CA HO IC V LIFE Diocese of Lismore

Tweed Coast to Camden Haven www.lismorediocese.org September 2008 Vol.6 No.3 The Year of St. Paul Bishop Jarrett Writes

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

he life of each of us is marked and need of a clear contemporary measured by its anniversaries, statement: Tthose moments of significance • belief in Jesus Christ that are good to remember. In recent who uniquely saves us months the Church has marked by His redeeming blood two fortieth anniversaries, both of and raises us by His teachings of ongoing significance for Resurrection; modern Catholics. The first is • belief that Jesus Christ Paul VI’s Profession of Faith known by the Sacrifice of the as the Credo of the People of God Cross redeemed us from (30 June 1968) and the second a few original sin and from weeks later, his landmark Encyclical all personal sins. This Humanae Vitae, On the Transmission redemption is shared with of Human Life (25 July 1968). us by means baptism, even My own recollections of these events as infants and the sacraments are vivid, as they took place while I was of faith; • belief in the Church as Christ’s continuing theological studies for the Mystical Body through which priesthood in . the work and the sufferings of Archbishop Young entrusted this Redemption are continued Eucharistic mystery. Parents and period of my formation to the Marist throughout human history and teachers will find Pope Paul’s Fathers, for which I have retained a through which the truth which explanation useful in helping faith warm and enduring gratitude. While God has revealed to guide us to to be nourished by truth in growing the controversies and tensions of the eternal life of the Kingdom is young minds, getting them beyond that post-Conciliar period here and passed on, with the assistance of ideas that the Sacrament of the overseas pulled this way and that, the Holy Spirit; Eucharist is only a sign or a symbol I remember the atmosphere in the • belief that the , offered by the or a token or a reminder of Christ’s seminary was marked by a stabil- priest in the person of Christ, is presence: that the Eucharist is in ity and peace, a balanced and calm the Sacrifice of Calvary rendered truth and fact Jesus Christ Himself. faithfulness to the truth of Christ and sacramentally on our altars and in Flowing naturally from this truth will the Church and a great charity among the real and substantial change by come deeply respectful and reverent the community. which bread and wine become the communions – “It is the Lord!” – not One of the community’s great Body and Blood of the Lord. received in just one hand, or ‘on friends of those days was Bishop Tom The teaching on the Real Presence the run’, or not consumed without Muldoon, ordained a priest of this stated in the Credo remains of “wonder and awe” before turning to diocese and at that time Auxiliary leave the altar. particular importance. Bishop of Sydney. Quite unforgettable Pope Paul makes a most arresting were the talks he gave on Pope Paul’s It needs emphasis and explanation statement: “This mysterious change Credo of the People of God, set against today, since it is evident that many is very appropriately called by the the confusions of the time. Catholic people either do not know Church transubstantiation. Thank God many aspects of those the truth about the Mass and the days are well behind us as the Church Real Presence or do not understand Every theological explanation with renewed energy and resolve what it means: for many it does not which seeks some explanation of this moves into the age of ‘the New appear to go beyond a vague idea that mystery must, in order to be in accord Evangelisation.’ Yet as a short and somehow the Eucharist is important, with Catholic faith, maintain that in clear statement of Catholic Faith, the but without a formed conviction that the reality itself, independently of our significance and usefulness of Pope captures the mind and imagination, mind, the bread and wine have ceased Paul’s Credo remains to the present or a fascination that leads to faithful to exist after the Consecration, so that day. For this reason it is reprinted for belief and practice. it is the adorable Body and Blood of personal reading and reflection in this “Wonder and awe in God’s the Lord Jesus that from then on are issue of Catholic Life. presence” is one of the gifts of the really before us under the sacramental Pope Paul’s Profession of Faith Holy Spirit received in the Sacrament appearances of bread and wine, as the builds and enlarges upon the Confirmation. It could be asked how Lord willed it, in order to give Himself foundational Apostles’ and Nicene especially this wonder and awe might to us as food and to associate us with Creeds and focuses on some points be shown in a Catholic’s attitude, the unity of His Mystical Body.” of belief for which there was the belief and practice in respect of the continued on page 10

Catholic Life, September, 2008 3 CONTENTS Features Churches 3&10 Bishop Jarrett Writes AROUND 6 Director of Catholic Schools Article 7 Greening Redemption THE WORLD 8 River Peoples Journey At Woodlawn 11 React: Lismore Diocese Youth Weekend 12 Actions Speak Louder Than Words 13 Death of a Much Loved Priest 14 Mercy Membership Conference 16-18 The Year of St. Paul 19-21 Engineering a Life of God’s Work 22-23 World View – Iraq & Italy 24 Along our Spiritual Journey Regular Features 4 Churches around the World 5 Editorial 9 Our Country Churches 15 Liturgy by Father Brian Gleeson 28 As it Was School News 25 Trinity Catholic College Lismore Mt St Patrick College, Murwillumbah St. Joseph’s Regional High School, Port Macquarie Mt St Patrick Primary, Murwillumbahn. 26 Infants School, Lismore St Joseph’s Primary, Maclean Banora Point College, Banora Point St. Joseph’s Primary School, Laurieton 27 St Brigid’s School, Kyogle St Carthage’s, Lismore

The Church of Our Lady (Frauenkirche), Dresden The original plans were drawn up by Architect George Bahr who incorporated features of the domes F e a t u r e of Italian cathedrals. Construction began in 1727 but Bahr died in 1738. His successor was Georg Insert Schmid who completed the 90m high structure with its cupola in 1743. The church survived the Dresden air raids of February 13 and 14 but could not survive the firestorm The Creed of that swept through the city after the bombing. The massive sandstone building collapsed on the People of God February 15, 1945. Reconstruction of the church began on May 27, 1994 and the building was completed on October 30, 2006.

Golden Mosaic in the Editor and Publisher of Parish events: apse of the church of St. Peter Outside the “Catholic Life”: advertisers Email your planned Parish events, Walls (c.1220). IN CATHOLIC LIFE celebrations, anniversaries, etc., for Christ is flanked by Father Peter M Karam inclusion on our website and in the the Apostles Peter next edition of “Catholic Life”. Email: media@ (right), Paul (left). Email to: lismorediocese.org The advertisers’ support of this [email protected] Fax: 02 6622 1771 Advertising Enquiries: publication Howard Media 02 6621 6700 Visit our Diocese website: enables us to Printed by: www.lismorediocese.org provide it to you Lismore City Printery 02 6621 5371 Our website contains free of charge. Art Direction & Graphic Design: a daily news bulletin, [email protected]

spiritual reflections and All photos and images used in “Catholic Life” daily Mass readings. Please support them. are copyright. No permission to reproduce these photos or images is given. Editorial From Pace to Ponder

The Church sometimes sets aside an entire year to encourage all of us to change pace and focus on some particular and important aspect of our Faith. This year, we are given an opportunity to learn more about one of the great saints and founders of the early Church — the Apostle Paul.

part from Jesus, St. Paul is the most prominent personality of the . Of the 27 Abooks of the New Testament, thirteen carry Paul’s name. All of them are letters. Much of what we know about Paul comes from these written sources, supplemented by stories from the , in which Paul is prominent in the second half (chapters 9–28). His letters make up the single most important ‘’library’’ of personal testimony from the first Christian century. No one else has written more extant letters or more Image courtesy of John Garrett Publishing personal testimony than Paul. His writings are chronicles of faith that can lead us our faith in Christ? Pope Benedict thinks so when he recently said: beyond the fears of our time, to confront the despair “From St.Paul we draw a very important lesson: of today with a sense of mission that gives hope. what counts is to place Jesus Christ at the Pope Benedict, when he declared this special year, encouraged us to imitate the apostle’s fearless centre of our lives, so that our identity is marked missionary effort in living our faith. The Pope pointed essentially by the encounter, by communion out that with firm faith “we can overcome every form with Christ and with his Word. He is not a figure of fear.” These are encouraging words in our time, where fear has become a weapon of control and violent of the past that we remember with veneration. disturbance. He is also our teacher, an apostle and a herald of We know that Paul found his missionary efforts challenged many times. Some would say he was Jesus Christ for us, too.” fortunate to have a vision and be told: “Do not be The Pauline Year also sends a strong signal of afraid. Go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am Christian unity. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles, with you.” understood and wrote about the unity of the “body Is this year of St. Paul to be our vision, an opportunity of Christ” and excelled in healing divisions, settling arguments and bringing together factions for the unity to learn that mission takes courage and there is of the whole. more to be gained from hope than optimism? During this dedicated year we will learn much about St. Paul. A good starting point for a troubled society The scripture scholars and the academics spend could be his first letter to the Corinthians. It remains years studying the writings of St.Paul. one of the great love letters of all time. These words of For most others, the contact is fleeting. His letters Paul unlock the mystery of his personality, the depth are read at Mass, at funerals, weddings, baptisms and of his faith and how much he was prepared to suffer other liturgical celebrations. We hear what he has to in order to love. say but do we know that much about the one from whom the words came? “Love bears all things By knowing who he was, how he lived, how he used believes all things, his faith to make sense of life, why was he prepared hopes all things. to die for what he believed….does all of that help us Love never ends.” (1Cor13: 5-7) understand that what he wrote for us can deepen Father Peter M. Karam – Editor Catholic Life, September, 2008 5 Ongoing Faith-filled Commitment by Dr Anne Wenham – Director of Catholic Schools

A motif of the Papacy of Pope John Paul II was that of the ‘new evangelisation’, the call for renewal of Christian life where it is has faded or completely disappeared. he call to the ‘new evangelisation’ was embedded of the host families was powerful witness in the simple message: “Faith is strengthened when to all of faith in action. The experience of Tit is given to others”1. This had and still does have, shared cultural gifts brought to liturgical significant implications in terms of evangelisation to the celebrations at the Table of the Lord was a youth of the world. was the Holy Father’s true demonstration of the global Church. unique response to forging new directions for the Catholic I revelled in the sheer exuberance and joy of the young youth of the world to celebrate their faith; to find new people in Sydney. Pride in faith shared was the dominant theme, brought to a crescendo at the welcome of Pope Benedict XVI. Of all my wonderful memories, one image is dominant. I joined the huge crowds at Barangaroo for the Opening Mass. We were there for many hours during which there was great sharing of music, dance, fun and laughter. However, at the very minute that Mass commenced, a hush came over the crowd; Barangaroo transformed from a place of fun and laughter to a sacred space. We shared a time of holiness and reverence. Exactly the same occurred at Randwick at the closing Mass. World Youth Day was a time for renewal and celebration. It was a time for all members of the church to interact with young people, to witness, evangelise, worship, join in community and participate in acts of service and

ways of proclaiming the to the young who live in very different cultural and social contexts from the past. The professed hope of the Holy Father was that World Youth Day would be a time of joy, “a proclamation of the path of conversion to Christ” and an opportunity for young people to “experience the Church as communion”2 and to then spread the Good News to the furthest corners of the earth. The theme of , “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you will be my witnesses” (Acts1:8) echoes in so many of my memories of this glorious celebration of faith – from Days in the Diocese through to each day in Sydney. The youth of the world encountered not only friends their own age hospitality. We hope and pray that it provided fertile but the Catholic faithful of all ages – so happy to have the ground for building what Pope Benedict XVI calls “the opportunity to listen, to share, to pray, to reflect and to new civilization of love” through personal encounter with rejoice in the gift of faith shared. Christ. Young people from parishes across the Diocese of 1 Redemptoris Missio, 2. Lismore joined in the welcome of pilgrims from around 2 Letter of John Paul II to Cardinal Eduardo Francisco Pironio on the Occasion of the globe – the service, wonderful care and hospitality the Seminar on World Youth Days organised in Czestochowa. 8th May, 1996, 2.

6 Catholic Life, September, 2008 Greening Redemption by Fr Charles Rue

Charles Rue was raised in Canowindra, NSW. He was educated at the local St Edwards School and then at St Joseph’s College Hunters Hill. A farmer for four years, he was President of the local Young Farmers before joining the Columbans. Ordained in 1968, he was appointed to South Korea. After language school, he worked in parishes. From 1980 he taught Liturgy at the Institute for Theology in Seoul after studies at Berkeley. Back in , he did Mission Education work in south eastern Australia 1984-90 during which time he completed a Masters in Environmental Planning. Again going overseas he worked as a parish priest in Jamaica WI 1990-95. Returning to Australia he headed the Regional Columban History Project and was granted a doctorate for his work. He is presently the coordinator of Columban Justice Peace and Integrity in Australia (JPICoz) and based at the Columban Mission Institute (CMI) Sydney. To contact Fr Rue email: [email protected] or phone 0406 466 820

peaking to Italian priests on the 6th August at developments in Catholic understanding of the Christian Bressanone, Pope Benedict XVI said “renewal of mission in more recent times is its embrace of creation in Sthe doctrine of Creation and a new understanding all its beauty and vitality.” of the inseparability of Creation and Redemption are of We are familiar with the Scriptural passages about supreme importance. The two dimensions – Creation and God as Creator, the Earth belonging to God, praise for Redemption, earthly life and eternal life, responsibility for the beauty of nature and the like. Maybe a less familiar creation and responsibility for others and for the future Scriptural teaching for us is that nature witnesses to should be juxtaposed.” God’s wisdom imbedded in the Earth: If you would learn A few years back I wrote about two hundred years more, ask the cattle, seek information from the birds of of Catholic attitudes to the environment in Australia the air (Job 12:7; 38:2). Justice and compassion towards (Catholics and Nature ACSJC Justice Series No 57). Earth itself flows from this wisdom tradition and relate When doing my research, it was a privilege to hear the directly to the justice and compassion brought by Jesus stories of many contemporary Catholics who told of how the Redeemer. commitment to environmental care became integral to Father Denis Edwards is part of the Adelaide based Earth their faith. Bible team. Writing over two decades he has plumbed the To use the phrase of Pope John Paul II, they had depths of the Tradition to detail in particular how each undergone an ‘ecological conversion’. For some it was of the three persons in the Blessed Trinity is close to us a gradual process. For others it was like ‘being knocked as they act in creation and St Thomas said that nature’s from my horse in St Paul fashion’. diversity helps display the fullness of God’s own self. However, every one of them had a story of first hand Faith grows and deepens – and making a new response contact with nature which was important for them – a to creation is opening a new chapter in the evolving back yard veggie-patch or bush walks, science field trips Catholic story. The environmental movement is a sign of or managing the farm. Those experiences were starting the times to which we respond. The Church, guided by the points which led them to live more in harmony with the Spirit, is being sent on a new stage of mission, growing Creator’s Earth and importantly, to relate to God in a new in its understanding and expression of faith (RM 21, 30). way. They were converted. Pope Benedict invites us to let our hearts ‘be stretched’ A modern Catholic spiritual journey not only embraces (Peace Message 2008 no. 33). the natural world but revels in the mystery it reveals. Embracing the mystery of God immanent in Earth maybe When launching Catholic Earthcare Australia, Archbishop a shock for us and may truly mean ecological conversion. John Bathersby said: But Pope John Paul II, in a speech to Agriculturists in 11 “The entire life of Christians is an exploration into November 2000, said: ‘Within the movement of nature, Christ. Each generation pushes back ever so slightly the tranquil and silent but rich in life, there continues to envelope of his mystery… One of the most significant palpitate the original delight of the Creator.’

Catholic Life, September, 2008 7 River Peoples Journey At Woodlawn by Denny Thornborough /UR Over the years St. John’s #OUNTRY#HURCHES College, Woodlawn, has catered to a diversity of students drawn from all over Australia, the South Pacific and Malaysia. he arrival at Woodlawn of three Aboriginal students from TSt. Primary School, Daly River, in the Northern Territory, marks the beginning of a The three boys from left to right, Ignatius Hume, Damien Warloo and Bradley Bianamu new partnership. with their mums and teachers from St. John’s College, Woodlawn Ignatius Hume, Damien Warloo and Bradley Bianamu arrived at the The driving forces behind the project are Woodlawn college from the Northern Territory at the beginning teacher Lee Ann Hally and Miriam Ungammer, a leading of Term Three. Fellow students have greeted the boys aboriginal educationist in The Territory. with excitement and anticipation for what should be a The Daly River community are behind the project groundbreaking opportunity for cultural exchange. This one-hundred per cent, recognising this as a valuable partnership, now known as “The River People’s Journey”, opportunity for the boys to develop as future indigenous began in 2004 when a cultural exchange program was leaders. developed co-operatively by staff from Woodlawn and the On a recent visit by their mums they were asked at Daly River School. what stage the boys would be likely to become homesick, Ignatius, Damien and Bradley will attend the college as to which they quickly replied, “Never.” To which Ms day students and are hoping to complete their secondary Hally added, “Never, that is, while they have family and education there. community support and constant contact.” React: Lismore Diocese Youth Weekend

In the lead up to World Youth Day, our parishes were called to ‘Activ8’, a title which was based on the WYD theme of :8: ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses.’

n the weekend of November 29th and 30th, the youth of our diocese will be coming together to O‘React’ and respond to this original calling. It is an opportunity to encourage and welcome our youth to use their gifts and become active within ministries already established in our parishes. Our Diocesan ‘React’ gathering to be held in Coffs Harbour on the weekend of November 29th and 30th will The Emmanuel Worship Band be an opportunity to reconnect friendships and relive the experience of WYD08. For those who could not get to from the National Evangelisation Team (NET). Brisbane’s WYD08, this is your opportunity to join the journey, build Emmanuel Worship Band will also be performing. new friendships and get a taste of the WYD spirit. While ‘React’ will also be a special opportunity for all being an opportunity for social celebration, ‘React’ will young musicians and vocalists. Pat Keady and the team also provide the chance to respond to the theme of WYD of talented musicians, vocalists & songwriters from and encourage future youth formation within our parishes Emmanuel Worship are offering a double workshop with and diocese. practical training, teaching, tips & tools for leading music Throughout the weekend there will be an opportunity at Mass in our parishes or schools. through a series of workshop sessions to reflect on the WYD This event is open to all those who attended WYD or experience and explore the many ways in which we can anyone 16 years or older with an interest in active parish actively engage in Christ’s mission and call to witness. We youth formation. Please contact your parish office for are fortunate to have a series of guest presenters attending further information or registration. our gathering including, Fr Chris Ryan (WYD Journey of the Cross and Coordinator), Luke Plant (Emmanuel Adam Sullivan – Diocese of Lismore, Executive Officer for World Youth Day Community, Youth Ministry Coordinator) and the staff

8 Catholic Life, September, 2008 /UR by David Billington #OUNTRY#HURCHES www.cathchurch.net/historic.html St Camillus, Bilambil

et amidst lush hills to the east of Tweed Heads lies the rural pocket of Bilambil. With magnificent views towards SMount Warning and the nearby Tweed River it is one of the most attractive locations on the far north coast and tucked away among its homes is the little church of St Camillus. It was in the 1930’s that the faithful of Bilambil succeeded in building a small box-style church in which to celebrate the Holy Mass. In 1934 it was moved to a new site closer to the centre of the small community and re-erected on a block of land given by the Duffy family. It was in honour of this family that the church was given the unusual dedication to St Camillus, the name in religion taken by one of their daughters when she joined the Sisters of Mercy. The church is of the simplest construction comprising a nave, a sanctuary and a sacristy now used as an entrance porch. It stands amidst palm trees evocative of the tropical north of the state and is lovingly tended by its parishioners whose affection for their church is evident in its neat and pristine appearance. Times change and today Bilambil is no longer as isolated as it once was and Tweed Heads itself has become a major metropolis but throughout all these changes the little church of St Camillus has continued to serve the Catholics of the area as it does to the present day.

Catholic Life, September, 2008 9 Bishop Jarrett Writes continued from page 3

Pope Paul also draws attention to that each and every marriage act must in the birth-rate of every western the Blessed Sacrament reserved in remain open to the transmission of country to the point of giving rise to the Tabernacle, which he beautifully life, his teaching was widely rejected future labour crises. Contraception, describes as “the living heart of each by those who had expected change. in shutting the door on God’s gift of our churches.” Here the Lord dwells After Humanae vitae, for many the of life, has also led to the opening among us between one offering of the Church was regarded as irrelevant, of other doorways, dark and death- Sacrifice and the next; here “it is our out of touch with modern thinking dealing: the commonly held view that very sweet duty to honour and adore and had failed to help married couples a woman’s choice to kill her unborn in the blessed Host which our eyes see, in a difficult area of decision. People baby has precedence over that child’s the Incarnate Word which they cannot turned to their own sincerely held right to life as a human person and see and who, without leaving Heaven, views on the matter as the only the softening of attitudes towards the is made present before us.” Forty years guide to their actions, upholding the euthanasia of the sick and elderly. later, these words remain a timely individual’s conscience as the final Our parliaments now face pressures to reminder of the centrality of the arbiter of what was right or wrong. A enact laws to extend these haunting Tabernacle and its close relationship false understanding of ‘the supremacy shadows of the culture of death. to the altar in our churches. The of conscience’ became a sort of In the light of what our society has tabernacle should be immediately anaesthetic that put true conscience become since 1968 it is surely time to visible to anyone entering a church to sleep. look again at the truthful teaching of and by its placement and the beauty In the decades that followed, Humanae vitae and to move, however of its adornment draw the worshipper ‘following one’s conscience’ as the difficult it might be to challenge to adoration and conversation with the supreme guide in the area of moral and change attitudes and conduct, Lord. The apostolate of the priests and decision, regardless of the Church’s to rediscover the beauty of generous sisters of the Community of St John consistent teaching, became the norm. and life-giving love in marriage, in the northern parishes of the Diocese Priests generally feared to uphold the the strength of self-disciplined and after World Youth Day was a reminder Church’s teaching from the pulpit and chaste preparation for marriage and of the great need especially to initiate a great silence fell on this subject, as the grace that comes from trusting in our children to the awareness of the on other moral truths that similarly God’s power to make what is humanly Lord’s presence in the Tabernacle so were deemed contrary to modern difficult wonderfully possible. that He can continue to gather them majority thinking based on ideas of Speaking recently on the 40th in His arms and bless them as He did personal freedom and autonomy. anniversary of Humanae vitae Pope in the Gospel. Humanae vitae was so roundly Benedict acknowledged that the It was not only in the area of contested that even its warnings Church’s teaching on sexual morality, doctrine but also in the area of about the dangers consequent on true yesterday and true today, will always be controversial ‑ but yet it morals that the nineteen-sixties were the contraceptive mentality, which is crucial for humanity’s future. To a period of upheaval and dissent. views sex only in terms of pleasure uphold the truth in these areas in The development of the contraceptive and separates it from the possibility our own time demands of us all the pill led many to think that it was of conceiving new life, went courage and tenacity – and the faith time for the Church to reassess her unheeded. – that the Apostles demonstrated in teaching on the sinfulness of artificial Pope Paul’s warnings now appear preaching the Gospel of Life, Jesus birth control. When, after four years especially prophetic in the light of Christ risen from the dead; the same of expert consideration of the matter what the last forty years have seen qualities that shone from the Christian Pope Paul, far from admitting the come to pass – widespread breakdown minority of the first centuries that possibility of change, reasserted the in marriages, even of the warping of made them the instruments of the continuity of the Church’s teaching the very understanding of the nature conversion of a whole civilisation. of marriage itself; What the New Evangelization of the later deferment today has above all to offer the of marriage and world in its distress and confusion is child-bearing (if precisely the Christian vision and way ever); the widespread to the fullness of human life and love Website for Diocese collapse in sexual through Jesus Christ and the power of Visit the morality with young the Cross. This was the message by no people becoming means lost on the thousands of young ‘active’ at earlier Catholics who flocked to hear Pope Lismore and earlier ages; the Benedict at World Youth Day. In them diminished respect and millions like them lies our hope Diocese for women who may and our future. be used merely as With my love and blessing, website: objects always at Yours devotedly in Christ, the disposal of male www.lismorediocese.org gratification; and the Geoffrey H. Jarrett, disastrous declines Bishop of Lismore

10 Catholic Life, September, 2008 Actions Speak Louder Than Words Since 2001 John Paul College has been supporting the community of Kawalazi, a remote area in northern Malawi, in Central Africa. ach ‘Kawalazi Day’ in October, John Paul College students make donations which go towards providing Estudent and teacher resources such as pens, books, desks, chairs, sporting uniforms and equipment for the primary school and medical supplies for the village clinic. Due to an overwhelming response from the John Paul College community, a program was established, which enables individuals, families and the community to sponsor a Kawalazi student into Secondary school for a cost of AUD$40 per year. At present 85 students are being sponsored. It was worth all the work – Ainslie Goodman (JPC ex-student – HSC 2001) – one of the original fundraisers, Late last year, 25 members from John gaining first hand knowledge of the rewards of her efforts! Paul College and its extended community when we gave out the hats and sports gear visited Kawalazi and some of them had was indescribable. We played sport with the opportunity to meet the students they the school soccer and netball teams and have been sponsoring. Year 11 student ate with the teachers. Elliot Kennedy was one of the lucky “The day was also spent working with travellers who experienced Kawalazi: “On the students – teaching, talking to or just arrival, the kids overwhelmed us with sharing a smile. The saying ‘actions speak hugs and tugs on shirts coming from all louder than words’ was proven on this day directions! The cheering that greeted us and I truly understand happiness: you can’t put a price on fun or offering hope. These people were so grateful to be offered hope and a chance for a better future. Sponsorship is the best thing in my life at the moment and I am currently sponsoring four students. This has given me an outlook on life I couldn’t have received without the help of these amazing individuals.” If you are interested in finding out more about Kawalazi and the Ethie Project, please contact staff members Joseph Nolan or Maggie O’Brien, John Paul College on 6653 3155. At the Chief’s – Back: Ainslie Goodman – (JPC ex-student – HSC 2001); Maggie O’Brien (JPC staff) Front: Thomas Kwata Phiri (Kawalazi Primary School Headmaster); Chief Lwani Chinyakuala (District Headman); Mrs Chinyakuala; Elliot Kennedy (JPC Year 11 student)

12 Catholic Life, September, 2008 Death of a Much Loved Priest

Father Anthony Hoade, a senior priest of the Lismore Diocese, died on Saturday 28th June at hospital on the Gold Coast as a result of complications following surgery. Father Hoade was aged 79. His Requiem Mass was concelebrated on Thursday 3rd July at St. Joseph’s Church, Tweed Heads.

e was born at Ballyglunin, County Galway, Ireland on April 16, 1929. H After preparatory school he entered Mt Melleray Seminary County Waterford to commence studies for the priesthood and then to St. Kieran’s College, Kilkenny where we has ordained a priest on June 6, 1954 by the The Concelebrated Requiem Mass held at St. Josephs Church, Tweed Heads Most Reverend Dr, Collier, Bishop of Ossory. had a prodigious memory for recalling names of people He arrived in Casino on 21st January 1955 to commence and their families. He was an avid sports follower. He was his work as a priest of the Diocese of Lismore. a keen golfer and a faithful follower of Rugby League. He served as an assistant priest in the parishes of Casino, His ability to make friends easily and extend compassion Kempsey, Wauchope, Lismore and Tweed Heads. He was to those in need endeared him to many and won him wide appointed parish priest of Tweed Heads in December 1971 respect. His care and concern for those in need extended and held that appointment until 1st May 1982 when he far beyond his Catholic community. was appointed Parish Priest of Mullumbimby until 1999. In his Homily Father Jim Reilly quoted the words of St. In Tweed Heads as in Mullumbimby he initiated and Paul: “I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run completed major building projects. As Parish Priest he the race to the finish; I have kept the faith”. Instead of St enjoyed the support of his parish communities for his Paul, Tony could well have written those words. administrative style and his response to their pastoral I think Mother Theresa said, “God doesn’t look for needs. He retired from active ministry on 1st June 1999 to success, he looks for faithfulness.” live in Tweed Heads. The full text of the Homily can be found on the His interests were always with the people he served and Diocesan website www.lismorediocese.org Mercy Membership Conference On Monday July 21, 14 women who are at different stages of incorporation into the Sisters of Mercy, together with those accompanying them in formation, arrived at ‘Star of the Sea’, Yamba, for their annual Mercy Membership Conference. he women were from Australia, Pakistan, PNG and New Zealand. A number had travelled on the train Tfrom Sydney where they had been participating in WYD the previous week so many stories had been already been shared on the trip. The group began their meeting with a Welcome to A theme running through the week was the Country by Yaegl Elders from Yamba and Maclean. interconnectedness and value of all life – and what better Some of these had accompanied their young people to place for such reflections than in the beauty of Yamba! A Sydney as pilgrims so had shared memories of the lively trip on the Clarence River ferry from Yamba to Iluka was celebrations of the previous week. The global reality of the included in the week’s schedule. Church was again evident for all. On Saturday, the final evening of the conference, a The focus for the conference was living the vowed life number of local Sisters joined the group for Mass, dinner and looking at the challenges and joys that are faced in and an evening of conversations, music and even some our world and in Mercy religious life today. Jan Gray, the dancing. The newer members found very creative ways of conference presenter, is a Mercy Sister and theologian, presenting some of their learnings from the week. It was whose theological and scriptural insights were combined also an opportunity to express gratitude for the generosity with her creative use of contemporary music, songs, video of the Grafton Sisters of Mercy in offering ‘Star of the and story. This led to very rich reflections as well as lively Sea’ for the conference and for their warm hospitality and deep conversations about the value of the vowed life and friendship. and its place in our world today, particularly the reality of So the participants left Yamba with special memories our threatened earth. The diversity of the women in age, and with greater commitment to the continued invitation culture, background and experience, together with each to seek justice, to be compassionate and to reflect mercy one’s personal commitment to the values of Mercy religious to the world. life, added a great breadth to the scope of the conference. Kaye Evans rsm (Melbourne)

Catholic Life, September, 2008 13 Father Brian Gleeson is a Doctor of Theology and a Passionist Priest. He lectures on Liturgy, Church and Sacraments at the Yarra Theological Union, Box Hill, Victoria. He may be Liturgy contacted at [email protected] What is a Sacrament? outward signs of God’s presence: – e.g. them, find their origin and meaning in his blessings; laying on of hands; the use of life and work and in his person and values. Sacraments of The Church oil, bread, wine, water, washings, kisses In short, they tell his story. They tell us and greetings; ritual meals; sacrificial especially that Jesus Christ himself is a Dear Readers! offerings; confession of sins; baptism; and sacrament, the number one sign and source n the June issue of ‘Catholic Life’ I anointing of the sick. of God, the one great sacrament through stressed that there are two kinds of Their chief sacred sign was history, in whom all other sacraments make sense. Isacraments. One type is the sacraments which they recognised the presence and We find the meaning of each of the of everyday life and experience. They activity of their God. They encountered sacraments in his life. So much so, are the ‘God-moments’ of life, of which the God who saved them in both events that even though the sacraments of there are hundreds, even thousands. The and their remembering those events in Confirmation, Reconciliation, Anointing challenge is how to ‘see God in all things’ their sacred rituals and especially in the of the Sick, Holy Orders and Marriage are (St Ignatius Loyola). In this not mentioned explicitly in the issue I introduce the other , when they do emerge kind of sacraments which are in history they reflect aspects also signs and instruments of his life and the values he of God. They are so special held and lived. They reflect that they are in a class of e.g. his reliance on the Holy their own. We know them Spirit; his call to conversion; as Baptism; Confirmation; his gift of God’s forgiveness; Reconciliation; Eucharist; his healing of people; his Anointing of the Sick; Holy commissioning of disciples to Orders; and Marriage. They serve God and God’s people make the Church happen and and his call for unity and love they keep it going. among his followers. In that The is, in real sense Jesus instituted all a striking way, a sacramental the sacraments. community. It celebrates the From the New Testament we presence of Jesus Christ in its learn that the ritual practices midst through sacred rituals. known to the first Christians At first, each of its rituals had were baptism, laying on of only its own name to describe hands, the Lord’s Supper (later it, e.g. ‘baptism’ and ‘the named the Eucharist), prophecy Lord’s Supper’ (the Eucharist). (speaking in God’s name The general name ‘sacrament’ about what God requires) and had not yet been invented speaking in tongues (unknown to apply to them all. This is languages). They understood because concepts, names and and appreciated that the rituals ©Antonella Chessa|Dreamstime.com doctrines take time to develop. they were celebrating were Christians were celebrating ‘from the Lord’ (1 Corinthians sacraments and living their meaning long Passover. Their second most important 11:23) and that Jesus was powerfully before they came to see that the concept sacred sign was their Scriptures, as record present to them from the start to the finish ‘sacrament’ applied to them all. They were of the revelation of their God. To read of their celebrations. Through their sharing also celebrating sacraments long before God’s Word, hear it and ponder it, was to of his supper especially, which they did they realized that every sacrament has this come into contact with the most important in memory of him and his saving work, in common with every other sacrament, events of their past as a people and with they experienced a oneness with Christ that it is an outward action with an inner the God who spoke to them and met them their Lord and a oneness with their fellow- meaning. It is, in fact, what St Augustine in those events. disciples in the one Body of Christ. (+430) came to call ‘a visible sign of There is no convincing evidence that Those early experiences so long ago invisible grace’. The practice, then, came Jesus of Nazareth left his companions and of Jesus in the sacraments, is ours today before the theory. fellow-workers a clear and complete set of twenty centuries later. When we keep The Hebrew Scriptures often referred sacramental rituals. He neither invented telling his story in our sacramental rituals to God as wind, fire, breath or rock, totally new signs of the presence and we continue to meet him. Our ongoing because they communicated a sense of power of God, nor passed them on in blue- encounter with him keeps us going as God to the people of Israel. They met print form. In particular instances he gave Christians, gives us new meaning and God in the desert, on mountain tops and a new meaning to Jewish rituals already purpose and fills us with fresh hope for in gentle breezes. Although they did not in use, e.g. to baptism and to a meal with our lives. Thank God, then, for our rich call them ‘sacraments’, they also had bread and wine. More generally, on the and beautiful seven sacraments and for all their formal sacred signs, i.e. their official other hand, the sacraments, as we have the difference they make to us!

Catholic Life, September, 2008 15 The Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls, the centre of celebration and observance of the Year of St. Paul, was The built at the end of the 4th century by Roman emperors Valentinian II, Arcadius and Theodosius and finally inaugurated by Emperor Honorius, the son of Theodosius. Year of The present Basilica, built after the destructive fire of July 1823 and consecrated by Pope Pius IX on December 10th 1854 is the same dimensions as St. Paul the original, built by the three emperors towards the end of the 4th century on the Via Ostiense to venerate the tomb of St. Paul.

PopePope BenedictBenedict Xvi OpensOpens The Pauline Year On the afternoon of Saturday June 28th in the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, the first Vespers for the solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul, presided over by the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI, marked the opening ceremony of the Pauline Year. The celebration had great ecumenical significance due to the presence of the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew 1st and delegations from other Christian traditions as well as the Greek Quadriportico with 19th century Melkite Catholic Patriarch of Antioch Gregorios III, together with archbishops statue of St. Paul holding his and bishops with thousands of pilgrims and faithful. symbol, the sword 16 Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament (1725) with 14th century crucifix

destination. The road of ecumenism ultimately points towards a common The Journey to Christian Unity celebration of the Eucharist (cf. Ut Unum Sint, 23-24; 45), which Christ in the Year of St. Paul entrusted to his Apostles as the sacrament of the Church’s unity par The Year of St Paul, or, rather, “the two thousandth anniversary of the excellence. birth of Saint Paul, a tireless worker for unity in the early Church,” was, Although there are still obstacles to be overcome, we can be sure that a of course, evoked by Pope Benedict XVI on the occasion of the World common Eucharist one day would only strengthen our resolve to love and Youth gathering in Sydney. The precise moment was Friday 18 July at the serve one another in imitation of our Lord: for Jesus’ commandment to “do ecumenical meeting in St Mary’s Cathedral. this in memory of me” (Lk 22:19) is intrinsically ordered to his admonition The Holy Father spoke as follows: “In the scripture passage we have to “wash one another’s feet” (Jn 13:14). just heard, Paul reminds us of the tremendous grace we have received For this reason, a candid dialogue concerning the place of the Eucharist in becoming members of Christ’s body through baptism. This sacrament, – stimulated by a renewed and attentive study of scripture, patristic the entryway to the Church and the “bond of unity” for everyone reborn writings and documents from across the two millennia of Christian through it (cf. Unitatis Redintegratio, 22), is accordingly the point of history (cf. Ut Unum Sint, 69-70) – will undoubtedly help to advance the departure for the entire ecumenical movement. Yet it is not the final ecumenical movement and unify our witness to the world.” Choir and Apse of the church of St. Paul Outside the Walls

sick, the chil­dren and the poor. Let us give thanks to God for Vocations in the Pauline Year these brothers of ours who give themselves wholeheartedly The Holy Father Benedict XVI has emphasised the importance to their pastoral ministry, affirming their faith in Christ through to pray for Vocations in this Pauline Year. The occasion was the the sacrifice of their lives. World Day of Prayer for Vocations 2008. Let us also pray for a continual increase in the numbers He re­minded the more than forty thousand faithful gathered of those who decide to live out the Gos­pel in a radical way in St Peter’s Square: “In the experience of the Apostle of the through vows of chastity, poverty and obedience: these men Gentiles whom our Lord called to be `a minister of the Gospel’, and women have a primary role in evangelisation. vocation and mission are inseparable,” he said. “Paul therefore Some of these faithful dedicate themselves to contemplation represents a model for every Christian, in particular for those and prayer, others to the many differ­ent forms of education lifelong missionaries, those men and women who dedicate and char­ity, yet all share the same goal – that of bearing them­selves completely to the work of proclaiming Christ to witness to the supremacy of God in all things and of spreading those who still do not know Him – a vocation which is still His kingdom throughout all levels of society. Finally we entirely valid today. must not forget that Christian marriage is also a mis­sionary First and foremost those who carry out this mis­sionary vocation: spouses are in fact called to live the Gospel in their service are the priests who minister the Word of God and the families, in their places of work and in their parish or local Sacraments, as well as making visible the healing presence of communities. In certain cases furthermore, they also offer a Jesus Christ through their pastoral charity to all, especially the precious collaboration in the mis­sion ad gentes.”

The marble nave church of St. Paul Outside the Walls, 17 looking towards the doors to the quadriportico