The Catholic Schools Week Deanery Masses were recently celebrated with profound significance across our Diocese. Commencing on May 28th at Mary Help of Christians Church in South Tamworth, followed by a gathering on May 29th at St. Philomena’s in Moree, and culminating in a final Mass at O’Connor Catholic College’s De LaSalle Chapel on May 30th.
These Masses stand as a testament to the strong collaboration between The Catholic Schools Office, our Diocesan schools, and the broader Church community. They serve to strengthen our shared faith and extend a warm invitation for communities to unite in celebration.
Regina Menz, Director of Schools, reflected on the theme “Pray with Hope,” resonating deeply with our collective vision: to foster a Christcentered, inclusive learning environment that empowers young people towards a future filled with hope. She expressed heartfelt gratitude during this special week to every member of our school and parish community –students, staff, clergy, and families – acknowledging their indispensable role in advancing Catholic education within the Armidale Diocese.
A special acknowledgment is due to the clergy, musicians, readers, and the dedicated staff of the Catholic Schools Office whose efforts ensured the success of these memorable events.
Pictured L-R: Fr Juvi Coronel, Fr Joseph Armah, Fr Sabu Pulimalayil, Regina Menz, Monsignor Edward Wilkes, Fr Abmar Dumayag, Fr Vic Ignacio, Fr Samson Koyipurath
A visit of first class relic of Bl Carlo Acutis
EXHIBITION OF EUCHARISTIC MIRACLES
SACRED HEART PARISH INVERELL
Many people have heard of Carlo Acutis, the teenage boy who died in 2006 from leukaemia and who will be canonised next year, the Jubilee Year. He had many virtues and achieved holiness in the short time of 16 years on this earth.
He had a deep love for Jesus present in the Most Blessed Sacrament and compiled a web page of the Eucharistic Miracles throughout history: http://www.miracolieucaristici.org/
He completed this webpage only a few weeks before he died. It seems like it was his life work, in the Divine plan.
Sacred Heart Parish, Inverell, was blessed to receive the exhibition and a first class relic of Bl Carlo from June 7th - 11th, coinciding with our patronal feast day. During those days the church was open for many
hours so that people could spend time visiting the display and learning about the many ways, in which our Saviour has verified in miraculous ways, that He is really and truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. As well, the relic was available for veneration and prayer, including the writing of prayer intentions that were then sent to Carlo’s tomb in Assisi to be presented for his intercession.
Many parishioners visited and the students of Year 6-10 from Holy Trinity School also made a visit. It was indeed a great blessing for the Inverell Parish and many spiritual effects and graces will flow from it.
Students from Holy Trinity Inverell viewing the exhibition & writing prayer intentions to be sent to Assisi.
the message stick journey
SPIRIT ON COUNTRY
learning together then, now, & always
The Message Stick is currently journeying through the Catholic Diocese of Armidale, visiting schools and parishes along its path. Each school has the honour of displaying the message stick for a week before passing it along. Its final destination will be Tamworth, where it will be showcased at the 2024 Catholic Schools NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Conference.
The history of the Aboriginal Message Stick is captivating, offering a stark contrast to today’s communication methods dominated by mobile phones, emails, and social media. In the past, these sticks served as vital tools for Indigenous peoples, facilitating communication within and between tribal groups.
During its visit, each school welcomed Troy Ruttley, CEO of the Red Chief Aboriginal Lands Council, who shared insights and images illustrating the rich history of the message stick. These sticks were integral in transmitting crucial information and messages, such as invitations to corroborees, initiation ceremonies, and religious rituals, as well as demarcating tribal boundaries and tracking animals across the land.
We deeply appreciate the efforts of the organisers in allowing every school in our Diocese to participate in this cultural journey. The engagement and education our children receive from this experience is invaluable.
Welcoming the Message Stick at Gunnedah, Angela Jensen, Jen Honner, Cath Martin, Jo Jaeger, Sidney Dangerfield, Tammy Wortley and Cruze Morley.
Students from St Patricks Primary Walcha
Students from St Joseph’s Primary School Quirindi
50 years of ADIG
ADIG 2024 DIOCESE AND PARISH DISTRUBUTIONS
ARMIDALE DIOCESAN INVESTMENT GROUP
Once again, ADIG is proud to announce that we have provided the Diocese of Armidale with a distribution. This year ADIG has committed $5.53 million to the Diocese and the Parishes for the support of our local Catholic communities in their charitable, pastoral and educational works.
ADIG exists to support the charitable works of our parishes and Diocese, to help grow God’s Kingdom and help others do the same. These annual distributions allow our parishes to provide opportunities for new evangelisation programs or fund new charitable outreach programs, that otherwise may not have been possible.
The ability of the ADIG to provide this support to parishes and communities is heavily reliant on the support of lay investors and community groups who choose to invest in the ADIG. For 50 years ADIG has created strong relationships with its customers, who have joined in ADIGs journey to make a difference.
Our customer’s support is invaluable through their direct financial investment, their shared faith and their support of the Catholic mission. We thank them for their support over the last 50 years and look forward to many years ahead.
As we celebrate 50 years this year, join us and make a difference.
Former ADIG Board Member Bob Locke, Monsignor Edward Wilkes and Father Damien Locke celebrating in Armidale
Father Chris Onuekwusi, ADIG Board Chair Alison Hamilton & Father John McHugh in Tamworth
Diocesan Financial Administrator David Smith, John Moloney & Bob Locke
INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP IN OUR SCHOOLS
MISSION & EVANGELISATION
chris da silva - Mission & Evangelisation Support Officer
Data indicates that Generation Z is keen on learning about Jesus personally, yet hesitant to explore this within traditional Church settings. Bridging this gap is the forefront of the New Evangelisation today, so in response the Armidale Catholic Chancery, Catholic Schools Office, and Alpha Youth have joined forces to create a pathway for student discipleship in our schools. This approach aims to engage with young people on their level, inviting them to relationship with Jesus in the Catholic context.
What is Alpha Youth?
Alpha Youth and its complementary resource, Life Essentials, are made up of interactive sessions designed to start an open and honest conversation around some of the big questions of life. Topics include: Who is Jesus, why did he die, how do I read the Bible, how do I pray, who is the Holy Spirit, and does God heal today? Alpha Youth runs all across Australia, in schools, homes, youth ministries and online. No two Alpha Youths will look exactly the same but they typically have a setting and structure that involves an inclusive safe environment to explore contemporary issues through a Catholic lens.
The CSO’s Catholic Life, Mission and RE Leader Damian Roff shares some of the strategy to begin implementing Alpha Youth and Life Essentials here: “After a successful pilot of the Alpha Youth Program in 2023 at Holy Trinity Inverell overseen by Principal Jillian Rainger, Religious Education Coordinator Mary Jane Guest, Armidale Diocese Mission and Evangelisation Officer Chris Da Silva and Parish Priest Father Paul Chandler, a collaborative effort by Armidale Catholic Schools and Chancery to scale out this program to include more secondary schools is set to start in July.
Alpha Youth is an opportunity for faith formation for those students who want to explore their faith further
in a safe and inclusive environment. The evaluations of the program from the students at Holy Trinity were overwhelmingly positive. Links with syllabus outcomes have been made so the sessions can work within the current RE curriculum.
The program is optional, and as a result students are able to decide if they want to be a part of these sessions or resume their normal RE lessons.
On the Year 10 students’ participation at Holy Trinity, Mary-Jane Guest, after a taster (of four sessions), was amazed and encouraged that the entire cohort opted to stay with the program.
Alpha Youth is a collaborative effort and it requires facilitators for the small group discussions that take place. In that sense it is hoped that parishioners wishing to be involved in this kind of mission can be trained and be leaders in the program. The scale out of Alpha Youth extends to St Philomenas Moree and McCarthy Catholic College Tamworth. Some taster days are planned for St Mary’s Gunnedah and O’Connor Catholic College Armidale later in the year.”
How we are using Alpha Youth as a catalyst to grow young disciples?
Chancery and CSO are eager for Alpha Youth and Life Essentials to not just be a one-and-done program that students can engage with in Year 9 or 10, but instead are actively researching and consulting about optin experiences and opportunities that resonate with both faith-filled and spiritually curious students from around Year 4 right through to Year 12. Examples of this include attending the Ignite Conference, the Australian Catholic Youth Festival in Melbourne next year, and developing our own homegrown retreat.
The hope is that as this is scaled out with the guidance of Parish Priests and other key parish leaders, intentional bridges between schools and parishes can be built that invite and encourage Catholic school students to embrace life as a disciple of Jesus through the Sacraments, youth groups and other opportunities to serve their local communities through their parishes.
If you’re interested in helping to facilitate Alpha Youth or similar student discipleship initiatives please contact Chris Da Silva on chris@armidale.catholic. org.au
AROUND THE DIOCESE
SPIRE CLIMB
19th june 2024
Staff at the Chancery Office enjoyed an exclusive guided tour of the Cathedral Roofing project on Wednesday, 19th June. A few brave souls ascended the towering 47 meters (154 feet) to the spire of the Cathedral, witnessing the impressive restoration work firsthand.
Led by the highly skilled contractors from Construct Services, the tour highlighted various architectural features and showcased the exceptional craftsmanship on the completed sections of the roof. The contractors shared their extensive knowledge of the intricate restoration process, focusing on the meticulous repair and replacement of the timberwork supporting the spire.
Currently, the team is dedicated to this crucial timberwork before they proceed with installing the new zinc oxide cladding, ensuring it meets heritage preservation standards. The entire roofing project is anticipated to be completed by December 2024, with the hope of welcoming all parishioners to celebrate Christmas Mass in the beautifully restored Cathedral.
AROUND THE DIOCESE
PHILIPPINE INDEPENDENCE DAY
9TH JUNE 2024
The Filipino communities from across the Diocese of Armidale gathered in the city of Armidale on June 9th to commemorate the 126th Philippine Independence Day. The event saw some 240 Filipinos come together for a day of reflection, celebration, and cultural pride.
The festivities began with a Holy Mass held at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. The Mass was a time for the attendees to offer thanks and reflect on the significance of their heritage.
Following the Mass, the celebration moved to the Armidale Town Hall, where attendees enjoyed a dinner and a vibrant cultural program. The event featured traditional Filipino music, dance, and a variety of performances that showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Philippines.
This annual event serves as a vital link for Filipinos in the region to connect with their roots and each other. Next year, the honour of hosting this cherished celebration will pass to the Filipino Community of Moree, continuing the tradition of unity and cultural remembrance within the diaspora.
chaplaincy investiture
NSW NEW ENGLAND & NORTH WEST POLICE CHAPLAIN
Thursday 20th june
Father Damien Locke was invested as the NSW New England & North West Police Chaplain on Thursday 20th June at the Armidale Police Station.
Police chaplaincy plays a crucial role in supporting police officers and their families, offering spiritual guidance, emotional support, and counseling services. Chaplains like Father Damien Locke provide a listening ear and
Catholic Diocese Of Armidale 3/131 Barney Street
Armidale NSW 2350
E. chancery@armidale.catholic.org.au P. 02 6771 8700
For more news on the Diocese of Armidale follow us on Facebook at; @catholicdioceseofarmidale
a source of comfort during challenging times, such as critical incidents or personal crises.
Pictured above L-R are Commander Christopher McKinnon, Inspector Darren Williams, Senior Chaplain Ian Schoonwater, outgoing New England Police District Chaplain Rev Will Pearson, Father Damien Locke and Inspector Kingsley Chapman.
