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AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 1

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VOL 24 - NO. 1AUTUMN 2015

DIOCESE OF ARMIDALE

BlessingsFather Francis

2 - AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT

The Bishop Speaks

For almost forty days now, Christian people the world over have been Walking with Jesus, accompanying him on his joyrney toward Jerusalem; toward the cross, the tomb, and the resurrection. Let us cast our minds back to the beginning of this pilgrimage of grace, to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. We received the ashes and were exhorted “Repent and believe in the Gospel”, the very words with which Jesus began his public preaching as he emerged from his forty days of being tested and tempted in the wilderness. The prayer, fasting, and good works that the Ash Wednesday Gospel encouraged us to take up were not ends in themselves, but the tried and true method for cultivating that sense of genuine repentance that flames our faith in Jesus Christ and his Gospel.

In the early days of Lent, in fact on the First Sunday of Lent, we heard in the Gospel that immediately

after his baptism, “the spirit drove Jesus out into the wilderness” (Mark 1:12). This word “drove” is a very strong word. A drover “droves” sheep and cattle to make them go where they would not go themselves. But the original Greek verb used by Mark in the Gospel is even stronger. It is the word we would use for tossing a stone. So the phrase could be more accurately translated into English as “the spirit hurled Jesus out into the wilderness.”

Jesus didn’t just go for an extended walk after his baptism for a bit of quiet contemplation or to undertake a quiet, restful retreat. No, he felt driven and was hurled by the Spirit into the desert to undergo what today we commonly call a wilderness experience: to be stripped of all worldy comforts and supports; to be tested in himslef; to be tempted by Satan; and to be alone with God his Father.

Walking with Jesus


Most Reverend Michael Kennedy

Bishop of Armidale

Lent is a wilderness experience into which I imagine very few of us run willingly at full speed. If we have approached this Lent with the full seriousness that the Church proposes in her call for prayer, fasting, and good works, we should have felt driven or hurled into it, almost against our will. For Lent is not merely the time for forty days of “feel-good” rest and reflection; it is the time for honest, even brutal, self-examination and for invaluable, even punishing, purification.

For Lent is our annual forty day wilderness experience into which, like Jesus, we are driven or hurled by the Spirit. It is the time in which we go without some of our usual comforts and conveniences; in which we learn to live without those things that we think we can’t live without, but actually can; in which we battle with demons both from within and without; and in which we spend considerable time alone with God, as Jesus spent time alone with his Father in the desert.

As our Lenten journey now draws towards its conclusion, we are about to enter “Holy Week” which begins with Passion Sunday when we commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into the Holy City of Jerusalem, and when we read the Passion Narrative which presents us with the climax of Jesus’ mission: his passion and death, awaiting his resurrection. It recounts the Last Supper and the institution of the Eucharist, the betrayal, the trials before Caiphas and Pilate, and the crucifixion.

But in between Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness and his passion, at the mid-point of his public life, when the time came for him to start heading toward Jerusalem, we find this simple yet profound statement in the Gospel of Luke: “Jesus set his face resolutely toward Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). Jesus was resolute; he knew difficulty and suffering lay ahead yet he was determined to walk that path and

complete his mission; and he did so with the full force of his free will.

We who have been hurled by the spirit into the wilderness with Jesus, will we now “set our face” toward Holy Week and complete the journey with him? Will I, in essence, take up my cross and walk

with Jesus? Lest anybody draw the wrong conclusion from these words of

mine, I should now clarify that the path we walk with

Jesus is not the path of pain and suffering. It is the path of love. Suffering on its own is useless;

suffering with love is transformative.

Whilst the suffering of Jesus might be the most prominent or obvious

feature of the Passion Narrative we hear on Palm Sunday, it is not really about suffering: it is about loving. It was Jesus’ love for God and for us that brought him to his passion and death, and it was this love that opened the way for our transformation and redemption. His suffering was a consequence of his loving. There are many kinds of suffering, but only one kind of suffering is redemptive, and that is the suffering that is born from love or that is borne with love. And this suffering is not only painful – it is joyful too, because it has a purpose.

Life drives and hurls us into plenty of suffering situations into which we would rather not go, but let us find in these situations opportunities to set our face resolutely with Jesus toward the cross. There, in him, love transforms our suffering into opportunities for new life for ourselves and for those we love.

“Jesus set his face resolutely toward Jerusalem”

“Do not abandon yourselves to despair

We are the Easter Peopleand hallelujah is our song” St. John Paul II


On the evening of Sunday 22nd February 2015 the church bell tolled in a pattern indicating that the parish priest had died. Thus the community of Uralla were alerted to the loss of their priest Monsignor Wayne Peters.

The following Friday Monsignor Peters’ families gathered for his funeral Mass – his blood family; the clergy of the Diocese and beyond; the Uralla parish; the Diocese; his friends from near and far. For Monsignor Peters these were his extended family. All loved, cherished and cared for by him over many years.

First among these were his beloved sister Kristine and brother Shaun. They were joined by the wider Peters and Knight families. Kristine and Shaun spoke lovingly and at times with humour of the life of their brother. They painted a picture of a happy and stable family who enjoyed life and family time. Monsignor Peters’ family dedication was illustrated in one family story told by Kristine. She said “Wayne was already in the seminary at St Columba’s College Springwood when Shaun was born. I remember taking Shaun to meet his big brother on Open day at the Seminary, there are photos of Wayne in his black Soutane, pushing Shaun around in the pram. I always smile at how funny this must have looked to

other visitors. However the pram did prove useful. Back in those days life in the seminary was very strict. You were not allowed to have food or tea and coffee in your rooms. The pram proved a great hiding place to transport Mum’s fruit cake and Wayne’s favourite, packets of Iced Vo Vo biscuits.”

Shaun spoke of Monsignor Peters’ ill health over the past few years. “We know in recent years Wayne has suffered with ill health. He survived two long illnesses at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. The last time in 2011 we were told by his Specialist he was a trouble maker. I think that at the hospital, there was very large file with a black mark that read “Never to be readmitted.”

“He has had a couple of good goes at this dying business and last Sunday when he knocked on the gates of Heaven, they opened. We pray St Peter that you welcome him with open arms.”

Bishop Michael Kennedy in his homily reflected on Monsignor Peters’ vocation and health.

“Wayne was a good old fashioned country Parish Priest who knew and loved his people and accompanied them through life. As Pope Francis now puts it: he was a

A good old fashioned country priest


shepherd with the smell of his sheep. A real connection was made between shepherd and flock, and the people appreciated it.”

“In his final years, illness and suffering were prominent features of Wayne’s life, so today’s words from the Book of Wisdom are particularly poignant: “slight was their affliction, great will their blessing be. God has put them to the test like gold in a furnace.” God is like the master silversmith taking us in his hands. When purifying silver the silversmith sits close by the fire and watches carefully because he knows that too much heat damages the silver and he knows the purifying process is complete when he sees his own image reflected in the silver.

Wayne, like all of us, was created in the image and likeness of God. This image is somewhat obscured by

our sinfulness, but God purifies and restores its splendour with his forgiveness and through our prayers, works of charity, and offering up of our sufferings and difficulties. In the ordination rite the man being ordained priest is asked “Are you resolved to consecrate your life to God for the salvation of his people, and to unite yourself more closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a perfect sacrifice?” The man answers “I am with the help of God”. This was Wayne’s answer every day of his life. Monsignor Wayne Peters was faithful to this promise to the end.”

Monsignor Peters was interred at the Tamworth Lawn Cemetery next to his parents Aileen and Griff Peters.

May he rest in peace.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord.

And let perpetual light shine upon him.

May he rest in peace. Amen.


I love sales! Selling computers was real fun. I put in so much passion into negotiating and closing deals. Risk taking was the best part of it all. But I guess God was having fun seeing me so passionate with sales. At His time, I had to quit! No, I just had to change the commodity: computer to the Gospel.

But when did all this start, an O’Connor student asked. O dear! A long time ago, I said. In the theatre room of Sacred Heart Hospital Obudu – Nigeria, where I was born in 1980. Sr. Maureen Francis who gave me the name Francis prayed that I should become a priest. Mum did not find this funny, but her prayers helped to guide me in making this decision.

Looking back, I can say for sure Saints Theresa of Lisieux and Pope John Paul II had a big influence in me becoming a priest. Prior to my ordination, I spent time reading their biographies. I asked for their intercession and guidance.

I was very happy my mum, Josephine Afu, my benefactors Prof. Maurice Ebong and his wife Margaret and many friends could make it to my ordination. Memories of the ordination are fresh. But the laying on of hands is an experience that words can’t describe. And the singing at the Mass of Thanksgiving was just a foretaste of the Heavenly Liturgy.

Could words express my gratitude and joy of being a priest? To say the least, yes! For I am grateful to the bishop and the presbyterate of Armidale diocese. And with sense of gratitude I carry out my duties as an assistant priest of the Armidale Cathedral.

I also extend appreciation to my friends and all the faithful of Armidale diocese. I pray we all find joy and fulfilment in our respective vocations. For the joy of the Lord is our strength.

A Salesman becomes

a Catholic Priest

All ordinaition photos are courtesy of Lou Farina


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The magnificent Cathedral of Saints Mary & Joseph along with associated buildings in the Cathedral Precinct have recently been listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Minister for Environment the Honourable Rob Stokes, Armidale Mayor Laurie Bishop, Aunty Hazel Green, Adam Marshall Member for Northern Tablelands, Father Richard Gleeson and other distinguished guests joined with Bishop Michael Kennedy for the official announcement.

Bishop Kennedy spoke of the Cathedral as “our precious and beloved Cathedral” and remarked that the day would be marked as an important day in both the history and the future of our remarkable Cathedral. He stated “It is a history that began over a century ago, with the construction of the Cathedral being completed in 1912, and, God willing, it will be a future that stretches forward many centuries yet. With both the past and the future in mind, this heritage listing today is not only appropriate but necessary.”

He went on to say “For Catholics, the Cathedral is the epicentre of the diocese, from where the bishop presides over the faith life of the diocese and where we come for our faith to be nourished and strengthened by the Lord through prayer, worship, and sacrament.

And for the wider community the Cathedral and associated buildings are an important part of the Armidale landscape. So much so that our bell tower, together with that of Saint Peter’s Anglican Cathedral, are an integral part of the Armidale City Logo.

The listing is the beginning of the next chapter in the Cathedral Precinct’s glorious history.

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AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 9Photo courtesy Armidale Express


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The New Director of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Armidale, Mr Chris Smyth, commenced his new position in January. Chris brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience from the Diocese of Wagga Wagga where he was Director (System and School Improvement).

Chris has secondary school teaching experience in both State and Catholic secondary schools. Chris has experience as a school principal in two secondary schools and a large independent K-12 Co-educational school.

He has held senior leadership positions at system level with the Dioceses of Sydney, Broken Bay and Wagga Wagga.

Chris is passionate about contemporary learning and teaching in a Catholic school context. He has significant experience with assisting school staff and communities in action learning and research that promotes the features of a Catholic professional learning community.

Chris is looking forward to working with colleagues to enhance the Catholic professional learning community across the Diocese of Armidale by further developing the relationships between schools and the Catholic Schools Office. Chris highlights the importance of a team based approach to sharing the vision to improve student learning and school services.

A New Direction for the Catholic Schools Office

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The Christian refugees in Iraq are gripped by fear following recent advances of the Islamic terrorist organisation ISIS, Fr Andrzej Halemba, of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), reported upon his return from Iraq.

The priest visited aid projects in Kurdistan, an autonomous region in northern Iraq where over 120,000 Christians have sought shelter from ISIS in the past year. “At the end of January, ISIS attacked Kirkuk, a city known for its rich oil deposits. The people were in a panic. Many refugee families fled Kirkuk that same night, leaving everything behind. All of them are still extremely traumatised by the circumstances under which they had to flee in the summer,” Fr Halemba said. “Even families in the Kurdish

provincial capital of Erbil are asking themselves whether they will be safe in the long run.”

Fr Halemba reported that Christian families were leaving Iraq every day, heading for Turkey, Lebanon or Jordan because they no longer feel safe and have lost all confidence in the future. “Six or more families leave every day. It is really a race against the clock in terms of ensuring a Christian presence in Iraq. Many people have simply run out of patience.”

Aid to the Church in Need supports Christians in Iraq with numerous aid projects. More than $6.9 million were allocated to these projects in 2014 alone.

by Oliver Maksan

AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED...a Catholic charity dependent on the Holy See, providing pastoral relief to needy and oppressed Churches

Catholic Viewpoint

A race against the clock


A Dutch ethics professor who once supported euthanasia has had a dramatic change of heart and now warns that if patient-killing by doctors is legalised in any country it cannot be controlled.

In 2001 the Netherlands was the first country in the world to legalise both euthanasia (patient-killing) and doctor-assisted suicide.

He notes that for five years after the law came into effect there was no significant rise in the number of doctor-induced deaths.

Given this result, the Professor wrote, in 2007, “there doesn’t need to be a slippery slope when it comes to euthanasia.” A good law with proper monitoring would keep the number of killings relatively low. “Most of my collegues drew the same conclusion,” he wrote. “But we were wrong, terribly wrong.”

Beginning in 2008, the numbers of these deaths began to increase by 15% annually, year after year, and by 2012 it stood at 4,188 for the year. He expects it to reach close to 6,000 for 2014. “Euthanasia is on the way to becoming a ‘default’ mode of dying for cancer patients,” he said.

There has been a shift in the kind of person who is being terminated. Few people with psychiatric illnesses or dementia appeared in the early reports. But these numbers are now rising sharply. Increasingly death is being seen

as a cure for loneliness or sadness.

Moreover public opinion is shifting in Holland, with more Dutch people now seeing assisted suicide or euthanasia as “a right” with doctors having a duty to kill those who demand the “service”.

The mere existence of such a law, he suggested, “is an invitation to see assisted suicide and euthanasia as a normality. Once the genie is out of the bottle, it is not likely to ever go back in again.”

(the full, unedited, version of this article can be found in Alive! No. 204)

Dutch Experts were ‘terribly wrong’ about a patient-killing

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Pope Francis has awarded “Benemerenti” medals to Eileen Cain, Molly Hefferan (both of Moree) and Snow Wratten (Inverell) for their outstanding and longstanding service to the Church and community. This relatively rare honour originating in the 18th century with Pope Pius VI, and was revised by Pope Paul VI after the 2nd Vatican Council. It is given to people who embody the Council’s spirit of renewal, particularly as outlined in the Constitution on The Church in the Modern World.

Eileen Cain

Eileen Cain was the fifth of Thomas and Valmai Cain’s twelve children, and attended the Aboriginal Reserve School until she was 13. She then did domestic work with the Bob Picone family, moving to Sydney for 5 years. Returning to Moree, she made her debut and worked for many years with Peter & Adrienne Meppem. She then began work at St Pius X. With her sister in law, Pauline Cain, she attended Nungalinya Training College in Darwin for three weeks each year from 1994 to 1996.

She has been the Chairperson of St Pius X Chapel Committee since its inception, and has prepared

countless families for Baptism and other Sacraments, has organized Liturgies and led them in the absence of the priest. More recently she has hosted and lectured participants in the cultural immersion programme run by the Armidale Catholic Education Office.

Eileen lists as three of her most memorable activities:

• Chairing the first meeting of the Armidale Diocesan Aboriginal and Islander Catholic Council.

• Coordinating World Youth Day activities in 2008, and hosting Canadian visitors.

• Leading Liturgies almost every week in St Pius X Chapel, and preparing Baptisms.

Molly Heffernan

Like Eileen, Molly left school at 13 to work as a cleaner and nanny. At 18 she married the local barber, Arthur Heffernan, in St John & Henry Church, East Moree. For 60 years, before the closing of that church, she was considered its ‘backbone’, and was involved in every aspect of its life. She enthusiastically adopted

Papal Honours to 3 distinguished parishioners


the spirit of Vatican II, and became a special minister of Holy Communion, serving people in Fairview and the housebound.

She has been a member of the Catholic Women’s League for 50 years, often serving as President, and taking up issues of moral and social importance. She received a citation from the Diocesan Council for her dedication. For years she has run a ‘Piety Stall’, supplying holy goods and raising funds for various projects.

Snow Wratten

Snow’s name is recorded in the Minutes of Meeting of different Parish Groups through the years showing his extensive involvement in the life of the parish: Mass Reader; Communion Minister; Mass Collector; Money Counter; Coordinator of the Parish Garden Teams; Working Bees to maintain the cleanliness and good

shape of the church and presbytery. Snow, together with a few parishioners, was the spirit and force behind the introduction of the Planned-Giving Program in Inverell and he counted and recorded contributions to the Planned-Giving Program manually for many years. In addition to his dedicated service and involvement in the Sacred Heart Church and Presbytery, he was also involved with Holy Trinity School as a volunteer in the countless school actvities that needed voluntary work force: school canteen; Race Day; Easter Fair; Working Bees; etc.

Snow, as a father and a husband, takes care of Tim, eldest of four, and of his wife in a very loving and tender way. His dedication in serving both is exemplary and truly edifying. They do not miss their weekend Masses as a family; they always come, rain or shine, to the Sunday Morning Mass.


Around and AboutBlessing Mass & Induction of School LeadersSt Mary of the Angels Guyra recently held our “Beginning Year Mass”. We were joined by teachers and students from other schools to celebrate the beginning of the school year. During the Mass our School Leaders, Samuel Graham, Cyan McLauchlin, Joseph Stanley and Matthew Williams, were inducted. We wish them the very best for the year and pray for God’s blessing on this important job and time of their lives. Mass was followed by a BBQ in our School Hall to celebrate the start of the school year and to also farewell Father Anthony who will be sadly missed by our whole school community.

Australian woman on Vatican CommissionKathleen McCormack from the Wollongong Diocese was recently appointed to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors. The establishment of this commission by Pope Francis shows his commitment to fight against clerical sexual abuse. The Commission is headed by Boston’s Cardinal Archbishop, Sean P. O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap.. It has a full-time Secretary at the Vatican, U.S. Father Robert W. Oliver and other members Peter Saunders, the chief executive officer of the UK-based National Association for People Abused in Childhood (NAPAC); Krysten Winter-Green; Bill Kilgallon; Precious Blood Sister Hermenegild Makoro; Religious Sisters of Charity Sister Kayula Lesa; Gabriel Dy-Liacco; Baroness Sheila Hollins and the Reverend Father Luis Manuel Ali Herrera as well as Kathleen McCormack.

Exciting new look at St Joseph’s UrallaA major contributing factor to student engagement in learning is the creation of colourful innovative learning spaces. A significant amount of work has been undertaken to create vibrant learning studios at St Joseph’s. The studios along with well-designed and thoroughly planned learning experiences will enable the children to grow as curious and capable learners at their own rate. Enabling children to set goals for themselves is another key to encouraging strong levels of engagement and indeed building self-esteem.

Photo: (L – R) Bailey Redmond and Alex Baker with Director Chris Smyth


Around and AboutNew students and Captains are a blessingSt Joseph’s Glen Innes is delighted to welcome 41 kindergarten students to the school this year. All have settled in well, and are a wonderful addition to the school. The class consists of a set of twins and triplets. Year 6 have been fantastic Buddies to these Kindergarten students. The school will be ably lead by the new captains Bridgitte Beatty and Riley Martin, and we look forward to them leading us throughout a successful 2015.Photo courtesy Glen Innes Examiner

Australia’s New NuncioThe Vatican announced the appointment of Archbishop Tito Yllana as Apostolic Nuncio to Australia. Archbishop Yllana, until now, has served as the Apostolic Nuncio to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Archbishop Yllana replaced Archbishop Paul Gallagher, who now serves at the Vatican’s Secretary for Relations with States.

The Filipino Prelate studied international diplomacy at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome and was named to his first post in 2001, as the Nuncio to Papua New Guinea. He has also served as the diplomatic representative to the Holy See in the Solomon Islands, Pakistan and the Congo.

The Australian Church has welcomed Archbishop Yllana’s appointment.

Students Sing for Sr PatSt Joseph’s Tamworth students helped Sr Pat celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. A small concert by school children -past and present- entertained Sr Pat at a morning tea held in her honour after Mass. We are indeed fortunate to still have a representative of St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop (founder of the Sisters of St Joseph) in our Parish and school.


Around and AboutGathering at Moree

The combined meeting of priests and religious in the Western Deanery was attended by Srs Coral Fleming, Christine Belling, Kathleen Price, Anita Vagg, Yvonne McGettigan, Laraine Crowe, Margaret Cusack, Maria Harrex, Gabrielle Foley and Jan Baker., Frs Bernie Frize, Paul Aguilar, Joseph Armah, Max Davis, James Poovathinkal, John McHugh, and Paul McCabeSr Coral Fleming from Mungindi was farewelled and Sr Laraine Crowe welcomed to Walgett. Also farewelled were Frs Bernie Frize and Max Davis who are retiring, and Fr James Poovathinkal was congratulated on his appointment as Parish Priest of Narrabri.

Geoff McManus at McCarthy Catholic College Geoff McManus has come to the Armidale Diocese from Queensland where he was the Deputy Principal of St Edmund’s College Ipswich. Geoff’s wife, Judith is an Early Years teacher who has worked in Catholic schools for 11 years and they have one son, Jake who is studying Physiotherapy in Townsville.Geoff is already enjoying the vibrant and authentic community at McCarthy Catholic College and is relishing the opportunity to collaborate with the dedicated and caring staff to grow the excellent academic culture and faith life of the wonderful students.

Shrove Tuesday-Pancake DayStudents at St Nicholas Tamworth were very excited to celebrate Shrove Tuesday with- Pancake Day! This was a huge success. Thanks to a band of mums, dads, and grandmas who helped make batter, cook, spread, mix, dollop, squeeze, sprinkle and serve a multitude of pancakes to the masses of children who were very keen and eager to purchase their oversized pancakes to help raise funds for CARITAS. A big thank you to Patrice McMullen and the Minnie Vinnies students, who coordinated the whole experience.


Around and AboutSurprise! Surprise! – Father John’s Birthday CelebrationAn element of surprise always makes a birthday extra special, and at St Josephs Parish Gunnedah this is certainly what Father John McHugh received. Under the secret guise of ‘a parish get together before Christmas’, there was a large attendance at Mass. The word had passed around that Father John was celebrating a special birthday, and the congregation surprised him by singing “Happy Birthday”. At this point he realised the large gathering was here to celebrate more than just Mass and the secret was out! Surprise guests were his Aunt and cousin who travelled in from Tamworth.

Compassion in ActionProject Compassion is one of Australia’s largest humanitarian campaigns. Last year the appeal raised nearly $11 million for Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency. Supporters in the New South Wales Dioceses of Sydney, Parramatta and Broken Bay contributed more than $2.6 million towards this total. The theme for this year’s Project Compassion is “Food for Life,” this is part of the Caritas Internationalis global initiative “One human family, food for all,” aimed at ending hunger by 2025. Pope Francis has said: “It is a well-known fact that current levels of production are sufficient yet, millions of people are still suffering and dying of starvation. This is truly scandalous.”

Baptisms in Mary Help of Christians ParishThe end of 2014 was a special time for two of our staff members at St Edward’s School, Mr Luke Kelly & Miss Sallie Pilgrim were baptised into the Mary Help of Christian’s community. Luke and Sallie along with their sponsors, Maureen Ayton and Deb Rafferty, had been preparing for months with Deacon Paul Manvell. We congratulate them both and bless them on their continued journey with our school and parish community.


In this special year which Pope Francis has asked our focus to be on the consecrated life, St Patrick’s Parish West Tamworth came together to celebrate with Sister Patricia Duffy her sixty years of vowed life as a Sister of St Joseph.

Last November, the Holy See announced that they would be opening three showers under the colonnades of St. Peter’s Basilica for the homeless. Now they will also open a barber shop and offer haircuts and shaves free of charge for homeless people.

According to the Italian news agency haircuts and shaves will be available to those less fortunate on Mondays. In Italy, barbershops are traditionally closed on Mondays, allowing for volunteer barbers to donate their time. The initiative, which is run by the Office of Papal Charities, has also received a number of donations from barbers across Rome who have donated, razors, brushes, scissors, a mirror and a barber’s chair.

The idea for the showers and bathrooms came from the Papal Almoner, Archbishop Konrad Krajewski. The Archbishop had dinner with a homeless man on his birthday despite the man’s embarrassment because of his appearance. During the meal, the man explained to him that although homeless people in Rome could manage

to find something to eat, what they really needed was a place to wash. Upon hearing this, Archbishop Krajewski suggested the idea to the Pope, who immediately approved the idea.

The barber shop for the homeless, located in the same area where the showers and toilets are, was officially opened in February.

Those present all agreed that Sr. Pat is the epitome of this very special order, established by our great Australian Saint, St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop. All those years of service in so many roles have changed the lives of so many. Like St Mary MacKillop herself there is no doubt that Sr. Pat’s life has met with significant successes, and very demanding challenges. How lucky we are that, like St Mary MacKillop, Sr. Pat’s tenacity won through. She attributed her tenacity simply to the Grace of God in her life and her calling.

A papal blessing – the nicest he had ever seen, according to Fr Ross O’Brien, was awarded to Sr. Pat at the 9am mass on Sunday 8 February. An uplifting celebration followed in St Patrick’s Hall where the many guests were entertained by children from St Joseph’s School and McCarthy Catholic College.

Catholic Women Connecting West Tamworth organised an inspirational photo display. As well, everyone enjoyed the morning tea organised by the group.

Our congratulations go to Sr. Pat. A huge offering of gratitude to God for enabling her to serve in St Patrick’s Parish with such humanity, humility and effectiveness. Thank You Lord.

Photo courtesy of Lou Farina

Sixty Years of Consecrated Life

Vatican to Offer Haircuts for Homeless


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CATHOLIC PRESS ASSOCIATIONISSN 1446-0041

CIRCULATION 6,200

VOL 23 - NO. 1AUTUMN 2014

DIOCESE OF ARMIDALE

Fr John Carey, 40 years an ADIG Board Member!

1974201440

YEARS

CELEBRATING

SUMMER 2013 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 1


CATHOLIC PRESS ASSOCIATIONISSN 1446-0041CIRCULATION 6,200 VOL 22 - NO. 4SUMMER 2013DIOCESE OF ARMIDALE

From Rome to Wee Waa

A relic of Blessed John Paul II

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Palm SundayPreparation for Easter began on Ash Wednesday and has continued throughout Lent. On the Sunday before Easter, the last Sunday of Lent, the Church begins Holy Week. The feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. Palm Sunday Mass includes the blessing and distribution of palms to the assembled people. In some parishes a Palm Sunday procession is a feature. The Gospel of the Day is the Passion – the first time it is read over Holy Week.

Chrism MassThe Bishop, joined by the priests of the diocese, gather at the Cathedral to celebrate the Chrism Mass during Holy Week. This Mass manifests the unity of the priests with their bishop. The Bishop blesses three oils — the oil of catechumens, the oil of the infirm and holy chrism which will be used in the administration of the sacraments in the parishes for the coming year. During the liturgy, the entire assembly is called to renew its baptismal promises; deacons and priests also renew their vow of obedience to the local Bishop and their commitment to serve God’s people.

Easter TriduumThe Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, reaches its high point in the Easter Vigil, and closes with Evening Prayer on Easter Sunday.

Mass of the Lord’s SupperThe Mass on Holy Thursday is celebrated after sundown. It commemorates the institution of the Sacrament of

the Eucharist and it ends with the removal of the Body of Christ from the tabernacle in the main body of the church. The Eucharist is carried in procession to another place where it is kept overnight, to be distributed during the commemoration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday. After the procession, the altar is stripped bare, and all the bells in the church are silent until the Gloria at the Easter Vigil. Some parishes also re-enact Jesus’ washing of the Apostles feet at this Mass in a ritual called the Mandatum.

Commemoration of the Lord’s PassionGood Friday is a day of penance where abstinence and fasting are observed. The faithful usually gather at 3.00 pm to commemorate the Lord’s Passion – the focus is the crucifixion of Jesus. This is not Mass as the sacraments are not celebrated on Good Friday. The order of service includes the Liturgy of the Word where the Passion is again read in full; Veneration of the Cross and the reception of Holy Communion. Silence, reverence and a church stripped of decorations are key images of Good Friday.

Easter VigilThe Church reawakens at the Easter Vigil Mass where the people remember, celebrate and believe the dying and rising of Jesus. The celebration begins outside the church in darkness where from the Easter fire the paschal candle is lit. A procession into the church of light and song is a stark contrast to Good Friday. The renewal of baptismal promises and the initiation of new members into the community the Easter Vigil are celebrations of the paschal mystery – in which we share through baptism and the Eucharist.

Holy Week


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Armidale Diocesan Investment Group Armidale :- 1800 040 903 Tamworth :- 1800 803 194

www.adig.com.au

Have you opened a Rainbow account for your children yet? Rainbow clubs are operated throughout all the Catholic Schools in the Diocese. These are a great way to get your child or children to learn about saving. There is also the added incentive of a prize each term for making 8 deposits into your Rainbow account. These accounts, like all of ADIG’s accounts, are completely fee free and accessible through our online service as well.

ADIG congratulate all of our Super Savers for 2014 for their superb effort in making the most deposits during the year. Each Super Saver received a personalised certificate commemorating their achievement and a prize as well. These special end-of-year prizes are up for grabs again this year and there is one available for each school throughout the diocese.

So, if you haven’t got a Rainbow Club account for your child yet, please call into your school or call ADIG to arrange a form so you can start saving today.

Personal service – Have you ever been to a bank and felt like they didn’t care whether you were there or not? Our professional and friendly staff are always ready to help you find the right account for your needs. With online access making transactions even easier, what are you waiting for? Call the Armidale Diocesan Investment Group today.

Follow the Rainbow


Armidale branch held its AGM and elected the committee for 2015. Robyn Judge was elected President and Maureen Armatage, Claire Keoghan and Marie Lawlor as joint Vice presidents. Thank you and congratulations to past and incoming committees.

Tamworth branch are planning a fund raising function in the form of a quilting exhibition . Marie Dean’s sister-in-law has beautiful quilts and she is going to show them in her home and we will provide afternoon tea.

Moree branch member Molly Hefferen has been a member of Moree CWLA for over 50 years and she was awarded a Papal Blessing just before Christmas. Molly has been a wonderful member and has worked hard for the Parish and other organisations. Congratulations Molly.

Gunnedah branch luncheon in March is always well attended by many of our senior parishioners who enjoy the chance to socialise with friends while also having a lovely meal.

Quirindi branch held an evening with Fr. Ronnie, a visiting Priest from the Philippines. Fr. Ronnie talked of his work in the Philippines. Following his talk there was musical items, finger food and drinks.

CWC members were part of the celebrations for Sister

Pat Duffy’s 60th anniversary. Pictured are Di Bolitho and Margaret Tarbert Catholic Women Connecting West Tamworth members with children who provided some of the entertainment. The group helped organise the day.

Diocesan President Deirdre Andren, Diocesan Secretary Elaine Smyth and Diocesan Vice President attended the State Council Meeting in Sydney during February.

National Conference of CWLA will be held in Parramatta 22nd-24th September 2015.

Las Vegas Churches accept gambling chips

This may come as a surprise to those of you not living in Las Vegas, but there are more Catholic churches than casinos.

Not surprisingly, some worshippers at Sunday Mass will give casino chips rather than cash when the basket is passed.

Since they get chips from many different casinos, the churches have devised a method to collect the offerings.

The churches send all their collected chips to a nearby Franciscan friary for sorting and then the chips are taken to the casinos of origin and cashed in.

This is done by the chip monks!

Gotcha! You didn’t even see it coming did you?

CWL & CWC HAPPENINGS


New Religious Education CoordinatorsThe newly appointed Religious Education Coordinators in Diocesan Catholic Schools gathered for a professional development day at the beginning of Term 1. Pictured are Lee Herden (CSO Assistant Director: Mission & Evangelisation), Nerida Finalyson, Jo Dimech, Sarah-Jane Canham, Peter Holmes, Jacquelene Cronin (CSO Religious Education Officer K-10) Nick Baird

The Gunnedah Combined Catholic Schools ReunionAll past pupils of St Mary’s College & St Xavier’s School are invited to attend.Ex-students contact your former classmates and hold class reunions within the overall celebration.Weekend 3rd & 4th October 2015The cost is $50 per headMore details and registration form, contact John Campbell 130 Barber Street, Gunnedah 2380, email: [email protected] or phone 6742 1066.

St Mary’s College 5th Form 1970


School Enrolments are growing........in all sectors.

By 2031, enrolments in all NSW schools will grow by an additional 267,000 students. All school sectors will need to create new places to accommodate this growth. Our Catholic schools need to prepare for an additional 61,000 students. This will require the construction of more than 2,400 classrooms.

As has been the case for decades, most of this expansion will be met by Catholic school parents. However, the next NSW Government must lift its capital funding support to Catholic schools; otherwise it will be forced to build and staff more new government schools than it has currently planned for.

It is financially more prudent for the NSW Government to help Catholic schools maintain our share of enrolment growth as Catholic schools ease the pressure on state taxpayers in two ways:

• The NSW Government provides only 20% of annual recurrent costs

• Parents meet most of the capital costs.

It is vitally important that local State members know and understand their local school communities and it is up to us to assist them build that knowledge and understanding. The Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) works closely with the NSW Catholic Education Commission to develop materials and strategies around political advocacy. Engaging with our local members of parliament is more about relationship building than being overtly political. It is about situating our schools within the context of the community they serve and being active, informed citizens. The way in which our schools choose to engage with their MP is a local decision. Some schools host their local member at P&F meetings, school events and also publish facts about school funding regularly. And for others this is all very new. The CCSP has prepared an Election Toolkit 2015 to assist school communities with this engagement process. These toolkits were sent to every Catholic school in NSW in Term 4 last year. If your P&F has not seen this Toolkit ask at your school office or contact me on 0422 048 399 for a replacement.

Sometimes messages about Catholic schools can be confused and misunderstood in the media. Here are the facts about Catholic schools and how they are funded.

• Catholic schools have provided quality education for Australian children since 1806.

• There are 583 Catholic schools in NSW, educating more than 251,000 students (or one in five NSW school students).

• Catholic education is one of the largest non-government employers in NSW with 27,000 staff, including more than 19,000 teachers.

• Catholic schools are open to all students – Catholic, non-Catholic, poor, wealthy, indigenous and those with a disability – and are therefore representative of the wider Australian society.

• Enrolments of students with a disability and indigenous students have been the fastest growing components in NSW Catholic schools for the past 15years.

• Catholic schools represent excellent value for money, educating at a lower cost per student than government schools and other non-government schools.

• Catholic schools are funded by the Commonwealth (57.5%) and State Governments (19.7%), parental fees and other private fundraising (22.8%). Catholic schools therefore receive much less public funding than government schools.

• NSW Catholic school parents paid more than $1.1 billion in school fees and capital funding in 2012. This is money invested in our State’s education system in just one year. Despite this extraordinary support, Catholic schools still rely on Federal and State Governments for more than 75% of our funding needs each year.

• Catholic schools strive to keep fees low so that schools remain accessible.

• Non – government schools educate more than one-third of all NSW students, yet receive just 12% of the capital funding provided to schools by the NSW Government.

• Catholic schools support increased funding for ALL schools – government and non-government – because each school is an integral part of NSW’s economic and social infrastructure. Every student is entitled to receive the best education possible, regardless of the school they attend.

This is why funding support from Federal and State Governments must keep pace with rising education costs – to maintain education quality and to ensure a Catholic education remains affordable for all families.

Stay informed of the issues in the lead-up to the election and help others at your school and parish to do so. If you would like further information or assistance do not hesitate to contact the secretariat of the CCSP or myself. We will be happy to help.

Catherine Ible

A Parent Perspective

On the 2015 State Election


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With this brief note I wish to express my sincere thanks to all those who responded to the Lineamenta and its associated questions as part of the Church’s listening process in preparation for the October 2015 Synod on the Family. This Synod will treat the topic The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary World.

It was a valuable experience for me to read all the submissions sent in by parish groups, married couples, and individuals. It greatly assisted me in formulating my own submission.

I was heartened by the fact that I received submissions from a broad cross-section of people: clergy, religious, and laity.

The various submissions have been collated together to form one diocesan submission which has now been sent to the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference. In order to facilitate the process of collating even more responses from around the nation, and ultimately from around the world, some of the more lengthy responses to particular questions have been summarised.

Understandably, a number of respondents expressed their frustration with both the number of questions and timing of the consultation process. For better or worse, these were the questions which were included in the Lineamenta. I notice, however, that the majority of respondents answered only certain questions and that some simply made more general comments without answering specific questions. These approaches were fine; it all provided invaluable input.

As to the tight time-frame for the consultation, this was indeed a shame and was the result of practical considerations driven primarily by the need for the Synod Secretariat in Rome to receive responses from around the world in a timely fashion.

The Synod Secretariat will need many months to process and consider mountains of material. It is a shame that the time provided to make responses was during the Summer Vacation period, but this timing was not of my choosing.

Given these limitations I am even more heartened by the number of responses I received, and I again thank you for your contributions which are highly valued. May they contribute to a fruitful Synod.

Open Letter from Bishop Kennedyto all who contributed to the Family Synod Consultation


Did the Pope really say that good Catholics shouldn’t breed like rabbits and responsible parenthood entails no more than three children?

Actually he said that population experts believe that three is the minimum amount of children recommended for families if Europe wishes to avoid a forthcoming demographic crisis.

The Pope actually restated traditional Catholic teaching regarding contraception and indeed family size. Church teaching in many documents has always referred to responsible parenthood and talk about the considerations that need to be taken into account by families.

Whilst the press like to jump on what the Pope says as revolutionary or a new direction for the Church this is not the case – it is not new information.

Kristina Keneally, the former Premier of NSW was one commentator who looked at the headlines and reacted in an article printed in The Guardian. She commented:

Pope Francis’s recent comment that Catholics need not “breed like rabbits,” while insisting that artificial contraception is still banned, left many shaking their heads. Here was yet another example of the all-male Catholic hierarchy

completely failing to understand what it is like to be a woman, or to live in a family, or to exercise control over fertility.

Mrs Keneally’s remarks prompted Caitlin Byrne a Sydney based Catholic FertilityCare Practitioner to write an open letter to Mrs Keneally. Caitlin Byrne has a Master’s Degree in Reproductive Health Science and Human Genetics from the University of Sydney, and is passionate about women’s health and natural fertility. She teaches the Creighton Model System of natural family planning.

Dear Kristina Keneally,

I am writing in response to your article titled “I’m a Catholic feminist, and my church needs me more than ever”, published online in The Guardian on 29 January 2015, in response to recent comments made by Pope Francis. Well I am also Catholic, I teach fertility awareness to women, and I must strongly disagree with the comments you made about women and contraception.

You infer that the only way in which women can stop “breeding like rabbits” and have control over their bodies is with the use of artificial contraception. I feel that this shows a lack of knowledge regarding modern advances into understanding reproductive biology and women’s fertility, as well as an outdated attitude. Perhaps you

Stop at three? Rabbits? What did the Pope say?


haven’t heard of natural family planning (NFP), and the fact that it is as effective as birth control? Straight after his comment that some Catholics think they must be like rabbits, Pope Francis said “No. Responsible parenthood.” How can this responsible parenthood be achieved without artificial contraception? With the use of natural family planning. It is promoted by the Church because it is morally acceptable for Catholics, and allows women that control over their bodies that you so lament.

It is a shame, that as a Catholic, you seem to have never discovered NFP and that in this ignorance you feel the need to ‘agitate’ within your own Church and write damaging and misleading articles. They are damaging to the very women you claim to be fighting for. The Church is all for responsible family planning and always has been. This, of course, must be balanced with a generosity and openness to God’s gift of children. Let’s be clear: this does not mean every woman must have 15 children. Every couple is called to exercise good judgement about how many children they have and for some, this may mean one or two children, for others more.

The key point is this: family planning can be done just as (if not more) effectively with a method that is in line with the Catholic faith, as it can be done with methods that are not. The Creighton Model FertilityCare System, Billings Ovulation Method and SymptoThermal Method (to name a few) are all more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy. To suggest that there is no option for Catholic women other than artificial contraception is outrageously untrue and entirely un-feminist. But I will give you the benefit of the doubt here, assuming that you were not aware of NFP, and that if you were, you wouldn’t have written what you did.

Increasingly, there is a turn away from hormonal contraception among young educated women (and not just Catholics either). These women do not want to suppress their fertility any longer, they recognise the risks of ingesting artificial hormones, and are not satisfied with how the medical profession deals with female reproductive issues. It now seems old-fashioned that our mothers took a pill to ‘free themselves’ to be more like men and achieve their goals in life. What about the freedom to be the women we are, while still achieving those goals? Why did fertility become a woman’s disease that needs to be medicated?

Every woman deserves to be empowered with the knowledge of how her body works. Women who chart their cycles to know their times of fertility and infertility are the only ones who are truly free to choose when they want to become pregnant. Not someone who has put their faith in a prescription from a (most likely male) doctor

and hopes that it does what they’ve been told it will do - namely, prevent pregnancy. Let’s not kid ourselves that every woman is fully informed about how the pill actually achieves this. Without full knowledge and consent, there can be no freedom. The pill is so last century: there are even smartphone apps these days to help you track the

biological signs of your fertility. No drugs, no side effects and compatible with faith.

So, Kristina, I realise that you think you’re doing Catholic women a favour by proudly ‘agitating’ for them but don’t be fooled: you do not speak for the majority of Catholic women. I know I am not alone in being embarrassed that you have a mouthpiece in the public arena that claims to speak for me. I am terribly sorry that you feel oppressed by your faith but I’m confused, because it’s not my Catholic faith. Are we talking about the same one?

St. Mary MacKillop would be rolling in her grave after being compared to a ‘feminist agitator’ like yourself. St. Mary MacKillop struggled with a bishop who wanted to control her order -- hardly the same as trying to undermine a beautiful part of our Catholic faith which says that women should not deny and suppress the part of themselves that gives life. In fact I’m sure that as a teacher, St Mary MacKillop would have been a strong advocate for women to make responsible choices about family size, and probably would have taught naturally family planning herself.

Sincerely,

Caitlin Byrne

Caitlin’s letter was originally published in MercatorNet and is reproduced here with her permission

• Monsignor Edward Wilkes – Vicar General and Parish Priest St Joseph’s Parish Uralla

• Father Anthony Castelli – Administrator, St Mary of the Angels Parish, Guyra

• Father John Curran – Administrator, St Thomas More Parish Werris Creek

• Father John Macdonald – Director Tribunal Office, Chaplain St Albert’s College and University of New England

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Monica Ducrow, Nolene Thomas, Trish Ducrow and Pat Mooney

Outdoor Christmas Eve Mass

George Paul and Sr Regina McInerny enjoying a chat

Happy Birthday Dear Jesus

School leaders receiving their badges and blessings

The ladies of the Mercy Associates

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