The Friday evening ahead of Palm Sunday saw Pope Francis alone on the steps of St Peter’s Basilica. It was a seminal moment, reminding us of the ‘before’ and the ‘after, in this case the divide being COVID-19.

We all look back and reflect on significant events and transitional moments in our lives. For some, it is the first day at work, for others, the day they got married or, in my case, my priestly ordination. Important events that marked changes in our personal lives extend also to moments we share with others, and even society.

COVID-19 is undoubtedly a social life-changing moment and like the Spanish flu of 1918, it will be recorded on our history books. Before COVID-19 things were different, we took things for granted and now think deeply about them when no longer available to us. The church, like any other institution, will have its own memories especially of how we had to celebrate the Easter Triduum this year in empty churches.

I don’t want to sound too pessimistic, but I believe COVID-19 will be with us for a long time yet, changing the old ways of social interaction. We will need to get used to social distancing when interacting with others, and at least for the foreseeable future, forego the physical contact that for many has been a party of normal worship activity.

In This Issue

Cardinal Pell Acquittal 2

Mother’s Day Reflection 3

Luke Frazer RIP 4

Meet New Principal John Low 5

Parish Response to COVID-19 6

Parish Hall Update 8

St Catherine’ s News 9

Embrace COVID-19’s stillness and solitude with prayerBy Fr Fred

St Matthew’s Bridgewater

St Joseph’s Lobethal

St Matthew’s Birdwood

Our Lady of the Rosary

St Catherine’sStirling

Continued on page 2

Although we are trying to do our best to keep in touch with our parishioners, the fact that at this stage we are not having church services may weaken one’s faith. The most affected maybe those who have a strong connection to the community and like to experience a hug. In simple words, parishioners who like a tangible experience, engaging with God in a crowd situation, with a pastor conducting the service.

As I reflect on what I have been saying I wish to pose this question: is our faith something between us and God, strengthened by the parish community for communal encouragement? Does being together in church help us with our worshipping? Does listening to sacred music raise our spirit to God, receiving the body of Christ give us spiritual strength?

No doubt God can be experienced through these things, but equally when they are withdrawn for whatever reason, there may be a serious emptiness experienced in their absence. The church-going experience that involves any kind of spiritual dimension will always be a fragile one, and this will become apparent when this experience is withheld.

May 2020 Issue 415

St Matthew’s Bridgewater, empty during COVID-19

THE BRIDGE Page 2

My hope is that not every parishioner will find the absence from church services a difficult obstacle to retaining a lively Christian faith and practice. My query is that if churches remain closed for a while yet, what will we find when we return? Hopefully, my expectation would be to find greater spiritual resilience among those who have already learned to think, pray and reflect as individuals. Resilient Christians will be aware of many ways of being Christian, some of which have focused, not on any kind of crowd experience or sacred music, but on aloneness, being quietly by oneself. Jesus himself gave us examples of how much time he spent on his own with his Father, especially before his passion at the Garden of Gethsemane and before he began his ministry in the desert.

When I was studying theology, I recall the tradition of the Desert

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ

The acquittal of Cardinal George Pell by the High Court of Australia on Tuesday 7 April has been greeted by many mixed reactions which we have seen played out across the media over the last day or so. On the eve of the Sacred Triduum and the celebration of Easter, I wish to share with you my own understanding of these complex responses.

I am with you in my prayer during these momentous developments. For me, and for our Catholic community, the acquittal by the Court comes as a great relief. It is assuring for us as a Catholic people, especially as we enter these holy days. We are grateful that Cardinal Pell will now be able to celebrate the Easter mysteries in freedom, with his family and friends. Above all, we rejoice with him and are united with him as he celebrates Mass once again. He has always maintained his innocence and it is assuring to us that the full judicial process has given him vindication.

He will require our prayers even more now as he faces the future. We are also deeply mindful of the man who brought his complaint forward. To him, Cardinal Pell bears no ill will. We, too, must hold him in our prayers. His own acceptance of the determination by the High Court has been considered and measured. He, too, does not bear destructive anger and his resolve not to be defined by events is indicative of the possibility of healing, even in the midst of what has been a most traumatic experience for him and his family.

They, too, need our prayer as they begin a new chapter in their journey. The last five years have left a great scar on our lives as members of the community of the Church.

Fathers who recorded their own struggles with faith and belief and much of this was undertaken living in the desert in complete isolation from other human beings. While I am not suggesting that Christians should become hermits, the Desert Fathers can help us to adopt some of their ways of life and prepare us to bounce back from the enforced Church closures period.

Although community presence in the church is very important, the experience of being alone at home has allowed us to discover different ways of being closer to God. The stillness, quiet and solitude can become a way of prayer and devotion which has always been in our Christian tradition.

May we embrace it more fully in this difficult time.

Continued from page 1

Embrace COVID-19’s stillness and solitude

Reflections on Cardinal George Pell’s acquittalFr Fred discovered this pastoral letter from Most Rev Anthony Randazzo DD, JCL, Bishop of Broken Bay, prepared shortly before Easter, and thought it worth sharing…

Archbishop Patrick O’Regan installation set for 25 MayThe Installation Ceremony of our new Archbishop, Patrick O’Regan DD, will take place in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral on Monday 25 May at 10.30am.

Restrictions arising from COVID-19 mean the ceremony will be reduced to officiating clergy including Apostolic Administrator Bishop Greg O’Kelly , Vicar General Fr Philip Marshall, Cathedral

Administrator Fr Anthony Adimai and Senior Consultor Mons Robert Rice. It will, however, be live streamed and later in the year, the Archdiocese hopes to have a more formal and representative Liturgical Reception for our new Archbishop, associated with the Mass of Chrism so that the presbyterate may concelebrate with the new Chief Pastor and Teacher.

The criminal activity that we have witnessed over many years does not negate the good we witness each day.

Most often this is hidden. Yet, it is undeniable. Though it may not be acknowledged often in public ways, I assure you of my esteem for all that you do, and I take this opportunity to thank you all profoundly – priests and people – for the extraordinary exercise of care for children and vulnerable adults in our community and to whom the love of Christ always impels us.

This love leads us to be conformed evermore deeply to Jesus, who is “the way, the truth, and the life.” As a community of faith, safeguarding is not just something we do; rather, it is central to our identity. With the matter of Cardinal Pell’s appeal now resolved in his favour, we must take this occasion to recommit ourselves once again to the protection of others, and to the growth of a culture of safety, care, and truth within our own Diocese.

At all levels of our life together we must keep working to ensure that the sacred dignity of every person is always respected and promoted. We are about to proclaim the Risen Life of Our Lord. May this life always urge us forward to give it witness by the quality of our love and care for one another.

Cardinal George Pell

My mother, Gulia Farrugia, was born in Valletta on 29 June 1928, the eldest of Croce Bonaci and Bernarda nee Camilleri’s five children. My mother used to say that she loved to go to school but due to the demands of the family she had to leave in Grade 5.

At the start of WWII, mum was 12 years old and as Valletta was so close to the Grand Harbour, the city was frequently bombarded by the Germans. Her father decided to take the family to live in B’Kara which was relatively safer, while he remained in Valletta taking care of the bakery up until he lost everything in one of the frequent air raids.

Page 3

Gulia Farrugia cupboard. I had a deep cut just above my toes and when mum returned and saw all the blood, she forgot the broken glass and quickly rang the family doctor who soon arrived to stitch me up on the dining table.

The only time I saw my mother cry was when I left home to join the religious order. Although I was mischievous, I was what you could call a ‘presence’ around the home. She journeyed with me throughout my years as a young man studying for the priesthood. When on 2 September 1982 I got word that my father was gravely ill, I dashed home but was too late as he had already died. It was a big shock to all the family, especially my mum who took many months to recover. She also asked me to remove the wedding ring from my father’s finger and in doing so, I thanked my dad for keeping his marriage vows up until his death.

Mum had many happy moments, though, like the marriages of my sister Maryanne and my brother Lino, as well as the birth of her grandchildren. She would always use these occasions to say, “If your father would have been here!”.

I believe mum’s most joyful day was when I was ordained a priest. I thank God for mum as whenever I was faced with difficulties, she would reassure me that “if God wants you to become a priest, nothing can come between you and God”.

As I mentioned earlier, although mum left school early, she succeeded to learn by herself and was fluent in both Maltese and English and had the most beautiful handwriting.

In October 1997, my religious superiors decided that I would move to Melbourne to work with the Maltese community. Mum had been not that well as she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. When I visited her just before I left for Australia, she looked at me at said “I will not see you again”. She was right as on 28 February 1998 and due to the medication she was taking for her rheumatoid arthritis, she was rushed to hospital where she subsequently died. I returned to Malta and although it was the hardest thing officiating at my mum’s funeral, I did so as I wanted to give my beloved mother the last and greatest gift.

Remembering my mother this Mother’s DayBy Fr Fred

Fr Fred’s parents’ famous wedding

cake

Two-year-old Fr Fred with his mum & older brother Lino (in background)

As my grandfather had inherited his father’s bakery business, he knew well where to buy all the essential food necessities needed during the war, sometimes taking great risks and even baking bread during the night. When food scarcity hit Malta, the British Government rationed food by introducing the

so-called Victory Kitchen and in order to avoid suspicion that the family had food, my mother still used to go and collect the food from the Victory Kitchen for the family.

When the war ended, the family returned to Valletta and her father managed to get back on his feet by opening the bakery once again. Mum had to take care of her siblings, the youngest of whom was 10 years her junior. I never asked mum how she meet my father. I still have a photo dated November 1950 when her sister got married. Dad got a bit clumsy and, in the photo, mum is having a laugh. My parents got married on Saturday 14 April 1951 in Sarria Church, Floriana. Her father, being a renowned baker, presented my parents with a beautiful wedding cake.

My brother Lino was born in May 1952 at King George Hospital in Floriana. I followed in the same hospital on 5 April 1957, with my sister Maryanne born In September 1960, and my youngest sister Tanya in November 1961. I always wondered why my parents had no children for five years in the 1950s!

Mum dedicated herself totally to the family. At night I used to wet the bed and it wasn’t pleasant waking up in the morning. Mum never expressed any anger but patiently changed bed sheets, cleaned me and made attempts to wake me up at night to go to the toilet. I remember when once I got very sick with a kidney-related disease and didn’t go to school for a long time. My mother took care of me, fed me lots of vegetables with no salt and helped me with the homework my teacher Mrs Margaret would deliver every day.

Mum was patient with me for the many times I got into trouble. I still recall when I decided to play soccer with my brother. I fell and my foot broke one of the glass panels of the kitchen

Luke Frazer – proud, gentle, loving and blessed with a wicked sense of humourBy Pam Broadbridge

Page 4THE BRIDGE

Luke Dominic Frazer, who passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and friends on Monday 13 April 2020, was remembered at a private farewell in Mount Barker later in the month, with a celebration of his life to be held once the COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

Born on 25 August 1966, Luke was the much loved son of the late Elda and long-time Vinnies stalwart Fred Frazer, the adored brother and brother-in-law to Mark, Paul and Sandy, Andrew and Tanya and Catherine and Stephen, the devoted uncle to Ben, Alice, Angus, Gemma, Emma, Adam and partners and the great uncle to Ava.

Luke accepted the challenges of life he was given and never complained. A proud, gentle and loving person, he was blessed with a wonderful sense of humour that will be sorely missed. He had many hearty discussions with family and friends, especially when it came to football – and more especially when it came to how good the Crows are compared to Port Adelaide and Hawthorn in the AFL.

Luke played tennis and football for Bridgewater and was in premiership teams in both sports. He also loved watching his nephews Ben, Angus and Adam play footy for the Bridgewater Raiders and as an owner and breeder of several winners, he certainly enjoyed his horse racing. He would meet up with Laurie Smart on many occasions to chat about horse racing in general and, more particularly, about those in which they had an added interest.

In his younger days, Luke attended St Catherine’s Catholic School in Stirling before moving to Mercedes College in Springfield for his

secondary education. He made many friends along the journey and remained in regular contact with most of them. An altar server with his three brothers Mark, Paul and Andrew at St Matthew’s Church, Bridgewater, Luke worked at Calvary Hospital in North Adelaide in the Medical Records and Printing Departments.

The Frazer family extends its heartfelt thanks to Luke’s carers for their incredible support and friendship.

“Now in Mum’s loving care…forever in our hearts.”

Luke Frazer RIP

Gosh we are living in strange times when we don’t see one another – one day we will be able to attend Mass again and I am sure most of us will appreciate it more than ever! In the meantime, may I draw your attention a few matters concerning our Planned Giving program.

Firstly, I am aware of families in our midst who have been adversely affected by job redundancies or business drop-offs. Please know that we do not have any expectations currently and appreciate that looking after your family, putting food on the table and paying the mortgage are your top priorities.

There are others in the parish who are reasonably unaffected – indeed perhaps even have extra money in the pocket that would have been spent on some of life’s little luxuries but have been put on hold – and probably have capacity to help make up for those doing it tough. Please consider.

The second matter concerns about half our parish who are ‘envelope givers’. I am one of them and have done it this way because of weekly fluctuations in cash commitments. As people like me are encouraged to make donations by direct bank credit, I guess I will just have to change my ways and ask those in a similar situation to do likewise.

The parish bank account details are as follows: BSB 085 005; Account 489 502 427.

Please state your payment envelope number and surname. Thank you.

Keeping the parish coffers healthy during COVID-19By PFC Chair, Paul Howe

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Page 4

The Low-down on St Catherine’s new principal

Page 5

I grew up in Adelaide and completed my primary, secondary and tertiary education here. After completing my first year of teaching at Freeling Primary School, near Gawler, I decided to head overseas to gain further teaching experience and to travel.

I spent two years living and working in London in the Borough of Newham and during my first year, visited several countries around Europe. The real highlight, though, was spending two months living and working as a volunteer on a kibbutz in Israel. The kibbutz saw me working the land and doing jobs I had never contemplated before, such as driving tractors and ride-on lawn mowers – all foreign experiences for someone from suburban Adelaide!

While in Israel, I was able to visit many of the places I had read about in the Bible throughout my childhood, among them Nazareth, Jerusalem, Jericho and The Sea of Galilee. In hindsight, I think I was probably too young to appreciate the significance of each of these places, but the experience certainly remains with me and I am often transported back to those places when I listen to various Gospel readings.

I returned to South Australia after my initial UK stint and found work in Whyalla, where I spent the next 18 months. And while I had a great experience in Whyalla, the desire to travel and see the world remained strong. I applied for and won a position teaching English in Senior Secondary schools in Japan, I packed my bags again and headed for Okayama Prefecture in a town called Takahashi.

It was my home for the next three years, and during this time, I met my wife, Katie, who had moved to Japan from the UK, also to teach English. We returned to the UK, where I spent a further four years teaching in another primary school in East London, finally making the move (back) to Adelaide in 2004.

That’s when I started working within Catholic Education SA, my introduction teaching at Dominican School in Semaphore. I know my role as an educator was strongly influenced and shaped by these years teaching in a school with a Dominican heritage.

In 2009, I commenced work in the Catholic Education Office as an education consultant. Throughout the ensuing years I also spent time working as Acting Deputy Principal at St Joseph’s School, Tranmere, Head of Primary at St Columba College, Andrews Farm and Principal at Tenison Woods Catholic School, Richmond.

Katie and I have two boys, Joshua who is 14 and 11-year-old Harrison. Like many families, we grapple with appropriate amounts of screen time, although thankfully both our boys enjoy being active, so playing sports, bike riding and swimming are part of our usual routines.

We generally love spending time in the outdoors and apart from weekend sport, you’ll often find us walking or hiking some of the many trails around Adelaide or down along the beach. As a family we’ve continued our love of travel and are seasoned long-haul flyers making return trips to visit family and friends in the UK when we can.

As an educator and leader, I am inspired by education that is contemporary, inclusive and student-centred.

Contemporary educational theories and approaches such as Reggio Emilia and Positive Psychology provide a rich scaffold of ways in which we can deliver a holistic approach to learning. Nurturing and developing the wellbeing of every child is core to the development of positive relationships which, in turn, has a profound impact on student achievement.

When children’s voices are heard, they are validated and engaged as part of the learning community. Wellbeing and pastoral care are critical ingredients, not only in supporting children, but also in supporting staff to achieve their best.

I am passionate about leading a school community that illuminates ways in which children can experience a life to the full, encompassing all that it means to develop as human beings – intellectually, spiritually, physically, morally and emotionally.

My focus as Principal of St Catherine’s School is grounded in the pursuit of developing the capabilities of all students in a safe environment that is hope-filled and futures-focused. During my tenure, it is my aim to work in partnership with the school and parish community to develop ‘thriving people, capable learners, leaders for the world God desires’.

“…I am inspired by

education that is

contemporary, inclusive

and student-centred”

New St Catherine’s Principal, John Low

With St Catherine’s Catholic School’s new principal, John Low, commencing in the role from the start of Term Two late last month, we approached him to introduce himself to the parish and here, he shares his story

THE BRIDGE Page 6

Keeping the parish connected in a changed, COVID-19 world

Back in 2016, I bought a video camera at a duty-free outlet at Dubai Airport and had since been toying with the idea of podcasts but somehow never got there. That was until the unwanted coronavirus pandemic saw our parish churches and our school closed and my dream became a reality…

I began the podcast series on 26 March when Bishop Greg O’Kelly suspended all public Masses and parish and diocesan gatherings. The announcement came right after the White House advised all Americans to avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 to help curtail the aggressive novel coronavirus. When I listen back on those early first days, it doesn’t sound like me. I was nervous, as I wasn’t sure if, technically, I was doing the right thing.

However, I felt called to do it as I knew parishioners and others wanted to connect with me. The second podcast had about 230 people tuning in and seemed to resonate. “I’ve been listening from Malta”, one shared, while another simply said: “Thanks for doing this”, comments that encouraged me to continue down this path until restrictions are lifted.

I also gave Holy Communion in our parish carparks at both Lobethal and Bridgewater each Sunday, with some 60 families attending. Our families were so pleased to be given this opportunity that many stayed in their cars after the Eucharistic, but when word got out, I was asked by the Archdiocese to cease my car park communion initiative.

Faced with this setback, I sincerely prayed to God to help me find another way. My prayers were heard when out of the blue and through a parishioner, Nick Morris of Streameasy rang me to offer assistance with livestreaming of the Easter Triduum. And while it wasn’t the same experience celebrating these important liturgies to empty pews, the feedback again told me it was greatly appreciated.

I share but one comment: “Thank you very much for the beautiful liturgies you managed over Easter. Your efforts and dedication are much appreciated. I found the Good Friday ceremony so meaningful with that trembling red light from the stained-glass window. It remained flickering over the wall behind you and stayed upon the crucifix during the exposition of the Cross.”

Sunday Mass is now livestreamed each week at 10.00am from Our Lady of the Rosary Church, while in a further push to keep my parishioners in the loop, the parish bulletin is emailed to our database each week and The Bridge on a monthly basis.

As tough as it is for church life to be conducted from a distance, it is heartening to know that most parishioners seem to be coping with what can only be described as the “new normal.”

While COVID-19 has certainly changed the landscape and with it the way we as a parish community operate, Fr Fred and his team have done a fantastic job in exploring all avenues to fulfil the vital pastoral role in a world of self-isolation and social distancing. We take a look at some of these initiatives, along with what Vinnies is up to, and get Leonie Holmes’ take on solidarity during the pandemic.

The car park communion was greatly appreciated before being halted by the Archdiocese

Dubai duty free video camera comes in handy in pandemicBy Fr Fred

Sunday Mass is live streamed from OLOR each week

Our Lady of the Rosary Church

Is an attractive, historic (1881) stone church in a lovely garden setting. It is available for weddings. The church has seating for 80 to 100 people. To make a booking or to enquire, please call the Parish Office on 8339 1608

Page 7

Everyday Hampers are certainly helping those in need

Vinnies continues to support those who need it mostBy Sue Arthurson, Stirling Conference President

Social distancing and isolation affect us all – and St Vincent de Paul Society is no exception.

With volunteer staff generally being older and at greater risk, the Vinnies shops had to close at the end of March. The shops, the Winter Appeal and the CEO Sleepout are all major sources of income for Vinnies and, while the CEO Sleepout will be a virtual event this year, we recognise that some of the regular participants are themselves experiencing serious downturns in business and we expect that the fundraising component of the event will be heavily impacted.

Our meetings have also been impacted, with the April meeting having to be conducted via Zoom technology, and the new social distancing regulations have forced us to find new ways of helping. When unable to visit, we ring and talk to people and deliver a hamper or vouchers to their door. We have purchased Everyday Hampers from Foodbank that include UHT milk, pasta, breakfast cereal, sugar and pasta sauce, while fresh vegetables, bread and food items are available from The Food Pantry at The Hut in Aldgate on Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings, to Adelaide Hills residents experiencing financial difficulty.

Where possible and safe, we get out into the community to help those who need it most. On receiving a call for assistance, an appointment is made for two of our members to visit the person(s) in their home. We talk with them about their current crisis and how we can help, which usually takes the form of supermarket vouchers and Vinnies cards. And as people don’t know what they don’t know, we also advise on resources available, such as government concessions to help pay power and water bills. If appropriate, we refer them to a financial counsellor for a free and confidential chat.

Despite reduced staff numbers at our administration centre, the assistance line remains in place and assistance calls can be made to 1300 729 202. While Government’s coronavirus stimulus payments help to relieve the burden for many, Vinnies is there for those like international persons on visitor visas and asylum seekers who no longer have work and receive no government assistance. Other services that continue to operate include the Fred’s Van meal service which has adapted to a ‘take away’ model, and our Men’s and Women’s Crisis Centres, the latter also accommodating children and pets. While we applaud the State Government’s leadership in making hotel rooms available to accommodate rough sleepers, the Vinnies Crisis Centres are uniquely positioned with qualified staff to provide a safe and secure environment during these challenging times.If you are able to help others, you might consider putting aside any donations of clothing, shoes, handbags, books and household goods and taking them to a Vinnies shop near you when they reopen. You can also donating to the Vinnies COVID-19 Appeal at www.vinnies.org.au/donate

Solidarity evident during pandemicLeonie HolmesThe Church is a place of refuge and comfort for the frail and frightened.

The church will always be a place of refuge for the frail and frightened, because, no matter how strong our faith is or how brave we are, there will always be times when we will be feeling frail and frightened, just like the apostles were when they were in the storm and Jesus was asleep. We need to continually seek refuge in Jesus, because without him we are nothing. It is only through Jesus that we receive the grace of the Holy Spirit to calm the storms in our lives.

Jesus has shown us the Way, by the example he gave us throughout his life. He cured the sick, the lame and the blind and ate with sinners. The night before he died, he gave us the wonderful gift of himself in the Eucharist, but he followed this wondrous gift by showing us how we should act towards one another. He knelt and washed the feet of those gathered around him and told us that we are to act as servants to one another. This is the solidarity to which we are all called.

During this pandemic we have seen this solidarity acted out all over the world by the doctors and nurses, the scientists, the emergency workers, the politicians, the school teachers, the shop keepers and all those who have courageously kept the wheels of business turning to ensure that the economy did not completely collapse, all those who have been caring for those who have fallen through the cracks and all of us who have given up our freedoms and stayed home in order to flatten the curve.Fr Fred has been a wonderful example to us, leaving no stone unturned to care for us and to ensure that we remained connected through the Mass coming to us via the marvels of the internet.At the Northern end of the parish, we have been saddened in recent times to see declining numbers attending Sunday Mass but let us hope and pray that this wakeup call that we have received may inspire many to renew their fidelity to Jesus and his church and may we all be ready to welcome them and make them feel at home in God’s beautiful family of the frail and the frightened.

Hall takes shape with slab pour, laying of foundation stone

The Hut is here to help

The April pouring of the concrete slab marked a significant milestone

Page 8THE BRIDGEDespite some inclement weather and inevitable impacts on business of COVID-19, the Adelaide Hills Catholic Parish’s new St Mary of the Adelaide Hills Hall alongside St Matthew’s Bridgewater continues to take shape and remain on track of its opening later this year.

In recent weeks, the concrete slab was poured and the foundation stone, carved free of charge from material left over at OLOR by Christian Frenzel, was laid. It will be blessed in a still-to-be announced occasion once the resitrictions are lifed. More recently, the exterior brickwork – a very close match to the bricks of the church’s façade – was attended to. Unfortunately the recent wild weather caused some damage but thanks to the efforts of Bruce MIllican and his son Noah, this was kept to a minimum.

With the parish pretty much in lockdown, we share these photos of the milestone events.

Going up…the hall starts to take shape

The hall’s foundation stone will be blessed by Fr Fred

The Hut in Aldgate has setup a new initiative in response to the impact of Covid-19, with its Food Pantry able to support individuals and families who may be experiencing financial difficulties.

precious moments become precious memories

24 hr phone08 8223 5879

St Catherine’s Catholic School News

I would like to formally welcome Mr John Low to our school community. John began as our Principal at the start of the term and has already made a good impression on staff, students and parents. He has been keen to meet everyone and learn not only their names but a little bit about their interests and talents. As a school community we are looking forward to having the opportunity to further build the parish and school connection with him. I would also like to extend a welcome to Nikki Hall who will be working in Year 6 and is very excited about being able to work with our young leaders of the school. A more detailed article on John Low can be found on page 5 of this issue of The Bridge.I would like to thank Erika Dixon and Tom Melingakos for everything they brought to our school community in Term 1 and their presence will be very much missed. We wish them every blessing for the remainder of the year as Erika returns to St Joseph’s School and Tom takes on a new position at Catholic Education South Australia.

This term we again await further direction regarding the Sacramental Program as there continue to be restrictions in place regarding these gatherings. As we receive more information, we will review the dates of workshops and share the new timelines with relevant families. We hope we will be able to resume our Sacramental Program as soon as possible but understand that the health and safety of our children and the wider community remains paramount at this time. We are also excited to have Cathie Oswald join us on the Sacramental Program once we resume workshops.

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While coronavirus restrictions have meant St Catherine’s has had to find new ways of delivering some of its programs, there’s still plenty of action and activity – from the arrival of new Principal John Low to Feast Day celebrations and art classes – taking place within a social distancing environment. Our correspondent and school APRIM Krystina Dawe brings us up to speed…

Welcome to our new staff

Class Liturgies go digital

While classes will continue to host and celebrate a weekly liturgy this term, at least for the time being we are unfortunately not able to invite families to join in and attend these occasions. Each class will have a turn at hosting a liturgy, which can then be viewed by other students digitally. As this weekly celebration remains an important component of our learning and faith development, we as a school are wholly committed to ensuring that we engage in prayer and liturgy each week.

St Catherine’s Feast Day with a difference

We recently celebrated the Feast Day of St Catherine of Siena. While our acknowledgement of this day has not included whole school celebrations as it usually would, classes have continued to develop their understanding of the life of St Catherine and her significance to our school community. We were also fortunate to have Fr Fred visit classes to discuss this Feast Day, during which students were given the chance to ask questions and learn more about St Catherine.

Sacramental Program on hold…for now

The 3/4 class has been very busy with our resident art teacher, Mrs Carey, creating amazing pictures of our school chickens. We sat for a lesson beside the chicken coop and explored shape, features and colours before we began sketching the chickens. The students then coloured the chickens using oil pastels before painted over them with black paint. The final part of the process had students scratching back the paint to reveal beautiful artwork, with the chickens standing out, sentinel like, from the surrounding black background. The students thoroughly enjoyed this creative experience.

Year 3/4 class displays creativity with chicken sketching A student proudly displays her

St Catherine of Siena artwork

Fr Fred joined in the Feast Day celebrations

A liturgy being viewed digitally by other students

The chickens stand out from the black background

THE BRIDGE Page 10

Bernard Salt is a demographer – he studies and comments on trends in populations. I like his learned views on changes in our population over time and across various regions in Australia. In his recent article dealing with COVID-19, he stated, among others, that “the calamity that has befallen us is an opportunity to press the reset button on our lives and our nation.”

He went on to say that all prejudices, grudges and preconceptions – petty politics – must be put aside in what represents an opportunity for the church to enhance its standing as a place of refuge and comfort for the frail and frightened.

It was a well-timed comment coming as it did just after Lent and the Easter services. For me, his comments raise interesting questions about how we see the Church and what it means to us. Is there truth in a stereotype that we only turn to God when in trouble? Is Church the preserve of a cohort of the frail (suggesting to me “old people”) and those with a problem? If this is how a learned man sees it, I wonder if there must be some merit or basis for seeing it that way.

Personally, I see this cohort as but a small part of our Church. As I look around our congregation, I believe I see a tremendous diversity of people, from the youngest to the oldest and across different backgrounds, historical connection and occupations. The narrow labelling does a great disservice to the Church when we are a real reflection of our local and typical neighbourhoods.

A belief in God has been with me all my life and I found the quote almost, perhaps through ignorance and lack of understanding, to be overly judgemental and simplistic. I acknowledge that my faith has ebbed at times, but it has always been there. I wonder if Bernard Salt’s comment is a reflection on our shortcoming in welcoming “all the people in the land”. Or as the apostle Mark put it: “Go throughout the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to all people”.

Are we too insular? Do we have ‘enough on our plates’ and so stay within the confines of our Church? I don’t have any answers, I just raise the questions and invite all our readers to provide your comments to the Editor of the Bridge.

Bernard Salt’s comments raise questions about how we see the Church

Some isolation thoughts on the state of the ChurchBy Leon Holmes

Like Paul Howe, I am a follower of Bernard Salt’s articles and while I agree with many of his common-sense ideas, I’d like to illuminate my thoughts on the state of the Church and how it treats the frail, the poor and the down-and-out, though my prism of life as a practicing Catholic.

I was fortunate that mum and dad were strong Catholics. Regular Mass was important and Benediction and monthly Confession were the norm. My parents and the nuns drilled me well and when I went to CBC, I joined the choir, regularly singing at various high Masses with Gregorian chant and observing the pomp and ceremony. This was the Church in which I grew up in.

We lived then not far from Lourdes Valley at Glen Osmond and pairs of nuns often came begging to all the houses in our street. How brave the must have been! Was there any vital link between this incredible charity and the sacrifice of the Mass? I pondered. It didn’t sink in.

A little later and now newly married, I supplied medication to Lourdes Valley since I had a pharmacy nearby. I now saw what those incredible Little Sisters of the Poor were doing. I was hopefully a bit more mature, loving being married at last to Leonie but still not making a strong link with what was happening at Mass. Sure, I knew supporting charitable

organisations was the right thing to do but did not take many clues from Jesus’ three years of public life.

Now with more time to think and a fair amount of religious reading under my belt, I too have wondered how the Church is performing in the light of what Jesus was doing in those three years. If you distil it in broad scope, what was the model that Jesus set? His teaching was pointing out that the Jewish religion was bogged down in petty detail, he appealed to the people to return to the basics, he was helping all those who came to him, restoring their health and having frequent meals with all-comers, sinners included.

Then came the ultimate meal when he instituted the Eucharist. He was still responding when the ‘good thief’ appealed to him when both were dying.In the light of that model, how does the present-day Church look? Have we got bogged down in petty detail? Have we made looking after the poor and downtrodden an essential part of our religion, a natural outcome? I know that we have many people and organisations involved both individually and in charitable organisations like Vinnies. There are many other groups who keep an eye on their neighbours and probably most of those people are regular Massgoers.

The Church as a place of refuge and comfort for the frail and frightenedFollowing demographer Bernard Salt’s recent article in the Weekend Australia during which he, in part, called on the Church to be “recast as a place of refuge and comfort for the frail and frightened”, parishioners Paul Howe and Leon Holmes share their sometimes conflicting views

Narrow labelling a disservice to the ChurchBy Paul Howe

Continued on page 11

Betty and Kate share some of their lockdown mealsWe’re all pleased to learn that Betty White has the company of her daughter Kate while in lockdown – and that she’s making good use of her time by preparing delicious meals from Kim McCosker’s ‘Four Ingredients Menu Planning’ for herself and Kate, some of which she shares with readers of The Bridge

Page 11

We start with Pasta and broccoli. To serve four, you will need:

200g of broccoli, roughly chopped

250g of spaghetti

¼ cup (60ml) of garlic-infused olive oil (or ¼ cup of oil mixed with one crushed clove of garlic)

¼ cup (25g) of grated Parmesan cheese

Bring three litres of salted water to the boil. Add broccoli and spaghetti. Cook according to spaghetti packet directions and strain the spaghetti and broccoli in a colander. Return the spaghetti and broccoli to the pot, add the garlic-infused olive oil and half the Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. The broccoli should be well broken down with little bits stuck to the spaghetti. Serve immediately, sprinkled with the remaining cheese and seasoned with sea salt and cracked pepper.

Now for Boston baked beans, prepared to serve six. You will require:

3 bacon rashers, with rind removed and sliced

12 chipolata sausages

2 tablespoons (40ml) of maple syrup

400g can of baked beans

In a medium pan, fry the bacon over a moderate heat for two to three minutes or until just crispy. Remove and drain on paper

Pasta and broccoli

towel and, into the same pan, add the sausages and cook for four minutes, turning to brown all over in the bacon juices. Return the bacon into the pan, add the maple syrup and beans, reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.We’ll end with a few desserts, the first cab off the rank being an eight-piece Vanilla slice. Set aside:200g of packet Lattice biscuits (substitute any flat square biscuits)600ml of cream100g packet of Vanilla Pudding mix1 teaspoon of vanilla extract Line a 20cm x 30cm lasagne dish with baking paper and layer the bottom dish with eight biscuits, flat side up. Beat cream, vanilla extract and pudding mix in a bowl until thick before spooning it onto the biscuit base. Top with another layer of biscuits (shiny side up if using Lattice biscuits) and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before slicing and serving. For an extra special treat, top with passionfruit icing before slicing.Passionfruit icing, you ask. Well, here it is, complete with ingredients for ½ a cup:1 cup (120g) of icing sugar1 tablespoon of passionfruit pulp1 teaspoon (15g) of softened butterIn a bowl, mix the ingredients together until an even spreadable consistency is reached and then spread the icing over the Vanilla slice before slicing.

My intention is not to offend. At the same time, I have also been critical of how religion is now taught in our schools. Some of the basics I learnt are not taught. Teachers have responded that they emphasise what I loosely call social justice more, yet Mass attendance is not great except for those dedicated parents who bring their children. Are the non-attenders missing out on the powerhouse of grace from being part of the Eucharist? Are they shown how the Mass gives us the strength to follow Jesus looking after the poor?

Pope Francis, I am sure, has a model in his head. He has encouraged the Church not to be frightened, to ‘get dirty’. He can lead and suggest from the top all he likes but nothing will happen unless all the good lay people, the real body of the Church, act on his lead.

With the upcoming Plenary Council, I think a groundswell from the lay people could get us heading in the right direction and to a better concept of Church. It is impossible for it to happen all at once, but with inspired leadership we could make a start to return to the basics as demonstrated by the life of Jesus.

Deadlines for forthcoming

issues of The Bridge

If you’re planning to submit something to The Bridge for the next three issues, please note the following deadlines:

June – Friday 29 May July – Friday 26 June August – Friday 31 July

Your contributions can be emailed to paul@wordcafe.com.au or dropped off at the parish house. Thank you Paul Robinson (editor) Lorraine D’Amato (graphic designer)

Isolation thoughts on the state of the ChurchContinued from page 10

Vanilla slice with passionfruit icing

Adelaide Hills Catholic Parish

1 Wembley Ave (PO Box 718), Bridgewater SA 5155.

P: 08 8339 1608 W: www.adelaidehillsparish.com.au E: adelaidehillsp@ozemail.com.au

Page 12

This directory is constantly changing. If you want to volunteer for any of the Parish activities please contact the Parish office.

The opinions expressed in The Bridge are those of the authors and are not necessarily those of the Parish Priest, Pastoral Coordinator, Editor or Parish.

Parish Priest Fr Alfred Farrugia 8339 1608

Pastoral Coordinator Cathie Oswald 8339 1608

Parish Secretary Therese Franco 8339 1608

Baptism Teams Helen Cantwell 8390 3290 Maria Thompson 8388 7742 Anne Moore 8568 2800 Sue Streich 8568 2858 Deb Stapleton 0408 835 990 Pam Broadbridge 8339 5013

Catholic Women’s League Barbara Mott (Bridgewater) 8339 1083 Anne McEvoy (Birdwood) 8568 2394

Child Protection Teresa Hudson 8301 6629

Children’s Liturgy Jane Van Mierle 8339 2609

Choir Damien Mansfield 8339 4133

Christian Life Communities Helen Cantwell 8390 3290

Finance and Maintenance Committee Chairperson - Paul Howe 8388 5281 Birdwood Contact Leon & Leonie Holmes 8568 2319

Hills Combined Christian Churches Cathy Oswald 0428 244 956 Francis McEvoy 8568 2394

Liturgy Birdwood - Fr Alfred Farrugia 8339 1608 Lobethal - Fr Alfred Farrugia 8339 1608

Men’s Spirituality Coordinators Paul Somers 8339 5118 Dan De Fazio 8339 3393

Music Coordinator Sean Van der Linden 8339 8195

Our Lady of the Rosary Community Rep Debbie Somers 8339 5118

Parish Atrium Sue Sachse 0431 117 840

Parish Pastoral Council Chair Catherine Simes 0411 759 491

Prayer Group Christina Way 8339 1825

Sacraments Please contact Parish House 8339 1608

• Baptism • Weddings • Reconciliation• Communion to the sick• Religious Education

St Catherine’s Catholic School 22 Ayers Hills Rd, Stirling SA 5152 8238 8238 Principal - John Low School Board Chair - David Hutton

St Martha’s Meals meals4stmartha@gmail.com

St Matthew’s Sewing Group Stasia Duszynski 8339 4396

St Vincent de Paul Society Sue Arthurson 8339 8312 Leonie Holmes 8568 2319

Social Justice Group Cathie Oswald 0428 244 956

WHS Volunteer Pat Wheeler 8339 2222

Youth Group Jessica Sachse 0413 915 800

Parish office email: adelaidehillsp@ozemail.com.au Parish website: adelaidehillsparish.com.au Bridge email: thebridge@ozemail.com.au Facebook: www.facebook.com/adelaidehillsparish