Gold Coin Donation TALKABOUT August Issue 2014 News of St. Mary’s went into the four year construction period. From Fr. Peter’s Desk While not diminishing the demanding work that the founding Fathers would have SUCH WAS LIFE had to do in those early days, While celebrating a visit from not all residents some Gold Coast friends, we were doing it so shared a bottle of bubbly, nothing tough. The grand fancy. I suggested we use some presbytery on of the elegant champagne glasses Elizabeth Street, in the presbytery crystal cabinet. only Towards the end of the bottle overshadowed by (sadly) one of my friends asked the magnificent who the initials “AH” referred to, new Church etch beautifully on the glass along completed in with the 1904, must Irish harp. have To my created an surprise awe and inspiring delight, I impression for the the status of the Parish Priest discovered parishioners and others who was certainly different to these they could walked by it on the way to present times. It may have only refer their mines or workshops or been here in Ipswich that the to Father offices in Street and young Father (later Andrew surrounds. A bit of one- Archbishop) Duhig, learned to Horan, the upmanship for the other appreciate the finer things in first parish denominations trying to make house comforts. Possibly up to priest of Saint Mary’s from 1873 to a go of it is this fledgling town, three housekeepers at one 1917. It would seem that Andy soon to be city. Between the Irish time would have provided three enjoyed some of the finer things in Catholics and the Welsh Continued page 2 ... life and thought initialled crystal Methodists, competition for God’s glasses were the appropriate and attention would have been fierce. necessary thing to have. I then The condition of the presbytery Inside this issue: carefully snatched the glasses these days, while very impressive back from my guests, gently and comfortable, it is evident from Parish Dinner 4 – 5 washed them and returned them the height of the ceilings and the to their pride of place, realising fret work around the light fittings, that we had been drinking out of the interior design of the presbytery CWL 60th Anniversary 8 – 9 glasses over 100 hundred years was styled to fit important old, that we much more expensive residents. It is said that in those Women’s Breakfast 11 than the wine we were drinking early days there was the from them. suggestion that Ipswich was to Villa Maria 12 – 13 As I relished the last few drops become the state capital, hence I got to thinking about what life the building of a Cathedral-like Biggest Morning Tea 17 must have been like back in those Church and a palace fit for an early days of the parish. While Archbishop was seen as a Paul Turner Workshop 18 they may have been tough for necessity. It must have taken a many Ipswichians as the coal was great deal of sacrifice on the part of been discovered and the railway the parishioners to donate the Combined Colleges Musical 27 was starting to progress, perhaps many thousands of pounds that

2 hot meals a day for the residents and guests, along with constant dusting and polishing stair rails and stain glass windows. The seven open fire places would have been a daily chore for some poor woman, not to mention the cleaning of churches and washing linen. I am still amazed how an elderly Father Horan would have negotiated the steep stair case to his bedroom, while a housekeeper’s load of bedding and curtains would have made the descent a workplace safety nightmare. Food would have been delivered fresh daily and all meals would have had some form of meat, again delivered daily. Since a trip to Brisbane would have been a considerable trip on a horse and sulky, a stable- hand would have been employed for Father Horan’s many trips to the big city or one of the many outlying Churches. Perhaps he really needed a fine glass of something on his return. Not for one minute do I envy the demands of life in those times, but I am now grateful for the outstanding gift of the priest’s house and church to this present generation of pastors by those people who a century ago, thought God and the clergy deserved to best of everything, even down to the etched crystal champagne glasses, never to be touched again.

St. Mary’s Open Day Michelle Wood

Sunday, 4th May once more saw the Historical Society at St. Mary’s Church for the annual Open Day (conducted as part of the National Trust Heritage Festival). We very much appreciated Fr. Peter agreeing to continue the Open Day this year. John Kane, Frank Molloy and Michelle Wood were available to conduct the tours for those who came to see our parish’s magnificent church. Cath Wood, Bonnie Mulroney and Jennifer Rooks ably assisted at the entrance to collect the admission fee, offer information, pamphlets and hopefully sell some copies of both “St Mary’s Story” (the Blue Book) and “St. Mary’s Church – Icon of Ipswich” (the Red Book). Good friend of the society, Robyn Harm also came along to lend her support to show some of the visitors around and take photos of the day. We did not have as many visitors this year, approximately 15, as had attended during some previous Open Days. However, this did not diminish the experience for those who did take our tour. They were all full of admiration for the church and its many features of beauty and interest. One lady came from Mt. Alfred, near Calvert. Some had their own memories of St. Mary’s from their days at the schools and speculated about the changes over the years to the church’s interior. It was a day well spent (if a trifle hard on the vocal cords) and we will, of course, be back next year, hopefully with a much better attendance.

3 REJOICE AND SING CONCERT Nicola Harris& Lauren Roche Publicity Officers, Blackstone-Ipswich Cambrian Choir On the 1st June, the Blackstone- Ipswich Cambrian Choir performed their Rejoice and Sing concert at St Mary’s Church, in conjunction with internationally acclaimed organist Christopher Wrench. We appreciate the ability to make use of the sacred and architecturally beautiful St. Mary’s Church. The opportunity to perform in this venue was one strongly appreciated by the choir members and in turn the audience. St Mary’s Church made a spectacular venue for the program for the afternoon, which centred around sacred and spiritual music interspersed with two brackets of uplifting organ pieces performed by Mr Wrench. Wrench has an impressive musical resume, performing both nationally and internationally, so it was delightful to listen as he played the St. Mary’s organ with such passion. Pieces that the choir performed included choral arrangements of O Clap Your Hands Together All Ye People and I Will Sing with the Spirit (both arranged by John Rutter), Timete Dominum by Michael Haydn (which featured soloists from the choir) and an arrangement of Missa Brevis in D by Britten, which was performed by a small group of young women of the choir. The small group also included members of the Cambrian Youth Choir who were invited to take part in this experience. This was a unique experience for the younger members, and a great addition to their musical development. The program was described by attendees as “a relaxing, spiritual afternoon of music” and “a brilliant spectacle of sacred splendours”. When referring to the Rejoice and Sing concert, the Choir’s publicity officer, Lauren Roche, said, “It was a wonderful opportunity for local musicians to perform with an internationally acclaimed artist and it is a great thing for the Ipswich community that they can attend such performances in their own backyard”. The Blackstone Ipswich Cambrian Choir Inc would like to sincerely thank St Mary’s Church for their afternoon of hospitality and for the chance to perform in their magnificent church. We truly appreciate the opportunity and look forward to presenting similar programs in the future.

Some people Words from Saint Ambrose are kind, polite, Let there be a door to thy mouth, that it may be shut when need arises, and and sweet- let it be carefully barred, that none spirited. may rouse thy voice to anger, and thou pay back abuse with abuse. Until you try to sit in their pews ...

4 PARISH DINNER Bev Cheyne The annual St. Mary's Parish Dinner was held at Brother's Leagues Club on the 11th of July. It was very well patronised with approximately 110 parishioners. John and Sue Mitchell co-ordinated the evening and Kathy Lund and Kerry Cassin ably escorted us to our respective tables. Our wonderful MC was Leon Hutton. Leon has had this position for a number of years. His off the cuff comments, and quick wit meant that we were assured of a fun night. At great expense our guest speaker this year was our newly appointed Parish Priest, Fr. Peter Dillon. It was a lovely presentation, and all present were given insight into his Priestly life. Fr. Peter offered us some pearls of wisdom with regard to relationships, marriage as opposed to weddings, the elderly and back to the beginning with counting and spelling. This being Fr. Peter’s first Parish Dinner, it was a great thought to have him as our guest speaker, offering those gathered a glimpse into the personality behind the Priest. His presentation was well balanced, with serious thoughts and humorous anecdotes. Father Nev was asked to say Grace for us, before the serving of a wonderful meal of either beef or chicken, in Leon's words — a two way drop. Followed by Dessert — a three way drop, of pavlova, mud cake, or cheesecake. A very enjoyable meal was had by all. Then, between the chatting and the beverages, the raffle numbers were drawn amid much anticipation, with most tables having a win from the array of very useful items that had all been generously donated for this purpose. On this special occasion, it is customary for someone from the Parish to be acknowledged for their contribution to Parish life. This year was no exception. The very deserving recipients were Eileen and Terry Flood. The quiet achievers. Eileen for her sacramental and liturgical involvement and Terry for his work with the Church and very extensive grounds at Eastern Heights. A very popular choice. This annual dinner is a great way to stay in touch with other parishioners and friends, as often we cross over because of the need to attend Mass at different times, thereby missing out on vital contact. Did you miss this great event this year! Might I suggest that you take the opportunity right now to mark it on your calendar for July 2015 — you will not be disappointed. & Rob Hooper The traditional Parish Dinner was held again on Friday 11th July and was again a resounding success. Over 100 parishioners attended the function in the upstairs function room at Brothers Leagues Club. Again the staff at Brothers looked after us with their usual friendly hospitality, and the meals were again up to their usual standard with alternate drops of chicken or beef with vegetables. The desserts this year were served at the tables, with three alternate drops of chocolate mudcake, cheesecake and the always popular pavlova. For the price of $35 per head it was again good value, and the drinks available from the bar were also affordable. However, the food and drink (while excellent) were not the main focus of the evening, and merely provided the framework and setting for another opportunity to celebrate our sense of community and to engage with each other in ways other than at Eucharist. It is always important to remember that the early Christian communities met for a meal in one of the members’ houses, and the institution of Eucharist occurred in this context. Apart from the enjoyment of each other’s company (which was obvious from the animated conversations and laughter around the tables) we were also entertained by three of the best speakers not making money from their natural talents. John Mitchell opened the evening and invited Fr Nev to

5 say Grace before everyone settled down to their meals. After dinner, John set the scene with his introduction of our resident Master of Ceremonies, Leon Hutton. John was fulsome in his praise for Leon who has been a popular MC for these and other Parish events. He noted Leon had not needed to make such an effort to be at our gathering compared to last year when he had to be brought back from Outer Mongolia for the occasion. Leon began by observing that we might need to look elsewhere for an MC next year, if we still wanted a ‘young’ person for the job, as he would no longer be under thirty, and there were no others in that age group in the room. In introducing Fr Peter Dillon as guest speaker, Leon informed us that he had been specially chosen in preference to some washed- up ex-footballer who would probably have cost us $3,000. Instead, we had saved the money and still got a top-drawer speaker. He told us Fr Peter had made the most of his first relaxing six months in Ipswich to begin writing his memoirs. We were to be given a sneak preview of some of the content tonight before it went on sale under the title of “Post-Modern Catholicism – A Study of Catholic Communities in the 21st Century, Incorporating the Life and Times of Peter Dillon”. Fr Peter continued the light-hearted vein by telling us that, although he had not formally put pen to paper for his memoirs, tonight would give him the opportunity to speak at length on his favourite subject – himself. He was particularly pleased we had been happy to pay to hear him speak, when we could actually hear him any Sunday in church for free. He felt some concern about how long he would be permitted to speak, and was still unsure after Leon had advised him that traditionally the guest speaker could talk for as long as he liked, but everyone else would be gone by 8:30. After some further banter which included the announcement that he finally felt he belonged in Ipswich after purchasing his first pair of ugg boots, and a few jokes about the perils of public speaking, he briefly outlined the roles he had filled in 35 years of priesthood which had given him a broad view into people’s lives from the happiest to the saddest moments. Fr Peter concluded well after 8:30, nobody had left the room, and everyone had been exceptionally well- entertained. In his vote of thanks, Leon summed up the insightful lessons woven through Fr Peter’s talk, commenting that most of the audience already knew and supported the thoughts expressed, and there was only himself and 5 or 6 other young ones who really needed the advice provided. A certificate of appreciation was presented to Eileen & Terry Flood for their service in the Parish, accompanied by flowers and a bottle of wine. To conclude the evening, the raffles were drawn, which Leon described as the traditional approved Catholic substitute for gambling. The major prize, a $100 gift voucher, was won Claire Conway, who was instructed to “not spend it on the grand-kids”. Over 20 prizes handed out amid much banter and advice to the winners. Kerry Cassin moved a vote of thanks to the organisers and facilitators of the evening, particularly Leon and a special thanks to John & Sue Mitchell, the girls in the office, and Brothers Leagues Club. One of the most encouraging points from the night was the number of first-time participants who attended, including at least one new member of our Parish community who had recently come through the RCIA program. I am sure everyone left the venue well satisfied with another great night of hospitality and entertainment, and the event should continue to be a regular item on the Parish calendar.

6 FR. PETER AT THE PARISH DINNER

Fr. Peter spoke briefly of his previous duties at the Cathedral where he had been essentially a businessman, managing a number of churches, schools and other properties and organisations, and then he ended up in a similar role at Southport, before being assigned to Ipswich. He commented on the current state of the world and the way life has become less stable, and how diminished, isolated and insignificant the individual has become in modern society. While not wanting to appear overly pessimistic, he pointed out that this is the world in which we are living our ministry. Fr Peter said he wanted to put some element of hope forward in some lessons he had learnt along the way, and let us know his “wish list” for the future. He referred to these as his “six of the best”. Below is a brief summary of his words of wisdom. 1. Learn how to spell and count again: Modern technology means people will soon be able to operate their whole lives without ever having to add up, read or to look at another person. We need to learn again how things work and how we can participate in the working of things. 2. Learn to cook for somebody: We need to resurrect the art of creating and participating in hospitality. The table of teaching and story- telling has given way to stable lap-trays and remote controls. Yet food is still recognised at the catalyst for hospitality. It has happened here tonight. Meals shared with another should be a necessity, not a luxury. 3. Keeping face (keeping your own face): The God-given, God-fashioned, potentially wrinkly face that longs to roam free of the surgeon’s knife. The cosmetic and fitness industry…has given birth to new obsessions with “buying your look” and this is pushing young people to age before their time. 4. Honouring age: Fr Peter related the words of wisdom in a note from his grandfather that he still carried with him. He said it is imperative that we recognise, remember and relish the living history and traditions of the elderly. 5. Having something to die for: The most important values which most seriously affect our lives are our own values – our personal creed. If we really do wish to establish a rejuvenated world, we need to re-order our priorities and line them up with our goals. If people who love peace were more radical in their defence of it, then we might just be able to stop people strapping bombs to themselves and blowing up the innocent. 6. Downsizing marriage: Having celebrated an estimated 1200 weddings in his 35 years of priesthood, he gets to see weddings and he gets to see marriages, and sometimes they bear very little relationship to one other. If we need other forms of committed relationships, then call them what you will, but leave Marriage for those who understand fidelity, honesty, sacrifice and commitment for life. Fr Peter rounded off his lessons in life with a 7th one entitled “Having somewhere to belong” – a story highlighting the importance of belonging to a strong community, set in St Kieran’s boarding school in County Longford.

A Little Biblical Trivia ...

1. Why did Miriam and Aaron become upset with Moses? 2. Samson told a riddle to the Philistines about what animal? 3. What object did Jacob dream about that reached up to heaven? 4. Who was the first disciple to be murdered? 5. What did King Solomon own that were made of pure gold? 6. Who was the first New Testament martyr? 7. How old was Noah when it began to rain on him and his family? 8. Who came to rescue Lot from destruction? 9. What request regarding John the Baptist did Herodias’ daughter make? 10. Jesus had two brothers who wrote books in the bible. What were their names?

Answers: see page 25

7 FR MAURICE LANE: ADMINISTRATOR OF ST MARY’S DURING Fr. HORAN’S LAST YEARS by John Kane St. Mary's Parish Historical Society Fr Maurice Lane was the unofficial administrator of St Mary’s Parish during the final years of Dean Horan’s reign. Fr Horan was suffering increasingly long periods of dementia and was becoming physically frail. The Archbishop was unwilling to remove him, but made sure that the parish had priests to do most of his work. Of course, while Fr Horan remained PP, he can take credit for the building programs to which he gave his “OK”. As far back as Duhig’s time as curate, Archbishop Dunne would send Duhig a copy of any instructions to Horan to make sure that they were carried out. What sort of man was Fr Maurice Lane? For one thing, he was sickly. He always had trouble with his lungs and would finally die aged 54 from congested lung (TB?) and a resultant heart failure. He came to to work in Melbourne but after two years of the Melbourne climate, was given permission to go to Rockhampton. There quickly Fr Lane on right, Fr. Byrne on left, Archbishop Duhig seated followed moves to the drier west, culminating in a very left, beside Dr. Shiel new Bishop of Rockhampton,1905 fruitful and happy 5 years in Longreach. He then “had to have a change” and returned to Ireland for a year. Duhig, who, as Bishop of Rockhampton, got to know and admire him persuaded him to come to Brisbane. At the beginning of 1913, Lane arrived in St Mary’s Ipswich. When Mgr Byrne, as Vicar General in need of a parish, was given Ipswich, Lane, like the real PP, had to move on. He replaced Byrne as administrator of the cathedral. He was successful there but his health was deteriorating. Nevertheless, after a year filling in for the absent PP of Wooloowin he was made PP of Ipswich-Road parish. Four years later his lungs were no longer coping and he was in and out of hospital. As a last resort he swapped places with the PP of Roma, hoping that the dry air would help. It didn’t. He died on 13 March 1929 in a hospital in Roma. Sickness was actually the last thing one thinks about when thinking of Fr Lane’s achievements. Everyone spoke of him as a “cultured” man. Newspaper reports of meetings where he spoke frequently say that “as usual, he spoke very well”. What he was most famous for was his knowledge of the Scottish poet Burns. He wrote about Burns and gave frequent lectures on him, that were published in full in various newspapers. In Australia he somehow made himself very familiar with local poets. As a result he was soon writing and lecturing on Kendall, Lawson, Gordon, and more obscure poets like James Brunton Stephens. He himself wrote poetry, and some pieces were published. On the occasion of Cardinal Moran’s 80th birthday he wrote a respectful sonnet. One poem “Do your Remember?” for sentimental Irish migrants was put to music and published in by Lenehan in Melbourne. An early poem entitled “Hypocrisy” could be seen as setting out a program for his apostolate in Australia. I have a list of over 40 articles available through TROVE. There were apparently many more. His obituaries for example mention that he published many articles under nom-de-plumes which are going to be hard to find. His favourite nom-de-plume was said to be Alastair but only one such article in “Figaro” is known. Articles and poems in Australasian Catholic Record, and in the London “British Australasian” are referred to, but impossible to find. One obituary claimed that articles from Lane appeared in many overseas journals. Another said that he published small articles in the “Outdoors” section of Sydney Mail. One has to say that he was a prolific writer. The first writing that we know about appeared in his first year in Queensland. The last appeared two months before his death. As unofficial PP of Ipswich he was of course a builder. He was the one actually responsible for building Sacred Heart Church, Booval and for putting the top storey on what was then the CB school. (With its top storey, it became the CB college.)

8 CWL Ipswich 60th anniversary Agnes Byrne

In the words of the song “some days are diamonds” and so it was on Thursday 19th June when the anniversary mass at St. Mary’s was concelebrated by Fathers Peter Dillon, Nev Yun, Peter Casey and John Conway. The congregation included CWL Brisbane Archdiocesean President Sandy O’Donohue and members of her executive, Mayoress Janet Pisasale, CWL members from throughout the Brisbane archdiocese and parishioners and supporters from Ipswich parishes as well as representatives from local churches and organisations. A surprise addition was that of St. Mary’s Primary School Principal Mike Quinn, together with the boys and girls of Year Seven and their teacher Gavin Minz. Another surprise at the end of mass was a presentation by the Year Sevens of a red rose to each of the Ipswich CWL members, and a beautiful cake stand to our branch, to mark our diamond anniversary. The singing was led by Margaret Cross Kane, Carole Pritchard and members of St. Mary’s choir and thanks to Alex Masszauer we have a complete pictorial record. Members and guests then moved (some by bus supplied by St. Edmunds College) to CWL house 35 Waghorn Street, where the anniversary cake was cut, the gift package was opened and the cake stand admired. Fr. Nev said Grace and all enjoyed lunch and fellowship. We then proceeded with the AGM, which as our President Pat Minz was unable to attend through ill health, was ably chaired by Vice President Colleen Hardie with assistance from Vice President Maureen Kerwick and Secretary Delma Winks. Mayoress Janet Pisasale made a presentation of a plaque on behalf of the mayor and the Ipswich city council to mark our 60th anniversary and support of the Ipswich community. An historical display tracing the history of the branch and its activities for sixty years, initially as CDA and subsequently CWL, created much interest. The carefully hand written minutes of the first meeting in August 1954, although quite fragile, were read with interest. Generational connections were revealed, namely Margaret McNamara mother of Ipswich Patroness Clare Conway, and Kath McDonald, mother of

9 member Marie McDonald. The branch is most grateful for the generous support we continue to receive and we say a heartfelt thank-you to each and everyone concerned. It is indeed a privilege to be part of this great organisation as we work together “for the honour and glory of God”. A thanksgiving mass will be celebrated at CWL house at 10.30 am on Thursday 11th September and we extend an invitation to all to join our members on that day. Refreshments will be served after mass. Everyone welcome. Our major fundraiser of the year is our fashion parade at CWL house on Saturday 27th September commencing at 1 pm. As well as a showing of spring/summer fashions supplied by Alamode Boutique, there will be a tasty afternoon tea, huge multi- draw raffle, lucky door prizes galore, as well as great company and some surprises. This is always a sell-out, so early bookings are essential. Admission is just $10. RSVP ASAP to Agnes on 3281 4568. We look forward to seeing you there. I feel I have been drawn to the Catholic faith since I Why I became a Catholic? was a child. My Mother had told me about a boyfriend she had but was told she couldn’t be with him as he was Judy Barker a Catholic and she was a Methodist. newly initiated at Easter 2014 My first husband used to tell me about his father who was studying for the priesthood until he met a girl, who was to become his Mother , and said he would rather be married than be a priest. We had five children, three of whom were baptised, confirmed and educated in Catholic schools. My second husband, Sam, was brought up as a Catholic from a baby and we were married in the in Boonah. Both our previous partners were deceased. I feel as though I was being pulled towards being a Catholic. Last year I saw an article in a newspaper and decided to send away for the article published. The book I received was called ‘Call and Response- An Introduction to the Catholic Faith’. Shortly after receiving the book I contacted Bernadette at the Parish Office to find out what I needed to do to become a Catholic. Just before Christmas, I joined a group of other ladies who also wished to become Catholics and the RCIA team took us through all we needed to know on our journey. We were given sponsors to help us between our weekly meetings held on Monday nights. During Lent and Easter, I was privileged to be chosen to place the corporal on the Table for the Holy Thursday Mass. On Good Friday, I was also asked to help with the Black Cross. The Vigil on Easter Saturday night was such a moving occasion with the fire at the front of the church, all candles alight in the darkened church and then the baptism and confirmation of all the ladies in our group. For me, it was the most beautiful and moving occasion I have ever attended. I am so proud to at last be a Catholic. Thank you to everyone involved.

10 Grandma’s Park Melanie McAndrew “People come into our lives for a reason - bringing something we must learn This quotation is the inscription and we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let on the memorial plaque at the them… newly established “Grandma’s so much of me is made of what I learned from you. Park” at St Mary’s Hostel, You’ll be with me, like a handprint on my heart. Raceview. The opening and Because we knew you, we have been changed for good.” thank-you afternoon tea to (adapted from the lyrics to “For Good” Wicked, the musical, 2003) launch the new park was held on 2nd August, 2014 and was Thank you for being the road map we follow with every step we take. attended by many staff, All our love, Sal, Mel and Nome. residents, sponsors, friends and family. The idea for the park was that of Melanie McAndrew, here is her story: In January this year, my sisters and I devastatingly lost our beautiful Mother, Lois, to her 15 year battle with metastatic breast cancer. The last 5 years of her young life were spent at St Mary’s Hostel. It was never an easy decision to have Mum placed in a nursing home – she was so much younger than most of the other residents and this was obviously also a very difficult adjustment for her. Though she would never have admitted it, going into a nursing home broke her heart a little every day - the harsh reality that at the age of 60 she could not participate in her daughters’ lives - nor the lives of her precious Grandchildren as fully as she would have liked took its toll. The only consolation for her, were visits from her girls and of course her beloved Simon and Grandchildren, she loved nothing more and I’m sure she counted the hours between visits the entire time she was there. The visits, although regular, were at times difficult and incredibly stressful with a young, boisterous family in tow. However, as people often say, out of such a loss, hope and inspiration sometimes springs forth, and so it was for me. At 3am one morning, whilst feeding our newest addition, I had the thought that an outdoor area suitable for family visits would have added so much more enjoyment for everyone on our visits with Mum, and certainly reduced the anxiety associated with taking 3 small children to an environment where the inevitable running around and noise wasn't always welcomed (nor safe inside). I spoke to Simon about the idea and also pitched the idea to my sisters, who were more than happy to contribute to a gift that would thank the staff for taking wonderful care of Mum in a way that we couldn’t for those last few years. With the generous contributions of many, we were able to turn this 3am idea into a reality. With the blessing of St Mary’s Hostel, not only were we able to install the commercial play equipment, but also have the area professionally landscaped that includes; a BBQ area, outdoor settings with umbrellas, fun tea-cup planters, a cubby house and a fairy garden for small children to explore and wander. It is our hope, that “Grandma’s Park” provides the opportunity for others to navigate the often confronting and challenging time that faces both family and residents who are in a nursing home. If it makes even one person’s journey a more engaged experience, then it will be worth it, and a fitting tribute to a woman whose faith, strength, determination and sheer will for loving and living was truly admired by those she met. We are blessed to have the privilege of calling her, Lois Melville, our Mother. To those who so generously contributed - your time, your resources, your hard earned money - Thank-you - from the bottom of our hearts, for helping us bring to life this little idea.

11 Women’s Breakfast Robyn Harm

The annual Women’s Breakfast has proved so successful that the location had to be moved to St Mary’s Hall. The intimate Mater Dei has been the venue for many years so it is with some regret that we couldn’t really use it this time as we didn’t fit. Over 80 women and Fr Neville came along very early on Saturday 10 May, to be treated to a lovely hot breakfast, cooked and served by the men of the parish. This group of hard working men also cleaned up. Again it proved to be a wonderful time to sit, relax and chat to others, especially those we may not see very often during the year. Bernadette and her band of trusty women helpers from the Pastoral Council helped set up, prepare food and serve. So thank you for your service to those who attended - it was very much appreciated. Our guest speaker this year was Senior Constable Kerrin Sheedy from the Police Community Liaison Office. She spoke and presented a power point about the benefits and dangers of being part of the technology age. She gave many tips about using the internet safely. We tend to be a very trusting society. As such, when we receive emails, instead of assuming they are the real deal, we need to be cautious about their authenticity in case they are spam or fraudulent. Always check the email address that is attached to the email as it will give an idea of its validity. Unfortunately, there are many people who could be after personal details or bank details which then exposes us to possible identity and financial theft. The details were not meant to frighten people about using the internet, but to give an awareness of what could happen. There are a number of safeguards that people can take to protect themselves from becoming victims. Also, if a deal seems too good to be true then it probably is. Don’t answer emails that you are not sure about. One tip is to look up if that organisation or situation actually exists by goggling it. The best advice is not to answer if you are unsure. Information sheets were handed out with the website addresses to check for details about crime prevention and about keeping safe on the internet. The addresses are www.police.qld.gov.au as well as www.carindalepcyc.org.au . A huge thank you must go to Kerrin for her presentation.

It was definitely worth the early time slot on the Saturday to come together as a community (and this time including our now extended parishes) share a meal, catch up and find out more about the amazing world around us.

12 Villa Maria Anniversary Celebration Michelle Wood

Villa Maria Hostel celebrated its 64th Anniversary on the 14th June, with a reunion of the former aged care workers, organised by Denise Beal and Joan Haviland, planned to coincide, to make it a very special day. In 1950, the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration came to Ipswich to establish the Hostel for ladies. The Order had been founded by Fr Julian Tenison Woods in Brisbane in 1874. Archbishop Duhig had bought the Repairing the front gate pillars historic house in Limestone Street. Originally named Beaumont, the house was built by a successful businessman. It passed to Dr. John Flynn, he named it Marie Mont, and lived there with his family until the 1920’s. It became a Inspecting laying of lower ground walls boarding house for servicemen and was broken up into flats, deteriorating into an extremely run down condition. Mother Philomena and four nuns moved into the neglected former grand home, but no alterations were made for 6 months. Parish Priest, Monsignor Baldwin refused to say Mass there until The grand opening day in 1974 conditions were improved and the nuns attended at St. Mary’s. In June, 1952 the home was opened. In 1955 accommodation was added for an extra 7 residents at a cost of £4 000. Parish Priest Monsignor Molony presided at the opening, attended also by Archbishop Duhig. Unfortunately, the old building became unviable for the needs of the facility and it was demolished to make way for a completely new Villa, opened on the 20th October, 1974 by Archbishop Rush, with attendance by the Federal MLA Bill Hayden. Due to falling numbers and the aging of the sisters, the Order decided to withdraw from the running of their aged care facilities. In January, 2008 the Sisters handed over the running of Villa to Catholic Healthcare. The Order continues Monsignor Molony and Fr. Brian Taylor in 1970’s their main work, the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, at their convent in St Paul’s Terrace, Fortitude Valley. After Mass held in the Villa Chapel, the big reunion adjourned to the Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church Hall, Eastern Heights. Sr Aloysius, Sr Xavier, Sr Yvonne Tobin and Sr Helen attended, along with a great crowd of about 51 former workers. It was a wonderful morning, spent catching-up, reminiscing, recalling days of hard work and the many obstacles that had faced the Sr. Helen preparing Fr. Frank Costello with the nuns, Fr. Tatau and Fr. vestments for Mass Ashley Warbrooke in 1980’s Sisters over the years.

13

The conference also helped: students with the St. Vincent de Paul Society purchase of uniforms and books to enable them to Owen Wildie attend school, in the cost of chemist prescriptions and with the cost of emergency travel expenses. Over the six month period, We helped a small number of people with 1st December, 2013 to 31st emergency accommodation for a day or two in May, 2014, the St. Mary’s cases of domestic violence or when a family faced Conference was able to eviction. carry out many Good Works We have helped approximately 40 people apply through the support and for a no interest loan, 20 of which have received donations of our kind approval. These loans, of up to $1 200, are benefactors in the Parish. available for the purchase of new household items. At Christmas, 70 Christmas The loan is repaid over 24 months with fortnightly Hampers were distributed to repayments taken out of Centrelink payments. This families in need. The entire contents of them came loan enables a person to help themselves instead of from donations of food, toys and gifts made by the asking for help. It is a real hand-up and not a hand- students of St. Edmund’s College, St. Mary’s out. College, St. Mary’s Primary School, Immaculate Apart from the Christmas Hampers, the Heart Primary School, Leichhardt Parish conference has spent over $25 000 in carrying out Parishioners through their ‘Christmas Hampers these Good Works. Our finances come from the Advent Giving Programme’ and three donors of donations made by our benefactors. We receive no toys. Each hamper had an average value of $200. government funds. 351 home visitations were made by conference If you wish to help us in these endeavours, we members to families in need. They mostly required ask that you use the donation envelopes available ‘emergency food assistance’ for a period of 2 or 3 at the church entrances and place it on the days, though sometimes it could be for a longer collection plate at any time. All donations of $2 or period. more are tax deductable and a taxation receipt will Families received furniture from the Sumner Park be sent to you if you place your name and address Depot. in the place provided on the envelope. If you do not Families also received clothing from the Ipswich want a receipt, then please do not complete these Charity Shop. details as this will save us the 70 cents postage. A large number of doonas and blankets were You will never know who has benefited from your given out at our Support Centre in Ipswich. donations, but God, who sees all things, does know.

14

OUT AND ABOUT

15 AROUND AND ...

16 AROUND THE PARISH

17 Biggest Morning Tea at St Joseph’s School Robyn Harm

The annual Biggest Morning Tea was held at St Joseph’s Hall on 28 May 2014. It was the fifth time the BMT team of Mandy Koch, Anne Costello and Robyn Harm, had hosted this event to raise money for cancer support and research. It was well supported by the community with 139 in attendance. Parents of the school and local businesses provided the yummy treats which were served by the Year 7 students along with hot and cold drinks. The new Assistant Principal Religious Education, Tracey Gaddes, opened the morning tea and cut the special cake to share with everyone who came along. The guest speaker, Chris Stevenson, spoke about how the money raised is spent by the Cancer Council. The audience was entertained by the school choir who had been placed first in the recent eisteddfod and the music teacher Kathy Bianchi played the violin. To add some audience participation, a cake icing competition was held. It was great fun. The school students provided the art work which decorated the walls of the hall. There were several stalls showing off local business’ wares and services. There were numerous raffles donated by local business and talented parents and local identity and supporter of the school Shirley McDonald. Just over $4000 was raised at the event. Thank you to the many people who made the event such a success. Until next year ……

18 Issues in Initiation Workshop with Fr. Paul Turner

An impressive crowd gathered on Wednesday, 13th August, (the Ekka holiday) in St. Mary’s Hall to attend the workshop, Issues in Initiation given by Fr. Paul Turner, Priest and Theologian, from Kansas City, Missouri. Over 60 people from St. Mary’s Parish and also the other parishes of the South Country Deanery attended the morning event, with the Deanery having sponsored it. Due to the number of attendees, the workshop had to be transferred to the Hall, as the original venue of the Parish Office proved too small. Fr. Paul, obviously an experienced speaker, delivered an insightful and informative presentation regarding the RCIA and Catechumenate. He first explained the RCIA process and who is considered a Catechumen. Then he continued with an explanation of the origins of RCIA, how it was initially conceived as being especially needed in the undeveloped world, but it was found to be surprisingly popular in the developed nations. Before the Reformation, the Church had a process of the reception into Catholicism, called the rite of Reconciling Apostates, Schismatics and Heretics. Over the years the process was changed, but Vatican II investigated how to make this more welcoming. Regarding those who are baptised members of other Christian churches wishing to become Catholic. A wide variety of circumstances apply, with each church being entirely different. In this regard the rite says that ‘no more burden than necessary be placed on them’. Fr. Paul compared the situation of the early church with regard to whether Gentiles needed to become Jewish first, before becoming Christians. He continued to touch on many topics: how to treat those with disabilities, not to expect more than that which they are capable, especially with regard to those with a mental disability, the situation with regard to children, the major differences with other churches when it comes to Confirmation, as the Catholic sacrament is fundamentally different in this regard, even from the Anglican Church. One other topic about which Fr. Paul spoke with special conviction was that of evangelisation. That Catholics are not so proactive in seeking out people to become Catholic and we should try to be more aware of speaking of our faith to non Catholics. At the conclusion of the workshop, Fr. Peter thanked Fr. Paul and all those who contributed. Elizabeth Harrington (Education Officer for the Liturgical Commission, Archdiocese of Brisbane) was also in attendance and spoke, reiterating Fr. Peter’s comments. Thank you to those members of the parish who provided both morning tea and lunch for this event, which was greatly appreciated by the attendees.

19 IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY PARISH, LEICHHARDT (A touch of history taken from the Leichhardt Parish Golden Jubilee Book) Maree Coyne  The First Mass in Leichhardt (in the old Griffin (Cnr Chubb St and Old Toowoomba Rd) together House) was celebrated by Archbishop James with the back portions of two Chubb Street Duhig on 30th November, 1953 with 200 people housing allotments for use as the site for the new in attendance. church.  St. Mary’s Priests continued to  Archbishop Francis Rush officially opened and travel to Leichhardt to provide blessed this new Church on 31st July, 1982 Mass at this house until the first  Fr. Edward (Ted) Houlihan was appointed as Church was opened in 1958. Parish Priest from 6th January, 1991.  The first Church, being the  With the impending retirements of Fr. Ted upper level of the two storey Houlihan (Immaculate Heart of Mary, Leichhardt building, was completed in time for the first Mass and Fr. Virgil Pender (St. to be celebrated there on Christmas Day of 1957. Joseph’s, North Ipswich), the  The Church was erected by Tom Turner Archbishop appointed Fr. (Builder) and was built about 3 metres (10 feet) Denis Scanlan to pastor to above the ground in readiness for the both Parishes from July Classrooms to be built at a later date. 1998.  Masses had been celebrated in the Church for a  In November 2009, Fr. Denis Scanlan was couple of months before it was officially opened transferred to Stafford Parish, effective from 1st and blessed by Archbishop James Duhig on 9th January 2010. March 1958. This Church was used until the  30th January 2010 – Fr. Daniel Redhead takes present Church was opened in 1982. up his appointment as Parish Priest of North  Moves to initiate the formation of a new Parish Ipswich and Administrator of Leichhardt Parish. at Leichhardt began, culminating in the  At the end of this 2012, Fr Daniel was asked by promulgation of the Parish of the Immaculate the Archbishop (and agreed) to take up an Heart of Mary late in 1960. appointment as Parish Priest of the New South  1st January 1961 – Fr. Terence Ganzer, arrived Wales township of Wauchope. This was part of a at Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish as the first three year exchange arrangement between the Parish Priest. His duties also included Archdiocese of Brisbane and the Diocese of Chaplaincy to the RAAF Base, Amberley. Lismore.  Fr. Terry transferred from Leichhardt to  Fr Joseph Thottankara MCBS arrived in January Beaudesert Parish in May, 1962 2013, but he would only stay with us for 12  Fr. Gerald Ronayne was appointed as Parish months. Priest from 2nd June, 1962. He too served as  From January 2014, the pastoral care of our Chaplain to RAAF Base Amberley. parishes would be undertaken by the priests of  In 1967, Fr. Ronayne sought and gained St.Mary’s Parish, Ipswich. Fr Peter Dillon (PP), approval from Archbishop O’Donnell for the Fr Neville Yun, and Fr John Hong were Immaculate Heart Primary School to open. appointed to St.Mary’s Parish to join Fr Joseph  1980 saw the purchase of The Hesse property Liem, in overseeing the parishes of Leichhardt, North Ipswich, Rosewood, and Ipswich. Words from Saint Ambrose A Few Websites … God created the universe in such a manner that Perpetual Adoration is also the all in common might derive their food from it, main endeavour of other Orders and that the Earth should also be a property around the world. common to all. maria-rickenbach.ch In Switzerland, the Benedictine Sisters of the village of Maria-Rickenbach, were established in 1853. They pray the Divine Office, celebrate Eucharist, have continual adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and are self-supporting, work is cultivating herbs and preparing various teas, tinctures, ointments, and schnapps. In 1874, this Order established Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in the United States. http://www.benedictinesisters.org/

20 LEICHHARDT & NORTH IPSWICH PARISH PICNIC Maree Coyne Each year our parish communities come together to celebrate nothing more than ourselves and our community. There are usually around 200 people who come along ready to enjoy a relaxing day, good food, and great company. We were blessed with a spectacular June day (the 15th) – cold to start, beautiful sunshine throughout the day, and a gentle breeze to close - yes, our prayers were answered once again! After gathering at around 11.00am, at Immaculate Heart School Grounds, Leichhardt, we watched and encouraged the kids in their various races and games – all in good fun – no prizes here for winners –everyone’s a winner! and there’s always lots of laughs along the way, and some sweet treats at the end for everyone. The competition got a little more serious when the adults step up to the line for the Men’s THONG THROWING, and the Women’s BROOM THROWING competitions. For some, the competitive nature shone brightly, others just chuckled their way through – and you never know who will win – it’s all about the wind, the style, and a big bit of luck! We had puzzles and general knowledge quizzes for those who like to just sit and think, before we shared a wonderful lunch (generously prepared by the Frampton family) - and there is never any complaints here, only praise! Everyone was asked to bring along something for dessert, and soon after lunch the natives began to circle, and then pounced – obviously everyone in our parishes has a sweet tooth! This year we were entertained during the day by one of our fellow parishioners, Rosemary Houston, who played and sang her way through quite a few songs. Everyone enjoyed her mix of golden oldies, as well as the popular sing-along songs. We thank God for yet another successful day , for the gift of peace in our country, for the safety of our friends and family, for the opportunity to gather as community, for new friendships made, for the readiness of people to help others, and for the abundant supply of food which we are lucky enough to have. Caroline Miller could not What’s being read around the parish ... put down, Empress Dowager Cixi by Jung Helen Mees recently finished Peter Chang (author of Wild Swans), the Cosgrove’s biography, Cosgrove: absorbing biography of the woman Portrait of a Leader by Patrick Lindsay. who rose from concubine to ruler of Cath Wood is finding, The Bremer China and was instrumental in bringing River by Robyn Buchanan the ancient empire into the modern full of the fascinating world. history of Ipswich through its story of With the recent ABC television the river that was the drama, ANZAC Girls, Michelle Wood reason for the City’s has been reading The Other foundation. ANZACS: Nurses at War, 1914- Margaret Cross Kane has 1918 by Peter Rees, the book upon been dipping into Lives of the Saints - which it is based. It relates the true from Mary and St Francis of Assisi to stories of these brave Australian and John XXIII and Mother Teresa by New Zealand nurses through the Richard P. McBrien, quipping, ‘it could be great in extensive use of their letters and diaries. ensuring you'll win any game of Catholic Trivial Anne Costello refers almost every Pursuit! But at 646 pages it's also day to God Calling edited by A. J. dangerous. You'll find out what you Russell, The Giving Tree by Shel wanted to know, but then get distracted Silverstein, is a book she reads to kids by all the fascinating stories that follow!’ over Easter & Raising Boys by Steve Elizahbethe Ballard has been reading Biddulph is something both she and Lumen Fidei by Pope Francis & John her husband, Matt love and refer to the Baptist by Alexander Burke. regularly.

21 BOOK LOOK Ambrose of Milan by Cesare Pasini celebrated without an altar stone with relics of some forgotten or never known martyr Browsing the internet I came across a embedded in it. Very few people ever knew cheap copy of “Ambrose of Milan” by the names of the original owners of the Cesare Pasini, said to be the world expert relics. Of those who did know the names, on Ambrose. My curiosity was pricked, fewer still had any special devotion to them. because I actually knew nothing about the Ambrose, over 1500 years ago, made the famous Ambrose, except two things. First: point that the altar is a sacred place he was a very popular governor of his territory and because we offer the sacrifice of the Mass there, not was elected bishop by popular acclamation before because of any relics. On the contrary, the relics he had even been baptized. Second: he received become important only because they are placed on St Augustine into the church. Stumbling on this the altar. Ambrose wanted us to appreciate the book was a chance to find out more – a lot more, to martyr because he/she was given a place of honour go with the name. at the altar. He wanted us to appreciate Jesus’ life, My biggest surprise was that the author could death and resurrection a little bit more by learning claim that St Ambrose, a great “Father of the more about our own particular saint chosen for our Church” was not really famous primarily for his deep own altar who gave his/her life for Him. theological insights. Rather, he was renowned for Ambrose is also supposed to have invented the being able to explain the great truths of our church idea of two halves of the congregation taking turns more clearly than anyone else at the time. to sing a verse of a hymn. (He wrote many hymns.) A second surprise was that many of Ambrose’s Ambrose was about to be arrested by the local ideas have very practical applications to us today. army, so he went to his cathedral, hoping that the I liked especially his approach to the association army chiefs would change their mind if they couldn’t of relics and the altar. Ambrose wrote and scare the hundreds of people out of the church to preached at length on martyrdom being the get at him. To stop the congregation falling asleep, supreme model of Christianity. Martyrs have given he divided it into two sections and got them to take it their all, and in their death, have been the perfect in turns to sing a verse. It worked. The crowd stayed imitation of Christ. When he built a new church, awake all night and the soldiers let Ambrose go. Ambrose went out and dug up the bones of two St Ambrose was such an imposing figure in the martyrs, Gervase and Protase and placed the bones history of the church that I had thought him to be an in a new grave under the altar. imposing figure to look at. It is nice to know that he In preaching about the martyrs and urging the was in fact only about 163 cm tall. Not only that, but people to a great devotion to them, he hoped that his right eye was a little lower than the left. The they would keep their example before their eyes. skull of his recently (1871) excavated skeleton was Ambrose’s creative use of the relics has been easily recognizable by a slight gap in the eye imitated down the centuries, although the relics socket. Part of a mosaic depicting St Ambrose have become very minute and unconvincing pieces showing the slightly deformed eye graces the cover of something placed in the plaster of an altar stone. of the book. John Kane Some people today get very upset if Mass is I recently attended a high tea at which Francis Walking on Trampolines Whiting was the guest speaker. It was wonderful to hear her in person and realise she is even funnier by Francis Whiting and more engaging than in her articles. She is one brothers who she helps to rear; of Australia’s best known and favourite columnists. Annabelle’s parents who are artists and Her readers love her easy going style of writing their lifestyle she envies; her difficult about everyday situations in a very humorous way. boss who encourages and helps her to ‘Walking on Trampolines’ is her first novel. find her true self after living with the guilt Set in Juniper Bay near Sydney, the story, which of betrayal of Annabelle and finally making the starts in the present day and looks back in time, choice between being the eternal good girl or making portrays the lives of two families as they interact with a real difference with her life. So realistic and each other over a generation at school, work and humorous, I found it difficult to put the book down. leisure. The story is seen through the eyes of Every time I began to read, it felt like I was catching Tallulah. It is so easy to imagine her school days at up with old friends and I looked forward to St Rita’s; her adventures with her best friend reminiscing and engaging in their lives. A brilliant Annabelle; her mum, who has depression and book which I highly recommend. I can’t wait to read expresses this through her outfits according to her the collection of her columns: ‘Oh to be a Marching moods; a dad who is hard working plumber; twin Girl’ and ‘That’s a Home Run, Tiger’ Robyn Harm

22 PETRA EXTENSION — TO BE A PILGRIM CONCLUDES AILEEN KELLY Sadly we boarded our coach to travel back from the shifting sands of time. across the border of Israel to Jordan and the airport Further along, we came to a Roman at Amman. We bid goodbye to our guide and also Amphitheatre at the base of En-Nejr (mountain with some of the group, who had chosen not to continue a number of tombs). This 8000 seat amphitheatre on “The Petra Extension”. was carved out of the rock, not built stone by stone. Our Jordanian Guide joined us here and we Many Tombs are visible on the hillsides, the Urn travelled along the Kings’ Highway in a southern Tomb built around 70AD, the Silk Tomb which has direction for about three and a half hours to the beautiful swirls of fantastic colours flowing through magnificent ancient city of Petra, also known as the rock, the Corinthian Tomb, and the Palace “Red Rose City”. Tomb which is 3 stories high. To me, this section was an important segment of When we climbed up to the site, where the pilgrimage, even though it was listed as an excavations have uncovered a beautiful mosaic “extension”. floor of a church, we were able to look down on The Tour Guide told us we would be visiting what had been the city centre. The Nymphaem, (a 2 Petra and the Wadi Musa (the Valley of Moses). storey fountain), an open water channel along the 6 This sounded great as we had been given a few metre wide colonnaded street that ended at the notes about the area by Harvest Pilgrimages, but Arched Gate. nothing we had read prepared us for the actual All this in the middle of a desert!! Even more adventure. fascinating!! For me, just to be there, in the Wadi We had an early start from Musa and walking in the our Hotel and arrived at the sands, some of which may entrance full of enthusiasm. have been there when Moses We were advised that one and his people travelled could choose to walk through through this area over 4000 the Siq (gorge) or hire a camel years ago, on their way to the or a donkey and car to ride Promised Land, was the through. The Siq is the only pinnacle of my visit to this entrance to the City of Petra ancient area. It was settled and the Wadi Musa, it was around 312BC, in the kingdom formed when the mountain of Edom around 830BC, and was split during an abandoned around 650AD, to earthquake. I chose to walk be rediscovered in 1812, and and discovered many wonders placed on UNESCO’s World along the way – artwork Heritage List in 1985. It is now carved into the Walls, water classified among the New 7 channels cut into the rock on Wonders of the World. each side of the roadway, The following morning, we left beautiful colours splashed Petra en route to Amman, 335 through the rock face and kilometres north along the much more. The grandeur was King’s Highway, but on the breathtaking. On and on we way we called in to a mosaic walked till all of a sudden a workshop where local people beam of light could be seen between the narrowing space between the two edges of the mountain, then a beautiful building came into view, Al Khazneh (the treasury). What a sight, it is 40 metres high and was carved out of the Red Sandstone cliff during the 1st Century. It was not used to store gold or treasure, but for a temple and royal Tomb. We spent some time here just in awe of the unbelievable splendour of the structure and in admiration of the workmanship expressed in every detail. Although the Al Khazneh is probably the most known structure in Petra because it featured in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”, it really is just the beginning of many great treasures that have been reclaimed

23 are being trained to produce beautiful mosaics by both traditional and modern methods. Here, we had the opportunity of placing a tile on what is expected to be the world’s largest mosaic picture when it is completed – our name was inscribed on each tile before its placement. Such beautiful work is mostly done with tweezers, necessitating good eyesight and a steady hand. About 25 kilometres south of Amman, we stopped at the city of Madaba, famous for the 6th Century mosaics that can be found throughout the city. It was dubbed the MAD city, the traffic was chaotic – worse than anywhere else we had been. Eventually, the driver found a spot to park the coach and we walked through the ancient streets lined with market stalls, until we came to the Church of St. George. In the 1880’s two Italian Priests, while building homes for families from Kerak in the south, were digging through the 2nd Century ruins (which were destroyed in an earthquake in 747AD) when they came across a fabulous mosaic floor. This amazing mosaic is actually a map of the Holy Land, dated from 560AD, and is made up of more than 2 million pieces. It is the oldest surviving map of the Holy Land, showing hills, valleys, villages and towns in Palestine and the Nile Delta. It includes Jerusalem, with the Church of the Holy Sepulchre clearly visible, as are the Dead Sea, the Jordan River (complete with fish), Jericho, Egypt and Lebanon. The map measures 25 x 5 metres and is thought to have taken 11,500 hours to lay, to say nothing of the time required to source the materials. Here, in a Grotto beneath the Church of St George, we were privileged to view an ancient original painting of the Blessed Mother and Child. During its creation, the artist was persecuted and his hand was severed. Miraculously his hand reattached to his arm and he completed the painting including his healed hand – and so this image is known by the title of the “Helping Hand”. A beautiful thought provoking image to carry with us, as we entreated the Blessed Mother to be a “Helping Hand” for our safe return to our homeland. Thankfully we returned safely to Australia on the 6th October 2013. In closing, I mention that the meals were fantastic, with a special mention for the Ice Cream served in Tiberias. It came in the shape of a log about 14 inches long, 10 inches wide and 6 or 7 inches high and was renewed at least once each time it was served. It was simply heaven! Many other Churches were visited, all contained incredible artwork impossible to describe and not possible to absorb even a fraction of what we did get to view. Wonder at construction of buildings and the condition of art treasures. Would I do it again? Oh yes, in a flash. If no other similar opportunities ever came to pass would I be upset? No, what I have been privileged to have experienced would fill more than one lifetime with wonderful memories.

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24

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Solutions Difference Picture

25 Solutions: See facing page

Biblical Trivia Answers...

1. He married an Ethiopian Numbers 12:1 6. John the Baptist Matthew 14:10 2. A lion Judges 14:12-14 7. 600 years Genesis 7:11 3. A Ladder Genesis 28:10-12 8. Two angels Genesis 19:1 4. James Acts 12:1-2 9. She asked for his head Matthew 14:6-11 5. Dishes 1Kings 10:21 10. James and Jude Matthew 13:55

26 Centenary Pilgrimage to Schoenstatt Aileen Kelly In September, many people all over the world are preparing to make a pilgrimage to Schoenstatt in Germany, to mark the centenary of Schoenstatt’s Foundation on the 18th October, 1914, and to give thanks that, through the countless contributions to the capital of grace, God and the Blessed Mother led and guided the Schoenstatt Family and supported Father Kentenich in his work. How did this all come about way back in 1914? Father Joseph Kentenich had been appointed director for the senior students at a Pallottine school for boys in Ehrenbreitstein, Germany and through his devotion to the Blessed Mother, was guided to prepare a document which he delivered in the form of an address to the seniors of this school on the 27th October, 1912. In part, this document stated that, under the protection of Mary, he and the boys would work towards learning how to educate themselves to become firm, free and priestly characters. The boys were enthusiastic. During the address he shared his dream with them of his conviction that together they could achieve something useful if everyone became involved. He told them that they knew his plans for the future, and urged them to join with him in beginning this big task and help to bring it to fruition. He asked God’s blessing on their efforts. Father Kentenich had a unique relationship and devotion to The Blessed Mother, as he truly considered her to be his own mother, having been consecrated to her when he was only 9 years of age. Father later wrote that the message contained in this document expressed in broad outline and with certain solemnity, his original purpose in life and that it contained the heart and centre of the life of his soul. Two years passed, with Father and the boys working and praying through the many trials that came their way. Father Kentenich wrote that: “according to what we suspected was God’s new plan, the Blessed Mother had to become the focal point as the permanent helpmate of our Lord in his work of salvation and as our educator. She required and inspired the self education we had started in 1912 as a condition for her activity from Schoenstatt, and crowned it with her wise educational work.”¹ On the 18th October, 1914 this idea was presented to the students in the chapel, previously a run down garden shed which had in the meantime been readied for human occupation. The words spoken on that day are now called the Founding Document, and the 18th day of each month is celebrated in this sense everywhere in the world wherever Schoenstatt has taken root. The Founding Document makes mention of “miracles of grace” and of “treasures” the Blessed Mother wants to distribute from this special place. It has the character of a covenant of love. A Covenant of Love with our Mother Thrice Admirable - Mother of God, Mother of The Redeemer and Mother of the Redeemed. The Blessed Mother reveals her power, wisdom and kindness in an extraordinary way by distributing original, special graces from her capital of grace. This Covenant of Love with the Blessed Mother is the expression, means and important security of our Covenant with God and has been confirmed many times, over the course of the past one hundred years.² Over the last century, Daughter Shrines (exact copies of the original shrine in Schoenstatt) have been set up in many countries all over the world, as well as hundreds of Home Shrines and Heart Shrines, along with Schoenstatt Women’s, Men’s and Mother’s leagues, allowing people everywhere to come together spiritually every day. If any member of the parish would like to have their offerings or contributions personally delivered to the shrine of the Blessed Mother, I would be very willing to transport them for you. All envelopes may be left at the Piety Stall on the 1st Sunday in October.

1. “Kentenich Reader” Volume 1 p.106 - 7 2. “The Secret of Schoenstatt’s Life” Volume 1 ; Spirit and Form by Joseph Kentenich

27 Combined Colleges Musical West Side Story Once more the students of St. Mary’s and St. Edmund’s Colleges harnessed their talents in this year’s Combined Colleges Musical, West Side Story. It ran for the usual three night run, from Thursday, 17th July to Saturday, 19th July, at the Ipswich Civic Centre. West Side Story is the Broadway musical based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The rivalry and hatred of the two Veronese noble families was transposed to the streets of Manhattan’s West Side and the warfare of street gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. Most people would know it from the 1961 film. It includes the well -known songs, Maria, America, I Feel Pretty, Tonight and Somewhere.

Keelan McCoy and Georgia Spark played the leads, star-crossed lovers Tony and Maria. The students worked hard and with great dedication for many weeks leading up to the performance, under the co-direction of St. Edmund’s teachers Petrina Gibson and Fiona Cole. It was an extremely successful production, with praise being particularly bestowed upon the energetic dancing of the cast. (Thanks to St. Mary’s & St. Edmund’s Colleges for permitting us to use the photographs from the Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/SECIpswich)

The Parish WHAT IS THIS? Sad Goodbye was very sad when we found that Fr. Joseph Liem WHERE IS THIS? had left St. Mary’s due to ill-health. Unfortunately, he will not be returning to Here are a serve our parish. We are disappointed by few pictures this news. He is of course in our thoughts from around and prayers. We appreciate his time and the traps. service in St. Mary’s. Where do think?

Solutions: See page 24

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The Woodend footbridge, built in 1892 to connect North Ipswich with Woodend at the request of the residents for railway workers to reach the Workshops and children to attend North Ipswich School. Built by the Council and a subscription from the residents, it crossed from Hume Street and was built using old railway line as piles. The bridge was replaced in 1917 ‘and the committee requested that a light be placed there as railway men used it at night to go to work.’ It eventually washed away in a flood and was not replaced. Outside the Presbytery circa. 1904, Fathers Nolan, a very From Chapter 13, The Bremer River by Robyn Buchanan, 2008, young James Duhig, Sitting, Fathers Patrick Brady, Michael Ipswich City Council. J. O'Flynn and unidentified. Front, Father William Cashman

This is a very busy parish, with many events involving people and groups. AND DON'T FORGET OUR We want to report all the full life of St. Mary’s Parish and now Rosewood, NEXT ACTION PACKED North Ipswich and Leichhardt Parishes. However, we don’t always know EDITION AT CHRISTMAS, about these events. We need you to tell us what’s happening. Please do. FEATURING THE MEN’S Think about writing an article. Or, if you don’t feel comfortable writing, give us BREAKFAST, THE a call through the Parish Office (3281 2133) talk to us and we’ll write the ROSEVALE ANNIVERSARY article with you. Team Talkabout: Robyn Harm, Alex Masszauer, Michelle & MUCH, MUCH MORE ... Wood & Cath Wood

Bird Strikes Researchers for the Ministry of Transport One final word ... found over 200 dead crows near greater Manchester recently, and there was concern that they may have died from Avian Flu. A Bird Pathologist examined the remains of all the crows, and, to everyone's relief, confirmed the problem was definitely NOT Avian Flu. The cause of death appeared to be vehicular impacts. However, during the detailed analysis it was noted that varying colours of paints appeared on the bird's beaks and claws. By analysing these paint residues it was determined that 98% of the crows had been killed by impact with lorries, while only 2% were killed by an impact with a car. M of T then hired an Ornithological Behaviourist to determine if there was a cause for the disproportionate percentages of truck kills versus car kills. The Ornithological Behaviourist very quickly concluded the cause: when crows eat road kill, they always have a look-out crow in a nearby tree to warn of impending danger. They discovered that while all the lookout crows could shout "Cah", not a single one could shout "Lorry."

The Talkabout Team is grateful for the continued support of local firms and organizations who advertise in our magazine. Their donations help us to meet the expenses of photocopying, layout and printing. We urge our readers and parishioners to support these advertisers as your need arises. Our advertisers are ~ Amalgamated Pest Control ~ Blackall Street Butchers ~ West Moreton Accounting & Taxation ~ Franz Felfer Optometrist ~ Reed & Bottcher ~ Peter McMahon’s Swim Factory ~ J. Thomas & Son Pty. Ltd ~ First Forest Funerals ~ MyMidwives.