Catholic life dec14

Catholic Life

December 2014 Free Great news! - Pope names new Bishop of Sale - P5 Publication of the Diocese of Sale

ISSUE 185

RIP Bishop Jeremiah

Photo: Lisa Baker

Trinity FAMILIES

Keep your charity local.

We ask you donate generously to our diocesan charity founded by Bishop Jeremiah Coffey so we can help the people in our region. Phone: (03) 5622 6688 Visit us on Facebook and www.trinityfamilies.org.au

Page 2 - Catholic Life, December 2014

Bishop Jeremiah Joseph Coffey DD - 1933-2014 ST Mary of the Cross MacKillop has left us many wise words. “We are but pilgrims here” is a line that speaks of the transitional nature of our whole earthly life. Bishop Jeremiah Coffey died last month and his death is another reminder of this large transition.

It is certainly one that I feel as he has been a significant presence and influence in the world in which I have lived most of my life.

I think it is fair to describe him as a Pope Francis kind of pastor. By that I mean that as priest and bishop he saw in the faith the source of the deepest human joy.

His episcopal motto was “In Joyful Hope” just at the Pope has written to us of “the joy of the gospel”. Both put joy and hope as the sign of Christian faith.

As a priest he was interested in people; in their experiences and background, in their work and family life and hobbies, in their understanding of faith. He discovered a world of meaning in

Grief and transition peoples’ back yards and sheds where they could show their interest in all manner of things “from opera to cacti growing”. People interested him.

He realised early that we need to be intentional about our living the faith.

He engaged in pastoral planning before it was fashionable and was patient with the slow progress that could be made as his parishioners came to understand that they were responsible for the church.

As bishop he showed similar interest in the life of the church, now a pastor of priests as well as people. He gave attention to pastoral planning at the diocesan level.

He knew that “we have to do something”, that it is not enough to build churches and arrange for Masses to be celebrated and just expect people to come. The work of building a community and filling that community

with a sense of mission is the real task of parishes and priests.

His vision led to the pastoral plan called by the name: “Journeying Together”. In some ways it was his final work as bishop and it was acted on in the final years of his term as our bishop.

The many parish pastoral councils make up just one of its outcomes, but there were others as well including the appointment of youth ministers and the attendance of young people at World Youth Day gatherings.

Pope Francis has described good pastors as living with the smell of the sheep on them; they are close to their people. As well as being personally interested in people Bishop Jeremiah expressed this closeness structurally.

He established CatholicCare (then known as Centacare) in the diocese,

bringing help to many. And he set up the Bishop’s Family Foundation to give funding assistance to a range of initiatives that support families. It continues today as Trinity Families.

For 50 years as priest, including more than 18 as our bishop, Jeremiah Coffey has shown and taught that kind of pastoral service and leadership in our local church of Sale. I am sad at his death and ever so grateful for his life.

Fr Peter Slater Diocesan Administrator

Bishop’s family welcomes many mourners BISHOP Jeremiah Coffey’s younger sister Ita Williams welcomed people to the Vigil Mass at Bairnsdale on December 1.

She said it was strange to be welcoming people to their own church but she did so on behalf of Bishop Jeremiah’s Irish family.

Accompanied by her son David Williams, and a niece Kate Coffey (daughter of the bishop’s brother Paddy) she said there were many others in Ireland who would have also liked to be present but were unable to make the trip.

She thanked all the people of the Diocese of Sale who had loved, supported and worked with Jeremiah for more than 50 years.

Mrs Williams said the death of a sibling was always difficult and it was the second time she had endured the pain, as a sister Mary had died at age 33 a couple of years after Jeremiah had come to Australia as a young priest.

It was unheard of for a young Irish priest to be allowed to return home for a sick family member, but Bishop Lyons had sent Jeremiah home.

She said that no-one in Cork had ever heard of Sale but, as a 20-year-old, Jeremiah had chosen the Diocese of Sale to

be his adopted home for more than half a century.

“He made his choice as a young man and no-one would have a word of regret.”

Mrs Williams said the love and concern extended to Jeremiah by his friends and community through his illnesses over the past few years had been of great comfort to the family.

Fr Bernard Buckley said Bishop Jeremiah had planned his own funeral and had worked with the late Mary Anne Scott to put the finishing touches on the liturgies until finally he declared “enough”.

The readings were in place and he believed that the bishop had wanted these to speak to those left behind, to give them comfort and hope.

Fr Buckley said he was a seminarian at Corpus Christi when Bishop Jeremiah became rector and he long recalled a stirring speech given to staff and students about the need to have a “fire in their bellies.”

“Jeremiah had a fire in his belly for Christ, the Church and the Diocese of Sale. He kept that fire going until the last.”

He said that not long ago Bishop Jeremiah said that it was not being a bishop which would define him, but his life as a priest for the people.

One of Fr Buckley’s finest

THE bishop’s sister Ita Williams, her son David Williams and niece Kate Coffey place the shroud over the coffin at the vigil Mass at St Mary’s Church, Bairnsdale.

• More stories and memories of Bishop Jeremiah there was one who agreed with photos, pages 3, 4, 23, 24. was of seeing him wandering him. around the grounds at Iona presbytery after an official visit, with his rosary beads in his hand, quietly praying the rosary.

Fr Buckley brought a chuckle to the congregation when he recalled that Bishop Jeremiah told him that he had lived under seven or eight popes and finally it appeared that in Pope Francis,

Named after his grandfather JEREMIAH Joseph Coffey was named after his grandfather, a skilled builder in the Cork area of Ireland.

His grandfather lived in Midleton and built the fine limestone church there, as well as several others in the district.

The family home was just across the road from the church and so in the graveyard there

is Jeremiah Coffey’s grave and also those of other family members.

Bishop Jeremiah’s father Patrick, an engineer, and mother Catherine settled in Blackrock and it was there that he was born on New Year’s Day, 1933.

He attended primary school at Model School. Cork, where

the late Fr John Dunlea, OMI, former Moe parish priest, was also a student.

His secondary schooling was at St Nessan’s Christian Brothers School, Sullivan’s Quay, and then he went on to University College, Dublin, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree before entering All Hallows Seminary in 1951.

SR Madeline White RSJ, Orbost, a long-time friend of the bishop leads the rosary at Bairnsdale.

Catholic Life, December 2014 - Page 3

Bishop Jeremiah Joseph Coffey DD - 1933-2014

Solemn farewell for a bishop of the people BISHOP Emeritus Jeremiah Joseph Coffey was laid to rest in the grounds of St Mary’s Cathedral on December 2, following almost six hours of solemn liturgies.

He died at Bairnsdale hospital on November 19 following a stroke at Eastwood nursing home a few days earlier.

The grave site in front of the cathedral was chosen by the bishop many years ago.

Funeral rites began in Bairnsdale at 5pm the night before with recitation of the rosary, followed by a Vigil Mass attended by about 400 mourners.

The bishop’s sister Ita Williams, her son David and a niece Kate Coffey travelled from Cork, Ireland, for the funeral.

Kate, who lives in Canada, had visited Bishop Jeremiah in Bairnsdale only a month before his death and had returned to Ireland to visit family when news of his death was received.

Following the Vigil Mass the bishop’s coffin was brought to St Mary’s Cathedral for a rite of reception, followed by prayers and another rosary.

Crowds started arriving at the cathedral an hour before the funeral. The previous evening’s vigil reduced numbers attending and so about 400 people were able to be accommodated in the main body of the cathedral and adjacent open area.

Principal celebrant was head of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart.

The Pope’s representative Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paul Gallagher, travelled from Canberra, as did Bishop’s Coffey successor, Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn Christopher Prowse.

Bishop of Bathurst Michael McKenna, at one time a priest of Sale Diocese and secretary to Bishop Coffey, attended along with six other bishops.

Some 68 priests, four deacons and four seminarians and about 40 religious sisters and brothers attended.

State and Federal politicians and local government mayors were also among the guests.

At the start of the Mass the Book of Gospels was placed on the coffin by Deacon Tony Aspinall, followed by the placing of Bishop Jeremiah’s mitre by Anita Smolenaars, his crosier by Bill and Maureen Henebery, his Brigidine pectoral cross by Kate Coffey and David Williams and finally, his episcopal ring by Ita Williams.

Archbishop Gallagher then read a letter of condolence from Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

Readers were Nelly Coomber, Sr Helen Buckley FCJ and Deacon Aspinall.

The Mass was led by a combined choir under the direction of Sophy Morley with Julie Peavey as organist.

Mrs Morley and Lynda George were cantors and soloist Mary Mirtschin sang Panis Angelicus after communion.

Prayers of general intercession were read by Sr Doreen Dagge RSJ, Veronica Barnes and Sr Grace Onaivi SoN. After the Mass, Bishop Coffey’s coffin was carried shoulder-high from the cathedral

by Sale Diocese priests Fr Peter Kooloos, Fr Brendan Hogan, Fr Michael Willemsen, Fr Bernard Buckley, Fr Denis O’Bryan and diocesan administrator Fr Peter Slater.

Mourners remained in the cathedral while the short graveside service took place followed by the traditional singing of Salve Regina by the clergy gathered at the graveside.

Mourners were served

BISHOP Coffey’s sister Ita Williams places his episcopal ring on the coffin.

MOURNERS fill the main part of the cathedral for the Funeral Mass. refreshments and lunch in a School.

Services, Sale, according to the large marque in the grounds of Funeral arrangements were wishes of Bishop Coffey’s prethe adjacent St Mary’s Primary conducted by Gippsland Funeral paid funeral plan.

Police escort to Sale Cathedral

ARCHBISHOP of Canberra and Goulburn Christopher Prowse (right) prepares to sprinkle holy water as the coffin is carried from St Mary’s Church, Bairnsdale, for its journey to Sale.

NIGHT falls as funeral director Scott Rossetti leads the hearse carrying Bishop’s Coffey’s body up the driveway of St Mary’s Cathedral for the solemn service of reception on the Monday night.

A POLICE escort led the cortege from Bairnsdale to St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, for the solemn reception of Bishop Jeremiah’s body.

Police on intersection duty saluted as the hearse passed.

A guard of honor of parishioners and clergy formed as the bishop was carried into the cathedral and the coffin was placed on a deep purple and gold pall on the floor in the sanctuary, surrounded by six tall candles.

Placing of the coffin on the floor was at his request, a reminder that as his ministry had begun with him lying prostrate at his ordination, it ended with him also lying on the floor.

Following a short liturgy, diocesan administrator Fr Peter Slater spoke of Bishop’s Jeremiah’s strength of leadership and his willingness to involve the people in important issues.

His development of the Lumen Christi Parish at Churchill, where he was the first parish priest, was an indication of how he enthused the people and helped them to become leaders in their community.

Fr Slater said the bishop had always had the ability to look at issues from a different perspective, adding the human

dimension to discussions, and this was always evident at gatherings of priests where his wisdom came to the fore.

It was a surprise to have one of the diocese’s own priests elevated to be bishop, but history showed just how richly blessed the diocese had been to have him as its chief shepherd.

He involved people, but also knew patience as some initiatives often took a long while to come to fruition.

Bishop Jeremiah had developed his pastoral plan In Joyful Hope after extensive consultation with the people and it had led to the development of pastoral councils and the youth ministry in Sale Diocese.

Fr Slater said that knowing his priests and his people was a hallmark of Bishop Jeremiah.

The pastoral direction shown in recent times by Pope Francis were interesting because the Bishop Jeremiah had lived these qualities for years before the Pope came on the scene, or was even a bishop.

Following the service, the congregation was invited to light candles and place them on the floor at the foot of the coffin.

Light refreshments took place in the cathedral’s open area and then at 10pm rosary was recited.

Page 4 - Catholic Life, December 2014

Archbishop installed in Sydney ARCHBISHOP Anthony Fisher OP was installed as the ninth Archbishop of Sydney during a solemn Mass of Installation at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney on November 12.

President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart, Melbourne, concelebrated the Mass with archbishops and bishops from overseas.

Archbishop Hart said that becoming an archbishop was always a quantum leap in service and responsibility.

“Archbishop Fisher will teach, lead people to God in worship and give generous service. Knowledge of the people, being one with them, and walking with them where they are is so important.

We wish him many years of dedicated and compassionate service.”

In his homily, Archbishop Fisher said: “Pope Francis said pastors should smell of their sheep. This is not a comment on clerical hygiene: it is an insistence that we are from and for our flocks. Pray, therefore, that I will always be a shepherd for Sydney after the heart of Jesus Christ.”

“What will this Archdiocese look like when, God willing I retire in 2035?” he asked.

“My hope is for a Church in which the gospel is preached with joy, the wisdom of our tradition mined with fidelity, the sacraments celebrated with dignity and welcome, and the seminaries, convents and youth groups are teeming with new life.

“That will depend hugely on three factors: our clergy and religious; our families; and our young people.”

Bishop Jeremiah Joseph Coffey DD - 1933-2014

A bishop who touched many lives

By Colin Coomber BISHOP Jeremiah Coffey was a man who didn’t like much fuss.

He wore the mantle of bishop comfortably and never really wanted to be seen to be on a pedestal.

Yet the outpouring of grief following his death shows that this humble priest and bishop touched many lives in his own quiet way.

Bishop Jeremiah would comfortably mix in any crowd but was always the centre of attention because his caring, pastoral nature naturally drew people to him.

He was a great raconteur, always telling stories of his various experiences and accidental adventures.

He could laugh at his misfortunes of missing aeroplane flights and even boarding a plane to the wrong destination once during a visit to Canada.

He would tell tales of his childhood experiences growing up in Cork and some of the characters he had encountered.

When at All Hallows seminary he was told every priest should learn a signature song or poem which they could perform if ever called upon to join in entertainment with parishioners.

He chose the Australian folk song My Old Black Billy and would often sing a fine rendition.

He had a prodigious memory when it came to recalling family connections and the history of the peoples of the diocese.

It was at his urging that the retirement village at Pakenham be called Shanagolden because he recalled that the early Irish settlers in the Pakenham area

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

catholiclife@sale.catholic.org.au www.sale.catholic.org.au

had come from a village of that name in Ireland.

Bishop Jeremiah sometimes cringed when a fuss was made over him, but at the same time recognised the cultural differences which made some want to genuflect in his presence and kiss his episcopal ring.

When ordained a bishop he chose a fine Brigidine cross as his pectoral cross but when he heard that some eastern European Catholics voiced that it reminded them of a Nazi swastika, he put it in the drawer and after that wore a simple cross.

He was the same person after being made bishop as he was before; except that he gave up smoking.

He was a good host and always made sure that people volunteering to be on diocesan committees had something to eat at meetings.

He reasoned it was not fair to ask someone to travel several hours for a meeting and then only give them a cup of tea or coffee.

Bishop Coffey In this diocese the parishioners became his family and he was always interested to know what people were doing and what problems they were experiencing.

Children clamoured around him to get a pat on the head or a quiet word with their beloved bishop.

He enjoyed nature,

When my tramping days are o'er.

And I drop my swag at the Golden Door, Saint Peter will stare when he sees me there, Then he'll say, "Poor wandering Willie, Come in with your sensible, indispensable, Old Black Billy."

Socially he enjoyed a couple of glasses of red wine but it was not aways the case.

He was a teetotaller when he came to the diocese but decided to drink to be sociable when he liked the way the Italian migrants shared a drink with meals.

Bishop Coffey loved families and always kept strong contact with his family back home in Ireland.

Latrobe alley V uneral F Services

particularly the beaches and frequently used to don his bathers for a quick dip.

While in Sale, a deserted spot on the Ninety Mile Beach midway between Seaspray and Golden Beach was a favorite spot, but in retirement at Paynesville he swam in the Gippsland Lakes.

Bishop Jeremiah occasionally referred to his faith and how seeing his parents at prayer together had strengthened his personal faith.

When asked if he would consider becoming a priest, he said that he had no idea whether he was cut out for the vocation, but decided to give it a go.

There was all sorts of advice handed out at the seminary but he often remarked that the best lessons were learnt meeting

people where they were at, hearing their stories and feeling their pain.

He also described himself as an “accidental bishop,” the first priest of Sale Diocese to be elevated to the episcopacy in their own diocese.

When he was appointed rector of Corpus Christi Seminary, he was warned by a fellow Irish priest that the hierarchy was setting him up to be a bishop.

He laughed off the suggestion, only to find that a couple of years later Rome was calling him to take on a leading role in the church in Gippsland.

He accepted the challenge and set about bringing the Church into the modern era by employing a finance manager, expanding the role of the Catholic Development Fund and forming a diocesan pastoral council.

He closed down the old low-circulation Sale Catholic Life for a time, then launched this free publication so that all sections of the Catholic community could learn about what was happening in the diocese.

He had St Mary’s Cathedral extended and modernised so that more people could be seated for large events such as Christmas and Easter services and funerals.

When he learnt that everyday families were struggling to access welfare services in the region he established Bishop’s Family Foundation, now known as Trinity Families.

Other dioceses had charitable funds but none used the model of a philanthropic trust to ensure that charities operating within the geographic area of the diocese would be able to access funds for their programs to assist families.

Bishop Jeremiah left his mark on the Diocese of Sale, but it is also etched in the hearts of the people who accepted a handsome young Irish priest into their homes and families.

We all mourn his passing but can be thankful that our lives have been enriched by knowing him.

Editor: Colin Coomber Published 6 times a year Deadline for advertising copy and editorial contributions for next issue is Monday, February 9 Issues distributed free through parishes and schools from Ash Wednesday, February 18.

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Catholic Life, December 2014 - Page 5

Ordination of new bishop to be held in February FR Patrick O’Regan, 56, has been named by Pope Francis as the next Bishop of Sale.

The Pope made the announcement in Rome at 10pm eastern summer time last Thursday.

Bishop-elect O’Regan is currently Vicar General of Bathurst Diocese and Dean of St Michael and St John’s Cathedral, Bathurst.

His ordination date is yet to be set but it will not be held before February.

Fr O’Regan was born in Bathurst and was educated at St Joseph’s Primary, Perthville, and St Stanislaus College, Bathurst.

He studied for the priesthood at St Columba College, Springwood, and St Patrick’s College, Manly, before being ordained a priest for Bathurst Diocese in 1983.

He served as assistant priest at Lithgow, Cowra, Orange and Bathurst before undertaking higher studies in France in 1994-95.

Fr O’Regan returned to Orange as assistant priest for three years, before being appointed parish priest of Wellington where he served until 2001-02 when he again undertook higher studies in France, obtaining a Licentiate in Liturgical and Sacramental Theology from Institut Catholique in Paris.

He returned to the diocese in 2003 and served six years as parish priest of Blayney, before being appointed diocesan administrator following the retirement of Bishop Patrick Dougherty in November 2008.

When Bishop Michael McKenna was installed in April 2009, Fr O’Regan become diocesan chancellor and since 2010 has been dean of the cathedral. He was appointed vicar general in 2012.

Fr O’Regan is a member of the National Liturgical Council and is the diocesan coordinator for the ongoing formation of priests and permanent deacons.

His interests are pastoral liturgy and the theology of the Eucharist and his love of music and singing voice are wellknown.

He has also been involved in adult education formation, lecturing in religious education at the Charles Sturt University’s Bathurst and Dubbo campuses, and at the Catholic Institute of Sydney.

Our diocesan administrator Fr Peter Slater welcomed the appointment of Bishop-elect O’Regan and announced the news to diocesan clergy and staff.

He said that details of the episcopal ordination and installation would be announced following discussions with the Bishop-elect.

News of the announcement spread quickly through the diocese where speculation had been rife that Sale Diocese would be next to have its

vacancy filled.

Fr Slater has been administrator since the eighth Bishop of Sale Christopher Prowse was appointed Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn in November 2013.

Bishop-elect O’Regan said “I see the hand of God somehow in all of this, as the God of surprises.

“I feel a real blend of surprise, excitement, numbness, humility and sadness. Surprise at being chosen, excitement at being able to be a source of unity and hope to the People of God in the Diocese of Sale, still numb from having one’s world turned upside down, a very Adventish, John the Baptist thing to do.

“I feel humility as the path of service opens up more deeply before me and sadness that after 31 years of working in, and 56 years of being part of, the Diocese of Bathurst. I’m a little like Abram in being called away to Sale, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you’ (Genesis 12:1).”

“This is a memorable week for the Diocese of Sale, we have been mourning the passing of Bishop Jeremiah Coffey.

“May he rest in peace and may the good God continue to bless the Diocese of Sale,” Bishop-elect O’Regan said.

Bishop-elect Fr Patrick O’Regan

Trinity Families supports local projects TRINITY Families has distributed $125,800 to charities running programs in support of families in the Greater Gippsland area.

Family counselling, pregnancy and early parenting support, suicide prevention, a mental health program for new mothers, a sexual assault prevention program, an infant health program and assistance to needy families have all been supported in the latest round of funding.

Trinity Families executive officer Colin Coomber said the organisation had agreed to support nine different programs but in most cases the full amounts requested could not be met.

Cheques have been presented to all recipients over the past month.

Mr Coomber said Trinity Families was the only true philanthropic fund which solely benefitted programs for families in the Greater Gippsland area and it was important that individuals and businesses gave it stronger financial support.

“We could have given away

three times what we had available and that has been the case most years.

“To achieve more and provide support for those charities working in the field we need a big injection of funds from the Gippsland community.”

He said that because of its philanthropic nature, Trinity Families held all donated funds in trust and it was the income from this trust fund which was available for distribution each year.

Low interest rates had been a drag on investments in recent years and so over the next few years Trinity Families was aiming to double the size of its investments.

Mr Coomber said Trinity Families, previously known as Bishop’s Family Foundation, was the idea of the late Bishop Jeremiah Coffey.

The bishop saw that many families in the Greater Gippsland area were struggling to access basic services to support them.

He said “The foundation had a slow beginning but it is now making some real differences

TRINITY Families executive officer Colin Coomber gives CatholicCare Gippsland manager Anthea Dacy a $70,000 contribution towards counselling services in Sale and Pakenham.

TRINITY Families committee member Paul Velten with representatives of two charities who received funding this year Rochelle Pereira of South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault and Joy De Jong from St Vincent de Paul, Pakenham. in the region with its strong support of programs run by other charities.

“I don’t think Bishop Coffey realised in the early days, how successful his idea of a philanthropic trust would be, but he was always proud that we had been able to give away more than $1.2 million over the past 11 years.”

Mr Coomber said the bishop always asked how Trinity Families was going and was keen to see more people support it by donating to its trust fund.

The largest allocation of funds this year was $70,000 to CatholicCare Gippsland to provide free or subsidised counselling to families in Pakenham and Sale regions.

Lifeline Gippsland has benefitted with $12,000 towards preventing suicide by establish a peer network.

The pregnancy and early parenting support centre known as Olivia’s Place in Warragul was given $10,000 for training of staff and volunteers, which follows on from $30,000 given last year to help establish the centre.

A pastoral care volunteer program in Wonthaggi and San Remo which services the needs of patients, residents and families at Wonthaggi Hospital and three aged care centres received $7500.

Good Beginnings Australia received $7500 for a parentinfant mental health pilot program in East Gippsland.

Latrobe Regional Hospital has received $6300 for a mental health program for new mothers in the Traralgon area.

The South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault run by Monash Health has received $5000 towards keeping this vital service running in the Pakenham area.

Theodora House has received $5000 towards its program, of providing food to needy and disadvantaged residents in Morwell.

And finally, the Pakenham conference of St Vincent de Paul has been given $2500 for back-to school expenses and fuel vouchers for needy families.

Page 6 - Catholic Life, December 2014

Times of change

WHEN we were planning this issue of Catholic Life it was going to be a sedate 16 pages with a nice Christmas picture of the Holy Family in the stable as a front page picture.

The death of Bishop Jeremiah Coffey and his subsequent funeral changed everything so we bumped the issue up to 24 pages and allocated the first six to him.

We were under the pump getting everything from the funeral together in a couple of days available before we needed to go to the printer.

Then came the news on Friday that Pope Francis had announced our next bishop.

On went the communications officer hat, press releases written and sent out, an interview of the bishop-elect, and, of course another shuffle of an almost completed paper.

Hopefully, in the rush we haven’t left too many important items out. Apologies if we have.

The top reads

YOU may be surprised that Catholic literature has taken out the top places in a list of the greatest 100 Christian books.

The list was published by British Anglican newspaper Church Times.

The top five places are Confessions by St Augustine, The Rule of Benedict by St Benedict, Summa Theologia

by St Thomas Aquinas,

Official opening of new Cranbourne East school Revelations of Divine Love

by Julian of Norwich and The Divine Comedy by Dante.

We bet there are not too many people aside from theology students who will have read the top three.

You can see the whole list at www.ct100books.co.uk.

What’s in a name?

INTERESTING to see how one newspaper handled the story of a United Nations committee’s complaint against Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Paul Gallagher because he cited diplomatic immunity in initially refusing to hand over documents on two deceased abusive priests from MaitlandNewcastle.

In the first instance they correctly called him Archbishop Paul Gallagher, then in the second instance he was Mr Gallagher, and finally he was relegated to just Gallagher.

Priests and bishops being called Mr is a growing trend.

We don’t believe it is a deliberate sign of disrespect for the clergy, it is just that the standard of journalist and subeditor training has gone out the window.

EVERYONE’S excited by the official opening of St Thomas the Apostle School.

CRANBOURNE EAST - St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Primary School was blessed by the diocesan administrator Fr Peter Slater and officially opened by the Federal Member for La Trobe Jason Wood on November 5.

Also in attendance was the Director of Catholic Education Maria Kirkwood, Deputy

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

Mayor of Casey City, Cr Louise Berkelmans and the local councillor for the Balla Balla ward, Cr Geoff Ablett.

The site at Cranbourne East was purchased about 10 years ago when the recently deceased Bishop Jeremiah Coffey led the Sale Diocese and Fr Herman Hengel was parish priest of St Agatha’s.

The project was further developed by Fr Andrew Wise until Fr Denis O’Bryan was appointed parish priest a few years ago.

Building of stage one begun in August 2013 and 12 months later, amidst great excitement, the students and staff started

using the new facilities.

The building is a landmark design that reflects the community’s vision “to provide families in the local area with a quality education in the Catholic tradition.”

Classes began in St Agatha’s school hall in February this year with 126 students, five classes and eight staff members.

In 2015, the school will have nine classes and well over 200 students.

The school has applied for funding to build stage two, and the parish is currently developing plans to build a parish centre at the site in Cranbourne East.

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

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

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

STUDENTS and staff in front of the first stage building which was

officially opened last month.

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

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

Catholic Life, December 2014 - Page 7

Pope enters debate on Big Bang theory

Divine evolution EVOLUTION is not just a theory today, it is generally accepted.

Many Christians are astonished at the revelations of 20th century science and it is not going to stop.

These revelations encourage us to reflect more thoroughly on St Thomas Aquinas’ reminder that God is revealed both in the book of nature and in the books of the Bible.

For too long the two stories have collided with each other.

But both the love story revealed in the Genesis creation stories and the theology that came out of it, and the emerging stories about our evolving world, reveal a fundamental interconnectedness and integration.

If human beings are part of an evolutionary process and, with the rest of creation, have developed from lower forms of life, what does that mean to our faith, Christianity?

Current conversations between mystics and physicists, theologians and cosmologists, are revealing undreamt of possibilities for the story of our faith.

As Christians we are called to a new level of consciousness about God’s loving energy in the first ‘flaring forth’ nearly 14 billion years ago, and in the subsequent process of evolution.

Every particle of Creation is imbued with divine love-energy and is an accurate expression of God’s own creativity.

A fundamental concept is that we all flow from one source, one relatively simples particle; some will see it as the process of evolution, others the work of the Holy Spirit.

Theologian Elizabeth

Johnson’s new book, Ask the Beast: Darwin and the God of Love, seeks an understanding of faith that embraces the remarkable findings of science.

She wrote: “Far from being in competition with the laws of nature acting around us, the hand of the God of love empowers the cosmos as it evolves. The world develops in an economy of divine superabundance, gifted with its own freedom, and in and through which the Creator Spirit’s gracious purpose is accomplished.” St Thomas Aquinas warned us that “if we get creation wrong we get God wrong”.

To be a Catholic Christian today is to be wholeheartedly engaged with a scientific age.

Evolution is not the background to the human story, it is the human story, the unfinished process of the continuing incarnation.

Pope John Paul II wrote “Resurrection is a qualitative leap in the history of evolution towards a new world which already permeates this world of ours, transforms it and draws it to itself...”.

THE above is taken from an article in The Tablet, written

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creation story in Genesis fits in very well with the evolution theory. After all, it teaches us that God is the creator, it does not teach how. It teaches us that God, as Creator, put order into chaos. It teaches us also that human beings, represented by Adam and Eve, became aware of the ability to reflect, to choose and know the difference between good and evil.

- Fr Herman Hengel Warragul

POPE Francis has waded into the controversial debate over the origins of human life, saying the Big Bang theory did not contradict the role of a Divine Creator, but even required it.

The pope was addressing the plenary assembly of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, which gathered at the Vatican to discuss evolving concepts of nature.

“When we read about creation in Genesis, we run the risk of imagining God was a magician, with a magic wand able to do everything. But that is not so,” Pope Francis said.

“He created human beings and let them develop according to the internal laws that he gave to each one so they would reach their fulfillment.”

Francis said the beginning

of the world was not “a work of chaos” but created from a principle of love. He said sometimes competing beliefs in creation and evolution could co-exist.

“God is not a demiurge [demigod] or a magician, but the Creator who gives being to all entities,” the pope said. “Evolution in nature is not opposed to the notion of creation, because evolution presupposes the creation of beings that evolve.”

Unlike much of evangelical Protestantism, Catholic teaching traditionally has not been at odds with evolution.

In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed there was no opposition between evolution and Catholic doctrine and in 1996, St John Paul II endorsed that statement.

Death of renowned bio-ethicist PROF. Nicholas Tonti-Filippini died on November 7 and was buried from St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne on November 18.

He is survived by his wife, Dr Mary Walsh and their four children, Claire, Lucianne, Justin and John. He was a philosopher who specialised in bioethics for over 30 years. He was Australia’s first hospital ethicist and established the Biocethics Centre at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne.

In September 2014, Prof.

Tonti-Filippini hosted the first National Fertility Conference at John Paul Institute for Marriage and Family with the support of Melbourne Archbishop Denis Hart and Bishop of Wagga Wagga Gerard Hanna with co-sponsors from Melbourne Archdiocese’s Life Marriage and Family Office, Australian Catholic University, Matercare Australia and the Institute for International Reproductive Medicine.

The conference featured doctors and teachers in fertility awareness and was the first collaboration of all leading fertil-

Prof. Tonti-Filippini Photo: Fiona Basile, Kairos

ity agencies and methods.

These agencies specialise, train and accredit fertility educators in the three well established evidence based methods: the Sympto-Thermal Method, the Billings Ovulation Method and the Creighton Method.

The opening forum of the conference was titled “Meeting the Needs of Infertile Couples” and most sessions thereafter explored and gave evidence of

scientific and medical help that can be given to couples as a result of their adhering to the principles of any one of the natural family planning methods.

Until recently most people assumed that natural family planning was to assist couples to avoid pregnancy.

Many are not aware that evidence of chronic medical problems become apparent to NFP teachers who will refer couples to appropriate medical specialists.

This follow-up action very often results in a healthy baby without having to resort to expensive (and often unsuccessful) IVF treatment.

Prof. Toni-Filippini’s search for truth was for the whole of life. Had he not succumbed to his illness of over 30 years (renal failure), he would have been speaking at Maffra on December 7 on the topic “To Love Until the End - Guiding your End of Life Decisions”.

This event was under the auspices of the pro-family, pro-life group Action for Life in the Heart Region of the Diocese of Sale.

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Page 8 - Catholic Life, December 2014

Green Patch aids African community garden MOE - Over the last few months Green Patch Gippsland has grown from an idea to bring the African community together for the purposes of growing food for themselves, to a productive working garden.

The Green Patch project began as a partnership between CatholicCare Gippsland, GEST and the Settlement Grants Program at Latrobe Community Health Service.

Early enthusiasm for the project has come from many different interest groups and this has fuelled the success of the project.

Green Patch Gippsland is modelled on CatholicCare’s Green Patch projects in Werribee and Melton. It has been adapted to local growing conditions and the needs of the Gippsland community.

Participants receive a preaccredited certificate on completion of 20 hours of hands on learning, most of which takes place at the Moe site.

A core group of hard working individuals has done a great job in planning and planting out the garden and are in the process of designing further extensions to meet the fresh vegetable needs of their families and friends.

The community has taken

ownership of this project from the start by joining the Green Patch Gippsland Steering Committee, by providing training, volunteer support and information and by recruiting interested participants. It is hoped the project will eventually generate income by producing enough herbs and vegetables to supply local farmers markets.

In addition to growing a range of fresh vegetables and herbs locally, based on the existing knowledge, skills and strengths of the participants, the project aims to increase self confidence, strengthen relationships within the African community and break down some of the barriers that new arrivals face when they settle in a new area.

This includes establishing stronger links with training and employment opportunities through GEST’s registered training provider programs and services.

The project would like to share the benefits of its early success and new members are welcome to join at any time by contacting CatholicCare Gippsland, GEST and the Settlement Grants Program at Latrobe Community Health Service.

ABOVE: Preparing the new garden beds are Mubark Khatir, Costa Bagi, Kenadi Ramadan, Lino Korok and Gatdet Gach.

LEFT: Costa Bagi and his son Kenadi Ramadan shovelling dirt for the community garden project.

Gippslander heads Marist Youth LIZ Wake has been appointed as the Marist Youth Ministry regional coordinator to be based in Melbourne, and will take up her role from the start of 2015.

Originally from Rosedale, she is a former student of Sale Catholic College and has been teaching in Marist schools for the past 10 years.

As part of her responsibilities, she will also have national responsibility for oversight of the Remar program, which is the main Marist program for inschool Marist youth ministry.

One of the major recommendations of this year’s Remar review was for its leadership and support to transition to be more regionally based, and also for all MYM programs and

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events (both in-school and postschool) to be more integrated and connected.

Liz is well known to many Marists, having been part of the Marist family for many years, both through her student days and later her involvement in Remar and Marist Young Adult Ministry.

She is an active member of the local Marist scene in Melbourne, and had already signed on to be one of the foundation members of the Marist Association.

Br Rod Thomson, a former teacher at Catholic College Sale, was national Remar coordinator last year, but will now be resuming duties in the vocations ministry.

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A Christmas reflection “SO this is Christmas, and what have you done?” So goes the John Lennon song.

Christmas is a great time of year for most people, a time for family, for giving and receiving, for sharing blessings, for remembering friends and good times throughout this year. Our lives would be the poorer without it.

It is perhaps the simplicity of the Christmas story that appeals to us: It tells of the birth of a child to poor parents with an uncertain future, in very trying circumstances.

This year so many parents across the world are faced with a similar future – children born into war or other dreadful circumstances, children born as their parents flee violence and religious intolerance the like of which we have not seen for decades.

As John Lennon sings: And what have you done? This year I received this email which I quote with permission: “I am only a ‘little’ person, I do not have influence in any sphere – and sometimes I wonder what can I do? The world problems, especially at the moment, are beyond me to have any input … but the ‘little’ people in this area did a lot a year ago.

A friend had a relative who was working on Christmas Island. In one of the emails this relative mentioned how the children have few clothes, no toys, no books or pencils – nothing.

In my way of thinking these children are the innocent victims of the world system. They have no choice in where they

Reflections

by Jim Quillinan go or what happens to them – the ultimate ‘little people’, the very ones that Jesus came for.

This lady put a call out to all her friends - to all donate some used clothes, buy a packet of colored pencils and a scrap book, whatever we could afford or spare.

I put a notice on the school board – and was inundated with beautiful little girl dresses and pyjamas many of them top labels expensive items, colored pencils and coloring books anything that would bring joy to a child’s heart. We had ages and whether they were girls or boys so we could make sure there was sufficient for each child.

At the end of the collection, I helped my teacher friend pack up the donations – 8 crates (not boxes!) Crates of clothes toys and other items for the children. We made sure that every girl had a doll – each doll was different. Every boy had a toy truck ... and there were extras to share.

We had to put out a call for donations for the cost of freighting the crates to Christmas Island – we needed just over $1000.

This came in immediately in donations – small and large and everything was shipped off and reached the children who were there at that time.

The relative was not allowed

to take photos but she said she will never forget for the rest of her life the faces on those children when they saw what was given to them. Also the tears of the parents when they saw the joy of the children.

Not one item nor one cent was donated by a corporation or wealthy person – little people achieving a huge task. So maybe I can do something, I can influence even a minute portion of our world.”

Christmas is a story of generous and unconditional love.

It invites us to trust that God is here and cares deeply as each of us deals with the joys and sorrows, the hopes and disappointments of everyday.

The Christmas story affirms that we all have a value and a unique dignity that lifts us up and empowers us to move beyond ourselves.

It asks us to take the risk of reaching out to others, to be generous in showing that we believe that God wants to be close to us and to everyone we call our neighbor, no matter who they are or where they may be.

The Christmas story also tells us that without us showing that love in tangible, practical ways, they will probably never find out about it.

Catholic Life, December 2014 - Page 9

Bishops call to end the violence against women THE Australian Catholic Bishops issued a call to focus on the message of Jesus Christ and his relationship with women as part of its response to the International Day for the Elimination

of Violence against Women on November 25.

Referring to the ‘Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus Report’ (1999) on the Participation of Women in the Catholic

Priest to lead Holy Land pilgrimage BAIRNSDALE parish priest Fr Peter Bickley will lead a journey of faith to the Holy Land next year.

The 13 day tour leaves Melbourne on March 13 includes visits to the Dead Sea, Caesarea, Sea of Galilee, Nazareth, Jerusalem, Masada, the Red Sea, King Solomon’s mines, and Tel Aviv.

During a free day at the Eilat resort there is an optional side tour to visit the world heritage site of Petra with its fabulous church carved out of solid rock.

Cost is $5280 per person twin share which covers 11 nights hotel accommodation and service charges, tips, three meals daily and sightseeing fees.

A Journey of Faith Tour is being organised with Yaffa Tours and Travel Talk International Pty. Ltd. Fr Bickley has previously visited the Holy Land and has

Assumption’s first female principal A FORMER Maffra woman will take up duties as the first female principal at Assumption College, Kilmore.

Kate Fogarty is the daughter of Trevor and Pat Fogarty, Maffra, and has been steeped in the Marist tradition since her secondary education at Catholic College Sale.

She later worked in Marist Youth Ministry at Parkville and then taught at Marcellin College, Bulleen, and Catholic College Bendigo where she had the senior role of director of Catholic identity.

She was also assistant head of campus at Our Lady of Sacred Heart College, Alice Springs.

She is currently principal at St Joseph’s in Echuca, which is a Brigidine school.

Keep this day free for golfing CLERGY, Serra Club members and supporters are asked to put March 20 in their diaries for the annual Sale Serra Club Golf Day. Golf will start at 12.15 and will be followed by the annual dinner at Sale Golf Club that evening.

The day is provided free of charge for all religious but for others golf and a light lunch is $10 and the two course dinner is $30.

More information from Reg Carmody 5144 3349 or Alan Wyatt 5143 0454.

been to most of the places on this tour. Details are available at www.traveltalk.com.au.

Church in Australia, the Australian Catholic Bishops quoted Pope St John Paul II who wrote: “Transcending the established norms of this own culture, Jesus treated women with openness, respect, acceptance and tenderness.�

Violence against women has no place in our society, the Australian Catholic Bishops stressed. “Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.�

The United Nations’ Declara-

tion on the Elimination of Violence against Women defines violence against women as any act of “gender-based violence� that results in “harm to women�.

According to the UN, globally, up to 70 per cent of women experience violence in their lifetime.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006) reports that in a 12-month period, between five and 10 percent of Australian women experienced at least one incident of abusive violence.

The reasons for violence are complex and we all have a part

to play in reducing violence against women. Some practical ways that you can show your support for this issue include: • Listening to women and learning from women • Learning about the issue of domestic violence • Challenging language that degrades women • Learning to identify and oppose gender harassment and violence in your community • Supporting local women’s programs • Examining how your own attitudes and behavior might contribute to the problem

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Page 10 - Catholic Life, December 2014

Death of dynamic Bairnsdale community leader A DYNAMIC church and community worker was farewelled in Bairnsdale following her sudden death last month.

Mary Anne Scott died on October 19 at home in Riverine St. after a short illness.

She was well-known in the community as a tireless worker who was always looking out for those who needed a helping hand or encouragement.

As the Tattslotto agent she regularly talked to half the Bairnsdale community, exchanging kind words, enquiring after their families, and listening for indications that assistance might be needed.

If she learned that someone was unable to do lawns following illness or injury, Mrs Scott’s skills as a born organiser kicked in and she would find someone willing to drop by and assist the struggling family.

She was born in Orbost in

Mary Anne Scott 1938, the eldest child of hotelowning James and Agnes Duggan.

Following primary schooling at Orbost she was sent to Our Lady of Sion College in Sale as a boarder and soon afterwards the family purchased a farm at Llowalong near Stratford.

Both her parents died in the same year, and so when she was 18 she became mother to her younger brothers Jim and

Peter (dec.).

With no university or teacher training Mrs Scott became a teacher at Our Lady of Sion, the first lay teacher in Sale Diocese.

After marriage she had six of her seven children within six years, but having a house full of children did not blunt her business skills.

She ran the Stratford newsagency before in 1968 they moved to a larger newsagency in Bairnsdale.

Her business interests expanded to include stationery, the Tattersalls agency, a travel agency and the first Darrell Lea store in Gippsland.

In 1988 her children joined her in business and second Tattslotto agency and gift shop ensued. She worked in the Bailey St. Tattslotto agency up until the end.

Many people also remember her for the years she spent working in the Grand Terminus

Hotel which her family owned.

Mrs Scott was matriarch of the bistro, looking after up to 1300 customers a week in a way few could emulate, calling most by name and of course, enquiring discreetly after their health and welfare.

Mrs Scott was also a tireless worker in her parish where she was a valued member of various committees including the church restoration appeal.

At a diocesan level she served on the finance committee where her business acumen was highly valued.

When the late Bishop Jeremiah Coffey moved into nursing care at Eastwood, she was a daily visitor and regularly took him on outings and hosted dinners for him at her home, but all the time also kept a busy schedule of delivering communion and visiting the elderly and sick around town.

Mrs Scott often said her father

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had told her to “look after the Irish priests” and so she made that a lifelong task, forming close friendships with many of the missionary priests.

Fr Peter Bickley was with her when she died and was officiating priest at her Requiem Mass in St Mary’s Church on October 24, assisted by concelebrants Bishop Coffey, diocesan administrator Fr Peter Slater, Fr John O’Kelly, Fr Bernard Buckley, and Fr Joe Pulis SDB. She leaves children Jennifer, Thomas, Elizabeth, Anthony, Gregory, Jerome and Catherine and their families which include 17 grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Christian radio future looks bleak THE future of Gippsland Christian radio station Life-FM hangs in the balance and it may cease broadcasting at the end of this month.

The board needs a massive injection of funds and in October issued a call to subscribers and listeners to donate the $98,000 required to keep the station going.

The board has resolved to cease broadcasting on December 31 but the final decision will be made at a meeting on December 19.

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Catholic Life, December 2014 - Page 11

Apostolic Nuncio’s Vatican promotion THE Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Paul Gallagher, has been appointed as the Pope’s foreign minister, the third highest position in the Vatican.

The moves follows a shake-up of the Vatican hierarchy which has seen the demotion of head of the Apostolic Signatura.

Pope Francis has removed outspoken American Cardinal Raymond Burke from head of the Signatura, which is the Vatican’s Supreme Court.

Cardinal Burke, known for his defence of traditional liturgy and as outspoken defender of doctrine on sexual morality, arose during the recent Synod for Bishops on the Family as a champion of the conservative camp.

He recently gave several interviews in which he expressed his concern over the Church’s future under the Pope.

Cardinal Burke’s five year term was not extended and he has been re-assigned to be Patron of the Sovereign Order of

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Cardinal Burke has been succeeded by the Moroccan-born Archbishop Dominque Mamberti who Archbishop Gallagher will replace as the Vatican’s Secretary of Relationships with States.

Archbishop Gallagher is the first Englishman ever to hold such a position, and comes to this important role – the equivalent to that of a Foreign Minister - with 30 years of distinguished experience in the diplomatic service of the Holy See, in a wide variety of situations on all continents Archbishop Gallagher, 60, has served in the Holy See’s missions in Tanzania, Uruguay, the Philippines, as Observer at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, and then as Nuncio to Burundi, Guatemala and currently Australia for the past 20 months.

The Nuncio was in Sale for Bishop Coffey’s funeral and will leave Australia next week.

Peace dove highlight of lantern parade

© ariwasabi/123RF StockPhoto

You will feel great after donating to our own charity Trinity Families which year after year helps provide vital services to families in need within this region.

You can make a secure on-line donation by visiting www.trinityfamilies.org.au

Trinity FAMILIES

✄ MORWELL - St Vincent de Paul participated in a Lantern Parade around Kernot Lake in October.

This was a community arts event organised by an international service club new to the area called Soroptimists International Gippsland.

The event was a family oriented function with food stalls and musical entertainment.

The purpose of the event was to give hope and peace to the community, one that had been ravaged by bushfires earlier in the year.

The event was aptly named “Shining the Light” and was to celebrate the resilience and survival spirit of the local schools

and community in general.

St Vincent’s chose to construct a huge Dove of peace. It was a mammoth undertaking with a dedicated team of parents giving up many weekends to build the beautiful and meaningful lantern that was proudly carried by the families involved on the night.

The white dove shone with luminosity and drew the eyes.

It was simple, beautiful and meaningful to those in the St Vincent’s community who have undergone so much heartache this year.

It symbolised their spirit and determination to fly on, and also the hope for better and more peaceful times ahead.

or fill in the form below and post it off to: Trinity Families, PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820 All donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

Donation form: Trinity Families I/We enclose $............ towards the work of Trinity Families Please find enclosed a cheque/money order payable to the Trinity Families or debit my Visa or Mastercard.

❑❑❑❑ ❑❑❑❑ ❑❑❑❑ ❑❑❑❑ /

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Signature ................................................................................. Date ......... ......... .........

Name ....................................................................................................

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Postcode............................

Please provide address so receipts can be issued Roman Catholic Diocese of Sale Charitable Fund ABN 51 486 581 500

Page 12 - Catholic Life, December 2014

Church leaders call for change in criminal justice LEADERS of Victorian Churches sent an open Letter to Victorian Parliamentarians and candidates before the the State Election, calling for a new approach to criminal justice.

Signatories include Sale diocesan administrator Fr Peter Slater, Archbishop Denis Hart and the leaders of other Catholic Dioceses in Victoria; Anglican Archbishop of Melbourne Philip Freier, Uniting Church Moderator the Rev Dan Wootton, and several other senior church leaders.

The leaders called for recognition that each person is made in God’s image and has a dignity that can never be lost , that our society should have compassion for everyone affected by crime, and seek to repair the harm to victims and restore perpetrators as dignified, self respecting members of society.

The letter noted that, over the past four years: • The number of people in prison in Victoria increased from 4537 to over 6000 in June 2014, a 32 percent increase, with a further 2900 more prison beds currently being planned, and • The annual cost of running Victorian prisons increased from $640 million in 2010-11 to $942 million in 2014-15, a 47 percent increase.

The leaders called upon members of the next Parliament to: • Invest in people, not prisons, noting that a life of crime

often begins in disadvantaged communities where people do not have enough to make ends meet, or to access quality services that are important for life opportunities • Fund more offender diversion and treatment programs, to offer young and less serious offenders effective alternatives to prison, and opportunities to turn towards constructive community living • Maintain funding for correctional programs that work to break the cycle of re-offending, by investing in rehabilitation and pre-release programs for prisoners, to effectively supervise parolees, and assist ex-offenders more upon their release with accommodation, employment and social reintegration.

Our political system is also moved, over time, by the priorities and preferences of the general populace. In light of this, the Victorian Inter Church Criminal Justice Taskforce has released a brochure to give a Christian perspective on current issues of punishment, imprisonment and rehabilitation, and to offer effective and just ways to reduce crime and increase community safety.

The taskforce, which is currently chaired by Catholic Social Services Victoria, comprises representatives from the Anglican, Catholic, and Uniting Church, the Salvation Army, and the Victorian Council of Churches. The brochure has been distributed to Anglican, Catholic and Uniting Church

parishes, and to other Christian denominations.

The brochure focuses on the inherent dignity of people directly affected by crime: victims, families and offenders alike.

The brochure acknowledges the work of prison chaplains who provide spiritual and pastoral care to prisoners and their families. It provides a list of

activities that readers and congregations may wish to take to improve the criminal justice system. These include: • Find initiatives that your social justice group can undertake to support prisoners and their families in your community. • Talk to your family and friends about how to build safer and more just communities.

Find out more about the needs

of vulnerable people in your local community, see if there are ways you can help. • Write to politicians, ask them for their views about criminal justice, tell them you do not support the ‘tough on crime’ approach.

The letter and brochure, are available on the website of Catholic Social Services Victoria – www.css.org.au.

Read and relax at St Michael’s TRARALGON - St Michael’s Primary School children and staff were recently involved in a ‘Read and Relax’ morning at school. Children came to school dressed in pyjamas, onesies, tracksuits or sports uniform on this day.

The morning began with the whole school gathering in the school yard for some dancing which included the Hokey Pokey, Chicken Dance, Macarena and YMCA. The children then divided in to their multi age groups where they participated in book related activities. These activities provided the opportunity for the children to socialise with children from all levels within the school and also to be involved in activities under the direction of teachers other than their classroom teacher.

When asked about the day Will from Grade 3 said, “I liked dancing to the Chicken Dance it was easy to do and I knew all the moves. Grade 4 student,

PATRICK, Riley, Banjo and Darsh working in their multi-age group at St Michael’s, Traralgon.

Matthew said, “Wearing my Pyjamas made me feel happy,� and Grade 3 student, Liam replied, “I like doing the Macarena because we’d done that at my old school.�

The morning concluded with all the children gathering in the hall to listen to school principal, Cathy Blackford read a book followed by a whole school meditation.

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Catholic Life, December 2014 - Page 13

Two new Melb. auxiliary bishops to be ordained

Bishop-elect Curtin

TWO new auxiliary bishops for Melbourne Archdiocese will be ordained on December 17.

They are Mgr Terence Curtin, currently episcopal vicar for the eastern region of Melbourne, and Fr Mark Edwards OMI, currently rector of Iona College in Brisbane.

Pope Francis appointed the two priests last month to fill two long-term vacancies.

Bishop-elect Curtin will become Auxiliary Bishop for the northern region and Bishopelect Edwards will serve the

eastern region.

Mgr Curtin, 69, was born in Sydney and was educated at St Kevin’s College, Toorak, before entering the seminary.

He was ordained in 1971 and was made a monsignor in 2002.

He hold a Doctorate of Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

He worked at Australia Catholic University for almost 30 years and has been at Catholic Theological College for the past 12 years.

Bishop-Elect Edwards, 59,

was born in Indonesia and educated at Mazenod College, Mulgrave, and Monash University before entering the novitiate of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.

He was ordained a priest in 1986 and has since worked as a teacher, novice master and lecturer in Melbourne. In 2010 he became rector of Iona College, Brisbane and between 2001-10 he served as a counsellor for the Australian province of the Oblates.

Bishop-elect Edwards

Benambra parishioners keeping Why I love the ‘the rumor of God alive’ small communities BENAMBRA - Parishioners of St Francis of Assisi, Benambra would like to share a little about life and hopes in our parish community.

Our faith community is quite different from those parts of the Bairnsdale-Omeo parish where Sunday Mass is available to them every week. In taking responsibility for our own services in the absence of a priest we have travelled down an avenue not available to all.

We are a small community and an older one, but vibrant in many areas. In many ways being such a small group is an advantage as it opens up activities not possible for large numbers.

We celebrate around a table, with shared leadership and everyone willing to take part or help in any way. Around this table no one is asked to ‘stand out in front’ and therefore apart from the others, everyone is comfortable to share their thoughts in discussion of the readings, and we have some very lively, interesting ones.

Around this table we have grown to be a close knit and caring community, drawn together by our faith and shared responsibility.

Around this table we share each others dreams and sorrows and footy scores, and grow closer as a Christian family.

By Fr John O’Kelly

ST Francis of Assisi Church, Benambra Around this table we share a meal and enjoy each others company. And isn’t that how it all started?

We have also worshiped around this table with other faith families and regularly meet with them for a cuppa after our respective services.

Our Christmas Mass is always a wider community celebration with involvement from all denominations, including their clergy, with supper afterwards.

Initially, on losing our resident priest, we could have chosen to just attend Mass twice a month, but we chose to contribute and in doing so have formed a strong community and found a very rich reward. We have overcome our fear of being left on our own and grown in faith and confidence.

Considering the average age of our group a major part of our vision for next year is to hope that we will still be here to continue to grow. It would be lovely to have some younger people travelling this journey with us too.

We realise that the shortage of priests is acute and that they have enormous demands on their time, but we hope that we will always be able to have a priest for Christmas, Easter, funerals, weddings etc.

Our hopes for the future are that we can continue to be a welcoming community providing a safe place where all can meet and share. By doing this we hope that we can, in our own way, in Bishop Coffey’s words, ‘keep the rumor of God alive.’

FORTY years ago I was appointed Parish Priest of Omeo. Before this I had been an assistant priest in large parish communities.

What I found in my new task were four distinct mountain towns – Omeo, Benambra, Swifts Creek and Ensay, each with its own general store, pub, school, fire brigade, and churches.

Each had its own history and distinct flavor – one a former mining town, others focused on cattle, sheep, saw mill. And boy o boy each had its own football team, and fierce footy rivalries!

It was not the kind of parish I was used to, with one large central church. The four small Catholic communities were served by one priest, but that was about it. They shared a common faith, but each was a separate community.

Now, having spent over a third of my 51 years of priesthood in the parishes of beautiful East Gippsland, I have come to appreciate the beauty, too, of the myriad of small Catholic communities here – their welcome, their warmth, their commitment.

Their people know each other, and when needed, care for

Enchanting Christmas Markets of Central Europe

each other. Visitors comment on the warmth they find, and newcomers to the district don’t remain strangers for long, Mass is a real expression of common purpose, with the tasks of reading, special ministers of the Eucharist, music, projectionist, collectors carried out not by barely known people as can happen in large churches, but by people seen and spoken to at the store, the school, the pub, the footy, day by day.

Our Catholic Church is the Body of Christ – a vague term when we think of the countless millions of us spread throughout the world.

But when the members of a small Catholic community gather with their priest to celebrate the Eucharist, or when they loyally meet on Sundays when the priest is at another church, they know, and they feel, that in that place, they are the Body of Christ.

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Page 14 - Catholic Life, December 2014

New Bishop of Broken Bay POPE Francis has appointed the Sydney Auxiliary Bishop Peter Comensoli as the third Bishop of Broken Bay. During the past nine months, Bishop Comensoli served as the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Sydney up until the installation of Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP last month.

Archbishop Fisher was the former Bishop of Broken Bay. Currently, Bishop Comensoli is a member of the Bishops’ Commission for Church Ministry and Bishops’ Commission for Evangelisation.

Speaking about his appointment, the 50-year-old Bishop said he was “humbled and happy to be asked by the Pope to be

the Bishop of Broken Bay.” “I am looking forward to getting to know the family that is Broken Bay Diocese. I assure the people of the Diocese that they are already in my prayers and I ask them to keep me in their prayers, that I may be a good shepherd for them, after the heart of Jesus,” Bishop Comensoli said.

Efficient energy savings through Catholic Earthcare program THROUGHOUT Australia the cost of electricity and gas is only going up. Imagine if community organisations located within the geographical region of the Diocese of Sale are collectively spending around $500,000 annually on their electricity and gas.

Just imagine what each organisation could do with a 10 – 30 percent saving (that’s an extra $50,000 to $150,000), to be shared amongst the community rather than used to pay utility companies.

The National Energy Efficiency Network was created to help community organisations, like those in the Diocese of Sale, cut their energy consumption, save money and become more environmentally sustainable.

NEEN is run by Catholic Earthcare Australia (the ecological agency of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference) and is funded by the Australian Government’s Energy Efficiency Information Grants Program.

This free program is open to all community, faith and notfor-profit organisations.

By developing and supporting a collaborative network committed to energy efficiency, NEEN aims to reduce energy consumption through the community sector, minimising emissions and freeing up resources for the delivery of core programs vital for developing a positive and resilient society.

An open invitation to join the NEEN “Learning Communities”, share resources and connect with like-minded peers is extended to: • Churches/Parishes • Kindergartens and early childhood centres

Quick calendar

What’s on & when DECEMBER 14 – St John of the Cross 18 – Christmas holidays begin

JUNE

25 – Christmas Day 26 – Boxing Day 26 – St Stephen 27 – St John 29 – Holy Family Feast Day 31 – New Year’s Eve

2015 JANUARY 1 – New Year’s Day 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 4 – Epiphany 11 – Baptism of the Lord 17 – St Anthony 24- St Francis de Sales 25 – Phillip Island Motorcycle Grand Prix 26 – Australia Day 28 – First term begins 28 – St Thomas Aquinas 31 – St John Bosco

FEBRUARY

EFFECTIVE use of solar panels on a church roof.

• Youth and recreation centres more sustainable way of living • Health Care/Aged Care on God’s Earth, also translate facilities into increased financial • Social Services resources for the Church to • Religious congregations and direct elsewhere. orders If any not-for-profit • Arts and Culture centres community organisations • Education Offices would like to learn more about • Agencies The larger objective for the NEEN or host a session in their NEEN project is to enable an community, please visit www. ‘ecological conversion’ (an neen.org.au or contact Michael expression Pope St John Paul Hwang at michael.hwang@ II used) to foster and grow neen.org.au or 0417 342 017.

For those already on the throughout the human family so that our attitudes and behaviors path to energy efficiency, you align with honoring and are warmly welcomed to join respecting God’s wonderful gift NEEN and share your story of Creation. to help inspire others in your The tangible benefits of community.

NEEN, such as reduced energy use and behavior change to a

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Caring and personal 24-hour service.

Prepaid and prearranged funeral plans available.

67 Macarthur St., Sale 3850

(03) 5143 1232

All Christmas Masses on web page

CHRISTMAS Mass times for all churches in the Diocese of Sale will shortly be available on the diocese website www.sale. catholic.org.au.

As in past years these will be listed alphabetically by Mass centre, rather than in parishes, to enable visitors to our diocese to better identify the closest Mass.

Thousands of visitors are expected to visit Gippsland holiday spots over Christmas and New Year.

10 – Mother’s Day 14 – St Matthew 17 – Ascension 24 – Pentecost Sunday 25 – Our Lady Help of Christians 7 – Body and Blood of Christ 8 – Queen’s Birthday Holiday 12 – Most Sacred Heart of Jesus 13 – Immaculate Heart of Mary 24 – Nativity of John the Baptist 26 – Second term ends 29 – Sts Peter and Paul

JULY 3 – St Thomas the Apostle 11 – St Benedict 13 – Third term begins 22 – St Mary Magdalene 23 – St Brigid 25 – St James the Apostle

AUGUST 6 – Transfiguration 8 – Mary of the Cross MacKillop 10 – St Lawrence 11 – St Clare 15 – Assumption of BVM 22 – Queenship of Mary 28 – St Augustine

2 – Presentation of the Lord 5 – St Agatha 9 - Deadline for February Catholic Life 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes 14 – World Cup cricket begins 17 – Shrove Tuesday 18 – Ash Wednesday 18 - Catholic Life published

3 – St Gregory the Great 14 – Exaltation of the Holy Cross 15 – Our Lady of Sorrows 18 – Third term ends 21 – St Matthew 23 – St Pius of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)

MARCH

OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER

9 – Labor Day holiday 15 – Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix 17 – St Patrick 19 – St Joseph 25 – Annunciation 27 – Term one ends 29 – Palm Sunday 29 – World Cup cricket final 30 - Sale Serra Golf Day 31 - Mass of the Oils, St Mary's Cathedral

1 – St Therese of the Child Jesus 3 – AFL grand final 5 – Term four begins 4 – Daylight saving begins (turn clocks forward one hour) 7 – Our Lady of the Rosary 18 – Mission Sunday 22 – St John Paul II

APRIL

1 – All Saints Day 2 – All Souls Day 3 – Melbourne Cup holiday 22 – Christ the King

2 – AFL season begins 3 – Good Friday 4 – Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil 5 – Daylight saving ends (turn clocks back one hour) 5 – Easter Sunday 6 – Easter Monday Holiday 12 – Divine Mercy Sunday 13 – Second term begins 25 – Anzac Day (Centenary) 29 – St Catherine of Siena

MAY 8 – Diocese of Sale Learning Expo, St Thomas’s Primary School, Sale.

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER 3 – St Francis Xavier 8 – Immaculate Conception 14 – St John of the Cross 18 – School year ends 24 – Christmas Eve 25 – Christmas Day 26 – Boxing Day 27 – Holy Family 28 – Boxing Day alternate holiday 31 – New Year’s Eve

Catholic Life, December 2014 - Page 15

So now you own Medibank shares - What now?

THE recently concluded Medibank Private float, or Initial Public Offering (IPO) as the jargon now goes, was the biggest government float for many years, and many shareholders will be new to the thrill of directly owning shares that are listed on the sharemarket.

I congratulate all those that have started, because over time the sharemarket has proved to be the best place to invest, giving a return even higher on average, than property.

If you are new to the sharemarket there are some things you need to know, so that you can get the best from your investments. Firstly, all shares bought and sold on the Australian sharemarket are bought, sold and settled by stockbrokers.

Even if you ask your accountant or planner to do the transaction for you, they will still need to use a stockbroker.

Some stockbrokers don’t offer advice or assistance and don’t care whether you’re doing the right or wrong thing. These brokers charge the cheapest fees – CommSec and E-trade come to mind.

DOLLAR$ & SENSE with David Wells

Others, such as my firm, Baillieu Holst, will charge more but offer advice and assistance.

We’re one of the “full service” brokers. There are only about 90 sharebrokers in Australia, and all are members of the ASX Group.

The biggest advantage of a full service broker is that the adviser will usually discuss your reasons for selling or buying and will try to steer you in what is your best directions.

Indeed, if he or she prevents you making a mistake, they will save you a year or two’s brokerage in one go.

To trade with a broker you will need to open an account.

This means filling in forms and providing photographic identification and proof of address.

Most brokers will also ask you to sponsor your holdings

with them and to either open a new bank account which they will have access to, or to give them limited access to one of your existing bank accounts.

Don’t be concerned – access to these is strictly controlled and I’ve never heard of wrong doing by any individual in a broking office who controls this access.

The sharemarket is moving to a T+2 day settlement which means that all transactions will settle on the second day after the trade. If you are a buyer, the broker will need your money in two days; if you are a seller you will need to provide the shares in two days and be paid on successful settlement.

This means it’s almost essential to have your shares sponsored by your broker and for them to have access to a bank account. If a settlement

fails the fee is $110 per day, and a postal delay is no excuse.

The fine is imposed by the settlement house and the broker by law is allowed to (and usually will) pass the cost on. Having your holdings “sponsored” by your broker and giving them access to a bank account holding sufficient funds will be the only way to avoid trouble.

So even if Medibank is your only share, and you don’t plan to sell it, introduce yourself to a sharebroker, and ask them to help you.

A good one will accept that it may be years before they will earn anything, but if you need to sell them in a hurry, waiting to establish an account can cause expensive delays.

I will add here that the idea of buying a share and holding that share for ever is largely a thing of the past. Holding shares in general as a long term investment is true, but with the inherent volatility and a rapidly changing business world, specific shares may only be suitable for a small period of time.

Resource shares, such as BHP, need to be bought at a low price and sold at a high price

to make money. Their business is cyclical and their price will move up and down with that cycle, as is evidenced by BHP recently coming back under $30.

Holding them for ever will take you nowhere. Other business may be longer term – those that have good dividends, Telstra and banks, or those that are in defensive sectors such as Healthcare.

The average length of time in the USA that shares are held has dropped from 7 years in 1967 to less than 6 months now, and it’s getting shorter all the time.

Find a professional sharebroker who will help you make the most of your investing adventure – it’s worth it.

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

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

Shanagolden celebrates Foundation Day RESIDENTS of Shanagolden Aged Care Facility and Retirement Village at Pakenham joined with staff and volunteers to celebrate the founding of Catholic Homes on November 29.

In 1960, 54 years ago, ‘The Catholic Housing Guild for the Elderly’ was initiated by four visionary men – Neville Finn, Victor Burns, Amandie L’Huillier and Raymond Shepherdson.

These men, with a deep concern for the growing number of homeless people around them, set to work establishing an organisation that would build independent living units for homeless elderly people.

In July 1989, the organisation became incorporated and the name ‘Catholic Homes for the Elderly’ was adopted.

To celebrate Catholic Homes’ heritage, its people and its future, Shanagolden hosted ‘Foundation Day’ – a day full of color, merriment and unity.

Staff, volunteers and residents all came together as one to enjoy a tremendous mix of activities, great food and entertainment.

General manager property services Geoff Crawford said in his opening speech, “What does ‘foundation’ really mean? Our foundation is not only about the forefathers who did so much to bring about Catholic Homes, but it’s about celebrating the lives that all of you have led over those many years – the wealth of experience”.

Mr Crawford continued to acknowledge Shanagolden staff, “Thank you to all the staff that are here today and the volun-

If you like reading ‘Dollars & Sense’, why not speak to the author?

David Wells, MSAA, is a sharebroker and financial planner at Baillieu Holst Ltd. Since 1889 the firm has built its business on offering professional, appropriate and responsible sharemarket advice, helping its clients build and maintain their wealth. David is proud to continue with that tradition, working for clients and to the benefit of clients. He’s only too happy to visit you anywhere in Gippsland. If you or any one in your family, need advice or information on : • Shares, • Self Managed Super and Pension Funds • Discretionary Portfolio Management • Portfolio Administration • Life and Income Insurance and more –

Please contact:

David Wells 1800 339521 or 0414 234 770

teers who work with Catholic Homes. In my case, I could not do what you do. You are at the cutting edge of people living and dying. There is nothing more important than that. Your job inspires me to do what I do”.

After the speeches, Shanagolden residents Bill and Margaret Clark cut the Foundation Day cake to rounds of applause and hurrah. While the cake was served to fellow residents, a small group disbursed to the front of the building to plant a rose – a gesture of the organisation’s growth, roots and future.

Roma Bratby, who is in her 99th year, planted the beautiful yellow rose assisted by pastoral practitioner Jane Parsons and quality and projects coordinator Denise Drake.

The celebrations continued with a barbecue lunch, live entertainment, happy hour and ice-cream and cake served to all.

The generosity, vision and

CELEBRATING Foundation Day at Shanagolden are (top, from left) Mindy Humble, Rebecca Slaney, Amanda Beet, Emma Godfrey, Lisa Carver, Sharese James, (front) Bev Hawkins, Eddie Roberts, and Ray Drewett. compassion of the early foundShanagolden is located at ers is the bedrock of Catholic 153-177 Webster Way, PakenHomes. Today, Catholic Homes ham. continues to achieve the foundFor more information about ers’ goal as a proudly Catholic Catholic Homes and its accomorganisation providing housing modation and services, please for all people, of all faiths and visit www.catholic-homes.org. cultures. au or phone 03 8862 9000.

Shanagolden Aged Care Facility A community with great spirit & care • Catholic-values based care • New modern facilities • Safe, caring & friendly environment • Homestyle Chef-prepared meals on-site • Stimulating lifestyle program • Vacancies now available For further information please contact Admissions 03 8862 9000 admissions@catholic-homes.org.au

dwells@baillieuholst.com.au

Baillieu Holst Ltd

360 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic 3000 AFSL 245421

Shanagolden Aged Care Facility 153-177 Webster Way, Pakenham VIC 3810 www.catholic-homes.org.au ABN 37 972 629 513 • Incorporated Association No A0018857Y

Page 16 - Catholic Life, December 2014

Good array of daily reflections for the 2015 year THIS is the time of year when many of us are looking for some daily reflection materials for the new year.

St Paul's Publications has provided us with a good selection which we review below.

These will be available through Catholic book shops but some will also be in local piety stalls.

GOD'S WORD 2015, Daily Reflections, hardback, 420 pages, rrp $15.95.

THIS is the Australian edition of the reflections book produced by the Society of St Paul religious congregation in India.

The readings of the day are from the Jerusalem Bible used in Australian churches and there are inspiring reflections on the gospel of the day by eminent homilists.

Two pages are set aside for Sundays, with all three readings in full and the reflection.

A page is set aside for other days.

Each day has its place in the liturgical calendar noted, the vestment colors to be worn by priests, and whether the day has a particular solemnity, feast or memorial attached to it.

The liturgical seasons are color coded for easy reference.

At the rear of the book is a section with various prayers and responses from the Mass as well as a dozen other prayers which could be used for particular purposes or as a prayer before or after Mass.

365 DAYS OF THE LORD 2015, Liturgical Biblical Diary, hardback, approx 400 pages, rrp $19.95.

THIS book is similar to the one reviewed above but comes from the society's Philippines priests.

The introductory pages

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www.trinityfamilies.org.au

provide information on four celebrations of 2015 which are the Year of Consecrated Life, the Synod on the Family, 500 years since the birth of St Theresa of Avila and the centenary of the founding of the Daughters of St Paul.

The first two celebrations are initiatives of Pope Francis who will visit the Philippines next year.

Also included is an article by Bishop Broderick Pabillo on the Year of the Poor which is being reflected on in 2015 as a leadup to the 500th anniversary of the coming of Christianity to the Philippines in 2021.

Biblical texts used in this book come from the New American Bible.

Talking about Books be familiar with this annual publication by St Paul's and the layout.

The prefaces and eucharistic prayers are set out in the front of the book, along with various prayers and responses required for the Mass.

The remainder of the book is a Sunday by Sunday compendium with entrance antiphons, readings, psalms, communion antiphons and prayers after communion.

ST PAUL DAILY REFLECTIONS 2015, paperback, approx 400 pages, $14.95.

THIS book of daily reflections comes from the society in Australia and is different in that it does not include the daily scripture readings.

It is designed to be used with a missal or Bible and will help the reader meditate on the words and reflect on their relevance to daily life.

The daily gospel reading is paraphrased, explaining what it is about and putting the reader in the correct setting which is something which does not occur when reading passages taken from the Bible.

A good analogy used by the publisher in the book's introduction is that we need to be like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus who

ST PAUL LITURGICAL CALENDAR 2015, paperback, 60 pages, rrp $3.95. required someone to explain the scriptures to them.

The daily reflections are short, often just a sentence or two to give the reader something to ponder, pray about and perhaps, take action.

We like this book because it is small enough to tuck into a handbag or pocket.

ST PAUL SUNDAY MISSAL 2015, paperback, 400 pages, rrp $14.95.

AS we have now entered Year B on the liturgical calendar, the Gospel of Mark become the focus of our Sunday readings.

People who use a Missal will

THIS little booklet is designed for the person who just wants the basic details set out for them.

Each day is covered in four or five lines with abbreviated references to scripture readings and three or four words on each.

We are always amazed that in such small space they can still manage to fit in the date and day of the week, feast days, solemnities and vestment colors.

This year scattered through the booklet are quotations from Evangelii Gaudium (The Joy of the Gospel) which is an exhortation written by Pope Francis in 2013.

Students visiting the elderly

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

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

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

Phone (03) 9639 0844 custserv@catholicbookshop.com.au

ST Mary's student Victoria Rogers, Nikola Cini, Riley Madyson, Hannah Van Breugel sharing some good times with Latrobe Valley Village residents (from left) Laura, Mary and Lucy.

NEWBOROUGH - Grade 6 to other people is to engage in like a better person for visiting, students from St Mary's Primary community work. talking with others and playing School recently completed a Both the children and the games to make someone's day five week visit of the Latrobe elderly thoroughly enjoyed the brighter.

Valley Village. visits which included a Mass.

Some students continued This was in conjunction with Students said it was a to visit it their own time. At the celebration of the Sacrament highlight of their year to learn the conclusion of the visits, of Confirmation; Confirmation about the older members of our the students made cards and reminds all of us, to let the Holy community and how they grew presented them to their special person. It was a wonderful Spirit work in our lives. up.

One way we can be of service They said it made them feel experience.

Catholic Life, December 2014 - Page 17

Lively Italian celebrations

GRADE 3-4 students Scarlet and Sophie with their pizza.

TRARALGON - St Michael’s invited along to enjoy the Primary School celebrated its school’s annual Italian parade Italian language and culture in the morning and children program with a week of enjoyed a gelato treat at lunch activities. time.

The week started with Some of the Grade 1/2s were all the students watching a asked what they most enjoyed performance called Vacanze during Languages Other Than Romane.

English Week and these were Throughout the week each their responses. class was involved in cooking Grade 2 student, Daniel and tasting Italian cuisine which exclaimed, “I loved eating the consisted of crostoli, fettucine, blue heaven gelato!” penne and lasagne.

Grade 1 student, Elizabeth Finally to round off a truly replied, “I liked the dress up Italian week the children day. I dressed up as a gondalier.” were asked to dress up. They Grade 2 student, Brandan could either dress as an Italian said,”I liked being in the parade character or wear the national in my Italian colors.”

Italian colors of red, white and Ava from grade 1 responded, green.

“The dress up day was the best, Dress up day was truly I dressed as a pizza.” spectacular! The school was Principal Cathy Blackford awash with the Italian colors, said “A huge thank you and not to mention gondoliers, pizza congratulations to Signora chefs, artists, Italian motorbike Massaro for a very enjoyable riders, Super Marios, spaghetti and successful LOTE week. and meatballs, gangsters and The culmination on Thursday lots more. was a real credit to Signora.”

Parents and friends were

Knights alive and well in 2015 THE 92nd annual state conference of Knights of the Southern Cross was held at Warragul on the last weekend of October.

The conference began Saturday evening with Mass at St Joseph’s Church celebrated

by Fr James Fernandez assisted

by Deacon Mark Kelly. This was a “community” Mass involving children preparing to receive their First Eucharist. Members appreciated the opportunity to observe and participate in the family atmosphere.

During the conference dinner at the Black Tie restaurant following Mass, the State Council chairman John Hennessy recognised Maurice Skehan’s outstanding service to the order.

Guest speaker Gary Blackwood, MLA for Narracan, spoke about his journey to parliament, his Catholic values and how they have been challenged through the abortion and same sex marriage debates.

The conference continued at Marist Sion College, Warragul, on October 26 and the first order of business was the

KNIGHT Jim Johnson (centre) thanks guest speaker Gary Blackwood, MLA, and his wife, Fritha Blackwood. annual meeting.

National Supreme Knight Colin Walsh, and the chairman of Southern Cross Care Victoria Greg van Mourik addressed the conference.

The conference then moved into sessions facilitated by Michael McConville with the aim of identifying how the Knights of the Southern Cross can best serve today’s Church

in our multi-cultural society.

The sessions sought to identify how to engage the clergy and attract new members by looking at their respective needs.

For more information about future events and the Knights of the Southern Cross contact Paul Zammit on 9899 9642 or email www.kscvic.org.au.

70 years a Sister of Sion A SISTER of Our Lady of Sion with many links to Sale Diocese has celebrated the 70th anniversary of her profession.

Sr Kathleen Ryan was the third of eight children and after her education with the Sion Sisters at Ascot Vale and Box Hill, she entered the congregation at Sale in 1941.

She was professed by Bishop Richard Ryan in Sale in 1944.

Sr Kathleen taught mainly in the primary classes in Sale, Warragul, Box Hill and Ascot Vale. She had at one time 97 pupils under her care and expertise; she also taught catechetics to government school children.

Music was one of her great loves and she gave many music lessons over the years.

She also loved to sing and many parishioners appreciated her organ playing. Like most of the Sisters she was called upon to supervise the boarders in our

ARCHBISHOP of Melbourne Denis Hart congratulates Sr Kathleen Ryan NDS on 70 years of religious life. schools. missed on her leaving.

Later in life she assisted She moved to Melbourne in migrants with special English 1980 and after living in several classes; she also engaged in Sion convents, now resides at parish visitation, and became a St Catherine’s, Box Hill, where chaplain at Mt Royal Hospital, she is known very well by both where she was loved and greatly staff and residents.

Exodus movie is released

GRADE Prep student Emilia dressed in Italy’s national colors.

THE highly acclaimed film Exodus: Gods and Kings has been screening in Australian cinemas since December 4.

We have not yet seen the film but the pre-release promotional trailers suggest it is an epic Biblical film which sticks fairly closely to the Biblical story – certainly moreso than Noah which was released earlier this year.

Director Ridley Scott (Gladiator, Prometheus) has done a good job of portraying the story of one man’s daring courage to take on the might of an empire.

Starring Academy Award winner Christian Bale (The Dark Knight Rises, The Fighter) as Moses and Australian Joel Edgerton (Star Wars: Revenge

of the Sith) as Pharaoh Ramses, this epic adventure brings new life to the story of the defiant leader Moses as he rises up against the Egyptian Pharaoh.

Exodus: Gods and Kings has state of the art visual effects and 3D immersion to tell the story of 600,000 slaves on a monumental journey of escape from Egypt and its terrifying cycle of deadly plagues.

Scott said “I was stunned by the giant lifespan story and what Moses went through.”

Moses is heralded as the liberator when a slave tells him, “After 400 years of slavery, things here have become much worse. As your brother you must set them free.”

The film also features Academy Award winner Ben

Kingsley, Golden Globe winner Sigourney Weaver, Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul, Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn and John Turturro.

Page 18 - Catholic Life, December 2014

Marist Father leads Mirboo North celebrations healing Masses leged to witness, Witness to Wonders and Proclaim with Wonders. The latter book is a record of 100 healings told by those who were healed.

His visit to Sale Diocese was sponsored by Catholic Charismatic Renewal and he visited Narre Warren, Cranbourne, San Remo, Leongatha, Iona and Traralgon.

was Marist Brother Br Neil Emmett who is a son of the builder.

Br Neil taught at St Patrick's College, Sale, for many years.

Br Neil’s parents were also

married in the church.

Also in attendance was Cranbourne parish priest Fr Denis O'Bryan who was an altar server at the opening of the church.

MIRBOO North ladies (from left) Pat McNamara, Mary Leech and Denise Rorie enjoyed the 50 year celebrations held at St Joseph’s Catholic Church.

BR Neil Emmett FMS, Fr Denis O'Bryan and parish priest Fr Peter Kooloos outside the church.

Bishops welcome Synod message

Cath Life Sale

FR John Rea SM has been a priest for nearly 60 years, teaching in schools, as parish priest and preaching missions throughout his native country, New Zealand and in the Pacific islands.

For a number of years he was the liaison priest for prayer groups involved in Renewal of the Holy Spirit gifts, in New Zealand.

In the last two decades he has been invited to preach in England and the USA. In the decade of Evangelisation, called for by Pope John Paul II in 1990, he observed the evangelising power, when people have been healed of their illnesses and afflictions, both physical and spiritual.

This has led him to pray for the gift of healing where ever he preaches whether at ecumenical gatherings or celebrating Mass, as he did in six parishes in the west of Sale Diocese last month.

He urges all people to pray for Jesus to heal and increase their faith and those who witness healing in others.

Fr Rea has written two books relating to the miracles of healing which he has been privi-

MIRBOO NORTH – St Joseph’s Catholic Church celebrated 50 years of service earlier this month.

Many past and present parishioners converged on the church for the celebrations.

Mass was held in the morning, followed by a delicious barbecue lunch, provided by St Paul’s Italian Social Club.

The church was built by George Emmett and officially opened on December 13, 1964 by the Bishop of Sale Patrick Lyons.

A guest at the celebrations

THE Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference welcomes the concluding message released by the Synod Fathers at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome in October.

In a statement from the bisshops they said “We support the Synod Fathers in their acknowledgement that as priests and bishops we have lived alongside families who have spoken to us and shown us the saga of their joys and their difficulties.

“Their example of generous faithfulness in marriage stands as an example for every society.”

Following his contributions during the extraordinary Synod, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference Archbishop Denis Hart said: “The Australian Bishops will continue to pray for families everywhere, in particular reflecting on how we can accompany and lead those in difficult situations, such as single women bringing up children and those who have divorced and remarried, towards participation in Church life.”

Archbishop Hart said that

Pope Francis’ concluding address to the Synod Fathers was encouraging and inclusive.

“The Holy Father described our Church as one that has the doors wide open to receive the needy, the penitent, and not only the just or those who believe they are perfect!

“Pope Francis has reminded us that we still have one year to mature, with true spiritual discernment, the proposed ideas and to find concrete solutions to so many challenges that families must confront, and to give answers to the many discouragements that surround families,” Archbishop Hart added.

Over the coming months, the ACBC will review the lineamenta (guidelines), presented to each episcopal conference following the conclusion of the extraordinary Synod.

“As Pope Francis has explained, the Church now has one year to work on the Synodal Relatio, which is the faithful and clear summary of everything that has been said and discussed during this extraordinary Synod,” Archbishop Hart said.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Catholic Life, December 2014 - Page 19

Unity the word for loving one another in 2015 AS we come to the close of 2014 we remember, put flesh on, the year that has just past with memories of many people within our Sale Diocese.

We have met many new faces through our programs and prayer days as well as some people who have come and made either a silent retreat or come to yet another prayer day that speaks to them.

We now would like to share what we will be giving to the Sale Diocese next year and that will be many different prayer days with the following titles “Preparing for Advent, Encountering Jesus, Gospels on Location, My deepest desire, Different modes of prayer, For God’s sake stop and God

Our Christmas wish for you all is for you to have an intimate knowledge of our and will be always in our Lord, who has become human for you, that you may love Him more and follow Him prayers and thoughts as they have also died this year. more closely. (Sp. Ex. #103) The new coming year walks among the pots and pans to name a few. There will be the opportunity for your parish to give a day or weekend with a theme of their choosing, and “yes” we come to you or go to the location of your choice.

Emmaus spiritual directors have made themselves available to give silent retreats at our Greenmount retreat house in Yarram of which many have availed themselves already.

There will be 3 day, 6 day or 8 day silent retreats, just ring or email and let us know when you would like to come and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Please remember financial reasons must not be something that keeps you from attending our programs, prayer days, silent retreats, etc., as we are a non-for-profit organisation.

Emmaus now has it’s own web-site www.emmausspirituality.org.au this will help you find whatever you would like to attend. If you would like to make a prayer day, silent retreat or program please contact us and we will make sure that you get into one of these retreats.

We ask for your prayers for the repose of the soul of Sr Margaret Fahey OLSH who

died on October 8 this year, a wonderfully wise and loving person who will be missed on the spirituality team of Emmaus.

In recognition of all Sr Margaret brought to Emmaus we will have a perpetual plaque in her memory. This memorial will give a person the opportunity to receive the Full Spiritual Exercises, this will be donated each year to one person as a tribute to Sr Margaret.

We at Emmaus would like to remember also David Ritchie, Agnes Williams and Trish Mobb who were encouragers and supporters of our ministry

will provide us with two programs one at St Agatha’s Parish Cranbourne and one at Greenmount Retreat House in Yarram, these will be advertised in the near future.

The retreat is called “Utterly transformed in love”, there will be two opportunities of making this retreat, one in daily life and one as a silent directed retreat.

We thank the priests of the Sale Diocese for their support and encouragement in the Emmaus Spirituality Ministry.

- Contributed by Emmaus Spirituality team

East Timor immersion for Sale college students SALE - Another group of Year 11 students and staff from Catholic College Sale has recently visited East Timor as part of the schools immersion program to experience the life and culture of the people and the land.

Timor Leste, as it is known in the local language, is on a beautiful island but is recognised by the United Nations as the poorest country in Asia.

After a very turbulent and violent history, the young nation is slowly trying to build its own identity and rebuild much of the infrastructure that was destroyed in 1999.

As a result of this, education is very highly valued in Timor Leste and it is within this area that the CCS group had the greatest impact this year.

The students taught English and interacted with the young people through singing and dancing at two literacy youth centres in Baucau – Oasis and Ponta Leste.

The students even taught the locals the Heel and Toe Polka.

Many laughs and smiles were shared as the two cultures mixed.

The students truly stepped out beyond their comfort zones to take on the challenge of

preparing and teaching lessons to the youth at both centres.

They met this task with a great sense of confidence and put 100 percent effort into everything they taught despite any challenges faced.

The students work in teaching was very much appreciated by staff and students at both centres as they are all working hard towards improving their English.

The group was pleased to see many improvements which have been made at both centres over the past 12 months and to be able to supply them with much need teaching resources.

As well as teaching English an aspect of the immersion was learning the language of Tetum so where possible the group could converse with the people and learn more about their language.

The majority of people in East Timor speak five languagesIndonesia, Portuguese, Tetum, English and their own tribal dialect.

Catholic College Sale continues to support the primary school in Abafala and the group visited the school once again to take up much needed resources, to meet and reconnect with the beautiful people of Abafala and to once again share their lives

THE team from Cathoilic College Sale with the East Timor students. The group consisted of Year 11 students Sarah Jeffery, Emilie Clapton, Ally Orr, Cooper Leemon and Joel Szalanda along with staff members Sue Pickett, Rocky Toma and Gabe Costin. and beautiful hospitality. desks and chairs have been Teachers College in Baucau CCS is working in installed in the Grade 1 and 2 which the Marist Brothers conjunction with Galen classrooms and laptops, printers assumed leadership of in 2000 College, Wangaratta and Notre and a photocopier have been and they had the pleasure of Dame College in Shepparton purchased to assist the staff in seeing for the first time the new buildings for this college. to raise much needed funds to their teaching.

The group of staff and assist the school in rebuilding The group also visited an and purchasing new resources. orphanage in Laga where they students feel truly privileged to Whilst the building progress interacted with the students and be part of the Marist community will be a long process it is great the Salesian Sisters who do a and to have witnessed firsthand to see the improvements that wonderful job looking after the the work they do.

Catholic College Sale are already being made; new girls.

Other aspects of the would sincerely like to thank immersion were visiting the everyone who has supported Women’s Cooking Centre their fundraising efforts over in Baucau where Sarah, an the past year. They have raised Australian volunteer is working an amazing $19,578 to support hard to empower the women of education and facilities in Timor Leste to earn a living to Timor Leste.

The motto of the 2014 CCS support their families.

Many of these women are East Timor Immersion was victims of domestic violence. “Justisa, Laran diak HaraikThe students assisted the an”, which translates to “Justice women to prepare and cook a Kindness, Humility” and this Timorese meal which they all is certainly how the group immersed themselves into the shared together.

While in Dili, the group lives of the people in Timor visited Caritas Australia to see Leste.

They achieved this by the wonderful work they are doing throughout Timor Leste walking in the shoes of another and also learnt much about the to experience life as it is.

The people are truly grateful history of the country at the Resistance Museum, Chega and for what they receive and as our Timorese guide Sebas told the Santa Cruz Cemetery.

These were very confronting us- “we remember the past and places at times but gave the to be happy we have to forgive, They also competed in the visitors a greater insight into move forward and focus on state titles at Melbourne Sports the turbulent history of Timor the future”. Very wise words indeed! and Aquatic Centre last month. Leste.

The group also visited the

Meet Gippsland’s champions NEWBOROUGH - St Mary’s Primary School’s Grade 6 girls have been crowned Gippsland Primary School Basketball Champions after three convincing wins in the finals at Traralgon.

Nine grade six girls represented St Mary’s in a three stage competition.

Starting with the Western Valley Region Competition, the girls were undefeated.

They then moved through to the District level and again were undefeated.

They finished with the Gippsland region competition. Some of the games were particularly tough in the earlier competitions, winning by the narrowest of margins.

Great team work and strong basketball skills contributed to

their success. The girls have enjoyed playing together and meeting new people at other schools.

Page 20 - Catholic Life, December 2014

Snow White in Lakes Entrance St Kieran's leading in a positive way

LAKES ENTRANCE - Year 6 students of St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School in Lakes Entrance spent a considerable amount of time this year learning lines, rehearsing and finally, performing their play, Snow White, to the community.

It was a fun-filled play that was delivered clearly and with humour. Students also managed a range of back-stage tasks including sound and props.

After the final curtain call the students expressed their thanks to Mr Battista for his hard work and encouragement.

Cameron Kelly, Jack Burnett, Alick Young and Chelsea Hayes played some of the dwarfs.

Jordan Guarnaccia played the king, Tommi Carroll gave a polished performance as Snow White, and Xavier Woodland

Jordan Guarnaccia as the king. played Prince Charming.

The boffins, charged with devising a way to destroy

Tommi Carroll as Snow White.

Snow White, were Callum Greer, Darcey Sumner and Josh Whelan.

Swan Reach celebrates centenary SWAN REACH - St Joseph’s Church, Swan Reach, celebrated its centenary with Mass on Sunday, October 19.

Leading the Mass was diocesan administrator Fr Peter Slater, concelebrating with parish administrator Fr Peter Bickley, priest in residence Fr Janeesh Jose, former parish priests Fr Brendan Hogan and Fr Bernard Buckley, and Fr Michael Mifsud.

Srs Madeleine White RSJ from Orbost and Sr Maureen Philp RSJ from Lakes Entrance, as well as Sr Jeanette Balding OLSH from Bairnsdale were also in attendance.

Many past parishioners from around the state returned to Swan Reach for this celebration.

The congregation also included many from Lakes

Entrance and Bairnsdale.

St Joseph’s Church only completed an extensive renovation two weeks before the celebration, and the community is really elated with the results.

After the Mass lunch was held at the Swanny Pub where a memorabilia board had been set up.

It was a great opportunity for past and present parishioners to catch up.

MOE - St Kieran’s Catholic primary school in Moe is buzzing with positive affirmations.

Teacher and religious education leader Lisa Broeren created a challenge for the children, families and staff to create a positive affirmation school culture.

Throughout the school posters challenge us to think positively, to be the change we want to see in the world.

We are asked whether we have said hello, smiled and made someone happy today.

The positive affirmation wall has become a focal point for the

school, and children, parents and staff are adding lovely, positive statements whenever they see or hear positive things happening throughout the school.

This challenge has made a huge difference to our school culture and we have even created a positive affirmation wall in our staff room.

Many classes are celebrating our strengths by writing positive affirmations on each other’s posters. We are thoroughly enjoying all of the positive affirmations that we are sharing and continue to watch this positive culture grow.

CWL meetings THE annual general meetings of each branch of the Catholic Women’s League in the Sale Diocese were held in October and November.

Members of the diocesan committee attended each meeting and were grateful for all the good work done by members.

Committee members were always made most welcome.

The CWL members are great supporters of parish life.

Churches are cleaned, members are readers at Mass, take Communion to the sick and elderly and help financially by running cake stalls, selling raffle tickets and many other fundraisers.

Even though members are growing older the work still goes on.

The league is always looking for new members. You would be made very welcome.

Membership is $20 per year.

Branches donate to many charities in Australia and overseas

including South African Mission, Lodwar School for Girls, Fr Yelds in Kirabati, Salesian Missions and many more.

On October 11, in 50 areas of Australia the rosary was recited in public places for Australia.

At Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Inverloch about 30 people gathered around our recently donated beautiful statue of Our Lady of the Rosary which has been erected in the grounds of the Church.

Fr Manny Lomagna opened with the prayer to Mary Help of Christians, which was followed by the Rosary led by Anne Hebb.

Three members of our choir, Genevieve, Mary Loiuse and Julie gave a lovely rendition of Hail Mary.

The event concluded with Fr Lomagna reading a prayer for Australia. It is hoped that this will be an annual event.

Caritas report targets violence on women in Congo CARITAS Australia has released a new report on sexual violence and conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and calling for an end to impunity in this war on women.

The report Fearless Voices: speaking up for peace, equality and justice in the DRC documents the state of law, war and justice in the DRC highlighting the scourge of rape and sexual violence in a country known as the most dangerous place to be a women.

Through the first-hand accounts of women and girl survivors in the war-torn North Kivu Province, Fearless Voices calls for an end to systemic rape and violence perpetrated against women within a culture of silence, impunity and corruption.

The report comes just over a decade since the end of the Second Congo War and six years since thousands of Catholics joined Caritas Australia to break the silence on desecration and plunder in the DRC following the launch of the 2008 Forsaken Voices report.

Caritas Australia’s Program Coordinator for the DRC, Can-

berra-based, Lulu Mitshabu, says the new report highlights important progress towards peace, equality and justice in the DRC but captures the urgent need to end impunity for violence against the nation’s strongest agents for change.

“My country has been ravaged by more than a century of exploitation and almost two decades of war. One of the greatest tragedies of this conflict is relentless, calculated and brutal violence against women and girls. In the DRC, it’s more dangerous to be a woman than a solider,” she said.

“A recent study found that 48 women are raped in the DRC every hour. And yet stigma, discrimination and persistent impunity for sexual violence and other grave human rights violations remains the norm.

“When women’s bodies are a battleground and rape is used as a weapon of war, it is time for solidarity and action. Confronted with such injustice, we must be the Good Samaritans, we cannot look away.”

In Fearless Voices, Caritas calls on the Australian Government, the Australian min-

CARITAS listening houses are places where survivors of sexual assault are welcomed and embraced. ing industry and the Australian “Today, with your prayers and local leaders to be champions community to sound their voice support, Congolese women and for justice, and provide psychoagainst the corruption and ine- men are sounding their fearless social and medical support for quality that pervades Congolese voices for peace, equality and thousands of woman and girl communities and perpetuates justice in their vibrant commu- survivors of sexual violence. conflict, instability and intoler- nities. For the survivors of rape During times of crisis, Cariable violence. and sexual violence, fear has no tas Australia provides urgent “Twenty-five years ago, I place in their future.” humanitarian assistance to fled my home in Zaire (now the Caritas Australia has been communities uprooted by war.

DRC) with my babies in my working in the DRC since Learn more about Caritas Ausarms and all that I could carry 2001. In partnership with Cari- tralia’s work in the DRC at on my back. My country would tas Goma, its programs promote www.caritas.org.au/congo. not tolerate a woman speaking peace building and sustainable out for truth and justice. livelihoods, support men and

Catholic Life, December 2014 - Page 21

For the Young and Young at Heart Time for a Laugh AS a little girl climbed onto Santa’s lap, Santa asked the usual, “And what would you like for Christmas?”

The child stared at him open mouthed and horrified for a minute, then gasped, “Didn’t you get my E-mail?”

Q: What do you call a blind reindeer?

A: No eye deer Q: Who delivers Christmas presents to dogs?

A: Santa paws!

Q: Who delivers Christmas presents to cats?

A: Santa claws!

Colour this Christmas scene

was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 you could talk to God. The American thanked the priest and went along his way.

Next stop was in Atlanta.

There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in Orlando and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 he could talk to God. He then travelled to Indianapolis, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same “$10,000 per call” sign under it.

The American, upon leaving Vermont decided to travel to Australia to see if Australians had the same phone. He arrived in Australia, and again, in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read “30 cents per call.” The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign.

Father, I’ve travelled all over America and I’ve seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I’m told that it is a direct line to NOT many sleeps now until we celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus in Bethlehem around 2000 Heaven, but in the US the years ago. Best entry in this colouring contest will win a prize. price was $10,000 per call.

Why is it so cheap here?”

The priest smiled and Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Age . . . . . answered, “You’re in Australia now, mate - it’s a local call”.

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

Did you know that according to the song, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, Santa has twelve reindeer? Sure, in the introduction it goes “There’s Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen...” That makes eight reindeer. Then there’s Rudolph, of course, so that makes nine. Then there’s Olive. You know, “Olive the other reindeer used to laugh...” That makes ten. The eleventh is Howe.

You know, “Then Howe the reindeer loved him...”

Eleven reindeer. Oh, and My therapist told me the number 12? That’s Andy!

“Andy shouted out with glee.” way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start.

The proof is in the song!

So far today, I have An American decided to finished two bags of chips write a book about famous and a chocolate cake. I feel churches around the world. better already.

So he bought a plane ticket A MAN walks into a bar and took a trip to Orlando, thinking that he would start one day and asks, “Does by working his way across anyone here own that the USA from South to rottweiler outside?”

“Yeah, I do!” a biker says, North.

On his first day he was standing up. “What about inside a church taking it?”

“Well, I think my photographs when he noticed golden telephone chihuahua just killed him...”

“What are you talkin’ mounted on the wall with a sign that read “$10,000 per about?!” the biker says, call”. The American, being disbelievingly. “How could intrigued, asked priest who your little runt kill my was strolling by what the rottweiler?” telephone was used for.

“Well, it seems he got The priest replied that it stuck in your dog’s throat!”

School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Send entries to Catholic Life Colouring Contest. c/- PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820.

This month’s prize winner WINNER of our Christopher Columbus colouring contest last issue was Emma Darling, 9, who attends St Vincent de Paul Primary School in Morwell East.

Her prize will be delivered soon.

Catholic Life would like to thank the hundreds of children from across Sale Diocese who have sent in entries to our colouring contests over the past year.

This page is being redesigned for next year and we will have lots more fun things for the young and young at heart. Merry Christmas!

CAITLYN Reid from St Thomas’s Primary School in Sale shows a prize she won from us.

Page 22 - Catholic Life, December 2014

Classifieds bingo

prayer

situations vacant

prayer

Sacred Heart School

CHRISTMAS

Post Separation Cooperative Parenting Practitioner CatholicCare works on behalf of the community in the Archdiocese of Melbourne and Diocese of Sale and seeks to achieve life to the full for those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged.

We are currently looking for an experienced Practitioner to join our Post-separation Cooperative Parenting Program located in Traralgon to help facilitate the parenting programs in the community as well as building and maintaining effective networks within the catchment areas.

This role is Permanent Part Time (22.5 hours per week).

For further information and a copy of the PD please see www.ccam.org.au.

Applications Close COB Wednesday, 17th December 2014.

Friday, December 19, 2014 Morwell RSL Club, Elgin St., Morwell Join our annual giant customer Christmas giveaway.

Bingo will be closed from December 19 reopening January 23, 2015.

Further details phone 0401962 404 or 5133 7221 (AH) To our valued patrons, thank you for supporting the children of Sacred Heart School during 2014. Through your generosity we have been able to complete many projects this year.

Have a joyous Christmas and festive New Year from all at Sacred Heart School Bingo.

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

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

THANK you O Holy St Jude Apostle and Martyr, and to the Holy Spirit for answering my prayers. I also have faith that other prayers I have put before you will be answered in your good time.

St Jude Pray for us and all who invoke your name. Amen.

THANK YOU St Jude. O Holy St Jude Apostle and Martyr, great in virtue and rich in miracles, near kinsman of Jesus Christ, faithful intercessor of all who invoke your special patronage in time of need.

To you I have recourse from the depth of my heart and humbly beg you to whom God has given such great power to come to my assistance. Help me in my present and urgent petition.

In return I promise to make your name known and cause you to be invoked.

St Jude pray for us and all who invoke your aid. Amen.

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

READERS please note that published prayers reflect the beliefs of those who place the advertisements. We ask readers to judge for themselves, especially in regards to suggested fulfilment of requests made in these prayers.

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Catholic Life, December 2014 - Page 23

Bishop Jeremiah Joseph Coffey DD - 1933-2014

Archbishop reflects on the life of Jeremiah THE homily at the Funeral Mass was delivered by Archbishop of Melbourne Denis Hart, who is also current president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference: Dear Brothers and Sisters, With affection and regard for a compassionate father who walked alongside us for 56 years as a priest and bishop for 19 years, we gather together our personal remembrance of Bishop Jeremiah Coffey as we commend him to the Lord.

Through all that time Bishop Coffey was sustained by the sight of his parents at prayer, by the words of Blessed Columba Marmion who emphasised the centrality of Christ, and by his hope and love for the people with whom he walked for all those years here in the Diocese.

Sale quickly became his true home, a place whose people and lands he loved deeply.

Jeremiah Joseph Coffey was born at Cork on New Year’s Day in 1933. His father Patrick was a Professor of Civil Engineering at Cork University, while his mother Catherine lectured in French. We do extend to his siblings, Mary who is deceased, Anne, Paddy and Ita our deep gratitude and sympathy at their loss.

After education at the Model School, Cork and at St Nessan’s, Cork (where he excelled at hurling and made the all-Ireland final), obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree from University College Dublin, he entered All Hallows Missionary College in 1951. The college has given 12 priests to the Diocese of Sale.

Bishop Jeremiah was ordained at All Hallows on 22 June 1958

by Archbishop James Skinner of St John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, and he arrived in Sale two months later.

There is speculation why Sale was chosen, whether because it is near the sea as Cork was, or because the Vincentian priests at All Hallows knew there was a Vincentian bishop in Sale.

Bishop Jeremiah never looked back, however.

He was appointed to Bairnsdale on arrival. Fr Bill Walsh, the pastor, ran the

One with a dash of milk

THE story of how Bishop Jeremiah Coffey became known as “Black Coffey”is a simple one.

It became a way of distinguishing between two Fr Jerry Coffeys who came to this diocese from Ireland.

Fr Jeremiah Coffey had jet black hair while fellow priest Fr Gerard Coffey had fair hair and so was known as “White Coffey.

In later years, Fr Gerard Coffey lost most of his hair but by then Fr Jeremiah Coffey had become bishop and so the Black Coffey-White Coffey distinction was no longer necessary.

very interested in pastoral and renewal programs, and in this spirit he established a Diocesan Pastoral Council, carried forward the Journeying Together Diocesan Pastoral Plan, inaugurated the Bishop’s Family Foundation because he was so concerned for the welfare of families who were struggling in the diocese, and renewed the cathedral from 1993.

You will see in the foyer the Shrine of Our Lady, with the icon blessed by Pope Leo XIII in 1890 and the bronze relief of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Bishop Coffey’s episcopate was constantly encouraging, allowing people to exercise their vocation.

For this reason people have always seen him as a friend, a deeply spiritual man who loved Our Lady and who walked with people.

He would be surprised to see the developments in the Family Foundation and the funds of the diocese, because he did not consider himself a financier.

Above all, he empowered people to live their vocation confidently.

From the beginning of his retirement in January

2008 he lived in Paynesville overlooking the Gippsland Lakes. He was known and loved as the unofficial parish priest of Paynesville.

The people were so encouraged by his presence and by his warmth and generosity. Bishop Coffey demonstrated great courage in a long hospitalisation for bowel cancer in 2010, a further operation in 2011, and later he returned to Gippsland to reside at the Eastwood Nursing Home at Lucknow, enjoying outings with clergy and friends, ending up with a meal of fish and chips looking over the water.

For many years the priests and people of the Diocese have known him as ‘Black Coffey’.

Words written by Mike Answorth when he left Churchill may sum up our sentiments today. “We will miss his presence, his wisdom and wit. His guiding but gentle hand. We will miss his humble and gentle faith. The virtues he brought to this land. But all our lives will be richer by far for knowing this man as we do, and the taste of Coffey will stay on our lips and deep in our hearts too.”

May he rest in peace.

ARCHBISHOP of Melbourne Denis Hart delivers the funeral homily at St Mary’s Cathedral. presbytery even more strictly to wait ...... we have to wait than the seminary, wanting for God. We have to be open always “to keep the show to him, to present a kingdom jigging”. worthy of him. In joyful hope After Bairnsdale came Sale we move towards our Father’s 1961, Traralgon 1966, Omeo home above.”

1971, Iona 1972, Omeo again His vibrant personal interest in 1972, Yallourn in 1974 and in people continued in his Churchill as Parish Priest in years as bishop. From his 1977. He spent 18 years in the days at Churchill he had been Latrobe Valley.

His words before his episcopal ordination sum up: “I love Gippsland. I love the country.

I love every part of Gippsland from Wilson’s Promontory right up to the high plains. I have been in the Latrobe Valley for 18 years of my life. I am intrigued with migrant people ..... I was always interested in their lives. They had such a wide range of interests from opera to cacti growing. What they did in their back yards and back sheds was marvellous”.

A young man who came from Melbourne to study at Churchill during the Coffey years spoke of his homilies, his encouragement and his knowledge and walking with BISHOP Coffey’s coffin is carried from the cathedral by (from left) Fr Peter Kooloos, Fr Brendan people.

It was no surprise that he was Hogan and Fr Michael Willemsen, watched by master of ceremonies Fr Peter Bickley. appointed Episcopal Vicar for Education in 1982 and to the staff of Corpus Christi Seminary Clayton in the beginning of 1987. After a few months he was appointed Rector.

He said later, “The Seminary taught me a deeper practice of the priesthood, working in small groups, and John Paul II was helpful with Pastores Dabo Vobis and with Novo Millenio Ineunte.”

Fr Coffey himself had learned priesthood by watching older priests at golf, socially, in the art of caring for souls, saying “they taught me above all that a priest is not only there to raise tomatoes and buildings, he is also there to raise Lazarus. I thank the priests of this diocese for sharing all that with me.”

Pope John Paul II appointed him Bishop of Sale on 29 April 1989 and on 30 June he was ordained Bishop.

His motto “In Joyful Hope” reflects the whole of his priestly and episcopal ministry. He said ARCHBISHOP Hart reads the final prayers at the graveside as the coffin waits to be lowered into “It is God’s work. We have Bishop Jeremiah’s final resting place.

Page 24 - Catholic Life, December 2014

Bishop Jeremiah Joseph Coffey DD - 1933-2014

The many faces of Bishop Jeremiah

The newly ordained Fr Jeremiah Coffey with his parents Patrick and Catherine.

A pensive youngster dressed in his Sunday best.

The young seminarian (left) feeding the pigeons.

The shepherd of the people of Sale Diocese with his simple curved wooden crozier with silver cross bar.

Out for a stroll with friends (third from left)

Travelling incognito in his floppy hat, he was never far from the water during his retirement.

The handsome young graduate just before his ordination in 1958.

As a talented hurley player (second from left, top row), he played for Cork in the winning all-Ireland championship team.

The bishop at work at his Sale office.

Hurling was in his blood even as a youngster.