West Wagga Wagga Ashmont, Collingullie, Glenfield, Lloyd, San Isidore The West Wagga Wag

July 2015 Coming Events Celebratory Occasions! Monthly Cuppa, after 9am Mass on last Sunday of the month In this spiritual year of , the of Christ the Priest has rejoiced with it’s Diamond Jubilee Mass. This was celebrated at St Mary Magdalene Wed 22 St. Michael’s Cathedral with Bishop Gerard as the main celebrant. Sincere thanks to all who attended, to those who sent messages of congratulations St James Sat 25 and to the many who did so much for the occasion; especially the Ladies Auxiliary, the Home of Compassion Card Party choir and the visiting priests. Mon 20

Carmelite Trivia Night Fri 26

St Alphonsus Sat 1 Aug

Transfiguration of Lord Thurs 6

St Mary of the Cross Sat 8

Max Stephens after his 1st Holy Communion.

"Teach prayer by praying, announce the faith by believing; offer witness by living!"

Inside this issue:

Signs of Welcome 2 Francis—Laudato Si 4 New Patrons of Marriage 5 Grandfather’s Bowl 7 The children pf Holy received their 1st Holy Communion Wag Contacts on Sunday June 14 at St Michael's Email: [email protected] Cathedral. We Web Page: westwaggaparish.com congratulate them, Phone: 6931 3601 praise and thank God.

The date for submissions for the next Wag is: Wednesday July 29. Cutting the celebratory cake. PAGE 2 THE WEST WAGGA WAG

pastor’s page Sign of Peace and signs of expressing peace, communion welcome and charity. It is a good idea to observe those The Mass is the source and around you to see if there is summit of our Christian Life. It someone new. It is one of the is where we sit at the feet of Our works of mercy to welcome the Lord to learn from Him; where stranger. In fact, no one should we stand to greet Him in the be a stranger when they visit Gospel, where we kneel to another parish. We are all part of worship Him, approach to the one family! One former receive Him. From the Mass we Apostolic Nuncio said on go out to share Him with the coming to Australia that he felt world. Jesus is the Centre of the he had just entered another room Mass. in the same home, and so he had. But the Mass is also where we No one should be left hanging, are united. All being centred on observing the sign of peace Him, and recipients of His new being given to others around "Hi, my name is ---- I don't Life, we become part of His them but missing out themselves. think I have met you before... Mystical Body, and one family. Without reaching across too come and meet...", "Good Our communion with Our many pews or going from your morning, is this your first time beloved Lord brings about our seat, try to show this kindness to at San Isidore/Holy Trinity...?" those new to our parish. How easy it is to greet someone, communion with each other. once we try. Even a simple We express this in a special way When some are using "Welcome"! And spoken with a on Sundays and Feast Days when wheelchairs or walkers, it is a welcoming smile. If we give each other the "sign of special act of charity for some of Occupational Health and Safety peace". In different cultures this the community to come over to is everyone's business, so is is done in different ways. For them to include them in the sign welcoming others into our example in India, each person of peace. We see this at the parish. It is our privilege and turns to those close by and, with Home of Compassion and it is our joy. It requires us to have an hands joined, the faithful bow to done there beautifully in a way eye open on the way out of eachother and say, " Namaste". It that does not disturb the Mass to notice especially those really shows esteem for the other solemnity of the Mass, mindful by themselves. Who knows, you person. I found myself bowing to of Jesus with us on the Altar. may make a good friend, but we a baby I had just baptised, There are other opportunities to know for sure that in welcoming suddenly feeling the presence of show this welcome, when other the stranger, you are welcoming the Blessed Trinity in that new conversation is appropriate, and Jesus Christ Himself. Christian. In Australia the that is before and especially after custom is to turn to those nearby Mass. and say "Peace be with you", with a simple handshake, Fr Thomas Casanova CCS Words of “Welcome”! Indonesian - Selamat datang Try saying one of these for peo- Irish - Fáilte ple who are new to Australia: Italian - Benvenuto/a Arabic - Ahla w sahla Polish - Witam Burmese - kyaosopartaal Spanish - Bienvenido Cantonese - fùnyìhng Tagalog - Mabuhay French - Bienvenue Tamil - vaangha (try this for German - Willkommen Marvin and Richardson) Greek - Kalós orísate Vietnamese - Hoan nghênh Hebrew - baruch haba Wirradjuri - Gawaymbanha THE WEST WAGGA WAG PAGE 3

July Jokes Embarrassing Incident Doctor Khan was giving a lecture Hospital regulations require a to a group of medical students at wheelchair for patients being the city hospital. discharged. However, while Pointing to the x-ray, he explained: working as a student nurse, I found "As you can see, this patient limps one elderly gentleman -- already because his right fibula and tibia dressed and sitting on the bed with a are radically arched." suitcase at his feet -- who insisted The doctor looked up at the he didn't need my help to leave the assembled students, and asked hospital. Sidney "Now what would you do in After a chat about rules being rules, a case like this?" he reluctantly let me wheel him to Sidney piped up: "I suppose I the elevator. On the way down I would limp too." asked him if his wife was meeting \ him. Bloopers Doctors Have Written "I don't know," he said. "She's still About Patients, allegedly Gleaned upstairs in the bathroom changing Over the Years From Medical out of her hospital gown." Notes The Hypochondriac 1 On the second day the knee was better, and on the third day it Teacher: How can you prevent disappeared. Danny was an extremely nervous diseases caused by biting insects? 2 The patient is tearful and crying patient whose imagination afflicted Suzie: Don't bite any! constantly. She also appears to be him with all kinds of misfortunes depressed. that never materialised. One The Money's Good 3 The patient has been depressed afternoon he staggered into the A plumber attended to a leaking tap since she began seeing me in 1993. house. He was bent forwards. He at the neurosurgeon's house. After a 4 Discharge status: Alive but tottered to a chair and, still curled two-minute job, he demanded $150. without my permission. into a half-moon shape, dropped The neurosurgeon exclaimed, "I 5 The patient refused autopsy. into it. don't even charge that amount and I 6 Patient's medical history has 'Jenny,' he gasped, 'it's happened at am a brain surgeon." been unremarkable with only a 40- last. There was no warning. All of a The plumber replied, "I agree. You pound weight gain in the past three sudden I found I couldn't straighten are right! I too, didn't either, when I days. up. I can't lift my head.' was a surgeon. That's why I 7 Patient had waffles for breakfast When the doctor had arrived and switched to plumbing!" and anorexia for lunch. looked at Danny, Jenny inquired, 'Is Patient Care 8 She is numb from her toes down. there any hope, doc?' 9 The skin was moist and dry. 'Well,' the GP replied, 'it would help A famous surgeon went on a safari 10 The patient was to have a a great deal if he would undo the in Africa. When he came back, his bowel resection. However, he took third buttonhole of his waistcoat colleagues asked him how it had a job as a stockbroker instead. from the top button of his trousers.' been. 'Oh, it was very 11 Patient was seen in disappointing,' he said. 'I didn't kill consultation by Dr. Blank, who felt Doctor, Doctor I think I need a thing. I'd have been better off we should sit on the abdomen and I glasses. staying here in the hospital.' agree. You certainly do, Sir, this is a fish 12 Patient has chest pain if she and chip shop ! New Disease Discovered lies on her left side for over a year. Medical researchers have Doctor: We need to get these people discovered a new disease that has no to a hospital! symptoms. It is impossible to detect, Nurse: What is it? and there is no known cure. Doctor: It's a big building with a lot Fortunately no cases have been of doctors, but that's not important reported thus far. now! Worried Patient A man speaks frantically into the Patient: Doctor, when I press my leg phone, "My wife is pregnant, and it hurts. Then when I press my chest her contractions are only two it hurts, when I press my head it minutes apart!" hurts, and when I press my stomach "Is this her first child?" the doctor it hurts. I'm worried doc, what's queries. wrong with me? "No you idiot!" the man shouts. Doctor: Easy; straightforward, you "This is her husband!" have a sore finger! PAGE 4 THE WEST WAGGA WAG

‘Laudato Si’ - Encyclical Letter by on the Environment

teachings about foundations of our life begin to human crumble. (#117) existence and There can be no ecology without an its historical adequate anthropology. When the reality. They human person is considered as suggest that simply one being among others, the human life is product of chance or physical grounded in determinism, then our overall sense three of responsibility wanes. (#118) fundamental and closely Christian thought sees human intertwined beings as possessing a particular relationships: dignity above other creatures; it thus with God, with inculcates esteem for each person Pope Francis has released his our neighbour and with the earth and respect for others. (#119) historic Encyclical Letter on the itself. According to the Bible, these Since everything is interrelated, care for our common home. three vital relationships have been concern for the protection of nature The title, Laudato Si', is taken from broken, both outwardly and within is also incompatible with the a hymn by St Francis of Assisi that us. This rupture is sin. (#66) justification of abortion. How can contains strong emphasis on Our insistence that each human we genuinely teach the importance harmony between God and the being is an image of God should not of concern for other vulnerable creatures of the world. make us overlook the fact that each beings, however troublesome or inconvenient they may be, if we fail You’ve heard or seen some quotes creature has its own purpose. None is superfluous. The entire material to protect a human embryo, even from this encyclical. Have you seen when its presence is uncomfortable these? universe speaks of God’s love, his boundless affection for us. Soil, and creates difficulties? ‘If personal All of us can cooperate as water, mountains: everything is, as and social sensitivity towards the instruments of God for the care of it were, a caress of God. (#84) acceptance of the new life is lost, creation, each according to his or then other forms of acceptance that her own culture, experience, One Person of the Trinity entered are valuable for society also wither involvements and talents. (#14) into the created cosmos, throwing in away. (#120) his lot with it, even to the cross. We seem to think that we can From the beginning of the world, In this sense, it is essential to show substitute an irreplaceable and but particularly through the special care for indigenous irretrievable beauty with something incarnation, the mystery of Christ is communities and their cultural which we have created ourselves. at work in a hidden manner in the traditions. They are not merely one (#34) natural world as a whole, without minority among others, but should Instead of resolving the problems of thereby impinging on its autonomy. be the principal dialogue partners, the poor and thinking of how the (#99) especially when large projects world can be different, some can affecting their land are proposed. We can once more broaden our (#146) only propose a reduction in the vision. We have the freedom birth rate. At times, developing needed to limit and direct Human ecology also implies another countries face forms of technology; we can put it at the profound reality: the relationship international pressure which make service of another type of progress, between human life and the moral economic assistance contingent on one which is healthier, more human, law, which is inscribed in our nature certain policies of “reproductive more social, more integral. (#112) and is necessary for the creation of a health”... To blame population more dignified environment... growth instead of extreme and When we fail to acknowledge as Valuing one’s own body in its selective consumerism on the part part of reality the worth of a poor femininity or masculinity is of some, is one way of refusing to person, a human embryo, a person necessary if I am going to be able to face the issues. (#50) with disabilities – to offer just a few recognize myself in an encounter examples – it becomes difficult to We need to strengthen the with someone who is different. In hear the cry of nature itself; this way we can joyfully accept the conviction that we are one single everything is connected. Once the human family. (#52) specific gifts of another man or human being declares independence woman, the work of God the The creation accounts in the book from reality and behaves with Creator, and find mutual of Genesis contain … profound absolute dominion, the very enrichment. It is not a healthy THE WEST WAGGA WAG PAGE 5

‘Laudato Si’ continued ... attitude which would seek “to them. So they are able to shed God (cf. 1 Cor 13:12), and be able cancel out sexual difference unsatisfied needs, reducing their to read with admiration and because it no longer knows how to obsessiveness and weariness. happiness the mystery of the confront it”. (#155) (#223) universe, which with us will share The emptier a person’s heart is, the Therese of Lisieux invites us in unending plenitude. Even now more he or she needs things to buy, to practise the little way of love, not we are journeying towards the own and consume. (#204) to miss out on a kind word, a smile sabbath of eternity, the new or any small gesture which sows Jerusalem, towards our common A healthy relationship with creation home in heaven. Jesus says: “I is one dimension of overall personal peace and friendship. An integral ecology is also made up of simple make all things new” (Rev 21:5). conversion, which entails the (#243) recognition of our errors, sins, faults daily gestures which break with the and failures, and leads to heartfelt logic of violence, repentance and desire to change. exploitation and (#218) selfishness. (#230) In reality, those who enjoy more The Sacraments are a and live better each moment are privileged way in which those who have given up dipping nature is taken up by God here and there, always on the to become a means of lookout for what they do not have. mediating supernatural They experience what it means to life. (#235) appreciate each person and each At the end, we will find thing, learning familiarity with the ourselves face to face simplest things and how to enjoy with the infinite beauty of

New Patrons of Marriage? Pope Francis formally approved on canonization during a consistory of of the married couple will coincide June 27th the decrees necessary for bishops at the . with the Synod on the Family, to be Blesseds Louis and Zelie Martin – On March 18, the Pope had held on Oct. 4-25. The three-week known for being the parents of St. recognized a miracle attributed to gathering of bishops will be the Therese of Lisieux – to be declared the couple. second and larger of two such later this year. gatherings to take place in the Married in 1858 just three months The two blesseds will be the first course of a year. Like its 2014 after meeting each other, Bl. Louis precursor, the focus of the 2015 couple ever to be canonized at the and Zelie lived in celibacy for same ceremony, which will be held Synod of Bishops will be the nearly a year, but eventually went family, this time with the theme: Oct. 18 in the Vatican. The event on to have nine children. Four died will take place fewer than three “The vocation and mission of the in infancy, while the remaining five family in the church and the modern weeks after the Oct. 1 feast of their daughters entered religious life. daughter, and , world.” St. Therese of the Child Jesus. Zelie died from cancer in 1877, Pope Francis venerated the relics of leaving Louis to care for their five Blesseds Louis and Zelie ahead of The Roman Pontiff approved the young daughters: Marie, Pauline, decrees for the Martins’ the 2014 Synod on the Family, Leonie, Celine, and Therese, who along with those of another married was only four at couple: Blessed Luigi and Maria the time. Louis Beltrame Quattrocchi. died in 1894 after suffering two It was announced that Blessed strokes in 1889, Louis and Zelie Martin will be followed by five canonized alongside two others: years of serious Blessed , an Italian drawn-out illness. priest and founder of the Institute of the Daughters of the Oratory, and Louis and Zelie Bl. Maria of the Immaculate were beatified Oct. Conception, Spanish 19, 2008 by general of the Sisters of the Benedict XVI. Company of the Cross. The canonizations PAGE 6 THE WEST WAGGA WAG

Birth Control in USA Drinking Water: An Environmental Catastrophe in the Making? A recent report from the U.S. a threat to larger fish populations. continue to take birth control Geological Survey (USGS) found Numerous subsequent studies inadvertently in the first trimester of that birth-control hormones across the globe have linked birth- pregnancy, raising concerns about excreted by women, flushed into control hormones to impaired their babies’ early exposure to waterways and eventually into fertility, “transgender fish” and endocrine disruptors, though it’s drinking water can also impact fish reduced fish populations. Minnesota impossible to say how many babies fertility up to three generations after pollution researchers looking for the and children are inadvertently exposure — raising questions about endocrine disruptors found them exposed through drinking water and their effects on humans, who are even in remote lakes thought to be to what doses or what impact the consuming the drugs without even pristine; and when they lowered hormones are having on adults, if knowing it in each glass of water cages of male lab minnows into the any. they drink. lakes, most of them were feminized With unexplained soaring within three weeks. incidences of testicular cancer, The survey, published in March in infertility, childhood “gender the journal Scientific Reports, dysphoria” in increasingly young looked at the impact of the synthetic children, who are confused about hormone 17α-ethinylestradiol their sexual identity, and [more], (EE2), an ingredient of most some scientists are asking if the fish contraceptive pills, in the water of in the study are like miners’ Japanese medaka fish during the canaries: They are warning of a first week of their development. problem that has not yet been fully While the exposed fish and their realized. immediate offspring appeared But in the absence of public unaffected, the second generation of awareness and outcry, little has fish struggled to fertilize eggs — been done about the problem in the with a 30% reduction in fertilization U.S. or elsewhere. rates — and their embryos were less likely to survive. Even the third Evidence Ignored generation of fish had 20% By 2009, USGS scientists found The has always impaired fertility and survival rates, that one-third of 111 American taught that pharmaceutical though they were never directly waterways they tested contained contraception to prevent pregnancy exposed to the hormone. some intersex fish, particularly male is “intrinsically evil” and “contrary bass. A year later, scientists were to the good of the transmission of Widespread Contamination reporting that 80% of the fish in the life” (Vade Mecum for Confessors In a landmark 1999-2000 USGS Potomac River — whose water is 2:4, Feb. 12, 1997), even without survey, 80% of water samples from pumped into the homes of 4 million considering its effects on the 139 American rivers and streams in people — showed “intersex” environment or public health. 30 states were found to be features. The effects of BPA from plastics contaminated with drugs, ranging The impact of EE2 has been are well recognized, but the impact from antibiotics and antidepressants demonstrated experimentally in of birth control on the environment to contraceptives and hormone mammals as well. and fertility has been downplayed replacements. and dismissed — a reaction vom But scientists are particularly Unabsorbed Contraceptives Saal thinks is not based on science. concerned about the contraceptive About 50 million women “Clear evidence for equal potency is chemical EE2 because of its ability worldwide are taking contraceptive ignored by the industry,” he said. to “feminize” male fishes and its pills, and it is the leading form of “It’s strange how even the most association with plummeting fish birth control in the U.S., consumed ardent environmentalists suddenly fertility. by about 10.5 million women go silent when confronted with A landmark 2007 study, for annually, according to the evidence of how birth-control pills example, described a seven-year Guttmacher Institute. Up to 68% of harm aquatic ecosystems. Instead of whole-lake experiment in northern the contraceptive drugs being angry calls for the regulation of a Ontario, Canada, in which tiny consumed are not absorbed, but pollutant that is causing a ‘silent amounts of EE2 induced “intersex” excreted into sewage systems, spring’ of hermaphroditic fish male minnows ...; this ultimately according to the USGS study. unable to breed, we hear nothing,” resulted in the “near extinction” of And according to one 2009 study of said Steven Mosher, president of the species from the lake, as well as loss of fertility in rats due to EE2, the Population Research Institute. about 3%- to 4% of women THE WEST WAGGA WAG PAGE 7

Grandfather’s Bowl

A frail old man went to live with his glanced in grandfather's direction, him back to the family table. son, daughter-in-law and four year he sometimes had a tear in his eye For the remainder of his days, he old grandson. The old man's hands as he sat alone. Still, the only words ate every meal with the family. And trembled, his eyesight was blurred, the couple had for him were sharp for some reason, neither husband and his step faltered. admonitions when he dropped a nor wife seemed to care any longer The family ate together at the table, fork or spilled food. The four year when a fork was dropped, milk but the elderly grandfather's shaky old watched it all in silence. spilled, or the tablecloth soiled. hands and failing sight made eating One evening before supper, the difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon father noticed his son playing with onto the floor. When he grasped the wood scraps on the floor. He asked glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth. the child sweetly, "What are you The son and daughter-in-law making?" Just as sweetly the boy became irritated with the mess. "We responded, "Oh, I am making a little must do something about bowl for you and Momma to eat grandfather," said the son. "I've had your food from when I grow up." enough of his spilled milk, noisy The four year old smiled and went eating, and food on the floor." back to work. So the husband and wife set a small The words so struck the parents that table in the corner. There they were speechless. Then tears Grandfather ate alone while the rest started to stream down their cheeks. of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Though no words were spoken, grandfather had broken a dish or both knew what must be done. That two, his food was served in a evening the husband took wooden bowl. When the family grandfather's hand and gently led

ANYWAY

(Blessed Teresa of Calcutta had the following words enlarged, framed and hung in the front lobby of her orphanage. The original wording comes from the "Paradoxical Commandments" written in 1968 by Kent Keith')

People are unreasonable, illogical, self-centered ...love them anyway. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives ...do good anyway. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies ...be successful anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow ...do good anyway. Honesty and frankness will make you vulnerable ...be honest and frank anyway. People love underdogs but follow only top dogs Not going to church because of ...follow some underdog anyway. the “hypocrites” What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight ...build anyway. is like not going People really need help but may attack you if you try to help to the gym ...help people anyway. because of “out If you give the world the best you have, you may get kicked in the teeth of shape people” ...but give the world the best you have … ANYWAY. The West Wagga Wag

West Wagga Parish

Serving: Ashmont, Collingullie, Glenfield, Lloyd, and San Isidore

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