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 ’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 , 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 , and has many years • Don’t forget the importance of developing their experience as a . 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 ’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 — 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 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 , and death after being tortured. St Andrew Kim Taegon

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 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 Rosebay Nina Mary Walk

Concord Area Croydon Clare Mary Jenkins Haberfield Moya Phillips Ryde Merryl Foster

Sutherland Area Engadine Margaret Spratt Gymea Imelda Logue Elsie Mary Kogarah Campbell (Meg) Rockdale Patricia Thompson

Western Area Cabramatta Sr Patricia Percival Carnes Hills Fr Pat Hurley Liverpool Margaret Collimore Beverley Hickey Pauline McNuff Villawood Fr Kevin Spillane

Catechist Ministry Certificate Bankstown Area Oatley Michael Cummins Western Area Hoxton Park Peter Miraziz

Volume 1, Issue 6 Page 6 Light andPage Life 6

Award Recipients, Annual Catechist Mass September 16, 2007

Archdiocesan Certificate of Accreditation Concord Area Bankstown Area Ashbury Lillian Wade Condell Park Steven Tannous Concord West John Kennedy Earlwood Enide Gossow Barbara Martin Croydon Maronite Tony Hanna Filomena Mihas Debbie Koura Rose-Marie Rahme Marie Sahyoun Babs Mary Rodrigues Lina Xuereb Fred Succar Lidcombe Socorro Canare Jessica Touma Oatley Edvina Prest Five Dock Vincent Moschella Penshurst Mary King Hunters Hill Houda Dakhoul Sefton Ziolkowski Silverwater Korean Bong Ho (Leo) Cha Lane Cove John Parmentier Min Kyung Cho Hyun Jung Elizabeth Choi Lewisham Jose Elizabeth Wierzbicki Eun Mi Rosa Choi Meadowbank Judith Orrock Sera Hwang Mary Eun- Hye Jang Paul Thambyah Soo- Myung Jang North Ryde Irma Escalante Christina (Heejin) Jin John Kim Magdalene Gomes Peter Kim Nola Hough Simon Kim Sutherland Area Harold Kim Darong Kim Arncliffe Thomas McDermott Oriva Yoon-Kyung Kim Lina Kim Brighton-Le-Sands Frances Alonzo Jae In Kim Alfred Gellel Minna Kim Julia Kim Beverly Trott Rupert Ko Caringbah Elaine Maher Paul Kwon Leonard O'Neill James Lee John Min Judith Sinclair Anna Mok Cronulla Bill Hofrichter Monica Moon Kogarah Steven De Vine Richard Jin Wook Oh Sean Park Sr Patricia Ryan Michael Shin Menai Maria Gillan Anna Yang Rockdale Josefina Gonzaga Christopher You Christina Youn Sylvania Pauline Farrugia Volume 1, Issue 6 Page 7

A Saint for Fathers’ Day

An inspiration for Fathers’ Day: Blessed Peter To Rot, a He was held in a concentration camp which had been set husband, father, catechist, and for marriage. up in a cave and accused of religious gatherings, Peter To Rot was born in 1912 in Rakunai, a village on the interference in the Japanese plan for and Melanesian island of , today an eastern persistence in his catechetical activities. province of . His own father, the great During one prison visit, Peter To Rot said to his mother chief of the village, was instrumental in bringing “The police have told me that the Japanese doctor will be Catholicism to his people. coming to give me some medicine. I suspect that this is a At the age of 18, Peter began training as a catechist. After trick. I am really not ill at all and I cannot think what all three years’ study, he obtained the catechist's diploma and this means". began his work as a catechist in Rakunai, organising Despite the precautions of the Japanese, Arap To in the village, gathering large and small groups Binabak, a prisoner, witnessed Peter’s death. The doctor for instruction and prayer and becoming acquainted with gave Peter an injection, then something to drink and people's real-life situations. stuffed his ears and nose with cotton wool, forcing him to On 11 November 1936, Peter To Rot married the young lie down. Peter was stricken with convulsions. The Catholic, Paula la Varpit. The early years of the marriage "doctor" covered his mouth and kept it closed. The were difficult, but the couple grew in grace by praying convulsions continued for a time, while the doctor held together at every dawn and dusk. They had three children: him still. Peter fell into unconsciousness and after a long Andrea, who died after the war; a little girl, Rufina La while drew his last breath. Mama; and the third child (name unknown), who was born The next morning the authorities feigned great surprise shortly after Peter’s death in 1945 and died soon when they saw Peter's corpse, and said that the prisoner thereafter. died from a secondary infection. The immense crowd In 1942, after the Japanese occupation, all the which attended Peter To Rot’s burial, notwithstanding the missionaries and were imprisoned in a presence of the Japanese police, immediately considered concentration camp. Peter To Rot remained alone. During Peter a martyr. Peter To Rot was beatified on January 17, the war he was the only spiritual guide for Catholics in the 1995 and his feast is kept on July 7. Rakunai district. He provided prayer services, catechetical instruction, and assistance to the sick, dying, and poor. On the outskirts of Rakunai, he built a church for the Catholic community from branches, the only material available. The main church had been destroyed by the Japanese. Blessed Peter To Rot, Soon, military police replaced the local authorities. catechist and Christian worship and all types of religious gatherings, martyr for public and private, were forbidden. The Japanese then marriage, attempted to enforce polygamy. Peter firmly opposed this, pray for us! and was arrested in April or May 1945. He was sentenced to two months' imprisonment. Referring to this, Peter said: "I am here because of those who broke their marriage vows and because of those who do not want the growth of God's kingdom". Volume 1, Issue 6 Page 8 Around the Archdiocese...

Teaching Religion: Intensive Course Annual Catechist Mass

10 --- 11 September Sunday, September 16 9am ––– 5:30 pm, September 10 2pm

9am ––– 5pm, September 11 St Mary’s Cathedral

The Catholic Adult Education Centre, Catechists and their families and 3 Keating Street, Lidcombe friends are invited to the year’s Course cost: $110 Tel: 9643 3660 largest celebration of the catechetical apostolate

Email: [email protected] Website: www.caec.com.au

Catechist Ministry Certificate: Update

N.B courses require a minimum of 10 students to run. Bookings are required two weeks in advance Please check the WYD website for the latest news and information updates ( www.wyd2008.org) Catholics in History (MI13) Lucy O’Connell

CCD Office, Hoxton Park We are encouraging students over 16 years of 21 Twentieth Ave Hoxton Park age to register as part of a parish pilgrim group. Tuesday and Wednesday, 9am to 2pm The registration package includes meals, free October 2, 3 transport around Sydney, the pilgrims bag and The Eucharist updates on WYD activities. (MI19) Robert Haddad Pilgrims are encouraged to register and become CCD Office, Hoxton Park 21 Twentieth Ave Hoxton Park part of a group where they can share the WYD Wednesday & Thursday, 10am to 3pm experience, before, during and after WYD. Some November 14,15 of the money raised from registrations will assist the pilgrims coming from less advantaged The Fathers of the Church (MI10) Robert Haddad countries. CCD Office, Hoxton Park Monday & Tuesday, 10am to 3pm December 10 & 11

Drawing Closer to Christ, cont’d...

• Those who have access to a chapel or church can take your class there, and let them just sit in silence. As their teacher pray that, like flowers in the sun, they will open and respond to God’s grace.

• Take the into class with you. When you are at a loss for what to do, open at the Gospels and just read. Students will settle and be interested.

• Encourage students to make a visit to the chapel or local church. They can never be in trouble for being late for class if they were paying a visit to Our Lord on the way!