CCD September Monthly Newsletter 2007.Pub
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LightA Monthly Publication of the Confraternity of the and Life Aug-Sept 2007 A Monthly Publication of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine-Archdiocese of Sydney Volume 1, Issue 6 Special Edition Drawing Closer to Christ: Meditations for Teachers About 45 people, including some catechists, • We need to take time to remember God’s attended the half-day retreat at the parish of Our blessings, and to see the good in others. We thank Lady, Queen of Peace, Normanhurst on Saturday 11 God for that good, rather than enumerating other August. The retreat was organised by the Society of people’s faults to Him! Catholic Teachers Association, and given by the national chaplain Father Tim Deeter . The theme of Teaching the retreat was ‘Drawing Closer to Christ. We include • If we love Jesus, the students will know that we here some notes taken from the talks given by Fr love them. Deeter. He has taught high school students in the • Teach little children to kneel and pray at night. United States. and Australia, and has many years • Don’t forget the importance of developing their experience as a priest. relationship with Mary. Prayer Continued page 8... • Prayer life corresponds with human life; we Do you have a faith question, a teaching must talk to God, not at Him. We can speak to suggestion, or an amusing or touching Him familiarly, and trust that our prayers will anecdote be heard. that you would like to share with other • We do not need to make contingency plans, catechists? in case our prayers ‘fail’ – that is, in case they Contact Mary Carolan at are not granted. God gives us just what we [email protected] need, never too much or too little. PO Box A286, Sydney South, NSW 1235 Therefore, we ask for what we need, not what we want. Contents • Prayer should lead to meditation that flows into contemplation. This prayer life is for Drawing Closer to Christ………………………………..1 everyone, not a select few. We don’t need From the Catechists………………………………………..2 formulas or lots of words. A Saint’s Day………...……………………………………….2 • God speaks to us when we are still enough to A Moment with God………………………………………2 listen. We must spend time in silence, just be i n g Questions and Answers…………………………………..3 present with Jesus, especially in the church. Many Nine Days of Prayer………………………………………..3 converts have been made in the past because of Annual Catechist Mass, Award Recipients……..4-6 the witness of those ‘ordinary’ Catholics who A Saint for Fathers’ Day………………………………….7 prayed silently, kneeling before the tabernacle. Around the Archdiocese………………………………….8 Volume 1, Issue 6 Page 2 From the Catechists Why, then, are they referred to as The first Christians in Palestine Who were the brothers of Jesus? ‘brothers’? referred to Jesus’ relatives as aha, Some English translations of which was rendered into Greek as Aramaic had no word for ‘cousin.’ Scripture refer to “James, the adelphos. This conveyed the sense Aha, ‘brother’, was also used to brother of the Lord” (Matt. 13:55, of family intimacy better than mean ‘cousin’, ‘uncle,’ ‘nephew’, Acts 15:13-21, 1 Cor. 15:7, Gal. anepsios , the Greek word for ‘step-brother’, or even, in some 1:19). ’cousin’, but narrowed the ’blood cases, ‘friend’ or ‘ally’. This is not sense’ of the word. We know that the ‘brothers’ (and due to a poverty in the Aramaic sisters) of the Lord were not language, but is a reflection of a Some English translations use the immediate family, because their strong cultural sense of family, word ‘brethren’, which, like parents are named elsewhere in which was broader than our idea ‘kinsman’, conveys the broader Scripture, eg James “son of of the ‘nuclear’ family. ‘relationship sense’ a little better. Zebedee” (Matt. 4:21, 10:2, 17:1, Acts 12:2) and James “son of A modern equivalent is the habit Alphaeus” (Matt. 10:3, Acts 1:13) of having children address female friends of their parents as ‘Auntie’. A Saint’s Day On September 20 we honour 103 Koreans, - September 88– The Nativity of the Blessed 11 clergy and 92 laypeople, young and old — Virgin Mary September 14 — The Triumph of the Cross who were martyred between 1839—1867. This September 15 ——— Our Lady of Sorrows includes: Andrew Kim Taegon, the first native September 17 — St Robert Bellarmine priest of Korea; Paul Chong Hasang, a September 20 — Ss Andrew Kim Taegon, seminarian and catechist; Columba Kim, a Paul Chong Hasang and Companions single laywoman, aged 26, who was tortured, September 21 — St Matthew left naked in prison, and finally beheaded; September 23 — St Padre Pio September 2727— St Vincent de Paul Peter Ryou, aged 13, who was strangled to September 29 – Ss Michael, Gabriel and death after being tortured. St Andrew Kim Taegon Raphael A Moment with God "As we contemplate this Mother, whose heart a most dear to her; the loneliness of mothers forgotten sword has pierced (cf. Luke 2:35) , our thoughts go by their grown-up children; the loneliness of widows; to all the suffering women in the world, suffering the sufferings of women who struggle alone to make either physically or morally. In this suffering a a living; and women who have been wronged or woman's sensitivity plays a role, even though she exploited. Then there are the sufferings of often succeeds in resisting suffering better than a consciences as a result of sin, which has wounded man. It is difficult to enumerate these sufferings; it is the woman's human or maternal dignity: the wounds difficult to call them all by name. We may recall her of consciences which do not heal easily. With these maternal care for her children, especially when they sufferings too we must place ourselves at the foot of fall sick or fall into bad ways; the death of those the Cross." Volume 1, Issue 6 Page 3 Questions and Answers...Questions and Answers... Q: We know that the Church requires miracles for The following questions are asked in order to beatification and canonisation. But how do we ascertain this: establish that the events are miracles? How do we 1. Did the person really have the illness? Was it a avoid being affected by mere enthusiasm, or even valid diagnosis? superstition or hysteria? 2. Is there proof that, at another point in time, the A: When reports of miracles are being investigated, illness was gone? both the theological and medical aspects are 3. Is there proof that the cure was not brought about considered. The subject of the miracle is usually an by medical or surgical means? organic illness, as these are more easily proved 4. Is there proof that it was morally instantaneous i.e scientifically. outside the normal curative process? Theological: Did the cure happen in the context of 5. Is there proof that the cure was complete? prayer to God through the intercession of the holy 6. Is the cure permanent? Before a cure can be person? examined as a possible miracle, five years must elapse for an adult, and ten for a child. Medical: Was the cure beyond normal medical and scientific explanation? Nine Days of Prayer Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows Day One: Luke 7: 11-15 For the suffering women of the world Each day: Day Two: Matthew 1: 18-23 Oh God, come to my aid. Oh Lord, make haste to help me. For mothers who will give birth today Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. Day Three: John 19: 25-27 For fathers whose children are born today As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen. Day Four: Luke 2: 33 - 35 For all children (Scripture reading and private prayer of intercession for the intention of the day) Day Five: Hebrews 5: 7–9 For families Holy Mother of God, hear the prayers of the Day Six: Colossians 3: 12 –17 Church for all mothers, For peace in the home especially those wearied by life and overcome by the suffering they bear for their children. Day Seven: Psalms 31: 2-5 Hail Mary... For those suffering in secret O Mother of the Word Incarnate, intercede for them from your place in heaven, Day Eight: Philippians 2: 6-11 that the mercy of your divine Son might lighten their For the grace to stand at the foot of the Cross burdens and give them strength. Day Nine: Psalms 31: 15-16, 20 Hail Mary... For the intercession of Our Lady of Sorrows Glory be to the Father.... Volume 1, Issue 6 Page 4 Light andPage Life 4 Award Recipients, Annual Catechist Mass September 16, 2007 Apostolic Blessing (20 Years of Service) Bankstown Area Bass Hill Kathleen Elizabeth Hanrahan Peakhurst Evelyn Graham Revesby Margaret Frances Cudmore Sefton Patricia Rolfe City Area Randwick Kenneth Patrick Leo Finn Concord Area Ashfield Nola Makowiak Croydon Dorothy Jean Kilroy Sutherland Area Bexley Kerri-Ann Farr Como-Oyster Bay Ellen Mary Westbrook Cronulla Bert Rowe Gymea Norman Wray Kogarah Pauline Clancy Sylvania Margaret Forshaw Josephine Mamo Western Area Holsworthy Maureen Howe Cardinal Freeman Medal (25 Years of Service) Bankstown Area Greenacre Angela Mangini Padstow Sharon Cooke Revesby Heights Barbara Sherry City Area Malabar Viviane Felice Mascot Oswald Agius Surry Hills Doris Azzopardi Concord Area Eastwood Veronica Flanagan North Ryde Barbara Kovaloff Sutherland Area Cronulla Christine Lester Kogarah Crucifixa Payne Maureen Sullivan Western Area Liverpool Rose Furfaro Moorebank Rosaria Rita Caltabiano Volume 1, Issue 6 Page 5 Award Recipients, Annual Catechist Mass September 16, 2007 Cardinal Gilroy Award (40 Years of Service) Bankstown Area Auburn Margaret Medhurst Beverly Hills May Mitchell Campsie Patricia Weinert Clemton Park Doreen Quinn Greenacre Betty Brayshaw Padstow Dianne McGrath City Area Marrickville Maureen Power