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Catholic Life
Publication of the Diocese of Sale
Two new priests in diocese - Page 3
ISSUE 152
Seminarian in critical condition - Page 5
July 2011
Everything for the Gospel - Pages 9-12
Gospel focus for Bishop’s new pastoral letter BISHOP of Sale Christopher Prowse has issued a new Pentecost pastoral letter, titled “Everything for the Gospel”, following up on themes he raised in last year’s pastoral letter “Finding Home in Jesus.” The new letter further ex-
pands on his aims for the Diocese of Sale to have a firmer missionary foundation and to set priorities for evangelisation over the coming years. He discusses the input received from a series of regional forums and a meeting with diocesan youth, and summa-
rises the things which people shared with him. Bishop Prowse then makes three major comments. • Devotional life leads to active Missionary life. • Missionary life leads tom active devotional life, and
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The family brings together devotional and missionary life. He also comments on what Pentecost means in a secularised Australia and Diocese of Sale. As with last year’s pastoral letter, the bishop has included
a series of questions for discussion and reflection. The full text of the pastoral letter and questions are included as a lift-out in today’s issue of Catholic Life. There is also a summary of responses from the forums held over the past year.
Priest’s diamond jubilee By Colin Coomber
CHALKING up 60 years as a priest in Sale Diocese was a milestone to be joyfully recognised by our most highly decorated priest Mgr John Allman. St Michael’s Church, Traralgon, was filled by parishioners, family and well-wishers from around the state for the special Diamond Jubilee Mass on July 10. Not even a tumble by 85-yearold Mgr Allman while stepping down from the sanctuary before the start of Mass could put a damper on the day, although gale force winds and near horizontal rain tried hard. As Monsignor recalled in his homily, the weather was not too good at the time of his ordination either with there being heavy rain and widespread flooding. He recalled his journey to the priesthood from the family farm at Denison near Heyfield and how his parents had supported his decision, even though he would have been needed to help work the farm. Mgr Allman holds a unique position in the Church in Sale Diocese, having served six bishops since his ordination, five of them in major diocesan roles. He was ordained by Bishop
Richard Ryan in St Mary’s Cathedral in July 1951 and after a short period as assistant priest at Bairnsdale was recalled to Sale where he became the bishop’s secretary. Over the years until his retirement he served a succession of bishops as vicar general, Dean of the Cathedral, secretary, consultor, member of the Council of Priests, and in between bishops in 1988 was diocesan administrator. Remarkably, most of his priestly life has been spent in either the Sale or Traralgon parishes, both only a short drive to visit family members in the Heyfield-Denison district. Mgr Allman said he was pleased that successive bishops had faith in him and it had been a rewarding experience, although the downside was that it sometimes limited the social contact he could have with people. He had seen great changes within society and the Church in general since he entered Corpus Christ Seminary, Werribee, during World War 2. In the early years of priesthood many families did not have cars and so family life tended to centre more around the home. He said the other major changes which has altered the world forever were the advent • Continued Page 5
Monsignor John Allman, PA
Help restore St Mary’s Cathedral Bishop Christopher Prowse has launched an appeal to raise up to $1 million to restore and enhance the Mother Church of the Diocese of Sale. Please be generous in your giving. Send donations to Cathedral Appeal, Reply Paid 508, Sale, 3853 * Credit card form can be downloaded at www.sale.catholic.org.au. Fill-in on line, print, sign and post.