If undeliverable return toEmmanuel CentreA SELF HELP CENTRE for People with Disabilities25 Windsor St Perth WA 6000Tel: (08) 9328 8113 (Voice) (08) 9328 9571 (TTY)

SMS 0401 016 399Fax: (08) 9227 9720

Email: EmmanuelCentre@westnet.com.auWeb address: www.emmanuelcentre.com.auEMMANUEL NEWS MAY 2012

COMING EVENTS AS WE GO TO PRESS (Check before coming could be changed. Look inside for more info.)

Monday May 14th “Challenges” 9.45-10.45am Emmanuel Centre; “Learning activities” Sr Corona & Christine 11-12.30Tuesday May 15th “Painting with Geoff” 9.30-10.30am Emmanuel Centre; “Scrapbook with Sharon and Tracey”11-12 noon

“Volunteer Drumbeat with Christine and Paul” 1-2pmWednesday May 16th“Conversational Sign Language” with Geoff 1-2.30pm Emmanuel CentreThursday May 17th AUSLAN CAFÉ 10.30 – 12 noon Emmanuel CentreMonday May21st “Challenges ” 9.45-10.45am Emmanuel Centre; “Learning activities” Sr Corona & Christine 11-12Tuesday May 22nd“Painting with Geoff” 9.30-10.30am Emmanuel Centre; “Activities with Sr Corona and Christine” 11-12

“Volunteer Drumbeat with Christine and Paul” 1-2pmWednesday May 23rd “Conversational Sign Language” with Geoff 1-2.30pm Emmanuel CentreMonday May 28th “Challenges” 9.45-10.45am Emmanuel Centre; “Learning activities” Sr Corona & Christine 11-12.30Tuesday May 29th “Painting with Geoff” 9.30-10.30am Emmanuel Centre; “Activities with Sr Corona and Christine” 11-12

“Volunteer Drumbeat with Christine and Paul” 1-2pmWednesday May 30th “Conversational Sign Language” with Geoff 1-2.30pm Emmanuel Centre

Monday June 4th PUBLIC HOLIDAY FOUNDATION DAYTuesday June 5th “Painting with Geoff”9.30-10.30am Emmanuel Centre; “Activities with Sr Corona and Christine” 11-12

“Volunteer Drumbeat with Christine and Paul” 1-2pmWednesday June 6th

Monday June 11th “Challenges” 9.45-10.45am Emmanuel Centre; “Learning activities” Sr Corona & Christine 11-12.30Tuesday June 12th “Painting with Geoff”9.30-10.30am Emmanuel Centre; “Activities with Sr Corona and Christine” 11-12

“Volunteer Drumbeat with Christine and Paul” 1-2pmWednesday June 13th“Conversational Sign Language” with Geoff 1-2.30pm Emmanuel CentreMonday June 18th“Challenges” 9.45-10.45am Emmanuel Centre; “Learning activities” Sr Corona & Christine 11-12.30Tuesday June 19th “Painting with Geoff”9.30-10.30am Emmanuel Centre; “Activities with Sr Corona and Christine” 11-12

“Volunteer Drumbeat with Christine and Paul” 1-2pmWednesday June 20th“Conversational Sign Language” with Geoff 1-2.30pm Emmanuel CentreThursday June 21st AUSLAN CAFÉ 10.30 – 12 noon Emmanuel CentreMonday June 25th “Challenges “ 9.45-10.45am Emmanuel Centre; “Learning activities” Sr Corona & Christine 11-12.30Tuesday June 26th “Painting with Geoff”9.30-10.30am Emmanuel Centre; “Activities with Sr Corona and Christine” 11-12 ;

“Volunteer Drumbeat with Christine and Paul” 1-2pmWednesday June 27th“Conversational Sign Language” with Geoff 1-2.30pm Emmanuel CentreMonday July 2nd “Challenges” 9.45-10.45am Emmanuel Centre ; “Learning activities” Sr Corona & Christine 11-12.30Tuesday July 3rd “Painting with Geoff”9.30-10.30am Emmanuel Centre; “Activities with Sr Corona and Christine” 11-12

“Volunteer Drumbeat with Christine and Paul” 1-2pmWednesday July 4th“Conversational Sign Language” with Geoff 1-2.30pm Emmanuel Centre

NO PROGRAMMES 9th JULY to 23rd JulyTuesday July 24th Scrapbooking with Sharon, Edith and TraceyWednesday July 25th “Conversational Sign Language” with Geoff 1-2.30pm Emmanuel CentreThursday July 26th AUSLAN CAFÉ 10.30 – 12 noon Emmanuel CentreMonday July 30th “Challenges” 9.45-10.45am Emmanuel Centre ; “Learning activities” Sr Corona & Christine 11-12.30Tuesday July 31st “Painting with Geoff”9.30-10.30am Emmanuel Centre; “Activities with Sr Corona and Christine” 11-12

“Volunteer Drumbeat with Christine and Paul” 1-2pmWednesday August 1st “Conversational Sign Language” with Geoff 1-2.30pm Emmanuel Centre

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AUSTRALIA

There is no one symbol or message that the Year of Grace logo is intended to convey. It is a bright and stylish image which, in looking at it, has many significant symbols and connections that can be drawn: The cross, The sun, A circle that represents the infinity of God, The halo incorporating a cross that surrounds the head of Jesus in Eastern iconography, The host used at Mass, The monstrance used in Eucharistic, adoration, A link with the artistic tradition of our Indigenous people, The earthen, ochre colours of Australia, A diversity of peoples and cultures, gathered into one community, A star-burst, Light There may be other ways in which the logo speaks to people.

If your version of this newsletter is in black and white and you have access to the internet google “year of Grace” to see the colour version and why those colours were used.

I don’t think a week ever goes by without meeting up with an organisation or cause that is celebrating some kind of an event or scheme. Over the years in this Archdiocese we have had our own things like The Year of the Holy Spirit (1998), Jubilee (2000), St Paul (2008), where parishes, school, organisations and individuals were invited to look at what was going on around them and look toward strengthening the good that was happening and filling in the gaps for those things which didn’t quite come through.

Some of you will remember World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008. We had 5 people from Emmanuel Centre attend that. Lives were changed and challenged. Another event for Australia was the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross McKillop in 2010. Thousands of people from around the world converged on Australia to celebrate our first canonised Saint.

The Bishops of Australia meeting over many sessions came to a conclusion that Australia should not let those two events pass as if they never happened. We needed to do something and do it together. The Proposal was to have a YEAR OF GRACE. So what is grace? It is more than just the idea of “favour” like doing someone a favour. Grace is doing good and God does us good and saves us with Jesus, the Son, through the Holy Spirit.

Pope John Paul the Second wrote an Apostolic Letter at the end of the Jubilee Year of 2000 called “At The Beginning Of The New millennium”. In that Letter the Pope made some very challenging statements. He said, “Our witness [to Jesus] would be hopelessly inadequate if we had not first contemplated [looked into] his face.” (#16) He also invited us to “centre ourselves on Christ”.

Our Archbishop Tim Costello, SDB and the Australian Bishops will be launching a YEAR OF GRACE in Pentecost of this year. I was especially pleased to hear that this YEAR OF GRACE would NOT just be another programme for renewal in the Archdiocese. I was encouraged to note that the Australian Bishops in announcing the YEAR OF GRACE did not have preconceived outcomes to judge whether the YEAR OF GRACE will be a success or not.

The beautiful thing about the YEAR OF GRACE is that it will add no extra burden on us at all. We don’t have to add anything to what we are already doing. Emmanuel Centre, your parish council, your parish school, your social action committee, your staff, your organisation whatever you are involved in is simply being asked to make sure that what ever it is you do, is centred on Christ. WOW!

God created us out of nothing. That nothings is really God’s Love because God “creates out of love” So we are loved into being. To understand this is to recognise everything and everyone as a gift, coming from the creative love that God is. Love is pure gift, there is human merit, no claim.

Jesus said I am the Way, The Truth and the Life; no-one can come to the Father except through me. (John14:6). If Jesus is not, theoretically and practically, at the heart of our faith as a Catholic Community, then perhaps we have no heart.

There will, of course, be material presented from the National Planning Team and locally, too. Let’s be open to centring our lives on Jesus. Who knows where it will lead us? As we face our daily struggles we can ask, “Where is Jesus in all this?” We may be surprised by the answers.

May your year be indeed a YEAR OF GRACE.

EVERY AUSTRALIAN COUNTSRally to Make It Real: NDIS 2012On Monday, April 30 the biggest rally of people in Perth walked from the Hay Street Mall to Stirling

Gardens. Many people connected to Emmanuel Centre were there. In February, Deputy Prime Minister Wayne Swan, Minister for Disability Reform Jenny Macklin, Jan McLucas

(Parliamentary Secretary) and Disability Ministers from across Australia met. The select Council is supported by the NDIS Advisory Group made up of experts from the disability sector which has met regularly and provided advice on foundation reform development. People with disability, their families and carers will be at the

centre of this important reform and will help us build a system that will better support the needs of people with disability regardless of where they live or how they acquired their disability.

KEEP THESE DATES FREE(August 22-26 2012)

VISIT OF FR CYRIL AXELROD CSsR.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PROGRAMS AT EMMANUEL CENTRE WEEKLYEach week during school terms many programs are offered at Emmanuel Centre. These programs are free because volunteers give their time and talents. If you would like further information please contact 9328 8113

The Grammar Disc at Emmanuel Centre, Tuesdays – 11 am – 12.

Learn skills in writing nouns, sentences, verbs etcA trained teacher helps students to work through the disc so they can learn more quickly. Contact Barbara (9328 8113) or Emma 0893289571 (TTY),

if you would like to be part of the group.

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SCRAPBOOK CLASSESOur next Scrap booking sessions at Emmanuel Centre are15th May 11-12noon19th June 11-12 noon24th July 11-12 noonThese sessions are free and are open to the public.Please bring along 6-8 photos and an album to put your pages in. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It all happens at Emmanuel Centre on Wednesday afternoons from 1- 2.30 PM. Further info Fr Paul 0401 016 399 or email: emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au.

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Auslan Café(What is Auslan? It’s Australian Sign Language.) Auslan Café is a social setting for anybody who would like to learn or practice Auslan in a relaxing atmosphere. It runs each month so just turn up, we will have the coffee hot and the cake and biscuits waiting! Bring a friend. at anytime between 10.30am and 12.30pm at Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor Street, Perth.

DATES17th May 2012; 21st June 2012; 26th July 2012

Auslan Café is a great place to meet & chat with new people or catch up with old friends. There will be fun games and activities as wellFor more info contact Emma Chevron emmanuelcentre@westnet.com.au

DRUMBEAT SESSIONS HELD AT EMMANUEL CENTREEach week volunteers have an option of taking part in a “DRUMBEAT” program.

(Developing Relationships Using Music Beliefs Emotions Attitudes and Thoughts)

Christine , a trained instructor, shares with Debbie helping Debbie to express her feelings.

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The release of the Gonski Review into funding for schooling in Australia highlighted some real problems in funding structures for students with disabilities. Additional funding is no substitute for skilled teaching. The Gonski Review recognises that there needs to be a simplified funding model to encourage much-improved educational outcomes for all students. An important part of the reform is to have a “core funding amount” – the schooling resource standard to provide each student with funding to which would be added additional funding for students with specific disadvantages including disability. The funding would go with the student to any school, government, independent or Catholic. Because there was not a lot of hard evidence for the recommendations in the area of disability everyone needs to work together, state, territory, Commonwealth Governments to work out the practicalities of disability support for the 2013 school year. A good beginning is a national definition of disability in education.Inclusive education is very patchy and parents have little professional guidance in choosing schools and negotiating educational programs. Good schools are generally that way because of the people involved rather

than by standards. Our task now is to ensure that the areas of reform identified do really transform the educational experience of students with disability. (Extracted and condensed from an article by Alan Blackwood, Policy Officer, for Children with Disability Australia in “Listen Up Magazine” of April 2012 p 14-16)

16 Quotes to Help You Get Through the Day

Sometimes we just need a little pick-me-up.  Something to give us that extra oomph so we can keep going.

How far you go in life depends on your being

tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.

A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank...but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child.

Bravery is the capacity to perform properly even when scared half to death.

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.

You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching, Love like you'll never be hurt, Sing like there's nobody listening, And live like it's heaven on earth

Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.

In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins - not through strength, but through persistence.

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.

Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a university

degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.

A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it sings because it has a song.

Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow"

Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength.

Always forgive your enemies - nothing annoys them so much.

“Remember we are but travellers here.”

“We must teach more by example than by word.”

“Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God.”

“We feel our crosses hard at times, but our courage should rise with them.

“Never see a need without doing something about it”

If you would like to receive this Newsletter in Braille, large print, audio CD or other format, please tell us.

Check out our Facebook for Deaf and Hard of Hearing

http://www.facebook.com/auslan.live

and our webpagehttp://www.emmanuelcentre.com.au/

If you want your newsletter delivered by EMAIL, please let us know. Why would you want to do that? You will get the newsletter QUICKER and in COLOUR. You can print out copies of articles you want to share. AND you will save us paper and postage.

JESUS IS LOOKING FOR A JOB. WILL YOU GIVE JESUS A JOB? The Resume of Jesus Christ Address:     Ephesians 1:20; Phone:  Romans 10:13    Website: The Bible. Keywords: Christ, Lord, Saviour and Jesus 

Objective My name is Jesus -The Christ. Many call me Lord! I've sent you my resume because I'm seeking the top management position in your heart. Please consider my accomplishments as set forth in my resume. 

Qualifications I founded the earth and established the heavens, (See Proverbs 3:19)I formed man from the dust of the ground, (See Genesis 2:7)I breathed into man the breath of life, (See Genesis 2:7)I redeemed man from the curse of the law, (See Galatians 3:13)The blessings of the Abrahamic Covenant comes upon your life through me, (See Galatians 3:14) 

Occupational Background I've only had one employer, (See Luke 2:49 ).I've never been tardy, absent, disobedient, slothful or disrespectful.My employer has nothing but rave reviews for me, (See Matthew 3:15 -17) 

Skills Work Experiences Some of my skills and work experiences include: empowering the poor to be poor no more, healing the broken-hearted, setting the captives free, healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind and setting at liberty them that are bruised, (See Luke 4:18).I am a Wonderful Counsellor, (See Isaiah 9:6). People who listen to me shall dwell safely and shall not fear evil, (See Proverbs 1:33 ).Most importantly, I have the authority, ability and power to cleanse you of your sins, (See I John 1:7-9) 

Educational Background I encompass the entire breadth and length of knowledge, wisdom and understanding, (See Proverbs 2:6).In me are hid all of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, (See Colossians 2:3).My Word is so powerful; it has been described as being a lamp unto your feet and a light unto your path, (See Psalms 119:105).I can even tell you all of the secrets of your heart, (See Psalms 44:21). 

Major Accomplishments I was an active participant in the greatest Summit Meeting of all times, (See Genesis 1:26 ).I laid down my life so that you may live, (See II Corinthians 5:15 ).I defeated the arch enemy of God and mankind and made a show of them openly, (See Colossians 2:15 ).I've miraculously fed the poor, healed the sick and raised the dead!There are many more major accomplishments, too many to mention here. You can read them on my website, which is located at: www dot - the BIBLE. You don't need an Internet connection or computer to access my website. 

References Believers and followers worldwide will testify to my divine healing, salvation, deliverance, miracles, restoration and supernatural guidance. 

In Summation

Now that you've read my resume, I'm confident that I'm the only candidate uniquely qualified to fill this vital position in your heart. In summation, I will properly direct your paths, (See Proverbs 3:5-6), and lead you into everlasting life, (See John 6:47 ). When can I start? Time is of the essence, (See Hebrews 3:15 ). 

Send this resume to everyone you know, you never know who may have an opening!

PRAY THIS EVEN IF YOU DON'T FEEL LIKE 

IT!!  IT WILL ONLY TAKE A MINUTE.I  started not to do this, but as I read  it....

 I  understood God to say, 'You  need a miracle'  so  here goes...Prov.  29:25

You  never know  when  God is going to bless you!! Good things  happen when  you  least expect them to !!!!!!!!

”Dear Lord, I thank You for this day; I thank You for my being able to see and to hear this morning. 

I'm blessed because You are a forgiving God and an understanding God.  You have done so much for me and You keep on blessing me. 

Forgive me this day for everything I have done, said or thought that was not pleasing to you.  I ask now for Your forgiveness. Please keep me  safe  from all  danger and harm. Help me to start this day with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude. Let me make the best of each and every day to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.

Please broaden my mind that I can accept all things.   Let me not whine and whimper over  things I have no control over.

And give me the best response when I’m pushed beyond my limits. I know that when I can't pray, You listen to my heart. 

Continue to use me to do Your will. Continue to bless me that I may be a blessing to others.  Keep me strong that I may help the weak...Keep me uplifted that I may have words of encouragement for others.

I  pray for those that are lost  and  can't find their way.  I pray for those that are misjudged and misunderstood.  I pray for those who don't  know You intimately. I pray for those that don’t believe.  

But  I thank You that I believe  that  you God change people and  people  change things.  I know there is no problem, circumstance,or situation greater than  you God.  Every battle is in Your hands for You to fight.in Jesus' name.  Amen!

Icons with which we are familiar come from many different areas. For example, most people around the world will look at a Kangaroo and immediately think of Australia. Uluru and Vegemite, Holden cars and the meat pie all say “Australia”. The word

‘icon’ comes from the Greek and translates most often into ‘image’. Icons point the way to something beyond themselves.

During this YEAR OF GRACE we are invited to pray with Icons. This is prayer without words, with a focus on being in the presence of God rather performing in the presence of God. It is an experience of touching and feeling what is holy. Icons are not simply art; they are a way into prayer of the soul. Icons

are doorways into closeness with God. If we sit with them long enough, we too can enter into communion. If we listen to them closely enough, with our hearts, we just may hear the voice of God.Icons remind us of the very real world that exists beyond the limitations of this passing world. Christ and the Saints (often depicted in Icons) are alive and well, and they have not forgotten us. Icons help to teach us to consider life’s most important matters. Icons have a way of teaching the heart spiritual truths that the mind cannot teach us.Icons are painted in reverse perspective. That means that the closer to the front an object is, the smaller it appears and the further away an object is the bigger. As we look into the icon we are in the present, the now.In some icons the human figures appear to be floating reminding us of another world beyond the one we know now. To begin prayer, you may want to light a candle nearby. The flame of the candle is a symbol of prayer inviting us into awareness of the presence of God. Take your time and breathe in life itself and God’s peace and breathe out your praise and thanks to God with your cries for help. We can speak words or just look at the icon and let God speak to us.