Catholic life August 2015

Catholic Life Publication of the Diocese of Sale

Free

ISSUE 189

August 2015

Priests’ Welfare appeal

THE annual parish collection for the Priests’ Welfare Association will again take place throughout Sale Diocese on Father’s Day. The foundation supports sick and elderly priests. Two of the recipients are Mgr Bill Caffrey (centre) and Mgr John Allman PA (right) who live at O’Mara House, Traralgon. Bishop Pat O’Regan joined with priests and religious of the diocese on July 27 to celebrate their 90th birthdays. Mgr Caffrey turned 90 in June and Mgr Allman will be 90 next week.

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To donate visit www.trinityfamilies.org.au or phone (03) 5622 6688 for a credit card deduction form.

Page 2 - Catholic Life, August 2015

The Universal and the Particular LEARNING a new language takes time. Learning a new role, Bishop, and a new area, Sale, takes time.

It’s been my joy in this past five and a half months to travel the length and breadth of our diocese.

In the next two weeks I shall have visited all of our parishes; by year’s end I shall hope to visit all of our schools.

Our diocese is just a shade over the size of Denmark and not quite as large as Estonia. It is 44,441 square kilometres.

I have been delighted by the great variety I have received a warm welcome from the faith communities I have visited, all of whom are most willing to share the story of their parish and to outline the challenges which each place bears.

We are blessed to have so many dedicated people working in the diocese. Each day I meet someone else who has made and is making a significant contribution to proclaiming the Kingdom of God. It strikes me that we are not all that good at times at telling our story and what Good News there is amongst us. This is not to pat ourselves on the back, but rather doing what we are called to do as the Body of Christ - Proclaim the

Good News.

I’ve made mistakes, for which I ask your forgiveness and from which I learn. So I continue to ask for your prayer and patience.

One of the great things about being a Catholic is that we get to be able to balance both the universal with the particular. At the one time we are connected to the Universal Church and we experience the concrete reality of that in our local diocese and parish.

I’ve outlined a little of the particular and the joy and great hope I have found here in Sale and am delighted to join, and so it will be another joy to also discover the universal dimensions of the church when I travel to Rome in early September.

For the last 10 years or so, each year in Rome, a Pilgrimage to the Tomb of St Peter and Colloquium for New Bishops is held. In our own inimitable Australian way this is referred to as Baby Bishops’ School.

I welcome the opportunity to join in that group. I’m not sure how many new bishops might be there.

In the past it has been around 120.

I’m delighted that I shall be joining with two of the auxiliary bishops from Melbourne, Bishops

Terry Curtin and Mark Edwards OMI. It’s an extensive program, the highlight of which will be an audience with Pope Francis. I shall remember you all in prayer when I am there. After the Colloquium I am on annual leave.

Another aspect of the universal dimension is the chance to work closely with bishops and dioceses around Australia and in particular here in Victoria.

As you know there are many complicated and most important issues facing our country, among which are: the way in which we look after our world; the way we look after the refugees and asylum seekers of the world; how we view marriage and debates around endof life issues.

While each of these issues are

complex our carefully thought through position as a Church is very clear on all of these matters.

There are many things being done to make our voice heard in these areas. Likewise our response to the continuing Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse The art of truly being Catholic then is to effect the right balance between these two dimensions. It is not always easy, for too much emphasis on one or the other leads to a despondency not joy or to optimism not hope. Striving for the right balance requires that we see all things through the eyes of faith

One More Thing!

It’s a great problem to have! The regional seminary, in Melbourne, needs to be be expanded to accommodate the rising number of students It is to be hoped that our diocese will have three new students to begin their studies in 2016. So I encourage you to join me in supporting the forthcoming appeal for the building fund. All part of laying the foundations for the future. God is Good. + Bishop Pat O’Regan Bishop of Sale

Catholic Church responds to end of life inquiry THE Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne has taken a strong stand against euthanasia in its submission presented last week to the Victorian Inquiry into End of Life Choices.

The submission defines euthanasia as an act or omission which, of itself or by intention, causes death in order to eliminate suffering.

It makes a number of strong

recommendations headed by the fact that euthanasia presents a rupture from traditional medicine and should be rejected as incompatible with the dignity of each person.

The submission also calls for greater education around palliative care and also suggests funding should be provided to allow all Victorians access to timely and responsive palliative

Catholic Life PO Box 1410, Warragul Vic. 3820 Phone: (03) 5622 6688

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care.

There are also recommendations that advance care planning should be descriptive rather than prescriptive and the regulations related to advance care planning should respect the values of the patient.

The submission comes from the Episcopal Vicars for Health Aged and Disability Care and

Life Marriage and Family on behalf of the Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart with the

endorsement of the Bishops of Sale, Ballarat and Sandhurst.

Clergy reflection day

Latrobe alley V uneral F Services

Editor: Colin Coomber SOME of the clergy present at the reflection day are (from left) Fr Bernie Krotwaar, Fr Tom O’Connell, Fr Peter Bickley, Fr Mark Godridge, Fr Herman Hengel, Fr Dariusz Jablonski and Mgr John Allman PA.

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CLERGY of Sale Diocese met last week in Warragul to celebrate the feast day of St John Vianney who is the patron saint of priests.

Bishop Pat O’Regan suggested the occasion be marked in some way to acknowledge the saint’s significance to the clergy.

Almost all priests and deacons of the diocese were able to attend.

St John Vianney was an 18th Century French priest renowned for his extraordinary care of his

parishioners and was canonised in 1925.

The Curé of Ars, as he was known, often spent 16 hours a day hearing confessions.

He began seminary training before the French Revolution but after being drafted in the army, deserted and went into hiding. After the revolution he resumed training for the priesthood.

Pope Benedict XVI declared Vianney as universal patron saint of priests.

Catholic Life, August 2015 - Page 3

Police exaggeration on sex abuse attacked THE Truth, Justice and Healing Council has attacked Victoria Police’s exaggeration of suicide deaths due to clergy abuse, but also warned the Church against believing that police are waging a vendetta.

TJHC chief executive officer Francis Sullivan said was he seriously concerned after The Weekend Australian revealed two weeks ago that police had vastly overstated the number

of people who had committed suicide as a result of clergy abuse.

Police originally claimed that up to 43 people may have killed themselves as a result of clergyrelated sex abuse, but when the list was properly investigated just one confirmed case was found.

Despite this, the force has never publicly apologised for

the mistake, nor has it openly acknowledged the damage the mistake caused the Church or that it created a broader sense of betrayal among its followers.

Mr Sullivan said it was a major concern that the widely reported Victoria Police investigation into child sexual abuse was factually wrong.

The police claim of up to 43 suicides had been central to the

condemnation of the Church.

He said he believed there were many cases where suicides may have followed clerical sexual abuse, but it was essential the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse relied on facts.

However, Mr Sullivan did not believe there was a conspiracy against the church.

“The false claims by the

Ex-CEO staff member heads innovative Aboriginal school THE Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island education officer at the Catholic Education Office in Warragul Paul Munday has been appointed inaugural principal of an innovative Aboriginal school being set up in Melbourne.

Mr Munday will head the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School in Vaucluse, Richmond.

He began last week with no operational buildings, staff or students.

However, when the school opens its doors next year it will be home to 24 young indigenous students drawn from remote communities and regional Victoria.

Mr Munday said the Year 7 students would be boarders for 12 months, after which they would move out to around 20 feeder schools who had offered scholarships.

The feeder schools were all Catholic and independent boarding schools in Melbourne.

However, before MITS opens its doors to students there is a lot of work to be done to transform a two-storey Victorian era building known as Lockington.

A new 12 bed female dormitory was being built, a new kitchen and refurbishment of the rest of the building.

Mr Munday said that the emphasis would be on building the literacy and numeracy skills of the young students but there would also be strong emphasis on building social and emotional resilience, health, physical education and Aboriginal studies.

He said that combatting homesickness would be ongoing and so students would be encouraged to Skype with their families and friends back home.

It was anticipated the parents would come to visit at the end of the first term and that the students would return mid-year

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Paul Munday to their homes.

Mr Munday said the school had made connections with Richmond Football Club and the students would be able to undertake some activities at the club’s Punt Rd. training base. Classrooms at St Kevin’s College’s Waterford campus would also be available.

He said the idea of setting up the school was developed

by Prof. Liz Tudor at Melbourne University and her husband who was formerly principal of Trinity Grammar School. Funding was through various benefactors and the Commonwealth Government.

Mr Munday has been working for Sale Diocese for the past 18 months, having previously

had extensive experience in teaching both in Melbourne and in remote areas of Western Australia where he spent five years.

While vice-principal at Hall’s Creek he had been involved in a similar program where young students were sent away to study on scholarships.

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Youth camp in September THE Youth Ministry Office is again hosting its annual youth camp in the September school holidays.

This year, the camp will be held from 7pm Monday September 28 until 11am Wednesday September 30 at a new venue - The Island Christian Youth Camp in Phillip Island!

Victorian police should in no way give succour to the leaders of Church organisations that have been the focus of Commission hearings.

“But when a report such as this … is found to be, at best, misleading, then it reinforces in the minds of some that these investigations are designed simply as ‘get the Catholics’ exercises,” he said.

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Page 4 - Catholic Life, August 2015

Food for thought

Some rural areas rated as disadvantaged communities

THE spectacular food altar made for Pope Francis’s final Mass in Paraguay has not gone to waste.

The 47m wide and 19m high altar was made by 200 volunteers using an amazing 60,000 corn cobs, 20,000 squashes and 150,000 coconuts.

As well hundreds of thousands of local seeds were used to create large murals of St Francis of Assisi and St Ignatius of Loyola which flanked the altar. These murals were in recognition of the Franciscans and Jesuit missions which evangelised Paraguay.

After the Mass the corn cobs were used for animal feed, the squashes given to people for food and the coconuts were processed to make soap.

given the cold, wet winter we are enduring here in Gippsland we are beginning to wonder if the pundits have got it wrong.

Depending who you listen to, the global warming stopped some years ago or we are all expected to fry any year now.

We think that from our experiences this winter with parts of the region suffering floods, low-altitude snows, hail, torrential rainfall, biting winds and the lowest temperatures in decades, we might be heading for another ice age.

Nice touch

Praise for schools

ELDERLY woman visiting the hairdresser made a passing comment that nobody seemed to call her any more for a chat.

She was surprised a week or so later to get a call out of the blue from the hairdresser, who just called up to explain that she was between customers and thought she’d make an old lady happy.

What a fantastic thing to do and it’s a pity that there is not more of it.

Global warming?

WE won’t get into the whole climate change debate but

WE have attended a few school assemblies in recent times in various capacities and we have been greatly impressed.

Assemblies are no longer dominated by the principal.

Instead, students in both primary and secondary schools are given the responsibility for running the assemblies.

In the process they gain confidence in speaking in front of their peers, learn planning skills, learn how to properly use a microphone, and have the opportunity to showcase their skills through electronic media.

THE Greater Gippsland area covered by the Diocese of Sale has many areas highlighted as being socially disadvantaged in the Dropping off the Edge 2015 report released last month

by Jesuit Social Services and Catholic Social Services Australia.

A small number of communities across Australia have disproportionately high levels of unemployment, low family income and education, housing stress, domestic violence and prison admissions, severely limiting life opportunities and placing significant social and economic costs on the broader community, according to a landmark national report.

Dropping off the Edge 2015 maps disadvantage across the country based on 22 social indicators including long-term unemployment, criminal convictions and domestic violence.

Most of the Latrobe Valley, South Gippsland and East Gippsland postcodes are rated as either disadvantaged or most disadvantaged.

Towns to feature on the most disadvantaged list are Morwell, Moe, Lakes Entrance, Wonthaggi, Orbost, Churchill and Corinella.

The report is authored by

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Professor Tony Vinson and Associate Professor Margot Rawsthorne from the University of Sydney. Professor Vinson authored locational-based studies in 1999 and 2004 as well as the ground-breaking 2007 report Dropping off the Edge, which received over 284 scholarly citations and supported the establishment of the Australian Social Inclusion Board.

Jesuit Social Services CEO Julie Edwards says the report shows disadvantage is entrenched in a small number of communities across Australia, most of which have remained similarly disadvantaged for more than a decade.

“The ranking of 10 of the 12 most disadvantaged communities in Victoria has not improved since the 2007 report, likewise nine of the 12 most disadvantaged communities in New South Wales and eight of the 12 most disadvantaged communities in South Australia.

“While our social support structures work for many Australians, this report released today shows clearly that there are a small but significant number of communities that we have failed and that a new structure and a new approach is needed,” says Ms Edwards.

Dropping off the Edge 2015 was compiled using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, NAPLAN, the Australian Early Development Index and state and territory government human services agencies. The report calls for a new approach targeted at reducing the most severe deep-seated disadvantage, taking into account the unique characteristics and circumstances of each community.

Dropping off the Edge 2015 is supported by an interactive website at www.dote.org.au, allowing users to view colorcoded maps of five states and search for a particular location to see where it ranks on a range of indicators.

Anniversary Mass for Bishop Coffey

Bishop Coffey THE first anniversary of the death of seventh Bishop of Sale Jeremiah Coffey will be commemorated with a Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on November 19.

The Mass will begin at 11am.

Bishop Coffey’s headstone has been recently placed on his grave in the cathedral grounds.

The simple plaque acknowledges him firstly as a priest of Sale Diocese and then as Bishop of Sale.

BARRY AND ANNETTE LETT 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.

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Catholic Life, August 2015 - Page 5

Encyclical challenges everyone to think and act POPE Francis has challenged everyone in his ecological encyclical Laudato Si’ to think and act towards building a better future for the planet.

The Pope called for global action on climate change and criticised world leaders for not addressing the issue urgently enough.

While the Pope won praise from environmental activists, others have argued he should stick to spiritual matters not be involved in political and scientific debate.

Even Cardinal George Pell has been reported as saying the Church had “no particular expertise in science” and “no mandate from the Lord to pronounce on scientific matters.”

Laudato Si’ translates as “Praise be to You” and comes from The Canticle of the Sun written by St Francis of Assisi in praise of creation.

The English translation of the encyclical has now been published by St Pauls Publications and is available for $12.95 2.95 rrp from

church bookshops. The text can also be read on the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference website for which there is a link on the diocese website www.sale. catholic.org.au.

The encyclical challenges everyone to ask “how can anyone claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental crisis and sufferings of the excluded.”

The Pope draws attention to environmental concerns such as pollution, climate change and use of fossil fuels.

“I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all.

“The worldwide ecological movement has already made considerable progress and led to the establishment of numerous organisations g

A prayer for our earthole universe

e present in the wh All-powerful God, you arur creatures. and in the smallest of yo derness all that exists.

You embrace with your ten wer of your love, Pour out upon us the po and beauty. that we may protect life may live Fill us with peace,that we rming no one. O God of the poor, as brothers and sisters, hadoned and forgotten of this earth, help us to rescue the aban . so precious in your eyes , Bring healing to our lives world and not prey on it, that we may protect the not pollution and destruction. that we may sow beauty, who look only for gain Touch the hearts of those and the earth. at the expense of the poorworth of each thing, Teach us to discover the contemplation, to be filled with awe and profoundly united with every creature to recognise that we are ur infinite light. as we journey towards yo th us each day.

We thank you for being wi in our struggle Encourage us, we pray, e. for justice, love and peac

A Christian prayer in union with creation Father, we praise you with all your creatures.

They came forth from your all-powerful hand; they are yours, filled with your presence and your tender love.

Praise be to you!

Son of God, Jesus, through you all things were made.

You were formed in the womb of Mary our Mother, you became part of this earth,and you gazed upon this world with human eyes.

Today you are alive in every creature in your risen glory.

Praise be to you!

Holy Spirit, by your light you guide this world towards the Father’s love and accompany creation as it groans in travail.

You also dwell in our hearts and you inspire us to do what is good.

Praise be to you!

Triune Lord, wondrous community of infinite love, teach us to contemplate you in the beauty of the universe, for all things speak of you.

Awaken our praise and thankfulness for every being that you have made.

Give us the grace to feel profoundly joined to everything that is.

God of love, show us our place in this world as channels of your love for all the creatures of this earth, for not one of them is forgotten in your sight.

Enlighten those who possess power and money that they may avoid the sin of indifference, that they may love the common good, advance the weak, and care for this world in which we live.

The poor and the earth are crying out.

O Lord, seize us with your power and light, help us to protect all life, to prepare for a better future,for the coming of your Kingdom of justice, peace, love and beauty.

Praise be to you!

Amen.

committed to raising awareness of these challenges.

“Regrettably, many efforts to seek concrete solutions to the environmental crisis have proved ineffective, not only because of powerful opposition but also because of a more general lack of interest.

“Obstructionist attitudes, even on the part of believers, can range from denial of the problem to indifference, nonchalant resignation or blind confidence in technical solutions. We require a new and universal solidarity.

“As the bishops of Southern Africa have stated: ‘Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation.’

“All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture,

experience, involvements and talents.

“It is my hope that this Encyclical Letter, which is now added to the body of the Church’s social teaching, can help us to acknowledge the appeal, immensity and urgency of the challenge we face.”

Pope Francis then goes on to comment on pollution and climate change, water, loss of biodiversity, decline in quality of human life and breakdown of society, global inequality and weak responses to the problems.

Following chapters deal with creation, human roots of the ecological crisis, integral ecology, lines of approach and action which needs to be taken, and finally ecological education and spirituality.

The encyclical ends with two prayers titled A Prayer for our Earth and A Christian Prayer in Union with Creation.

Page 6 - Catholic Life, August 2015

On what being Catholic means to us all WHEN Jesus walked the roads of Galilee, when he visited Jerusalem, Bethsaida, Capernaum, when he offered his vision of the Kingdom of God, when he healed those who were sick or blind or infirm, when he welcomed the outcastes, people reacted to him in many different ways.

Some left everything to follow him, some reserved their judgments, some were scandalised, some hostile, some plotted against him.

Some came to him for advice, some offered hospitality, some supported him in whatever way they could. Different people connected with him in different ways.

In his book entitled, Jesus of Nazareth, scripture-scholar, Gerhard Lohfink writes that “We may say that the gospels, especially Mark, are aware of a great variety of forms of participation in Jesus’ cause.

There were the Twelve.

“There was a broader circle of disciples. There were those who participated in Jesus’ life.

There were localised, resident adherents who made their houses available.

“There were people who helped in particular situations, if only by offering a cup of water. Finally, there were the beneficiaries who profited from Jesus’ cause and for that reason did not speak against it.”

And Jesus welcomed them.

Faith takes many forms, many stages of growth.

Pope Francis recently reflected on what does it mean when we call the Church ‘catholic’?

“Professing that the church is ‘catholic’ means accepting its teachings, accepting the gifts it offers to help one grow in holiness and accepting the fact that it is composed of different people with different gifts and opinions.”

Pope Francis asked: Do people “accept each other, accept that there is variety” or “do we tend to try to make everything uniform? We are not all the same and we shouldn’t all be the same,” he said.

“Each person has his or her own gifts, qualities and character, which is one of the beauties of the church everyone brings what God has given him or her to enrich the others.

“When we try to impose uniformity, we kill the gifts of the Holy Spirit,” Pope Francis said.* Each of us is different not just because we were created and gifted that way but because our life journey has taken us along different paths.

We all have our own history with times of feeling blessed, of being graced and then feeling wounded, disappointed. We have been formed by different influences, influenced by different people.

All of us respond to faith, to Jesus, to God in different ways.

None of us ‘have arrived’ as it

Reflections

by Jim Quillinan were – we all have room for growth, for deeper awareness, for deeper commitment and understanding.

Like 2000 years ago, we will inevitably gather around Jesus in very different ways.

We will express our faith, our commitment differently. We each bring our unique life story as well as the gifts God has given us.

When we look at the Church today and how we see it lived out in practice, it is made up of much more than only the ‘committed’, that is those who participate regularly in Church life and accept fully the teachings of the Church.

Today’s Church also embraces those who struggle with their faith, those on the edges, some who have been wounded and hurt deeply by Church leaders, some who look to the Church for healing and reconciliation, some who come occasionally, perhaps to have their children celebrate the sacraments, those who have just drifted off.

Today’s Church contains those who visit our churches, people who don’t explicitly commit but are sympathetic

to the Church, and, not least, people who link themselves to God in more-privatised ways, those who are spiritual but not religious.

That does not mean that there are layers, grades of discipleship with some better than others, some holier than others. Jesus invites everyone and we respond in a variety of ways, just as people did 2000 years ago. The church is enriched by that, not diminished by it.

Discipleship is many and varied. We are all called, all

invited – God wants us all! It may just take us a little while to fully realise that. We are all around Jesus in our different ways and, as we all search for deeper understanding, deeper commitment, welcoming each other on the journey of life, being careful not to judge each other, can be a great help.

We might pray as Pope Francis: “May the church be the place of God’s mercy and love where everyone can feel themselves welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged to live according to the good life of the Gospel.

And in order to make others feel welcomed, loved, forgiven and encouraged, the church must have open doors so that all might enter. And we must go out of those doors and proclaim the Gospel.” * Papal Audience Oct. 9, 2013

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FORMER Melbourne radio show host Gianna Lucas in Adelaide last month preparing for the ACYF in December – the first Catholic youth festival to stream radio live from the event.

By Rebecca DiGirolamo be used to communicate special announcements, and feature THE rapid pick-up of new social particular elements of the fesmedia applications by Catholic tival. youth is playing a major part in Xt3.com content and adminthe coordination, planning and istration manager Mary Elias delivery of the next Australian said she expected Twitter and Catholic Youth Festival to be Instagram would be the most held in Adelaide in December. popular social media applica“Over the last five years so- tions picked up by pilgrims at cial media has become an es- the ACYF 2015. sential part of communicating “At the last conference (in any event, particularly to young Melbourne in 2013), we saw the people,” said Gabrielle Sinclair, importance of social media and project manager for the Aus- the Bishops Conference saw the tralian Catholic Bishops Con- importance of it too, but now it ference Office for Youth. really is essential and integral; The ACYF in Adelaide will it’s no longer an extra thing, an be the first of the ACBC-spon- addition,” said Ms Elias. sored events to stream live raThe three plenary sessions dio. This will be in addition to and the Mass of the inaugural live webcasting of the plenary ACYF 2013 attracted a total sessions. live webcast audience of 7268.

Mrs Sinclair last month said Group registrations are now the official hashtag #ACYF15 open for ACYF 2105 and apwould be used to encourage plications for organisations to youth to search for friends and have a stall in the “INcounter” post live during the festival. An section of the festival have also event App is also being devel- opened. oped.

Individual registrations will She said youth could follow be open soon. To register or for the conference @ACBCYouth- more information visit www.

Min on three platforms: Face- youthfestival.catholic.org.au or contact James Meston on 08 book, Twitter, and Instagram.

She said social media would 8301 6109.

Catholic Life, August 2015 - Page 7

Appeal to expand seminary as vocations increase AFTER years of declining vocations to the priesthood in Australia, the tide has turned and places at most Australian seminaries are filling.

Corpus Christi College, the Carlton seminary which trains Victorian and Tasmanian students for the priesthood, is

now full.

And with even more young men lining up to become priests a major appeal is taking place to fund construction of more rooms to be built at the seminary.

Sale Diocese has four seminarians and at this stage

three more will begin studies there next year.

The appeal will be conducted in all parishes in the diocese next month.

Student capacity will be enlarged to 69 with the construction of eight additional bedrooms for seminarians and

Funding deadline nears CHARITIES seeking funding from Trinity Families this year have until the end of this month to apply.

It has around $130,000 to give away in its annual disbursement which will be made later this year.

Executive officer Colin Coomber said applicants would be advised of success or otherwise by mid-October.

All applications had to be on the on-line form on Trinity Families website www. trinityfamilies.org.au and prospective applications could also read the distribution policy.

He said that the main three provisos for a charity to be eligible to share in the funds, were that it had to have tax deductibility status, that the program would broadly assist families, and that the program was in the Greater Gippsland area.

The eligible geographic area comprised the municipalities of Casey, Cardinia, Baw Baw, Latrobe, Wellington, East Gippsland, South Gippsland

and Bass Coast.

Mr Coomber said he expected the demand for funds to be much higher this year because many charities were finding their traditional government sources of funding had been scaled back.

There had been several queries in past weeks from charities who had not previously sought funding and in all cases they reported a drying up of traditional funding sources.

He said that when Bishop Jeremiah Coffey established the charitable fund he recognised the need for a local organisation to help channel money back into the region.

“Big national charities strip millions of dollars out of the region each year but little ever returns to assist needy people here.”

He said basic family support services such as counselling, conflict resolution, suicide prevention, support for young families, the aged, troubled teenagers and children at risk

were often under-funded and so Trinity Families had put a lot of money into supporting these areas in recent years.

“Trinity Families can support the agencies running such programs to ensure that funds are available to provide free or reduced fee appointments to their needy clients.

another four rooms for staff.

It is intended that the works will begin in the middle of November and should be completed by mid-April.

All up the works are estimated to cost about $1.2 million which will include replacement of the current air conditioning plant above the building so the new rooms can be added.

The trustees, which include Bishop of Sale Pat O’Regan, resolved to conduct the appeal in all parishes through the province and they have obtained deductible gift recipient status so that any donations will be tax deductible.

Corpus Christi is Australia’s oldest seminary, having been established at Werribee in 1923.

The college moved to Glen

Waverley from 1960-1972 and then Clayton from 19731999. In 2000 it was moved to Carlton when most Catholic Church facilities were being centralised around Carlton and East Melbourne.

Many of the students for the priesthood come from migrant families and were either born or grew up here. Current seminarians include those with backgrounds from Vietnam, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, South Korea and Myanmar.

Two of our seminarians are currently doing their pastoral year, working in parishes in our diocese.

Avinash George is at Cranbourne and Heip Van Nguyen is at Narre Warren.

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Page 8 - Catholic Life, August 2015

Wake up the World - Year of Consecrated Life

By Sophy Morley Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator POPE FRANCIS has designated 2015 as The Year of Consecrated Life.

This year the worldwide Church honors the witness of all consecrated women and men and seeks to promote the vocation to the religious life.

The Year of Consecrated Life will end on the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (World Day of Consecrated Life) on February 2, 2016.

During this year, consecrated men and women are invited to WAKE UP THE WORLD! Pope Francis has outline three aims of the Year of Consecrated Life 1. To remember the past with gratitude 2. To embrace the future with hope 3. To live the present passionately This year also presents each of us with the invitation to holiness and service for others. In his Apostolic Letter, Pope Francis invites all who follow Christ to be consecrated to God in our day to day living.

Our diocese has been blessed and enriched by the life and ministry of the consecrated men and women in various religious orders, who have served the People of God as sisters, brothers, priests and canonical hermits, both within the diocese and in Australia and overseas.

Parishes are invited to honor their religious with local celebrations and prayers, and to explore the charisms and history of the many different religious orders who have served in the diocese over its 128 year history.

The diocese will honor our religious men and women with Mass to celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life at 11am on Wednesday December 2 at St Michael’s Church, Traralgon. All are welcome.

In this issue, we feature three religious who are currently ministering in our diocese at present: • Sr Madeleine White RSJ (pastoral associate and sacrament coordinator, St Colman’s Parish, Orbost) • Sr Grace Onaivi SON (pastoral associate, St Agatha’s Parish, Cranbourne)

• Fr Harry Dyer OMI (Parish Priest, Parishes in Partnership of Moe and Newborough)

Sr Madeleine White RSJ

Sr Madeleine’s Story

Sitting on Sr Campion’s knee on my first day at school gave birth to my calling as a Sister of St Joseph.

That simple act of kindness evoked in me a deep love for the Sisters.

I was professed in 1963 and since then have been teacher and principal in many areas of Victoria.

I am now involved in parish rural ministry in East Gippsland, travelling many kilometres, being a presence of hope and support to all I encounter.

St Mary of the Cross MacKillop is my constant guide and companion. This year Pope Francis is inviting me to think more about my commitment.

As the mystery of God unfolds, he continually calls me to be a Josephite presence in small and isolated communities. Each day is a blessing.

Sr Grace’s Story

I am Sr Grace Onaivi SON, a Sister of the Nativity from Nigeria, a pastoral worker at St Agatha’s Parish, Cranbourne.

Religious in our diocese Sisters of St Joseph Sr Doreen Dagge RSJ (Traralgon) Sr Cathy Dean RSJ (Iona-Koo Wee Rup) Sr Margaret Malady RSJ (Pakenham) Sr Kathleen McSweeney RSJ (Wonthaggi) Sr Maureen Philp RSJ (Lakes Entrance) Sr Anne Tuck RSJ (Yarram) Sr Madeleine White RSJ (Orbost) Presentation Sisters Sr Joy Hanrahan pbvm (Narre Warren) Brigidine Sisters Dr Rose Duffy csb (Catholic Education Office, Warragul) Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception Sr Elizabeth Roberts mfic (Morwell) Good Samaritan Sisters Sr Patricia Hickey sgs (Pakenham) Sr Teresa Lanigan sgs (Pakenham) Sr Monica McKenzie sgs (Pakenham) Sisters of the Nativity Sr Mercy Akoh SON (Cranbourne) Sr Mary Olufu SON (Cranbourne) Sr Grace Onaivi SON (Cranbourne) Canonical Hermits Sr Martha (Yarram) Sr Julian (Yarram)

Our Lady of the Missions Sisters Sr Helen Wilding rndm (Pakenham) Marist Brothers Br Paul Turner fms (Sale) Br Ronald Campbell fms (Sale) Br Francis McIntosh fms (Sale) Oblates of Mary Immaculate Fr Harry Dyer OMI (Moe-Newborough) Fr Mathewraj Jeyeraj OMI (MoeNewborough) Salesians of Don Bosco Br Noel Hannabery sdb (Bairnsdale) Fr Joe Pulis sdb (Bairnsdale) Sylvestrine Congregation Fr Hilarion Fernando OSB (Iona-Koo Wee Rup) Congregation of Mary Immaculate Fr Aju Puthupally CMI (Sale) Fr Jenish Puthenpurackal CMI (Leongatha) Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ Fr James Fernandez CP (Traralgon) Institute Voluntas Dei Fr Antony Rebelo IVD (Morwell) There are also many dedicated men and women from our Diocese who are serving as Religious in Australia and other parts of the world.

Sr Grace Onaivi SON I made my first Religious Profession on July 7, 1984. I entered religious life in response to an inner voice which I believed was God inviting me to share in the Apostolic Mission of the Church.

In my present ministry I reach out to both the young and elderly through home visitations, GodStart program, children’s liturgy, parish playgroup, visiting with communion to the sick and elderly- homebound or in the nursing homes or hospitals.

Through the daily Eucharist and my ministry, I have been richly blessed with the opportunity of meeting and sharing God’s love with people from different backgrounds, and I have been inspired by them.

for several reasons but the main one would the Oblates’ charism of living in community.

I made my first profession on February 17, 1985 and my final vows on February 17, 1988.

Currently I am parish priest of the parishes in partnership of St Kieran’s, Moe and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Newborough.

I am also involved, on a volunteer basis, as chaplain to the police services area for Moe, Morwell, Churchill and Traralgon.

I have been blessed with a variety of appointments but the highlight for me is always the People of God that I have encountered.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being with God’s people as we serve and search for God together. I also enjoy the social aspects of being in community.

Fr Harry’s Story

My childhood was spent in Newborough and I went to school at St Mary’s Primary School Newborough and afterwards to St Paul’s College in Traralgon.

After being in the workforce for some years, I entered the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. I entered

Fr Harry Dyer OMI

Bishops welcome year FROM the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference Pastoral Letter on the Year of Consecrated Life, February 2015: Each of our Brothers and Sisters in the consecrated life, recalls a word, an event, a priest or religious who inspired them; something as simple as a word of Scripture or the kindness of a dedicated religious. With a simple and humble ‘yes’, they began a journey by which the Lord drew each one into a deeper relationship with himself, so that his word was deeply understood and cherished: ‘I have called you by name; you are mine.’

On the first Sunday of Advent last year, Pope Francis proclaimed 2015 a Year of Consecrated Life.

This year is the 50th anniversary of the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium, which speaks of religious in its sixth chapter, and of the Decree Perfectae Caritatis on the renewal of religious life.

This Year will conclude with the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple on February 2, 2016.

We welcome the invitation of Pope Francis to make this a year of thanksgiving and of deeper reflection on the calling of the consecrated men and women among us.

Pope Francis, who identifies himself

as a Religious, shares with us his hopes for this year of consecrated life. ‘May this Year be an occasion for bearing vigorous and joyful witness before the world to the holiness and vitality present in so many of those called to follow Jesus in the consecrated life.’

Catholic Life, August 2015 - Page 9

faith … learning … growth

From The Director…

AS I write this I have just returned from spending a few hours with an impressive group of teachers from Catholic schools across Victoria. Each year a group of young teachers from the dioceses of Ballarat, Sandhurst and Sale come together to participate in the Country Dioceses’ Leadership Program (CDLP). This excellent learning opportunity is facilitated by Education Consultants from each of the dioceses and presenters include the Diocesan Directors. The program operates on a staged learning model with the group con-

vening for a few days in May and again in August.

Some of the topics covered include Leading the Learning for Improved Student Outcomes; Having Difficult Conversations; Managing Stress and Balancing Work and Life. The participants are also given some valuable and practical input about applying for leadership positions.

Two significant sessions this year have been led by Diocesan Directors.

Audrey Brown, the Director of Catholic education in the Ballarat diocese had just arrived as I was leaving today. Her session was to be centred on Faith Leadership – the call to leadership in a Catholic school and our role as leaders of Catholic identity under the umbrella of Knowing the Task.

Each year I have been invited to facilitate a session to the group. This year my session focussed on Knowing the Situation where exploration through presentation, dialogue and feedback attempted to answer the following ques-

tions - What is our contemporary Catholic context and culture? and Who are our schools, students, teachers and parents?

It is always interesting, when presenting the same basic topic to different groups each year, to see how differently the conversation goes. Certain topics will capture and enliven one group but fall flat with another. In focussing on what is our contemporary context and culture, I try to build up a picture of how these young budding leaders experience the Catholic Church at both a global and local level. It comes as no surprise to find their willingness to engage in discussion and share their opinions on the impact of Pope Francis on the Catholic Church at this time in our history. We also look at what it is to be a part of the Australian context and how that has changed and is changing. The challenges faced by Catholic educators to maintain the Catholic identity of our schools, and how important committed leader-

ship is to that, is a significant point of discussion. I am always delighted to work with and listen to the voices of these committed young educators who are seen by their principals as having the potential to lead our schools into the future.

One of my favourite parts in the preparation for the session, which I leave to the day before I am due to present, is to sit with The Age newspaper and see what I can pull out of the news for that day that will be conversation starters and cast something of a spotlight on issues that are relevant, not just to our position as good citizens of our state and country but which call for a response from us as Catholics and leaders in the education field. I never have difficulty finding such articles, even at the last minute.

A favourite quote, which I consistently use in my presentation, comes from the General Directory for Catechesis, n 31 ‘Having tested the ground, the sower sends out his workers to pro-

claim the Gospel through all the world and to that end shares with them the power of the Spirit. At the same time he shows them how to read the signs of the times and asks of them special preparation which is necessary to carry out the sowing.’

To me this is what we are on about as Catholic educators – sowing the seeds of the Gospel, in concert with the Spirit and cognizant of the time and place in which we are situated.

Maria Kirkwood Director Catholic Education Office Diocese of Sale

Cyber Smart Kids at St Michael’s Berwick YOUNG people today are immersed in digital technologies as they become an essential part of children’s lives. To provide students, staff and parents with information on how to help children stay safe online, St Michael’s Primary School hosted a Cybersmart Outreach—Internet Safety Awareness presentation for the students.

The presentation, provided by the Office of the Children’s eSafety Commissioner, highlighted the many good things about social media and the potential dangers that we need children to avoid. As social

media becomes an essential part of student’s lives, it has become increasingly important to provide information to the school community about internet safety including, protecting personal information from being collected and shared, using strong passwords, cyberbullying detection, prevention and response.

Teaching students about Cyber safety and informing the parent community about social media and its impact on their children’s lives, is of utmost importance to St Michael’s Primary School.

Catholic EducaƟon

faith … learning … growth

Page 10 - Catholic Life, August 2015

Changing the Focus at St Therese’s Cranbourne SINCE the last Term of 2014, the staff at St Therese’s Cranbourne have Page 1 shifted their focus from Maria Kirkwood teaching to learning. It is a Director Diocese of Sale subtle shift but it has seen a greater concentration on St Michael’s Berwick ensuring that all children Cyber Smart Kids are learning. This has been done through weekly Page 2 c o l l a b o r at i v e t e a ch e r St Therese’s Cranbourne meetings that focus on what children need to learn in Changing the Focus English and Mathematics.

St Clare’s Officer At these meetings the St Clare’s ROCKS teachers ask the following questions: St Michael’s Berwick Winter Warmth for Charity What do we want the children to learn in this next week? This requires the Page 3 teachers to set clear learning

Inside this edition

St Joseph’s Orbost SSP Excites Learners

St Vincent’s Morwell Family School Partnership Page 4 Mary MacKillop Narre Warren Back to School for Parents St Joseph’s Trafalgar Lessons in Learning

Students research and decorate rocks as a symbol of their pride in declaring that ‘St Clare’s ROCKS!’

intentions for English and Mathematics. These learning intentions are clearly communicated to the children and displayed in the classroom.

How will we know if they’ve learned it? The teachers need to set common formative assessment tasks to track student progress. They often develop pre and post tests and use the data from these to inform their teaching.

What will we do with the children who don’t learn what is required? The teachers plan for specific intervention needs for students who are struggling

to understand the new knowledge or concepts.

Support staff are allocated time to work with these students to give them every opportunity to succeed.

What will we do with those who already know it? This requires teachers to plan for different learning abilities and provide engaging activities for those who need to be extended.

This change of focus doesn’t mean that we don’t focus on our teaching at all.

It means that now we teach to our students learning needs. It has made a si gnificant di fference already to the students’

learning outcomes. When we combine this with the school’s systematic response to intervention and the systems initiative to introduce a standard approach to electronically tracking student progress, we believe we will see even greater progress.

Teachers attend weekly collaborative meetings that focus on what children need to learn in English and Mathematics.

St Clare’s in Officer ‘ROCKS’ St Clare’s Primary School opened its doors to the growing community of Pakenham and Officer in Januar y this ye ar.

Beginning with 92 students from 23 different schools, a significant challenge for staff was to develop authentic relationships within contemporary and exciting learning experiences.

Having moved into the new learning spaces, it was timely for the school to launch its cultural expectations in the form of: St Clare’s ROCKS. The acronym is a simple, yet powerful way, to identify learning and relational behaviours that are the foundation of the school

community.

Ask any student and they will tell you: We are RESPECTFUL We are OPTIMISTIC We are COURAGEOUS We are KIND We are SECURE As a school, the students explored the impact rocks have in the foundation of landscapes.

They discussed the way that rocks offer protection and they also looked at rock formations in the town of Assisi – the home of St Clare.

The students recognised the significance of rocks in scripture:

And the rain fell and the floods came and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall for it had been founded on the rock.” (Matt 7:24-27)

In a rapidly growing school, the significance of

establishing how students learn and interact with each other is paramount. That is why students are proud to declare that ‘St Clare’s ROCKS!’

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Winter Warmth for Charity at St Michael’s Berwick ST Michael’s Grade Six students are an inspiration to their peers as they raised an amazing $970 for charity. As part of their social justice program, the students embraced the opportunity to raise funds for their local St Vincent de Paul Society branch in Berwick, by knitting woollen squares over several weeks.

Collectively, the children knitted around 400 squares and with the help of some wonderful parents and grandparents, the pieces

were sewn together to make eight warm and very colourful, one of kind, blankets. It was an inspiration to see the children adding their squares to their ever increasing pile. The perseverance shown whilst knitting these colourful squares for such a worthy charity, was a valuable and inspirational experience for them all.

Catholic EducaƟon

Grade six students proudly display the blankets created and donated to St Vincent de Paul Society.

faith … learning … growth

Catholic Life, August 2015 - Page 11

SSP Excites Learners at St Joseph’s Orbost THERE is great enthusiasm for learning reading and spelling at St Joseph’s Primary School in Orbost.

Teachers, students and parents are excited about the results coming from a new way of learning about English. This year the staff at St Joseph’s introduced a program in literacy called SSP - Speech Sound Pics.

This program teaches foundational skills relating to Phonemi c Awareness (which is listening for sounds within a spoken word) and Phonics (understanding the sound has a matching letter or letter combination). SSP has been popular with the children and they move quickly to their SSP stations each morning. There is a buzz around our school and motivation for learning reading and spelling is high.

SSP teaches children to: - hear speech sounds, beginning, middle and end of words, and know how many there are.

- know that we use sound pics to represent speech sounds in print (letters).

- be able to blend individual speech sounds and pics to make a word.

- be able to segment and manipulate speech sounds and pics.

- to understand that some speech sound pics can be made up of one or more letters.

- to understand the words they are saying and reading and be able to write and spell them.

Once a child has a solid understanding of how speech sound pics are used, they can read and spell almost any word using their sound choices. This ability

helps a child become a much stronger and more confident reader and writer.

We are teaching the sounds and speech sound pics in a specific order.

These consist of four colour levels, green, purple, yellow and finishing off with blue. In conjunction with the colour levels we also teach the duck level words.

There are seven duck levels. These levels are made up of the 440 most common words. The duck level words replace the M100W word lists. The program is complemented by our literacy management system of The Daily Five/CAFÉ model.

Students learning English using the SSP method - Speech Sound Pics.

Family School Partnership at St Vincent’s Morwell ST Vincent’s Primary School in Morwell is very active in promoting and developing opportunities for parents, families and carers to be involved in their children’s experience at school.

Our school motto ‘Learn with Love’ recognizes the importance of our children feeling connected to their families, the Catholic Church and the wider community and how all these aspects play a vital role in a child’s education. The school’s involvement in the Family School Partnership initiative, fosters a sense of wellbeing for not only the child, but also a sense of connectedness for the families and the staff who work with the children on a daily basis.

There are many avenues for families to be involved in our school community, from helping in the classroom with Reading groups to assisting in activities like PMP (Perceptual Motor Program). We have seen children take such great delight in having Mum, Dad, a grandparent or other important person come and help them with their learning and be involved in the

classroom.

This year St Vincent’s Primary introduced the DiPL Program (Doorway into Practical Learning) and it has been exciting to learn and grow together with families during its implementation. Parents and teachers have reported that students are already benefiting from the program and we are looking forward to future assessment reflecting the hard work put in by all of the school community.

Some parents of students in the senior area have said that they wish their children would have had the opportunity to be part of DiPL longer than their remaining 1 or 2 years left at primary school.

Another opportunity for parents to feel valued and a part of the school community has been the setting up of a Parents room. Parents can sit down and relax on our lovely bright couches (and equally bright and cheerful rug), enjoy a cuppa and a chat while the little ones play, using toys and equipment that support preschool development. This room has also been used for many a morning tea or cele-

Catholic EducaƟon

bration which occurs throughout the year, including the morning tea for new families. The Parents Room is also a valuable resource as it provides access to Kidsmatter information and community services.

St Vincent’s is always looking at new ways with which to connect and encourage our parents to feel a part of our community. In an ever-evolving world where parents return to work and families change, we are continually looking for ways to show our families how much we value

them, how they form an integral part of our school and the importance of their connectedness to our school community. When all is said and done, the smile on the children’s faces when their families are involved in their education says it all.

The school’s involvement in the Family School Partnership initiative, fosters a sense of wellbeing for not only the child, but also a sense of connectedness for the families and the staff who work with the children on a daily basis.

faith … learning … growth

Page 12 - Catholic Life, August 2015

Back to School for Parents at Mary MacKillop Narre Warren MARY MacKillop Primary School welcomes parents to be active in our school community and attending level assemblies is just one way our parents can engage in our school.

Recently our assembly format has changed from parents just observing and being part of an audience, to parents engaging in the learning that takes place in the classroom. Level Assemblies in term two focussed on our parents being actively involved by participating and contributing to the learning.

Level teams invited parents along to school to find out more about what and how they learn. Classrooms today look and feel different to what they did even just a few years ago.

Contemporary learning environments allow students to access both independent and collaborative learning contexts, along with

developing skills and strategies to be successful learners.

Year One and Two students organised a Learning Expo where each of the six classes set up a class stall, highlighting a different content area of the concept “Interdependence.”

Parents learnt about recycling, by playing student created board games. They completed a Tchart thinking carefully about needs and wants.

Some parents even thought that chocolate was definitely a need! Other Expo stalls invited parents to use an interactive screen to sort and order how food progresses from “farm to table”.

Year Three and Four students engaged their parents in the process of creating and developing physical structures in classrooms, representing diffe rent ecos yst e ms.

Parents learnt about

environmental systems including; the rainforest, the ocean, the desert, wetlands, the arctic and the alpine tundras. Parents placed themselves as learners and explored the actions of good learners by communicating, accessing and linking prior knowledge, planning and creating with others.

Together students and parents constructed log cabins, illustrated mountain backdrops and even helped build a life-size igloo from empty milk cartons.

Parents have responded enthusiastically to our new learning assemblies.

Interaction between students, teachers and parents supports the strengthening of relationships and acknowledges that we are all working together to support the best learning outcomes for students.

Students and parents built a life-size igloo from empty milk cartons as part of the schools Learning Expo.

Lessons in Learning at St Joseph’s Trafalgar SOCIAL Justice Education is alive and part of everyday learning at St Joseph’s School Trafalgar.

Respecting the dignity of all and trying to ensure that every person, especially the most disadvantaged and marginalised, has reasonable access to more than just the basic necessities, is a core belief of Catholic social teaching The values of kindness, caring, compassion, being thoughtful and able, and doing things for others are taught and reinforced across the school in many ways.

Just recently, following the catastrophic earthquake in Nepal, the Grade Five and Six students decided to have a fundraising drive through baking and selling cupcakes as part of the school’s cooking program.

Over a two-week period students baked dozens of cupcakes. On the morning of the stall, they iced and decorated cupcakes in bright colors, sprinkles and sweets that were then sold to the school community.

A total of $300 was raised and sent off to CARITAS to assist in the rebuilding of Nepal.

As an end of term cooking program experience for the entire school and to further reinforce the theme of sharing what we have with others, students dramatized the story of Stone Soup at a whole school assembly. In this story, hungry soldiers entered a village where no one was willing to share any food with them. One after another, each family turned the soldiers away declaring they had no food to spare or share. The soldiers set themselves up in the town square, declaring that they would make a delicious stone soup. The villagers, curious as to how the soldiers would be able to turn water and a stone into soup, eventually shared the vegetables they had, one by one putting them into the large pot. With a few contributions by many, the water and stones became a delicious soup, which was then shared with the entire

Catholic EducaƟon

village.

St Joseph’s students then made our own version of “Stone soup” with each student bringing an item of fresh produce which could go into a massive soup pot.

Practising food preparation skills learned in the cooking program, students peeled, chopped, sliced and grated carrots, potatoes, parsnips, celery, onions, beans, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, cabbage, herbs, and added lots of other flavors and seasonings to make their own large pot of ‘stone soup’. By lunchtime, the massive pot of soup was ready and there was enough for everyone in the school to share.

Every class in the school now has access to the weekly cooking program on a rotational basis. As well as learning food preparation skills, students are learning applied literac y and numeracy skills, learning about weights and measures, mass, volume, doubling and/or halving quantities, working

cooperatively in groups, using equipment safely, as well as learning about and tasting new and unusual foods.

Students involved in preparing and enjoying ‘Stone Soup’.

faith … learning … growth

Catholic Life, August 2015 - Page 13

Serra international conference SEVERAL members of Sale Serra Club attended the Serra international convention in Melbourne at the start of this month.

It’s only the second time Australia has been the venue, and it was Melbourne’s first hosting of the event.

Serra International was formed 80 years ago in the United States as a lay organisation primarily focussed on encouraging vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and the title of this year’s convention reflected that aim.

Sale Serra Club is the only branch of the organisation operating in Sale Diocese. ‘Vocation – the light of Christ’ was the topic of one of the keynote addresses by Fr Morgan Batt, who spoke to delegates from 10 countries about Serra’s role, and indeed the calling of all Catholics, in promoting the glories and the beauty of the Catholic faith. “Evangelisation of the people is the essential mission of the Church,� said Fr Batt, who is vocations director for the Archdiocese of Brisbane.

Quoting Pope Paul VI, Fr Batt said, “Pope St John Paul II also clearly affirmed that we are to devote all of our energies to proclaiming Christ. That’s who we are, said St John Paul.

That’s our vocational call.�

He also quoted Pope Francis who said “Get out there and get amongst the people. Get the smell of sheep on you!�

Fr Batt reminded his audience that evangelising was their baptismal vocation. “There are 5.5 million Catholics in Australia, a quarter of the population, and only 10 percent of them go to Mass!

And over 50 percent of Catholic kids don’t even go to Catholic schools!�

Fr Batt urged those present to win hearts by presenting the beauty of the Church and the beauty of the faith. “Our saints, our social justice policies, our hospitals, our schools‌we are the second largest employer in Australia. We are beautiful!â€? he declared.

The audience was also reminded of the most distressing statistic.

He said “Our lack of fervor and our lack of joy and our lack of community are driving something like 8000 Catholics a day into other Christian churches.�

He reminded his listeners that we belong to the oldest intellectual tradition in the West. “Let’s proclaim it with ardour,� he declared. “Let’s tell the great story - Jesus is risen from the dead, we are people of joy and of life, we are community.�

Delegates from across the world, including the USA, Canada, Brazil, Italy, Thailand, Nigeria, Hong Kong, the

Philippines and New Zealand, praised the Melbourne organisers of the event, and invited all Serrans, and all those interested in working to promote vocations to Catholic religious life, to gather next year in St. Louis, Missouri, for the next Serra International Convention. There are more than 600 active Serra clubs with over 23,000 members in 31 countries.

Aged care providers merge VILLA Maria and Catholic Homes have officially become one entity following their merger last month.

An agency of the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne, Villa Maria Catholic Homes will continue to provide the highest quality of care to around 6500 older people, children and adults with a disability, their families and carers across the state and southern New South Wales.

VMCH CEO Greg Pullen said the merger would allow two thriving organisations to build on their significant

histories and develop and expand their diverse services. “By combining our expertise and skill we will strengthen our commitment to the community and our capacity to deliver flexible and responsive services – services people want and need, such as disability services and social housing,� he said. “Our communities are the heart and soul of our organisations and this decision is about delivering the best possible outcomes for the people we support now and into the future.�

Mr Pullen said it was a time of great opportunity for VMCH, which is now responsible for a wide range of care including specialist education and early childhood intervention for children with disabilities, community based and in-home support for older people, carer respite, independent retirement living and residential aged care.

Villa Maria Catholic Homes operates two aged care facilities in our diocese Shanagolden at Pakenham and Villa Maria Berwick.

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Page 14 - Catholic Life, August 2015

At Home with the Spirit AT HOME WITH THE SPIRIT, On Retreat in Daily Life by Tom O’Hara SJ, published by David Lovell Publishing, paperback, 128 pages, rrp $24.95, THE value of Ignation spirituality is well known and many people have been brought closer to the Holy Spirit through the various retreats offered by the Jesuits.

This book by Jesuit priest Fr Tom O’Hara offers the keys to a seven week spiritual awakening and is a revised version of a book first published in 1992.

It is a complete portable faithrenewal program, offered in the form of Ignation retreats which the reader can use at home to focus on the gift of the Holy Spirit and God’s love.

The book is the result of many year’s experience in leading and lecturing on the spiritual exercises of St Ignatius of Loyola.

Developed in Parramatta Diocese, the at-home course offers people what the author calls a spiritual vitamin pill to refresh and renew their faith amid the stresses of daily life.

It is recommended that individuals should meet weekly with a spiritual director, or, if used by groups, then with a facilitator.

At Home with Spirit will be a great resource for retreat directors, teachers and students and those making annual retreats.

Other may just find it as a resource for use in daily prayer.

LAUDATO SI’, On Care for Our Common Home, encyclical by Pope Francis, published by St Pauls Publications, paperback, 191 pages, rrp $12.95.

THIS is the official English

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Talking about What’s on & when Books AUGUST

translation of the latest encyclical (see Page 5 in this issue of Catholic Life), presented in a small pocketsized booklet.

Many people fear reading official papal documents because of the formal and often difficult language but this latest translation is easy to read.

The Pope’s style is to reach out to all people and his language here ensures that his words will be understood by the widest possible audience.

CHILD ARISE! The Courage to Stand, by Jane M. Dowling, published by David Lovell Publishing, paperback, 272 pages, rrp $29.95.

THIS book makes for powerful reading as it is written by a survivor of sexual abuse for other victims.

The author is someone who has spent countless hours meditating on the Scriptures and applying them to her situation.

It is a timely book which should offer great comfort to victims of sexual abuse, particularly those who have had old wounds opened by the ongoing publicity surrounding the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.

Child Arise! is practical spiritual handbook for the survivors of sexual abuse and will help them on their journey towards healing through Scripture.

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As the author writes, it is not meant to replace other psychological therapies or supports which survivors may already have in place.

In fact the book could be used by those assisting survivors by giving them some pastoral and spiritual skills, and even to establish support groups.

And members of the clergy who it is reported often don’t know which way to turn when one of their fellows stand accused, might also gain a deeper insight into the life-long effects of sexual abuse and the long journey to healing.

There is a lengthy introduction to the book, explaining how to use it for best effort.

The first half of the book is a series of short reflections on God’s Word from the Old Testament to enable survivors to reflect on their story from the perspective of a loving God. The second half has mainly New Testament reflections which focus on particular issues and readers are encouraged to read those which deal with the various things they are now confronting.

At the back of the book is a handy list of various support services which survivors may choose to contact.

TWEET OTHERS AS YOU WOULD BE TWEETED, by Beth Doherty, published by David Lovell Publishing for Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference, paperback, 96 pages, rrp $19.95.

THIS book with its catchy title was launched at a communications conference we attended in Sydney in May. The author is the former ACBC communications officer and we have known her for quite a few years.

Every parish and group in the Church is scrambling to become part of the social media communications tsunami Web pages, Facebook, Twitter, You Tube, Blogs, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+ and the list goes on.

Knowing where to test the waters of social media is difficult and so the author has provided a simple Scripturebased guide for the Church.

Every parish priest and pastoral council should read this book, even if they have established a social media presence, because it will alert them to potential hazards and better understand online behavior.

It may even inspire them to utilise the new media as a source of evangelisation and way of reaching the many people of Generation Whatever whose only link with the world and friends in via their smart phones, tablets and computers.

15 – Assumption of BVM 18 – Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting, Sion House video conferencing room, Warragul, 9.30am 18 – Bishop O’Regan Spirituality in the Pub session, Criterion Hotel, Sale 19 – Bishop O’Regan attending meeting of Sale Serra 20 – Valley region meeting, Lumen Christi Hall, Churchill, noon 22 – Queenship of Mary 28 – St Augustine 28 – Official opening and blessing of St Clare’s Primary School, Officer, 9.30am 30 – Diocesan celebration of Migrant Sunday, Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren, 2pm

SEPTEMBER 3 – St Gregory the Great 3 – Bishop O’Regan leaves for Rome 14 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross 15 – Our Lady of Sorrows 15 – Central region meeting, venue to be announced 18 – Third term ends 21 – St Matthew 23 – St Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) 26-27 – Collection for Corpus Christi Seminary building appeal 28-30 – Youth camp, Phillip Island

OCTOBER 1 – St Therese of the Child Jesus 2 - Public holiday 3 – AFL grand final 5 – Term four begins 5 – Deadline for October Catholic Life 4 – Daylight saving begins (turn clocks forward one hour) 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary 10 – St Mary’s Newborough parish ball, Moe RSL 14 – Catholic Life published 15 – Valley region meeting, St Mary’s Church meeting room, Newborough, noon 17-18 - Marist Sion College, Warragul, 40th anniversary celebrations 18 – Mission Sunday 22 – St John Paul II

25 – St Mary’s Newborough parish and school fete, 10am to 2pm 31 – Greenmount Cemetery Mass, 3pm

NOVEMBER 1 – All Saints Day 1 – St Mary’s, Yarram, centenary celebration 1 – St Mary’s Church, Newborough 60th anniversary Mass 10.30am, followed by morning tea and open day at school 2 – All Souls Day 3 – Melbourne Cup holiday 4 – West region meeting, St Agatha’s, Cranbourne, 10.30am 10 – Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting, St Michael’s Parish Centre, Traralgon, 9.30am 17 – East region meeting, Orbost, 10.30am 19 – Special anniversary Mass for Bishop Jeremiah Coffey, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale 22 – Christ the King 23 – Deadline for December Catholic Life

DECEMBER 2 – Catholic Life published 2 - Mass to celebrate end of Year of Consecrated Life, St Michael’s Church, Traralgon, 11am 3 – St Francis Xavier 3 – Valley region Christmas lunch, Morwell Club, Helen St., noon 3-5 – Australian Catholic Youth Festival, Adelaide 8 – Immaculate Conception 8 – Year of Mercy begins 14 – St John of the Cross 18 – School year ends 24 – Christmas Eve 25 – Christmas Day 26 – Boxing Day 27 – Holy Family 27 – Boxing Day alternate holiday 31 – New Year’s Eve

Catholic Life, August 2015 - Page 15

Residential aged care - for your parents, or you AGED care is a conundrum for most of us. None of us really want to go there, but we generally want to live long enough to justify it.

In past generations the elderly were cared for by families if they had them. Others without family ended up in places that did little other than feed them until they died.

Residential Aged Care has come a long way since the mid 20th century. Last year the Federal government instituted some of the biggest changes to aged care funding ever.

The reason was to encourage not-for-profit and commercial providers to step up the investment in aged care to address the looming shortage of places.

The changes are designed to make sure that it’s commercially viable for providers to extend their facilities and develop new ones.

Aged care is now being run as a business, even by charities, and the government has recognised this, and in their words “you will be expected to contribute to the cost of your care if you can afford to do so.”

In the past, we’ve had “high care” and “low care, we’ve had negotiable accommodation bonds with a percentage retained by the provider and we’ve had bonds that have been fully negotiable, too.

Now it’s different.

Refundable Accommodation Deposits (the old bond) are set at levels that are justified by facilities, not reputation, and are to some extent controlled by

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the government. In other words they have to be justifiable.

We have a new Daily Accommodation Payment which is set at a percentage of the allowable bond, currently 6.15 percent per year, so the daily payment is that amount divided by 365. These are not means tested.

Then there’s the basic daily fee which is calculated as 85 percent of the standard single aged pension.

And then there’s the means tested care fee which is set

by Centrelink. This is a fee that Centrelink will calculate for you, similarly to the aged pension, but someone with a spouse living in their own home, $500,000 in joint assets and $48,000 in combined income will pay about $2.24 per day.

A single home owner with $1.25 million in assets could pay up to $3000 per fortnight as part of this care. There are annual limits of just over $23,000 and a lifetime limit of just over $60,000. Once these are reached the provider can’t get you to pay any more.

However, there’s the other Daily Accommodation Payment, based on the Refundable Accommodation Deposit. That goes on, and on.

Since July last year RADs at the bottom end of the market have increased, while at the top end the RAD has fallen, but the cost of extra services (hairdressers, personal trainers etc) has increased.

So, let’s look at a couple where one person needs to go into care. They have a house in Warragul at $350,000, a combined superannuation of $500,000 and they’re receiving pensions of $40,000 each.

The Aged care facility can charge up to $750,000 but say $300,000. This gives a daily payment of $50.45, or $706 per fortnight. If they pay the Refundable Accommodation Deposit of $300,000 this charge is waived.

There’s the basic daily fee of $664 per fortnight and a means tested fee of $91.84 per fortnight. So for a couple that are fairly normal, but not poor, they will have to find $1461 each fortnight just to keep one of them in care, unless they find the spare $300,000.

That’s just on $38,000 each year, and the partner not in care will still have to look after the house and themselves in addition.

It’s not all bad news. The Refundable Accommodation Deposit is negotiable, and

THE cost of residential aged care can be very high and recent changes are making it difficult for many to plan for the day they, or one of their parents, might need to go into care.

- Photo: Alexander Raths/123RF

every aged care facility has a government imposed quota of supported accommodation, for people who can’t afford the fees. This is usually about one bed in six and the care given is supposed not to be discounted because the resident is “supported”.

Aged care isn’t cheap but overall standards are improving, fortunately. But there will be many people who as they get older will need care but won’t be able to find it locally or find it affordable.

Like other facets of retirement, it’s something that with proper planning and preparation will not be a problem. But how many 30 somethings are thinking about Refundable Accommodation Deposits? Can you afford aged care for you – or your parents?

• David Wells in his spare time is on the Finance and Investment Committee, and the Board of Governance in an honorary role, of a midsized not-for-profit aged care provider in Melbourne. That facility, after the new changes, is increasing its capacity by 25 percent. The government has allowed an increase in RAD of about 50 percent.

• This report is intended to provide general advice and figures used in this instance are for indicative purposes only. In preparing this advice, David Wells and Shaw and Partners 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.

Oblate's 25 year journey MOE and Newborough parish priest Fr Harry Dyer's journey through the priesthood is one which has seen him rise to the top role of Oblate Provincial and has also brought him home to his roots.

He was born in Yallourn and after schooling at St Mary's, Newborough, and with the Marist Brothers at St Paul's College, Traralgon, he embarked on a career with the Housing Commission in Morwell.

He spent his days allocating low income families government subsidised housing and was always dismayed when so many disappeared owing rent a few months later.

He says this made him decide that material assistance was not the answer to people's problems and that maybe spiritual assistance would be better.

He decided to join the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, attending their seminary in Mulgrave.

Of his elevation to Provincial, he said it has been a great honor to be elected by his peers to be their leader for his term.

He oversaw the province which includes about 12 Oblate communities in Australia and three in Hong Kong and China where the Order conducts low key missionary work.

Fr Dyer said it was sometimes difficult to be dealing with your

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Celebrations continued with At the time he developed a the staff and students at St network of about 100 volunteers Kieren's Primary, Moe, and St in the Gold Coast area and Mary's Primary, Newborough, Rosies had now grown to be all and then clergy joined with him over Queensland. for a luncheon.

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Page 16 - Catholic Life, August 2015

Migrant Sunday meeting leads to a marriage

By Regina T Abraham THE Diocese of Sale started the celebration of Migrant and Refugee Sunday Masses about five years ago.

The parishes at the western end of the diocese, having a diverse migrant population have been chosen to host these Masses. (Pakenham, Narre Warren, Berwick and Cranbourne).

This year the Catholic Church celebrates the 101st World day of Migrants and Refugees and Pope Francis has chosen a theme of, “Church without Frontiers, Mother to all”!

According to the annual United Nations statistics the situation with the refugee crisis around the world has been the highest since World War 2.

A staggering 50 million people of the world’s population are refugees.

Victorian Government statistics show a large influx of migrants into our state, particularly in Cranbourne and Pakenham.

Migrants bring a different spirituality, reverence and active participation into the life of the Church.

I would like to share with you a tale of romance of two migrant youth as a result of our diocesan migrant Masses.

One is a youth from St

Agatha’s Cranbourne Yani, and the other Joe from St Michael’s Berwick. Both of them migrated as teenagers to Australia.

On Migrant Sunday in September 2011, both were given the task of reading one of the prayers of the faithful at the Mass held at Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren.

Of course it was love at the first sight for Joe who fell in love with the voice he heard, the Filipino dress she wore and so much more.

A few days after the Migrant Mass, I ran into Joe’s mother Miryam, an active parishioner at Berwick who said, “my son likes a girl at your parish”!

As a result Joe joined our youth group and the rest is now history. This year on May 15, Yani and Joe got married in the beautiful island of Dumaguete, in the Philippines. \A beautiful, dream wedding to remember, in the presence of family and friends from Australia. On their honeymoon, in Rome, they were even blessed by Pope Francis!

Yani and Joe have made a deep impression on many by their service to God and His Church. Yani committed her life to Christ as an 18 year old and since then has been involved in youth ministry.

She has been serving at St

Agatha’s for the last 10 years.

Yani has a great devotion to Mother Mary and shared with us that she had been praying, one or even two Rosaries a day for the right partner.

A divine plan then, that Yani should meet her partner at Our Lady Help of Christians Church.

Joe is an exemplary member of the youth wing of St Vinnie’s

and is very committed to it.

At their wedding reception, Joe and Yani told the story of their romance, their aspirations for the future in the form of a movie/interview.

Joe was captivating to watch and his words brought out his love for the Church and Yani.

This was the simplest, heartfelt form of evangelisation I had witnessed in recent times!

Solidarity: On road the to justice GOVERNMENTS at the State and Federal levels must become serious about the immense shortage of housing stocks in townships, instead of contemplating how they can make it worse by forcing more people from remote areas into town-zones already suffering from serious deprivations, according to Bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders.

In his statement to in the prelude to last month’s celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday, Bishop Saunders said, “The crime rate in townships is far greater than in remote areas, as is serious drug abuse. Needles are not found lying around in bunches in remote villages as they are in regional townships.

“The original argument in favor of closing off funds to

Bishop Saunders many remote communities was an economic one. There is not enough money to pay for the homelands, it was said.

“It is simply amazing how it is in this country that whenever governments over-spend or income shrinks, it is always

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the poor who pay to rectify the fiscal shortfall.”

Bishop Saunders said rural Australia was in a depressed state and the Aboriginal people were better off when living on traditional lands, than in exile away from it.

“There is no evidence to suggest that leaving traditional homelands for life in towns will benefit the people presently living in remote villages. It is a fact that life is better in the remote villages than in the fringe dwelling settlements,” Bishop Saunders said.

“When this nation realises that more rather than fewer resources are needed to meet the needs of Aboriginal people in this country, then, and only then, will we begin to overcome the challenges before us. Then might we effectively whittle away the disproportionate numbers of Aboriginal people who suicide, who are in gaol, are unemployed, are suffering ill health, are homeless, are under-nourished and who are oppressed by the effects of poverty and a poor education.”

He said that sadly, it appeared that history repeated itself. Just when we thought that there was light at the end of the tunnel the result of legal judgements like Native Title and Wik, and just when the Homelands Movement had proved a boon to displaced traditional owners, the ominous noise of negative change and repression was heard yet again.

Bishop Saunders declared that non-Aboriginal Christians must stand in solidarity with their Aboriginal brothers

Looking around at the other wedding guests, I saw that they had made the same impression on many of youth who were present that day!

As St Francis would say, their life style in itself is a great form of evangelisation where only few words are used.

This year Migrant Sunday will once again be held at Our Lady Help of Christians Parish, Narre Warren on August 30 at 2pm, concelebrated by Bishop Pat O’Regan and the many diocesan priests.

In thanksgiving Yani and Joe will bring up the gifts of bread and wine.

Migrant Sunday Mass will be vibrant and colorful with many nationalities taking part, showcasing their national costume.

The collection taken up during Mass will be given to Caritas Australia. After Mass, afternoon tea will be served.

Please contact the Narre Warren Parish team for more details of the Migrant Sunday Mass. Please attend to pray together as one family of Christ and also to show your support for the suffering brethren of refugees.

And to the youth of our diocese I say, one never knows who you may meet!

RCIA state conference at Pakenham

and sisters, while Aboriginal Christians were called to be determined, not to falter, no matter the obstacles that rise up to make a just way difficult.

THE state conference of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults will take place at Pakenham next month.

It will be the third time Sale Diocese has hosted the state conference.

It will be held at St Patrick’s Parish on September 12 with the keynote speaker being Fr Frank O’Loughlin who has lectured in sacred theology and was director of the Diocesan liturgical Centre in Melbourne.

In the afternoon there will be workshops on the Triduum, Mystagogia, prayer, singing the rites and getting RCIA started.

In the afternoon there will be a joint presentation by Fr Elio Capra SDB and Anne Taylor.

The one day conference costs $60 which includes lunch.

Registrations have closed but further information can be ABORIGINAL elder sculpture at William Rickett’s Sanctuary, obtained by calling Rita Elswyk 5127 4485 or Joan Robertson Mount Dandenong.

5623 1642.

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Holy Land pilgrimage again?

TRARALGON parish priest Fr Bernard Buckley, who has run several pilgrimages to the Holy Land in recent years, is seeking indications of interested in another one next year.

In recent years, about 90 people from our diocese have made pilgrimages to the Holy Land and their responses are still very positive.

They still say it was an uplifting and spiritually enriching time.

If there is enough interest the 2016 pilgrimage would be in Lent (February-March).

It would follow a path through Jordan and Israel but travel to Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula is advised against at present, so is unlikely to be included.

Anyone interested or needing more information should contact Fr Buckley by email at bernardbuckley@hotmail.com or phone him on 5174 2060.

Catholic Life, August 2015 - Page 17

Co-education college is 40 WARRAGUL - Marist-Sion College is celebrating its 40th anniversary with several events on October 17-18.

It formed as a co-educational school in 1975 with the amalgamation of the Marist boys secondary school St Joseph’s College with the Sion Sisters’ girls school Our Lady of Sion College.

St Joseph’s was founded in 1951 and Our Lady of Sion College in 1905 Since the amalgamation, Marist-Sion has been committed to the ideals of the two founding religious orders; the pursuit of justice, peace and love in the world and the nurturing of a family spirit which is evident in our openness to others, our warmth and friendliness.

The college serves four local

parishes: Warragul, Drouin, Trafalgar and Iona.

The college originally operated across two campuses, but when the former Our Lady of Sion College in Witton St., was redeployed by the diocese in 1981 as the Catholic Education Office, the college consolidated onto its current 18.4ha site at 165 Burke St, where students enjoy beautiful views of Mount Baw Baw and the Strzelecki Ranges.

In recent times, the college has provided new state-of-theart facilities across the campus and ensured that our technology infrastructure operates at a very high level. In 2011, we commenced rollout of laptop computers for all students, which extended across all levels within two years.

Celebrations in October include a gala event at Lardner Park exhibition centre on October 17.

Tickets at $35 are now available by emailing 40thanniversary@mscw.vic. edu.au. The price includes finger food and drinks will be at bar prices.

The following day will be the Back to Marist Sion event from 11.30am to 2.30pm with college tours and a barbecue lunch.

It is a great opportunity for former Marist-Sion College students, parents and staff to celebrate the 40th anniversary and reminisce with others.

CWL holds diocesan conference NARRE WARREN - The Sale Diocesan Catholic Women’s League annual conference was held at Trinity Primary School hall in June.

Narre Warren branch president Sr Joy Hanrahan welcomed all in attendance and introduced principal Simon Dell’Oro who said there were 38 different nationalities attending the school.

First speaker was Sr Judith Bellisini, a Presentation sister from Wellsprings in Dandenong. Wellsprings is vibrant welcoming place for isolated and refugee women from local communities to gather for social connection and to encourage lifelong learning.

Wellsprings offers educational and recreational programs and it also has outreach support programs and volunteer programs with about 40 volunteers working with these women.

CWL was privileged that Bishop Pat O’Regan came and talked on this year’s theme “To Live the Present with Enthusiasm.’’

Time can be likened to the three manifestations of water – ice, liquid and vapor – which is past, present and future.

The bishop urged people to remember the only moment we have is now. The past was gone and future was unknown.

The bishop offered Mass and stayed for lunch during which

PAT Allway (right) presenting Hilary Kelly with a certificate of appreciation.

Pastor and his wife and are he mingled with delegates.

Diocesan CWL spiritual educated and learn life skills.

Funds are raised in Australia director Sr Mary Olofu gave the for their projects and a reflection on peace and love.

Second guest speaker was collection was taken up for Lynese Wigney from Empower their cause, Pat Allway made her final International, a not-for-profit fair trade organisation whose speech as diocesan president motto is ‘’Empowering the and thanked all who have privileged to empower the helped her in her role.

Hillary Kelly has completed poor.’’

It supports selected nine years on the committee and organisations of integrity was presented with a certificate working especially with women of appreciation and gift.

General President Anita and girls who are vulnerable to the sex trade, girls in rural Toner announced the new and isolated areas. It has a safe committee with Lena Zagami house in Thailand with 27 girls as new president. The raffle was and 11 boys living there under drawn and won by the Inverloch the guidance of a Christian branch.

Ignite performers set stage on fire!

YOUNG performers on their way to the top.

IN only its first year, the was long it was definitely worth Cranbourne based Ignite it.

The senior team- Absolute Academy of Performance has opened with two Glee teams Riot placed second and the and four soloists, competing academy had three soloists place in the TFT Sports and events in the top five with Bella Tonso nationally recognised Aerobics earning first place, Maddy D’Alberto coming in second and Glee Competitions.

The children involved in the and Andre Lamattina placing academy are all students from fourth. All three competitors St Agatha’s, St Thomas the earned an invitation to compete Apostle, Trinity, St Catherine's at the National Championships and St Therese’s Primary in Queensland.

Mrs Butera said the academy School. The academy is run by head coach Rose Butera who was excited to receive this was previously a teacher at St opportunity to compete among some of the best teams in Agatha’s, Cranbourne.

The Glee season began Australia and lots of training in May with the Victorian had gone into preparing for preliminary finals in Ringwood, this competition which is this with children from the academy Saturday, August 15 on the competing in the solo and team Gold Coast. sections.

“I am so proud of all the Four children competed in the hard work and dedication these solo section and 10 competed children have displayed to in the team section. All of the achieve their goals. I am grateful students performed well and to the children’s families for waited anxiously for the results. all their support. I would like All of teams made it through to say good luck to all of the to the state championships in competitors from Ignite for the June and it was a great day with National Championships and all performances delivered to a huge thank you to everyone an exceptionally high standard. who has supported our club this The results were announced year. Go Ignite!!" later that day and while the wait

Bishop Pat is off to Rome BISHOP of Sale Pat O’Regan is off to Rome in a couple of weeks to attend a special colloquium for new bishops.

Every year for the past decade new bishops from around the world attend the Vatican

for in-house training.

He flies out of Australia on September 3.

The colloquium runs until September 18 and then the bishop will take a month’s leave.

Newborough parish is celebrating 60 years NEWBOROUGH - The people of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish are extremely proud to be celebrating their 60th anniversary of foundation this year.

In 1955, parishioners together with their inaugural parish priest Fr Frank Ruth, dug the foundations for a new church.

A Nissen hut was erected on site where it stood for 27 years until the opening of a beautiful new brick church in December 1982. Through all those years our parish community, with the people and their priests have continued to gather, celebrate

and give thanks to God. The parish has organised several events to commemorate its Diamond Jubilee: There will be a parish ball on Saturday, October 10 at Moe RSL featuring The Badgers.

The 60th anniversary of the parish and school fete will be on Sunday, October 25 from 10am to 2pm.

The Diamond Jubilee Mass will be on Sunday, November 1 at 10.30am, followed by morning tea, sausage sizzle and an open day and photo display at St Mary’s School.

The Christmas Eve Family

Mass at 7pm will commemorate the first Mass celebrated at Newborough on Christmas Eve 1955.

The parish pastoral team and parishioners would like to extend a very warm invitation to anyone who has been a part of the parish in the past including clergy, parish workers, teachers and parishioners.

Please contact Trish Mulqueen (St Mary’s School 5127 2342), Carol Elswyk (0439 425 132) or Sophy Morley (0413 590 007 or smorley@sale.catholic.org.au) for more information.

ST Mary's Church, Newborough.

Page 18 - Catholic Life, August 2015

Bairnsdale cross blessed BAIRNSDALE - An imposing steel cross in front of St Mary’s School in Bairnsdale, has been blessed and dedicated by Bishop of Sale Pat O’Regan.

The cross is designed by craftsman Anthony Russo, Pakenham, who has also done a lot of work at Pakenham and Lakes Entrance parishes and at St Francis Xavier College’s Berwick South campus.

Bishop O’Regan said the cross had special meaning for Christians.

He pointed out to gathered students that the vertical column pointed towards God and Heaven, but the base was firmly fixed to the ground as a link between Heaven and those of us on Earth.

The cross beam or arms of the cross stretched out to join everyone together.

The bishop said he was also impressed by the stone blocks at the foot of the cross. They could be a place to sit and reflect, or they could be thought of as being stepping stones leading people to the cross, He said a cross was a reminder of God’s extraordinary love for us and how far He was prepared to go to show us that love.

The location of the new cross at the front of the school was wonderful because it immediately reminded visitors of God’s love.

Principal Kevin Greenwood said construction of the cross was important because it not only

signified that it was a Catholic school but it symbolised Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Artist Anthony Russo said he had chosen rusty steel to create the delicate forms of the cross because they symbolised the earth.

The rusty steel wrapped around the cross and opened up like leaves of a flower to reveal the shiny stainless steel cross at the top.

The shiny steel was to symbolise the invisible and to reflect light.

On the top of the cross and arms, small bronze pieces had been welded on to symbolise the flesh of Jesus.

He said the final aspect was the five stainless steel bolts which held the sculpture together and were symbolic of the five wounds of Christ.

For the Young and Young at Heart Quick Quiz

An illusion of spinning

TEST your general knowledge with these questions: 1. What you call the meat from a deer?

2. What sign of the Zodiac represents twins?

3. What is the fruit of an oak tree?

4. A mule is a cross between which two animals?

5. What are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet?

6. What legendary saint is famous for slaying a dragon?

7. What is the second book of the Old Testament?

8. Who is regarded as the first Christian martyr?

9.

Which Gippsland city was originally called Flooding Creek?

10. In what Australian city is there a shopping strip and mall in Cavill Avenue?

Answers

Colour the dolphins

Time for a laugh DID you hear about the guy whose whole left side 10 cents, you’re nuts. We was cut off? He’s all right quit.”

And so our retired now. gentleman got the peace and A RETIRED man moves quiet he always wanted. near a school and spends the TO surprise her husband, first few weeks of retirement an executive’s wife stopped in peace and quiet.

However, when a new by his office.

When she opened the school year begins, three young boys bang on every door, she found him with his mail box, fence and garbage secretary sitting in his lap.

Without hesitating, he bin they encounter every day on their way home from dictated, “And in conclusion, gentlemen, budget cuts or school.

Finally, the man decides to no budget cuts, I cannot take action and walks out to continue to operate this office with just one chair.” meet the boys.

He says, “You kids are a A MAN drove to the lot of fun. I’ll give you each a dollar if you’ll promise to shopping mall and found come around every day and a parking spot which had a bang on everything.” And sign that read “1 Hour Only,” so the kids continue to bang but he wanted be there for on everything as they come two hours, so he parked across two spaces. along the street.

After a few days, the A MAN working with an man tells the boys, “This recession’s really putting a electric saw accidentally cuts big dent in my income. From off all of his fingers. At the now on, I’ll only be able emergency room, his doctor to pay you 50 cents.” The says, “Give me the fingers, noisemakers are displeased, and I’ll see what I can do.”

The injured man replies, but they accept his offer.

A few days later, the “But I don’t have the retiree approaches them fingers!”

“Why didn’t you bring again. “Look,” he says, “I haven’t received my pension them?” the doctor asks.

The injured man responds, cheque yet, so I’m not going to be able to pay more than “Doc, I couldn’t pick them 10 cents. Will that be OK?” up.”

The leader of the boys DID you hear that the exclaims. “If you think we’re going to waste our time dyslexic Devil worshippers beating these mailboxes for sold their souls to Santa?

1. Venison 2. Gemini 3. Acorn 4. Horse and a donkey 5. Alpha and omega 6. St George 7. Exodus 8. St Stephen 9. Sale 10. Surfers Paradise

Catholic Life, August 2015 - Page 19

Classifieds bingo

TWO LUCKY readers of Catholic Life will win double passes to the National 4x4 Outdoors Show, Fishing and Boating Expo at Melbourne Showgrounds on August 21-23.

Whenever we have done giveaways in the past we have been flooded with entries and so we expect keen demand again, especially from the many Gippslanders into four wheel driving, camping, boating and fishing.

The big event will showcase thousands of products from over 200 leading exhibitors and retailers, as well as renowned industry experts.

To be in the running for tickets, send an email to catholiclife@sale.catholic.

Sacred Heart School

BINGO Every Friday

Morwell RSL Club 11am Phone 5134 8484 ROLLING JACKPOTS TOTALLY $5250

wanted known

Your will be done Trinity Families asks you to consider assisting our work in funding charitable projects across the diocese.

Remembering Trinity Families in your will by making a bequest is an effective way of ensuring that you do something to help those struggling families in our midst.

If you need more information on bequests contact: PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820 Ph: 56 22 6688 ABN 51 486 581 500

Please donate generously to the appeal for

Trinity Families.

The Sale Diocese charity serving the families of Greater Gippsland.

Two lucky readers to win passes to showgrounds Expo

public notices

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

If so please contact

Fr Peter Bickley 5152 3106 vocations@sale.catholic.org.au

org.au telling us in less than 40 words why you think you deserve a double pass. To assist please write the word Giveaway in the subject line.

If you are not on email, you can write to us at PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820, but hurry as the tickets will be sent out to lucky winners on August 18.

All of the popular features will return with the show again this year and visitors won’t want to miss out on all of the excitement of the dedicated 4WD Proving Ground, WAECO Outback Stage, Campfire Cooking Corner, Tackle World Fishing Stage and the legendary Action Arena.

Situated on over 30,000 square metres, the National 4x4 Outdoors Show, Fishing and Boating Expo will feature everything outdoor enthusiasts could ask for.

Special guests this year

Catholic Life

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Closing date for next issue is October 5

include Shaun and Graham from 4WD Action, John ‘Roothy’ Rooth, the ‘Bush Mechanic’, Jase Andrews from All 4 Adventure, Paul Worsteling from TV’s iFish program, David Kramer from the 3AW Fishing Show and Channel 31’s Talking Fishing and ex-AFL legend, Peter ‘Spida’ Everitt from The Great Australian Doorstep.

Four wheel drive legends, Rick O’Brien and Jamie Hazelden from Channel 10’s Offroad Adventure Show will also be making special appearances, sharing their valuable off-road experience and knowledge.

For the thrill seekers, the Action Arena will feature Australia’s number one professional street bike stunt rider Lukey Luke, plus Ryan Brown and Shaun Webb from Defy FMX, along with two unbelievable monster trucks and pyrotechnics from KC’s Fireworks.

On the purpose-built 4WD Proving Ground, visitors will be able to try before they buy, with the opportunity to test a 4WD of their choice on a variety of different terrains, as well as getting a feel for the full power of the vehicle they are testing.

The Yarra Valley Fly Fishing team will also be in attendance at the Show, demonstrating how to cast and fly fish at the Tackle World Fishing Stage, hosted

by David Kramer and Paul Worsteling.

For more information and ticket purchasing details, visit www.4x4show.com.au.

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Page 20 - Catholic Life, August 2015

Educators' Biblical formation in Holy Land EIGHT educators from the Sale Diocese were fortunate enough to attend the Centre for Biblical Formation in Jerusalem in June.

The Sion Sisters in their house, Ecce Homo, Behold the Man, hosted us.

Angela Kelly and Jennifer Benbow, from St Michael’s, Berwick, Lisa Broeren, from St Kieran’s, Moe, Lisa Piasente, from Don Bosco, Narre Warren, Damian O’Bryan, from St Brigid’s, Officer, Pam McKillop, from St Francis Xavier, Beaconsfield, and Scott Fitzgerald and Jeff Hobbs, from Catholic College Sale attended.

The month long course facilitated by Rev. Dr Chris Monaghan CP was centred on Luke’s Gospel, and the Acts of the Apostles.

His knowledge and understanding of the Bible was outstanding and he was able to convey the beauty and eloquence of the writing.

While most of the 36 attendees were Australian, there were people from many varied parts of the world, including Europe, North America, Asia and Africa. Six priests and six religious sisters added to the spiritual experience for all.

Jerusalem is Holy ground. We were fortunate to visit many of the places commemorating the

life of Jesus while we were there.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, commemoration the death and resurrection, was a highlight.

We were told to expect a ‘cacophony of sound’ while there and we weren’t disappointed. But despite the many tour groups, and the many Christian denominations vying for notice, it really was an inspiring place.

Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, commemorates the Stations of the Cross.

It replicates the walk Jesus took while carrying his cross to Calvary. Through narrow streets, surrounded by a myriad of people, the Way of the Cross is still an inspiring walk. To walk in Christ’s footsteps is an amazing feeling.

While in Israel the group visited Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity.

Travelling through the Separation Wall was an eerie feeling as many of the group felt it was an unnecessary structure.

The Israeli’s maintain that it is a security wall dividing Israel and the West Bank region.

While in Bethlehem the group visited the university which is run by the De La Salle Brothers.

The students, some of whom addressed the group, felt that education was the answer to the

THE team from Sale Diocese pictured in the Holy Land.

The Dead Sea itself is quite problems of their homeland.

The Church of the Nativity strange. One has no choice but was a bustling place, again to float! 44 degrees Celsius with many tour groups and made the water most inviting many different Christian but even that was warmer than denominations fighting for we are used to.

The group also visited the recognition.

But despite this, to stand in the place Sea of Galilee. For three days commemorating the birth of we walked the places where Jesus completed most of his Christ was inspiring.

While in Israel the group Ministry. The Church of the toured the southern region of Beatitudes and Capernaum the country, through the Negev were highlights.

Spending a couple of hours Desert. It is seemingly desolate but, like our own outback, has in a boat on the Sea of Galilee a beauty that is difficult to gave us a small idea of what life describe. It is a harsh land but might have been like for those the people of the land are hardy. first disciples.

Back in Jerusalem the group Part of the visit south was also visited some major tourist a stop in Qumran, where the attractions.

The Citadel of Dead Sea Scrolls were found. It David is a museum that traces is a hot, dusty place but a place the history of the city. The of rare beauty because of what museum of Israel showcased was found there. more history. The highlight was the display of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Yad Vashem is the Holocaust Cameroon Museum in Jerusalem. While it commemorates some of the worst things that mankind is capable of, it was a place that is important to experience.

The Sisters of Sion in Jerusalem, Sr Bernadette Lynch

and Sr Trudy Narbuurs, are amazing women. Their life is one that supports and nurtures the local people.

Being in the midst of the Muslim Quarter in the Old City simply means that many of the staff at Ecce Homo are Palestinian Muslims. It takes extraordinary people to make that work. The sisters are truly extraordinary.

There were many highlights of this pilgrimage. Each individual would have their own specific favorite but for this author learning more about our Holy Book was the pinnacle.

The more we can get to know the stories and the people of the book the better we can understand the very fundamentals of our faith.

The Catholic Education Office in Warragul generously supported all participants in this pilgrimage. They deserve our thanks. The support of the office, especially Sr Rose Duffy and Bernadette Myors was wonderful and very much appreciated. The schools in our diocese will be better for the trip of a lifetime.

Leongatha teacher award A priest in the Andes annointing the sick The Centrepiece of the Year of Consecrated Life rosary, is inspired by the Gospel passage “He said to them, Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men”. Matthew 4:1920. Peter, drops the nets and follows Him. The Cross of the rosary is inspired by the word “YES” in faithfulness to His Call and to His Mission.

The different languages represent an answer to the Love that knows no boundaries. The centre of the Cross depicts The Annunciation where Mary answers “YES” and from that moment Mary’s faith receives new light. The heart is inspired by the words of St Augustine: “You have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you”.

Cath Life Sale

By Scott Fitzgerald

LEONGATHA – A teacher at Mary MacKillop College Bronwyn Kalos is the recipient of the Catholic Schools award for the Gippsland region of the Australian College of Educators.

The annual awards celebrate the outstanding work of educators throughout the region. This year the awards recognised educators who have achieved positive results for their students through the arts including drama, role playing and best teaching methodology.

Bronwyn was the arts educator at St Laurence O’Toole Catholic Primary School in Leongatha and had worked tirelessly as director of school productions, sharing her passion for music, dance and drama with all students and staff at the school.

She was at the school for seven years, first as a learning support officer than as a registered teacher for the past two years.

In 2013 she combined classroom work with her music, dance and drama specialist role for the whole school.

She was inspirational as the choir leader which culminated in winning the Yarram Eisteddfod in 2014 with her students.

Bronwyn Kalos As director in the annual school production, Bronwyn ensured that all students had a role and part to play. In particular for those students who had not as yet found an avenue or passion in school life. In 2014, for example, a young student with special needs was successful in gaining a lead role in the production.

Bronwyn’s inspirational approach enabled him to cope with rehearsal, learning his lines and performing in front of large audiences.

In 2015 Bronwyn is working at Mary MacKillop College endeavoring to extend her inspiration to the secondary students of Leongatha.