Krishna and Trishna Thanksgiving Mass...Krishna and Trishna Thanksgiving Mass 2 KAIROS CATHOLIC...

$2VOLUME 21 • NO. 2228 NOVEMbEr – 11 DEcEMbEr 2010

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Krishna and TrishnaThanksgiving Mass

KAIROS CATHOLIC JOURNAL • WWW.KAIROS.COM.AU2

hartbeat BY ARCHBISHOP DENIS HART

Advent is A time when we look forward to the coming of the Kingdom of God. Jesus told many parables about the coming of the kingdom. many of these used images of a weddings and marriage feasts.

One of his stories begins like this: “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom ... But the bridegroom was delayed, and all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’” (Matt 25:1ff)

Of course we know how the story ends, but for the moment i wish to concentrate on just one aspect of the story: waiting for the coming of the Lord is like waiting for a wedding.

i have had the great pleasure of celebrating very many weddings. i have seen how much work goes into preparing for the wedding ceremony and reception. Once the engagement is announced and the date is set, all thought and activity is directed toward the wedding day. the bride and groom and members of their family experience both the stress of planning and the joy of expectation as the day draws near. there is so much to get ready, and everything must be ‘just right’.

Can you imagine a situation in which it might be otherwise? in which the bride- or groom-to-be were to forget about their coming wedding, and carry on their daily activities as if nothing had changed and there was nothing to look forward to? Of course not!

how amazing therefore that, as members of the Christian community, we can sometimes forget that a date has been set for our wedding day! For the bridegroom in Jesus’ story is Jesus himself, and the bride at the long awaited wedding is the Church.

the last chapters of the Book of Revelation describe this wedding day in symbolic language:

“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns.Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory,for the marriage of the Lamb has come,and his bride has made herself ready;to her it has been granted to be clothed with fine linen, bright and pure – for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” … And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.”(Rev 19:6-9; 21:2)

in this vision, the ‘Lamb’ is Jesus, and the ‘holy city’ is the Church. this is the wedding day that the Church looks forward to with eager longing every time we say in the Creed: “i believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.”

this is something to be excited about. this is something to look forward to. And this is something for which we need to get ready.

how do we get ready for this great wedding day? we don’t have to provide the food and drink – God will do that. the prophet isaiah declared: “On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines, of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear. And he will destroy on this mountain the shroud that is cast over all peoples, the sheet that is spread over all nations; he will swallow up death forever. Then the Lord God will wipe away the tears from all faces.” (Isaiah 25:6-8)

we don’t have to provide the clothes – again God will do that. in the parable of the wedding feast (matt 22:1-14), the father of the groom gives everyone a “wedding robe”, and in st John’s vision, the souls of the martyrs are given “a white robe” (Rev 6:11).

how then do we prepare properly for the coming of the Bridegroom and for our heavenly wedding day?

we prepare with the best preparation that any future husband could desire in his future bride: we prepare our hearts. Our Bridegroom made a great sacrifice

The Spirit and the Bride say “Come!”

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Publisher MOST rEV. DENIS J. HArTeditor JAMES O’FArrELLAssistant editor FIONA POWEr Journalist cELESTE bADMANSub-editor PETEr KELLEHErProof-reader MArGArET FErNONDesign rAMESH WEErErATNELayout MArY FErLIN & JErEMY YUENSubscriptions/advertising JILL ALLENPrint DOrAN PrINTING PTY LTD

POSTAL ADDRESS PO box 146, east Melbourne 8002Phone: (03) 9926 5758 Fax: (03) 9926 5749EDITORIAL: [email protected]: [email protected]: [email protected]: (03) 9926 5758 Fax: (03) 9926 5749WEBSITE: www.kairos.com.auARCHDIOCESAN WEBSITE: www.cam.org.auRegistered by Australia Post. Category APublication No. vAR 9010487 Print Post Approved No. 0038166/0456volume 21 No. 22. 28 November – 11 December 2010Published by the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Contents • Features

FRONT COVER: Moira Kelly with Krishna (left) and Trishna (right). Photo supplied by The Children First Foundation.

www.kairos.com.au

Sunday 28 November, 11am: Celebrate Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral; 5pm: Celebrate Mass for Centenary of Missionary Society of St Paul at Croatian Catholic Centre, Sunshine.Tuesday 30 November, 9.15am: Celebrate Mass and bless beR Project, east Oakleigh.Thursday 2 December, 6.30pm: Celebrate Holy Hour, St Patrick’s Cathedral.Friday 3 December, 9.30am: bless and Open beR Project, essendon.Saturday 4 December, 10.30am: Celebrate Lourdes Day Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral; 6.30pm: Celebrate vigil Mass at Alphington.Sunday 5 December, 11am: Celebrate Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral.Tuesday 7 December, 10am: Celebrate Mass with Migrant Chaplains at Croatian Church, Clifton Hill.Wednesday 8 December, 11.30am: Celebrate end of Academic year Mass at ACU; 6.30pm: Celebrate Mass to mark the closure of St Joseph’s College, North Melbourne at St Mary’s, West Melbourne.Thursday 9 December, 9am: Meet with Heads of Diocesan Agencies.Friday 10 December, 9.15am: bless and Open beR Project, St Louis de Montfort’s, Aspendale.Saturday 11 December, 6pm: Celebrate vigil Mass, Mother of God, Ardeer.Sunday 12 December, 11.00am: Celebrate Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral;2.30pm: Attend 50th Jubilee Mass for Father W Jordan, Flemington; 5pm: Celebrate Mass & Sod Turning Ceremony for MGL Seminary, burwood.

REGULAR FEATURES2 Hartbeat3 Archbishop’s engagements4 Spirit is moving28 Perspective29 Feast Day31 World News31 What the Pope said

32 vatican II33 Film Review33 book Review34 Gospel Reflections35 What’s On35 Parish Mass times35 Regular Mass times in city churches

KAIrOS: In his Gospel, St Luke stresses the notion of Kairos, a Greek word which emphasises that we live in the moment of God’s time, ‘the favoured time,’ ‘the time of salvation.’

6 Peace rallyvictorians rally in support of Christians persecuted in Iraq.

24 Eugenics in contemporary bioethicsNicholas Tonti-Filippini unveils the horror of eugenics in our midst.

12 Journeying towards christ the KingA Christus Rex pilgrim provides a personal testimony of her faith journey.

14 building community in Heidelberg WestDiscover the work of exodus Community, serving the people of Heidelberg West since 1998.

23 Maryannick PavageauFrance has just awarded the Legion d’Honneur to a woman who beat locked-in syndrome.

to win the Church for himself. he poured out his love for his Bride in his sacrificial death on the Cross. As st John writes in his letter, we love him because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).

isn’t this just as it always is between lovers? there may be many reasons why a man and a woman are attracted to each other. there may be many things they like and admire about each other. But the truly lovable thing is their love itself.

so as the wedding day approaches, the happy couple grows in love for one another. they spend more and more time with one another, looking forward to the day when they will always be in each other’s presence, and they will make their home together. Of course, they have to make some little changes (and perhaps some big ones) to the way they live. it is when you live in close friendship with another that you become aware of those aspects of yourself that need to be changed.

And so Christians also will prepare for their long awaited wedding day with the Lord by spending time with him in his presence, in prayer and before the Blessed sacrament. By acts of charity and penance, they will practise how to live in close company with the Lord. By prayerful reading of the scriptures they will come to know the Bridegroom better, and by receiving the eucharist they will receive a foretaste of the marriage feast to come. they will speak of their Beloved to their friends and neighbours, and the joy of our future hope will show in their lives.

And so when the shout goes up “Look! here is the bridegroom!” they will be ready and prepared to embrace him.

At the end of his recent Apostolic exhortation on the word of God, Verbum Domini, Pope Benedict Xvi says:

“Let us be silent in order to hear the Lord’s word and to meditate upon it, so that by the working of the holy spirit it may remain in our hearts and speak to us all the days of our lives ... thus we too will enter into the great nuptial dialogue which concludes sacred scripture: “The Spirit and the bride say: ‘Come’. And let everyone who hears say: ‘Come!’” The one who testifies to these things, says: ‘Surely I am coming soon!’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev 22:17, 20) n

5 Josephites’ Mass of Thanksgiving6 Thanksgiving Mass for Trishna and Krishna7 bipartisan support for Catholic school funding8 Student pilgrims8 Teacher pilgrim9 bishop Deakin blesses St Luke’s hall, Wantirna10 Historic St Thomas reunion11 52nd Racing Fraternity Mass12 Melbourne vigil for nascent human life13 An encouragement to frequent prayer

15 An original resource for faith formation16 Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Croydon17 St Joseph’s Technical School South Melbourne reunion17 Mitcham Mullum Parish Garden18 CSSv profiles19 Salute to parish secretaries20 Ninety and going strong22 International day of people with disability26 Fr Peter Steele: The potter’s work


Spirit IS MOVING

BY BROTHER MARk O’CONNOR FMS

OuR GOd is A FAmiLy OF persons, Father, son and spirit. that is the startling mystery of the trinity. God is not some isolated entity unmoved and unloving, but utterly giving and relating beyond our wildest dreams.

Families are important not simply for the proper ordering of society but because they are the primary way we come to experience something of the mystery of our triune God. in the give-and-take of family life, in the pain and joy of living closely with others, we learn the ‘hard lessons’ of sacrifice and love.

Rabbis tell a story in Jewish tradition that illustrates this intersection between human and divine love in the family. two brothers shared a farm. One was married and had seven children. the other was single. Both brothers worked hard on the fertile land. each year, the harvest was abundant and each year they split the wealth of the land evenly. they gathered the perfectly divided grain into their separate barns and thanked God for his goodness.

One night, the single brother thought to himself: “it is not right that we should divide the grain evenly. my brother has many mouths to feed and he needs more. i have only myself to look after. i can certainly get by with less.” so, the single brother began taking grain from his barn each night and secretly transferring it to the barn of his married brother.

that same night, the married brother thought to himself: “it is not right that we should divide the grain evenly. i have many children who will look after me in my old age. my brother has only himself. surely, he will need to save more for the future.” so, the married brother began taking grain from his barn each night and secretly transferring it to the barn of his single brother.

every night, the brothers gave away their grain. yet each morning they found their supply mysteriously replenished. they never told each other about this miracle.

then one night they met each other half-way between the barns. they realised at once what had been happening. they embraced one another with laughter and tears.

On that spot they built the temple.the Popes of recent times have loved

to stress exactly this: the family is the domestic Church, the living temple of God’s presence. within a family, Pope Paul vi wrote, “all the members evangelise and are evangelised”. they therefore learn the fundamentals of acting justly in ways too numerous to mention. As with so many other values, justice is ‘caught and taught’.

the generosity and other-centredness of the two brothers in the parable reveals the great challenge for Christian families. they are challenged to demonstrate in actions (not just words) not only a proper sense of compassion for each other but also for those without families.

As Pope John Paul ii put it so eloquently in Familiaris Consortio: “there exists in the world countless people who unfortunately cannot in

any sense claim membership of what could be called in the proper sense a family … there are others who, for various reasons, have been left alone in the world. And yet for all of these people there exists a ‘good news of the family’.”

in the early Church, that witness was certainly given. Likewise, in our age, one very good way to nurture the family is to encourage Christian families to act in solidarity with those who have no family. to open our hearts and homes to those in need is a powerful challenge to a culture that celebrates hedonism, affluence and the individual as its gods.

when children see their parents giving more value to suffering persons than to acquiring more iPods, plasma tvs and material possessions, they learn the most fundamental lesson of all: ‘being’ is more important than ‘having’. Learned dissertations about the family have their place. But perhaps our children will learn to appreciate the crucial role of the family when we learn again the gift of hospitality.

the trinity – the family of God – points to the hospitality of our God whose graciousness and openness is all around us if we have eyes to see. n

br Mark O’Connor is Director of the Archbishop’s Office for evangelisation.

Just where you are

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The Archbishop’sCHARITABLE FUND

Supporting our communityThese include:

• Mentalhealthservices• Homesfortheelderly• Deaf&hearingimpairedservices• Migrant&refugeeprograms• Hospiceandpalliativecare• Servicesforthedisadvantaged

The Catholic Archbishop’s Charitable Fund is called upon to provide financial assistance to the equally important but less known needs in our community.

• Donationchequescanbemadepayableto “TheArchbishop’sCharitableFund”. Mailto:POBox2202,FitzroyVIC3065• Creditcarddonations–(03)96547619. All gifts of $2 and over are tax deductable.

ContactusforaBequestBooklet Email: [email protected] Web: www.cam.org.au/bequest

BEQUEST OFFICECatholic Archdiocese of Melbourne

Josephites Mass of Thanksgivingthe sisteRs OF st JOsePh And friends attended a special mass of thanksgiving at st Patrick’s Cathedral on saturday 6 november. Archbishop of melbourne denis hart concelebrated the mass with Auxiliary Bishops Les tomlinson, Peter elliott and tim Costelloe, and Bishop of sale Chris Prowse.

the mass was preceded by a reflection on the inspired spirituality of st mary of the Cross, dramatically brought to life by mount st Joseph College Altona student Lauren Borg, costumed in the brown religious habit worn by st mary of the Cross.

members of many religious sister orders came to join the Josephites in prayerful thanksgiving. the smiling faces of senior Catholic secondary students who travelled to Rome were also notable. n

Full story: www.cam.org.au/mary-mackillop PHOT

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Left: Several of the Sisters of St Joseph leaving St Patrick’s Cathedral.

bottom left: Sr Josephine Dubiel addresses the congregation.

bottom centre: Lauren borg playing the role of Mary MacKillop.

bottom right: Composer/singer Mike brady shares a joke with happy Josephite nuns on the steps of the cathedral after Mass.


localnews

Iraqi Christians rally in MelbourneBY CELESTE BADMAN

On FRidAy 12 nOvemBeR, more than 1000 victorians rallied on the steps of melbourne state Library, demanding the iraq Government do more to protect iraqi Christians. in an emotionally charged demonstration, mock rifle fire drowned out the rattle of trams as sympathisers re-enacted the recent killings of Christians in iraq.

On 31 October, an attack on an iraqi Christian Church in Baghdad resulted in the death of 58 and wounding of 100 people at mass. the attack is being called an “act of unprecedented ferocity” in an ongoing pattern of persecution of iraq’s dwindling Christian population. Further attacks on tuesday and wednesday 9 and 10 november claimed another six lives and severely injured 26 iraqi Christians, including a four-month-old baby.

After the 31 October attack, Pope Benedict Xvi told the faithful

BY CELESTE BADMAN

On wednesdAy 17 nOvemBeR, moira Kelly and her Children First Foundation held a thanksgiving mass at st Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate the one year anniversary of the surgical separation of conjoined twins, trishna and Krishna.

the mass was concelebrated by Father Peter hudson and Father Kevin mogg.

moira, the twins’ legal guardian, is renowned for her humanitarian work in Australia and abroad and is the founder of the Children First Foundation.

trishna and Krishna were brought to Australia from Bangladesh in 2008, to undergo surgery.

Australian surgeons miraculously separated the twins on 17 november last year. they have since become household names.

gathered in st Peter’s square that he was praying “for the victims of this absurd violence, which is even more ferocious as it struck defenceless persons, gathered in the house of God, which is a house of love and reconciliation”.

the melbourne peace rally was organised by 17 Assyrian Chaldean syriac organisations from melbourne. most of the protestors were Assyrian Chaldean syriac Christians, many of whom have relatives in iraq affected by the current persecutions. several

dressed in pretty pink frocks, trishna and Krishna appeared to be in exceptional health and humour.

A special procession was held before the mass to acknowledge all the surgeons, therapists, volunteers, and Children First staff members who have helped facilitate the twins’ recovery.

those attending were shown updated footage of the progress trishna and Krishna have made since their arrival in Australia.

in an emotional address, moira said it was impossible to express the “sea of gratefulness” she had for the surgeons who had given her girls a new chance at life.

the twins will celebrate their fourth birthday on 22 december. n

wept as they held up banners pasted with graphic images of men, women and children who died in the attacks.

the islamic state of iraq, a group associated with al-Qaeda, has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

since 2003 there has been a mass exodus of Assyrian Chaldean syriac Christians from iraq. Before the invasion of iraq in 2003, there were an estimated 1.5 million Christian inhabitants; there are now an estimated 500,000. According to the united nations, Christians from iraq comprise 40% of its refugees

Thanksgiving Mass for Trishna and krishna

Protestors outside the Melbourne State Library.

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BY DAVID AHERN

CAthOLiC eduCAtiOn in victoria received an early Christmas present on 9 november when the Labor Government announced that funding for Catholic schools would be increased to 25% of the cost of education in a government school if it wins the state election.

the decision now means there’s widespread political support for increased funding for Catholic schools. the news was immediately welcomed by Catholic education Commission of victoria (CeCv) Chair, Bishop timothy Costelloe and the director of Catholic education in the Archdiocese of melbourne, stephen elder.

the Coalition pledged in 2008 to increase funding to Catholic schools to 25% of the cost of education in a government school if it is elected to government on 27 november.

the almost $200 million funding boost, also includes an additional $5m for teacher professional development.

Bishop Costelloe said the support of all political parties now made for a truly bi-partisan education commitment. “i would like to thank the state Government and in particular the Premier, John Brumby and the education minister, Bronwyn Pike, for this historic decision,” said Bishop Costelloe.

“we now have a commitment from all the major parties that reinforces the right of parents to choose the sort of education they desire for their child. Catholic school communities in

victoria now have cause for celebration.”in welcoming the decision,

mr elder said Labor’s commitment would particularly benefit Catholic families in disadvantaged areas.

“Catholic schools continue to serve families in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the state. i have no doubt the decision will be widely welcomed by Catholic school communities.”

Almost 191,000 students are educated in Catholic schools in victoria, representing more than 22% of all students.

“the personal story of Australia’s first saint – st mary of the Cross – is a powerful illustration of Catholic education’s mission to serve the most disadvantaged in our community. the announcement will provide funding to Catholic education to continue this legacy,” said mr elder. n

despite making up only 4% of the iraqi population. n

the Assyrian Chaldean syriac are the direct descendants of the ancient Assyrian and Babylonian people and the indigenous people of iraq. Christianity has been their religion since the first century.

At the rally, 24-year-old ninawa younan, a master’s in Criminology student at melbourne university, proclaimed: “the Christians of iraq have been stripped of their land, their rights, their freedom to exist. Can you imagine that? stripped of your freedom to exist. A word commonly used to describe this is genocide: the destruction of a race, the killing of a people, a people that for 7000 years called their homeland Beth-nayryn, mesopotamia and now iraq.”

Pope Benedict Xvi recently urged all countries to increase their efforts to stop the persecution of Christians in the middle east. during the special assembly for the middle east of the synod of Bishops, held in the vatican from 10 to 24 October, the Pope said: “Peace is a gift of God, but it is also the result of the efforts of men of good will, of national and international institutions.” the holy Father’s appeal was “for all to join forces to finally stop the violence”. n

Full story: www.cam.org.au/melbourne-news

Bipartisan support for Catholic school funding

Top: From left, bishop Timothy Costelloe and education Minister, bronwyn Pike talk to the students at Holy Rosary Primary School, Kensington. bottom: Liberal Party leader Ted ballieu and National Party leader Peter Ryan with students at St Therese’s Primary School, essendon at the 2008 launch of the Coalition’s election commitment to Catholic schools.

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Moira Kelly (far right) thanks neurosurgeons Allison Wray (left) and Wirginia Maixner.


Student PILGRIM

Teacher PILGRIM

PAUL HEYWOOD

i Knew my PiLGRimAGe tO Rome would be an experience i would never forget but the experience far surpassed expectations. Rome is amazing, a beautiful city unlike any in Australia. the churches are magnificent; each is a mass of artwork, paying homage to our Lord.

the vatican, however, is in a league of its own. st Peter’s Basilica is huge. Along the aisle are marked the length from the door of all the major churches and cathedrals in the world. the second

Rome resounds to the name of ‘our Mary’BY NATINA GIACCO

Given the immense LOve thAt mary macKillop demonstrated towards all people and especially youth, it was appropriate that a party of 110 people representing the victorian Catholic educational community made the pilgrimage to attend the canonisation of Australia’s first saint in Rome on 17 October. the group included students from Catholic secondary colleges in the Archdiocese of melbourne and the victorian dioceses of sale and sandhurst, accompanied by a small group of teachers.

what a privilege and blessing it was to attend the canonisation of ‘our mary’. All who attended this eucharistic celebration with his holiness Pope Benedict Xvi

comprehended the reality that we are part of the “one, holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church”. Going to Rome reminded us of the universal Church to which we belong. st mary of the Cross macKillop’s presence among us was evident everywhere we went. Rome was alive and vibrant and st Peter’s square resonated with the chanting and

the cheering of the words, “st mary macKillop”!

the day after st mary’s canonisation, we all attended a mass of thanksgiving at the Church of st Paul’s Outside the walls. it was a predominantly Australian event, as the main celebrant was Cardinal George Pell, with other Australian bishops concelebrating.

biggest does not even make it to the altar. it is hard to believe that it is designed to look smaller than it is (and therefore is even bigger than it seems). it was built big to recognise God’s glory then made to look small to symbolise that heaven is within reach of regular people.

THErESA cHAMOUNOne OF the FiRst PLACes we visited in Rome was the Basilica of

st John Lateran (the Pope’s own cathedral). it is filled with artwork. For me, the large statues of the Apostles that lined the nave were the most beautiful.

On saturday evening, we attended a celebration of mary macKillop’s life. Australian Catholic university students depicted her life through a multimedia presentation of music, drama and humorous interviews.

St Monica’s College, epping had four representatives at the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross in Rome: Paul Heywood was part of the Archdiocesan education group and the College also sent two more students and Deputy Principal Amorina Chirico. Here, the students reflect on the experience.

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Three of the St Monica’s delegation, in the foreground, from left to right: Amorina Chirico, Theresa Chamoun and Nellie Wilson.

back, from left: Stephen Welsford (Mazenod College, Mulgrave); Mairead Dalton (Our Lady Of Sion College, box Hill); Third row, from left: Caitlin Welsford (Killester College, Springvale); Natina Giacco (Mazenod College, Mulgrave); Phillip Cowan (Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Lilydale); Second row: Alyana Obtinalla (Catholic Regional College, Melton); Jessie-Anne Kenworthy (Sacred Heart College, Newtown); Alice Keith (Genazzano FCJ College, Kew); Front, from left: Lisa Williams (St. Mary’s College for Hearing Impaired Students, Wantirna South).

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many sisters of st Joseph were part of the mainly Australian congregation, which joyfully sang and praised Almighty God for his gift to us of st mary of the Cross.

notwithstanding that mary macKillop embodied and epitomised a woman who professed and manifested the essence of Christianity, it was gratifying to see that this humble woman of the Beatitudes attracted Australia’s political leaders to Rome for her canonisation. these included tim Fisher, Kevin Rudd, Julie Bishop and Barnaby Joyce.

this pilgrimage and st mary macKillop’s spirit have left an indelible mark on all our lives. Our thanks go to director of Catholic education in melbourne, stephen elder for his inspiration in deciding that this pilgrimage of young students should occur. we also extend our heartfelt thanks to Rosalie Jones, also of the Catholic education Office in melbourne, for all her hard work and great humour in organising this wonderful pilgrimage. may st mary of the Cross intercede for us all! n

Natina Giacco is a teacher at Mazenod College.

At the canonisation on sunday i was amazed at the crowd. thousands had gathered yet not a sound could be heard as the Pope canonised mary. we are thankful to have witnessed this great day for the Church and we hope to witness many more as Australians and people all over the world endeavour to follow the example of st mary macKillop.

NELLIE WILSON

my JOuRney tO ROme tO see the canonisation of mary macKillop was an amazing experience. i have learned so much about mary macKillop and also about myself. i learned about the amount of travelling it took for mary macKillop to reach Rome to talk to Pope Pius iX. i thought 22 hours on a plane was long enough, but mary macKillop travelled weeks by boat to reach her destination, with no planned schedule or accommodation.

when on the tour of walking in mary’s footsteps, i got a feel for how determined she was about the education and wellbeing of the poor in rural Australia. she travelled so far for something she loved. this experience has taught me to never give up on goals and to always follow my heart. n

To obtain a copy of the Commemorative DVD of Melbourne celebrations of 17 October and the Canonisation Thanksgiving Celebration of 6 November 2010 at St Patrick’s Cathedral marking the canonisation of Mary MacKillop, call the Central Catholic Bookshop on 9639 0844.

Bishop Deakin blesses St Luke’s hallBY JODIE MARzIANO

On mOndAy 8 nOvemBeR, BishOP hilton deakin officially blessed and opened the multi-purpose hall at st Luke’s Primary school, wantirna.

the ceremony began with an acknowledgement of the traditional owners of the land, the wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, which set the tone for what followed. Acting principal Jackie Purcell welcomed everyone. Bishop deakin then blessed the hall and spoke about the magnificence of the structure and how fortunate we were to have these facilities to use. he said that while this was a celebration of new facilities it was also a celebration of community – of people from many different parts of our community coming together using their gifts to build the hall. it was an opportunity for the school community to show its appreciation for the many people who planned, funded, designed and built the hall.

senator david Feeney represented the Australian Government, which funded the hall through the Building education Revolution. the multi-purpose hall includes a basketball stadium, music

room, art room and fully equipped kitchen. the funding also went to renovating our senior area to create a senior learning area, a library and two classrooms.

For most of our students, this was their first experience of this type of formal ceremony. every guest spoke of how impressed they were with the children’s behaviour, singing and responses to the reading and prayers during the ceremony. the school choir, conducted by Gail Ashdowne, led the school in singing the national anthem. Our school leaders displayed exceptional leadership by greeting our guests and were a credit to their families and school. Our school captains isabella and sam spoke beautifully in their responses.

special guests for the day included Bishop hilton deakin, david Feeney mP, parish priest Fr velimir maglica, heidi victoria mLA and ALP candidate for Bayswater Peter Lockwood. n

Jodie Marziano is ReC and Acting Deputy Principal at St Luke’s, Wantirna

Guests, staff and students at the St Luke’s, Wantirna Multi-purpose hall official opening and blessing.

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Historic St Thomas reunionit BeGAn with A CLAss PhOtO and a novel idea: to reunite the 33 members of Form 4 at st thomas’s school, Clifton hill, in 1978. But the historic reunion and restaging of the photo on sunday 31 October, proved to be an opportunity for a new beginning and the rekindling of valued friendships.

“no way that this was the end of a journey,” said Joseph wakim. “the trust, the honesty and the kinship among these predominantly working-class immigrant families was cherished as something precious.”

st thomas’s school, Clifton hill, a Christian Brothers’ college, taught boys from what was then Grade 3 to Form 4. the school was closed in 1981.

After completing Form 4 in 1978, the photographed group of students went on to separate schools, universities and lives. most lost contact with each other or had this chapter of history hanging on a thread of one remaining friendship.

when st John’s Primary school in Clifton hill celebrated its 125th anniversary earlier this year, a group of st thomas’s boys, remembering the camaraderie and friendship of their class, decided to track down each person and restage the class photo.

Fortunately, some had scribbled the names of students, in standing order, on the rear of their photos. the task of locating people still proved to be enormous, with Charlie di sebastiano taking the lead and making many calls and emails. Amazingly, virtually everyone was found alive and living in Australia.

the reunion was staged at the Collingwood harriers Club Rooms, Clifton hill, the site of the annual sports carnival. st thomas’s was renowned for producing sport stars, such as cricketer Keith stackpole and vFL players Kevin murray (Fitzroy Brownlow medallist), sergio silvani (Carlton) and Bill serong (Collingwood).

Old boys, and two former Christian Brothers, came from all over Australia to attend.

“it was like a family reunion of long-lost brothers. with each arrival, we would stare and guess the name, which would culminate in hearty hugs all round,” mr wakim said.

he said many reflected on their parents’ decision to educate them with the Christian Brothers, which instilled Christian values and shaped their future decisions and their choice to send their own children to Catholic schools.

“it was an era when second-generation european immigrants saw the shift from white Australia policy to multiculturalism,” he said. “An era when the Catholic boys stuck together and thanked God that they were not sent to the local public school.”

mr wakim remembered it also as a time when students walked 15 minutes to school carrying heavy bags in rain, hail or shine, the leather strap was still an acceptable discipline and a teacher could teach in the same classroom for 53 years.

mr wakim said the twilight years for the Christian Brothers were the golden years for his class. “it is a pity that the baton could not be passed on to the next generation, who would have proudly declared ‘we were taught by the Brothers in the school of our fathers’.” n

For more information, contact Charlie Di Sebastiano 0425 789 872

After 42 fantastic years, we farewell our 40-48 Sutherland St Campus. All past & present students, staff, parents and friends, are invited to join us for a Thanksgiving Mass,

10.30am Sunday 28th November at St Patrick's Church, Kilmore, followed by a BYO family picnic on the school oval. Enquiries Ph. 5782 1579

St Patrick's Primary School Kilmore

Top: Form 4, St Thomas’s School, Clifton Hill, 1978.bottom: The restaged photo on Sunday 31 October, 2010.

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52nd Racing Fraternity MassBY FIONA BASILE

hundReds OF PeOPLe BRAved the cold and wet on sunday 31 October to attend the 52nd Annual Racing Fraternity mass held at st Francis’ Church in the city.

the mass is held each year during the spring racing carnival and brings together racing officials, dignitaries, jockeys, trainers, breeders, owners, punters, the media and parishioners. the sesquicentennial (150 years) of the melbourne Cup made this carnival season particularly special.

the absence of legendary trainer Bart Cummings due to illness was keenly felt. he has been a regular attendee and usually participates in the offertory procession or reads at the mass.

in his welcome to all, Racing Fraternity Chaplain Fr Brendan dillon requested special prayers for Bart’s speedy recovery. Principal celebrant mgr eugene harley echoed those sentiments at the beginning of his homily. Bart’s son Anthony, who is also a trainer, joined in reading the prayers of intercession.

A special feature of the mass is the procession of racing trophies and symbols. these included the 1994, 2009 and 2010 melbourne Cup trophies, the 2003 and 2010 Caulfield Cup trophies and the 2003 and 2006 Cox Plate trophies.

Retired Jockey Lonagan milham carried the Fallen Jockeys’ Book, which has the names of every jockey who has lost his or her life in Australian racing since the beginning of records. milham was forced to retire at 20 years of age due to injuries he sustained in a race fall.

during mass, the congregation prayed for the needs of all those involved in the racing industry, in particular for those who were sick or who had passed away in the past year, including jockey stathi Katsidis.

there was much camaraderie among the gathered. st Francis’ parishioner Anne decosta was thrilled to meet racing legend and 1966 melbourne Cup winning jockey John miller. “i’ve been coming to the annual mass for years. it’s really wonderful,” she said. “it was such a privilege to meet John.”

miller attended the very first Racing Fraternity mass in 1959. he rode Galilee in his 1966 melbourne Cup win for Bart Cummings.

“i was praying really hard during that mass because it looked like i might not be riding in the melbourne Cup the following tuesday,” miller said. “i had ridden Galilee in the mcKinnon stakes and the stewards questioned my ride on him. i prayed hard. i must have done something right, because i was cleared, and went on to win.”n PH

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1. Principal Celebrant Monsignor eugene Harley with concelebrating priests. 2. From left: retired Jockey John Miller, Annual Racing Fraternity Mass helpers Terry O’Hanlon and Ray Tymms, retired jockey bob Skelton. 3. Kenneth Harry bird, otherwise known as “Feathers”. 4. Leanne King, Melbourne Cup winning jockey Steve King and sons, from left: ben (10), Lachlan (12) and Jordan (15). 5. Racing Fraternity Chaplain Fr brendan Dillon. 6. Laurie Henderson (Owner, from Sydney) with Descarado’s 2010 Caulfield Cup.

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BY MARIA MACGREGOR

The 20th annual Christus Rex pilgrimage from ballarat to bendigo concluded on Sunday 31 October with a Solemn Pontifical Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral in bendigo celebrated by bishop Peter elliott. Maria Macgregor was among the 430 pilgrims from across Australia and New Zealand who walked over the three days.

seventeen yeARs AGO i tOOK part in my first pilgrimage, walking 100 kilometres from Paris to Chartres in the annual notre-dame de Chretiente pilgrimage at Pentecost. Over the years many Australian pilgrims spoke of the annual Christus Rex pilgrimage, begun in order to bring traditional Catholics together in honour of Christ the King. i was delighted to have the opportunity to go on the pilgrimage this year.

many people asked me about the differences between the two pilgrimages. i commented that there is better food in Australia, more extreme weather, different terrain and definitely more cake! however, the similarities are far more notable: groups of people, spanning all ages, giving up time to brave scorching sun, torrential rain, blisters and aching limbs, people willing to offer up their sufferings and inconveniences.

there were times when we prayed or sang together, times when we silently reflected and times when we got to know those walking with us. it was so refreshing to see people so eager to help and support one another, particularly as

the pilgrimage drew to its close. As we walked along the final road to Bendigo the volume of the singing increased and we smiled and encouraged one another to push through the last deluge of rain.

On arriving at the cathedral there was a sense of joy and achievement. mass in such beautiful surroundings was the perfect culmination of the three days. i was glad that many pilgrims took the opportunity to stay behind, celebrate the feast and spend more time with new friends, some of whom were barely recognisable after hot showers and clean clothes!

For me, going on pilgrimage is so important. it provides an opportunity to leave behind daily comforts and distractions and focus on our life as a journey. it serves as a reminder that, while we will all encounter suffering, inconvenience and difficulties throughout our lives, we can come together in prayer and solidarity with Our Lady and the saints and move towards fulfillment in Christ. n

To read bishop elliott’s homily, His Universal Kingdom, go to www.cam.org.au/news

Maria Macgregor is a student at the John Paul II Institute for Marriage and Family, Melbourne.

Journeying towards Christ the King

Vigil for Human Life On sAtuRdAy 13 nOvemBeR the Archdiocese of melbourne held a special prayer “vigil for All nascent human Life” in st Patrick’s Cathedral east melbourne. the vigil began with holy hour at 5pm, followed by mass celebrated by Archbishop denis hart.

Pope Benedict Xvi has called for a worldwide “vigil for All human Life” in the lead up to Advent. he has urged all Catholics to join with him in praying for the “Lord’s protection over every human being called into existence,” in light of the beginning of Advent

and the proximity of the Lord’s nativity. Archbishop hart said the vigil presented an

opportunity to “pray for human life in the womb, to reverence the sacredness of life as God’s gift, to remember parents and families who are making decisions about their future, and to stand in prayer and solidarity as a witness to our community of the fundamental value of the life of each person; young or old, well or sick, believer or non-believer”. n

For more information contact the Life, Marriage and Family Office on 9287 5587. Those seeking pregnancy support can contact Open Doors on (03) 9870 7044 and Caroline Chisholm Society Pregnancy and Family Support Service (03) 9370 3933. For those seeking post-abortion healing, contact Open Doors on (03) 9870 7044 or Project Rachel at www.rachelsvineyard.org.au

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Top: Pilgrims arrive at Sacred Heart Cathedral in bendigo. bottom Left: Mass during the pilgrimage. bottom right: Pilgrims on the journey from ballarat to bendigo.

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A scene from the Melbourne prayer vigil for nascent human life at St Patrick’s Cathedral.


it is nOt OFten thAt A milestone such as a 75th wedding anniversary comes our way; especially at a time when old-fashioned love and loyalty towards a spouse is not as common as it once was. But this is a story of a loyal and loving couple who in the goodness and witness of God have dedicated 75 years to each other and to their family.

maria and Louis Pisani were married on 27 October 1935 in their homeland of malta, in the beautiful seaside village of mellieha. in the 75 wonderful years of love and devotion they have shared, they gave life to 12 children. the eight surviving children tell of wonderful Christian role models with expert parenting skills.

Louis, now 94 years old, and maria, 92, grew up in a difficult era which tested their resolve and capacity to love. their marriage came at a time when the world was

coming out of a global depression and was slipping into war. the harshness of this reality in some way shaped their character and instilled them with courage.

By the end of the 1950s their accomplishments as family builders were well established. Louis travelled to Australia a couple of times to work on farms in new south wales to support the family. he recognised Australia as a land of opportunity. so, by April 1963 the whole family had relocated to Altona.

in Australia Louis and maria’s family continues to grow. they proudly boast 13 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren (with a couple

75 years of unconditional loveBY ERNIE PISANI

An encouragement to frequent prayerBY FATHER ROBERT MATTHEWS OFM

why dO i PRAy? i wAs AsKed this question a long time ago. i answered truthfully but somewhat defensively: “Because my mother and father prayed.” not really a satisfactory answer, i reflected, but it is true that i was taught the earliest lessons in praying by my parents.

Later, i came to appreciate deeper reasons for praying. martin Luther said: “Prayer is the most important thing in my life.” Julian of norwich declared: “Prayer makes the soul one with God.”

there is no place where prayer is not possible. “you can set up an altar to God in your mind by means of prayer,” st John Chrysostom remarked. so, prayer becomes a comfort, a strength for the day, a necessity.

the st Francis wallet Prayer Card is what it sounds like: it is a wallet-sized card containing the Peace Prayer

and a beautiful morning prayer, plus a calendar for 2011. it fits into your wallet, so it reminds you to pray often in your daily activities.

On the cover of the 2011 card st Francis is depicted with a companion walking along open fields obviously thrilled just to enjoy the environment. st Francis was appointed patron saint of ecology and ecologists by Pope John Paul ii in 1979.

the Franciscans started printing these cards 18 years ago in a small way. Last year they sent out about 20,000 of them to parishes, schools, colleges, prayer groups and others. Often people send

a copy of the prayer card to their relatives and friends when they send a Christmas card.

the 2011 card directs us to recognise God’s creation for what it is – his work which we humans are to enjoy, to respect, to use, not abuse, and to preserve for future generations.

All orders of cards sent out for 2011 will include a copy of st Francis’ famous Canticle of Brother Sun as a bonus gift. n

Details: St Francis Wallet Prayer Card, 1087 Whitehorse Road, box Hill, victoria, 3128

[email protected]

more on the way), whom they shower with love and affection.

their accomplishments have been many but they tell the story not of material wealth but of something deeper and greater. their recipe for a successful marriage is to love unconditionally, and to trust, respect and forgive one another.

their faith and trust in God have never wavered. throughout their lives they have prayed the Rosary and joyously participated in the eucharist.

Louis and maria, now in the twilight of their years, and their family, praise and thank God for the abundant blessings he has bestowed on them. n

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Left: Maria and Louis Pisani a few years ago.Right: Maria and Louis Pisani on their wedding day.

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Caitlin Hardy, Liam Hardy and Fr bob Matthews.


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Exodus builds community in Heidelberg WestBY CELESTE BADMAN

in 1956, heideLBeRG west became the site of the village for the summer Olympic Games in melbourne. hundreds of houses were built to accommodate athletes, officials, trainers, and other staff. After the games, the village became a housing Commission estate.

even today about 700 houses are still occupied by people who are welfare dependent. exodus Community was established in heidelberg west 13 years ago to help these people deal with their socio-economic problems.

Br harry Prout of exodus explains: “these people are reliant on public housing for a variety of reasons. many are unemployable due to age or health, especially mental health. A large proportion are single-parent families or people who have come from disadvantaged backgrounds. it is hard for people to get out of the generational cycle of poverty.”

sr sally Bradley Rsm, who joined exodus when it began in 1998, says: “One of the ways out of poverty is education, so we do a lot to help children stay at school.”

According to sr sally and Br harry, people are less able to break destructive cycles when they feel isolated. For that reason, Br harry says, the central aim of exodus is “to build community among the local people and develop leadership”.

exodus has been successful in breaking down barriers between the locals. many of the people they cater to suffer from abandonment issues and are hesitant to form relationships. One local told Br harry: “Before you came, people didn’t know each other. A lot of people know each other now. they aren’t as shut in to their homes. they get out and visit people.”

Br harry and sr sally agree that changes have taken place since their arrival but they are also realistic in their expectations. you cannot change people’s lifestyles and circumstances, they say. their aim is to help people feel more respected and appreciated.

exodus works in many ways to ease

adversity among the poor of heidelberg west. it does a great deal of advocacy. exodus members go to court, school and hospital with people. they also speak on their behalf at Centrelink and at the department of housing.

Br harry and sr sally say the biggest challenge for them is the lack of public housing. For years they have been writing letters to the department of housing on behalf of people who are at risk of losing their homes. “Rental rates are rising and these people can’t afford it,” Br harry explains. he says people dread being relocated to other suburbs or towns after they have established networks in heidelberg west. many people remain in heidelberg west despite not having a house. “Any night, we could easily round up 50 homeless people just in this area.”

exodus decided enough was enough three years ago and formed a residents’ group with several other organisations. sr sally says: “we have forged some really good paths with the Office of housing and in the past 12 months have had six families moved. it’s a case-by-case system but ultimately helps people who would not know where to begin.”

exodus also works to bring joy to the community by giving people social events to look forward to. “the catchword around here is relationships. it’s all about building relationships,” Br harry says. exodus holds many activities in its large, brightly painted shed, which was funded by the sisters of mercy, Bendigo Community Bank and the Commonwealth Government. “we have become pretty good at grant-writing and are successful at getting them.”

every thursday morning exodus runs two yoga sessions in the shed and on weekday afternoons the shed is used for after-school care.

there is always a project in need of funding at exodus. they own a 12-seater bus which requires constant maintenance. this bus enables exodus to help people who do not own cars and to run camps throughout the year.

“Our next project is to put up a shade sail in the backyard for community functions,” says Br harry. “it would be great to have this shade up before 12 december. this is the day exodus will hold its annual Christmas celebration-backyard barbecue and carols night – which drew over 260 people last year from the surrounding neighbourhoods.”

the evening will feature a Christmas play performed by local children. sr sally says this play always focuses on “the true meaning of Christmas” because “people are searching for something deeper at Christmas and we like to give them an authentic experience”.

in true Christmas spirit, gift-giving is another service exodus facilitates. various communities and organisations in the area buy gifts and exodus is responsible for distributing them to households. Last year they delivered at least 1000 gifts and hampers. sr sally explains: “exodus is like the distribution agency for people who want to give.”

the most important message exodus hopes to communicate to people at Christmas is that they have something to offer others. they believe this message empowers people who, for various reasons, are afflicted with feelings of worthlessness. n

br Harry Prout and Sr Sally bradley in front of the exodus Community Shed.

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BY JOAN MOyLAN

dR eLiO CAPRA is A sALesiAn priest currently working from melbourne. his extensive experience gained through his personal study, teaching, lecturing at tertiary level and travelling widely empowering pupils, teachers, religious and parish groups, has resulted in a practical and accessible resource which can be used for both faith formation and education and, most importantly, in the Rite of Christian initiation of Adults (RCiA).

the content and philosophy of Called Gifted Sent has two elements – the text and the journal. the text is an important tool for those who have felt ‘called’ to pursue the journey towards full communion with the Catholic Church. As RCiA candidates and catechumens move through their time of preparation, this text will assist them to explore the meaning of Baptism, Confirmation and eucharist and to understand the significance of each individual sacrament and the three within the context of the triduum. For group leaders and their teams, the text will provide support and a rich resource both for their own development and as a reference which will assist them as they journey with the candidates.

Called Gifted Sent will also find a place among the texts of those undertaking study of the sacraments of initiation, as well as students studying rites of initiation in senior courses. it is an excellent reference for parishioners and members of sacramental teams who wish to deepen their understanding of the sacraments of initiation and to explore the meaning of the symbols, prayers and rituals of the triduum and its integral relationship with the sacraments of initiation. the text should be a welcome addition to any parish library.

Complementing the text is the journal, which is an ideal accompaniment to the text. the journal will become a unique and personal experience. For those using the text, this will become an invaluable resource.

it is intended that catechumens and candidates and indeed any person or group using it, will use it as a means of recording a personal journey towards the sacraments. it will become a ‘history’ of a journey in faith throughout the catechumenate and in the time of mystagogy, a personal history of the road they have travelled, with the support of family and community, and a reminder of those

who have walked with them, an original and worthwhile resource.

this text and journal are worthy additions to dr Capra’s earlier resources and published articles on the RCiA and will be a welcome addition to personal and parish resources. n

Joan Moylan is a member of the RCIA team at St John bosco’s, engadine.

Details and to purchase the book: www.kwl.com.au

An original resource for faith formation


localnews

Parish Priest: Fr Leonard SizeFR size wAs ORdAined An Anglican minister in 1991 and a Catholic priest in 2000. he was appointed to sacred heart in August 2008, his first parish priest role in the Archdiocese, as he was previously Chaplain at st vincent’s hospital.

Fr size says: “this is a very exciting time for the parish, with our new hall and plans for the retreat centre. the community is fantastic and includes members of former parishes at wonga Park, Croydon and east Ringwood all working together.” n

sACRed heARt CAthOLiC parish is located within the old sacred heart monastery, which was owned by the missionaries of the sacred heart and opened by Archbishop mannix in April 1939. the complex included a chapel, library, cloisters, classrooms, refectory, kitchens and domestic offices. Accommodation was provided for 65 students, 10 priests and several lay brothers.

due to declining numbers, at the end of 1985, the location for seminary studies was changed to apartments in drummoyne, sydney.

in 1991 the monastery and a surrounding parcel of 5 hectares of land was sold to the Archdiocese of melbourne to serve as the parish centre of Croydon and east Ringwood. in 1993 the new parish of sacred heart, Croydon, was established using the monastery and chapel as its centre of worship and community activities. A primary school was built to the rear of the monastery. this school opened in 2000 and now has 350 students. it uses part of the lower floor of the monastery as its offices and staff rooms.

From 1993 to 2002 the monastery was regularly used as a retreat and meeting centre, taking advantage of its unique facilities, serenity, historic ambience and community spirit.

the original chapel was extended in 2000 to handle the greater number of people attending mass from the merged Croydon and east Ringwood parishes. it now seats 500.

By 2002 the buildings had fallen into

disrepair. Land around the monastery, including the original oval, was set aside for the construction of a retirement village, mingarra. this project was at first owned by the missionaries of the sacred heart but has since been sold to a private investment group. An aged-care hostel is part of the retirement village.

the monastery building is heritage listed and the parish hopes to maintain the heritage of the monastery as a place of learning, spiritual living and a communal hub for the surrounding district.

Parish Secretary: Susan BoysensACRed heARt is A wOndeRFuL parish, and i am very proud to be a part of it. i began working here in september 2000 after seeing an ad for the position while at mass at a neighbouring parish. Currently the roof of the monastery is being repaired with the assistance of a grant from heritage victoria. we then hope it grows into a thriving retreat centre.

my role involves looking after groups that want to stay or use our facilities, taking parishioner inquiries, booking rooms, taking care of accounts, organising our sunday press, organising baptisms and organising sacraments for children from government and independent schools and so on. Lynn, another secretary, works every Friday while i take a day off.

One thing i have learned is not to stress – nothing is impossible. when things get overwhelming, just call in a few parishioners and the work is done! where else can you do that?

Address: 35 Wicklow Avenue, Croydon Deanery: Maroondahwww.sacredheartcroydon.org

Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Croydon

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BY CELESTE BADMAN

On sundAy 3 OCtOBeR st John’s Parish, mitcham officially opened the wurundjeri Aboriginal Garden of Recognition. it has been named the mitcham mullum Parish Garden.

the day began with mass, which was well attended and highlighted the importance of reconciliation. the Prayers of intercession recognised Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the land where st John’s is located. those

Mitcham Mullum Parish Gardenpresent prayed: “For ministries such as Aboriginal Catholic ministry, that their contribution to our Church be increasingly valued and embraced.”

After mass, parish priest Fr mark Reynolds introduced senior wurundjeri wandoon elder Aunty doreen Garvey-wandin and in a shared ceremony the garden was opened. After the formalities, parishioners, school representatives, members of the local community and Aboriginal guests shared lunch and enjoyed the new garden.

the day was a joyous occasion for all

those involved in the project, because it had been in the pipeline for more than three years. the idea originated in response to the Catholic social Justice statement 2006, entitled The Heart of Our Country. this report gave impetus to a series of recommendations for churches to seek reconciliation with indigenous people in their local communities.

the mitcham mullum Parish Garden was built to honour the wurundjeri people and their custodianship. it was designed and constructed by landscape architect nick magree, who went to primary school at st John’s.

the garden is at 494 maroondah highway and is open to the public. n

St Joseph’s Technical School ReunionBY TONy ALLDAy

FORmeR students And teachers came together on sunday 24 October to celebrate their respective journeys through st Joseph’s technical school, south melbourne. the school, which was run by the Christian Brothers from the early 1900s, was closed in 1988.

many class and sport photos were on display, as were several trophies and pennants and a large school crest. these were of great interest to everyone

and brought back many memories – and tested some too!

Jack hannagan was the earliest student present, having attended the school in 1939 and 1940.

the hundred former students who were in attendance enjoyed great fellowship and all look forward to the next reunion, at a date still to be decided.

the reunion committee is keen to hear from anyone who has photos or memorabilia pertaining to st Joseph’s technical school, south melbourne, or CBs, south melbourne, that they might like either to donate or loan. it is also trying to expand its contact list

for the next reunion. n

For more information, visit the website: www.stjoestech.org.au

Tony Allday attended St Joseph’s from 1968 to 1972.

Left: The parish garden working party. (back, from left) Nick Magree, Peter Paul, (Front from left) Melissa brickell, vicki Clark (Walker), Aunty Doreen, Garvey Wandin, Georgina Gartland, Pat Schmidt and Karen Magree.

Right: Mullum Garden, looking at sculpture and across to parish and school.

Jack Hannagan and his daughter veronica.

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Martin Sammut – Catholic Homes Describe your agency/mission

Catholic homes is a leading not-for-profit organisation providing accommodation, residential care, community care and retirement living choices for seniors. Our services enhance the wellbeing, companionship and peace of mind of more than 1000 seniors in victoria. we value each person’s uniqueness, life experiences, abilities, aspirations and rights, and

tailor our services to suit each person’s needs and choices. we welcome people from diverse cultures, nationalities and faiths.

Originally the organisation was established as the Catholic housing Guild, having built independent living units to cater for older victorians. it later extended its services to include residential aged care and more recently retirement villages and home-based community care. we are located in hawthorn. Our vision is: choice and opportunity as you age.Describe your role

i am general manager of the people and development business unit, which incorporates human resources, quality and risk, occupational health and safety, and marketing.

How long you have been working for this agency?

eight and a half years, originally in the role of general manager, community services. i previously worked in a similar role with Anglican Aged Care services Group (now Benetas) for 14 years.What do you most like about your work?

the ability to influence decision-making across the whole organisation, the variety and scope of work and, of course, the people – staff, residents, clients, partners and key stakeholders. i also aspire to the vision, mission and values of Catholic homes.What are the most challenging aspects?

An ageing and shrinking workforce – most of our staff members are aged between 45 and 55 – the highly competitive market and a rapidly ageing population. the challenge is to retain our skilled and dedicated staff and ensure we adapt to flexible working arrangements.Who do you work with?

i work with a range of professionals in the areas of finance, residential aged care, community services, property, it and of course my staff. externally, i work with a broad base of agencies, contractors and companies and have close links with the melbourne Catholic Archdiocese, various

Catholic Social Services victoria (CSSv) is the peak body in victoria for the Catholic social services sector. Members include community service agencies or ministries committed to assisting the Catholic Church in victoria to fulfil the gospel imperatives to stand with and serve the poor, disadvantaged and marginalised, and work for a just, equitable and compassionate society. Here, we continue a series of profiles on those who carry out some of the many and varied CSSv works.

CSSV profiles

Robyn Roberts – Good Shepherd youth & Family ServiceDescribe your role and your agency/mission

i am the chief executive and i am responsible for ensuring that our work is carried out in the tradition of the sisters of the Good shepherd.

Four irish Good shepherd sisters arrived in melbourne in 1863 and soon established the Abbotsford Convent. then 113 years later the sisters established Good shepherd youth & Family service to work with women, young people and families in Collingwood. we now support more than 18,000 women, families and young people across melbourne and the mornington Peninsula every year, while our financial assistance programs reach 9600 Australians on low incomes nationwide.How long you have been working for this agency?

nearly eight years. i am a ‘boomerang’, having returned after a three-year stint with local government. my professional background is in teaching and social work. Before coming on board the first time i was working with another smaller agency that had a lot of contact with Good shepherd youth & Family service in the western suburbs. i was really impressed by the people working there and the feel of the organisation. the agency had a sense of vitality i had never come across before.

What do you most like about your work?the variety and the people i work with

and for make it immensely satisfying. i really like the fact that a simple idea, such as niLs (no interest Loans scheme), originated by Good shepherd 30 years ago, has grown to be available nationally through nearly 400 community organisations. niLs provides people on low incomes with a safe, fair and affordable loan to buy household items. this year more than 9000 people on low incomes will benefit from a niLs loan.What are the most challenging aspects?

Finding and securing sustainable funding to undertake work that does not attract government funding. we are a small organisation with a low profile and prefer to channel funds to our direct service work. we therefore often struggle to secure funding.Who do you work with?

Good shepherd youth & Family service has nearly 130 staff and 80 volunteers. the main hubs are at Collingwood, northcote, st Kilda, st Albans and on the mornington Peninsula (hastings and mornington).

Martin Sammut

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religious orders and cultural partners.What are you currently working on?

the organisation is currently developing two sites: st thomas’s village in Greensborough north, which consists of 42 villa units and a community centre, adjacent to st thomas’s Parish; and 27 affordable housing/independent living units at Providence village, Bacchus marsh.

in 2011 we will embark on our biggest development to date: shanagolden village and Aged Care Facility in Pakenham. it comprises a 90-bed aged-care facility, 70 villa units, community centre and community respite centre. i am also working at expanding our pastoral care services across the organisation and developing a workforce plan for the organisation – busy, busy, busy!How do you see your work relating to the overall mission of the Church?

A fundamental commitment to a Catholic ethos forms the basis of our services. Our plan is to grow our services and strengthen our Catholic leadership and spirituality in a strong liaison and in consultation with the melbourne Catholic Archdiocese. we aim to deliver services to a cross-section of people while ensuring that the most vulnerable and disadvantaged are looked after in accordance with our mission and values and with the overall mission of the Church. n

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the national presence of our niLs and microfinance program means we also have staff in Queensland, western Australia and new south wales.What are you currently working on?

we launched our second five-year strategic plan in september. the plan will allow us to develop a whole-of-agency approach to service delivery through the alignment of our work to four key focus areas: women and girls, young people and families, financial inclusion and community strengthening. we will also soon be developing a five-year justice strategy in these areas.How do you see your work relating to the overall mission of the Church?

Good shepherd youth & Family service continues in the Catholic tradition of the Good shepherd sisters in providing for people experiencing poverty and isolation.

Our social policy, research and advocacy activities are also strongly influenced by the Catholic social justice tradition. n

families and includes two schools: st Kevin’s is next to the parish office and st Francis de sales is in Lynbrook, which is in a new suburb next to hampton Park.

i have worked with many parish priests and assistant priests (at last count 12) and i found them all to be very caring, considerate and kind people who have always treated me well – i have been very fortunate.

As with all jobs, things get hectic and difficult at times but the good outweighs the bad. i really enjoy my role because i meet so many great people. it is also very satisfying to help those who come into the parish office with problems and concerns. they usually leave feeling better and we are glad to have made a difference. something i really notice about our parish is people’s gratitude when i do things for them that i consider part of my job.

i think the qualities that our parish secretaries have and need is patience, because i am sure i am not the only one who at times has been on the other end of a disgruntled person! But i believe that all parish secretaries have many great qualities and very special gifts they can offer to our communities. n

Salute to parish secretaries

i GOt mARRied in 1990 And i have lived in hampton Park since then. i have made many friendships here with both parish and non-parish people. i never ever envisaged myself as a parish secretary; i was a parishioner at st Kevin’s and i thought that was that!

But one day the parish priest asked our pastoral associate if she knew anyone who could spare a couple of days a week to enter all our ‘paper’ information into the computer. she said she did but had to ask them first – me!

so, i would come in when the parish secretary was not there and was happy doing the work. unfortunately the parish secretary got very sick so i stepped in, eventually replacing her when she resigned. that was 13 years ago. Over time, my hours changed and i now work four days a week.

st Kevin’s became a parish of its own in 1990 when our new church was built. until then, we had an old wooden church in somerville Road and, with the increased number of young families coming into our parish, the church was not really big enough. we had only one mass on sunday and the priest had to come from st mary’s in dandenong.

now our parish has grown considerably. it has more than 2000

Michelle rimmelzwaan St Kevin’s, Hampton Park


localnews

CABRini hAs Been PeRFORminG heart surgery for 25 years but rarely have the cardiologists and surgeons come across someone like marjorie Coppock, who can only be described as a dynamo.

the petite, slender 90-year-old great-grandmother is as sharp as a tack, still drives and has the fast pace of a young person. dancing from the age of three, exercise has always been a part of her life, helping her retain strength and agility. twice a week she teaches ‘slimnastics’, a combination of Pilates, stretching, dance and light jogging, to groups of women ranging in age from 30 to 80.

Research has shown that by remaining physically and mentally active people can slow down the ageing process. it is certainly true in marjorie’s case and she takes no notice of anyone who tells her to slow down.

she comes from artistic, active stock.

her father was a vaudeville performer and her mother, a classical dancer, shared the stage with Anna Pavlova, the legendary Russian ballerina, during her world tours.

Five years ago marjorie had a serious health scare she was lucky to survive. while teaching her exercise class, students noticed that marjorie was not her usual spritely self so, without wasting time, got her to hospital.

Ninety and going strong

marjorie arrived at Cabrini’s emergency department an hour after a severe heart attack. An angiogram showed two of the heart’s three main arteries completely blocked and the third severely obstructed. she had low blood pressure and a slow heart rate. surgery was arranged but first doctors needed to stabilise marjorie’s deteriorating condition by inserting a balloon

pump and temporary pacemaker to support her heart. two weeks later marjorie was able to leave hospital.

her remarkable survival and recovery can be attributed to the urgent response of her students and to the cardiac team.

“Prompt, appropriate treatment of heart attacks enables even elderly people to resume independent, useful and enjoyable lives,” said dr Andris saltups, marjorie’s cardiologist. n

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Marjorie Coppock (Centre) with Chairman of Cardiac Services, Dr Jeffrey Lefkovits and Nurse Manager, Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory, Catherine Robertson.


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peoplewithdisability

International Day of People with disability – 3 DecemberBY DENIS FITzGERALD

the inteRnAtiOnAL dAy OF People with disability is observed annually on 3 december. this year, as in previous years, the Australian bishops have prepared a ‘parish kit’ to assist parishes and others to celebrate this day, and to reflect prayerfully on the inclusion within our communities of people with disabilities.

Bishop Peter elliott, the Bishops’ delegate for disability issues, has noted, in a letter to mark this day, that it is “an opportunity to encourage a truly pastoral view that embraces our total community as the living Body of Christ”.

the theme of the material this year is ‘Jesus said … Be Open’. Bishop elliott writes: “it focuses particularly on encouraging and affirming parish communities to provide opportunities for the full participation of people with disability and their families in the life of the Church. … this timely theme is an invitation and call to us to create and ensure a change in a societal attitude that sees disability as a burden to humanity and a costly experience to society.”

An engaging video is one of the resources provided this year. Available on the website of the Archdiocese of melbourne – www.cam.org.au – the three-minute clip presents delightful images of openness and inclusion, in worship, in schools, and across the

community. it leads us in intercessions, including: “Open our communities to be sacred places of new attitudes, compassion and understanding of disability.”

Another resource is a prayer card that leads us through the same themes, of love and openness.Holy God,Open our ears to the deaf and hard of hearing. Open our communities to be sacred listening places where all are heard.Open our eyes to those who are blind or have low vision. Open our communities to be sacred places of new vision and insight.Open our minds to challenge old attitudes and prejudices. Open our communities to be sacred places of new attitudes, compassion and understanding of disability.Open our arms to embrace all in our

community. Open our communities to be truly accessible and welcoming to ensure every opportunity of full participation in the life of our Church community.Together, then, let us pray in union with Jesus Christ. I pray that all may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May all be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me.

cf John 17:22-23

A broader Australian context for international disability day 2010 is the ongoing examination by the Federal Government’s Productivity Commission of a proposal for a national disability insurance scheme. As reported in October in Kairos (volume 21, no.18), such a scheme would:• Be responsive to people with

disabilities and their families.• Attend to the needs of people with

disabilities regardless of their location or the cause of their disabilities.

• Be an efficient and viable framework for ongoing funding.

such a scheme, now strongly supported by both major political parties in victoria, offers the prospect of great advances towards the full recognition and acceptance of people with disabilities as an integral part of our society. it should also make it easier and fairer for families and other carers to receive the support they need to take care of themselves as they provide care and support to others.

such developments in financial and other aspects of government support are very important but they cannot substitute for a more open response within the community. this brings us back to our parishes, and other centres within the Church – we who recognise ourselves, however wounded and imperfect, as the Body of Christ are particularly called to achieve this openness, for the sake of all members of our communities.

international day of People with disability provides each parish and each one of us with an opportunity to focus on our own development towards openness and inclusion.

with thanks to Patricia mowbray, executive Officer of the Australian Catholic disability Council. n

Denis Fitzgerald is executive Director of Catholic Social Services victoria.

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BY MICHAEL COOk

FRAnCe hAs Just AwARded the Legion d’honneur to a woman who beat locked-in syndrome but has been a quadriplegic for 30 years. Fifty-six-year-old maryannick Pavageau received the distinction for years of battling for the dignity of the handicapped and disabled.

in 1984, when she was 29, she had a stroke which left her completely paralysed. For months she was in a coma. when she woke, she could move only her eyelids (locked-in syndrome). Later she recovered some speech and a bit of movement in some fingers. But she still required round-the-clock professional care when she returned home after 32 months in hospital. she had a husband and a two-year-old daughter and she could barely communicate with them. it must have been devastating for an active woman working as a lawyer and marriage counsellor.

But mme Pavageau is a woman of determination and courage. “when i discovered the state i was in, it never occurred to me to ask, ‘why me?’” she says. “instead, i said, ‘what’s next?’”

despite her gigantic handicaps she raised her daughter myriam, who is now a diplomat, has travelled as far as Rome and Beijing, and has become an activist for the disabled and against euthanasia. Jean Leonetti, a cardiologist and a deputy in the French Parliament who wrote a 2008 report for the government that slammed the door shut on the legalisation of euthanasia, was so impressed with her intelligence and courage that he devoted a chapter in his book on euthanasia to describing how she managed to cope with her disability. its title was ‘la force immobile’.

her interview with dr Leonetti, as he gathered material for his report, is very moving.

“every painful situation calls for respect. But is just saying that enough when people cry for help? we must refine the meaning of words, step back,

and not get caught up in waves of emotion. Let us distinguish between what is presented as a gesture of love and what is actually a great cry and desperate quest for love …

“the time has certainly come for associations which defend the weak to join the current debate and unequivocally affirm that everyone, regardless of his handicap, his accident, his discouragement, retains a place in society and that there are no limits to human dignity.

“i confess that sometimes i feel discouraged. i get completely fed up. But, as a response to our deep discouragement, are we only entitled to what is hypocritically called the ultimate ‘act of love’? i fully recognise that our situation can sometimes be difficult. even if there is relief for physical pain, there is the mental suffering. But you can hang on, you’re not alone. we must keep up our hope, if only in the progress of science.”

A resident of saint-nazaire, on the Atlantic coast, mme Pavageau gave an interview about her life to the local

newspaper after her recent award:

“All life is worth living,” she said. “it can be beautiful, regardless of the state we are in. And change is always possible. that is the message of hope that i wish to convey. i am firmly against euthanasia because it is not physical suffering that guides the desire to die but a moment of discouragement, feeling like a burden. those who ask to die are mostly looking for love.”

despite her paralysis and her need for round-the-clock care, she was inspired by her love for her family to fight for life. “my life is not what it could have been but it’s my life. Finally, i have been faithful to my values. i had the love of my husband and my daughter myriam, who was two years old at the time, and that gave me the strength to fight. despite my difficulties speaking, myriam has always understood me.”

two years ago, she wrote an article in which she strongly criticised discussion of euthanasia in the media.

“Public statements produce unexpected collateral damage among people suffering from serious illness such as locked-in syndrome. we are constant consumers of tv and radio programs. in response to our deep discouragement – and who is free from that? – we are only offered this final right, hypocritically baptised as a sign of love.

“A recent study on the quality of life of locked-in syndrome patients found, to the astonishment of the medical profession, that when asked ‘if you had a heart attack, would you want to be resuscitated?’ the great majority of us answered: yes.”

she is proud to have become a chevalier of the Legion d’honneur, France’s highest decoration, although she looks upon it as recognition of everyone whose dignity has been diminished by being called a ‘vegetable’. she smiles as she tells the reporter: “if someone had told me that this would happen to me some day, i would never have believed it!” n

This article was first printed in www.mercatornet.com

Maryannick Pavageau receives France’s highest honour

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Maryannick Pavageau (front) with, from left, Senator Monique Papon who bestowed the award and Maryannick’s daughter Myriam.


bioethics

BY NICHOLAS TONTI-FILIPPINI

euGeniCs – ‘the APPLied science or biosocial movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population’ – is a widespread practice in Australia.

About 90% of children who are diagnosed with disabilities in utero are aborted. On the advice of their doctors many women opt to have genetic tests during pregnancy despite the fact that there is a high miscarriage rate and that the medical purpose is to facilitate abortion if the child has an abnormality; there is no advantage for the child. if a child misses the tests and is born with a severe abnormality, ‘sedation and demanding feeding’, in other words, starvation, is practised if the parents do not wish the child to survive.

eugenics is also practised at the end of life. this year, the first of the baby boomers turn 65 and in the next 20 or so years the demand for aged-care facilities will double. the issues of aged care and euthanasia are likely to be inseparable as baby boomers seek euthanasia as an alternative to living in over-stretched care facilities.

when we speak of eugenics, we tend to think of the horrors of nazi Germany but we forget that the eugenics movement was widespread and endorsed by most western governments from the beginning of the 20th century.

in the 1920s there was a strong eugenics movement in western countries. Of primary concern was ‘racial decay’, which predicted an inevitable decline in the ‘national stock’ because of the lesser fertility of what were considered to be the more successful and worthy sections of society in comparison with those regarded as feckless and of diminished capacity. this fear led to legislation in countries such as the united states and Great Britain to compulsorily sterilise people who had developmental disabilities.

such legislation was advocated by then home secretary winston Churchill, who, in a letter to prime minister

herbert Asquith in 1910, wrote: “the unnatural and increasingly rapid growth of the feeble-minded classes, coupled with a steady restriction among all the thrifty, energetic and superior stocks, constitutes a race danger which it is impossible to exaggerate. i feel that the sources from which the stream of madness is fed should be cut off and sealed up before another year has passed.”

Attitudes to people with disabilities were very negative. the British 1913 mental deficiency Act required the compulsory sterilisation of those in mental asylums. in California, forcible sterilisation of more than 20,000 mentally disabled men and women took place between 1909 and 1970. in the 1960s, the willowbrook state school in new york City conducted a research program in which developmentally disabled children were deliberately infected with hepatitis. Parents agreed to this in exchange for admission. in the us there were many reports of asylum inmates being used for experiments such as being given X-ray therapy as a treatment for head lice.

the worst excesses of nazi medicine actually began with the extermination of people with developmental disabilities and mental illness. A facility for this purpose was established at hadamar, Germany. On 13 January 1941, the first transport of mentally ill and disabled persons arrived at the newly established killing centre, hadamar Clinic, from the psychiatric hospital at eichberg. After a few hours, the patients were killed by gas, and their remains burnt in the crematorium. in the following seven months, more than 10,000 people were killed in the gas chambers of hadamar. the nazis sterilised 400,000 people against their will and 70,000 people with disabilities were euthanased.

two decades ago, philosopher Jonathon Glover asked the question:

“what sort of people should there be?” he referred to the ‘genetic supermarket’ and envisaged that the development of gene therapies would result in parents being able to choose the genetics of their children.

the expectation that gene therapies would develop rapidly has not been the reality. it is still the case that no gene therapies have become established. what has developed as a spin-off of the techniques developed for use in the human Genome Project is a rapidly increasing capacity to identify genetic differences or abnormalities and to correlate this with disease states or propensity for disease.

much has been written about the possibility of using this information in discriminatory ways in relation to employment, financial institutions, personal insurance, superannuation and pension entitlements. But there is an area of discrimination that has already become well established – the area which the national health and medical Research Council calls ‘reproductive discrimination’.

Reproductive discrimination is when people are pressured or influenced to prevent the conception or birth of a child with a particular genetic trait:• Pre-nuptially – by screening individuals

who have decided to have a child.• Pre-fertilisation – by screening or

altering gametes, or somatic cell nuclear transfer.

• Pre-transfer – by embryo biopsy and selection.

• Pre-birth – by prenatal diagnosis and selective abortion.

• Peri-natally – by infanticide.some would argue that reproductive

discrimination is not discrimination at all but simply a matter of respecting the individual choice of a woman and her partner. however, to say that an act of discrimination is an act of individual choice does not make that choice any less discriminatory. discrimination is almost always a matter of individual choice. what matters is that discrimination may form something of a pattern so that a group or category of individuals suffers as a result of the choice made, and when respect for human life is contingent. n

The 2011 Annual bioethics Colloquium will be on the theme ‘eugenics in Contemporary bioethics’. See What’s On for details.

Associate Professor Tonti-Filippini is John Paul II Institute Associate Dean (Teaching, Learning and Research) and Head of bioethics, and is a consultant in bioethics.

Eugenics in Contemporary Bioethics

Nicholas Tonti-Filippini

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advent

BY FATHER PETER STEELE SJ

The following is an edited version of a homily delivered by Fr Peter Steele in Georgetown for the First Sunday of Advent in 2008. It is included in his recently published work, A Local Habitation: Poems and Homilies.

FOR muCh OF my LiFe i hAve been trying to teach poetry, and one of the points i have stressed is that poetry is often a way of sorting through people’s mixed feelings. One way and another, there is a good deal of ‘on the other hand’ talk in poetry, of ‘however’ and ‘but’ and ‘good heavens, this too has to be taken account of’.

now, this is not surprising, because most of us have at some time or other mixed feelings about almost anything that matters to us in life. even those we love most have, shall we say, their moments; and so, if we will let them, do those we love least. Psychologically, our normal days are to a degree volatile days, and so is our world.

what all this is leading up to is the proposition that we may well have mixed feelings both about Advent and about the Christmas towards which it leads us. i have known more than one person who could not stand Christmas. this may have to do with bad Christmas experiences – as with the Christmas meal in James Joyce’s Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, which ends in tears. But it may also have to do with a lively sense of the

ironies which not only attached to Christ’s birth but which attach to our own often-savaged, often agony-attended world, at Christmas as at any other time. the venerable among us may remember a simon and Garfunkel rendition, now more than 40 years old, of Silent Night in which the background was a recitation of one actual disaster after another.

And yet Christmas is indeed for adults who are weathering life, as well as for children who (one hopes) are relishing it. more than one masterpiece which portrays Christ’s birth is laden with imagery having to do with his odious death; and every portrayal of the arrival of the magi shows them offering tributary gifts which bear on that same death. the more lyrical the Christmas songs are, the better, but there should always be room for stranger and graver songs too – and this not for aesthetic reasons but for reasons of our keeping faith with the life lived by the incarnate and mortal son.

now, in keeping with this business of the mixed condition of humanity, and with our mixed feelings, the passage from isaiah’s Chapter 64

says on the one hand: “we have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. we all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” And then, after a moment: “yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

Let me say a word about the clay and the potter.

trace us back far enough and of course we did all come either out of the ocean or out of the earth; and, either by short routes or by longer ones, that is where we will return – for a while. the notion of us as being clay-like is a clear-eyed one. the notion of God as being our potter-like fashioner is also a clear-eyed one. But in the something like ten thousand years since potters first went to work, they have, as we all know, produced work which ranges from the simplest and most pragmatic to things of abiding glory. Any of us who has for a while played the potter will soon have intuited this. it is a good thing to be for a while in concert with those nameless women and men who fashioned the millions of cups and plates and jars and other vessels, so usefully, so helpfully. And it is perhaps still better a thing to have had the good fortune to be able to make something beautiful: the more beautiful the object, the humbler one is, or should be, to have had a part in its coming to be.

the God whom we adore, and to whom we turn today in prayerful hope, has made us well. we are useful, whatever we may sometimes feel. we are also beautiful, in ways which are more than skin deep. Others can see this when they take the trouble to do so – and we should take their word for it. in either event, there is someone to thank for it and this is a good day to begin anew to do so. And however a particular day may be going, it can be a source of encouragement, of taking-heart, for us to remember the joy a creative artist takes in the making and giving which is at the heart of artistry. Let us rejoice in the Lord, we say rightly. we can do so the more readily if we remember how the Lord rejoices in us. n

Fr Peter Steele is Professor emeritus of english Literature at Melbourne University and was Provincial Superior of the Jesuits in Australia from 1985 to 1990.

The potter’s work

Prof. emeritus Peter Steele

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perspective BY FATHER GERARD DOWLING OAM Dean emeritus OAM Spiritual Director of Centacare Catholic Family Services, Melbourne.

eveR sinCe i hAd the nOtiOn of leading a fourth and final pilgrimage to the Passion Play in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau, i have tried to involve you as much as i could every step of the way. so, it is only fitting that i bring you up to date now that this inspiring challenge has finally been completed.

well, once all the countless details of preparation had been completed, 14 september, the day of our departure, finally arrived. nine pilgrims set out from new zealand, one from the Philippines, and 16 from Australia.

One central incentive had prompted the pursuit of this common goal and had moulded us into a cooperative community as we prepared for and participated in that unforgettable experience. And that was to share together in the re-enactment of the death and Resurrection of Jesus. in all, it was a well-planned schedule, arranged for us by our organiser, Kathryn O’Connor of O’Connor travel world, which proudly announces to the world that it is conducting an “apostolate consecrated to the sacred heart of Jesus and the immaculate heart of mary”.

An italian-born young lady, Patrizia, was our guide throughout, and nothing was a trouble for her to ensure that

every item on our very packed agenda was carried out to the letter. my fellow travellers were indeed a varied group, including three priests, two Carmelite nuns and a reasonably balanced proportion of men and women, who all combined well together.

Collectively, we constituted quite a cross-section of personalities with one common denominator: a desire to deepen our appreciation for what Jesus had done for us in the events leading up to and following his sacrifice of himself on Calvary.

Of the 26 of us who travelled together, only my twin sister mary and i had previously attended the Passion Play, so it was no surprise to us to witness during the lengthy break between the afternoon and evening sessions of the presentation, as well as for a considerable time afterwards, just how profound was the impact the re-enactment had on our companions. Quite tangibly, therefore, all the time, effort and expense to which they had so wisely committed themselves had been graciously rewarded for them and us by the Lord.

however, the graces and blessings of the pilgrimage did not stop there. the pilgrims commented repeatedly that the daily concelebration of the eucharist, in a succession of both simple and

grand settings, was truly fulfilling. All this was enhanced as well by the widespread and frequent recitation of the Rosary, shared so admirably by the group, and accompanied daily by our special Pilgrimage Prayer, in which we gratefully remembered the supportive involvement of our 87 associate pilgrims, who were united with us back home in the spirit.

And, while so much of our spiritual journey had been concentrated on what had taken place in Oberammergau, i believe that mention should also be made of our visit to the Church of Our Lady the victorious in the city of Prague. there the world-famous, beautifully adorned image of Jesus as an infant is enshrined, and it is a very busy venue, well cared for by men of the discalced Carmelite Order.

As pilgrims, we were not only warmly welcomed there, but our visit helped each of us, who was open to it, to pause and deepen our appreciation for the belief that God had actually become one of us as a vulnerable, dependent child, a commemoration so often sadly restricted to the season of Christmas.

most of us grasped whatever opportunities were offered to take in the superb natural beauty of the lands through which we travelled, especially in switzerland and Bavaria, and to learn as much as we could of the history, culture and architecture of those nations. in

Our pilgrimage experience

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Standing, from left: Dame Margaret Millard (NZ), Coach Driver Angelo (Italy), Margaret Rieger (NZ), elizabeth Deveer (NZ), Kevin Nolan (Aus), Glenise Chisholm (NZ), Kevin Hurley (Aus), Remedios Walker (The Philippines), John Leschke (Aus), Carmen viegelmann (NZ), Alannah Joan Chettleburgh (NZ) [obscured], Kathleen Moginie (NZ) [obscured], Celine Fernandez (Aus), Maurine Phelan (Aus), Hazel Kozera (NZ) [obscured], Judith O’brien (Aus), Sr bernadette Mary Foster OCDM (Aus), Fr Wayne edwards PP (Aus), Sr Joyce Isobel Kelly OCDM (Aus), vincent vella (Aus), Tour Guide-Patrizia (Italy). Seated (left to right): bernadette Moloney (Aus), Daniel Nolan (Aus), Mary McLoughlin (Aus), Fr Peter Conaghan SM (NZ), Fr Gerard Dowling OAM (Aus) [Chaplain], Mary Simpson (Aus). Absent: Patricia Hayes (Aus).


feastday ST AMBROSE OF MILAN – 7 deceMBeR

that, we were aided by the skilful and sensible driving of the most thoughtful coach driver, Angelo, that i have had the privilege to work with on my many pilgrimages.

On the lighter side of our experiences, two merit special mention: the coverage of the sites in salzburg, in Austria, associated with the filming of the Academy Award-winning film about the trapp Family singers, The Sound of Music; and a concert presentation of highlights from that musical in a theatre-restaurant in that city. the joy of the occasion was delightful for those of us who chose to attend.

A similar but markedly different experience was shared by those who decided to join an evening boat cruise in that magnificent gem of a city, Prague. in those pleasant surrounds we relaxed and celebrated the birthdays of two of our fellow pilgrims, who happened to have actually been born on the same day but had never known of each other’s existence prior to our departure from Australia.

As you have read through the preceding paragraphs, i trust that i have been able to convey to you an adequate appreciation, in the space available, of just how truly wonderful, from both the spiritual and human viewpoints, was the pilgrimage the 26 of us, from new zealand and Australia, made to Oberammergau and Prague during the european autumn of 2010 amid the fascinating treasures that central europe has to offer; with, of course, your interest and prayers supporting us along the way.

ObErAMMErGAU PILGrIMAGE PrAYEr

Heavenly Father,as we journey togetherin the company of your Son, Jesus,whose Death and Resurrection are relived in the Passion Play in Oberammergau, we open ourselves to the power of the Holy Spirit,that our faith will be deepened,our hope strengthened,and our love enrichedin response to the pilgrimage we are making.And may our associate pilgrimsbe abundantly blessed for supporting us.Our Lady of the Way, pray for us.Amen. n

As broadcast during the Family Counsellor Program over Radio Sport 927 on Sunday 21 November 2010.

BY SAINT AMBROSE OF MILAN, EARLy CHURCH FATHER AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

St Ambrose was born around 339 AD in what is now France and began a career in law and politics. In 374 AD, he was baptised and ordained deacon, priest, then bishop in the same week. Ambrose’s deep spirituality, love of God’s Word and oratorical skill made him one of the greatest preachers of the early church. He was a fierce opponent of heresy, paganism, and hypocrisy and battled to preserve the independence of the Church from the state. In 386 AD St Ambrose baptised Augustine. St Ambrose died on Holy Saturday (4 April) in 397 AD.

BeLOved BRethRen, yOu hAve heard in the present reading how st Paul says, i want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord. For the salvation of our souls God in his goodness calls us to the joys of everlasting blessedness. the joys of this world lead to eternal sorrow; but those who persevere in following the joys that are to be found in the will of the Lord will find themselves led to an enduring, an eternal world. so st Paul says again, i repeat, what i want is your happiness.

he is urging us to grow in the joy that leads to God and to the fulfilment of God’s commandments. the more we strive to obey the precepts of our Lord God in this world, the more

blessed we shall be in the life to come and the greater will be the glory that we receive in God’s presence.

Let your tolerance be evident to everyone: that is, the holiness of your behaviour should not only be clear to God but also to men. it should be an example of modesty and self-discipline to all who share this earth with you. it should leave nothing but good memories, both for God and for man.

the Lord is very near, there is no need to worry. the Lord is always near to anyone who calls on him in truth, with right faith, with firm hope, with perfect love. he himself knows what you need before you ask it of him; he is always ready to give his faithful servants whatever help they need. when bad things happen to us we should not be greatly worried, because we should know that we have God close to us as our defender. the Lord is close to those with contrite hearts; those with a broken spirit he will save. many are the tribulations of the just; the Lord will free them of all their troubles. if we fight to fulfil and keep his precepts, he will not be slow to give us the aid he has promised.

if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving. when we are afflicted with tribulations let us not bear them sadly or grumble about them – certainly not! – but let us be patient and cheerful, giving thanks to God always, in all circumstances. n

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Rejoice in the Lord always

CLASSIFIEDSSOUTHERN STARS SOCIAL CLUB • A club for single Catholics with a group for 25 to 35 year olds (young Stars Club) and a group for 35 to 50 year olds. Our activities include our popular Party Nights, Coffee Nights, Dancing Nights, Tennis Days and Walks. If you want to have an active social life and make new friends then ring Peter on 9885 2167 A/H or email to [email protected]. Also see http://sites.google.com/site/sstarssc/

HEARTS IN ACTION • Welcoming group for people in their late 20s, 30s and 40s seeking to build a network of Catholic friends. Two social events per month as well as a Gospel reflection evening. For more information or to join the mailing list please phone Christina on 0420 377 478 or see http://groups.google.com/group/hearts-in-action.

LOOkING FOR AN INCLUSIVE COMMUNITy? • Cross-Purposes is an ecumenical support group for families with children with a disability. The Cross-Purposes community meets monthly on Fridays for parent support, consisting of reflection, prayer and conversation, and 6 times per year for Family Gatherings on Sunday afternoon. For more information call Cross-Purposes on (03) 8809 3014 or email [email protected].

CATHOLIC SOLO PARENTS INC. is a Catholic organisation which offers support, friendship, social and spiritual activities to singles, widowed, separated and divorced who uphold Christian values. Meetings are held at various venues. Please refer to our website: www.catholicsolos.com.au (under construction) or contact Margaret 9876 7986 (AH) for further information.

SEEkING PHOTOS, MEMORABILIA & STORIES in regard to Saint Joseph’s Technical School, South Melbourne (1925-1988) & Christian brothers School, South Melbourne (1900-1925). More info: www.stjoestech.org.au / Contact: [email protected] or Ph: 03 9016 4295

The order of Malta invites you toLourdes Day Mass 2010

Celebrated at: St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Saturday 4th December at 10.30am

The Principal Celebrant will be His Grace, the Archbishop of Melbourne the Most Reverend Denis Hart D.D.Wheelchair access by the side door of Albert Street. Vehicles are free to approach this entrance.

Your Lourdes Day Gif tEach attendee will receive a gift bag containing a bottle of Lourdes Water, Rosary Beads, a booklet containing the liturgy and prayers of the Holy Mass and a how to pray the Rosary card.

Please note:

• Thegiftbags(oneperperson)will be available at the various entrances to the Cathedral before Holy Mass.

• Werequestthatallattendeesformaqueueasdirectedbythe ushers at each entrance. Bearing in mind the poor health of many of those who attend and the frailty of others, werequestthatduerespectbegiven to their condition.

• Shouldyourequiremorethanone bag, additional bags may be available after the ceremony.

Please note:• Ticketsarenotissuedtoattend

the Mass, everyone is welcome.

• Refreshmentsofbottledwaterand biscuits will be available after Mass.

• Toiletsareavailableonthecityside of the Cathedral.

• Wheelchairaccessisavailablefor drop off and collection purposes.

• Usherswillbeinattendancetoassistasrequiredontheday.

• Ifyouwouldliketobeincludedin our 2011 mailing list please send your name, address and telephone number to: The Archdiocese of Melbourne, Lourdes Day Mass, PO Box 2202, Fitzroy, Victoria 3065

lourdes ad 2010.indd 1 12/11/10 11:06 AM


whatthepopesaidworldnewsPope encourages devoted, reasoned approach to ScriptureGOd COnstAntLy tRies tO enteR intO dialog with the people he created – speaking through creation and even through silence, but mainly in the Church through the Bible and through his son Jesus Christ, Pope Benedict Xvi writes in his apostolic exhortation, Verbum Domini (The Word of the Lord).

the Pope encourages Catholics to embrace and value each of the ways God tries to speak to humanity. the exhortation, a papal reflection on the conclusions of the 2008 synod of Bishops on the word of God, emphasises the need to improve Catholics’ familiarity with the Bible and the need to read and understand it in harmony with the Church.

the Bible is not a dusty collection of ancient writings addressed only to ancient peoples, he writes, but neither is it a private letter addressed to individuals who are free to interpret it any way they please.

the Pope also offered a step-by-step guide to ‘lectio divina’, a form of prayerful meditation on the word of God.

he writes that the first step is to open with a reading (‘lectio’) of a text, “which leads to a desire to understand its true context: what does the biblical text say in itself?” he continues that understanding what the text is trying to say is important so as to move beyond one’s own notions and ideas.

“next comes meditation (‘meditatio’), which asks: what does the biblical text say to us?” the Pope writes. Christians both as individuals and as a community need to let themselves be “moved and challenged” by what the sacred text is telling them.

“Following this comes prayer (‘oratio’), which asks the question: what do we say to the Lord in response to his word?”. Prayer is critical for hearts and minds to be transformed.

“Finally, lectio divina concludes with contemplation (‘contemplatio’), during which we take up, as a gift from God, his own way of seeing and judging reality, and ask ourselves what conversion of mind, heart and life is the Lord asking of us,” he concludes. n CNS

Pope urges ‘just solutions’ to financial crisisPOPe BenediCt Xvi hAs uRGed wORLd leaders at the recent G20 summit in seoul to seek “lasting, sustainable and just solutions” to the economic and social problems facing the world.

in a letter to south Korean President Lee myung-bak, who also is president of the summit, the Pope told the G20 leaders he was hopeful that the solutions adopted would achieve “the authentic and integral development of man”.

he wrote: “the summit seeks solutions to quite complex questions, therefore requiring the cooperation of the entire international community, based on the acknowledgement of the primary and central value of human dignity.” n CNS

Canonisation creates interest in Catholic faithin 2010 the CAthOLiC enQuiRy CentRe hAs experienced a surge of 63% over last year’s total number of people inquiring about the Catholic faith, mainly due to the publicity around the canonisation of mary macKillop.

Catholic enquiry Centre director marita winters said: “we hope and pray that st mary of the Cross will continue to call people to a life of faith in the Catholic tradition, and that the Catholic enquiry Centre might respond to her command: ‘never see a need without trying to remedy it’ (Original Rule, 1871).” n

Catholic enquiry Centre ph: 1300 4 32 484.

Prayers in New york for murdered Baghdad Catholicsthe AttACK On the syRiAC CAthOLiC Cathedral in Baghdad was the “worst possible nightmare” and one that was not yet over, said the holy see’s representative at the united nations, Archbishop Francis Chullikatt. he was speaking in new york City’s Church of the holy Family – one block away from the un – during a special evening prayer service for the victims of the attack on 31 October.

in the attack, 58 died and more than 100 were wounded.

Archbishop Chullikatt had been the apostolic nuncio to iraq and Jordan for the past four years until arriving in new york two months ago to fill his new post at the un. the Archbishop said that not only do the dead and their families need prayers, but also those assembled need to pray “so that our hearts do not grow bitter and so that we can do our share in building a world that values and promotes reconciliation, harmony, love and peace among peoples, nations and religions”. n ZeNIT

St Dominic de Guzman Health Foundation in IndonesiaAmOnG A POPuLAtiOn OF 240 miLLiOn, indonesian Catholics constitute a minority of just 3% of the total population, almost 90% of whom are muslims. nonetheless there are 7 million Catholics in indonesia in 37 Catholic dioceses.

the island of Java, where the capital Jakarta is situated, has more than 130 million inhabitants, making it more populous than any other island on earth.

the st dominic de Guzman health Foundation is present in three dioceses of Java. Run by the dominican sisters, its mission is to help the sick. there is one hospital, one maternity clinic and three smaller clinics, where the sisters and lay staff care for patients without distinction as to their religious or ethnic background.

none of the foundation’s institutions is run for profit since their central philosophy is love of neighbour. As a result, it is difficult for the sisters to remain financially viable, since most of the patients are very poor. But the sisters are determined to maintain the services of the clinics and ensure their staff have access to the training they need. n ACN


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More Christianity: Finding the Fullness of the Faith

Dwight Longenecker

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BY DEACON ANTHONy GOOLEy

SACROSANCTuM CONCILIuM (SC) sought to renew the Church’s teaching and practice of the sacraments in such a way that we would more clearly appreciate the faith of the Church. in this reflection we consider the Rite of Christian initiation of Adults (RCiA), the rite for admission of other Christians into full communion and Anointing of the sick.

the second vatican Council taught that: “the catechumenate for adults, comprising several distinct steps, is to be restored … By this means, the time of the catechumenate, which is intended as a period of suitable instruction, may be sanctified by sacred rites to be celebrated at successive intervals of time” (SC §64).

Although sometimes called the RCiA program, the RCiA is not a program but an apprenticeship in living the Christian life in the Catholic tradition. the rites celebrated in RCiA are not mere markers of time but the means

to make the journey into the Church a holy pilgrimage accompanied by the prayer of the local Church.

RCiA affirms that the Catholic Church is a unique way of living the Gospel but, like all ways of being Christian, it is a way that must be learned by being immersed in the life of the community. instruction, classes and ‘programs’ may be of some assistance but it is the journey of holiness and immersion in a community of holiness that is primary. Catholics believe the Christian community as a whole forms those who are in the RCiA.

Sacrosanctum Concilium emphasises that valid baptism can only be administered once. therefore, it asks that “a new rite … be drawn up for converts who have already been validly baptised; it should indicate that they are now admitted to communion with the Church” (SC §69); this rite is to be distinguished from the rite of admission of people who have not been baptised. this is an affirmation that the means of grace – in particular the sacrament of Baptism – are operative outside the Catholic Church even if some communities lack the fullness of the means of grace.

Sacrosanctum Concilium also taught that “‘extreme unction’, which may also and more fittingly be called ‘Anointing of the sick’, is not a

sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. hence, as soon as any one of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him/her to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived” (sC §73). Anointing of the sick is not the ‘Last Rites’. the ‘Last Rites’ are prayers and blessings to accompany those who are near death which do not include anointing. By reminding us that the sacrament is for those “in danger of death from sickness or old age”, and not simply for those who have reached “the point of death”, Sacrosanctum Concilium reminds us that we are to accompany our sisters and brothers with our prayers at these critical times.

through the Anointing of the sick, which may be administered more than once, for those who have chronic illness, are preparing for a major medical procedure or who have been diagnosed with a serious or acute illness, the Church expresses its love and concern for each member and invites the healing grace of Christ into our lives.

the renewal of the sacraments helps us to pray more clearly what it is that we believe and by believing, receive more fruitfully the grace of the sacraments. n

The sacraments II


BY JIM MURPHy

The Social NetworkStarring Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake and Armie Hammer. Directed by David Fincher. 120 mins, Rated M (coarse language).

i Am nOt On FACeBOOK, i Am not a Friendster and i do not occupy myspace. neither have i ever twittered (tweeted?). yes, i am antediluvian.

i disclose this terrible fact just to show that one need not be up with all that internet jazz in order to thoroughly enjoy david Fincher’s intriguing account of the genesis of Facebook.

Based on Ben mezrich’s book, The Accidental Billionaires, the slick, witty and fast-moving screenplay by Aaron sorkin (Charlie Wilson’s War, tv’s The West Wing) is a rollicking account of how 19-year-old archetypal geek mark zuckerberg (played with total distracted conviction by Jesse eisenberg) stumbled on the idea for Facebook

when looking for a way to embarrass a girl, a fellow harvard student, who had dumped him.

zuckerberg started out merely by mischievously hacking the harvard student database, but this gave him the idea for a social network he called theFacebook to enable students to communicate with each other. its swift acceptance by the student body encouraged him to extend it to other American universities, then their european counterparts, then the world. somehow (this is the antediluvian speaking) he has become the world’s youngest billionaire as a result.

Fortunately, in terms of the screenplay, it was not that simple. zuckerberg’s success at hacking the harvard site had caught the attention of the rich, snobbish winkelvoss twins, Cameron and tyler (both played cleverly by Armie hammer). they had a half-baked idea for a student-to-student link but lacked the technical prowess to execute it, so had approached zuckerberg to develop it. And because zuckerberg the geek, though brilliant at writing computer programs, had little head for practicalities, he had approached his ‘only friend’ at harvard, eduardo saverin (Andrew Garfield), to put up some money to get theFacebook going

and become its business manager.After Facebook took off – the

‘the’ dropped on the advice of napster’s inventor, sean Parker (Justin timberlake), who came on board with his entrepreneurial flair – the winkelvosses and saverin sued zuckerberg for billions of dollars over what they claimed was their contribution to its success. the legal argument to and fro, with zuckerberg in the middle of hostilities, adrift in his geeky dream world but still capable of a pungent, witty retort, is what makes The Social Network such a universally entertaining and thought-provoking drama.

the film, incisively directed by Fincher, raises questions of friendship, loyalty and honesty but does not have any clear-cut answers. it shows how, in the dizzy headlong plunge into new technology, naivete, mendacity, virtuosity, jealousy and revenge can all get jumbled up in a confusing way. somewhere in there is the truth of what happened but the movie leaves you free to find the version that suits you best.

meanwhile, if someone wants to explain the point of Facebook … n

Jim Murphy is an associate of the Australian Catholic Office for Film & broadcasting.

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BY kEVIN MARk

Falling in Love with Godedited by Frank Fletcher MSC, St Pauls, Pb, 143pp, $24.95

we ARe ALL FAmiLiAR with traditional paintings of the sacred heart of Jesus. to modern eyes, the image of Jesus’ heart appearing above his chest seems quaint if not bizarre. But does this once-popular devotion have any significance for today?

such a question is obviously of concern to members of the society of the missionaries of the sacred heart (msC), a religious congregation founded by Fr Jules Chevalier (1824 –1907), whose charism is rooted in the sacred heart.

Falling in Love with God has been produced by Australian members of

the msC congregation, and some lay associates, in response to such concerns. the editor, and principal contributor, is Fr Frank Fletcher. the book presents a concise but rich account of the relevance of a ‘spirituality of the heart’ for our time.

the first part of the volume is entitled ‘discovering the heart’, and Fr Fletcher begins by reflecting on the agnostic milieu we encounter today, especially in Australia. Focusing on the experience of our hearts transcends the debates that characterise contemporary atheism or indifference to Christian faith.

the second chapter examines how in recent centuries theology has given importance to reason and logic and neglected religious experience. the second vatican Council sought to restore this balance. the term ‘heart’ is a primordial word that points to a reality that is mysterious and cannot be fully defined or understood. Fr Fletcher presents a case for faith in which mind and heart are acknowledged as complementary.

in the following chapter, ‘ways to a Passionate God’, Fr Fletcher presents the core of a spirituality of the heart,

thereby setting the agenda for the rest of the volume. Chapters on prayer and on contemplation by other contributors follow.

Part two, ‘Loving the world’, focuses on the impact a spirituality of the heart can have on our lives and why it can empower our action in the world.

Among the chapters in this section is married couple Brad taylor and Jacinta sinclair’s reflections on how this spirituality addresses the hopes and anxieties of today’s younger people. Fr Philip malone writes of how the heart of Jesus teaches us how to be different and to make a difference.

Fr Fletcher contributes a further chapter, which focuses on ‘heart spirituality and the Lay vocation’. Fr Barry Brundell reflects on the msC principle of ‘kindness always and above all else’ as a perfectly appropriate pastoral approach.

From within the core of the msC charism, Fr Fletcher and his fellow writers have offered us an engaging vision of a spirituality of the heart that warrants careful reading and contemplation. n


gospelreflections2nd Sunday of Advent – year AIs 11:1-10; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12

BY FR JUSTIN FORD, PARISH PRIEST OF ST MARy’S, ASCOT VALE

eveRy yeAR, the seCOnd sundAy OF Advent presents to us the mission of John the Baptist “preparing a way for the Lord”. we can see two aspects in this ‘preparing’, both found in matthew’s simple statement of the Baptist’s central message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.”

First is mentioned the call to repentance, to purification, so that the people’s hearts can receive the Lord when he comes. this in turn is multi-faceted. the example is given of the Baptist’s own asceticism of dwelling place, clothing and diet: the wilderness, the garment of camel hair, the locusts and wild honey all convey the atmosphere of penance, of self-emptying. then we have the people responding, coming to John for baptism and the confession of sins – foreshadowings of Christian Baptism and Reconciliation. Finally, there is the warning of retribution by fire for the Pharisees and sadducees if they fail to produce the fruits of repentance, relying instead merely on their Abrahamic descent.

One might easily draw various ‘moral lessons’ for our own Advent preparation from the Baptist’s exhortations – the need for a more and more heartfelt repentance for our own sins, bringing forth the fruits of a changed life; the call to confession of sins in sacramental Reconciliation; the need to do penance, both as reparation and as ‘spiritual training’; the warning not to rely merely on the fact of being Catholics, as the Pharisees and sadducees relied on being children of Abraham – as with the latter, God could raise Catholics “from these very stones”.

But beyond all this we glimpse the second aspect of ‘preparing’, in the very reason for all the purification, which is that “the kingdom of heaven is close at hand”. Our direct focus on the approaching kingdom expresses itself in the simple expectant opening of our hearts in anticipation of a coming divine ‘Gift’ beyond anything our own exertions can produce – the prophesied one who is “more powerful”, and who will baptise “with the holy spirit and fire”.

Our various acts of penance and purification are all valid and necessary, but gain their true power only through the opening of ourselves, in prayer and the sacraments, to the Gift of the coming saviour: he alone gives us the grace of the holy spirit, so that our works of repentance may come alive with divine fire. n

MUSIc NOTES • Psalm: CWb 175 or GA 49 • Hymns: On Jordan’s bank (CWb 780, NLP 198, RS 490, TIS 270), Like a Shepherd (AOv 160, G 350, GA 467), Comfort, Comfort, O My People (AOv 12, RS 488, TIS 647), Advent Litany (GA 279), Take Comfort, God’s People (CWb 813), The voice of God (CWb 835, GA 476, TSI 282).

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1st Sunday of Advent – year AIs 2:1-5; Rom 13:11-14; Mt 24:37-44

BY FR JUSTIN FORD, PARISH PRIEST OF ST MARy’S, ASCOT VALE

we BeLieve mOst eAsiLy thinGs thAt ARe RiGht before our eyes. By comparison, the most certain ‘head’ knowledge of something can seem unreal to us, if we can’t actually see it. C. s. Lewis gives the example of his knowledge that his own hand he was looking at would one day be a skeleton’s hand – quite certain, yet in a way ‘unbelievable’.

in today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of those “in noah’s day”, “eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away”. then he explains, “it will be like this when the son of man comes”.

As we go about our daily lives, especially with so many around us living as though this world is all there is, the next life can seem unreal. so Jesus warns us not to take our experience of the ‘normal’ as the absolute standard; for each of us the moment will definitely come when God’s reality breaks into our reality, with the unexpectedness of the great Flood.

“you too must stand ready because the son of man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Jesus is referring primarily to his final coming on the last day, yet this principle of ‘readiness’ applies equally to our meeting with him following our own death. Just as no one knows when Christ will return, no one really knows when they personally will face death and judgment.

People often like to think that if there is another life, we all necessarily go to the same destiny, on the view that ‘we’re all good people’. Conversely, a judgment that could go either way, a different future for this person and for that, is something else that can seem unreal. so Jesus makes it quite specific: “… of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left”. we’re warned not to take salvation for granted – above all for ourselves.

Our overriding outlook is to be of trust in God, and our basic motivation love rather than fear. yet sometimes we need a jolt to get us back on track – if love has grown cold, then maybe a bit of fear and self-interest is all that’s left to motivate us to set our lives in order. so Jesus, here as on other occasions, doesn’t refrain from appealing to these motives, knowing that for many, they’re a necessary catalyst in the process of conversion towards the perfect love that casts out fear. n

MUSIc NOTES • Psalm: CWb 172 or GA 72 • Hymns: Wake, O Wake (CWb 853, GA 282, RS 489, TIS 266), O Come Divine Messiah (RS 479), Come to Set Us Free (AOv 39, G 142, GA 277), Joyful in Hope (AOv 20), Wait for the Lord (G 139, GA 283, RS 484), earth Has Many a Noble City (CWb 669, TIS 291), Come O Jesus, Come O Lord (CWb 658, NLP 46).


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Sunday: 8am, 9.30am, 11am, 6:30pmMonday: 7am, 1pm Tue-Fri: 7am, 8am, 1pmSaturday: 8am, 6pm vigil

St Francis’ Church • 326 Lonsdale St, Melbourne

Sunday: 6pm (Saturday evening), 7am, 8am, 9am, 10am, 11am, 12.30pm, 1:30pm, 4:30pm, 6pm; Monday – Thursday: 7:30am, 8am, 11am, 12:05pm, 1:05 pm, 5:30pmFriday: 7:30am, 8am, 11am, 12pm, 1:05pm, 5:30pmSaturday: 8am, 11am, 12:05pmPublic Holidays: 8am, 11am, 12:05pm, 5:30pm

St Augustine’s Church • 631 Bourke St, Melbourne

Sunday: 10:30am & 8pmMon-Thurs: 1:05pmFriday: 1:05pm, 9pm (1st Friday)Saturday: 6pm International youth Mass (3rd Saturday)

St Mary Star of the Sea Church • 33 Howard St, Melbourne West

Sunday: 10:30am; 12pm LithuanianMonday – Friday: 12:30pmSaturday: 6:30pm Sunday vigil

All Saints • 174 Brunswick St, Fitzroy

Sunday: 10amTue-Sat: 9am

what’sonCLERGy APPOINTMENTS

Parish Priest

Rev eugene Ashkar, Mt evelyn /Upper yarra valley (Maroondah), with effect from 10 November 2010.

Rev Anthony Spierings, South blackburn (Whitehorse), with effect from 12 January 2011.

Rev Pius Kodakkathanath vC, Hoppers Crossing (Westgate), with effect from 12 January 2011.

Rev Andrew Jekot, Mordialloc/Aspendale (bayside), with effect from 12 January 2011.

Rev Max vodola, Flemington/Kensington (Central West ), with effect from 12 January 2011.

Rev Nicholas Dillon, North blackburn (Whitehorse), with effect from 18 February 2011.

Rev David Tremble MGL, burwood (Whitehorse), with effect from 17 April 2011.

Rev vincent John CMI, Highett (bayside), with effect from 27 April 2011.

Administrator

Rev David Callaghan MGL, burwood (Whitehorse), with effect from 1 January 2011 – 31 January 2011.

Rev Anthony Phillips MGL, burwood (Whitehorse), with effect from 1 February 2011 – 17 April 2011.

Assistant Priest

Rev Manoj Kannamthadathl vC, Hoppers Crossing (Westgate), with effect from 12 January 2011.

PARISH MASS TIMES

www.cam.org.au/mass-times

CORRECTION

In Kairos volume 21 Issue 21, Melissa Ohden was incorrectly named “Michelle Ohden” in the index on page 3.

Go to www.cam.org.au/news-events.html and review the calendar.

ADVENT ORGAN CONCERT SERIES 2010 AT MENTONESt Patrick’s Church, cnr Rogers and Childers streets, Mentone. Join the Catholic parish of Mentone-Parkdale for music of the season performed on the historic 1862 Nicholson Organ by prominent Melbourne organists each Saturday of Advent at 5pm:• Saturday November 27: Dr Gordon Atkinson• Saturday December 4: Christopher Cook• Saturday December 11: Fr Nicholas Dillon• Saturday December 18: Christopher TrikilisAdmission free. Inquiries: 9583 2103 (office hours) or 0402 678 148.

yTU LITURGICAL STUDy TOUR (4 NOVEMBER-2 DECEMBER 2011)Travel through centres of liturgical significance in Cologne, Leuven, Paris and Rome with experienced tour leaders and liturgical guides. bookings required before 15 December 2010.Information sessions: St Francis’ Pastoral Centre, Melbourne, at 3pm on 14 November and at 7.30pm on 16 November.Phone Margaret Smith SGS on 0417 225 830, or Tom Knowles SSS on 0408 324 520.email: [email protected]

ST JOSEPH’S COLLEGE MELBOURNE COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS• Please note change of date and venue:

3 December – Final Reunion Dinner at Ormond College Grand Dining Room at the University of Melbourne.

• 8 December, 6.30pm – Mass of Thanksgiving at St Mary’s Church, 33 Howard Street, West Melbourne. Supper at North Melbourne Campus.

Call the College on 9269 6999. www.sjcmelb.catholic.edu.au

CATHOLIC SOLO PARENTS CHRISTMAS LUNCH 5 December 2010.Contact Margaret on 9876 7986 (AH).

CARMELITE CENTRE CHRISTMAS DRINkSThursday 2 December, 6pm at the Carmelite Centre, 214 Richardson Street, Middle Park.Details: 9690 5430.

THE 2011 ANNUAL BIOETHICS COLLOQUIUM • Public forum: 7pm on Sunday 23 January 2011,

Christ Lecture Theatre, Australian Catholic University. Greg Donnelly MLC, Government Whip in the NSW Parliament, will speak on ‘New Developments in the euthanasia Campaign’.

• Colloquium dinner: 7-10pm, Tuesday 25 January, The Pumphouse Hotel, 128 Nicholson Street, Fitzroy. Guest speaker Kristen Deane on ‘Down Syndrome in the brave New World’.

Details: Monica O’Shea: (03) 9412 3377; [email protected]

24 hours a day - 7 days a week

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Tel (03) 9465 9491 24 hours a day - 7 days a weekWilma Maria Righi and Lina M Li Rosi

Private repairs Repairer for all insurance companies Close to all public transport/replacement cars Catholic Church Insurance recognized repairer

718 Malvern Road, Prahran. (03) 9529 1999

10% DISCOUNT TO READERS IF YOU MENTION THIS AD

ENVIRONMENTAL PROFILE: Kairos is proudly printed in Australia on mill accredited ISO14001 environmental Management System (eMS), elemental Chlorine Free (eCF), Acid Free stock using soy-based inks (ecoMark certified).

PACkAGING: Packaging is 100% degradable plastic.

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