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WINTER 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 1

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VOL 24 - NO. 2WINTER 2015

DIOCESE OF ARMIDALE

His 9th decade begins!

Happy 80th birthday, Bishop Luc

2 - WINTER 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT

The Bishop Speaks

The World comes to ArmidaleThe face of the priesthood in the Diocese of Armidale is changing. Within the living memory of many parishioners, the priests of the diocese would have virtually all been Australian-Born with a few Irishmen still about. This is certainly not the case anymore. There are currently 25 priests in active ministry in the Diocese of Armidale: 16 were born in Australia; 5 in the Philippines; and 1 each in India, Vietnam, Ghana, and Nigeria. 64% of our active priests were born in Australia and 36% born overseas.

Looking more closely at our 16 Australian Born priests we see that 6 of them are over the age of 75, the standard retirement age for priests to step back from active parish ministry, and 2 more are nudging closer to their 75th birthdays. In 2017 we might have only 8 Australian Born priests in active ministry. I am the youngest Australian-Born priest in the diocese!

Looking at the 9 priests who were born in other countries but who now call Australia home we see the younger face of our clergy. 8 of them are in our

“top ten” of youngest priests. That’s right. 8 of our 10 youngest priests have come to Australia from overseas with a missionary spirit.

This trend of aging Australian-Born priests and increasing numbers of young international priests is set to continue. Given the significant number of immanent retirements amongst our older priests and only one Australian Born candidate for priesthood in the seminary, I have been searching the world for priests and seminarians.

Fortunately the Church is blessed with many generous souls who are willing to take Jesus’ words literally and leave everything behind, even home, family, and country, to follow him and to go wherever they are called and needed. And so, dependent upon the Department of Immigration, later this year I expect two seminarians and two priests to arrive from Nigeria; I am hopeful of a priest arriving from India either this year or next year; and I am in discussions with the Provincial of the La Salette Fathers in the Philippines about additional priests of

Fr James Poovathinkal with Chris Smyth Frs Joseph Armah & John Carey

Frs Paul McCabe, Paul Aguilar, John Willis with Bishop Kennedy Clergy at the Chrism Mass


Most Reverend Michael Kennedy

Bishop of Armidale

the order coming to join the three already serving in our parishes. By 2020 I expect 65% of our priests to have come here from overseas. Our priesthood, like our Church, is certainly becoming more “Catholic”, more “universal”.

I am incredibly grateful to the priests and seminarians who have sacrificed so much to come here for us. I hope the whole diocese shares this gratitude. It really is no small thing to leave behind one’s family and homeland. Additionally, our priests and seminarians come here from societies and cultures in which priests and the priesthood are looked upon with the utmost awe and respect, whereas in Australia, whilst parishioners do indeed demonstrate great respect and love for their priests, our wider society, often for understandable reasons, demonstrates scorn and contempt. This must be difficult for a newly arrived priest.

I have never heard a single one of our priests or seminarians from overseas complain or lament for what they have left behind. I find in them only joy for the opportunity to serve the Lord and his Church in our wonderful country and our welcoming diocese. I know they are happy here, which only increases my sense of gratitude to them. I am similarly grateful to you, our many parishioners, who have been so welcoming of these new priests and drawn them to your hearts.

The years since the Second Vatican Council have rightly seen an increase in the participation of lay people in parish liturgy, ministry and decision making processes. Nevertheless, every parish still needs its priest, most essentially for the celebration of the sacraments, but just as importantly to be the shepherd amongst the flock. It is for good reason that the Scriptures and the Fathers of the Church give us this image of priesthood as shepherd, and that Pope Francis says the priest needs to have the “smell of the sheep on him”. There is no such thing as a “priest-less parish”; every flock needs its shepherd.

If it were not for our generous brothers from over the seas many of our flock would indeed be without a shepherd; a situation I am keen to avoid. We are blessed in the fact that all of our priests from overseas have made great efforts to “enculturate”, to get to know and understand and be a part of our Aussie culture, of our particular way of communicating, of doing things, and approaching life. Our local Church

can only benefit when newly arrived priests bring with them the best aspects of their particular local culture and pick up the best aspects of our Aussie culture, and discard the worst aspects of both. Yes, our new priests have quickly taken on the smell of their Aussie sheep!

In two thousand years of missionary activity the Church has always seen the emergence of what it calls a “native clergy” as a sign that the Gospel is well and truly planted in a new land. When a country no longer relies on missionary priests from another country but can produce enough priests on its own was a sign that the faith life of the local Church was strong and that the Gospel had been truly

“enculturated” or planted in the lives and hearts of its people. Clearly

Australia has a problem here; we have taken a step backwards, maybe even two or three! With the Grace

of God our efforts will bear fruit in turning

this around and our families, parishes and schools will be ‘fertile’

ground for priestly vocations.

Admittedly, the behaviour of some priests and even some bishops in recent times make our task of encouraging priestly vocations more difficult, but not insurmountable. With the history of the Church as our guide we have every reason to hope that our present difficulties and sufferings as a local Church will be the seedbed of a flourishing Church and generous vocations into the future.

I, along with the whole diocese of Armidale, welcome those priests and seminarians who come to us from across the seas, and I plead with every young man of the diocese to ask God whether he might be calling you to the priesthood too.

“every flock needs its

shepherd”


From 6th July, 2015

• Fr Paul Aguilar – Parish Priest Saint Edward’s Parish South Tamworth

• Fr Tuan Tran – Parish Administrator Saint Andrew’s Parish Wee Waa

• Fr John Willis – moves into retirement

CLERGY APPOINTMENTS

Paul O’Keefe was recently awarded the Bishop Doody Medal at the University of New England. This award, with the medal itself sup-plied by the Diocese to UNE, was set up to honour Bishop Edward Doody the 5th Bishop of Armidale.

“I had the pleasure to meet Bishop Doody, years ago now, when I came up north with Fr Ted Kennedy. The Bishop had, of course, retired by then.” said Mr O’Keefe

Paul O’Keefe spent two years at Springwood and one year at Manly studying the Philoso-phy course for the priesthood where Bernie Frize and Mi-chael Green were classmates. He then studied at Sydney University for his Bachelor of Arts and Diploma of Educa-tion and taught for 12 years in the State School system. “During that time I spent two very enjoyable years (1967-

68) as the Latin and Ancient History teacher at Inverell High.”, he reminisces. He later switched to teaching at TAFE, completed a law de-gree and spent 25 years as a lawyer, in practice in the Wol-longong area.

In retirement Mr O’Keefe took up Latin and Greek again at the University of New England after a gap of several plus decades. A wor-thy winner of this prestigious award.

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Have you ever composed an epitaph for yourself? Or perhaps ordered a headstone for a family member and decided what the inscription should say? Perhaps, like me, you have antecedents’ names inscribed on a war memorial. My father and maternal grandfather’s death in WWII and WWI respectively are memorialised. But my mother’s wish to be cremated and her ashes dispersed means there is no place with a written epitaph to mark her life. If there was a headstone, after my mother’s name would be written “Defender of the Faith”. Because her faith filled her utterly and she almost certainly suffered the ‘dark night of the soul’ in her journey.

Born in Ireland in 1909, she spent her early years travelling between Cobh and Liverpool as her father was a boatswain with the Cunard Line. In 1914 her baby brother died and the following year her father was killed at Gallipoli as a Reservist in the Royal Navy. Her childhood was one of deprivation as she and her mother struggled to survive. They eventually settled in Plymouth where three of my mother’s aunties lived. And it was there my parents met and married, after my sailor father converted to Catholicism. His belief was such that when war broke out, he told my mother not to worry as “Our Blessed Mother would keep me safe in her mantle”.

This loving marriage came to a crashing halt when my father was killed off Singapore in 1941. My mother’s life and her belief were shattered with the unanswered questions of HOW?, WHY? Her faith in Mary was lost and she explained this to the Naval Chaplain, who was also a family friend. He advised her to pray the Hail Mary with her children each night regardless of her own doubts. She faithfully did as she was asked and I can remember our night prayers – especially the Hail Mary

A Small Giant

followed by a litany of requests for blessings on sailors, fishermen, farmers, doctors, priests etc, until exhausted we would fall asleep. But somewhere along this journey, her own devotion to Mary was rekindled with a deeper understanding than ever before.

We are taught that Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. But I believe my mother ran the local Holy Spirit Agency, because she imbued in us a great faith. My mother was tiny in stature, 4’8” (142cm), but strong willed, courageous and faith filled. She buried her firstborn baby, lost her father and husband to war, cared and provided for her aged and legally blind mother and two children through the hardships of WWII, including being twice bombed out of house and home. My mother has no name on a memorial. She accepted the gifts of the Holy Spirit and returned them to the Father through the Son. She was a spiritual giant.

Contributed by John Smyth

Never too young to start praying


In January, 29 Golden Jubilarians gathered for a Solemn Mass in the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel, North Sydney. Sr Margaret Therese Cusack was one of these women.

On the Feast of St Joseph, there was a special Mass involving the Principal and children of St Philomena’s, Moree, Principals of Mungindi and Warialda schools with some of their students. This celebration took place so that Margaret’s mother, Mrs Stella Cusack, could attend. Some of the Junior Josephite Associates (‘Junior Joeys’) and some of Sister’s relatives and friends were present at the Mass, concelebrated by Frs Paul McCabe and Joseph Armagh.

Eight members of Margaret’s community joined her on the day: Community Coordinator- Sr Margaret Stapleton, together with Srs Jan Baker from Mungindi, Anita Vagg and Yvonne McGettigan from Warialda, Maria Harrex from Boggabri, Geraldine Leahy from Wee Waa, Kerry Gardiner from Walgett, Kathleen McGettigan from Lightning Ridge and the Community Together they renewed their vows during the Mass. Following this, two of Sister Margaret’s current students, Sean Bryant and Grace Carter, played and sang the hymn in honour of St Joseph: Carol for the Carpenter’s Son.

Sr Margaret entered the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart at Baulkham Hills on January 14, 1962 from her home in Lilyfield, NSW, and was the second of four children, two of whom are deceased. Prior to Novitiate in 1963, Sister spent one year of formation as a pupil teacher at Kiama Convent and Primary School.

Sr Margaret Cusack celebrates

Sister Margaret thanks God for the opportunity of belonging to a Congregation of women committed to the poor and disadvantaged and the growth of faith in Australia.

Catholic Bishops of Australia have written a pastoral letter to all Australians as the debate on same-sex “marriage” gains momentum.

We wish by this pastoral letter to engage with this debate, present the Church’s teaching to the faithful, and explain the position of the Catholic faithful to the wider community.

Because of this, every man, woman and child has great dignity and worth which can never be taken away. This includes those who experience same-sex attraction. They must be treated with respect, sensitivity, and love.

The Catholic Church opposes all forms of unjust discrimination. We deplore injustices perpetrated upon people because of religion, sex, race and age.

The Bishop Michael Kennedy said in relation to the current media and political coverage:

“In the current marriage debate it is easy for any of us to be swayed by emotional arguments or by one line catch phrases. But this issue is far too important and the consequences far too great to be decided simply on emotion or catchy slogans. This issue requires considered thought and reflection. The Bishops’ Pastoral letter reflects on the issue in a very sensitive way. I urge people to read it, reflect upon it, and discuss it with others. We Catholics, and other people of good will, have a valuable contribution to make to the discussion. We must not remain silent.”

This booklet and Bishop Kennedy’s pastoral letter Marriage Reinvented can be found at armidale.catholic.org.au

Don’t Mess with Marriage

L-R: Srs Jan Baker, Kerry Gardiner, Geraldine Leahy, Kathleen Price, Margaret Cusack, Maria Harrex, Anita Vagg, Margaret Stapleton, Yvonne McGettigan

Sr Margaret on her profession day with parents, Jack and Stella Cusack, and brothers, Stephen and Michael


Sr Guiseppe recently celebrated her diamond jubilee as a Sister of St Joseph. She entered the Order on 19th January, 1952. Here are some top memories of her time in the Armidale Diocese working in the schools.

• Learning about rugby league whilst based in Warialda

• The many sports days attended and the many eisteddfod items entered many of which we won!

• Monthly trips to Nundle for Mass, the car being quite crowded with two sisters, two altar boys, the families we picked up along the way and of course the Priest.

• After Mass we taught the children and then enjoyed tea and toast at Manvell’s.

• The love and support that was given to me by the beautiful people of Manilla after the death of my father helped to lighten the pain.

• At West Tamworth in the late 1970’s Saturdays were either taken up with Minor League or Junior Cricket in the right season.

• For 13 years I became the Motor Mission Sister for half the Diocese. When visiting the Parishes, I visited the classes, often teaching the lessons to give the catechists the week off, when they could watch the lesson instead of having to give it.

• On one occasion one youngster gave trouble the whole lesson through. One comment from his weekly teacher was, “Well now I know it’s not my failure. Even you couldn’t master him!”

• Some years later I was at a shopping Centre when I was greeted by “Hello Sister Pizza”. I turned to see who was calling me. I replied, “I can’t remember your name but I know for sure that you were at Quirindi Secondary because you were the only ones who gave me that nickname.”

It is not surprising then that I returned to this Diocese for a celebration, with friends and past pupils, of my Diamond Jubilee. This took place in Dungowan where I began my long association with the many Parishes and their people.

Sr Guiseppe Walsh rsj

Stand out memories - Sr Guiseppe Walsh

Jobs for the BishopBishop Michael Kennedy is involved in a number of state and national bodies

following a reallocation of responsibilities earlier this year.

• Member of Bishop’s Commission for Family, Youth & Life• Bishop Delegate to Australian Catholic Marriage Family Council • Member of Bishops Commission for Justice, Ecology & Development • Bishop Chair of Catholic Earthcare • Bishop Member of the NSW Catholic Education Commission • Bishop Member of NSW Catholic Commission for Employment Relations

Sr Guiseppe Walsh on the day of her profession

L-R: Kate Emery, Deacon Paul Manvell, Fr Bernie Flood, Sr Guiseppe Walsh rsj.


After the massacre of 148 Christians at the university in the north Kenyan town of Garissa, Cardinal John Njue, Archbishop of Nairobi, called for the nation to stick together.

The islamist terrorist militia al-Shabaab killed 148 students and employees of the University of Garissa in the north of Kenya and injured 80 others on Holy Thursday. According to reports from eye witnesses, the terrorists selected Christian students specifically to be the victims.

The cruel attack on Christian students is already the third terrorist attack by al-Shabaab on Christians in Kenya over the past few months. In December 2014 al-Shabaab militia went berserk in a quarry in Kormey in the north of Kenya. There they separated the Muslim workers from the others and murdered 36 people, mainly Christians.

A month before they had hi-jacked a bus in the same region and killed 26 non-Muslims they had selected

beforehand – many of these men and women were Christians.

In view of the accumulation of terrorist attacks, Cardinal John Njue, standing by the mortal remains of the victims, called on the Kenyan government and security authorities to develop emergency strategies for schools and universities. “We must ask ourselves: How well prepared are we to deal with acts of terror?”

Aid to the Church in Need supported the work of the Catholic Church in Kenya in the total of 20 dioceses to the tune of $1.24 million in 2014. This financial aid went towards church construction projects in Kenya, mass offerings and other subsistence aid for priests and members of religious orders, as well as the training of pastoral workers and the acquisition of vehicles for pastoral work in this East African country.

By Antonia von Alten

Terrorists Amongst Us

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

Catholic Viewpoint


When visitors enter the Jamberoo Abbey church, the first thing to strike them is the stunning backdrop of full length glass windows behind the altar and tabernacle, bringing the beauty of God’s creation right into the heart of the church and allowing all who worship there to turn their prayer outward, for the world.

“We are Benedictines and our work is to pray, so we pray for the world,” says The Abbey’s guest mistress, Sr Therese.

“The glass windows are a symbol of our prayer going out to the world and of the world coming to us, so we’re very connected with everything that’s going on out there. I try to assure our guests that even when they go home they can know that we are here praying for them and I ask them to pray for us.”

Sr Therese says the life of the Abbey is ordered towards one goal – seeking God - and the whole structure of the day is focused on that seeking, both individually and as a community.

In accordance with the Rule of Benedict, there is a great focus on balance in daily life, with a community sched-ule designed to provide time for prayer, work, leisure/community and rest. Work includes making candles and crafts for sale, farming, spiritual direction, retreats and other tasks associated with caring for guests and the up-keep of The Abbey.

Sub-Prioress, Sr Maureen Therese, says the way of life reflects an intense desire for God.

“Because from the time you open your eyes in the morn-ing until the time you go to sleep, your whole being is focused on God,” she says.

“Our Abbess, Mother Mary Barnes, says that prayer is simply desire. And I think that’s a good way of describ-ing our life here. It’s intense desire for God, and that reaches out to people in the world, all religions, all types of people.”

Our work is to pray

1st Encyclical on environmentAt the time of going to press Viewpoint was awaiting the release of the 1st encyclical on the environment. By the time that Viewpoint is in your hands the document will have been made public. For the full text go to

armidale.catholic.org.auIn anticipation here is what we know today!

The title of the encyclical is expected to be “Laudato Sii”, meaning “Praised Be You”, with the subtitle: “Sulla cura della

casa comune” (“On the care of the common home”).

The main title is taken from St. Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Sun which praises God for his

creation. The prayer reads: “Be praised, my Lord, through all Your creatures, especially through my lord Brother Sun,” and

continues to praise God for “Sister Moon,” “Brothers Wind and Air,” “Sister Water,” “Brother Fire, and “Mother Earth.”

Sr Therese and Sr Maureen Therese at the Abbey door


Trish Mowbray pays tribute to the courage of birth mothers who refused to terminate their pregnancies and put the best interests of their child first

Canberra mother of four, Trish Mowbray will never forget the day she and her husband Glenn met the birth mother of the couple’s adopted son, Peter.

Peter, like his elder and younger brothers, was born with Down syndrome. In addition, at just 10 weeks of age, he was diagnosed with six holes in his heart which would require a series a life-saving operations from which cardiologists advised he might not recover.

“His birth family did not have the resources or skills to care for Peter, let alone cope with the surgery he needed or to help him reach his full potential,” Trish says explaining why Peter, now 27, was put up for adoption when he was just under three months old.

“We were lucky in that we had the resources to take over Peter’s care and blessed to be able to become his adoptive parents,” Trish says.

Peter’s birth family kept in touch with Trish and Glenn and when he was four months old a meeting was arranged.

“That’s when Glenn and I realised how deeply they had been affected by their heart wrenching decision to give up their birth son. They had made a huge sacrifice to put the best interests of Peter ahead of everything else,” Trish says.”I have never seen someone as distraught as Peter’s birth mother. She had others she cared for and loved, but she was obviously still grieving for her baby son and suffering deeply at having to give him up. She was so upset, I think if we had taken Peter to the meeting with us, I’d have wanted to give him back to her - anything to stop her pain,” she says and praises Peter’s birth mother for her selflessness at putting Peter’s needs ahead of her own.

“Giving him up to a family with the resources to care for him and his special needs was a huge sacrifice for Peter’s mother, but she wanted him to have a chance not only to be loved but to reach his full potential,” Trish explains.

Peter’s birth parents continued to keep in touch with Trish and Glenn for the next several years.

“Most people don’t understand how much most of these mothers love their babies,” she says.

“I thank God every day for our three sons and our daughter. I also thank God they were born in the 1980s and early 1990s when few women were given prenatal tests for Down syndrome,” she says.

The full version of this story can be found in Catholic Communications, Sydney Archdiocese, 7 May 2015

Special thanks to birth mothersTrish and Glenn Mowbray with their sons, Peter, Luke and Paul, their daughter, Emmalee and grandson, Noah

Trish with two of her sons, Peter and Paul

Trish's favourite photo of Peter with his nephew Noah


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jpg image of at least 1.5mgb.

Couple prayer is any prayer said by a couple in each other’s presence. Couple prayer is when an engaged or married couple speak to God about their needs, hopes and concerns while allowing the other person to hear. It may be expressed by one or both.

The importance of couple prayerOur enthusiasm for this stems from recognition that:

• while individual prayer is always essential, there is a special grace that comes through couple prayer.

• couple prayer creates a sacred space in our marriage where we open ourselves to God’s presence.

• there is an extraordinarily high correlation between couple prayer and marriage stability.

• the married couple is the foundation stone of the family and the family is the basic community of society.

We also propose that couple prayer may greatly assist in maintaining family prayer beyond early childhood into the teenage years. There is an apparent fall in family prayer within families as children move into teenage years. We suggest that the intimacy required of teenagers in such a situation is often too challenging unless the parents themselves are at ease with each other in couple prayer.

Prayer is intimateCouple prayer requires a level of intimacy that can be challenging. However, God, the source of the couple’s love can work powerfully through their prayer, deepening their relationship with each other. We believe that couple prayer should be as variable as there are couples. Promoting one way over others should be avoided.

Combinations of approaches may be useful – for example, saying prayers together that are common (eg Hail Mary, Our Father, praying the Liturgy of the Hours, prayer books, scripture) can be combined with spontaneous prayer for one’s personal concerns. This can be done in any number of combinations. It helps bring into play the prayers with which we are comfortable in communal prayer situations and intersperse them with personal expressions of one’s awareness of God.

Contributed by Ron & Mavis Pirola

Couple Prayer

One spouse finds the scripture reading of the day

One opens the prayer with a phrase like “Lord, we come before you at the start of our day.”

Read the scripture out loud.

Sit in silence for a while. (We may think about the scripture, the upcoming day and how we will live it out, or perhaps put some thoughts in a journal). Inevitably for me, some time is spent daydreaming. I’m not proud of this, but I would do you no favor to suggest that you fail when not fully concentrating. Sometimes I just offer up the distraction and figure I’m honoring God by the effort I made just to show up.

At the appointed ending time, each spouse makes a petition flowing from the silent prayer.

“Who Me, Pray? … With Her?”

Jim & Susan Vogt from the USCBC

website www.foryourmarriage.org

5 Easy Steps


Friends and family with ADIG Everything seems a little brighter when friends are around you. At the Armidale Diocesan Investment Group, we try and make every visit you have with us just like catching up with a friend.

Have you told your friends about all the work that ADIG does? Our commitment to the Diocese and contributions to the schools and churches is growing every year thanks entirely to your help through investing with ADIG. Every member of the ADIG family helps the entire Diocese grow and continue our work throughout the community. Why not join us?

St Albert’s scholarshipsSt Albert’s College at the University of New England, recently held their annual Academic Presentation Dinner. ADIG is proud to be associated with this and sponsor two academic scholarships to two worthy students. ADIG Marketing Officer, Jason Crocker, was on hand to present these scholarships to students who had shown exceptional contributions within the college and beyond in the previous twelve months. Oliver Bartlett was one of the lucky recipients of an ADIG scholarship for his involvement in the community.

Spirit of Catholic Education AwardsADIG was also a sponsor of the 2015 Spirit of Catholic Education awards again in March. Recognising outstanding achievements in Catholic Education, these awards allow the Catholic Schools Office to showcase the hard work and commitment to the Catholic ethos that our Catholic School educators put in all year round.

ADIG congratulates all of those teachers and staff who were recognised with these awards and we believe that this shows just what is possible with commitment to your work in the context of our faith.

Join us and make a difference

Armidale Diocesan Investment Group

www.adig.com.auArmidale: 1800 040 903 Tamworth: 1800 803 194

LOCAL PARISHES

Every deposit into an ADIG account helps your local

church and parish.

OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

Opening Rainbow Club accounts for your children & grandchildren helps

us give back to our schools.

COMMUNITY

Your support means ADIG can help community organisations

throughout our diocese.

With your help, all this is possible

Oliver Bartlett receives his award from Jason Crocker

Chris Smyth speaking at the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards ceremony


The morning began as any ordinary morning, but this was no ordinary day.

Bishop Michael Kennedy was yet to arrive. There was an air of the unknown as most of us had never experienced the installation of a new parish priest. Any sense of the unfamiliar or uncertainty soon gave way to being totally absorbed into the celebration of our Sunday Mass.

We gathered. Our Bishop arrived, the celebrations began.

Since Walgett has seven out stations it was important to include the ‘whole’ parish in the celebration. The offertory procession brought together our different, but one community.

The procession was led by an Aboriginal Elder carrying a carved emu egg of St Mary MacKillop and the younger generation of Aboriginals were represented with the didgeridoo being placed at the foot of the altar. The gifts followed and were carried by all sectors of our vast community.

While we may have been expecting to sit back and feel like a spectator at the installation of Fr Anthony, we were

to find our experiences to be very different. While Fr Anthony was presented to us and installed as our new parish priest, we had a strong sense of our need to care for him, just as we desire and expect him to care for us. This was a two way commitment and our need to work together for the good of all was a warm gentle reminder of who and what we are.

Mr Dan Gale, Chairperson of the Parish Council, thanked the Bishop for the wonderful priests who have blessed us with their presence in the Walgett community and ministered to our needs. It is with anticipation and expectation this wonderful tradition of caring pastoral ministry will continue to grace us and enrich our lives.

Fr. Anthony ‘s response was simple and from his heart. He committed his ministry work in Walgett, Lightning Ridge and surrounding areas to the care of Our Blessed Mother Mary. The congregation joined with Father Anthony and the Bishop praying the Hail Mary.

The convivial presence of our Bishop made our morning tea a beautiful gathering and a wonderful conclusion to a blessed morning.

No Ordinary Day in Walgett

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Saint John Paul II


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Historically derived, holy days of obligation were special occasions on which Catholics, over the age of reason, were obliged to attend Mass. They were also encouraged to refrain from any work or involvement with commerce which would interfere with their participation in divine worship.

In Australia, the Catholic faithful should observe as holy days of obligation:

• Christmas Day (December 25 – the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ)

• The Assumption (August 15 – the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary)

• All Sundays of the year

Early in the twentieth century Catholics used to observe 36 non-Sunday Holy Days, in addition to all Sundays of the year. This was reduced by a Motu Propio of Pope Pius X to the much lesser number of eight. These were:

• The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ• The Epiphany• The Ascension• Holy Mary the Mother of God• Her Immaculate Conception• Her Assumption• Saint Peter and Saint Paul the Apostles• All Saints

In 1917, the Code of Canon Law raised this figure again, to a total number of 10 non-Sunday Holy Days (adding in the Feasts of the Body and Blood of Christ and Saint Joseph), however local Bishops were permitted the ability to alter the days in their dioceses.

Canon Law 1246 now provides that with the prior approval of the Apostolic See, the conference of bishops can suppress some of the holy days of obligation or transfer them to a Sunday.

In May 2001 the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference exercised this option and promulgated a decree announcing the only feast days to be observed as holy days of obligation are Christmas Day, the Feast of the Assumption and all Sundays of the year.

The change became effective on 16 September, 2001 and remains in place.

Obligated to do what?

About our Faith


Around and AboutCentacare Drought AppealAround 130 locals attended the ‘Groovin’ The Blues’ mini music festival at Myall, in Lightning Ridge. Annette and Doug Wilson were fantastic hosts, with many neighbours taking the chance to reconnect and have a night off. The lineup included the Giggalees Crazy Circus Show, Allison Forbes band, The Urban Chiefs, and multi Aria Award winner Jeff Lang. The highlight of the night was definitely a beautiful and bright display from local priest and pyro technician, Fr Holysmoke - Fr Anthony Koppman - and his fabulous team. Many children at the event had never seen fireworks before and were amazed by the show! Events like these play an important part in keeping communities strong in tough times, as part of the Federal Governments Drought Support Package.If you’re doing it tough in the drought, Centacare NENW can help. Call 1800 372 826.

A Call From AustraliaArchbishop Charles Maung Bo had barely wrapped up celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Catholic Church’s presence in Myanmar when he got a call from Australia. “I was in Calcutta; my niece phoned me to say that she saw my name on a list of the names of the cardinals announced by the Holy Father. I thought she was joking, at first,” Cardinal Bo said, speaking at his residence behind St. Mary’s Cathedral in Yangon, the biggest city in Myanmar (also known as Burma). The archbishop of Yangon (formerly Rangoon) since 2003, the 66-year-old prelate was one of 20 new cardinals created by Pope Francis on Feb. 14. He is the first cardinal from Burma, a country home to only 800,000 Catholics, spread across 16 dioceses. Though there are hints of a Catholic presence in Burma going back to the 13th century, the first church in the country dates to 1514 — founded by missionaries accompanying Portuguese traders.

Blackville Heritage ChurchRecently Quirindi Heritage Village celebrated the relocation and restoration of Saints Phillip & James Blackville Church to the Village. Mr Bob McInnes, Chairperson of the Heritage Village, explained to all present the many months of hard work and planning by volunteers that resulted in a magnificent job of restoration. Fr Roel Llave, PP of St Brigid’s Parish, then blessed the Church and handed the keys of the Church to Mr McInnes. Many past parishioner families were represented and were overjoyed and amazed by the restoration of the Church which had been left empty and neglected for many decades following its closure.


Around and AboutCelebrating catholic education at GunnedahSt Xavier’s Catholic Primary School Gunnedah celebrated Catholic schools week. It was lovely to see a number of parents present for our special Assembly. Students read some prayers including the following. “We thank you for the passion, love and sacrifice of our parents, carers and local community as they work together to ensure a Catholic education for us”. At the end of our Assembly balloons were released signifying the recognition St Xavier’s students have for those children who do not have the access to a beautiful school and an education.

Wee Waa catecheticsA pleasant and prayerful day was led by Ricky Withers, the Diocesan CCD, at Wee Waa Convent. The Wee Waa and Narrabri Catechists were given support and advice to teach the students in the Catholic faith as well as the opportunity to share information, experiences and life stories with each other.

Mothers at St Joseph’s School UrallaAn assembly, followed by Mass and morning tea were celebrated at St Joseph’s School, Uralla to honour mothers and grandmothers for Mother’s Day. The children presented drawings, poems and writings expressing why their Mums were the Best Mums. They had also made pompom flowers to give to their Mum as gifts. Some of the unique qualities of their special Mums compiled by the children were:“Mum shows me right from wrong. She tells me when I can do better like when I don’t do my chores well. Not only does she tell me but she actually will do the chore with me so I know.“My Mum sends me to bed on time. She sends me to bed on time so I can have a good sleep and wake up happy.”


Around and About

Quirindi cross & plaque blessedOn the feast day of St Brigid, Father Roel unveiled and blessed a commemorative plaque and cross which was placed in the church grounds of St Brigid’s, Quirindi, in recognition of the triple celebrations which were held for the parish in September 2014. The cross was made from 2 pieces of sandstone which were originally the steps to the first Catholic Church at Wallabadah.

St Edward’s Book Fair

St Edward’s Catholic Primary School South Tamworth held their annual Book Fair! It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic students and parents eager to purchase books for their enjoyment and to benefit our school. The book character Geronimo Stilton made an appearance at the fair and we had many Queens and Princess guiding and helping throughout the day. Thank you to our wonderful parents who helped make both the Infants and Primary Book Fair successful.

Fr Castelli Celebrates This celebration Mass took place in the parish hall, which is the exact location of the sanctuary of the original Werris Creek church where Fr Castelli was ordained 55 years ago. It was decided to relocate on the day to this place, and a lunch and speeches followed. A dozen or so visitors from Gunnedah arrived, as well as Quirindi people and others.


Around and AboutBoggabri students impress

Students from Sacred Heart School Boggabri attended the Gunnedah Eisteddfod and were awarded 1st Place in the Choral Speech section (school with less than 65 students). They performed two poems, Granny Pippen by Annette Kosseris and Confessions of a Choc-o-holic by Dulcie Meddows. The adjudicator was very impressed with the children’s appearance saying they all look delightful. She said they presented a lovely natural poem with great gestures, was well rehearsed and very enjoyable. The total score for both poems was 85 points.

Ordinations are upStatistics about men to be ordained priests this year in the United States show numbers are up. On average, a recent report states, the men were 17 years old when they first considered the vocation of priesthood, and 71% said they were encouraged in that regard by a parish priest, “as well as friends (46 percent), parishioners (45 percent), and mothers (40 percent).” And the number of men to be ordained is up 20% from last year: “The total number of potential ordinands for the class of 2015, 595, is up from 477 in 2014 and 497 in 2013.” The average age for this year’s ordinands is 34, 69% of the men are Caucasian/European American/white, with 14% being Hispanic/Latino and 10% of Asian or Pacific Islander background.

Give Your All for NepalSt Nicholas Catholic Primary School Tamworth staff and students came to school dressed with all manner of fluoro accessories for our ‘Fluoro Friday’ to raise money for the earthquake stricken region of Nepal. Our theme for the day was “Give Your All for Nepal” and for a coin donation students and staff were able to accessorise their school uniform with any number of fluorescent items. Our Mini Vinnies group also sold felt hearts on the day where children could write their names and decorate. These were eventually compiled on to a beautiful banner by our Mini Vinnies coordinator Mrs Patrice McMullen that is now on display in our school office. All up over $800 will now be forwarded to CARITAS Australia to help the Nepalese people in need.


Around and AboutGuyra Mother’s Day BBQ breakfastWhen you become a mother you realise why no one has ever printed out a job description for this very important role - it’s endless! Suddenly you find yourself using skills that you never even realised you possessed and finally you find the truth in the old saying ’A mothers work is never done’. But while the work can be tough, the rewards are never ending. To celebrate Mother’s Day, and say thank you, St Mary of the Angels Catholic Primary School Guyra P&F hosted a barbeque breakfast before school for students to enjoy with their mums and grandmothers. We had a wonderful turn out with a great morning being had by all.

St Albert’s RetreatThe Board of Saint Albert’s College recently took time out of busy schedules to spend time together at a mini retreat. Greg Moin a Board member and local solicitor lead a session on board and director roles and responsibilities. Bishop Michael Kennedy led a session on the role of the Church in a secular society. Dr David Daintree spoke of his experiences running Catholic residential colleges within university settings. The Board were actively engaged in lively discussions of the challenges of providing a first class facility for the benefit of the students, university and wider community. The mini retreat was mini in time but maxi in content!

Buy a Hand to Lend a HandIn response to the recent earthquake in Nepal, St Edward’s is raising funds to help those who have been affected by this terrible disaster. Students are able to purchase a cardboard hand, write their name on it, these hands are then displayed around our school. This fundraiser will run for 2 weeks and we hope to raise over $1500 in this time. To date the Infants have raised $180 and the Primary have raised $267 which is a total of $447. We would like to extend a huge thank you to all students and families who have already purchased a hand to support the victims of the earthquakes in Nepal.


Saint Paul reminds us that we have been saved through the mystery of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus. He is the Reconciler, who is alive in our midst offering the way to reconciliation with God and with each other. The Apostle recalls that, notwithstanding the difficulties and the sufferings of life, the hope of salvation which Christ has sown in our hearts nonetheless continues to grow. The mercy of God is poured out upon us, making us just and giving us peace.

Many question in their hearts: why a Jubilee of Mercy today? Simply because the Church, in this time of great historical change, is called to offer more evident signs of God’s presence and closeness. This is not the time to be distracted; on the contrary, we need to be vigilant and to reawaken in ourselves the capacity to see what is essential. This is a time for the Church to rediscover the meaning of the mission entrusted to her by the Lord on the day of Easter: to be a sign and an instrument of the Father’s mercy (cf. Jn20:21-23). For this reason, the Holy Year must keep alive the desire to know how to welcome the

numerous signs of the tenderness which God offers to the whole world and, above all, to those who suffer, who are alone and abandoned, without hope of being pardoned or feeling the Father’s love. A Holy Year to experience strongly within ourselves the joy of having been found by

Jesus, the Good Shepherd who has come in search of us because we were lost. A Jubilee to receive the warmth of his love when he bears us upon his shoulders and brings us back to the Father’s house. A year in which to be touched by the Lord Jesus and to be transformed by his mercy, so that we may become witnesses to mercy. Here, then, is the reason for the Jubilee: because this is the time for mercy. It is the favourable time to heal wounds, a time not to be weary of meeting all those who are waiting to see and to touch with

their hands the signs of the closeness of God, a time to offer everyone the way of forgiveness and reconciliation.

May the Mother of God open our eyes, so that we may comprehend the task to which we have been called; and may she obtain for us the grace to experience this Jubilee

of Mercy as faithful and fruitful witnesses of Christ.

Proclamation of Year of Mercy 8 December 2015 - 20 November 2016

Pope Francis proclaimed an extraordinary Year of Mercy saying:

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I am writing this time from the perspective of a child, my mother’s eldest daughter. Over the past four years my family has been supported by the prayers and the care that so many people in our parish have given as we supported my mother in her journey with dementia. Mum passed away in March. She was in her ninetieth year. Mum lived her life in Sydney; her childhood was spent in the Irish community around the parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Waterloo and it was here during the years of the Depression that she received the faith that sustained her all her life.

Mum was definitely one who loved the way that Catholics lived and worshipped before the Vatican Council, and so I was raised in some of the old ways I rarely hear of these days. Every month seemed to have another reason for a Novena, first Friday Mass or even daily Mass for one reason or another- May for Mary, July I think the Month of the Sacred Heart and other ones I have forgotten. I have to admit that I was slightly resentful of Mum’s insistence on so many daily Masses. As the eldest of six children I had to wrangle everyone as we walked to Mass and then home in time to get to school. My younger brothers and sisters didn’t listen to me much as I tried to get them to hurry along. We all had Immaculate medals pinned to our singlets and Rosary beads in our pockets, my brothers were Altar Boys and I must have been one of the very last of that old time group of girls, the Holy Angels.

Mum’s faith certainly was a most important part of her life. When we had to place Mum into fulltime care it was a regret that we could not secure a spot in a Catholic Home. However, she had many visitors from her parish, and her parish priest was a regular visitor. It was amazing that as Mum‘s memories faded one of the things that she hung onto was her habit of saying the rosary last thing at night. After she couldn’t say the words anymore she still held the beads every night.

When my sister and I had to sort through Mum’s things prior to selling her home I was surprised and lucky to

find her old prayer book full of holy cards, many rosary beads and the book of prayers that had been given to my grandmother in 1902 when she became a Child of Mary, another institution that is no longer with us. I had never seen some of these things before and I am so glad I was able to save these treasures to share with my family. They have given my girls and I an insight into a Catholic Church that in some ways is vastly different to 2015.

As Mum’s life was nearing the end she first went into St George Hospital and then into Calvary Hospital for Palliative Care. It was a sad and distressing time and the St Mary’s School family were very supportive as I came and went back and forth to Sydney until I just stayed there with my family. My brothers and sisters gathered from all over Australia, most of Mum’s ten grandchildren

were able to have those last visits with their Nana. Mum had always said she would be surrounded by her family when she died, and in the end she was. She had the generations of her family with her as she went, just as she said she would.

Mum’s funereal Mass was held at Our Lady of Fatima Kingsgrove, the church her and Dad attended all their married life and she is buried with Dad at Botany Cemetery. Mum’s time had come, she had lived a long life and after the struggles of the last years I cannot be sad that she is at rest. I have learnt many lessons these last few years, many lessons on how to make things easier for my

family. I learnt more about the Guardianship Tribunal, the Aged Care landscape and family dynamics than I ever wanted to know but for all the stress and bureaucracy, I am thankful that I was able to be with Mum. Thank you to friends in our parish who asked after Mum and prayed for her and for me and thank you all for the many messages I received after she died. I am glad that I have had the opportunity to share a part of this journey with you. Life has a different perspective for me now; Mum was the last of her family so now my brothers and sisters and my cousins are the elders in the family. Perhaps it is now time to grow up. Catherine Ible

A Parent Perspectiveas a child

On her 90th birthday Veronica Bridget McNamara


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The Pope said recently that the Church is committed to the care of the family, saying that the bond between the Church and the family is “sacred and inviolable.”

“The Church, as a mother, never abandons the family, even when it is disheartened, wounded, and mortified in so many ways; it will always do everything to seek to cure and heal it, to invite it to conversion and to reconcile it with the Lord,” he said.‘We Need Prayers, Not Gossip’

Pope Francis proposed that the Church once again renew prayers for the Synod of Bishops on the family, in order for the Church to “be animated by the compassion of the Good Shepherd.”

“There is need of this, not of gossip!” he exclaimed. “I also invite those who feel far away, or who are not accustomed to do so, to pray.

The full version of the article can be found at: www.zenit.org

We need prayers

not gossip

Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, Chair of the new ACBC Commission for Family, Youth and Life with commission members Auxiliary Bishop Mark Edwards, Bishop Peter A.Comensoli and Bishop Michael Kennedy and also Executive Secretary Alison Burt.

The new Commission will liaise with several councils and lay bodies working to defend human life at all stages, to

support marriage and family life, and to engage with young people, especially through youth ministry.

“Some of the biggest challenges for the Church and the wider community today are in the areas of marriage, family, life issues and engagement with young people, and the Bishops have decided that it is time to create a Commission specifically devoted to these tasks,” Archbishop said.

New Commission for Family, Youth and Life


So many children are rejected from the beginning, abandoned, robbed of their childhood and their future. Some might dare to say, almost to justify themselves, that it was an error to make them come into the world. This is disgraceful! Please, let’s not unload our faults on children! Children are never “an error.” Their hunger isn’t an error, as their poverty isn’t, their fragility, their abandonment -- so many are abandoned on the streets; nor is it their ignorance or their incapacity -- there are so many children who don’t know what a school is. If anything, these are reasons to love them more, with greater generosity. What are we doing in our solemn declarations of the rights of man and the rights of children, if we then punish children for the errors of adults?

Those who have the task to govern, educate -- however I’d say all of us adults are responsible for children and for each of us to do what he/she can to change this situation. I am referring to the “passion” of children. Every marginalized, abandoned child who lives on the street begging and with all sorts of devices, without school, without medical care, is a cry that goes up to God and that accuses the system that we adults have built. And, unfortunately, these children are prey to criminals, who exploit them for unworthy traffic or commerce, or to train them for war and violence. However, in so-called rich countries so many children also live dramas that marked them in a heavy way, because of the crisis of the family, of education voids and of conditions of life that at times are inhuman. In every case they are children violated in body and soul. However, the Father who is in heaven

does not forget a single one of these children! Not one of their tears is lost! Nor is our responsibility lost either, the social responsibility of persons, of each one of us, and of countries.

Think what a society would be like that decided once and for all to establish this principle: “It’s true that we aren’t perfect and that we make many mistakes. However, when it is a question of children who come into the world, no sacrifice of the adults is deemed too costly or to great, in order to avoid a child thinking that he is a mistake, that he had no value and that he is abandoned to the wounds of life and to the arrogance of men.” How beautiful such a society would be! I say that much would be forgiven such a society, its innumerable errors -- much, truly.

The Lord judges our life by listening to what the angels tell him about the children, angels that “always behold the face of the Father who is in heaven” (Cf. Matthew 18:10). We must ask ourselves always: What will the children’s angels tell God about us?

Edited extract of Pope Francis General Audience address 8th April 2015

Children are never ‘an error’

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on

thee: because he trusteth thee.Isaiah 26:3


Catholic Women Connecting hosted a Catholic Witness Day with special guest Speaker Gemma Sisia from the School of St Jude, Tanzania at St Anne’s Hall Armidale.

Gemma Sisia spoke to around 100 women and men about how she prayed to St Jude (Patron Saint of Hope and Impossible causes) in time of need when building the school in Tanzania. She spoke of how she spent her early years on a wool sheep property just outside Guyra in northern New South Wales, Australia. She is the only daughter among the eight children of Sue and Basil Rice (local family of Armidale).

At 22 years old, with a passion and zeal inherited from her ancestor, Edmund Rice (founder of the Christian Brothers movement), Gemma devoted some time to helping the poor in Africa. She travelled to Uganda, East Africa to work for three years as a volunteer teacher. This experience led to a fervent belief that a free, high-quality education should be the right of all children in the world, and that education is the strongest weapon in the fight against poverty, corruption and political instability.

In 2002, The School of St Jude, Tanzania opened with only a handful of sponsored students. Through hard work and determination, the school has expanded to over 1,900 students–across three campuses that include boarding facilities–where over 95% receive a free, high-quality education at the primary and secondary levels. In May, 2015 The School of St Jude will celebrate the graduation

of its first Year 12 students.

Kerry and David Stellar will travel to Tanzania Africa along with Charlie and Maria Allen in May this year to celebrate the graduation with Gemma. Many people from Armidale have contributed to the building of the school and have visited her over the years.

Catholic Women Connecting would like to congratulate Gemma on behalf of everyone.

How St Jude helped me build a school

L-R: Kerry Steller, Sally Scott-Hamilton, Felix Mollel, Gemma Sisia, Sue Rice


The Holy See has announced that Pope Francis has recognized the miracle attributed to Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents of St. Therese of Lisieux. The Holy Father approved the decree during a meeting this morning with Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

At an event earlier this month, Cardinal Amato already announced long-awaited canonization of the saintly couple.

“Thanks be to God in October two spouses, parents of Saint Therese of Lisieux, will be canonized,” the Salesian Cardinal said, at a recent meeting organized by the Libreria Editrice Vaticana (LEV).

“Saints are not only priests and nuns, but also lay people,” he said, referring to the exemplary French married couple.

This will be the first time that a married couple is canonized together.

Married in 1858, they had nine children, five of whom followed the religious life.

Zelie died of a very painful cancer at 46. Louis was left with five very young daughters: Marie, Pauline, Leonie, Celine and Therese, who was only four and a half years old but who always remembered her Mother as a Saint. Louis died in 1894, after suffering a serious mental illness.

The pair was beatified on October 19th, 2008 by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. Most notably, although the precise date of their canonization has not been announced, their canonization in the month of October will coincide with the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops. The Synod will discuss the theme: “The vocation and mission of the family in the Church and in the contemporary world.”

Louis and Zelie Martin are the parents of Saint Therese of Lisieux, Patroness of the Missions and one of the most loved Saints by Pope Francis. St. John Paul II proclaimed her Doctor of the Church in 1997.

Pope Recognizes Miracle Attributed to St. Therese of Lisieux’s Parents

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator and I immediately wanted to paint another.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make my favourite cake for me and I learned that the little things can be the special things in life.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you make a meal and take it to a friend who was sick and I learned what it means to serve one another in

brotherly love.When you thought I wasn’t looking, I heard you pray over me and kiss me

goodnight and I felt loved and safe.When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw how you handled your

responsibilities even when you didn’t feel good and I learned what it means to glorify God in all things.

When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you give of your time and money to the church and people in need and I learned that God loves a

cheerful giver.When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw tears come to your eyes and I

learned that sometimes things hurt, but it’s all right to cry.When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw that you cared and I wanted to

be everything that I could be.When you thought I wasn’t looking, I saw you praying and reading God’s

word and I learned to depend on and trust in him too.When you thought I wasn’t looking, I looked at you and wanted to say, “Thanks for all the things I saw…when you thought I wasn’t looking.”

By: Mary Rita Schilke Korazan

When You Thought I Wasn’t Looking


In April Bishop Kennedy visited the Philippines for a week. As the Australian Bishop delegate to the upcoming 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu in January 2016 he attended preparatory meetings with other bishops, priests, religious and lay people both from the Philippines and from around the world.

“Having spoken with the organisers, visited the various congress venues, and seen the preparations in place to welcome the thousands of expected international visitors, I am very excited about the upcoming Eucharistic Congress” Bishop Kennedy said.

The Bishop will be leading a group of participants from the Diocese of Armidale and is encouraging participation from other parts of Australia as well. He said “The 51st International Eucharistic Congress in January 2016 in Cebu Philippines presents us with a rare opportunity. The Congress is being held in the Asia Pacific region in an English speaking country close to Australia.

Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to experience the Church in Asia, and the truly and dynamic Catholic culture of the Philippines, as well as the opportunity to be confronted by real material poverty.”

Bishop Kennedy also took the opportunity to visit the Provincial House and the National Shrine of the

Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette near Manilla. The La Salette’s have three priests ministering in the Diocese of Armidale.

Their Provincial and former parish Priest of Wee Waa, Fr Rosanno Soriano, introduced Bishop Kennedy to all the members of the order at their annual study days and showed him some of the local sites and attractions. The Bishop and Fr Rosanno also spoke about their mutual desire for more La Salette priests to come to the diocese.

Twofold visit to Philippines


‘I Was In the Sistine Chapel, I Saw A Door Open. The Pope Came Out ... My Goodness!’

Kristoph, a homeless “resident” in the portico of Via della Conciliazione is 51, and has spent 20 of those years on the street, working “until they caught me.”

Separated, with a 23-year-old son, this gentle, middle-aged man has been occupying his little post very close to Saint Peter’s for about seven months. He and his friends were in a group of 150 homeless that visited the Vatican Museums, invited by the Apostolic Almonry and that, unexpectedly, shook Pope Francis’ hand.

“It is an experience that I will carry within me until the last days of my life,” he said. His little group has done nothing but discuss the extraordinary day they had. And they talked about it to journalists, through Kristoph, chosen as their spokesman because of his knowledge of Italian, and who gives interviews with great aplomb.

On the other hand, it does not happen often that one has a private tour of the Vatican Museums, assailed daily by lines of kilometers of tourists; even rare still is it to end the tour in the Sistine Chapel and find oneself before the Pope who says: “Welcome. This is your home!”

Kristoph’s cerulean eyes flash with joy on recalling that instant: “We were in the museums so long .... They are very, very, very beautiful! At the end we went to the Sistine Chapel and we were told to sit down. We thought there would be a Mass, a prayer, something like that ... Instead, from behind the door, Don Corrado came out (almoner Konrad Krajewski,) and close to him, the Pope. My goodness!”

“We applauded very loudly. He greeted us; we thanked him. Then, we recited the ‘Our Father’ together. The Pope even allowed photographs to be taken with us. So many photographs were taken and Don Corrado promised that he would bring them. Then, the Pope greeted each one of us. He shook the hands of all 150, do you realize? My goodness ...”

Kristoph was also able to shake the Holy Father’s hand. “I said to him: Thank you, Pope. I wish you so many good things, especially health and strength. He smiled and said ‘Thank you, thank you ...”

“Were you moved?” we asked him. “How could I not be,” he answered promptly, adding delightfully, “I also had tears. My friends here also wept, even if now they appear to be hardened ... I wept because I know I’m fortunate: not everyone has the possibility to meet the Pope so close, to kiss his hand, to embrace him ...”

In fact, yesterday’s visit was such a memorable event that every trace of it is treasured. Above all was the umpteenth confirmation that “Pope Francis loves us.”

“He is doing so much for us: the showers, barbers, umbrellas, museums ... I also heard that he wants to prepare a small ambulatory for those who need medical care. We are truly happy about everything,” stressed the “spokesman” of the homeless of Saint Peter’s.

All these “are really important things for us, they are useful. The Pope understands this. He loves us.” And the gang does not fail to return this affection, perhaps not materially, but with prayer, which, if humble and sincere is worth more than a thousand gestures of charity.

By Salvatore Cernuzio

Homeless in Sistine Chapel


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Each of our Brothers and Sisters in the consecrated life, recalls a word, an event, a priest or religious who inspired them; something as simple as a word of Scripture or the kindness of a dedicated religious. With a simple and humble ‘yes’, they began a journey by which the Lord drew each one into a deeper relationship with himself. So that his word was deeply understood and cherished: ‘I have called by name; you are mine.’

On the first Sunday of Advent last year, Pope Francis proclaimed 2015 a Year of Consecrated Life. This year is the fiftieth anniversary of the Dogmatic Constitution on the church Lumen Gentium, which speaks of religious in its sixth chapter, and of the Decree Perfectae Caritatis on the renewal of religious life. This Year will conclude with the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple on 2 February 2016.

We welcome the invitation of Pope Francis to make this a year of thanksgiving and of deeper reflection on the calling of the consecrated men and women among us.

Pope Francis, who identifies himself as a Religious, shares with us his hopes for this year of consecrated life. ‘May this Year be an occasion for bearing vigorous and joyful witness before the world to the holiness and vitality present in so many of those called to follow Jesus in the consecrated life.’

Australia is blessed to have had so many religious sisters,

brothers and priests living and ministering here for almost one hundred and seventy five years. Their particular charisms have included education, healthcare, prison chaplaincy, working with the marginalised and forgotten, inter-Church work, care of the elderly and helping those with special needs. Religious today are actively engaged in many apostolates, past and present, seen and unseen, great and small, both in the church and the wider society; others dedicate their days to prayer and contemplation. We know that despite their various expressions of the consecrated life, our sisters and brothers are united in pointing us to God; by the way they dedicate their whole lives to the Lord. We thank God for their incalculable contributions as they witness amongst us.

This year provides the opportunity to acknowledge Religious who have consecrated themselves to God. We are grateful for who you are, for what you do, for your spirit of faith and your pursuit of service, your stewardship and for your witness to the Gospel.

However, let us remember, ‘you have not only a glorious history to remember and to recount, but also a great history still to be accomplished! Look to the future, where the Spirit is sending you in order to do even greater things” (Vita Consecrata N110).

We must emphasise that those who have consecrated their lives to God are primarily the workforce for the

Wake Up to the World: Celebrating the Year of Consecrated Life

I have called you by your name, you are mine

Isaiah 43.1


Church. Rather, they are catalysts for renewal; exploring new frontiers and possibilities. Their task is to inspire and to keep the fire of the Gospel burning for the sake of the Church and of the world. Saint Mary of the Cross is an example of hope, renewal and creative fidelity in times of transition; critical yeast for crucial times.

Our Holy Father challenges consecrated women and men to be ‘experts in communion: to offer a concrete model of community which, by acknowledging the dignity of each person and sharing our respective gifts, makes it possible to live as brothers and sisters’. Those who live the Gospel in this way radiate a joy that can only come from God, a joy that is attractive to those around them.

‘I am counting on you to ‘wake up the world’ said Pope Francis. He is forever urging Christians to be people of joy, not prophets of doom. ‘I thank you for the witness you give as stewards of God’s mysteries and for how you consistently face up to the challenges posed by modern culture in such a cosmopolitan and secular society, as you live the Gospel in your everyday lives’.

St John Paul II wrote that religious are first and foremost called to be the icon of the transfigured Christ. The transfiguration here is the result of the deep and personal union with Christ and at the same time the result of the suffering with Christ. Religious life will change in its expressions, shapes and sizes. We should not fear these changes. The only thing we should fear is the failure to bear the wounds of the suffering Servant and to be the icon of the transfigured Christ for our Church and for our world.

A Gospel passage which strikes right at the heart of the matter of true discipleship is in Matthew 16 where we read a recurring theme: ‘Take up your cross’, the cross of the everyday commitments, the everyday demands in which we meet God. In following Christ, we must also take up the cross of Christ. We must take up also, the triumphant assurance that God has given us all we need, and will give Religious all they need for their consecrated lives.

As we just get on with life, this does mean a daily dose of realism. In the short term, the Church may seem deeply unpromising in any number of ways to many of us; the Church also may disappoint. And yet God remains the God he has always been. The Church is real today, and the promise of God is still as powerful, wonderful and joyful, as it was yesterday, is today and will be tomorrow and forever.

Religious congregations, some old, and maybe even some new, will continue to quietly inspire us by selfless lives of poverty, chastity and obedience; offering a humble, yet powerful, counter-witness to the emptiness that so often surrounds us. If we are to ‘wake up the world’,

there is much work to be done, but we need not fear, With joy and love in our hearts we

will find ways of bringing the newness of the Gospel to all our people.

For many busy and harried Catholics, it is often the human

presence of those in consecrated life, as well as their houses and prayer centres, which provide important reminders, occasions and resources for personal prayer, reflection and quiet. The great ‘schools’ of Christian mediation and contemplation have long been the tradition of apostolic societies and religious institutes, with many continuing to provide leadership and formation in the techniques of prayer and meditation. “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” and “spent much time together in the temple” (Acts 3:42,46).

Marvelling at how God the Father always provides the Church with the testimony of the consecrated life, we thank each religious institute and apostolic society in our country, and all of you who are their members, for your generosity and faithfulness. We pray that the Lord Jesus will continue to call men and women to be his evangelical witnesses.

Pastoral letter prepared by the Australian Catholic Bishops Commission for Church Ministry to celebrate

the Year of Consecrated Life during 2015.

Viewpoint is an A4 size, full colour, quarterly publication • each edition being published seasonally • A wide distribution throughout the Diocese • free of charge • available in every parish and school in the diocese • linked to the Diocesan website• All advertisements will be full colour • (note: front and back covers not available)• 10% discount if you advertise for a full year – four issues.

To know more: talk to Naomi 02 6772 4971 or

email: [email protected]

Advertise with Viewpoint

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DIOCESE OF ARMIDALE

Fr John Carey, 40 years an ADIG Board Member!

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From Rome to Wee Waa

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With

Holy

Water…

...we bless

counting on you to ‘wake up the

world


In Nepal as many as 5000 to 7000 people - the majority of whom are women and children - are trafficked every year to India, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and other nations. Tricked or kidnapped by unscrupulous human traffickers they are forced into prostitution, exploited as cheap labour and maltreated, physically and sexually abused.

Now with as many as 8.2 million injured or left homeless as a result of Nepal’s 7.9 earthquake, Rupa Rai of Caritas Nepal fears that hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Nepali women and children will become easy prey for human traffickers.

“What is most concerning is that with nowhere to turn, desperate, vulnerable and with no money or home, Nepal’s women and children will become prey to human traffickers,” she says.

“In an extremely poor nation like Nepal where there are many with no education and where there is still a high rate of illiteracy, many communities are not aware of trafficking or what it means,” she says. “Instead they believe what they are told by these traffickers.”

Families firmly believe their daughter is being sent away

to school for a chance of proper education. Young women are also persuaded and even undergo “fake marriages,” convinced they have wed a wonderful caring man who will look after them. Still others think they are being flown to a new country to be trained for a job that will bring them and ultimately their family in Nepal a good and stable income.

“They believe they are going to a better life but instead they are exploited, abused, forced into prostitution and used as cheap labour,” Rupa says.

In addition many also become unwitting organ donors, forced to have operations to remove a kidney or other organ that will later be sold.

“As a Catholic woman and working with a Catholic organisation, we must remember that the first principle is to restore human dignity.

Through rehabilitation, counselling, literacy programs, job skills and leadership training we try to bring back that dignity to the women who were once sold like slaves,” she says.

To donate to Caritas Australia’s Nepal Earthquake Appeal log on to: www.caritas.org.au

A promise of a

better life


Bishop Luc Matthys was away from the Diocese on the day of his 80th birthday. The fact that the celebrating was to be delayed did not stop the Nazareth House community and visiting clergy from marking the occasion.

In a special evening function the Sisters of Nazareth hosted this special birthday party. In addition to food and drinks, good conversation and company there was a special birthday cake. Bishop Luc blew out the candles and cut the cake with his customary aplomb.

Happy birthday to Bishop Luc …. may you continue to enjoy good health and God’s richest blessings on your life.

80 not out

Bishop Michael Kennedy with Don Hewitt after Don was awarded life membership in recognition of his lengthy and outstanding service to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society both in Armidale and as Diocesan President. The award, presented by Ray Reynolds (President of the State Council) was made at the recent blessing and opening of the new Armidale Diocesan Central Council Distribution Centre.

Freeman House arose from an ongoing need in the late 1970’s to address the problem of alcoholism and homelessness prevalent in parks and under bridges in the city. The members of the St. Vincent de Paul Society were regularly engaging with addicted people typically homeless as a result of their addiction. It was not uncommon to locate up to ten people sleeping rough in “hidey holes” or simply in parks. Society members worked with the constabulary to provide fresh clothing and food to offenders who were held in the cells overnight before being released the next day – often to repeat the habit.

St. Augustine’s conference, a “special works” conference, was formed to care for addicted people with Alan Kennedy as the first President. Fundamental to the work was procurement of suitable premises, which by law needed to be registered as a “Proclaimed Place”, so police could place offenders in the hands of Society members as an alternate to accommodating them in the cells. The Crescent Guest House was purchased in 1979.

The Conference included Alan and Margaret Kennedy, Joe Hanna, Noel Bible, Ron Seery and many others who volunteered their time and possessions to clean cook and generally care for those clients. A rehabilitation programme based on the Alcoholics Anonymous 12 step formula was introduced and proved a successful formula when it was enhanced by specialist counselling and a residential support network. The initial work of short term

Life Membership for Don

How it all began Freeman House, Armidale

caring rapidly outgrew the available accommodation and resources, so funding was sought from many and varied organisations and local fundraising.

Early in the 1980’s a 26 bed accommodation building was constructed and this milestone heralded the ability to accept Government contracts to provide rehabilitation programmes in addition to providing short term support.

The reputation of Freeman House as a Rehabilitation Centre with an excellent success history became known across the whole of Australia and clients from far and wide were being referred by families and law courts to reside in house and seek rehabilitation to overcome their addictions to enable resumption of a useful life in the community.

Edited from a short history prepared by Don Hewitt for the official

opening and blessing of Freeman House

Bishop Kennedy and Barnaby Joyce with dignitaries from St Vincent De Paul Society


Kids Kapers


Although the water levels at Lake Keepit were at a record low of 3.5%, the excitement and expectation level of those attending Discovery 2015 was 100%.

Discovery 2015 began on Monday 6th April with young people from Sydney arriving, eager to join with other youth from Armidale, Uralla, Casino, Brisbane and Crescent Head. This year 90 young people attended Discovery.

The theme of the camp was “Trust” based on Proverbs 3.5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding”. Throughout the camp, the young people were encouraged to look at various aspects of trust, from being a trustworthy person themselves to being able to trust in God.

It gave the youth the opportunity to see how valuable trust is and how easily it can be lost.

Father Joseph Armah from Moree travelled the long distance to Lake Keepit to celebrate Mass with the Youth and helpers at Discovery.

It was a beautiful Mass and the joy of the Lord was truly present. Fr Joseph spoke of the need to let others know

the Good News, not to give up, but to witness to the love of Jesus. He is hoping to come again next year.

The young people enjoyed the talks, pastoral discussion groups and entered wholeheartedly into worship and praise. They participated in workshops and sporting activities, along with an enthusiastic scavenger hunt.

Discovery 2015 was built on the foundations of all the past Discovery camps, with many of the young people having attended Discovery for many years. Discovery 2015 was more than just a Youth Camp, it was the fruit of much prayer; of years of people giving of their time to serve; of young people willing to set time aside to seek God; of the generosity of ADIG, Uralla Parish and other people who financially contribute to this work of the Lord. Our grateful thanks goes to all who have generously supported Discovery over the years.

Discovery was a witness to these young people that they are valuable , with so many helpers willing to serve them. They in turn will give to others so that the Good News will be spread and the Kingdom of God built.

Details of next year’s camp can be found at: www.discovery.org.au

Discovery 2015


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