in the diocese in 2014.

One of the first spiritual exercises retreats, Inner Peace in Friendship with Jesus is now being held at 48 Monash Rd, Newborough.

The retreat is running over five Wednesdays beginning August 7. Information about this retreat was sent to the parishes and is totally booked out, therefore Emmaus will be giving this retreat again in the very near future.

The Emmaus Spirituality team is available to conduct half day, one day and other retreats and prayer days.

It would love to go to individual parishes and give retreats with a theme that they might like to choose. You will need to contact us to book one of our retreats as bookings are coming in quickly for next year.

There are qualified personnel available for spiritual direction, who will be chosen for you through prayer and discernment.

For further information please contact Ruth Spierings on 5126 1008 Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 5998 2664 after hours or email salespirituality@hotmail.com

TRARALGON - St Michael’s Primary School Grade 3 and 4 students and teachers travelled by bus to Coonawarra Farm Resort for an overnight camp.

Coonawarra Farm Resort is located between Stratford and Bairnsdale.

Outdoor activities at the resort included the giant swing, ball games, canoeing, orienteering, hut building, low and high ropes and the flying fox.

The evening concluded under a clear, crisp, star-filled, blue sky night, with children toasting marshmallows and cooking damper on an impressive camp fire.

The following day staff and students woke up to beautiful SOME of the students with a rough bush shelter they made out of sunshine and frost covering the bark and pieces of wood. ground. It was an icy start for The camping program also the camps increases over time. those who had canoeing as their gives the children an opportuSchool Principal, Cathy first activity for the day. nity to build independence out- Blackford said, “Coonawarra When asked about camp side of the family unit and to Farm Resort was definitely a Sanya from Grade 3 said, “My consolidate old friendships and very exciting, busy and action favourite activities were the gi- build new ones with other chil- packed overnight camp. Our ant swing and the flying fox be- dren in the level.

Grade 3/4 students came away cause I like scary stuff.”

It also enables St Michael’s from the camp with lots of new Kennedy from Grade 4 said, to offer a sequentially based skills, new experiences and sto“I liked the flying fox and gi- camping experience from ries to share. ant swing because they were Grade 3-6, where duration of fun and I can’t believe I did it.

I thought I would skip them. I also liked to relax and get warm in the bunkroom.”

One of the main goals of this program is to help build relationships within the group and to consolidate team ideals and values early in the school year.

A treemendous day at St Kieran’s

Seminarians studying in Nigeria

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MOE - The cold, damp and drizzly weather did nothing to dampen the spirits of the staff, students, parents and parishioners of St Kieran’s Catholic Primary School in Moe when they came together to celebrate Planet Ark’s ‘National Schools Tree Day’, by planting a number of trees, shrubs and flowers.

The community effort was greatly assisted by Erin and John from the team at Traralgon Toyota, who were major sponsors of the event - donating a lemon tree, a number of plants, fertiliser and compost to the school.

Both Erin and John also generously donated their time and hole-digging skills in the preparation of the area for planting.

Rose Howell, Year 2/1 teacher and gardening coordinator at St Kieran’s explained “We are very grateful to Traralgon Toyota for their generosity in assisting us with this event. It was a very wet day but we managed to get all our plants and memorial tree planted.

“Two students from each class were involved in planting a range of indigenous and other native plants in a recently constructed garden bed adjacent to our newly refurbished class-

room building.

A lemon tree was also planted in memory of Br Jason Duck, parish assistant, who passed away very suddenly last year.

The sun came out for a while as parish priest Fr Bernie O’Brien, was planting the memorial tree with us, so it was quite moving, Rose explained.

The lemon tree was planted in the school vegetable garden and it will be great for the students to see it working hard and cheerfully bearing fruit within our school community - just as Br Jason did in his short time with us.

The vegetable garden is an important part of our school and it has been very rewarding to see many students excel in this educative outdoors environment – especially those who might not usually excel in the more formal academic classroom environment.

The afternoon concluded with Erin presenting each of the students with a Certificate of Thanks and a gift bag filled with National Tree Day goodies. We look forward to nurturing our plants, watching them grow, and adding lemon juice to our classroom cooking next year.