Tasmanian Catholic - Volume 7 Issue 1 2011

Vol 7:1 Feb/March 2011A publication of the Archdiocese of HobartComplimentary

6 - 8

FEATURES

Reflections on funerals

SOCIAL CONCERN

Euthanasia –not the answer

17

NEWS

Pasquina gives thanks

29

Standing with those who suff er

Editor

Mary-Anne Johnson

(03) 6208 6230

Production and Design

Cherie O’Meara

Published six times per year by the Archdiocese of

Hobart, The Tasmanian Catholic is distributed to

Catholic schools, hospitals, retirement villages and

parishes statewide.

We welcome contributions, but no guarantee of

publication can be given because of demands on

available space. Hard copy versions of items for

publication cannot be returned so please keep a

copy. Photographs submitted will only be returned

if accompanied by an addressed stamped envelope.

Contributions, advertising or other enquiries may

be made by email to [email protected]

or sent by mail to The Tasmanian Catholic,

GPO Box 62, Hobart, Tasmania, 7001.

Catholic Church Directorywww.hobart.catholic.org.au

The Office of the Archbishop

Phone: (03) 6208 6222 Fax: (03) 6208 6293

Business Manager

Peter Cusick CPA

Phone: (03) 6208 6227 Fax: (03) 6208 6292

Catholic Development Fund

Phone: (03) 6208 6260 Fax: (03) 6208 6290

Liturgy Office

Phone: (03) 6208 6233 Fax: (03) 6208 6292

Marriage Tribunal

Phone: (03) 6208 6250 Fax: (03) 6208 6297

The Office of Church Life and Mission

Phone: (03) 6208 6232 Fax: (03) 6208 6292

Tasmanian Catholic Justice

and Peace Commission

Phone: (03) 6208 6271 Fax: (03) 6208 6299

Towards Healing Help Line

Phone: 1800 356 613

Museum and Archives

Phone: (03) 6231 4740

Heritage Office

Phone/Fax: (03) 6224 5920

Catholic Diocesan Centre35 Tower Road New Town 7008, GPO Box 62 Hobart 7001

Phone: (03) 6208 6222 Fax: (03) 6208 6292

Vicar General

Fr Mark Freeman VG

44 Margaret Street, Launceston 7250

Phone: (03) 6331 4377 Fax: (03) 6334 1906

Chancellor

Fr Terry Rush VF PP

PO Box 42 Richmond 7025

Phone/Fax: (03) 6260 2189

Catholic Youth Ministry Chaplain

Fr Richard Ross

Phone: (03) 6326 1970

Catholic Education Office5 Emmett Place New Town 7008

Phone: (03) 6210 8888

Vocations Ministry

99 Barrack Street, Hobart

Phone: (03) 6234 4463

Centacare Welfare Services

Hobart 35 Tower Road New Town 7008

Phone: (03) 6278 1660

Launceston 201 York Street, Launceston 7250

Phone: (03) 6332 0600

Burnie 108 Mount Street Burnie 7320

Phone: (03) 6431 8555

Devonport 85 Best Street Devonport 7310

Phone: (03) 6423 6100

Willson Training

35 Tower Road New Town 7008

Phone: (03) 6208 6000

Diocesan Ecumenical Commission

Phone: (03) 6335 4708 A/H: (03) 6335 4826

DEADLINE NEXT EDITION March 30, 2011

All material in this publication is copyright and must

not be reproduced without the written permission of

the Archbishop of Hobart or his authorised delegate.

Printing

Foot and Playsted,

Launceston

(03) 6332 1400

Fax: (03) 6332 1444

INSIDE THIS ISSUEReflection 1

Archbishop Doyle writes 3

News in Brief 4-5

Features

Funeral reflections 6-8

Christmas 2010 12-13

A love of Israel -- Jenny’s story 20

Journey of Jesus 25

Fly on the wall 9

Social Concern

Breaking the criminal cycle 10

Society should Care, not kill 17

Supporting community 21

Patoral Life

Missal website launched 11

The Emmaus Monastic Community 18

Answering God’s call 19

General News

First Tasmanian enters Campion College 15

Busy in the Bay 26

Spirit Dream 26

Celebrating with God 29

Edgeways

Holy Muck 16

The Way across Tasmania

A cross that was and a ‘saint’ 23

School and College News

A school with energy! 24

Creativity at Bridgewater 24

Kids’ 7

Weddings

Catherine McGlone and Simon Harmsen 28

Verity Cleland and Bradley Davie 28

Lifestyle

Book and film reviews 30-31

Obituary

Leslie Anning 32

Bishop Joe Grech 33

Cover: Flooding in Ipswich, January 2011. Ipswich CBD looking North/West. Coles in centre, St Marys Church on left, Riverlink in background. Photographer: Rob Williams, The Queensland Times.

Cover: Centre Photo – Victoria Lang, Rosary Gardens resident.

Page 7: Photographer: TimboDon.

Page 10: Photographer: J Cliss.

Page 16: Photographer: Hannah Rowson.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away. Revelation 21:4

Our reflection art is used by kind permission of the artist, Kaye Green. Titled Celebrating Tree, it is part of a diptych, which was a finalist in last

year’s Blake Prize and is now owned by Deakin University.

We are standing by ready to assist our Church clients to recover from this catastrophic event. There are a number of simple steps you can take if you are affected by a flood or storm:

For claims enquiries and lodgement of claims please: Call 1300 655 001 or email [email protected]

See our website www.ccinsurances.com.au for flood risk advice.

“Our thoughts and prayers goout to everyone affected bythe current flooding crisis”

– Peter Rush, Chief Executive Officer,Catholic Church Insurances

1300 655 001

3

www.hobart.catholic.org.auwww.hobart.catholic.org.au

“Joseph Grech was very

much a child of the sun.

How often did people

call him warm?” May

his inspiration and deep

faith continue to inspire

us, and may he now rest

in peace.

Dear Friends in Christ,

Late in the afternoon of December 28,

2010, I received a phone-call from Fr

Brian Lucas, the General Secretary of the

Australian Catholic Bishops Conference,

to tell me the sad news that Bishop Joseph

Grech had died just a little earlier. I was

already aware that the Bishop was a patient

in St Vincent’s Private Hospital and was

critically ill, but the news of his death

provoked a feeling of great sadness in me,

as indeed was the experience of many

others as well.

Bishop Joe, as he liked to be known,

was a very special person. It was a message

that he himself regularly emphasised

to others, particularly the young people,

but it was certainly true in his own case as

well.

Joseph Angelo Grech was born in Malta

in 1948. It was a period in that country when

there were many more young men taking up

their studies for the priesthood than were

actually required in Malta itself, so during

the years of their studies, students were

encouraged to explore the possibility of

serving as a priest in another country. So

it was that Joseph Grech came to Australia,

to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of

Melbourne.

Melbourne was a place where a significant

number of Maltese migrants had already

settled, among who were some of the young

seminarian’s relatives. Joseph completed

his preparation of the Priesthood at Corpus

Christi College, and he returned to Malta for

his ordination in 1974.

Very quickly, as a young priest, his special

gifts became evident. He was an inspiring

preacher and a good communicator and

he possessed a deep personal spirituality as

the basis of his ministry. For these and other

reasons, he was chosen to go to Rome to

pursue a course in Spirituality, in preparation

for a new role as Spiritual Director at Corpus

Christi College. A number of Tasmanian

students came to know him during that

time.

I first met him when he was ordained

as an Auxiliary Bishop in the Archdiocese

of Melbourne in March 1999. His actual

ordination was an occasion of great joy and

celebration, particularly for the Maltese

communities, as well as other ethnic

communities in Melbourne.

In 2002, he was appointed as the Bishop

of Sandhurst, the rural diocese in Victoria

which has Bendigo as the centre. He quickly

endeared himself to the people of the diocese,

while at the same time he was able to make

a significant contribution to the Church in

Australia, and internationally as well.

He became the spokesperson for the

Bishops on the difficult issues in relation to

asylum seekers and the treatment of the boat

people. He was also closely involved with the

Catholic Youth Ministry at a national level and

he was the representative of the Bishops on

the National Council of Catholic Mission.

In addition he was regularly invited to

conduct retreats for the Charismatic Renewal

in Australia and overseas, and he served

on the Pontifical Council for Migrants and

Refugees.

During the years we were together as

members of the Bishops Conference, he and

I often sat in the same area of the conference

room, and along with Bishop Eugene Hurley,

we regularly went for a brisk walk after lunch

around Sydney Harbour. I look back now and

remember those as very special moments.

Many bishops and priests joined with some

4000 people who gathered in the Sacred

Heart Cathedral in Bendigo on 6 January

for the celebration of the Mass of Christian

Burial for Bishop Joseph Angelo Grech. His

sister travelled from Malta to be present. At

the conclusion of the Mass he was laid to rest

in the crypt of the Cathedral.

Bishop Joe Grech was a great gift to the

Church in Australia. At the Mass of Christian

Burial, Archbishop Mark Coleridge concluded

his homily by saying: “Joseph Grech was very

much a child of the sun. How often did people

call him warm?” May his inspiration and deep

faith continue to inspire us, and may he now

rest in peace.

For us who remain, another year opens up

before us. It will be a very special time again

for Catholic Youth Ministry as yet another

World Youth Day is in the preparation phase.

This time the location is Madrid, Spain. For us

in Australia it will not be an event of the same

magnitude as in Sydney in 2008, but efforts

are being made to ensure a strong Tasmanian

representation.

In October, I will be taking part in the “Ad

Limina” Visit of the Australian Bishops to Rome.

The last similar occasion was in 2004. The visit

is planned to cover a two-week period and it

will include a meeting with the Pope, visits

to the four major basilicas, and some of the

special shrines. This will be the last occasion

for me take part in such a visit.

I pray that this New Year will be a time of

peace, blessing and opportunity for each

and every one of us in the Archdiocese of

Hobart. As Bishop Joe Grech often reminded

his audience, each of us is special.

Yours sincerely in Christ

ADRIAN L DOYLE AM

Archbishop of Hobart

Archbishop Doyle Writes

The Director of Catholic Education in

the Sandhurst diocese, Ms Philomena

Billington, has written an obituary of

Bishop Joe, which is re-printed in p 33 of

this magazine.

4 Volume 7 Issue 1 2011

www.hobart.catholic.org.au

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Be part of the centenary action in 2011!

Thurs, April 7 – Formal reception at Government House

Fri, April 8 – Celebration Mass – Evening, Class Reunions

Sat, April 9 – Return to Barrack St – Centenary Dinner

Sun, April 10 – Return to Austins Ferry Campus

A sight seeing tour programme has also been

organised. For further information or to register

your interest contact: Development Officer, Rene

Sluyters (03) 6249 6555 [email protected].

au or Centenary Committee Chairman, Tony McGee

(03) 6225 4272 [email protected]

St Virgil’s marks 100 years

Monetar y donations are

desperately needed. State

President of the St Vincent de Paul

Society in Tasmania, Vin Hindmarsh,

said with thousands of families

losing everything in the Christmas

floods, people are already turning

to Vinnies for help.

“We need to be there for them to

help people rebuild their lives, but we

can only do that with the financial

support of the public,” Mr Hindmarsh said.

“Financial donations are the easiest way to

make sure we can quickly provide assistance

to those who need it,” Mr Hindmarsh said.

“When the flood waters recede, Vinnies will

still be there offering assistance and friendship:

helping people recover their lives.”

To make a donation to the Queensland

flood appeal, please visit any Vinnies Centre in

When the water goes down, Vinnies will still be there

40 Days For Life is a worldwide pro-life

campaign that raises awareness of the

spiritual, physical and emotional dangers

of abortion.

This year, 40 Days For Life will be

commencing in Tasmania to fight against

abortion using a three-point programme:

Prayer and fasting

Constant vigil

Community outreach

If you are interested please contact Erinn

McDonnell by email: fortydaysforlife@

hotmail.com or by phone: 04 07 694 137 or

(03) 6297 8583.

40 days for life

Lenten Program

Fr Michael Tate will be presenting

reflections on the ‘Our Father’.

This is a very Jewish prayer on the lips of

Jesus for His followers and for all humanity.

When: Thursdays, March 17, 24 and 31 at 10

am and 7 pm.

Where: Foyer, Holy Spirit Church, corner

Sandy Bay Rd and Duke St, Sandy Bay.

All welcome!

Rachel’s Vineyard

Tasmania or mail to St Vincent de Paul Society,

191 Invermay Road, Invermay, TAS 7248.

The Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, has

expressed his closeness to the victims of the

recent flooding and their families. As a gesture

of solidarity, His Holiness donated the sum of

$US50,000.00 in response to the urgent needs

of those affected by the natural disaster.

Urgent call from CWL!

Speak up in support of marriage NOW!

The House of Representatives has

passed a motion calling on all federal

parliamentarians to seek the views of their

constituents on homosexual marriage.

CWL believes that all who value marriage

as between a man and a woman have a

responsibility to accept this opportunity,

and let their Federal Government Member

know by phone, fax, email or letter. Mr Dick

Adams (Lyons) Mr Geoff Lyons (Bass) Ms Julie

Collins (Franklin) Mr Andrew Wilkie (Denison)

Mr Sid Sidebottom (Braddon).

Parliament resumes in February. There is

no time to lose.

CWL urges Catholics to recognise two

important facts:

1) Politicians cannot read minds. You have

to tell them what you think.

2) Politicians count heads. Numbers

matter.

Supporters of same-sex marriage realise

the truth of these facts and will be lobbying

vigorously.

All that is needed is a statement that you

value marriage in its present form and do not

support same-sex marriage.

Rachel’s Vineyard Tasmania is offering

the book The Glories of Saint Joseph to

readers as a part of a fund raising project.

The book is a collection of beautiful texts

about Saint Joseph accompanied by

stories of favours obtained through his

intercession.

Please send cheques/money orders for

$30 each (includes p&h) to Rachel’s Vineyard

Tasmania, PO Box 478, Kingston, 7051.

5


Education Offi ce Anniversary

2011 sees 50 years since the Tasmanian

Catholic Education Office (TCEO)

was established. On March 3, 1961,

Archbishop Guilford Young appointed

Father James Dolan as the first Director

of Catholic Education in Tasmania.

The TCEO will be acknowledging

this Jubilee and celebrating it during

March. They are requesting the LOAN

of memorabilia. If you can help, please

contact Sr Gabrielle Morgan at the Catholic

Education Office, Ph (03) 6210 8888.

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The Legion of Mary recently held a

Spiritual Bouquet for its outstanding

member of 62 years service, Tom

Dempsey.

Tom served as a Councillor for the City of

Glenorchy for many years, as well as being

a member of the Water Board, Ambulance

Board and the Derwent Entertainment

Board. He has been an active member of

the Glenorchy Parish.

Tom joined the Legion of Mary in South

Australia in 1948, and has served in many

positions in Tasmania over 56 years.

Sweet Perfume in Spiritual BouquetTo Jesus through Mary

Newman Lectures

The Spiritual Bouquet for Tom comprised

Masses, Rosaries, and other good works

offered for him by Legion members and

auxiliaries.

The main purpose of the Legion of Mary is

to give glory to God through the sanctification

of its members, through their prayer and

service in the community.

News from Scottsdale

Relay for Life is a

major awareness

and fundraiser for the

Tasmanian Cancer

Council.

The Council helps

victims of cancer and

their families though

support programmes

and practical assistance. Our Fr Richard Ross

is entering a team in this year’s Launceston

Relay for Life. “I was supported by so many

people during the past year, and now it is time

to give a little back” Fr Richard said. To donate

or participate go to www.tas.relayforlife.org.

au and follow the links to Launceston and

Fr Richard’s Team.

Relay for Life

Yusuf (Cat Stevens):

Roadsinger Live

in Australia DVD

When he first hit

the road in Australia

it was as the enigmatic

Cat Stevens, a powerful

and evocative singer-

s o n g w r i t e r w h o

brought the world Moonshadow, Wild

World, The First Cut is the Deepest and so

many other classic folk-pop hits.

In 2010, 36 years later, he returned,

reminding us that the voice that enchanted

Give away

All the Churches in the North East report on declining

numbers and no youth, rising costs and wondering

what do we do? Do we close up shop? No!

There is some good news and many good things are

happening in the area.

The Catholic Community has re-established Mass at

Gladstone, after an absence of over eight years. A Mass

was celebrated on January 9 with the congregation of

parishioners and visitors enjoying a picnic lunch afterwards.

It will usually be held on the fifth Sunday.

We are writing a factual and social history of the

Parish and ask readers with connections to the Scottsdale

Parish (formerly Derby) to contact us. Care will be taken of

any borrowed materials, which will be returned. We are

particularly interested in photos of Pyengana, Gladstone and Pioneer Churches. We will also

be grateful for your stories or information. Please contact Margaret Fairburn on (03) 6354 6141

or email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Evangelist Blessed John Henry Newman,

beatified in Birmingham 2010, awaits

Canonisation.

A convert to Catholicism, he was guided by

the indwelling spirit. The Newman Association

lecture series celebrates his journey through

testimonies of personal conversion .

February Lecture

My Journey to the Catholic Way

Speaker: Rosemary Petchell

7.30pm, February 27, Holy Spirit Church,

275 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay.

and inspired the dreams of a generation is

still as timeless as ever.

To win a free copy of the DVD, send

your name and address on the back of an

envelope to:

Yusuf Competition, The Tasmanian

Catholic, GPO Box 62, Hobart 7001.

The deadline is March 18. The winner will

be announced in the April edition.

The winners of Mary DVD were Helena

Charlesworth from Sacred

Heart High School,

Kiribati and A Fenner,

Rosetta. J Payne,

Riverside won Yu

the Dragon Tamer.



[email protected] www.jadunnfunerals.com.au

After all the years

of celebrating the

funeral rites for those

who have died, it still

amazes me how often

people comment that

there is something

very special about

how we farewell our dead: there is no doubt

about you Catholics, you really know how

to bury the dead.

These comments remind us to keep

ourselves focused on some important

elements of what we believe and how this

shapes the rituals and the words we use when

faced with the death of a loved one, a member

of our faith community. Each week at Mass we

profess our faith in Jesus who was born among

us, who died and rose again to incorporate us

into the fullness of life with our God.

Life is changed, not ended…By Fr Mark Freeman

When we come to bury our dead, we do

likewise. In the face of death, we assert the

dignity of our humanity. We are unafraid to

honour the body that in life was the temple of

the Holy Spirit. We acknowledge the pain of

loss and grief. At the same time we proclaim

our belief in God’s desire for us to share in the

fullness of life. Our belief in the Communion

of Saints allows us to accompany in prayer

those who have died. We continue to pray

for them and with them as they come into

the presence of God.

The words we use are not simply

expressions of consolation to soothe

whatever pain might be being experienced.

They are the proclamation of our faith.

No matter the intensity, even the horror, of

our grief, we know what we believe and in

the face of death we express it with all our

hearts.

When we come to prepare a funeral liturgy,

it is this rock solid faith that forms the basis of

what we choose to do. I believe this faith gives

us a confidence to respond to the particular

circumstances of those whose loved one

has died. We should be unafraid to consider

their needs. It is our responsibility to bring

our faith to bear, not in a way that burdens

and restricts, but rather in ways that liberate

and enable a growth in an awareness of the

closeness of God, a deeper appreciation of

what we believe.

Funerals can be difficult, especially when

they come as a result of profound human

tragedy. However, I always pray for inspiration

from the Holy Spirit that what I say and pray,

whatever rituals I use, will proclaim the

presence of the same Lord who was born

among us, who suffered, died and rose again

for our salvation.

St Paul wrote “We

want you to be

quite certain about

those who have died:

to make sure you do

not grieve about

them like the other

people who have no

hope” (1Thess 4:13). St Paul emphasises the

importance of hope in our grieving. Our

Lord showed us that grieving is something

good when He wept at the death of Lazarus.

But we grieve as people with hope.

We hope that our relatives and friends

will be welcomed into Heaven. Our Lord tells

us: “I am going now to prepare a place for

you…so that where I am, you may be too”

(John 14:2-3).

We hope in the loving mercy of God:

“For God sent His Son into the world, not to

condemn the world, but so that through Him

the world might be saved” (John 3:17).

The Catholic funeral emphasises this

hope through the Scripture readings and

the prayers and the hymns.

The prayers at a funeral, especially the

prayers of Holy Mass, give us great hope.

This same hope comes through the words of

hymns used at Catholic funerals: “Goodness

and mercy all my life shall surely follow me

Our Catholic hopeBy Fr Gerald Quinn and in God’s house for evermore, my dwelling

place shall be.”

“O breathe on me, O breath of God, so shall

I never die, but live with You the perfect life

of Your eternity.”

The Scriptures keep nourishing our hope:

“I am the Resurrection. If anyone believes

in me, even though he die, he will live, and

whoever lives and believes in me will never

die” (John 11: 26).

And there is a real sense of joy as we

say,“May the Angels lead you into Paradise,

May the Martyrs come to welcome you.”

The Catholic funeral is full of hope. In it

Catholics are deeply touched by the love and

compassion of Christ who comforts them in

their time of grief.

nn

7


Mornington Funeral Centre Moonah Funeral Home

Wellington Chapel—Cornelian Bay Cambridge Family Church

62114888—24 hours a Day For all your funeral needs [email protected] www.millingtons.com.au

Millingtons Funeral Directors Millingtons Cemeteries

I remember my very

first funeral some

45 years ago on a

windy, rainswept day

at the Linda Cemetery

off the Lyell Highway

below Gormanston on

the West Coast. I don’t

remember the deceased person’s name but

do remember the occasion.

Another, more dramatic riverside burial

stands out from my Queenstown days. A

Polish worker, Maximillian by name, from

memory, had driven his car off the road into

the very fast flowing Yolande River, between

Queenstown and Zeehan. It took the rescue

teams about ten days to discover it and by

special permission, I flew with the police by

helicopter to give the poor man the funeral

rites on the riverbank. When passing the

Yolande, I still say a prayer for him...

I have kept no chronicled record of the

hundreds of funerals I have since celebrated,

but in more recent times, the collection of

funeral booklets reminds me of the people

and circumstances of their death and the

families who mourn their passing. In the early

days of photocopiers, I used to produce my

own, but today they are professionally done

by the various funeral directors, which brings

me to the next point...

seriously before embarking on the practice!

I should do so more often.

People and Clergy are often reminded that

we Catholics ‘do’ funerals really well and I

must say that a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial

– celebrated with the full rites accompanied

by good proclamations of the Word, full-

bodied singing, well prepared homily and

sometimes a few words in remembrance of

the deceased – is the ideal. Afterwards, we

leave the church, lifted out of our sadness,

with the hope and comfort of the Lord’s

teaching about death and the promise of

eternal life.

Sometimes it falls far short of the ideal, but

we do our best to celebrate funeral rites with

limited circumstances, resources and input

from family, who for one reason or other

are no longer ‘in touch’ with the practising

Church.

Having been a chaplain to hospitals and

aged care facilities, I am often ‘on the spot’ to

be invited to celebrate funerals. These are the

times when I can be the living contact with

the Church in spite of sometimes dramatic

and often traumatic circumstances. It is

ALWAYS a sad but enormous privilege to be

a priest-celebrant.

The sadness of death gives way to the

bright promise of immortality (Preface of

Christian Death).

By Fr Denis Allen

From sadness to immortality

We leave the church, lifted

out of our sadness, with

the hope and comfort of

the Lord’s teaching about

death and the promise of

eternal lifeFunera l Homes with chape ls are

commonplace today, but in my early days,

we were not permitted to conduct funerals

‘outside’ the church except graveside burials

under special circumstances. Likewise,

cremations were rare and it was not until

The Order of Christian Funerals was published

after Vatican II that they were sanctioned.

The Order of Christian Funerals is a little

gold-mine, especially in its Decree and

introductions. Like many a car driver, we

don’t often look at the manual and study it

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I can clearly remember

the first funeral that

I conducted. It was

for an elderly man

from a large family.

I remember that he

used to keep canaries,

and in fact, some of

his birds had won first prize at the Royal

Melbourne Show. I was very nervous. There

were a lot of family and friends at the church.

It began to rain during the Mass and as we

approached the cemetery the rain got

heavier. The funeral director suggested that

we wait in our cars to see if the rain would

ease. It didn’t. After the burial back at the

family home everyone’s shoes were in a pile

at the front door covered in red mud.

At most funerals I have not met the

deceased person. A lot of the time I haven’t

met the family before either. I believe it

is important to involve the family in the

preparations for the liturgy: the choice of

hymns, readings and prayers. I am constantly

amazed by the way so many families select

John 14:1-6 as the gospel. There is something

about this text that people find comforting.

Maybe it is the words of Jesus: “Trust in God

still, and trust in me.”

Some people find it helpful to be able to

do something during the liturgy that doesn’t

involve speaking. I invite people to come

and light candles or to sprinkle the coffin

with holy water. Inviting someone from

the family to share some memories of the

person is important. The readings from the

scriptures speak to us of God. So too God

speaks to us through the life of the person

we are remembering.

Funerals are important rituals in our

society. At funerals people have taught me

a lot about life and love and celebrations

and grief. Funerals are an opportunity for

the community to gather to celebrate the life

of the deceased, to support the family and

friends who are grieving and to pray to God

for the person. It is a privilege to minister as

a priest at funerals

Useful ResourcesThe Archdiocese of Hobart has

produced a series on Death, Suffering

and the Church.

The four sheets cover Death and

Christian Hope, Suffering and Christian

Faith, The Role of the Christian

Community and the Rites of the Church.

They are available from parishes and can

be downloaded from on our website.

(Go to www.hobart.catholic.org.au/

liturgy.html )

Archbishop Adrian Doyle has written

a pastoral letter on the Rites of Christian

Burial which is available on line www.

hobart.catholic.au and in hard copy

from parishes or the Diocesan Centre

(email [email protected]

or telephone (03) 6208 6222)

Also recommended is the beautifully

produced handbook When a Loved One

Dies – A Catholic Funeral Companion.

Available from John Garratt Publishing

www.johngarratt.com.au

Comforting ritualFr Tony Kennedy sm

Faith, tradition...and understanding the Catholic way.

Phone 24 hours (03) 6278 [email protected]

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9


The Fly meets the blokes

I’m visiting the Knights of the Southern Cross. I’ve read the Da Vinci

Code and seen Monty Python so I’m expecting secret esoteric

men’s business with weird rituals and perhaps even a special

handshake or a murder or two! I mean, aren’t the Knights just a

Catholic version of the Freemasons?

They are keen to promote their organisation and attract new

members and they’re after publicity, so we set up a date – not a

meeting or a Mass but a good old Aussie barbie. I was introduced to

a heap of normal blokes and their wives and had a lovely meal and

conversation.

The next meeting was their first meeting of the year – perhaps this

is where I’d see the secrets…

The venue is under the church at Kingston and men gather and

greet each other warmly. The twelve of us sit around a table and each

member seems to feel comfortable contributing his thoughts.

The meeting begins with prayer. Prayers from the Knights’ leaflet

are recited together and the flood victims are especially prayed for.

They then read together the objects of the Order which are:

To promote the advancement of Australia

To foster the Christian way of life throughout the nation

To promote the welfare of its members and their families

To encourage spiritual, social and intellectual activities amongst

its members

To conduct and support educational, charitable, religious and

social welfare work.

The rest of the night follows fairly standard meeting procedure

with apologies, minutes read, business arising and general business.

Prayers are read at the conclusion and then members relax over a

cuppa and biscuit before they leave.

The move is on to promote the Order and, with Kingston being

the only functioning branch in Southern Tasmania, there is much

discussion on the best ways to do this. They look at pamphlets,

designs for new tops, proposed advertisements and organise meet-

and-greet barbecues at various centres. They discuss the logistics

of some of their regular events such as the Australia Day Mass, an

annual Mass at the site of the old Flower Pot church, and the parish

celebration of Pancake Day. They examine social issues such as the

proposed introduction of euthanasia legislation. There is discussion

of a suitable project for this year. Last year the branch helped build

a water tank in Tanzania.

All this discussion takes place with good humour, openness and a

very practical Aussie attitude. This is a group of men who get things

done – you can leave any notions of weird practices and secrets

behind!

The men of the Knights of the Southern Cross Tasmania want

you to know who they are and they want other men to join them in

their works. If you see any of them, ask them about the Knights or

contact president Kelvin Green phone (03) 6229 4167 or email

[email protected]

Top photo, Back L-R: Graeme Denehey, Harold Gregg, Peter Tracey,

John Adkins, Chris Huppelschoten, Front L-R: Mitchell Coleman, Noel Fyfe,

John Shelverton, Kelvin Green, Tony Ryan and John O’Reilly.

FLY ON THE WALL



Breaking the criminal cycle

What is the purpose of our prisons? Is

it to punish offenders and for justice

to be seen to be done? Is it to seek revenge

or to offer offenders the opportunity to

improve themselves as a person? Justice

means more than punishment, God’s justice

means much more. We cannot tolerate

behaviour that threatens lives or violates

the rights of others. As a Church we believe

in responsible and accountable punishment.

At the same time we do not give up on those

who break the law. We believe that both

the victim and the offender are children

of God. As the late

Bishop Joe Grech

often said, “God

does not make

rubbish”. Justice

involves restoring

both the victim

and the offender so

they can experience

God’s grace and

be healed. The fact is most prisoners are

released back into the community.

If we want a safer society it is important

that those in prison come out better than

they went in. It can be difficult to promote

the interests of those who are seen as the

despised and sinful in our society. Pope John

Paul II stated that not to promote the interests

of prisoners would make imprisonment a

mere act of vengeance. Prisoners should

have the opportunity to redeem themselves.

People are capable of change.

It can be easy for us to take the moral high

ground. Prisoners are often stereotyped as

being a group different from us. In some

ways this is true as most prisoners do not

come from stable families, or have

a good education and gainful

employment. They often face

difficult challenges but do

not have the resources to

deal with their problems.

Offenders represent one

of the most marginalised

groups in society made

up of individuals who have

often experienced a lifetime

of disadvantage.

The reasons for persons

offending and reoffending are

complex and need to be addressed. Many

prisoners have problems with literacy.

Prisoners are more likely to have experienced

poor parental support, had difficulties at

school, be unemployed, have poor housing

and lack knowledge and skills. It is estimated

that fifty percent of prisoners have a mental

illness. Some argue that prisons have become

the new asylums for Australia’s mentally ill.

Preventing recidivism involves implementing

early intervention programmes and

rehabilitation programmes for all prisoners

as a lot of crime is due to drugs, alcohol,

g a m b l i n g a n d

mental health issues

which are treatable

conditions.

The impact on the

families of prisoners

is significant. Prisons

are not child friendly

and visiting a family

member in prison is

not an easy process. The family income is

reduced and bills have to be paid. Maintaining

family connections can help offenders

understand the consequences of their

crime as well as provide better integration

back into the community. Ex-prisoners

who are able to gain stable employment

and accommodation are much less likely to

reoffend in the future.

The State Government is developing

a ten year strategic plan for Corrective

Services titled Breaking the Cycle: Tasmanian

Corrections Plan (2010-2020). Summary of

feedback to the Breaking the Cycle Discussion

Paper generally supported the idea of

expanding sentencing options to deliver more

effective and acceptable outcomes.

This is not being soft on crime but

being smart on crime. Options that

have been implemented include

Court-Mandated Drug Diversion.

This programme aims to provide

offenders with an opportunity

to a c k n o w l e d g e a n d

address offending

behaviour. The aim is to break the drug-crime

cycle by involving offenders in treatment and

rehabilitation programmes.

The flow of offenders in and out of prison

consists of persons serving short sentences

for relatively minor offences. Approximately

twelve percent of Tasmanian prisoners are

there for road traffic offences. A period of

imprisonment may deter individuals from

re-offending, however, a study by the NSW

Bureau of Crime and Justice found that a

period of imprisonment may in fact increase

the probability of future re-offending.

Australian Bureau of Statistic figures show

that crime rates have gone down but prison

rates continue to increase. The imprisonment

rate between 1999 and 2009 increased in

Tasmania by forty five percent. But crime

has not gone away. If we are serious about

getting tough on crime we should focus on

what leads to crime in the first place.

Solidarity recognises that we are all

responsible for all. It calls us to seek alternatives

that do not only punish, but rehabilitate, heal

and restore.


Solidarity recognises that we

are all responsible for all. It

calls us to seek alternatives

that do not only punish, but

rehabilitate, heal and restore.

Justice involves restoring

both the victim and the

offender so they can

experience God’s grace and

be healed.

By Margaret Donaghy

SOCIAL CONCERN

11


11

A new website designed to assist Tasmanian parishes and

communities with the introduction of the new Mass texts has

been launched. The website will provide up to date information

about the revised English translation of the Roman Missal which

will begin to affect every Catholic parish, school and community

across Tasmania this year.

The Website outlines the phases of the implementation process

and includes some sample texts associated with the changes.

Details of workshops and other formation sessions around the

State will be available in a news and events section.

Much of the website contains information about useful resources

and links as well as details of the new and revised music settings of

the Mass. The suggested resources range from DVDs, videos and

articles, to books, links to other websites and printable booklets

and pamphlets. A page is devoted to answering frequently asked

questions. Many of these questions emerged from the information

sessions ‘Preparing the Way for the Missal’ held around the State in

Advent last year.

The website will be an important tool in assisting parishes, schools

and other communities as they find out more about the changes and

prepare to implement them. Resources and information will continue

to be added to the website during the year.

Missal website launched

The Australian Bishops have indicated the changes to the Mass

texts will be phased in after Pentecost this year.

The website has been prepared by the Liturgical Commission

through the Liturgy Office. The Liturgical Commission is assisting

communities with the introduction of the revised translation.

The website can be found at: www.hobart.catholic.org.au/Missal.

A link is also provided on the front page of the Diocesan website.

Music workshops to trial new Mass settingsWorkshops are being planned for different parts of the

State in the coming weeks to provide an opportunity for

people to hear and sing the Mass settings associated with the

new translation of the Roman Missal.

Tasmanian Catholics have been invited to learn a new musical

setting of the revised texts this year. The six Australian music settings

recommended by the Australian Bishops will be featured in the

workshop.

The compositions employ a variety of styles and the music ranges

from easy to that which is more challenging. Participants will be

invited to listen, as well as sing along. Parishioners, students, school

staff, priests, religious, liturgical leaders, music ministers and all who

enjoy singing are invited to attend.

The workshop is designed to assist communities to decide which

musical settings of the revised translation will be suitable for their

local communities.

Music workshops

Details can be found on the Missal website: www.hobart.catholic.org.au/Missal

PASTORAL LIFE



It’s not every day you see nine different communities sitting down

and making a Gingerbread House. That’s what happened on Friday,

November 26, 2010, at the Centacare Stitch Programme with Afghani,

Bhutanese, Nepalese, Sudanese, Congolese, Somalian, Ethiopian,

Eritrean and Australian women learning a brand new skill.

Organised by the Taroona Combined

Churches Gingerbread Team

and support workers for Stitch,

seventeen ladies sat very closely

together intently learning

the fine art of Gingerbread

House des ign and

decorating.

Cross cultural

learning is so

much fun, here

is some of the

conversation:

“You can eat

the houses

Archbishop Adrian Doyle not only had liturgies in St Mary’s

Cathedral over Christmas, but he also celebrated two very

special Masses at other venues.

One event was an Advent Mass and carol singing at Bethlehem

House, a Hobart shelter for homeless men. He was joined by the choir

of Sacred Heart Church, New Town, and several visitors to the shelter.

The other event was Christmas Mass for residents at Risdon Gaol which

he concelebrated with prison chaplains Frs Denis Allen and Bob Curmi.

The men and women on the ‘inside’ were pleased to have the guests

share with them at what is often quite a poignant time.

“When I was a stranger, you welcomed me…and when I was in jail,

you visited me…Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter

how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.” Matt 25: 36, 40

Building gingerbread houses = building communityBy Maggy Agrey and Ellen Clark (Centacare Stitch Support Workers)

ladies! “ response – “Why? Why would we eat the houses?”

“Because that’s what you do.” “Not me. I don’t want to eat the

house it looks too good.”

For our first timers and all those who joined the Gingerbread House

making this is a historical and cultural activity in many European cold

climate countries, a time when families get together and talk house

and home, where grandmothers and mothers and little ones get

together and have fun prior to the Christmas period.

Well that’s just what happened, we all had fun, cross cultural

meetings, where women shared their knowledge, traded lollies for

their roofs and talked slowly so we could

understand each other.

A huge thank you to the Ladies from

the Taroona Combined Churches

Gingerbread Team – Evelyn, Laura, Ruth

and Janet, for your care in sharing

the Gingerbread House activity – we

look forward with great anticipation

to 2011 and more Gingerbread

making – this time to eat!!

Christmas visits

FEATURES

13


13

Primary students from St Mary’s College, along with students

at other schools in Tasmania, have their religious education

enhanced by ‘Godly Play’ figures. Some are purchased, while others

are lovingly produced at the College, mostly by aide Julie Stokes.

There is a set for Christmas as well as other sets. Mary MacKillop,

St Mary of the Cross, even has a figure ready!

The teachers use the figures to tell the stories from the Bible or act

out events in Church history. The sets are then made available for the

children to re-tell the stories themselves. For more information about

Godly Play, contact Sr Margaret Henderson at the Tasmanian Catholic

Education Office (TCEO) ph (03) 6210 8869.

Students are pictured with some of the figures for Christmas.

Christmas Live in the City is a weeklong ecumenical venture which

has been held annually for the past three years around the

grounds of St David’s Cathedral in Hobart. Catholics and Anglicans

join with people of other denominations, choirs and sometimes

live animals to portray the real Christmas story to shoppers and

city workers.

On Wednesday of the week before Christmas students from the

Conservatorium of Music entertained with carols, a prison chaplain

cooked free sausages which were handed out to people going past by

shepherds and kings and Mary nursed her baby. On Thursday Michael

Colrain and singers from St Joseph’s choir performed.

Christmas Live in the City

Christmas in 2010 was, for my wife and me, quite different. Instead

of celebrating the birth of Christ in the Cathedral in Hobart, my

home church from infancy and for many decades, our celebrations

would not be the traditional Midnight Mass in the Cathedral,

impressively decorated and illuminated by candles and led by our

Archbishop, attended by his priests and acolytes.

Instead we celebrated Christmas in the parish of St Michael’s at

Campbell Town. There was no Midnight Mass for Christmas - instead

a vigil Mass at 8 pm celebrated by a visiting priest. St Michael’s was not

candle-lit. There was no assisting priest. There were no acolytes - but

instead a solid, faithful remnant of ageing parishioners – and visitors.

Nor was there any Mass next day, Sunday, to mark the Feast of

the Holy Family. Instead, there was something quite special. With no

priest available, the laity, organised by the Parish Sister, Sr Marjorie

Boutchard PBVM, conducted a Eucharistic service. It was an effective

and impressively worshipful service - with many in that small community

playing significant roles. A layman led the service; readers proclaimed

the Scriptures; Sr Marjorie presented her reflections on the Readings;

Eucharistic ministers distributed Holy Communion; the organist led the

singing in praise of God; and the collectors gathered up the financial

contributions for the support of their parish.

Godly play

A Country ChristmasBy Peter M Roach

The overwhelming impression was that St Michael’s was a Faith

Community: a parish of the people – persons committed to the worship

of God – even when lacking the full-time pastoral care of priests.

St Michael’s predated St Mary’s Cathedral by some 24 years. It

was designed by that distinguished architect, Henry Hunter and the

design was greatly influenced by the work of Augustus Welby Pugin:

that remarkable Christian architect and designer who, among many

other things, was in large measure responsible for the design of many

features of the UK Parliament at Westminster. Friend as he was to Bishop

Robert Willson, our first Bishop, he provided Willson with models for

the construction of churches at Colebrook and Oatlands; and provided

an array of altar vessels and vestments which remain to this day the

pride of this Archdiocese.

Three priests are specially revered in the parish as their remains are

buried in the grounds. They were Dean Daniel Connell, born at Ross and

believed to have been the first Australian-born priest; the Frenchman,

Fr Henri Chetail (1903-1904 ) – a Missionary of the Sacred Heart – whose

community still renders service in Tasmania; and Fr Leo Kirkham, who

served the parish for sixteen years prior to his death in 1985.

FEATURES

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15


15

First Tasmanian enters Campion College

...Only at Campion! “I award you the

degree of Bachelor of

Arts in the Liberal Arts,

in the name of the

Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit”

Campion College Australia - Educating for Eternity -

8-14 Austin Woodbury Place

Old Toongabbie NSW 2146

Ph: 02 9896 9300 Fax: 02 9631 5611

www.campion.edu.au

Campion College offers Australia’s only

fully-integrated Liberal Arts degree,

the best basis for any career ● Friendly,

supportive lecturers ● An active Faith

community ● Great friendships

Scholarships available for Tasmanians

For the first time a Tasmanian student has

been accepted into Campion College

Australia, the prestigious Catholic Liberal

Arts College in Sydney.

Dylan Littler, from Hobart, a recent convert

to Catholicism, has met all the selection criteria

and is looking forward to starting work on his

Bachelor of Arts degree in

the Liberal Arts. Dylan has

been awarded a scholarship,

which was established

exclusively for Tasmanian

students to assist them in

coming to Campion.

Asked what attracted

him to Campion, Dylan was

enthusiastic in his reply: “I can trust the Truth

of an education that has been tested over

centuries. The foundational elements of the

study of humanities – History and Literature,

Philosophy and Theology – were developed

by the Greeks and Romans and subsequently

built upon by Christian scholars,” Dylan

explained. “It is only in the knowledge of

these studies that a complete synthesis of the

Truth can be discovered. It is this opportunity

that attracts me to Campion.”

There are many options that Dylan can

access after he graduates but at this time

Dylan is contemplating

entering the Priesthood:

“I would like to become a

Dominican and have the

opportunity to preach. I

imagine that the preparation

in Philosophy and Theology

that I will receive at Campion

will actually contribute to

my studies in the seminary.”

However, he also feels that Campion will

allow him to keep his options open. “I shall

have three years at Campion to consider a

vocation, at the same time as gaining a broad

education that will serve me well regardless of

“I can trust the Truth

of an education

that has been tested

over centuries.” the choices I may make in the future. I could

readily consider Law or Journalism. This is an

amazing opportunity for me and I can’t wait

to start studying!”

Campion College is entering its sixth

year of operation and graduates have gone

on to studies and work in law, medicine,

teaching, journalism and other professional

vocations.

GENERAL NEWS



Bees transform nectar and pollen into

honey. Birds make worms into wings

and music. The fish I feed my cats becomes

purring, claws and voluptuous fur. Fuelled

by midges and mosquitoes, spiders create

the silky silvery webs that adorn our gardens

every morning. How did dust from an

exploding star evolve into the staggering

diversity and fertility of planet Earth? Even

as I write, my daughter’s body is invisibly

and silently putting the miraculous finishing

touches to my unborn grandchild.

Transformation is at the heart of things.

Birth gives life gives death gives birth. Nothing

is static. Everything is in

exuberant, intricate, wildly

creative process, either

eating or being eaten.

There are two ways I

particularly enjoy working

with, learning from and

harnessing this energy.

One is bread-making, and the pleasure of

watching a sludge of water, flour, salt and

yeast leaven and change before my eyes,

within my hands, under my nose into fragrant

crusty loaves. The other is making compost,

or the art of turning rot into roses.

Miracles at the bottom of the garden.

It’s magic every time; a large, messy,

calibrated pile of kitchen scraps, weeds,

prunings, manure, water and earth is within

a few days so hot that it literally steams

as zillions of micro-organisms begin their

metabolic work. (There’s a delightful though

unsubstantiated story from the West Coast

about a gardener who put a dead possum/

chicken at the core of her heap, which

then exploded in the middle of the night,

demolishing a fence/setting a shed on fire.)

The initial heating (160˚ F) is followed by

a slower, cool cycle where a rich ecology of

microbes, mites, insects, nematodes and fungi

continue the work of radical change. In two

to three months, sooner if it’s summer or the

pile is turned often, you’ve got wheelbarrow-

loads of sweet-smelling, crumbly, nutrient-rich

compost.

We live on Spaceship Earth; there is no

‘away’ in time or space to throw things to.

Food dumped in the rubbish bin rots in

landfill, generating climate-changing gases.

If we planted trees on land now used to grow

the food we buy and don’t even eat, we could

in theory offset almost all human-derived

greenhouse gas emissions. Cutting down

on ‘food miles’ – the distance food travels

from paddock to plate – is one of the easiest

ways of taking responsibility for reducing

our carbon footprint and mitigating climate

change. Growing at least some of our own

food makes economic, environmental and

moral sense; creating

compost is a cornerstone

of that process.

I f you don ’ t have

room or time for building

compost heaps, or you’re

not a gardener, consider

a worm-farm. They’re

endlessly fascinating, low maintenance and

turn food-scraps into vibrant worm-juice.

Or try a Bokashi bucket; it’s astonishing

how much kitchen-waste, sprinkled with

micro-organisms, one bucket can eat; it’s

compact, odourless and produces potent

liquid fertiliser.

I see making compost as holy work, as an

aspect of the Eucharist. The great thinker and

mystic CG Jung described the Eucharist – the

moment when our local, limited and finite

selves touch the Infinite, the Universal and the

Perfected – as a core rite of the individuation

process, where we take responsibility for

our shadows and begin to realise our full

potential as human beings. This willingness

seems to me central to our faith; that we too

may be radically changed, that our muddled,

messy, suffering, striving selves – what the

Tibetan Buddhists call our ten thousand

angels and our ten thousand demons – may

through grace be transformed, metabolised,

composted into coherence, into nourishing

wholeness, into conduits for the will and love

of God.

Holy Muck Divine Compost RecipeThere are a zillion ways of making

compost. This one works for my

household.

Choose a shady, sheltered spot. The

minimum size for a heap is a generous

cubic metre; there’s no upper limit. Turn

over the soil, then make a base of criss-

crossed branches and stalks to let air in

underneath.

A heap is made up of layers.

1. Carbon layer. A good hand’s width of

well-chopped brown material; eg old

weeds, dried grass, autumn leaves,

straw, sawdust.

2. Nitrogen layer. A good hand’s width

of kitchen waste and anything green

– grass clippings, fresh weeds or

prunings.

3. A dozen balls of scrunched-up

newspaper. These aerate the heap and

provide habitat for compost critters.

4. A good sprinkling of earth, animal

manure or mature compost from the

last heap – these contain the enzymes

needed to activate the pile.

5. A handful of compost-friendly and

nutrient-rich herbs; comfrey, nettles,

yarrow, dandelion.

6. Water well. Urine is good too.

Repeat these six layers till you’ve run out

of materials. When the heap is finished, use

a stake to drive a dozen deep air holes. I like

to put a weight on top. Some people cover

their heaps. We sometimes conclude with a

ritual – burying in the heart of the pile any

unfinished business or emotional baggage.

Then we sing a compost song; the most

memorable was ‘Frère Jacques’ sung as a

hilarious and unstoppable round in French,

Finnish, Japanese and Russian.

If you want to speed up the process,

turn the heap from time to time. Imagine

it’s a fully iced cake; cut off the ‘icing’ and

put it into the middle of the pile, so the

outside becomes the inside and vice versa.

No need to worry about layers – just make

sure it’s well-aerated and damp.

Compost is ready when it’s woodsy-

smelling, crumbly and alive with compost

worms. Spread lusciously on vegetable and

flower beds and around fruit trees.

By Annie March

EDGEWAYS

I see making

compost as holy

work, as an aspect of

the Eucharist.

17


17

Level 3, 162 Macquarie StreetGPO Box 1106 Hobart 7001. DX 110 Hobart.

Tel 03 6235 5155 Fax 03 6231 0352Email [email protected]

Providing Legal advice and counsel to theArchdiocese of Hobart and its agencies since 1930.

www.pageseager.com.au

Alex Schadenberg is a dynamic campaigner against euthanasia.

He is the founder and executive officer of the Canadian

Euthanasia Prevention Coalition and recently spoke in Hobart as

a guest of the Human Life Protection Society.

He is very concerned about current moves to legalise euthanasia

here and provided some clear thinking and evidence against such a

direction. He stressed that it is important to have a clear definition

of what is meant by the words

we use. Euthanasia is the direct

and intentional causing of death

by another person. It is NOT to

be confused with pain-killing or

letting someone die naturally. It is

intentional killing.

It is tragic if medical treatment

comes to be associated with

homicide, which is what happens

when euthanasia is legal. The buzz

words ‘compassion’ and ‘free choice’

are used by proponents of legalised

euthanasia, but when vulnerable people feel they are a burden on

others and the option exists to end that situation, ‘choice’ is very

much an illusion and ‘compassion’ is code for shielding ourselves from

the experience of suffering. When the ultimate good for mankind is

happiness, a suffering person is not seen as having any value at all.

Not just the suffering, but the person have to be eliminated.

Some of the terms in drafted legislation are very slippery. Alex

quoted documents which talked of ’appearing to be lucid’ or ‘hopeless

and unbearable suffering’. What exactly do these words mean in

practice? How easy is it to abuse the letter of such laws?

Alex spoke of ‘suicide predators’ who have preyed on vulnerable

people through the Internet in the guise of ‘counselling’ them, but

turned their thoughts towards suicide, helped them accomplish it

and then viewed it via web cam as a thrill. He referred to Australian

pro-euthanasia advocate, Peter Singer, as having similarities to these

perverts.

Depression, rather than physical illness, is the primary risk factor on

requests for euthanasia and assisted

suicide. Worryingly, of the 49

assisted suicides in Oregon, USA, in

2007, none had any psychological or

psychiatric assessment. And yet, the

pro-euthanasia lobby continues to

parrot the battle cry of ‘compassion

and choices’. ‘Compassion’ is a term

that sometimes masks abuse.

Alex gave the example of a

woman in Oregon, Barbara Wagner,

who was refused helpful medical

treatment by the State health

insurance, but given the ‘choice’ only of palliative care or assisted

suicide. Unfortunately, limited budgets and the accountant’s eye on

the bottom line do not favour the more expensive option.

Alex has been working against euthanasia in his current position for

the last eleven years. He has a particular personal reason to continue

this fight as his own child is disabled. He sees euthanasia as an extreme

form of disability abuse and elder abuse. Some individuals are deigned

to have less quality of life, less economic contribution and therefore

less right to life. That others would have power to then euthanise

these people is frightening.

You can join the Human Life Protection Society phone (03) 6224 2632, lobby politicians, check out Alex’s blog

www.alexschadenberg.blogspot.com and ask to go on his mailing list email: [email protected]. Archbishop Doyle has

written a reflection on the Tasmanian situation ( May 2009) available at www.hobart.catholic.org.au archbishop_

reflections. Political battles can, and have been, won by joint efforts from concerned and caring people.

Society should care, not kill

L-R: Fr Gerald Quinn, Alex Schadenberg and Peter Imlach.

SOCIAL CONCERN

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In 2007 Drasko Dizdar was invited to come to Tasmania with

the vision to begin a monastic community focused on bringing

Christian contemplative spirituality to young people. A year later he

was joined by Fr Christopher Brennan; and in 2009 by two hermits

(who, like Drasko, are also Camaldolese Oblates). Thanks to the

hospitality of the Archdiocese of Hobart the vision is beginning

to emerge.

The Emmaus monastic community took its first steps on its journey

thanks to the welcome of the parishes of Launceston, Meander

Valley and Sandy Bay; and now a fledgling community has been

established in Glenorchy on the grounds of Guilford Young College,

thanks to God’s providence and the generosity of Mrs Bobby Court,

the Principal. Drawing solely on the community’s funds, a property

has been bought, and plans are being drawn up for the construction

of a hermitage.

Drasko was originally invited to the Archdiocese of Hobart by

Fr Richard Ross, in his capacity as Youth Ministry Co-ordinator.

The Emmaus Monastic CommunityBy Tony Brennan (Director of Ministry, Sacred Heart College)

chanting.) However, like the parable of the mustard seed, the realisation

of the dream will take great faith in the providence of God.

The Emmaus monastic community draws on various monastic

traditions, eastern and western, ancient and new, focused upon the

ecumenical core of the one Body of Christ.

In September 2010 a group of thirty Tasmanians of all ages gathered

to pray together and hear about the progress of the Emmaus monastic

community. In October Fr Chris and Drasko travelled to Bose in Italy

where a similar community, established half a century ago, welcomed

them with open arms. By small steps a community grows, plans emerge

and more young people are touched by the spirituality of Christian

monasticism.

“Offering

young

people an

opportunity to

experience the

contemplative

dimension of

the Christian

faith.”

To learn more about the Emmaus monastic community visit

their website: www.emmausmonasticcommunity.com or

contact them: [email protected].

Fr Richard Ross

“Prior to entering the seminary, I spent ten days at the ecumenical

monastic community at Taize in France, along with several thousand

other young people from all over the world. I invited Drasko to

Tasmania because we shared a dream of a similar youth friendly

monastic community right here in Tasmania. Still in its early stages,

the Emmaus community holds enormous promise and potential. An

invitation to join the community for a day, a week or a lifetime is open

to all Tasmanians who are serious about their search for God.”

The purpose of the invitation was to develop a ministry that would

offer young people an opportunity to experience the contemplative

dimension of the Christian faith. The hope was that a “Taizé like”

community would evolve in time. (Taizé is an ecumenical monastic

community in the south of France, the focus of annual pilgrimage

for thousands of young people and well known for its contemplative

PASTORAL LIFE

19


Deacon Paul Simmons, National

Co-ordinator – Permanent Diaconate,

visited the Archdiocese of Hobart from

October 27 to November 2, 2010, at the

invitation of Archbishop Adrian Doyle, to

promote the vocation of the permanent

diaconate across the Archdiocese.

Paul is a Deacon of the Broken Bay Diocese,

and was appointed as National Co-ordinator

of the permanent deacons by the Australian

Catholic Bishops’ Conference, initially in

2007 for a term of three years and recently

re-appointed for a further three years.

This is a part-time position which is

accountable, through the Director of Clergy

Life and Ministry to the Bishops’ Commission

for Church Ministry, and in turn is accountable

to the Bishops’ Conference, for the co-

ordination and promotion of the permanent

diaconate in Australia.

This includes implementing policies

decided by the Bishops’ Commission for

Church Ministry to support the formation and

ongoing education of deacons in Australia,

and to raise the profile of the permanent

diaconate by communicating a national

vision, yet at the same time, focusing on the

individual needs of each diocese, particularly

in relation to the formation of aspirants and

candidates for the diaconate.

The Order of Deacon was restored, as

a Permanent Order, in the Latin (Roman)

Rite following the Second Vatican Council;

and on June 18, 1967, Pope Paul VI, in his

Apostolic Letter, issued the General Norms

to be followed for its restoration.

Answering God’s call

As such, the Australian Catholic Bishops’

Conference requested permission from

the Holy See to implement the Permanent

Diaconate in Australia and that approval was

granted in 1970. The first permanent deacon in

Australia was ordained for the Archdiocese of

Canberra/Goulburn in 1972, and was returned

to the Father on October 12, 1974. The longest

serving deacon in Australia is Deacon Boniface

Perdjert, an Aboriginal Deacon, in the Diocese

of Darwin. He was ordained in July 1974 and

is ministering to the community of Wadeye

(Port Keats) in the

Northern Territory.

There are currently

119 p e r m a n e n t

deacons ministering

in the Catholic Church

in Australia.

The permanent

d i a c o n a t e w a s

r e s to r e d i n t h e

Archdiocese of Hobart in 2006 with the

ordination of Nick McFarlane. There are two

other men in formation for the permanent

diaconate at this time, in the Archdiocese, Paul

Crowe in Launceston and Michael Hangan

in Moonah.

During his stay in Tasmania Deacon Paul

visited the parishes of Launceston, Kingston,

Moonah and St Joseph’s Hobart, to talk on the

vocation of the diaconate and the ministry and

life of permanent deacons in the Australian

Church.

Paul has been married to his wife Susan for

40 years and they have two children and six

grandchildren. He said however, “whilst the

majority of permanent deacons are married,

a number are not; and so, the vocation and

ministry of deacons should not be seen as a

married diaconate, but rather a permanent

diaconate.”

He went on to say “It is important for

the diaconate to be understood, not as just

another ministry because other ministries such

as acolyte, lector, extraordinary Eucharistic

minister, catechist...are

roles and offices, which

meet a particular need,

in a particular place,

for a particular time,

and so they are not

sacramental orders”.

But, as ordained

ministers of the Church,

Deacons are, what they

are, by virtue of the grace they receive in

the Sacrament of Holy Orders. As such the

diaconate is not a lay apostolate, but a special

articulation of the ordained ministry in the

Church, and it is for life.

For more information of the Permanent

Diaconate visit www.clergy.org.au/deacons or

contact Rev Deacon Paul Simmons, National

Co-ordinator Permanent Diaconate, via email

[email protected] or Rev Deacon

Nick McFarlane via email nmacfarlane@

bigpond.com

Nick McFarlane and Paul Simmons.

The permanent diaconate

was restored in the

Archdiocese of Hobart in

2006 with the ordination

of Nick McFarlane.

“...the vocation and ministry of deacons should not be

seen as a married diaconate, but rather a permanent

diaconate.”

PASTORAL LIFE

By Nick McFarlane



Jenny Thomson hasn’t always been a travel

consultant. She came to that position

through her long involvement with the

International Christian Embassy, Jerusalem.

After hearing speakers from Celebrate

Shalom in Queensland, she felt called to

go to Israel and volunteered with a

British organisation, CMJ, who

run a Christian guest house

in Haifa. Jenny worked there

from 2000 to 2005 and then

worked in Jerusalem to

2008. She did whatever

was needed – cleaning,

secretarial work and

reception duties. While

there, she travelled

widely and organised

trips for others who were

visiting Israel or travelling further

afield.

Originally from Queensland, Jenny came

to Hobart to help her sister and has now

settled here. Finding that she needed a

new job, she completed a tourism course at

A love of Israel – Jenny’s storyDrysdale Campus which led to her becoming

a professional travel agent for Harvey World

Travel Hobart, in Murray Street. In this capacity,

she has organised a wonderful itinerary for

anyone who would like to visit Israel this

September. The tour will be escorted by Jenny

and an Israeli tour guide.

My mouth was salivating

when viewing the brochure

which sets out all the

places included, such as

Masada, Cana, Galilee and

Jerusalem. How exciting

to visit the Church of the

Nativity in Bethlehem,

cruise on the Sea of

Galilee or visit a Roman

amphitheatre! There are

many inclusions in this tour.

The tour is run in conjunction

with the world-wide and long established

Globus company. It will be reassuring and

inspiring to be accompanied by someone

who worked there for eight years and has

such a love for the place and people.

FEATURES

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TEL AVIV, HAIFA, KIBBUTZ GINOSAR, JERUSALEM10-day tour departing Tel Aviv 18 September 2011

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ed with a

who

use

here

en

o

d

were

f th

and an Israeli t

My m

whe

w

p

c

G

a

m

Th t

“My mouth was salivating

when viewing the brochure

which sets out all the places

included, such as Masada,

Cana, Galilee and Jerusalem.”

21


BlueLine Employment is a specialist job

agency that is committed to supporting

people with disability to gain and maintain

employment.John Paul II has recently

employed a BlueLine Employment Client,

Chris Simmonds, as a Teacher’s Aide. Chris

has cerebral palsy.

Chris had some previous experience in

working within a school environment as a

Teacher’s Aide, but wished to work within

the Catholic Education System. BlueLine

approached Mr Jim Ireland, John Paul II’s

Principal, who agreed to Chris participating

in some work experience there.

Chris worked so well, that at the end of the

work experience he was offered a part-time

role at the school – and he hasn’t looked

back. The Principal, the staff and children

have embraced Chris as a valuable member

of the school community and all agree that

having Chris as part of the staff has enriched

the school. John Paul II School is leading the

way for other schools to follow.

Chris has been supported throughout the

process by his case manager Corina from

BlueLine Employment. Her role was to ensure

a smooth transition back into the work force

for Chris, including supporting open and

constructive communication between all

parties; supporting Chris, both on and off

the worksite, and helping the school with

the administration tasks, including claiming

their wage subsidy.

Supporting community

BlueLine Employment makes it an easy

process to employ an individual who is living

with a disability. As a Disability Employment

Service there is no cost to eligible clients.

Employers are also welcome to use their free

Employer Assistance Service.

Contact BlueLine at 162 Macquarie Street,

Hobart ph: (03) 6223 2622 or [email protected]

SOCIAL CONCERN

Become aSamaritan today! Please give generously today to help people in need.

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23


The cross in our grounds at present is

in fact the third there and it has been

badly damaged by vandals in recent times.

The first cross was located at the right of

the front door and was probably painted

white. It was quite a low cross. The second

and most beautiful cross went up in 1876 to

mark the death of Fr Martin Keohan. When

Fr Richard Ross came to Oatlands to ask if

we could be one of the Stations of the Cross

for the Tasmanian Pilgrimage, I assured him

that the main joy of the pilgrims would be

to pray at the grave of a ‘saint’, Fr Martin

Keohan. When faced with a large problem

I seek help from Fr Keohan and you can bet

I’ve consulted him on this story!

Fr Martin was the first pastor of St Paul’s

and the man whose name is forever linked to

that church. He studied for the priesthood in

Ireland, was ordained in St Joseph’s Church,

Hobart at Easter 1850, and was sent at once

to Oatlands. He lived nowhere else as a priest

and so Oatlands remains his shrine. We have

his body, his headstone plus the cross from the

house he lived in for 26 years, to say nothing

of his beloved picture of Our Lady, returned

to us so kindly by the Presbyterian lady from

Lindisfarne who inherited it!

The second cross was made by Cyril Fish’s

grandfather, Stonemason Isaiah Fish, and his

son Thomas. It was the Midlands memorial

to Father Keohan and much of the cost was

borne by the non-Catholics who so loved

that man! Before ecumenism was officially

encouraged, Oatlands was doing it! Fr Martin

was walking up to the gaol to assist his

Catholic convict to die well, as the Anglican

Rector was hurrying up to aid his spiritual

son. The Rector was overcome at the thought

A cross that was and a ‘saint’By Vera Fisher

Beaconsfield

Launceston

eloraine

Longford

Oatlands

Pontville

Richmond

New NorfolkGuilford Young College

Kingston

raction. A

s of the cross,

Deloraine and

nity, while

present the

the presence of

St John’s, Richmond

Located on the fringe of the car park

at St. John’s Church, this cross will be

a restoration of the original historic

churchyard cross designed by the

great English architect Augustus Welby

Northmore Pugin. It dates from c.1859.

Pugin always designed crosses not as

dead wood, but as living wood bursting

into new life, because through Christ’s death on

the cross, new life is won for all.

St Paul’s, Oatlands

This cross will also be a restoration of the

original historic cross designed by Augustus

Welby Northmore Pugin and located in the

grounds of St Paul’s Church. It dates from

c.1859. Pugin always designed crosses not as

dead wood, but as living wood bursting into

new life, because through Christ’s death on

the cross, new life is won for all.

Church of Apostles, Launceston

This large wooden cross will stand before the

historic Church of Apostles and will be visible

from both Margaret and Elizabeth Streets in

central Launceston. Bluestone retaining walls

will house a garden which will create a secluded

paved sandstone area for quiet reflection. With

the use of coloured mosaics, the base of the

cross will symbolise the waves of migration of

people from all parts of the globe who along with the indigenous

people of the area create the rich diversity of the Launceston

parish community. Mosaics will also feature on the cross itself,

symbolising the wounds of Christ.

white the silver, red the iron o

smelting process.

St Augustine’s, Longford

The Kings Meadows Parish is administered by

the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart whose

motto is: “May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be

everywhere known and loved”.

The Cross at St Augustine’s, Longford is made

from Tasmanian Oak. At the centre of the cross

is the outline of a heart, representing the Sacred

Heart of Jesus. The outline of the heart is made

of metal, coated in a heritage red colour to blend in with the

heritage style of the Church.

the Priest Kingston

Guilford Young College, St Virgil’s

Chapel, Barrack Street

The cross reflects both the past and future.

i ustic to reflect the early days ilt b

of the hanging and became physically sick.

Perhaps one of the turnkeys told Father and

he said he could take both men out and so, off

to the scaffold he went, intoning the Litany of

the Saints with one Anglican and one Roman

Catholic following along behind.

Unfortunately, after many years, a lady

(being given direction by a nun!) reversed

into the memorial cross and damaged it badly.

Before repairs were carried

out, our American priest,

Fr Dolan, forgot it was

there and reversed into it

in the dark, resulting in its

demise.

Years later, a man out

walking found all the

pieces of the precious cross

thrown under a hedge in

a back lane of the town. It was heavy work

but he carried it home to his garden piece by

piece and then called a stone-mason to see if

it could be repaired – it could not. Guessing

it belonged to the Catholics, this kind and

honest member of the Uniting Church gave

it back to us, including the undamaged and

dearly treasured section.

There are other points of interest for

pilgrims to Oatlands. Given the recent interest

in Mary MacKillop, many will be interested

to see the old convent and school of the

Josephites and the sacristy in which their

co-founder, Fr Julian Tenison Woods, slept

for his first two weeks in Oatlands.

St Peter’s Anglican Church contains a

fabulous collection of tapestry kneelers, all

made by local ladies. This church stands on

ground that was precious to the Aboriginal

inhabitants, with one family coming back

regularly to visit their sacred tree after the

white people arrived.

The Court House, built

in 1829, was where church

services and marriages

took place.

In High Street may be

seen Elm Cottage where

the Catholics attended

Mass in the home of John

Ryan for many years. Irish

exile Kevin O’Doherty and

Fr Keohan both lived at Elm Cottage and were

cared for by the Ryans.

The ‘great gates of the prison’ stand now

in High Street from which they CAN NEVER

BE REMOVED. They are a tribute to the two

Oatlands men, H Gane and H Dove, who

dismantled them and re-erected them with

little more equipment than a piece of chalk

and a lorry! Almost twenty judicial homicides

took place in front of those gates and the

State Executioner lived there and travelled

to Hobart and Launceston.

Indeed, plenty to reflect on!

Fr Martin was the first

pastor of St Paul’s and

the man whose name

is forever linked to

that church.

THE WAY ACROSS TASMANIA



When the sun shines and the wind blows at John Paul II

Catholic School at Rokeby, the school benefits in many

ways. As the first school in Australia to have its own wind turbine,

as well as solar power, John Paul II saves money on power bills

by harnessing natural energy directly and feeding it into the

school’s electricity supply. Money that is saved goes directly

into educational resources for the students and students can

learn about usage and production of electricity in an actual

situation.

The driving force behind the acquisition of the turbine was

Grade 6 teacher and Assistant Principal Martin MacManus who,

with a background in electronics and project management, was

able to battle through regulations and grant applications. His work

paid off with the Australian Government covering all the costs of

the wind turbine which provides energy equivalent to 50 solar

panels, or ten kilowatts. He had great help from I Want Wind Energy

company that provided the equipment at cost, thus maximising

value for the grant money.

The school community is rightly proud of its achievements.

The turbine is quiet, doesn’t attract birds and isn’t in the flight

path of any endangered species. As well as the turbine grant, the

school has used money from the federal government’s Building

the Education Revolution (BER) programme to great effect with a

new library, heat pumps, change rooms, toilets and kindergarten

as well as renovations throughout all learning areas. Technology is

a feature of the classrooms and I’m sure the students who are part

of this school will be well prepared for their future lives.

The motto of St Paul’s Catholic School at

Bridgewater says ‘We are God’s Work of

Art’ and as a visitor, I got a sense that the

children and staff there had really absorbed

that insight.

The friendly greetings given to us by all

we met, displays of results of much creative

work and a lively, engaging environment all

testified to both God’s work and the hard work

of the principal, staff and parents and friends

– all working for the good of the students,

who were happy, independent, polite and

engaged. The school motto is carried out

with a strong emphasis on promoting the

value of each student, so that they are able

to reach their full human potential.

A school with energy!

The occasion for our visit was the blessing

and opening of the new ‘Sisters of Mercy

Discovery Centre’ and other building

refurbishments made possible by the Federal

Governments’ BER and the foresight and

drive of principal, Cameron Brown. Sisters of

Mercy, and current staff members, Sr Carmel

Hinkley and Sr Fina Woollcombe, were there

to unveil a plaque along with other dignitaries

including Archbishop Adrian Doyle, Hon Dick

Adams and Dr Trish Hindmarsh.

Children from the school were admirable

in their compering and hosting duties and

great ambassadors for what must be one of

the best schools in Tasmania.

Creativity at Bridgewater

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25


Last September, 22 Tasmanians set off to the Holy Land for an

experience of a lifetime. What a journey it was! As we followed

the journey of Christ so many places mentioned in the Gospels

came alive.

Our first three days were in Galilee, visiting Capernaum where Jesus

healed Peter’s mother-in-law, stopping at the place where Jesus fed

the crowd with a few loaves and fish and taking time near the Church

of the Primacy of Peter where Jesus asked Peter, “Do you love me?”

We celebrated mass at the Mount of the Transfiguration and had

a great experience at Nazareth, before stopping at Cana where our

married couple renewed their marriage vows. Before leaving Galilee

we went down to the Mount of the Beatitudes where we could see

the gentle slopes leading down to the Sea of Galilee as we reflected

on the Beatitudes.

From our base in Jerusalem, we visited Bethlehem, the Dead Sea

and Jericho – so many places and memories to record!

Anthony Case said: “The trip was jam-packed; plenty of sites to

visit…If I were to pick my favourites it would be the Church of the

Agony and the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) where nothing seems

to have changed much from the time of Jesus.”

Journey of Jesus

Marg Morse said: “Truly a most heartfelt experience of walking

in the footsteps of Jesus along the Via Dolorosa! He met His Mother

and Simon of Cyrene who helped to carry His cross here. Along this

sorrowful Way we stood at the Ecce Homo Arch where Pilate presented

Jesus to the Jews. We made our way along the Stations of the Cross,

reciting the Rosary while carrying a wooden cross through the hive

of the marketplace, stallholders and goods.”

There is some good news as I am planning another ‘Journey of Jesus’

Pilgrimage in September this year and there is a growing number of

Tasmanians wanting to come on board. Anyone interested or wanting

more information is welcome to contact me, phone (03) 6225 0105 or

email [email protected]

By Fr Peter O’Loughlin, Parish Priest Bellerive–Lindisfarne

FEATURES

“...a most heartfelt experience of walking

in the footsteps of Jesus along the Via

Dolorosa!”



Thanks to the initiative of

some young mothers, the

Catholic Parish of Sandy Bay-

Taroona has been conducting

a playgroup once a month for

nearly three years at the parish

centre.

There is plenty of room and

lots of toys for the children to

play with. Every month there

are new activities to share with

the children such as drawing,

artwork, origami, play dough

etc. The morning usually ends musically, with the children singing

and assisting with percussion instruments.

For the adults it is an opportunity to interact with people of different

cultural backgrounds and to welcome newcomers to

the parish while enjoying morning tea and a slice

of cake or biscuits.

It has been heartening to see the steady

increase in numbers of parents and

grandparents with their children

and grandchildren participating

in the playgroup. It is always a

morning full of laughter – from

the adults as well as the children.

Busy in the Bay Spirit dreamA national gathering for all involved in Catholic Schools, Spirit

Dream in Burning Hearts, is bringing together under the

one program some of our country’s best presenters and artists

to celebrate the spirit and heart of our Catholic identity.

The gathering will provide:

Insightful, learned and relevant discussion

Prophetic and challenging visioning

Creative, engaging celebration and ritual

It will be at Olympic Park, Sydney, Friday to Sunday, May 27

- 29, 2011.

Teachers, other staff, parents, priests, board members and

student representatives will all be given wonderful opportunities

for learning and networking. You are invited!

Check out www.emmausproductions.com and for more details

contact Sr Gabrielle Morgan at the TCEO ph (03) 62 10 8845.

GENERAL NEWS

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✓

✓

✓

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KIDS’ PAGE

Cl ©Courtesy of Creative Ministry Resources (Liturgy Help/Cathnet)Mt 4:1-11 Solutions page: 31

1st Sunday of Lent, Year A

Jesus is tempted in the desert

In the desert, Jesus faced some tough choices but was able to make the right ones. What are some of the tough choices that we face in our day to day lives?

Join up the fruit to complete the text maze:

“Lead us not into temptation.”

How did Jesus respond to temptation?

Hey Jesus!If you’re so hungry,why don’t you turn

these stoneshere into bread?

Hey Jesus!I bet that if you jump

off the temple,God will send

some angels tocatch you!

Hey Jesus!See all those

kingdoms? They’re yours!

And all you have to do is bow down

and worship ME!Too easy!



Weddings

www.hobart.ca

WEDDINGS

The Tasmanian Catholic accepts for publication photographs of Catholic weddings. Every effort will be made to publish such photographs at the first opportunity, but delays may occur due to limited space. Original photographs sent by mail will be returned if requested. Digital photographs should be submitted with a minimum resolution of 300dpi.

Catherine McGlone and Simon Harmsen.Married at St John’s, Richmond.Saturday, October 23, 2010.Celebrant, Fr Terry Rush.Photographer: Jennifer Skabo.

Verity Cleland, daughter of Jim and Shirley of Somersetto Bradley Davie, son of Jim and Lee-Ann of Old Beach.Married at St Canice, Sandy Bay.Saturday, November 13, 2010.Celebrant, Michael Tate.Photographer: Karen Brown Photography.

29


29

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JOURNEY TO EASTER VISITATIONS OF MARY

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Departing: 9 Jun • 9 Sep • 9 Oct 2011

Pasquina Hilary has just successfully

completed her Nursing Degree at the

University of Tasmania in Launceston. She

applied for a graduate position at four

hospitals and was accepted at all four. She

has decided to accept the offer from Royal

Perth Hospital and starts 2011 in a new

place. She’s excited and nervous.

When Pasquina arrived in Hobart in

August 2003, having spent much of her life

in refugee camps in Uganda, she found she

was the only African at her new school, Mt

Carmel College, and the school year was

already well underway. Nevertheless, she

found the students very welcoming and was

given every help by the staff, especially Mrs

Oakley who helped her learn about her new

culture and Mr McNulty who even organised

a class barbecue when Pasquina received her

Australian citizenship.

After finishing grade 10 at Mt Carmel,

Pasquina moved to Guilford Young College

to complete grades 11 and 12. She found the

time there active, inspiring and fun as she

threw herself into College life wholeheartedly,

becoming the first African student leader

at GYC and speaking to students about her

refugee experiences.

Pasquina’s family were sponsored by the

Hobart Baptist congregation when they arrived

from Africa. They also received tremendous

support from the Catholic Community,

particularly through the St Vincent de Paul

Society and Centacare. They have lived in

Glenorchy, North Hobart, Kingston and now

Claremont. It was in Kingston that they met

Fr Chris Hope and the Guidici family.

To the very Catholic Pasquina, the best

way to celebrate her success was to have

a Thanksgiving Mass with her African and

non-African family and friends. God deserved

the credit for guiding her thus far and her

family supported this idea. When she asked

the Archbishop to be guest of honour, he

agreed to come and celebrate Mass with her.

The liturgical dancers that Pasquina trains

came along to Christ the Priest in Kingston

on December 18 as did the African choir and

musicians and many excited friends, including

school friend Rosie Guidici.

Celebrating with God!

What a joyful celebration! There was

no church organ, but instead stringed

instruments called Adungus, drums and

shakers. The exuberant sound of ladies

ululating punctuated the proceeding with

impromptu appreciation. Bells tinkled as girls

led the liturgical processions with movements

taught them by Pasquina. Children laughed,

everyone sang and God was praised!

The celebrations continued after Mass with

speeches, dancing, food and drink. It was one

of the best parties Kingston had seen!

GENERAL NEWS



Between the lines

LIFESTYLE

Most books are available from

Fullers, and the Window on the

World Bookshop in Ulverstone.

Call and Response: An Introduction to the Catholic FaithAuthor: John Francis Collins

ISBN: 9781921472619

Publisher: St Pauls Publications

RRP: $21.95

Call and Response is the latest resource

produced by the Catholic Enquiry Centre

for those discerning their call to the Catholic

Church.

The book is simply structured and can

be read by individuals, or used in discussion

groups, such as parish-based RCIA groups.

Reading through the four main sections

of the book, titled “Hearing God’s Call”,

“Understanding the Catholic Faith”, “Receiving

the Sacraments” and “Responding to the

call: Faith in Action”, becomes a journey of

discovery and reflection on where God is

calling the reader and how it can be responded

to.

There are accounts of hearing God’s call and

responding to it from the Bible as well as the

lives of the saints, encouraging the reader to

reflect on how that they too may be called.

Important sources of faith such as the Bible

in which God is revealed, and the Creed are

explored, as are the sacraments, through

which Catholics are initiated and sustained

in the Church. The order of Mass is broken

down and explored, giving meaning to this

central act of worship.

Throughout the book a variety of short

testimonies of people’s experience in entering

the sacramental life are found, inviting the

reader to reflect upon their own experiences,

their relationship with God and how they are

called to participate in the Church’s mission.

It offers short, concise explanations, which

help to provide an overall knowledge of the

Catholic faith. For some readers, further

research may be necessary. Even though there

is no cross-referencing, the structure of the

book allows a topic to be easily found in the

Catechism of the Catholic Church.

At just over 140 pages, Call and Response

can easily be read from beginning to end, and

is ideal for those who are interested in knowing

more about the Catholic faith, whether they

are enquirers, or have been baptised Catholic

for many years.

Reviewer: Ben Brooks.

Mary MacKillop: The Children’s Saint, Letters from Mary and Never See a Need Without Doing

Something About ItAuthor and illustrator: Joan Goodwin

ISBN: 9781921472817, 9781921472800 and

9781921472831

Publisher: St Pauls Publications

RRP: $9.95 each

God’s Tender MercyAuthor: Joan Chittister

ISBN: 9781920682231

Publisher: John Garratt publishing

RRP: $19.95

In this book, Sr Joan Chittister tackles

the virtue of mercy and its essential

connection to forgiveness.

It challenges the reader to question

their own personal view as well as the view

of society towards those who have done

something wrong. Changing attitudes

demand a more punitive, authoritarian and

reactionary approach to those who have

trouble doing what is right. She writes that

today, “We look with a touch of bewilderment

at those who treat lovingly the ones we cannot

love.”

The book acknowledges that we are very

good at knowing other people’s sin and

very good at knowing our own sin. What is

hard for us is mercy. We are all sinners and

by learning to know God and His mercy we

can understand and appreciate the position

of other people who have hurt us, as well as

understand our own frailty. Sr Joan explores

what sin is, and how mercy and forgiveness

can transpose sin into something we can

learn and grow from. Often it is from our own

sins that we are enabled to understand the

sins of others and show them mercy. Sr Joan

contends that the great spiritual question is

not whether or not this person or this situation

deserves mercy; it is about whether or not we

are capable of showing it.

This book would be a great book to read

and reflect on during Lent.

Reviewer: Margaret Donaghy.

These books are wonderful tools to

introduce young children to the stories

and ethos of Mary MacKillop.

The three books are suitable for three

different age groups and relate the story of

Mary to the lives of 21st Century Australians.

For five to seven year olds there is a colouring

and puzzle book with big print in a clear

font. For eight to nine year olds, the story

is told in imaginary letters that Mary might

have written, along with puzzles and work

sheets. For ten to twelve year olds, the book

contains some solid reading material with

stories both from Mary’s life and from Jesus’

life. Again, there are interesting activities. A

useful series for schools, parishes and homes.

Highly recommended.

Reviewer: Mary-Anne Johnson.

31


LIFESTYLE

Fr Richard Leonard presents

new to DVD titles. He is the

director of the Australian

Catholic Film Office

Lights, camera, action!

The Waiting City is

named Australian Film

of the Year by the Catholic

Film Office for 2010.

T h e j u r y o f t h e

Australian Catholic Film

Office (ACFO) has awarded

its 2010 Film of the Year to

Claire McCarthy’s The Waiting City.

For the first time in the many years of the

award’s history, the Australian Catholic Film

Office has given its Film of the Year to a film

which was not nominated in the Best Film

category at the AFI Awards. Director of the

Office and Jury Chair, Jesuit Priest, Fr Richard

Leonard said, “The jury was surprised that this

well-crafted and deeply humane film was

passed over in every AFI category except for

Denson Baker’s excellent cinematography. As

good as many of the nominated films were

this year, we thought this was an oversight

which would not constrain our Award.”

Written and directed by Claire McCarthy,

The Waiting City tells the story of a young

Australian married couple, Ben and Fiona,

as they arrive in Kolkata to collect a baby,

Lakshmi, whom they have been negotiating

to adopt for two years. The title refers to the

impossibility of hurrying things in India.

Everything takes time, particularly where

paperwork and protocols are concerned.

Filmed entirely on location in India, the jury

praised this film for its distinctive atmosphere,

the blend of beauty and squalor, the rich

traditions (with their vivid and vibrant colours)

and the variety of religious and transcendent

spiritualities that are so sensitively woven

into the narrative of the film. The Waiting

The FighterStarring: Christian Bale,

Mark Wahlberg, Amy

Adams and Melissa Leo.

Director: David O Russell.

Rated: MA 15+. 116 mins.

There is a long tradition

of American films about boxing, as a

sport, as an industry and the repercussions

for individuals and family. Champion, The Set

Up, Somebody Up There Likes Me, Requiem

for a Heavyweight, Raging Bull, Cinderella

Man. Quite a collection of films. The Fighter

is up there with them.

Many audiences are not boxing fans and

may wince at some of the fight scenes in this

film. But, there is a lot more to the film than

the gruelling poundings.

Non-American audiences may be surprised

that this story is based on actual characters

and their quite recent past. In fact, the two

brothers at the centre of the film are seen

in actual footage during the final credits.

The trainer, Michael O’Keefe, seems to be

played by a sympathetically talented actor,

but it is O’Keefe playing himself. The setting

is Lowell, Massachussets, and much of the

film was made there, including the use of

the actual gym of the story. Given that the

film is grounded in fact, this is surprising,

given the often unflattering portraits of the

main characters.

Join up the fruit to complete the text maze:

“Lead us not into temptation.”

City is also cleverly constructed, developing

almost like a thriller, drawing the audience to

be constantly anxious about the next move

and what will be revealed. The performances

from Radha Mitchell and Joel Edgerton are

outstanding.

“Fiona and Ben’s journey to India is not just

about overseas adoption and cross-cultural

conflict, it is also about them confronting their

marriage, what constitutes family life, their

sense of humanity and the role of spirituality

in our lives,” Fr Leonard said.

Previous winners of the ACFO’s Film

includes Samson & Delilah, The Black Balloon,

The Jammed, Ten Canoes, Look Both Ways,

Japanese Story, Rabbit Proof Fence, Beneath

Clouds, Black and White, Australian Rules, Facing

the Music and Looking for Alibrandi.

* The Waiting City is available on DVD.

The Fighter is the story of two brothers,

Dick and Mickey Ward. The Fighter applies

to both of them but the centre of the film

is Mickey, the younger brother. The film

opens with Dick speaking direct to camera

as documentary makers are filming him for a

documentary about his comeback. Comeback

does not seem likely as Dick is a wild and

bug-eyed interviewee, fidgety and jumpy

and hyping what he says – he spends a lot

of time in a crack house. The scene includes

home movie footage of the two brothers.

While Dick had his moment in the 1970s, it is

now the 1990s and he is training Mickey who

has ambitions but fears he is a loser. This sets

the tone for a story of powerful family bonds

(and domination, especially by their tough

as nails mother, Alice) played out in fights at

home and in the ring.

One of the reasons the opening is so

attention-grabbing is that Christian Bale is

playing Dick. Sometimes Bale seems stolid

(even as Bruce Wayne), especially as Melvin

Purvis in Public Enemies, and in Terminator:

Salvation. He was at his serious best in 3:10

to Yuma. But, here... he is hyperkinetic, a

performance that deserves many awards.

Which means that Mark Wahlberg, as Mickey,

has to play the straight role to his brother’s

histrionics. This Wahlberg is always able to do

and makes his dramatic mark in a less showy

manner. Melissa Leo (so strong in Frozen River)

brings the matriarch, Alice, to frighteningly

domineering life. She has an entourage of

six daughters who seem something like a

Greek chorus in attendance, with moments

like the Furies.

This means that, although the boxing is

the setting for the drama, and we see inside

the gyms, the bouts, the championships, the

deals and the pressures, The Fighter is a film

about family.

David O Russell has not made so many films

and they range from Three Kings to I Heart

Huckabees. This is one he can be proud of.

Reviewer: Fr Peter Malone MSC

*The Fighter is currently showing in Tasmanian

cinemas.

Solu

tion

s



Leslie Richard AnningLeslie Richard Anning was born on

November 2, 1927, to Tiny (Elvina) and

Richard. He was the third of eight children

and the family lived at South Hobart.

As a boy he joined Cubs and the Sea Scouts,

played cricket, helped at Steven’s Dairy and

went on hikes up the Mountain with his dad.

Les was educated at Macquarie Street Primary

School, and then at Hobart High School.

He joined the Navy in January 1945 as a

stoker and was discharged in January 1947.

When he returned from the Navy he began

to court a young lady who lived two doors

away. Les and Val were married in February

1950 at St Francis Xavier’s Catholic Church,

South Hobart. They lived for a short time with

Les’ parents, and then moved to a flat above

the old pre-school in

Anglesea Street, where

they were caretakers.

The dea l was – no

children allowed – but

… four children later,

they left the school and

moved to Chestnut Avenue, Lutana in 1961.

Les was employed as an apprentice

monumental mason with Albert Cooper

and worked alongside his brother- in- law,

Jack Daniels. Many years later, Les, with his

sister Beryl and her husband Jack, bought

out Albert Cooper and became directors in

the business until forced into retirement in

1985 by a work-related injury.

Times were tough. Les was only earning

the basic wage, paying off a new house and

supporting a wife and four young children.

However, Les still found time to assist in the

building of the new Catholic church, Our

Lady of Victories, even though at this stage

he was not a Catholic himself. He also became

involved with the Third Moonah Scout Troop,

based at St Therese’s in Moonah. During that

time he worked on the committee to help run

the troop and help build their own Scout Hall

(now St Therese’ s Kindergarten).

As a result of his involvement with the

Catholic community, Les found a need to

belong to the Church with his family, so,

after the necessary preparation, he became

a Catholic. This led to further involvement

on committees including various roles on

Parish Council, the Diocesan Pastoral Council

and the planning of the

Goodwood Community

Centre. He was on the

management committee

of the Goodwood centre

for many years and

recently Les and Val

were awarded life memberships.

Football played a part in Les’ life. In his

early days he played for Hobart, Cananore

and Sandfly and coached Sandfly. In the 1970s

he became involved with the Buckingham

underage football club – again working on

committees and helping with fundraising and

training. Les and Val were passionate Hobart

Football Club supporters – Les volunteered

to run their Bingo nights. It was through this

association that they won a cruise, travelling

around the Pacific on the Himalaya. This gave

them a thirst for travel and another cruise

followed and then two trips to New Zealand

and several trips around Australia.

Family, Church and community were

important to Les and he continued his active

involvement even though several health

issues arose. St Therese’s Church at Moonah

was full of family, friends and representatives

of the various community groups in which

Les had been involved. This attendance was

a testament to the wide esteem in which

Les was held. He was a devoted husband, a

generous and caring father and father-in-law,

a loving grandfather and great-grandfather.

He was a good son, a loved and respected

brother and brother- in- law and a great friend

to many. He was a good man who will be

greatly missed.

Les found a need to

belong to the Church

with his family.

2.11.1927 – 24.12.2010

OBITUARY

33


Joe Grech was a bishop of the people, loved by young and old. A

generous, warm and passionate man of God, he will be remembered

as a great leader of the Catholic community of Sandhurst, of the

Catholic Church in Australia and internationally.

He died on December 28,2010 in Melbourne’s St Vincent’s hospital

after the recurrence of a blood disorder, aged just 62.

The Most Reverend Joseph Angelo Grech, to give him his full title,

was appointed in 2001 as sixth Bishop of the Sandhurst Diocese whose

cathedral is in Bendigo.

Born in Malta, he was the eldest of three children. After completing

the first four years of studies for the priesthood in Malta, he arrived in

Australia in 1971. He completed his last four years of studies at Corpus

Christi College in Melbourne and was ordained a priest in 1974. In 1999

Bishop Joe was appointed as auxiliary bishop of Melbourne before

becoming Bishop of Sandhurst.

At the time of his death he was a member of the Bishops Commission

for Pastoral Life with special oversight for the pastoral care of migrants

and refugees. He was recently appointed to the Pontifical Council for

the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants.

Within the Commission for Pastoral Life Bishop Joe was also

responsible on behalf of the Bishops of Australia for youth ministry.

He was also a member of the Bishops Commission for Mission and

Adult Faith Formation with particular responsibilities regarding

Catholic missions. He was also a member of the International Catholic

Charismatic Council representing Oceania.

A much-sought-after international speaker and preacher, Bishop

Joe was particularly committed to the Charismatic Renewal movement

and international priests’ retreats. He was a much-loved champion

of young people and was keenly involved in many World Youth Day

celebrations across the world.

Monsignor Marriott, administrator of the Sandhurst Diocese who

was at Bishop Joe’s bedside when he died, recalled his great love for

young people. Monsignor said “Bishop Joe had a famous saying for

young people – ‘God doesn’t make rubbish – there is good in each

of us and we have to find it.’

‘’The Bishop led the Stronger Retreat for Young People in Echuca

recently – he was thrilled with it and has always had such faith in our

young people across the world. He was very committed to the priests

and people of the Sandhurst diocese. He was always available for his

people – he led Scripture workshops, visited schools and parishes

regularly and knew the students well – they all loved him.’’

Bishop Joe was the spiritual leader of the diocesan pilgrimage to the

Canonisation of St Mary of the Cross MacKillop and in the Footsteps of

St Paul – the 50 pilgrims feel privileged to have shared this precious

time with him recently.

St Kilian’s parish administrator, Fr Rom Hayes, said Bishop Joe wasn’t

one to stand on ceremony and that says a lot about the sort of man

he was. “He was known as Bishop Joe and that’s what he liked to be

called.” Fr Rom recalled that “he was thoughtful, outgoing and very

concerned for people. He poured himself into his work and never

backed off. I’ll remember him as warm and caring and passionate

about the things he believed in.”

Bishop Joe was well known across the diocese, not only in the

Catholic community. He was a prominent leader in Bendigo and was

also well known in Australian diplomatic circles.

Bishop Joe was proud of his Maltese heritage and equally proud to

be an Australian, the wonderful blend of these cultures manifested in

the character of this truly great man. He was very close to his sister and

brother and Aunty Mary, who still live in Malta; he would visit them

each year. His Aunt Tess and Uncle Jim, who live in Australia, were like

parents to him – they were at his side when he died.

Malcolm Hart, senior youth ministry project officer for the Australian

Catholic Bishops Conference, said: “If there is one thing that the youth

ministry community of Australia should know is that Bishop Joe

was as committed to youth ministry as he was in the other pastoral

ministries.

‘’The diocese of Sandhurst has now lost a shepherd, the migrant

and refugee community have lost one of their greatest advocates,

the Charismatic Renewal movement around the world has lost one

of its greatest preachers and leaders, and the Church in Malta and the

Universal Church has lost a great son.”

Australia’s ambassador to the Holy See, Tim Fischer, said that

Sandhurst diocese and Australia had lost a dedicated Bishop and

citizen, who greatly inspired people, especially the young.

‘’Only in October he was larger than life here in Rome, leading a

group of Sandhurst pilgrims to the canonisation of St Mary MacKillop.

He returned to Australia via Malta and helped with the ordination of

Sandhurst priest, Fr Robert Gallea.

‘’In the decade he was Bishop of Sandhurst, he gave generous, warm

and open leadership, which will be hugely missed,’’ Mr Fischer said.

Bishop Joe is survived by his brother Carmel and his sister

Rosette.

Popular Bishop and an inspirationBy Philomena Billington (Director of Catholic Education in the Sandhurst diocese)

10.12.1948 – 28.12.2010

“He was known as Bishop Joe and that’s what he liked to be called...He was warm and

caring and passionate about the things he believed in.”

OBITUARY

Authorised by CSF Pty Limited ABN 30 006 169 286, Trustee of Catholic Super ABN 50 237 896 957. Information is about the Fund and is not intended as financial advice. It does not take into account specific needs, so members should consider their personal position, objectives and requirements before taking any action.

Tasmanian Catholic - Volume 7 Issue 1 2011

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