NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 1

The national Catholic newspaper May 31 - June 13, 2020 • No. 590

VENI SANCTE SPIRITUS www.nzcatholic.org.nz 2 NZ News NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pro-Cathedral used as testing site

by Fr RON BENNETT

They say every cloud has a silver lining. When St Teresa’s Pro-Cathedral Church in Karo- Principal ri, , closed its doors for Masses at the for newest beginning of the lockdown, parishioners expected Catholic school it would not be used again for quite a while. p5 However, the Karori Medical Centre were look- ing for a suitable venue to conduct a Covid-19 community-based assessment centre, primarily to screen and assess people for testing, and test those who meet the criteria. Dr Jeff Lowe, from the medical centre, said that one Saturday morning Translation they were doing swabs at the centre carpark. It was wet and windy and they realised they couldn’t car- p20 work needed in ry on like that. They looked around for a suitable venue and found St Teresa’s Church to be ideal lockdown St Teresa’s proved to be a perfect match — with a driveway up one side of the church, a covered drive-through next to the church foyer, which p17 allowed people to be tested in their cars, then to either park and rest, or continue to exit down the other side of the church. A sort of McDonald’s drive-through, as one wit commented. It was important for the medical centre as they wanted to do their testing where there was more space, and easy movement, and to keep poten- Fr Ron Bennett in the foyer of St Teresa’s pro-cathedral tially well people away from potentially unwell with medical centre staff nurse Jacqui and Dr Nick. people. The foyer also had two doors, which Seafarers meant it was possible to have a “clean” area and using St Teresa’s was a godsend. Since tests be- helped a “dirty” area for staff to work in. As well as the gan on April 6, more than 629 people have been at Lyttelton foyer, another room was available if needed. tested, between 30 and 40 a day, some coming Dr Lowe mentioned that the battle to beat from outside the area because of the convenience. Covid-19 was being fought out in the communi- For the parishioners of St Teresa’s, there was a p4 Opt-in RE for Catholic schools opposed ty and out in general practice, in people getting real feeling that their church was being used for swabs and identifying Covid early, and places a good purpose. Testing began on April 6 and p8 Catholic reaction to the Budget such as St Teresa’s were perfect for this. He said concluded on May 22. p9 Women in seminaries debate Cathedral parishes open doors p12 Finding a different path to fruitfulness for limited access during level 2 A scene from Pentecost is depicted in On the front cover: by OTTO St Mary’s Pro-Cathedral in Christchurch was a stained-glass window at St. Mary of the Isle Church in open for prayer and Reconciliation each day from Long Beach, N.Y. (CNS photo) Cathedral parishes in ’s dioceses Monday, May 18 between 11am and 12.30pm opened their doors to varying degrees during the and between 4pm and 5pm, with the restrictions first days of Covid-19 alert level 2. outlined above. People entering cathedrals — and other Cath- In a message posted on facebook on May 14, olic church buildings that opened for private it was announced that St ’s Cathedral in prayer — were made aware of requirements for Dunedin would be open every day from 9am to hand washing and sanitising, recording atten- 5pm, under similar restrictions to those above. dance for tracking and tracing purposes and of Pompallier Diocesan Centre, 30 New Street, Ponsonby, Reconciliation was available on Saturdays be- the need for physical distancing. Typically, no tween 4.30pm and 5.30pm, with this taking . P.O. Box 147-000, Ponsonby, Auckland 1144. more than 10 people at a time were allowed into place in the sanctuary to meet social distancing Phone: (09) 360-3067 or (09) 378-4380. a building for private prayer. requirements. Email: [email protected] Information was also given about cathedrals In Auckland, St Patrick’s Cathedral was open Website: www.nzcatholic.org.nz and other churches being thoroughly sanitised for Reconciliation only on Tuesdays and Thurs- Publisher: Bishop each day. days between 5pm and 6pm. Similar restrictions Editor: Michael Otto Journalist: Rowena Orejana The Cathedral of the Blessed Mary in to those above applied. People were asked to enter Marketing and Administration: Claudia Cachay Hamilton opened its doors from 9am to 5pm from at the main cathedral doors. Design & Advertising: Anne Rose May 14, the first day of alert level 2. As well as The parish leadership of the Metropolitan Ca- Advertising enquiries contact: following the requirements outlined above, peo- thedral of the Sacred Heart in Wellington decided [email protected] ple were required to use pews within a cordoned that, under the circumstances, the cathedral com- -off area. Reconciliation was available for two plex could not reopen in the initial conditions for NZ Catholic is published fortnightly. Subscriptions: One hours on Saturday mornings. alert level 2. It was hoped that future conditions in year, $73; two years, $135. Overseas airmail extra. The In Palmerston North, the Cathedral of the alert level 1 might see an absence of restrictions. contents of NZ Catholic are copyright and permission to Holy Spirit opened for two hours each day from The cathedral itself was closed in 2018 because reprint must be obtained in advance. ISSN 1174-0086 Sunday, May 17. People were able to visit the of seismic risk. Member Australasian Religious Press Association and cathedral, under the restrictions outlined above, Many other parish churches throughout New Australasian Catholic Press Association between 12pm and 1pm and between 4.30pm and Zealand also opened their doors for various time 5.30pm each day. periods.

St Dominic’s Catholic College Hard times in Hazaribag Founded by the Dominican Sisters The lockdown in India is bringing hard serious. If Covid 19 becomes rampant Catholic School For Girls Years 7-13 times to out-of-work labourers who have in the area a bad situation will be even returned from the cities to their rural worse. So far, the Mission has diverted homes in Jarkhand State. This is over NZ $30,000 from school funds to • See regular updates on our college website happening all over India. help feed the people and prevent the In the Hazaribag Province in which the spread of the virus. If you are able to under COVID19 latest update. Jesuits serve, the Mission is heeding help support this urgent Mission appeal the call to divert from their usual you can by donating to New Zealand • Follow our student leaders on Instagram: focus of providing schooling for the Jesuits in India Trust, Westpac Bank, underprivileged Dalits and Tribal people, 03 0259 0068602 00. St Doms2020. to feeding the hungry. For the last 6 If you want more information, contact weeks all schools have been closed Kerry Moore, 16 Isleworth Road, • We continue to pray for families affected and the Jesuits have been working Bishopdale, Christchurch 8053 by the pandemic in any way. with school staff, Red Cross and local or email: [email protected] government to feed hungry families. Donations are tax-deductible. Cheques With no social security back-stop and no can be sent to the above address. breadwinner the families’ plight is very - Kerry Moore NZJIIT [email protected] www.stdoms.ac.nz jii590 NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 COVID-19 3 Public Masses resume with restrictions by NZ CATHOLIC staff

Public Masses have been allowed to resume Pastoral Letter on Leaving the Closed Room as of May 29 in New Zealand, with a limit of 100 people present, but each parish’s leadership will - from the New Zealand Catholic Bishops - May 26 decide if its own Masses are held on Sundays and/or weekdays or not at all under the current Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, have to determine how it will offer Masses while conditions. ensuring health guidelines are kept. This may On May 25, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern an- Kia tau te rangimārie ki a koutou – Peace be with mean some churches will not open immediately. nounced that limits on numbers present at public you. gatherings — such as religious services — could It may mean that there are more people wanting rise from 10 to 100 under Covid-19 alert level 2. to attend Mass than can be accommodated. We This would start from noon on May 29. In these days between the risen Lord’s Ascension ask you to be patient and understanding while In a May 25 statement, New Zealand Catholic into heaven and Pentecost the apostles returned your parish leadership determine what will hap Bishops Conference secretary Bishop Stephen to the closed room. There they joined in continu pen in your parish. With the Government, we ask Lowe said that “each parish will decide what is ous prayer, together with several women, includ those who are vulnerable to the virus, those who manageable and safe for their community, includ- ing Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his broth ing whether any particular weekday or Sunday are afraid and anyone who is not well to stay at ers (cf. Acts 1:12-14). It was from the closed room home. All people continue to be dispensed from Mass resumes”. that the Church was brought to birth as the Holy Bishop Lowe acknowledged that “not all pa- the obligation to attend Sunday Mass during this rishioners will be able to attend Mass because of Spirit came down upon the apostles and impelled time. the restrictions of numbers”. them to go out and proclaim the Good News. “Others will not attend due to health rea- As we emerge from our “closed room” we hope sons, concerns or fears. For these reasons, the This year Christians around the world entered a and pray that the Lord will pour out his Spirit dispensation [from] attendance at Sunday Mass “closed room” due to the pandemic. For some of upon us, guiding us to work for a better, more continues.” you this has enabled a graced time of prayer and caring society. We hope and pray that the Spirit He added that live-streamed Masses will con- reflection. For others it has been a time to refo will inspire our faith communities, our parishes, tinue to be offered for these people. cus and put lives in order. For some the “closed The bishop noted that the guidelines for the schools and chaplaincies, to re-vision themselves reception of Holy Communion and health prac- room” has led to family tensions or concerns towards a revitalised spiritual life, a renewed ef tices during the pandemic will remain in place. about future employment. For others still this has fort towards welcome and evangelisation and to These include distributing Holy Communion only been a time when they have allowed their faith a deeper awareness of and response to the needs in the hand, not on the tongue, and not from the to drift. Now the “closed room” of our churches is of the wider community. chalice. coming to an end. On May 26, the New Zealand bishops issued a As we look towards Pentecost may we be in pastoral letter “on leaving the closed room”, re- With you we rejoice that we are able to take ferring to the closed room in which the apostles spired by the early Church that emerged from the these first steps towards returning to some “closed room” so long ago. Like those Spirit-filled and others, including Our Lady, prayed between semblance of normality. The sacrifices we have the Ascension and Pentecost. (The text of the disciples, may we too take the risen Christ to the letter is to the right). made as a nation have averted what we have world. The bishops wrote of rejoicing in taking steps seen overseas. As we emerge from our “closed returning towards some semblance of normality, room” and return to our churches and communi Yours in Christ, and of joy at being able to celebrate the Eucharist ty engagement we take this opportunity to thank together again. those who protected and supported our sick, ✠ Patrick Dunn, Bishop of Auckland But the various restrictions for the good of vulnerable and, indeed, all of us throughout the and NZCBC President the vulnerable and elderly were acknowledged, lockdown. We thank all those in our faith commu as was the likelihood that some churches will not ✠  Stephen Lowe, Bishop of Hamilton open immediately. nities who have worked tirelessly to connect with “We ask you to be patient and understanding parishioners offering spiritual support. Again, we and NZCBC Secretary while your parish leadership determine what will have been delighted by the creative initiatives ✠  , Cardinal Archbishop of Wellington, happen in your parish,” the bishops wrote. that have arisen and the way the risen Lord has Government advice for such gatherings is to used these to bestow his graces. NZCBC Vice President maintain hygiene standards and meet existing ✠   SM, Bishop of Christchurch record-keeping requirements for contact tracing. We share your joy at being able to celebrate Eu charist together. However, we still have to live un ✠  , Bishop of Dunedin n Comment der the restrictions that are there for the good of The May 26 letter came after two weeks of our vulnerable and elderly. Each parish is going to ✠  , of Auckland communicating with authorities and public comment by the bishops after the Government backtracked on an initial alert level 2 limit of 100 for gatherings — indicated by the Prime Minister on May 7 — to a maximum of 10 announced five Cardinal John Dew, Bishop Patrick Dunn, the event was not technically a “gathering”. But the days later. This was on the grounds that close director-general of health Dr Ashley Bloomfield, Ministry of Health reiterated that no more than 10 fellowship among churchgoers would be a greater and leaders of other faiths on May 13. The Prime people could attend public gatherings, including risk of spreading the virus than the same number Minister stressed the need to wait a little longer church services. of people in a cinema or restaurant assembling in as the country was still at a very vulnerable stage. The Catholic bishops wrote a strongly worded groups of 10, but without intermingling. Within a few days it emerged that the New letter to the Prime Minister on May 22, urging that The 338 Catholic churches in New Zealand Zealand Police had issued guidelines to officers the Cabinet raise the limit of numbers allowed at were permitted to open their doors for private indicating religious services could proceed with religious services to at least 100. prayer under certain conditions from May 14. larger numbers, provided people sit in groups It had been signalled that an announcement With the Anglican bishops, the New Zealand of 10, with each group two metres apart from would come on May 25, after Cabinet met. But Catholic bishops wrote to the Prime Minister and others and a register being kept of those attend- there had been some hints that the limit would this resulted in a Zoom conference between her, ing. The Police guidance stated that such an be raised to 50 only.

TIM GOULDING, MARIA WEST, Auckland Parishioners JOHANN ROCHA, LYNETTE DUNCAN ST. PETER’S COLLEGE EPSOM, AUCKLAND and JOHN PAUL GOULDING A CATHOLIC SCHOOL FOR BOYS Barristers and Solicitors ELLIOTT DANIEL OVERTON & GOULDING 33 Selwyn Street Onehunga. PO Box 13017 Onehunga Ph 09 622 2222 Fax 09 622 2555 www.doglaw.co.nz • Mid-Year exams are underway.

•  Winter sport – hoping to begin mid-June. FUNERALS KEMP BARRISTERS & SOLICITORS 25 Oraha Road Huapai Auckland • Chess – On stage from Saturday 29 August. PO Box 600 Kumeu 09 486 2631 . 027 486 2050 [email protected] Auckland 0841 157 Shakespeare Rd Milford North Shore 0620 Ph 09 412 6000 www.northshorefunerals.co.nz Fax 09 412 6016 ST PETER’S COLLEGE BUILDS OUTSTANDING MEN Email [email protected] ST-PETERS.SCHOOL.NZ @SPCNOW 4 Features NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Opt-in RE in Catholic schools opposed by MICHAEL OTTO “Where religious instruction is pects of local Māori culture, knowl- the foundation of a school’s special edge and world view, which include Concerns from New Zealand’s Catholic educa- character, it is counter-intuitive Māori spiritual custom and practice. tion sector over the wording of a bill concerning that parents of students in those APIS supported “recognition religious instruction in state schools and how this schools should have to expressly of the partnership of Te Tiriti o might affect integrated schools were heard by a opt in,” it noted. Waitangi and the emphasis in the parliamentary select committee earlier this year. The submission also requested bill on engaging student learners In a submission to the Education and Workforce that the bill be reworded so that it and raising the engagement of all Committee about the Education and Training was clearer in this area. learners to be more successful, Bill, New Zealand Catholic Education Office chief Mr Ferris told NZ Catholic that without diminishing the obligation executive Paul Ferris stated that the way the bill when the NZCEO appeared before to provide equal outcomes for Mao- was drafted was ambiguous, to the extent that the the select committee, some com- ri students”. provisions that would apply to state schools and mittee members noted the points Mr Ferris told NZ Catholic that religious instruction would also apply to integrated that were made and no-one argued “we supported much of the Māori schools. with them. world view, but noted that the wid- Among other things, the bill changes the cur- A submission on the same bill er integrated sector might struggle rent “opt-out” provision for religious instruction by the Association of Proprietors Paul Ferris with such an expectation when in state schools that offer this outside of school of Integrated Schools, of which Mr aspects of Māori spirituality might hours to an “opt-in” one, whereby children can par- Ferris is also chief executive, made similar points, challenge their special character”. ticipate only if their parents request this in writing. but expressed concerns around provisions that While the majority of integrated schools have The NZCEO submission did not offer an opinion school boards of trustees be required to ensure Catholic affiliations, a significant number have on reversing this onus for state schools. that “students are given a Māori world view includ- their own special character, including Anglican, But it stated that “under the current drafting, ing spiritual custom and practice”. Methodist, Presbyterian, Adventist, Jewish, Mus- it appears that state-integrated schools would be “APIS records that a focus on the spiritual and lim, Steiner, Montessori and non-denominational subject to the opt-in provision . . . “. This appeared cultural practices of Māori may at times conflict Christian. to be an oversight in the drafting. with the faith-based programmes of state-integrat- Mr Ferris said he thinks that the committee It added that parents sending their children ed schools . . . .” members saw that this area of the bill — and to state-integrated schools is, in fact, a form of The APIS submission noted that, in state-inte- that around opt-in for religious instruction in “opting in”. grated schools, “the proprietor has the statutory integrated schools — needed to be tightened up “Making state integrated schools subject to the right to determine what is necessary to preserve and clarified, so the issues named do not present opt-in provision creates unusual consequences, and safeguard the special character of the school”. themselves. is inconsistent with other parts of the bill and is It also pointed to an inconsistency in the bill But he said the Covid-19 lockdown could well not supported by Ministry of Education guidelines as it stands requiring that religious instruction be have distracted the committee from this work. around religious instruction,” the submission permitted only where parents opt in, as against a “We have no updates to report, nor have we seen added. requirement that the curriculum must reflect as- the final draft.” Many challenges for emergency housing provider by ROWENA OREJANA housing. an added, but necessary, cost. Previously, cleaning “Because of lockdown level 4, we couldn’t a unit was done by volunteers. The need for emergency housing is expected take people in. Our last client was the day before Now, however, they are not sure when the vol- to rise after the Government’s temporary housing lockdown level 4. They came to one of our offsite unteers can come back to help. schemes during the pandemic finish. properties,” she said. “We’ve also not got any volunteers back as yet, De Paul House manager Jan Rutledge said there “Under level 3, we did take a family that was because we need to take care of them. A lot of them are roughly 200 households on the North Shore living in a garage into one of our smaller bedsit are retired,” she said. (Auckland) that have been housed in motel rooms units.” She said this family was living in a garage “And they work in teams. Volunteering should when the country went into level 4 lockdown. that got flooded when Auckland had one day of be sociable as well as delivering services for us. De Paul House is a Catholic emergency housing heavy rain. They are actually friends that would work in teams and family support organisation. In level 2, De Paul House has been able to ac- to sort linen and sort food. It isn’t safe for them “Government departments acted with speed, quire a new house in Glenfield, into which a family to come back at the moment.” but they (homeless families) are in motels or in which had been living in a car moved on May 15. The suspension of Masses and closure of temporary placements. So, they’ll come back to One family moved out of DPH under level schools also cut them off from their usual food our wait-list once those placements get cancelled 2. This brought to the fore a new cost that the supply. or deferred,” she said. emergency housing provider hadn’t had before: “With the Masses closing, that avenue of food During the lockdown, Ms Rutledge said De Paul commercial grade cleaning. donation completely stopped. Usually, Carmel and House still received 37 calls for assistance with Rosmini (Colleges) do an end-of-term food bank n Pandemic impact drive for us. We missed out on that because the Ms Rutledge said, when the Government de- lockdown came in so quickly for them as well as clared level 4 lockdown, the DPH staff and clients for us. So, our food bank was under-resourced right had to make decisions on the spot. from the beginning,” Ms Rutledge added. “At the beginning of lockdown level 4, we had She said, because they still do not have volun- just over 90 children and 40 adults. Those people teers, they are not going to take in donations of had to make really rapid decisions about who they clothing simply because there is no one to sort wanted in their bubble,” she said. them out. “Some of the young mums, in particular, de- cided they would create a bubble of two smaller n Essential workers families just to give each other the support, which Ms Rutledge said what she finds ironic and sad was a sensible and really good solution. They be- is that most of their clients who have no housing came really good friends throughout this whole are essential workers. lockdown.” “These people are essential workers now living Ms Rutledge said other clients were in the in transitional housing because they cannot find middle of relationship breakdowns, which made or afford permanent housing. But they are out their situations complicated because of custody there supporting communities. They are working arrangements. But the clients managed to sort out in supermarkets, working as cleaners or in elder these arrangements promptly. care homes. So they are essential to what’s being “I had been really impressed with the families provided during Covid -19, but they are living with living with us,” Ms Rutledge said. us. I find that sad to be honest,” she said. The staff had to make rapid decisions as well. What the health crisis did, Ms Rutledge ob- The number of staff dropped from 21 to 3, which served, was make people more compassionate. included herself. “People that previously had never had to apply CP1136-V2 “We had some staff members with health issues for [a] benefit, had never had housing risk, are and so we asked them to move straight to home,” feeling what our people have felt all the time. So, Ms Rutledge said. it increased the compassion,” she said. Their social workers were able to stay in touch Ms Rutledge said they still have amazing sup- Caring for you with warmth, with their clients throughout levels 4 and 3. The port from their parish communities, particularly staff had to become familiar with new technology St Joseph’s, Takapuna, and St Mary’s, Northcote. honesty and compassion and applications. She added they received fresh vegetables from Kiwi Harvest. Phone 0800 276 420 or 09 527 0266 n Less support What they need at the moment, she said, is The pandemic hit the emergency housing pro- practical support in terms of canned food, single www.arohafunerals.co.nz vider in unforeseen ways. duvets and financial help. Ms Rutledge said hiring commercial cleaners is See www.depaulhouse.org.nz NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Features 5 Principal appointed for NZ’s newest Catholic school by MICHAEL OTTO

An establishment principal has been appointed for New Zealand’s newest Catholic primary school. The Establishment Board of Trustees announced the appoint- ment of Anthony Mills as establish- ment principal of Suzanne Aubert Catholic School in Papamoa in the Bay of Plenty. Mr Mills will begin his role on June 8. According to a report in Hamil- ton diocese magazine Kete Korero, Suzanne Aubert Catholic School is a new, years 1-6, Catholic primary school that will open in February, 2021. The initial intake will be 100 pupils. The maximum roll will be 250 pu- pils by the end of 2024, according to Anthony Mills Looking east along Papamoa Beach. (Wikimedia Commons) The Education Gazette. The school is situated in Papamoa East and serves The facebook page for Suzanne by the Royal Society of New Zea- very excited about the opportunity a large, emerging suburban popu- Aubert Catholic School posted on land, where he specialised in marine to lead the vision and development lation. It is part of All by the May 13 that Mr Mills is currently science. of our new Catholic school in beauti- Sea Catholic parish, Papamoa Coast, assistant principal at St Mary’s “He has held a variety of other ful Papamoa, and is looking forward which was created in 2018 from Catholic School in Tauranga, and teaching and leadership positions to connecting with our community”. the amalgamation of Mt Maunganui was previously director of religious during his 16 years in education.” According to a report on The and Te Puke parishes. The parish studies at St Catholic The post also stated that Mr Mills New Zealand Herald website earlier already has one primary school — St School in Mt Maunganui. “is an active parishioner in the All this year, Graeme Roil, the Schools Thomas More School in Mt Maun- He has also held the position Saints by the Sea Parish, where he Property and Finance manager ganui. of Across School’s Coordinator, leads music ministry. He is a keen at Hamilton diocese, first began According to the Kete Korero ar- where he has worked with local musician, artist, sportsperson and scouting locations for the school 10 ticle, “Suzanne Aubert School and St Catholic schools in the Bay of Plenty enjoys surfing at his local Papamoa years ago, eventually buying the Thomas More School . . . will be key faith-based Kahui Ako (Community beach”. land for the school at Papamoa five parts of the ministry of the parish”. of Learning), the facebook post He is married to Amie-Lee, who years ago. Government approval “We see both schools developing added. is also a teacher and together they for the school was given earlier this a very close relationship and build- It was also noted that Mr Mills is have five children. year. ing on the existing family relation- a graduate of the Science Teaching As establishment principal of Su- Building the new school is report- ships within the parish.” Leadership Programme facilitated zanne Aubert Catholic School, “he is edly a “multi-million dollar project”. First time school named after Suzanne Aubert by MICHAEL OTTO goodness,” Sr Josephine said. the and towards the Bay of The sisters were approached Plenty.” The Sisters of Compassion con- by Hamilton Bishop Stephen Lowe Sr Josephine added that she sider that having a school named last March “asking for our opinion thought Suzanne Aubert “would be after their foundress is an honour. regarding having the new school in happy to have a school named after Although other schools have named his diocese named after our tipuna”. her because she had a special love classrooms and class houses after “Since then, the trustees of the for children, as shown by her actions Suzanne Aubert, this school have done research on Su- and her care of them”. is the first time a whole school has zanne Aubert, to enable them to “Besides nursing, Suzanne taught been so named. focus and assist them in forming the children, and reminded the sisters to Sr Josephine Gorman, DOLC, told charism of the school.” love them and to give them a home, NZ Catholic the sisters “are happy Sr Josephine said she did not a place where they will be safe. Su- knowing Suzanne Aubert’s spirit know if Suzanne visited Papamoa, zanne would hope that the children and legacy will live on in the minds but “between 1863-1865 she visited will be inspired by her to live the rest and hearts of the teachers, pupils outlying Māori tribes”. of their lives showing a good way of and parents at Papamoa and be- “It is certain that she visited the living, with a special love and care yond”. Waikato often enough to be thor- for people who are disadvantaged.” “Our hope is that the school will oughly familiar with its flora and The Catholic Parish of Wellington imbibe Suzanne’s spirit of faith and with the dialect of its tribes. Most South will name the parish after Su- love for God to reach out to people of these journeys had to be made zanne Aubert when she is beatified, with compassion, kindness and on foot, and extended throughout Sr Josephine said. Suzanne Aubert

“ I see the Church as a field hospital after battle.” FRANCIS

Help us to be there on the battlefield for those who need it most. A Bequest to St Vincent de Paul is a lasting way to help the most disadvantaged and needy in our community. If you would like to discuss a Bequest with us, please get in touch.

Society of St Vincent de Paul Freepost 992, PO Box 10-815, Wellington 6143 TEL: 04 4995070 EMAIL: [email protected] WEB: www.svdp.org.nz 6 Opinion NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 A time of spiritual reckoning

s part of his extraordinary “Urbi et Orbi” and, if we lie to ourselves and to others, then we blessing on the steps of St Peter’s Basilica cannot expect to find truth and reality whenever Ain March, delivered a power- we happen to want them” (Merton, New Seeds of ful meditation on the coronavirus crisis that is Contemplation 25). confronting the world. Reflecting on the Gospel In the long shadow cast by this global crisis, of Mark (4:35-41), the disciples’ fear and Jesus’ the culture of self-sufficiency has been unmasked calming of a storm, the Pontiff characterised as incapable of reflecting the divine image in this moment of history as a time of spiritual which we are made. Nevertheless, in his patience reckoning. and mercy, the call of God continues to echo in He proclaimed of God, “You are calling on us our day. to seize this time of trial as a time of choosing. In this moment there are many in spiritual Now is not the time of God’s judgement, but of motion, searching for a safe harbour and a lasting our judgement: a time of choosing what matters future, as they confront what has been all too and what passes away, a time to separate what is necessary from what is not”. Seated in solitude within St Peter’s Square, the Pope claimed this unfolding crisis as a decisive Daniel Ang event for humanity. Life has lost its outline and the affairs of this world no longer seem safe or certain. Our pre-packaged ideas, personal proj- provisional or else taken for granted. As Yeats ects, habits and priorities have been overturned owns up, “Now that my ladder’s gone/I must lie with no promise of an end in sight. down where all the ladders start/In the foul rag Amidst the vulnerability of this new world and bone shop of the heart” (The Circus Animals’ that we have been forced to inhabit, Pope Francis Desertion). urged an inner awakening on the part of human As people search the heavens for answers, it is Pope Francis arrives for a prayer service in an empty St Pe- society – a rediscovery of our faith and hope in a moment that calls from the Church a prophet- ter’s Square at the Vatican on March 27, 2020. (CNS photo) Christ, the one who suffers upon the cross and ic witness of solidarity and hope. Pope Francis is risen at Easter, and of our common belonging encourages us as Christians to a faith marked by shattered by a pandemic that respects no border as sons and daughters of God. fortitude, “capable of giving strength, support or claim to exceptionalism. The façade of contem- and meaning to these hours when everything porary “community” has been tested and found n Mirror seems to be floundering”. wanting, as evident as grocery aisle scraps. The current turmoil has exposed a funda- As an Easter people we recognise that Christ is mental forgetfulness of these dual realities, for n Threshold living by our side. Whatever may come, this per- we have long been “anesthetised” with ways of We can gainfully engage this moment by rec- sonal hope and belonging to Christ as one body thinking and acting that cannot nourish the soul ognising that, while our post-Christian culture transforms an aching absence into the consolation or produce a truly human society. Shaken neither may define itself against tradition and dismiss of presence, the grip of isolation and fear into the by wars nor injustices across the world, we have faith as a timeworn cliché, it cannot shrug off the courage to abide with one another in love and, lived as if we were invincible and set apart from existential ache that persists and asserts itself in like those first imperilled disciples, to entrust these suffering “others”, only to now find our- this threshold moment. To echo the observation ourselves to the Lord who provides every blessing selves vulnerable, isolated and without always of the English writer Julian Barnes, as a culture and strength we will need. the inner resources to confront adversity. “we may not believe in God, but we sure miss Daniel Ang is the director of Parish 2020 in This spiritual diagnosis by Pope Francis calls him”. In a sense, like the tearful crowds of the Archdiocese of Sydney. This article was first to mind the words of Thomas Merton who warned before the ashes of Notre Dame Cathedral, we may published in The Catholic Weekly. It is republished in another century, “We can be ourselves or not, be resistant to religion, but we are still haunted here with permission. as we please . . . We may wear now one mask and by Christian memory. Daniel Ang is the director of Parish 2020 in the now another, and never, if we so desire, appear Seeking progress without presence of God or Archdiocese of Sydney. This article was first published with our own true face. But we cannot make neighbour, this world crisis has now recalled us in The Catholic Weekly. It is republished here with these choices with impunity. Causes have effects to both. The pretence of individualism has been permission.

Ronald Rolheiser Fever

ohn Updike, after recovering from a serious to higher levels of maturity and wisdom. Once, the route to glory? And why might we not receive illness, wrote a poem he called, Fever. It ends during a lecture, he was asked: “Why do we grow the glory even if we do drink the cup? Jthis way: “But it is a truth long known that through the disintegrating experiences such as The cup, as is revealed later, is the cup of suf- some secrets are hidden from health.” falling ill, falling apart, or being humiliated? fering and humiliation, the one Jesus has to drink Deep down we already know this, but as a per- Would it not be more logical to grow through during his passion and dying, the cup he asks his sonal truth this is not something we appropriate the positive experiences of being loved, being Father to spare him from when in Gethsemane in a classroom, from parents or mentors, or even affirmed, being successful, being healthy and be- he prays in agony: “Let this cup pass from me!” from religious teaching. These just tell us that ing admired? Shouldn’t that fire gratitude inside In essence, what Jesus is telling James and this is true, but knowing it does not itself impart us and, acting out of that gratitude, we should John is this: There is no route to Easter Sunday wisdom. Wisdom is acquired, as Updike says, become more generous and wise?” except through Good Friday. There is no route to through a personal experience of serious illness, He gave this response: Ideally, maturity depth and wisdom except through suffering and serious loss or serious humiliation. and wisdom should grow out of experiences of humiliation. The connection is intrinsic, like the The late James Hillman, writing as an agnostic, strength and success; and maybe in some in- pain and groans of a woman which are necessary came to the same conclusion. I remember hearing stances they do. However, as a psychiatrist, all I to her when giving birth to a child. Further still, him at a large conference where, at one point in can say is that, in 40 years of clinical practice, I Jesus is also saying that deep suffering will not his talk, he challenged his audience with words have never seen it. I have only seen people trans- automatically bring wisdom. Why not? Because, to this effect: Think back, honestly and with cour- formed to higher levels of maturity through the while there is an intrinsic connection between age, and ask yourself: What are the experiences experience of breaking down. deep suffering and greater depth in our lives, in your life that have made you deep, that have Jesus, it would seem, agrees. Take, for exam- the catch is that bitter suffering can make us given you character? In almost every case, you ple, the incident in the Gospels where James and deep in bitterness, anger, envy, and hatred, just will have to admit that it was some humiliation John come and ask whether they might be given as easily as it can make us deep in compassion, or abuse you had to endure, some experience of the seats at his right hand and left hand when forgiveness, empathy and wisdom. We can have powerlessness, helplessness, frustration, illness, he comes into his glory. It is significant that he the pain, and not get the wisdom. or exclusion. It is not the things that brought glo- takes their question seriously. He does not (in Fever! The primary symptom of being infected ry or adulation into your life that gave you depth this instance) chide them for seeking their own with the coronavirus, and having Covid-19, is a and character, the time you were the valedicto- glory; what he does instead is redefine glory and high fever. Fever has now beset our world. The rian for your class or the time you were the star the route to it. He asks them: “Can you drink the hope is that, after it so dangerously raises both athlete. These did not bring you depth. Rather cup?” They, naïve as to what is being asked of our bodily and psychic temperatures, it will also the experience of powerlessness, inferiority, is them, responded: “Yes, we can!” Jesus then tells reveal to us some of the secrets that are hidden what made you wise. them something to which they are even more from health. What are they? We don’t know yet. I recall too as a graduate student sitting in naïve. He assures them that they will drink the They will only be revealed inside the fever. on a series of lectures by the renowned Polish cup, since eventually everyone will, but tells Oblate Father Ron Rolheiser, theologian, teacher, psychiatrist, Kasmir Dabrowski, who had written them that they still might not receive the glory and award-winning author, is president of the Oblate a number of books around a concept he termed because being seated in glory is still contingent School of Theology in San Antonio, TX. He can be “positive disintegration”. His essential thesis was upon something else. contacted through his website www.ronrolheiser.com that it is only by falling apart that we ever grow What? What is “the cup”? How is drinking it Follow on Facebook www.facebook.com/ronrolheiser. NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Opinion 7 Problem of suffering The Habit points to Jesus

s New Zealand loosens restrictions that ap- plied during the lockdown initiated by the Acoronavirus pandemic, many questions are being asked. What does the future hold? Will the economy recover? What does it mean for my family and my community? Was our response the right one? There are many questions and many answers — but often those answers are not immediately available. Even people of faith are among those asking questions. Underneath all of these is a fundamental question. Where is God in all of this? It goes back to one of the great mysteries — the mystery of evil and suffering. Many answers have been proposed down the centuries — for instance, suffering is a test or a trial; suffering is punishment for sins. It is not a new problem. As writer Mark Dowd pointed out in the Jesuit publication Thinking Faith earlier this month, many an ingenious solution has been proposed under the heading of “theodicy”. While these questions certainly have their place, Dowd wrote, the answers to them are “condemned to fall short”. Instead, one arrives back at the Book of , where “the haplessly virtuous but tormented fig- ure asks God to make sense of all his trials and misfortunes”. God does not give Job an answer but points to the divine instigation of the great the emergence of a “New and hand washing, why breadth and depth of creation, which is beyond Letters World Order” — to dooms- is the Government putting human comprehension. day predictions. the health of vulnerable What will we think women in great jeopardy However, a key aspect that can be taken from other symbols. once this is all over? Will by permitting prostitu- the Book of Job is not that God explains suffering Frances Mazur, we have learned? Will we tion and the opening of to Job, but rather God is with him in his suffering. Ordination Manurewa, Auckland. admit we have a gullible brothels? This points to an even greater “being with” human- n Abridged —­ Editor. propensity for predicting How does the Govern- ity by God that is yet to come. Regarding the episco- the worst? ment expect prostitutes to Jesuit Father James Martin, writing in The pal ordination of Bishop I suspect that we will maintain social distancing New York Times Michael Gielen at Voda- move on, forget about it with their clients? Every earlier this year, fone Events Centre on Rebellion except when we encounter life matters and the health explored similar March 7 (NZ Catholic, adverse effects ahead. of prostitutes and their cli- Editorial problems and March 22). It was truly a After some weeks in Then will we be in- ents should be of concern splendid and memorable lockdown, we started to clined to assign blame and to the Government. questions. Like celebration embracing all rebel, and fuelled by a fail to remember that we Ken Orr, Dowd, he found that the mystery of suffering is cultures and ages. desire to break out of our just may owe our lives to Christchurch “unanswerable”, but if this is the case, where can My congratulations “bubbles”, we began find- the benevolence of others? the believer go in times like this? . . . to the organisers for ing fault with . . . the very Barbara Hines, “For the Christian, and perhaps even for others, selection and setting up system so valiantly trying Auckland. Debate the answer is Jesus,” Fr Martin wrote. of the venue, for the effi- to do everything in its This is apt in many ways, even in the times of ciency of the traffic war- power to protect us. I have been following this pandemic. We look upon the image of a cruci- dens and ushers, the wel- We were frustrated Brothels with interest the various fied and suffering God on the cross, who breaths come and accommodation and angry, our nerves debates and comments his last and gives up his Spirit. of everyone, enhanced by frazzled, fearful for our Why has the Govern- on social media about the the use of the big screen future, our jobs and our ment approved the open- fact that religious services This is in a time when stories have been in me- and technology of sound. economy, to the extent ing of brothels but closed in the first part of alert dia throughout the world about patients fighting Looking about me at that the threat of impend- churches? Is it that pros- level 2 can only have 10 for breath, oxygen levels, ventilators and the like. the tiers of people in cul- ing demise diminished. titution is considered an people attending, whereas Fr Martin wrote that Jesus is divine, so knows all tural attire, our clergy, We needed to find a essential service but not the limit for certain other things, but he is human so has experienced human the many choirs in dif- scapegoat . . . and we churches? commercial activities is things — even being starved of oxygen. ferent colours, the school railed against hasty laws It would be helpful if 100 — with appropriate And this reflection is most apt at Pentecost, uniforms, the faces of so set in place to help control the Government could social distancing. where, as Benedict XVI preached in 2011, the Holy many nations, I realised the spread of the disease. explain to the commu- While debate is healthy Spirit is portrayed in John 20:22 as the breath of that was the true picture We resorted to count- nity why gatherings of and Catholic laity have a of our diocese — alive, er-productive behaviours more than 10 persons are right to make their views the risen Jesus. At the same time, the Spirit is the involved, joyful and par- bearing the marks of ir- prohibited at a church to known to their pastors, one who makes us recognise the Lord God in Jesus. ticipating in the life of rationality, fuelling our worship God and pray, care should be taken The Spirit prompts us to speak the profession our faith. latest obsession; to hold but gatherings of 100 are that comments are made of the Church’s faith: “Jesus is Lord.” Surrounded by Fili- someone —­ anyone ­— to permitted at restaurants respectfully. Most have “Lord”, Benedict preached, “is the title attribut- pinos, Indians, Iranians, account. Self-righteous- and bars. been, but a few have been ed to God in the Old Testament, a title that, in the Dutch and others all ness, thinly veiled as Is it that the Govern- sailing a bit close to the interpretation of the Bible, replaced his unpro- speaking in their own righteous anger, stand- ment trusts those who wind. nounceable name. The Creed of the Church is language, plus the Deaf ing up for our “rights”, attend the local bar or Our leaders did make nothing other than the development of what we with sign language, my preposterous projections restaurant to be respon- their case to Government. say with this simple affirmation: “Jesus is Lord”. thoughts went to Pente- of imagined probabilities, sible but not those who Some people think they cost and the speaking in way into the future. attend church to worship should go on making that The words “Jesus is Lord” can be interpreted in many tongues by Jesus’ Tired of restrictions, God and to pray? case over and over again two ways, Benedict continued. followers. we demanded relief and Religious freedom is a in public protest. That “They mean: Jesus is God, and, at the same At my age, this is the began to believe that we right that is not subject to could well work against time: God is Jesus. The Holy Spirit illuminates fifth such ceremony I have were being deceived into the state. We have a duty the Church in the long this reciprocity: Jesus has divine dignity and God attended. The camera thinking that we had ever to God to come together run. The court of public has the human face of Jesus. God shows himself work and close-up shots been in danger! Or that as a community to give opinion is not likely to be in Jesus and, by doing so, gives us the truth about allowed us to share in the risk was minimal, the honour and glory to God kindly disposed — and ourselves. Letting ourselves be enlightened by those intimate moments measures taken excessive and to pray for the nation. that will play against the this Word in the depths of our inmost being is the and actions unseen before or draconian. In view of the Gov- voice of people of faith ­— the placing of the ring “Experts” emerged ernment’s desire to pro- being well heard on future event of Pentecost.” on Bishop Michael’s hand, with explanations ranging tect the community from issues. As Dowd wrote: “How very apt that, in these the presentation of the from outrageous conspir- Covid-19, with the empha- S. Maitland, Covid-19 anxious times, we vouch faith in a God Book of the Gospels and acy theories ­— including sis on social distancing Auckland. who does not ridicule us or abandon us in our suffering, but in a God who sends his son to die through asphyxiation on a cross.” Except for our own edi- NZ Catholic welcomes readers’ letters, although receipt of a letter does not guar- “A God who says —­ this is not the end of the torials, opinions expressed antee publication. No correspondence will be entered into concerning publication. tale. Put your hand in mine. Walk through the dark- in NZ Catholic do not neces- Letters should be no longer than 220 words and should be topical, to the point, and ness of the tomb and prepare for the unexpected sarily reflect the opinion of include the writer’s address and phone number. Ad hominem attacks are not welcome. — the new life of resurrection. the newspaper or of its own- Emailed letters should be sent as part of the text message — not as an attachment — to “We look through a glass darkly. I believe, Lord. er, the Bishop of Auckland, [email protected] and include the writer’s physical address. Pseudonyms are not Help my unbelief.” unless otherwise indicated. accepted, except by special arrangement. 8 Budget Reaction NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Budget an encouraging start but some omissions

by NZ CATHOLIC staff and unsupported child’s benefit. “We are, however, disappointed by the choice Auckland diocese’s Justice and Peace Com- not to increase the base rate for social welfare mission believes that, with its 2020 Budget, the assistance, or to extend payment of the living Government has made an encouraging effort to wage to state contractors. The divide gets bigger meet the needs of the poor and vulnerable in the as these people on the margins continue to be Covid-19 crisis, but there were some omissions. neglected.” The commission prefaced its reaction to the A Government move to fund a community clear- Budget by noting Government responsibilities to ing house to enable access to justice for the vulner- foster the common good and support the poorest able was described as “a very helpful initiative”. and most vulnerable, while facing the challenges The commission added that more assistance was of such an unprecedented time. needed in other areas of prisoner rehabilitation Moves in the Budget to address the housing and working with offenders with drug and alcohol crisis were applauded by the JPC, specifically the issues, as well as more support for programmes provision of 8000 more public and transitional to improve prisoner health and literacy. housing units – but this is over an unspecified The numbers of people seeking Jobseeker Support ben- The JPC welcomed a continued emphasis in time period. The commission noted that there were efits has risen sharply. the Budget on sustainability and nurturing the 14,000 families on the public housing waiting list environment “while assisting people to continue before the Covid-19 crisis, and the pressure in this Also welcomed was the $37million fund to sup- in employment and build a more sustainable and area is likely to increase. port community groups, with a particular focus fairer society, particularly through the $1.4billion “We believe a much more substantial pro- on helping Maori, Pacific, refugee and migrant trades and apprenticeship training and the $1.1bil- gramme of decent affordable house construction, communities in coping with the crisis. lion environmental jobs schemes. state and private, is still urgently needed, and Extension of the School Lunch programme and Also applauded were a boost to Department of would be a great provider of jobs and assistance an allocation of $32million to reimburse food- Conservation funding and the introduction of the to business through the substantial flow-on effects banks was praised. $200million jobs-for-nature programme. through the economy,” the commission stated. “We identify a need in Auckland and Northland But “it would have been useful if the Budget had The affordability of private rentals needs to be to put in place a collective strategy to address provided more support for incentives for sustain- addressed urgently, it added. immediate food needs of so many families,” the able land use, robust assistance to transition to The commission also welcomed the $137mil- commission added. electric vehicles, improve water quality for rural lion increase in Whanau Ora funding which will Also praised were the Wage Subsidy Scheme and urban communities, and work on a system help many vulnerable families facing the health and the $25-a-week increase in social welfare as- to adequately rate and label goods in terms of and socio-economic effects of the Covid-19 crisis. sistance for foster care allowance, orphans benefit country of origin and environmental standard”. Significant welfare system shortcomings at critical time by NZ CATHOLIC staff nificant shortcomings in our welfare system at a Ms Beech said that, instead of addressing the time when unprecedented numbers of people are inadequacy of benefit levels, Budget 2020 instead Wellington Archdiocese ecology, justice and entering the system for the first time, she noted. supports the charitable sector delivering emergen- peace advisor Lisa Beech welcomes Budget 2020, The Wellington Ecology, Justice and Peace cy food support through schools and foodbanks. which significantly increases Government spend- Commission submitted to the Finance and Expen- “The best way to overcome food insecurity is ing to protect and create jobs, deliver heathcare, diture Select Committee in February that the Gov- to raise benefit levels so families can buy food build houses, support community organisations, ernment implement the Welfare Expert Advisory themselves. Our inadequate social safety net will and create environmental projects during the Group’s Recommendation 19, that main benefits inevitably see more people in poverty. We will Covid-19 health and economic crises. be raised to cover a higher proportion of people’s continue to advocate that fundamental issues in “After four decades in which ideas that the mar- living costs, reducing reliance on other forms of our welfare system must be addressed through ket will deliver social and economic wellbeing have assistance. the Covid-19 response.” predominated, we strongly welcome the recogni- tion in Budget 2020 that a core role of the State is promoting the common good of all,” she said. However, despite the greatest increase in Social services need further boost Government spending that many will see in our lifetimes, the Budget still does not address sig- by NZ CATHOLIC staff change to the benefit system increasing funding for the social so that those who need welfare service sector and for building The New Zealand Council of receive enough income to meet up the sector’s capability to Christian Social Services praised their basic needs. This would ensure community and social additional funding for a wide reduce the overall demand for service organisations are well Auckand’sCatholic range of support services in the crisis support and social ser- positioned to meet the increas- Funeral Specialists Budget, saying that it would be vices, it said. ing needs going forward, notably of great help to those who suffer “NZCCSS is disappointed when increased unemployment Covid-19-related hardship. that the structural change that and hardship are forecast. Davis Funerals has been NZCCSS executive officer is needed in the welfare system “While this Budget delivered caring for Catholic families Trevor McGlinchey said the has not been implemented. The significant additional funding for over 80 years. We are a funding would help social ser- Budget has maintained the ben- into areas such as family vi- family managed business vices “step up to provide the efit status quo, with only small olence services, food rescue, that has proudly provided support families, whānau and increases in income. As a result foodbanks, rural communities over three generations of communities need”. of this lack of change, many and public housing, only a small professional and personal But the Budget did not in- more will be amount of funding was provid- service to our Catholic troduce some moves that the impacted by poverty and hard- ed to support organisations to community. NZCCSS had hoped for. ship”, McGlinchey said. address current and historic Prior to the Budget, the The council added that an cost pressures,” Mr McGlinchey It’s our privilege to help you NZCCSS called for structural ongoing process is needed for said. through this important time. We have 16 Funeral Directors all trained and experienced to help our Innovative investment needed for fairness Catholic families. by NZ CATHOLIC staff omy, putting resources back into from home. the hands of iwi to encourage Caritas also welcomed New Contact us today to discuss Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand employment for their people, Zealand’s continuing commit- your options, or organise welcomed the Budget’s overall and ensuring that existing in- ment to overseas aid, especially a free pre planning direction as being a foundation equalities are overcome must to Pacific nations. It called for consultation. of hope, but called for innovative be a high priority, Caritas noted. ongoing transparency in the al- investment to help everyone cre- It also called for a low-carbon location of those commitments. ate a fairer society. economy and added that invest- “Now is the time for bold and A “reset” following on from ment decisions to generate jobs decisive investment to build our Phone: 09 638 9026 the Covid-19 crisis is an oppor- should reflect that. For those future,” a Caritas statement not- Email: [email protected] tunity to heal the afflictions of carbon-intensive industries ed. “In the Budget we find a foun- poverty, intergenerational un- which need to make substantial dation of hope; now we must employment, homelessness and changes, there should be a fair ensure that all New Zealanders environmental degradation. transition involving education, are able to contribute to, and 80 Budget moves to create jobs upskilling and retraining of benefit from, the opportunities were praised by Caritas, as were staff, as well as support for new that will arise from the more davisfunerals.co.nz environmental initiatives. flexible ways of working which cohesive, resilient society that Strengthening the Māori econ- may involve working more often we rebuild together.”

NZ Catholicv2.indd 1 4/09/19 12:38 PM NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Features 9 Women in seminaries debate prompts questions by ROWENA OREJANA inaries and seminary formation is problem is not “just about the pres- vital. In New Zealand, at the Catho- ence of women in seminaries”. The presence of women in sem- lic Theological College (previously “We need more women in deci- inaries and seminary formation is known as ), sional positions within the Catholic vital for future priests and preven- we have a very good balance of male Church. Pope Francis continues re- tion of sexual abuse, but the Church and female lecturers,” she told NZ minding us of the importance of bat- must go beyond that and act now, Catholic. tling against clericalism,” she said. a top New Zealand Catholic theolo- “Currently we have five female Dr Figueroa said Western societ- gian said. lecturers and seven males. Apart ies have “largely overcome” a patri- Earlier, Canadian Cardinal Marc from the good gender balance, the archal of leaderships, but the Ouellet, Prefect of the Congregation college also has a variety of ages Church has not. for Bishops, was interviewed by Vat- and cultures within the staff, which “The power in the Church is ican News about the role of women gives the students the possibility of profoundly linked to those who in priestly formation programmes. being enriched by many different administer the sacraments. For me, “We must radically change” how perspectives.” this is a huge problem that doesn’t priests interact with women, the Dr Figueroa said the problem reflect the spirit of the Gospel,” she cardinal was quoted by Vatican she sees is that the seminary is too said. News as saying, adding that “during “male-centred” and future priests Dr Figueroa cited women apos- formation it is important that there don’t have a lot of contact with tles, prophets and teachers who is contact, discussion, exchanges” women. were leaders in the early Church: with women. “It is like a bubble in which they Priscilla, Phoebe and Junia. The Vatican News also report don’t learn how to have healthy re- “We need to show the value of Cardinal Ouellet as saying that lationships with the opposite sex, dignity and equality between male having women on seminary forma- and this can damage their process Dr Rocio Figueroa and female, not just in our words, tion teams “would help a candidate of sexual maturity. Perhaps we can but in our own structures,” she said. interact with women in a natural rethink ways in which seminarians sexes is missing, there is a risk of “I think that the Church lacks half way, including in facing the chal- can have more contact with families developing compensations . . . [ of humanity in its decision-making lenge represented by the presence and lay people,” she said. which can] express themselves [in] process and is not receiving the of women, attraction to a woman.” Cardinal Ouellet said in the inter- the exercise of power or in closed re- knowledge and particularities that Dr Figueroa said New Zealand view that he agreed that, if women lationships, a closure that becomes women can bring. Women are able is doing “pretty well” in terms of were involved in the formation of manipulation and control . . . and to offer their talents in the charis- having women in priestly formation, priests, the sex abuse scandal might which can give rise to the abuse of matic dimension of the Church, but as against its counterparts around have been prevented. conscience and sexual abuse.” not in the institutional,” she further the world. “There certainly is some truth “I think that, for a priest, learning explained. “I agree with Cardinal Ouellet in that because man is an affective to relate to women in the environ- Dr Figueroa said the lack of fe- that the presence of women in sem- being. If interaction between the ment of formation is a humanising male participation in the formation factor that promotes equilibrium of future priests is only one factor. in the man’s personality and affec- “The Church has effectively been tivity,” the cardinal was quoted as breathing with one lung,” she ob- saying. served. “For me, it is not time for Aust. bishops welcome Dr Figueroa said, while she agreed reflection because all these things with the cardinal on this issue, the are pretty clear. It is time for action.” governance reform report

CANBERRA — The Australian the Church’s life and mission,” Catholic bishops have welcomed said Archbishop Mark Coleridge, a report into gov- president of the Australian Catholic ernance practices and possible re- Bishops Conference. forms, which was presented to them “To do it justice, the bishops shortly before their plenary meeting will now take advice, consider the in mid-May. report in depth, conduct discussions The report, entitled The Light at a provincial level, and otherwise from the Southern Cross: Promot- prepare for a full discussion at their ing Co-responsible Governance in November plenary. This will allow the Catholic Church in Australia, them to then publish the report and was commissioned by the Austra- respond to it.” lian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Coleridge noted that following a recommendation of the the report, dealing as it does with so Royal Commission into Institutional many aspects of Church governance, Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. will necessarily become a significant The report is 200 pages long and contribution to the ongoing work of includes 86 recommendations. prayerful reflection and discussion “The members of the Gover- leading up to the formal assemblies nance Review Project Team are of an upcoming Plenary Council in to be congratulated on producing Australia. such a substantial piece of work, “The whole Church in Australia with far-reaching implications for is presently engaged in a process of deep reflection and discernment on the life and mission of the Church in the immediate and longer-term future,” said Archbishop Coleridge. “We owe a debt of gratitude to the Governance Review Project Team for their important and comprehensive contribution to this ongoing process of discernment. The report will un- doubtedly contribute to the eventual formation of proposals to be consid- ered during the Plenary Council.” The report identifies key princi- ples of good ecclesial governance, such as subsidiarity, stewardship, Pandemic Appeal synodality, dialogue, discernment and leadership. It offers important ideas on how the Church might Help us support vulnerable communities enhance the leadership role of lay people and ensure appropriate co-re- as they prepare for and respond to the sponsibility at parish and diocesan levels. COVID-19 pandemic. “The bishops look forward to considering the report in depth and 0800 22 10 22 www.caritas.org.nz to its eventual public release,” Arch- Archbishop Mark Coleridge bishop Coleridge said. 10 International NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 St Peter’s Basilica reopens to the public VATICAN CITY (CNS) ­— Almost 10 weeks after St Peter’s Basilica was closed to the public in cooperation St John Paul with Italy’s Covid-19 lockdown mea- sures, the faithful and tourists were allowed back in on May 18. remembered on Pope Francis celebrated Mass at 7am at the tomb of St John Paul II to mark the 100th anniversary of the ’s birthday Polish pope’s birth. Then, at 8am, the VATICAN CITY (CNS) — St John general public was admitted. Paul II was a man of deep prayer, The basilica was sanitised on May who loved being close to people 15 in preparation for the reopening. and loved God’s justice and mer- It had been closed to the public since cy, Pope Francis said at a Mass at March 10. the saint’s tomb on May 18. On the edge of St Peter’s Square, a “Let us pray to him today that sign advises visitors they must wear he may give all of us — especially a mask and stay 2 metres away from shepherds of the Church — but others in order to enter the basilica. all of us, the grace of prayer, the The Vatican sanitation service grace of closeness and the grace placed hand-sanitiser dispensers at of justice-mercy, mercy-justice,” the end of the colonnade surround- the Pope said. ing St Peter’s Square. From there, the Before releasing a written de- public finds “keep your distance” cree later that day, Pope Francis labels and tape on the cobblestone also announced during the Mass path leading to the health and se- A woman has her temperature checked before entering St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican that the October 5 liturgical me- curity checks before entering the on May 18 (CNS Photo) morial of St basilica. would no longer be optional but At the end of the path, two mem- While many of the people attend- ple receiving Communion at the would be an obligatory feast day bers of the Knights of Malta, dressed ing the Mass celebrated by Pope Pope’s Mass. For the Masses celebrat- for the whole Church. St John in white lightweight hazmat suits, Francis were not wearing masks, ed later that morning, Communion Paul canonised St Faustina and point a small thermoscanner at the once the celebration was over, Vat- was distributed only in the hand. promoted her devotion to Divine visitor’s forehead. If the person ican security began enforcing the Vatican workers with large spray Mercy. does not have a fever, he or she can face-mask requirement and breaking bottles resanitised the altars and Pope Francis said that, just proceed to the line for the metal up any situation where it looked like pews where Masses were celebrated as the Lord visited his people detectors. people were standing close to each with the public. because he loved them, “today After the security check and be- other to talk, including journalists Except for the expanded space we can say that 100 years ago the fore entering the church, visitors trying to interview some of the first needed for the line for security Lord visited his people — he sent find another hand-sanitiser dis- people inside. checks, St Peter’s Square remained a man, he prepared him to be a penser. Vatican Media did not show peo- closed. bishop and to guide the Church” as a shepherd. There were three things that made St John Paul such a good shepherd: his intense Vatican announces Laudato Si’ anniversary year dedication to prayer; his close- ness to the people; and his love VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The Vati- Year” from May 24, 2020, to May 24, families, dioceses, schools, universi- for God’s merciful justice, Pope can announced that it will commem- 2021, which will emphasise “ecolog- ties, hospitals, businesses, farms and Francis said. orate the fifth anniversary of Pope ical conversion in action”. religious orders. The Mass at St John Paul’s Francis’ encyclical on the environ- Among the events set to take The Dicastery for Promoting Inte- tomb was scheduled to be the ment with a year-long series of initia- place throughout the year are prayer gral Human Development said that, last of Pope Francis’ early morn- tives dedicated to the safeguarding services and webinars dedicated to amid the current pandemic, “Laudato ing Masses to be livestreamed and care for the Earth. environmental care, education and Si’” can “indeed provide the moral online; with churches opening The Dicastery for Promoting Inte- the economy. The dicastery also and spiritual compass for the journey in Italy and elsewhere, the Pope gral Human Development announced detailed the rollout of a “seven-year to create a more caring, fraternal, encouraged people to attend Mass a “Special Laudato Si’ Anniversary journey toward integral ecology” for peaceful and sustainable world”. in their local parish communities while respecting health norms. In new biography, Pope Benedict English bishop dies says world threatened by humanism from COVID-19 MANCHESTER, England (CNS) ­— A MUNICH (CNS) ­— In a newly-pub- been published before, the former could also be applied to the bishop retired English bishop has died from lished biography, retired Pope Ben- Pope said he had written a spiritual of . It prevented “any notion Covid-19 a week after he tested posi- edict XVI said the Catholic Church testament. This will presumably not of a coexistence of two : a tive for the virus at his nursing home. is threatened by a “worldwide dic- be revealed until after his death, diocese can have only one incum- Retired Auxiliary Bishop Vincent tatorship of seemingly humanist KNA reported. Benedict did not com- bent. At the same time, it expresses Malone of Liverpool died May 18 in ideologies”. ment on its contents. a spiritual bond that can never be Royal Liverpool Hospital, said a May He cited same-sex marriage, abor- He also explained the reasons taken away.” 18 statement by the Bishops’ Confer- tion and the “creation of humans in for his resignation as pope in 2013. The former Pope also likened his ence of England and Wales. Bishop the laboratory” as examples. He denied that it was because of situation to that of an old farmer in Malone was 88. The retired Pope, 93, said: “Mod- corruption in the Vatican or the Bavaria who has passed his farm to The statement noted Bishop ern society is in the process of for- “Vatileaks” scandal. Instead, he said his son, lives in a small house next Malone’s warm hospitality, kindness mulating an anti-Christian creed, it had become increasingly clear to to it and has ceded his fatherly and and the respect he showed those and resisting this creed is punished him that, in addition to possible de- commanding rights. whom he served in ministry. by social excommunication.” mentia, “other forms of insufficient Pope Benedict vehemently reject- Commenting on the state of the ability to hold office properly are ed accusations that he had inter- Church in the 21st century, he said, also possible”. fered in Church debates since then. “Events have shown by now that the In this context, Pope Benedict This, he said, was a “malicious dis- crisis of faith has above all led to a revealed that he, like St Paul VI and tortion of the truth”. KNA reported crisis of Christian existence.” St John Paul II, had signed a condi- that he hinted there were “reasons The German Catholic news agen- tional declaration of resignation “in why people just want to switch off cy, KNA, reported the remarks were the event of illness that rendered the my voice”. published in the final chapter of a proper performance of duties impos- Referring to his relationship with biography of the retired pope by sible”. He did this “relatively early” his successor, he said he thanked bestselling author Peter Seewald. in his pontificate, he told Seewald. God that the “warm-hearted devo- The book was published in German He commented at length on crit- tion of Pope Francis” enabled him on May 4; the author said Pope Bene- icism of his resignation. The office to implement the idea of a pope dict made the comments in autumn, of a “pope emeritus” that he had emeritus. Since their meeting in Cas- 2018, more than five years after he created should be compared to that tel Gandolfo in 2013, he said, there resigned. of a bishop who had retired for age has been a personal friendship that Retired Bishop Vincent Malone in an undat- In the interview, which had not reasons, he said. This legal status has “not only remained, but grown”. ed photo (CNS Photo) NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 International 11 Pope joins interfaith prayer for end to pandemic

VATICAN CITY (CNS) ­— At a time During the Pope’s Mass, lives- of global “tragedy and suffering” treamed from the chapel of the because of the coronavirus, and in Domus Sanctae Marthae, he said he view of the long-term impact it will could imagine some people would have, believers of every religion say that gathering believers of all should beg mercy from the one God religions to pray for a common cause and father of all, Pope Francis said. “is religious relativism, and you During his early morning Mass, can’t do it”. Pope Francis joined leaders of every “But how can you not pray to the religion marking May 14 as a day of Father of all?” he asked. prayer, fasting and acts of charity “We are all united as human be- to ask God to stop the coronavirus ings, as brothers and sisters, praying pandemic. to God, each according to our own Some people might think, “’It culture, traditions and beliefs, but hasn’t affected me; thank God I’m brothers and sisters praying to God,” safe.’ But think about others! Think the Pope said. “This is important: about the tragedy and also about the brothers and sisters fasting, asking economic consequences, the conse- God to pardon our sins so that the quences on education,” the Pope said Lord would have mercy on us, that in his homily. the Lord would forgive us, that the “That is why today everyone, Lord would stop this pandemic.” brothers and sisters from every But Pope Francis also asked peo- religious tradition, are praying to ple to look beyond the coronavirus God,” he said. pandemic and recognise that there Pope Francis begins Mass on May 14 explaining that he is joining members of all religions The day of prayer was called for are other serious situations bringing in a day of prayer, fasting and charity, asking God to free the world from the coronavirus by the Higher Committee of Human death to millions of people. pandemic. (CNS Photo) Fraternity, an international group of “In the first four months of this religious leaders formed after Pope year, 3.7 million people died of hun- war, of hunger” and so many other awful pandemics: those of hunger, Francis and Sheikh Ahmad el-Tayeb, ger. There is a pandemic of hunger,” evils spreading death. war, children without education. And grand imam of al-Azhar, signed a he said, so when asking God to stop “May God stop this tragedy, stop we ask this as brothers and sisters, document in 2019 on promoting the Covid-19 pandemic, believers this pandemic,” he prayed. “May God all together. May God bless us and dialogue and “human fraternity”. should not forget the “pandemic of have mercy on us and also stop other have mercy on us.” Few mentions of ‘abortion’ in sermons, study finds WASHINGTON (CNS) ­— The percentage of tional average. Evangelicals led the way with 22 per cent of a larger assembly. sermons about abortion is in the single digits, per cent, with mainline Protestants trailing at 10 Quinn told CNS the study did not take into ac- according to a Pew Research Center study, the per cent. count the physical location of the churches, and results of which were released April 29. The percentage of Catholics hearing about whether abortion might have been the subject of Even a mention of abortion in a sermon is rare, abortion may be surprising, according to Dennis a policy battle during the study period. according to the study. Quinn, the lead researcher for the study. The Given that nearly all sermons are being deliv- Pew analysed nearly 50,000 sermons, shared median length of Catholic homilies was 14 min- ered online during the coronavirus pandemic, online or livestreamed by more than 6000 US utes - but 37 minutes for all sermons, with black Quinn said he did not know whether any subse- churches and delivered between April 7 and June Protestants topping out at 54 minutes. quent study would account for this new reality. 1, 2019, a time-frame that included Easter. “If you talk about 17 things in the same ser- Pew used computational tools such as Google Five per cent of Catholic homilies analysed mon, you have a greater chance” of mentioning Places to find church websites, and Amazon’s during the study period mentioned abortion, abortion, Quinn told the Catholic News Service in Mechanical Turk, a crowdsourcing website, to which topped the national average of 4 per cent. an April 28 phone interview. help find abortion references in 250-word sermon Other Christians were grouped into “mainline Moreover, the study found abortion is more segments, because, as the study said, “whole Protestant”, “evangelical Protestant” and “histor- likely to be mentioned in sermons to smaller con- sermons are generally too long for an individual ically black Protestant”. gregations. Catholic Masses tend to draw sizable worker to read in one sitting”. Nineteen per cent of Catholic congregations congregations. Pew found 23 per cent of smaller heard abortion mentioned in at least one sermon Catholic congregations - 200 or less - hearing an during the study period, which matched the na- abortion reference in a sermon, compared to 18 concern over Israel’s West Bank plan VATICAN CITY (CNS) — The form the Holy See about recent declared a “flagrant violation” Holy See is concerned about developments in the Palestinian of international law. an Israeli plan to unilaterally territories, and of the possibility The Vatican statement said, annex a large portion of land in of Israel applying its sovereign- “The Holy See reiterates that the West Bank, said a Vatican ty unilaterally to part of those respect for international law statement. territories, further jeopardising and the relevant United Nations “The Holy See is following the peace process”. resolutions is an indispensable the situation closely, and ex- Israeli Prime Minister Benja- element for the two peoples to presses concern about any fu- min Netanyahu and opposition live side-by-side in two states, ture actions that could further leader Benny Gantz reached an within the borders internation- compromise dialogue,” said the agreement to form a coalition ally recognised before 1967.” statement released on May 20. government, and Netanyahu The Vatican also expressed The Vatican press office was sworn in again as Prime “its hope that Israelis and Pales- said the statement came after Minister on May 17. He had tinians will be soon able to find Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the promised to bring a proposal once again the possibility for Vatican foreign minister, was to the full government as early directly negotiating an agree- contacted by telephone by Saeb as July 1 to annex the land on ment, with the help of the in- Erekat, chief negotiator and sec- which some 130 Jewish set- ternational community, so that retary-general of the Palestine tlements are built in the West peace may finally reign in the Liberation Organisation. Bank, settlements the United Holy Land, so beloved by Jews Erekat, it said, wanted “to in- Nations Security Council has and Christians and Muslims”. Disappointment as public shut out in Jerusalem JERUSALEM — People were visits and prayers”, with entry for not opening were problems disappointed to be denied en- restricted to a maximum of 50 maintaining social distancing, try to the Church of the Holy people at a time, with other re- waiting for a further easing Sepulchre in Jerusalem on May strictions applying. of government restrictions so 24, reported The Times of Israel. On May 24, it was announced that 100 people could enter, The denominations that that the reopening was post- and a claim that 50 clerics from share custody of the church had poned, however a new date was various churches came to pray announced that it would reopen not given. on May 24, leaving no room for on May 24 “to the faithful, for Among the reasons cited the public. 12 Features NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Finding a different path to fruitfulness by JENNY BRINKWORTH

When Catholic convert and respected journal- ist Debra Vermeer was grappling with the reality that she and her husband Tony could not conceive a child, she found the shelves of bookshops de- void of helpful literature. There was a plethora of material on parenting and different fertility methods and technologies, but very little to support couples living with infertility. A former Canberra political reporter and media adviser to the Australian Catholic Bishops Con- ference, Debra “heard God whisper” that maybe she could write a book about infertility in a faith context. As well as putting into words her personal ex- perience and deepest thoughts, she interviewed six other couples who have “walked their own path through infertility” and she has shared these stories in her recently published book Life to the Full. As the title suggests, it is a book of hope. But that doesn’t diminish the pain and anguish experienced by couples whose faith is based on the divine command of “be fruitful and multiply” (Genesis 1:28) and the Catholic teaching that chil- dren are “the supreme gift of marriage” (Gaudiem et Spes, 161). In the introduction, Debra unpacks biblical ref- erences to infertility, and the fact that they almost always go hand-in-hand with God intervening. “I found little solace in these stories of God blessing infertile (and often downright elderly) couples with a baby as a reward for their faith- fulness,” she writes. Debra and Tony Vermeer “If God could do that for women like Sarah, Rachel and Hannah in the Old Testament, and come to understand that, “despite the cross of embryos just for the sake of one. That was just Mary’s cousin Elizabeth in the New Testament, infertility we have been called to bear, or perhaps not something we wanted to do. then why wouldn’t he do it for us?” through it, we are infinitely blessed”. “It was strange how angry that decision made But through her discussions with bishop “God has given us a strong, deep and true love a lot of people though, especially doctors. We had friends and her spiritual adviser, she came to as a married couple.” one doctor who was recommending IVF and, when the understanding that these Scripture stories One of the most moving parts of Debra’s story we told him our decision, he got really angry and are part of a bigger narrative of God’s “unfailing, is her relationship with her stepchildren, whom started shouting at us.” liberating love” and it is “in our barrenness and she describes as “two of the finest human beings The six women spoke to Debra of the pain of in our suffering that God’s blessing will come”. you’ll ever meet”. seeing their friends get pregnant, the guilt of Revealing her devastation at not falling preg- “What continues to amaze me and to humble not giving their parents grandchildren, the over- nant after marrying fellow journalist Tony Ver- me is the way Cass and Zac received me into their whelming grief at times such as Mother’s Day and meer, a widower with two teenage children at the lives,” she writes. baptisms. time, Debra writes of crying at shopping centres “Right from the beginning, Several couples have nav- because she’d seen a random baby, and some- long before we were married, igated the long and complex times breaking down for no apparent reason at all. they welcomed me with open road to adoption — both local “I now recognise it as profound grief. The fu- arms. They received my love “If God could do that and overseas — with joyous ture that I had dreamed of and yearned for was warmly and they loved me results, one is considering swept away and it was like I was incapable of wholeheartedly in return. for“ women like Sarah, foster parenting and another reimagining a future,” she writes. They invited me into the fab- is still trying to conceive us- But her faith, which has led her to becoming ric of their individual lives, Rachel and Hannah in the ing natural fertility methods. a Benedictine oblate (a vowed associate of the trusting in me and confiding All have been sustained order) and frequent visitor to the sisters’ Jam- in me. We loved spending Old Testament, and Mary’s greatly by their faith and, beroo Abbey in New South Wales, was a constant time together, both one-on- while there may have been source of solace. one and as a family. I learnt a times when they’ve ques- After 15 years of marriage she says she has lot about how to love in that cousin Elizabeth in the tioned God’s plan for them, first year, and my teachers they have never doubted that were the two young souls New Testament, then why he has a plan. whom God had sent into my Laura and Joe use much life.” wouldn’t he do it for us?” of their free time mentoring Like Debra and Tony, each young married couples and couple in the book has a babysitting for friends. unique story to tell, of how “So we definitely see our they fell in love, their hopes and dreams, their marriage as being fruitful, whether we end up faith and how it influenced the way they respond- having babies, or adopting or fostering, or not. ed to their infertility. Having a fruitful marriage is about sharing and Debra acknowledges that most infertile cou- multiplying your love as a couple, and we’re sure ples, including many Catholic couples, choose God will lead us in the right paths there. Our job to try IVF and, although the statistics show that is to stay open to his will and to keep saying, ‘OK many are unsuccessful, the beautiful children God. What next?’” born through IVF are loved by all. Life to the Full is a much-needed message However, the couples in her book have, as a of hope for couples unable to have their own result of their faith, chosen another road. children, but it has important learnings for the Because of the prevalence of IVF in the modern Church as well. understanding of infertility, choosing not to use As Debra points out, the statistics of one-in-six this type of technology can land you in a lonely Australian couples experiencing infertility means place, according to Debra. that, on any given Sunday in a Catholic church, “Many people don’t understand your decision, there are at least a few couples in the pews who or are even hostile to it,” she writes. are living with infertility. There was a feeling One of the women featured in the book, Trudy, amongst the couples she interviewed that their says that, despite being told that IVF was their pain was not being “seen or heard in a pastoral only lifeline, they never felt tempted to pursue it. sense” and that they didn’t quite “fit” anywhere “We were always comfortable with our deci- in parish life. sion not to pursue IVF, and our decision on that Life to the Full, published by St Pauls Publica- became even stronger once we were faced with tions, retails for AUD$24.95 and is available from the situation,” Trudy says. stpauls.com.au/product/10090. “It wasn’t just blindly following the teaching Jenny Brinkworth is editor of The Southern Cross, of the Church, but it was something we were re- newspaper of the Adelaide archdiocese in Australia. ally convinced about, that we can’t destroy other The article is republished with permission. NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Sunday Readings 13 Readings for Pentecost and Trinity Sundays The following Scripture passages correspond to those used as the readings on Pentecost Sunday and Trinity Sunday. As a service to NZ Catholic’s readers during this time when Sunday Masses with congregation cannot be celebrated or have to have limited numbers because of Covid-19-related restrictions, these texts, which have been taken from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website (New American Bible, Revised Version), are provided for devotional use and spiritual reflection.

PENTECOST SUNDAY Second reading: First reading: Acts 2:1-11. 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13. When the time for Pentecost was fulfilled, they Therefore, I tell you that nobody speaking by were all in one place together. And suddenly there the spirit of God says, “Jesus be accursed”. And came from the sky a noise like a strong driving no one can say, “Jesus is Lord”, except by the Holy wind, and it filled the entire house in which they Spirit. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of but the same Spirit; there are different forms of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of service, but the same Lord; there are different them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit workings, but the same God who produces all of and began to speak in different tongues, as the them in everyone. To each individual the mani- Spirit enabled them to proclaim. festation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. Now there were devout Jews from every nation As a body is one though it has many parts, and under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, all the parts of the body, though many, are one they gathered in a large crowd, but they were body, so also Christ. For in one Spirit we were all confused because each one heard them speaking baptised into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, in his own language. They were astounded, and in slaves or free persons, and we were all given to amazement they asked, “Are not all these people drink of one Spirit. The Trinity, by Leandro da Bassano who are speaking Galileans? Then how does each of us hear them in his own native language? We Gospel: John 20:19-23. ground. Then he said, “If I find favour with you, are Parthians, Medes, and Elamites, inhabitants On the evening of that first day of the week, Lord, please, Lord, come along in our company. of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus when the doors were locked, where the disciples This is indeed a stiff-necked people; yet pardon and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in our wickedness and sins, and claim us as your districts of Libya near Cyrene, as well as travellers their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” own.” from Rome, both Jews and converts to Judaism, When he had said this, he showed them his hands Cretans and Arabs, yet we hear them speaking and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they Second reading: in our own tongues of the mighty acts of God.” saw the Lord. [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace 2 Corinthians 13:11-13. be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send When I was a child, I used to talk as a child, you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on think as a child, reason as a child; when I became them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. a man, I put aside childish things. At present we Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and see indistinctly, as in a mirror, but then face to whose sins you retain are retained.” face. At present I know partially; then I shall know fully, as I am fully known. So faith, hope, love TRINITY SUNDAY remain, these three; but the greatest of these is First reading: Exodus 34:4-6,8-9. love. then cut two stone tablets like the Gospel: John 3:16-18. former, and early the next morning he went up For God so loved the world that he gave his Mount Sinai as the Lord had commanded him, only Son, so that everyone who believes in him taking in his hand the two stone tablets. The Lord might not perish, but might have eternal life. came down in a cloud and stood with him there For God did not send his Son into the world to and proclaimed the name, “LORD”. So the LORD condemn the world, but that the world might be passed before him and proclaimed: The LORD, the saved through him. Whoever believes in him will LORD, a God gracious and merciful, slow to anger not be condemned, but whoever does not believe and abounding in love and fidelity.” has already been condemned, because he has not Detail of the The Pentecost, by El Greco. Moses at once knelt and bowed down to the believed in the name of the only Son of God.

for beautiful funerals

Contact us anytime:09 415 8720 www.dils.co.nz 14 Features NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Vatican not at risk of default though facing ‘hard times’

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Although the Vatican is facing difficult years ahead due to the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, its budget is not facing a massive default, said the prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy. In an interview with Vatican News published on May 13, Jesuit Father Juan Antonio Guerrero, the prefect, denied reports claiming that an internal analysis given to Pope Francis places the Vatican’s annual deficit at risk of growing 175 per cent. “The Vatican is not in danger of default,” Father Guerrero said. “That doesn’t mean that we are not naming the crisis for what it is. We’re certainly facing difficult years” ahead. The Italian newspaper Il Messaggero published on May 10 what it claimed was an internal analysis given to the Pope during a recent meeting with the heads of the Roman Curia. The documents high- lighted scenarios from best to worst case should revenues continue to decline drastically. The article also stated that the Pope advised curial heads to be frugal, freeze the hiring of new employees, eliminate superfluous costs and to not make new trips or organise new conferences. When asked about the Pope’s meeting, Father Fr Juan Antonio Guerrero, SJ, prefect of the Vatican Secretariat for the Economy (CNS Photo) Guerrero said the Vatican is determined “to find a way to ensure our mission” and determine “what is The Church, Father Guerrero added, does not narios for the Vatican’s finances, Father Guerrero and what is not essential”. However, “our economy “live to balance budgets” and trusts “in the gener- said that “the most optimistic scenario calculates cannot be completely measured merely in terms osity of the faithful”. However, the Church must a 25 per cent decrease in revenue” while “the most of deficit or cost”. also do its part to “show those who donate part of pessimistic (averages to) around 45 per cent.” “We are not a business, we are not a company,” their savings to us that their money is well spent”. A major source of revenue, he said, comes from he explained. “Our objective is not to make a profit. “There are many Catholics in the world who the Vatican Museums, which “is closed now and Every dicastery, every entity performs a service. are willing to donate to help the Holy Father and will most likely remain in difficulty due to a slow Every service has associated costs. Our approach the Holy See fulfil their mission,” he said. “It is to recovery”. It was scheduled to open on June 1. must be the maximum sobriety and the maximum them that we must make an accounting.” “We had already decided, when approving this clarity. Our bottom line is in view of mission.” The head of the Secretariat for the Economy also year’s budget, that expenses should be reduced in Since the Church carries out its mission thanks noted that the Vatican’s finances are comparably order to reduce the deficit,” he said. to the offerings of the faithful, he said, the Vatican less than other countries and even “less than the “Both the optimistic or pessimistic scenario must “manage our finances with the passion and average American university, for example. This, depend partly on us — on how much we will be diligence of a good family man”. too, is a reality that is often ignored”. able to reduce costs — and partly on external Nevertheless, “there are three things that are “Between 2016 and 2020,” he said, “both in- factors, on how much the revenue will actually not in question, not even in this moment of crisis: come and expenses have been constant: revenue, decrease; revenue does not depend on us,” Father employee salaries, aid for people in difficulty and in the region of 270 million (euros), expenses aver- Guerrero said. “In any case, unless there is some support for the churches in need. No cut will affect aged around 320 million, depending on the year.” extraordinary income, it is clear that the deficit those who are most vulnerable”, he said. Regarding the best — and worst — case sce- will increase.”

Disappointment

e’ve all been disappointed cal/treatment delays. The disruption is outweigh their desire to work together in life — by people or when immense. Not all of it is positive. Some to protect others. There is a balance Wcircumstances didn’t go our of it is very frustrating. For us, we to be had. The cost of keeping us all way. We’ve all disappointed people — have seen both sides of this coin. I am healthy and away from each other in either big or small ways. It seemed trying to focus on the couple of posi- and therefore stopping the spread of Family to be unavoidable and is perhaps even tive wins for us this lockdown. coronavirus comes at an economic more prevalent now with a mantra Fear and anxiety have wrapped cost; other health costs, particularly of “looking after yourself first — no around us with the coronavirus pan- with increased mental health issues — Matters one else will” being espoused. We’ve demic. It’s being used to excuse all from my anecdotal experience — fewer certainly had what feels like more than sorts of transgressions. I am very outpatient clinics and delayed elective our fair share of disappointment — disappointed in the overreach by surgeries. We need to pray for our Helen people promising one thing and doing our Government granting powers to leaders that they can make balanced another, people complaining when you the police to enter private property and fair and equitable decisions in this Luxford did your best. without warrants. At a time when we time. How do we pick ourselves up all have fewer than 80 active cases in the We need to support each other to the time? There are secular concepts country, this seems unwarranted to not be overcome with fear, anxiety, of the growth mindset, thinking posi- me. I am strongly disappointed in the disappointment. Hold on to our faith tively, the list goes on. As Christians, continued discrimination by our Prime with prayer. Write to your MP and the we turn to prayer and live in hope and Minister and Government singling Prime Minister to encourage a return faith and love. We are called to forgive. out religious worship as not being to Mass. As I write this column, we can This includes forgiving ourselves. For- able to gather more than 10 worship- have Masses of nine plus a priest. We giveness, as we all know, is far easier pers. Restaurants are having up to 10 were so blessed to have a home Mass said than done. It seems much easier groups of 10 to a maximum of 100. We on a recent weekend. Support your to hold onto transgressions by others. too can keep safe social distancing and priests and empower them. We need Often though, we hold on to them long practise hygiene to do the same. The our faith more than ever at this time to after they occurred and potentially reasons behind this decision are soft get us all through. long after the offender has forgotten and inconsistent. Schools, for example, John 10:10; “The thief comes only about them. are places of social activity, so denying to steal and kill and destroy. I came I have just recently had the expe- religious groups the right to worship that they may have life and have it rience, during lockdown, of remem- safely is entirely inconsistent. It is a abundantly.” bering how very disappointed I was breach of our freedom of religion. (This column was written before the over a couple of things that hadn’t Balancing the needs of everyone is announcement by the Prime Minister happened. Only to then find, with the hard. We in New Zealand have gone on May 25). coronavirus and lockdown, that it was along with a lockdown to help protect Helen Luxford is a physician, working an absolute blessing that these issues the vulnerable in our community. This part-time. She is a parishioner of St Mi- had worked out the way they had. I is quite different to the egocentric chael’s, Remuera. Together with her hus- know many people have been caught attitude of some people, in the US, for band Michael, they are raising their children out financially, or with trips that have example. Their individual civil liber- in the Catholic Faith and reflecting on the been cancelled, or with medical/surgi- ties and freedom seem paramount and challenges and joys that brings. NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Features 15 ‘Hollywood’ reinvents its past CLIPS Les Misérables (Rialto) is known for its riots, but few filmmakers enter the suburbs dominated by migrants, known as banlieues. One of them is Montfermeil, characterised by high-rise apartment blocks and populated by Africans. Mali-born writer-director Ladj Ly is famil- iar with these concrete jungles, where street kids mainly play soccer. France is still celebrating its World Cup win when one snatches a lion cub from a travelling circus. A crime squad trio (Damien Bonnard, Alexis Manenti and Djebril Zonga) are sent to investigate, triggering events that include an accidental shooting, which is filmed by a drone. Anxious to control an outbreak of violence, the cops dig a bigger hole when they pursue the drone operator. The bird’s-eye camera recalls a classic of the French cinema, La Haine (Hate), made 25 years ago on the same topic of disaffected youth. But this not just about an act of police brutality and the resistance that follows. It is also about a community This photo illustration shows highlights from the seven-episode miniseries Hollywood, streaming now on Netflix. (CNS that, from the outside, looks hopelessly estranged, but internally photo/Netflix) is governed with benign effect by an ex-thug and kebab shop by NEVIL GIBSON owner who is also the local Muslim leader. Rating: Restricted to audiences over 13. 104 minutes. Viewing habits are adapting Movie Review to post-Covid-19 conditions. Bait One is the acceptance of “limit- While The Plot Against Amer- a German). (Rialto) ed series” formats on streaming ica fits the more traditional TV McDaniel was largely exclud- If you thought The Lighthouse pushed the limits of extreme cinema platforms that resemble stan- convention of a literary adap- ed from her award ceremony, with its early 19th century techniques, then try Mark Jenkin’s dard-length features made for tation that tries to maintain as and this is recalled in the 1948 homemade version. He filmed his story of fear and loathing in the big screen. much of its source material as reconstruction. Hollywood’s a Cornish fishing village in black-and-white on a hand-cranked These are not the padded-out it can, Hollywood goes further Hays Code forbade inter-racial 16mm Bolex. Furthermore, he hand-processed the film stock and crime stories using formulaic into fantasy than Quentin Taran- screen intimacy until 1956, and edited it as well. The result is intended as authentic localism with characters. At their best, series tino’s Once Upon a Time in Hol- open practice of sexual diversi- a post-synchronised soundtrack that pits the heavy dialects of of four-to-eight episodes allow lywood, set four decades later. ty was not fully accepted until villagers against those of middle-class holiday-making London- greater plot nuance and charac- Both have counterfactual decades later. ers and binge-drinking students. (The title is a play on the term ter development. “Hollywood” endings. Holly- In fact, no African-American “fishing bait” having an alternative meaning of shady activities, Recent examples are HBO’s wood ends with hopes of racial actress had ever won an Oscar of which there are many.) Edward Rowe, in his feature debut, The Plot Against America, based and sexual diversity several de- for best actress until Halle Berry plays the central character – an embittered fisherman who is on Philip Roth’s novel about the cades ahead of reality. A major did for Monster’s Ball in 2002. solely interested in getting money to buy his own boat, his brother plight of Jews under Nazi-sym- (fictional) studio makes a movie The first screenplay award to an having converted their father’s into taking trips for tourists. Rating: pathising United States Pres- called Meg that boasts an Afri- African-American was not until TBA. 89 minutes. ident Charles Lindbergh, and can-American female star and is Jordan Peele in 2018 for Get Out. Netflix’s dramatisation of Debo- based on a screenplay by a gay But much of Hollywood is Color Out of Space rah Feldman’s autobiographical African-American male. Both grounded in reality. The gas (StudioCanal) Unorthodox about her flight win Oscars in the 20th Academy station that employed would- Nicolas Cage gave up an A-list acting career sometime around from New York’s Hasidic Jewish Awards in 1948, a reconstructed be actors was used for pickups. the turn of the century in favour of appearing in as many B-grade community (noted here in the event. Eleanor Roosevelt did urge Hol- movies as he could. That has meant making up to four a year, April 19 issue). Some of this is true. Holly- lywood bosses to adopt progres- most of them missing a cinema release. Occasionally, he breaks The former was based on wood features Hattie McDaniel sive views. Rock Hudson was a the mould of his stereotypical man-of-action who turns bad or a counterfactual notion that (played by Queen Latifah), who struggling actor until he became mad. He did a cameo as a government intelligence agent in Lindbergh, the famous aviator, won an Oscar for best support- famous in the mid-1950s, while Oliver Stone’s Snowden after appearing in World Trade Centre defeated Franklin D. Roosevelt ing actress for Gone With the his manipulative agent, Henry (2006). Cage’s latest big screen role is also esoteric and based in the 1940 election. Wind in 1940. A fictional Oscar Willson, had mafia connections. on an H.P. Lovecraft horror story published in 1927. These have Ryan Murphy and Ian Bren- is awarded to Anna May Wong, In summary, this is Holly- a cult following – much like Cage’s movies – and this will appeal nan’s Hollywood is a Netflix who was passed over for the wood’s way of back-projecting to both audiences. A meteorite crashes to earth with unforeseen mini-series set in the late 1940s lead role in the 1937 film of today’s values to absolve sins consequences on all the characters and an alpaca farm to boot. that also mixes real-life histor- Pearl Buck’s The Good Earth, of the past. Netflix rating (Hol- Rating: Restricted to audiences over 16. 110 minutes. ical figures and events with despite her Chinese ethnicity lywood): 16+. 347 minutes (7 fictional material. (the role went to Luise Rainer, episodes) A worthwhile investment for daily spiritual nourishment

WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? ­— Daily Reflections on life needs changing?” the Bible, the Saints and the Answer That Is Christ, He employs the same approach on October by Cardinal Timothy Dolan. (Image, New York, 2019). 11, when he writes about the threefold mission Book Review 369 pp, US$26. Reviewed by BRIAN OLSZEWSKI of the Church — to sanctify, serve and teach. It’s (CNS). instructive, not preachy. and Pope Francis. Anyone who has ever heard Cardinal Timothy Some pages have an advice columnist tone. On Lest a lesson get by the reader, the cardinal Dolan — in personal conversation, interviewed on June 9, he offers three steps for someone wishing writes about some of them multiple times, includ- TV, giving a homily or address- to return to the Church: Prayer, ing on children and family. Each page includes a ing a conference — knows the celebrating Sunday Mass and quotation from Scripture to set the tone for what Archbishop of New York is not making a good confession. He he writes. at a loss for words. does so in a voice that is not All of the writing is good, but some parts are Nor is he at a loss for words demanding, but reassuring and better than others. The strongest material is in his new book, Who Do You welcoming. when he writes about personal experiences. One Say I Am? Reading page after page, one reflection involves his 8-year-old niece being di- He provides a reflection realises there isn’t a topic about agnosed with bone cancer. Another is about his for each day of the year on a which Cardinal Dolan can’t mother living in an assisted living facility, and variety of topics and about a di- write. Among his reflection her concern that she’s a burden on her children. verse group of people. One will subjects are gratitude, free- One of the most poignant is his story about vis- not know what to expect from dom, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, iting a prison, and being presented with a sketch page to page, which is why this patience, friendship, baseball of Jesus on the cross that was done by an inmate will not become a “thought player Stan Musial and pasta who had sketched himself on the cross next to for the day” book that collects (He begins one reflection with, Jesus. The onlookers in the artwork were several dust on a shelf. Readers will be “I love to eat”). of his fellow inmates. The artist told the cardinal, curious about the topic of his He provides catechesis on “We’re all right there with Christ on the cross”. latest reflection. Advent, Lent and Easter, as well Who Do You Say I Am? is a worthwhile invest- At times, it is a retreat-like as about numerous saints, for ment for those who want daily spiritual nourish- examination of conscience, for example, St John the Evange- ment. Cardinal Dolan provides much about which example, on January 25, the list, St , St Damien of to think and pray —­ and smile — and he delivers feast of the Conversion of St Molokai, St Katharine Drexel. it in a manner that readers will enjoy. Paul, he asks: “Am I living up He also makes references to Brian Olszewski is the editor of The Catholic Virgin- to what I profess? Where do I the lives of Blessed Paul VI, St ian, biweekly publication of the Diocese of Richmond, fall short, and what about my John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI Virginia. 16 Features NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020

THE CHURCH YEAR We are here:6 Pentecost Sunday Advent Christmas Ordinary Time Lent Eastertime Ordinary Time

The Holy Spirit is the Church’s life force

May 31: Pentecost Sunday. Readings: 1. Acts 2:1-11; Scripture by Fr Kevin Waldie sm Psalm: 104; 2. 1 Corinthians 12:3-7,12-13; Gospel: John 20:19-23. Each of these readings plays a special role in of receiving an instant welcome in order to let this Pentecost day celebration. For it is in each the world hear of God’s great power working author’s words that we hear the extraordinary through a few for the good of all. moment for the disciples. The risen Christ’s ap- testimony members of the early Church give to a Paul, a talented speaker and charismatic pearance explains why Jesus’ return to the Father power of presence in their midst. And that pres- member of that early Church, shows us in 1 is necessary. It takes place to announce that the ence, of course, is the Holy Spirit who breathes Corinthians that the Holy Spirit is a singularly Holy Spirit is the Church’s life force for future life into everyone in the wake of the Resurrection powerful gift of divine presence. And at work mission and ministry. And Jesus’ peace greeting and ascension. for the common good, the Spirit is in complete signals the Spirit’s imminent arrival, that is the In Acts, Luke’s depiction of the disciples union with God the Father and the Lord Jesus offer of well-being for all people. assembled inside a house reveals the great out- Christ. Paul thus bears witness to the universal Because of these readings, our Pentecost reach that the Spirit enables. The phenomenon benefits of being spiritually empowered by our celebration becomes a jubilant and profound that suddenly envelops those present makes God. expression of confidence in our God. For they it possible for them to preach everywhere in Like Luke’s account, John’s house scene invite great trust in the Holy Spirit to support every language. The Spirit is therefore capable also recounts a memorable post-Resurrection us wherever we are in the world. A classic Christian expression of faith The biblical texts for this Trinity Sunday re- ond Letter to the Corinthians, he ended with veal the essence of how we as Catholic believers a greeting that has become a classic Christian June 7: Trinity Sunday. Readings: Exodus 34:4-6,8-9; are to understand our God. expression of faith. It is a saying that neatly de- Response: (Daniel 2: 52-57); 2. 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; And we begin with a classic text from Exodus. fines what we believe to be the ever-present work Gospel: John 3:16-18. At its core is a refrain regularly heard throughout of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the midst the Old Testament. Its description of the God of of the Church. Here today, in those concluding the Hebrews, as revealed on Mount Sinai, is to words, Paul draws our attention to the grace of special relationship with our world and all who be noted. It wants us to know our God as com- the Lord Jesus, the love of God the Father and know their proper place in it. And then John passionate, gracious, slow to anger, ever-loving the communion of the Holy Spirit. Interesting- links that thought to the divine love that is given and always faithful. The power of these words ly, each named attribute closely echoes God’s extraordinary form in the one who is named Son is thus meant to summon up within us a sure nature professed in the Exodus text. of God and the Word made flesh. sense of God’s love for us and so inspire how John’s Gospel passage is also a neat summary As we take in the content of these readings, we deal with one another. of how we are to regard the God of the Scriptures. we cannot fail to be greatly edified by what each When Paul wrote his final words in the Sec- In particular, the evangelist points to God’s very one leads us to understand about our triune God.

SAINTED GLASS Very small group Bible study SEATTLE (Agencies) ­— The governor of Washington state in the US, Jay Inslee, has revised the stay-at-home order that forbids Bible News religious gatherings of any size in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, after one man study,” said Mark Lamb, owner and founder sued the state last month. of The North Creek Law Firm. According to a report on the Christi- Mr Freed and his wife have hosted Bible anity Today website on May 12, on March studies in their home weekly for the past 23, Governor Inslee issued a stay-at-home two and a half years. And they made an order that required every Washingtonian to effort to host virtual Bible studies online, stay at home except for essential business. but privacy issues and technical glitches Bible-related gathering wasn’t recognised held them back. With this amendment, they as essential, and a regulation prohibited are now able to hold one-on-one Bible spiritual gatherings of any size due to the studies. Covid-19 outbreak. Mr Freed will have only one Bible study First Liberty Institute and the North per day, and will follow guidelines from the Creek Law Firm represented Joshua Freed US Centers for Disease Control and Preven- at a hearing to challenge the Washington tion with additional safety. This includes governor’s ban. During that hearing, before wearing protective equipment, including a district court in Washington, attorneys a mask and gloves, and prohibiting hand- for Governor Inslee notified Mr Freed that shaking or physical contact. he may have a home Bible study on a one- on-one basis. For the previous two times, Governor In- slee refused to respond to requests seeking a one-on-one Bible study exemption, and finally, his lawyers yielded in court. “The governor conceded that Mr Freed can have a one-on-one Bible study, and that he will not enforce the rules against home Bible studies on a one-on-one basis,” said Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel at There are three significant days in the Church calendar this First Liberty. “The governor’s attorneys, issue – Pentecost, Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, during the proceeding, made various state- and Trinity Sunday. To my mind, this window from St Panta- ments that indicate the governor may not leon, Chavagnac, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France covers all three. take any steps to enforce any shut down It is obviously set at Pentecost, with the Holy Spirit as a dove orders that affect religious activities, even and tongues of fire on the eleven apostles’ heads as described beyond the Bible study at issue.” in Acts 2:1-4. Mary, being the central figure, shows her place “Religious community, even one-on-one as the Mother of The Church. I think of the Holy Spirit as being Bible study, is essential to many people of the embodiment of the love between the Father and the Son, faith. We are grateful that, in this challeng- who communicates that love to us in a very real way today. ing time for our country, Governor Inslee Thank you, God, for your Holy Spirit! ­— Glen McCullough was willing to concede that the ban does not apply to Joshua Freed’s home Bible CNS photo NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 17 Local Diocese News Help for an anxious boat to China by JOHN McLISTER

It is the night before our Prime Minister will announce a nation-wide lockdown; and the Lyttel- ton Seafarers’ Centre is full. It is only a small place, but every seat is taken and seafarers have spilled outside. They have come ashore to connect to the centre’s free wi-fi to talk to wives and kids. They know this will be their last chance to chat to their families for months, as ports world-wide ban shore leave, as part of the Covid-19 response. As many ships do not have wi-fi, contact with home is about to be cut off. Usually what you hear when seafarers are calling home are happy sounds: a child’s cheery “hello” to a dad they haven’t seen for months; a wife laughing about a funny family anecdote; a father far from home telling his little girl before she goes to bed, “Goodnight darling, I love you.” But tonight, even though they are speaking in Tagalog, Romanian and Russian, one word punc- tuates all their conversations: “Corona.” They have a lot to be worried about. One of the crews in the Seafarers’ Centre is from a bulk car- rier loading our logs for China. “We don’t want to go,” says Remi from Manila, “but if we break our contract early, we risk not getting recruited in the future”. His friend Jimmy was supposed to sign off (return home) at the next port. “I have been told I can’t,” he says. “The shipping company can’t get a replacement to the ship because of the Covid Above: Rev. John McLister with seafarers at the Lyttelton Seafarers Centre before the nation went into lockdown. restrictions. I just want to be with my family.” Below: Deacon Dileep Athaide, right, a chaplain from the Archdiocese of Vancouver, British Columbia, chats with Each year, 100,000 seafarers are eligible to crew members aboard a Japanese coal ship in 2019. (CNS photo) sign off and be replaced by new crew members. Now, like Jimmy, many are trapped on their ships. “Normally, seafarers come to our Seafarers’ After weeks at sea, they can no longer get the Centre to connect to our free wifi,” said Rev. necessary shore leave to buy essential personal John McLister, the Mission to Seafarers’ chaplain items; to contact their families; and to get a break (Anglican) in Lyttelton. from the isolation that is the norm of a seafarer’s “But under the current Covid-19 restrictions life. While we are locked down with our loved they can’t take shore leave.” ones, our pets, with Netflix, and the chance to Because most ships do not have wifi capability, get to the supermarket, their lockdown is total many seafarers have been cut off from contacting isolation. home. We don’t normally allow alcohol to be con- “It’s hard to imagine not being able to talk sumed in the Seafarers’ Centre, but I have made to your wife and kids, not being able to watch an exception tonight. Quite a bit is being drunk, Netflix, go for a walk, or go to the supermarket but the anxiousness on the guys’ faces is easing during lockdown,” said Rev. McLister. a little. “With these mobile wifi units, seafarers can Before they leave, I suggest a photo, jokingly connect again to the outside world. There will saying, “If you are off to China, better get a pic- be a lot of worried families very happy to hear ture in case you don’t come back.” They laugh the phone ring.” and bravely smile for the camera. These items and others such as sim cards and n In an April 29 statement, it was announced phone top-ups were made available as chaplains that The Lyttelton Port Company (LPC) and Voda- started visiting ships, stopping at the top of fone NZ have supplied the Lyttelton Seafarers’ gangways to hand such items over. Centre with six mobile wifi units for seafarers to Rev. John McLister is Seafarers’ Chaplain (Anglican), use while in lockdown on their ships. Lyttelton 2020 Kaitiaki2Share winners announced by NZ CATHOLIC staff minds, design skills and desire to “It has been so encouraging to School, Blenheim); and Ryo Kinikinilau care for God’s creation see our young people share their (Y5, St Benedict’s School, Khandallah). Caritas Aotearoa New Zealand “We were hopeful that students ideas about being stewards of Finalists: Finn Mulqueen (Y5, St has announced the winners and would be keen to get involved in God’s creation. It has left me feel- Mary’s School, Gore); Indiana Hart (Y3, finalists of the 2020 Kaitiaki2Share Kaitiaki2Share and showcase their ing reassured that young people in St Paul’s Primary, Auckland); Louisa creative competition. creative talents. They exceeded our Aotearoa are hearing the call of the Zacaroli (Y5, St Joseph’s School, Nel- Kaitiaki2Share encourages New expectations, and we came away Holy Father and Laudato Si’,” said son); Milla Harrington (Y5, St Joseph’s Zealand students of all ages to with a real feeling that the youth Teresa Shanks, Caritas education School, Nelson); and Quinn Roper (Y8, consider how we can care for all of our country deeply value God’s advisor. St Joseph’s Primary School, Stratford). creation, both people and the en- creation and are passionate about The five winners of Kaitiaki2S- Other notable efforts: Caitlin Mon- vironment. Students were asked caring for and preserving it for hare each received a share of the taperto-Wells (Y8, St Patrick’s School, to send in a creative idea in the those who will come after us,” said prize money. In addition, all win- Napier); Charlotte Boyle (Y4, St Ben- medium of their choice, such as a Michael Stewart, Caritas education ners and finalists had a native tree edict’s School, Khandallah); Devon- video, poem, drawing, project plan coordinator. planted in their name, and their tae Auvale-Polo (Y6, St Bernadette’s or story. The announcement of the win- competition submission featured School, Hornby); Jude Jepson (Y6, St This is the inaugural Kaitiak- ners and finalists falls during on the Caritas website at caritas. Joseph’s School, Nelson); Lucy Homan i2Share competition, and Caritas Laudato Si’ Week, a worldwide org.nz/kaitiaki2share. (Y6, Reignier Catholic School, Napi- is encouraged by the high level of celebration of the five-year anni- The winners of the 2020 Kai- er); Matthaeus Kwan (Y6, St Joseph’s participation, especially as many versary of Pope Francis’ encyclical tiaki2Share competition: Aminette School, Nelson); Molly Jones (Y8, St schools promoted the activity for encouraging people to care for Miranda (Y8, St Benedict’s School Patrick’s School, Napier); Olive Hapuku students at home during lockdown. our common home. Caritas is also Khandallah); Franka Eilering (Y3, Mon- (Y8, St Joseph’s School, Fairfield); According to the Caritas website, marking Laudato Si’ Week through te Cecilia Catholic School, Auckland); Poppy Smith (Y2, St Benedict’s School, more than 100 students sent in a blog series and a global online Holly Bowhill (Y7, St Mary’s School, Khandallah); and Valerie Malaesala (Y8, entries, showing off their creative webinar on social action. Blenheim); Olivia Bain (Y7, St Mary’s Sacred Heart School, Christchurch). 18 Features NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Papal Prayer CAPTION CONTEST The Pope’s universal prayer intention for May: For deacons. We pray that deacons, faithful in their service to the Word and the poor, may be an invigorating symbol for the entire Church.

40 YEARS AGO RE NOT REACHING HALF OUR YOUTH Over half New Zealand’s Catholic survey are not confined to pupils. A secondary school students are get- copy of the parish questionnaire was ting no formal religious education. sent to each parish priest and to the This blunt fact comes from a sur- chairman of the parish council, or vey on the Confraternity of Christian equivalent body, in each New Zealand Write the best caption for this photo and Doctrine (CCD) for secondary school parish. Of 281 parishes approached, win $30. Send in your ideas by Tuesday, pupils, made by the National Centre 74 replied, a return of 26.3 per cent. June 9 to Caption Contest 590, NZ Cath- for Religious Studies. Information given by the 74 olic, PO Box 147000, Ponsonby, Auckland The survey, made by the centre’s parishes showed that CCD teaching 1144. Or email: [email protected] director, Father Ezio Blasoni, and resource materials were non-existent Please include your postal address so colleague Mr John McCann, comes in most cases. that your prize, if you win, can be sent up for discussion at the Auckland Commenting on the results of to you. Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting the survey, the National Centre for next Sunday. Religious Studies says it is clear the The winner of the Caption Contest from Figures taken last year show that present situation does not meet the pre-lockdown, issue 585, (right) was Paul there were 57,139 Catholic boys religious needs of thousands of Cath- McKee, Christchurch. and girls of secondary age. But only olic youth. Some other suggestions were: 21,853 of them were going to Catholic It adds: “The heroic efforts of a Smoking kills. “Oh come on, inhale; it’s not going to kill colleges. few dedicated people are offset by Make no bones about it! A far greater number — 35,285 the lack of coordinated practical help you.” ­— John Lewis, Hamilton. — were not at Catholic secondary from church structures and local “We don’t quite have the full habeus “You have got nothing to grin about.” ­ schools, and of this total, a mere 2609 Catholic communities.” corpus.” — Michael Jarka, Dunedin.­ — Russell Watt, Auckland. were attending CCD classes. The survey notes that the priests’ These figures mean that in 1979, deaneries describe the secondary “Don’t light that second-hand smoke. “Yep, tried to tell my wife years back 32,676 teenage Catholic boys and CCD situation as “missionary terri- It’s bad for you ­— look what happened to to stop smoking cigars, but would girls were neither attending Catholic tory” and says this is a major chal- him!” — Joan Leonard, Auckland. she listen?” ­— Carmel Anne Malone, Christchurch. secondary schools nor taking CCD lenge to Christian responsibility and “You now know where the yellow classes. service. went, when he brushed his teeth with “We’re in a smoke free zone, you The disturbing facts found in the —­ Zealandia, June 1, 1980. Pepsodent!” ­— Liz Davis, Auckland. numbskull!” — June Jarka, Dunedin. Kit’s Corner Angels are God’s special messengers — his wise and powerful helpers. They have been around since God made the world, but we cannot see them because they are invisible spirits (but we usually draw them with wings). They must be pretty important, because they are in the Bible nearly 80 times! You might like to look in the Bible and read about some of the times that Angels came with special messages and help from God:

The angel came to ask Mary to Angels looked after Jesus in the desert be the mother of Jesus. (Luke 1:26-32) (Matthew 4:11) and in the garden before he died. (Luke 22:39-43) An angel told the shepherds about

Jesus’ birth. Angels sang wonderful Angels told the women that Jesus was NEALON TEXT: PATSY McCARTHY ART: SUZIE Christmas songs. (Luke 2:8-14) alive again on Easter Sunday morning. (Luke 24:1-8) An angel told Joseph to escape to Egypt to get away from wicked King Herod, Angels were there when Jesus went and told him when it was safe to go back to heaven. (Acts 10:11) home again. (Matthew 2:13-14, 19-21)

Did you know that God has given you your very own special angel, called your guardian angel? Psalm 91:11 says that God has put his angels in charge of you, to protect you wherever you go. Your guardian angel watches over you, keeps you safe and prays for you. Your guardian angel sees God all the time (Matthew 18:10). That is awesome! You can always talk to your guardian angel. You could learn this very old, favourite prayer: Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here. Ever this day (or night) be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Features 19 ‘Modest resurgence’ seen in the use of chant at Mass by MARK PATTISON

WASHINGTON (CNS) - When Catholics return to their churches in the US as coronavirus-induced lockdowns ease up, they’re not likely to be con- fronted with a bunch of unfamiliar words in Latin printed in some medieval-era typeface with notes in the shape of squares rather than ovals. That said, those who monitor these kinds of things say there’s a “modest resurgence” over the past decade in the use of chant at Mass, while devotees of the idiom can’t get enough of it. “It’s fair to say that there is that small - a rel- atively small — group of congregations who em- brace chant because of its musical appeal to them,” said Michel Silhavy, a senior project manager for GIA Music in Chicago. Silhavy finds three audiences for chant. For one audience, he told the Catholic News Service, it’s “a code, it’s a flag, a marker, that ‘we’re this type of Elizabeth Black, assistant director of music at St John the Beloved Church in McLean, Virginia, directs choir members parish.’ For those who want to show their particular as they sing Gregorian chant during a 2017 Mass. (CNS Photo) theology, they rally around chant”. Another group, he added, is “people who are Batastini added, “What has happened since n Identity truly concerned about liturgical music because of Vatican II is that the definition of Church music “The big deal with Gregorian chant is not only as its (chant’s) ability to be flexible, to accompany the has greatly expanded. Before Vatican II, it all fell a style of music the texts, the propers,” said Rich- ritual action” of the Mass. The third group, Silvahy into what we would call ‘classical music’: chant, ard Clark, director of music for the Archdiocese of said, is made up of Church musicians who “really polyphony, in a formal music style. After Vatican Boston. “This is our Catholic identity.” try to manifest a diverse musical library repertoire, II, the Church began to experiment in a lot of direc- Upon getting the job in 2018, Clark told CNS, saying that’s part of our tradition”. tions. Forty, 50 years later, there is a wide variety “we immediately began singing the introit chants of styles of music that has found its way into the n Missal every week, followed by a hymn. It’s a great way to repertoire of the Church. And chant is certainly start the Mass.” He added, “It becomes normative. The renewed interest in chant, according to part of that.” It becomes part of the normal part of living, the Silvahy, “started to appear with the release of the rhythm of the liturgy”. (new Roman) Missal in 2010. All that stuff was n Intones Clark likes to load up on chant for archdioce- there originally — antiphons and introits. It was When the priest intones, “The Lor-ord be with san events at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in as if people were reading the owner’s manual for youuuu”? That’s chant. When the people arise af- Boston, where he is also music director, including the first time”. ter the Eucharistic Prayer and start singing, “Our ordinations, the Rite of Election, and the Holy He added, “It’s funny that the release of the Fa-therrr, who art in hea-vennn”? That’s chant, too. Thursday chrism Mass. “It’s a big, big deal in any English training roused this modest resurgence With the exception of one year, Batastini, 78, cathedral,” he said. in chant. Yet those same directives and guidelines has been playing organ or conducting choirs at But that’s not the experience in most parishes were there in the 1970” Roman Missal. Catholic churches since age 13. in the archdiocese, Clark acknowledged. At the GIA originally stood for “Gregorian Institute He remembers when “if you couldn’t sing a High typical parish, “it’s also a lot of time, you have of America,” but that changed not long after the Mass, you weren’t going to be ordained” — and in a boss — or multiple bosses — and you have to company’s sale in 1967, according to Bob Batastini, the pre-Second Vatican Council church, he had to deal to an extent [with] what their preferences are. who was a senior editor at GIA at the time of the play four High Masses every day. You’re dealing with a congregation. Every parish is sale, working there until 2007, and serving as a The same is largely true for the Eastern church- going to have a certain history to it, like it or not, consultant to the company since then. es, whose divine liturgies can take on the charac- where people come from,” he said. “The reality Sales of chant by GIA “at the time of the sale - ter of a sung dialogue between the priest and the is, maybe you can introduce one or two things.” very little,” Batastini told CNS. “We were already assembly. He added, “You have to have support from your four years into the revised rites . . . the vernacular At his current parish in Holland, Michigan, “the pastor. You have to be sensitive to the people that liturgy, and at that point everybody was manoeu- people are accustomed to the priest singing the you serve.” vring to figure out how to deal with the revised entire liturgy, and the people in the pews, they Clark said, “I’ve always joked that it’s going to liturgies. There were attempts to redo a lot of sing like a bunch of Methodists”, Batastini said, take 100 years to fully implement Vatican II. And Gregorian chant in English —­ and frankly, that quickly adding he’s complimenting Methodists. that’s not a criticism. It takes a long time for our didn’t fly.” “It’s exhilarating.” understandings to evolve. And to find what the best practices are.” Alfred Calabrese has had the support of pastors — three of them ­— in his 13 years as music director at St Rita Parish in Dallas. A cradle Catholic, Calabrese said he was intro- duced to chant in a secular setting: his graduate Subscribe today! studies in conducting at Indiana University. He didn’t apply it to his music ministry until taking the St Rita music job. At the parish, it’s “one of those slowly germi- nating kinds of experiences. Bit by bit, bit by bit, Yes! I would like to subscribe NZ Catholic slowly over the years, and still in the process of introducing it today, 13 years later. We don’t use www.nzcatholic.org.nz it at every Mass, but we do it more. Some of our Masses are more chant-heavy than others,” Cal- Name: abrese said. “Even in our one Mass, to be more contempo- rary, in various parts of the year they even do Address: some chanting in English and in Latin, especially in Lent and Advent in the acclamations, so that’s Postcode: Phone: Email: a good thing.” But Calabrese still gets resistance from parish- Three months $18.25 Six months $36.50 One Year $73 Two years $135 ioners, he said. “To this day, there still [are] some . . . And it’s just a matter of educating people and Enclosed cheque of $ payable to NZ Catholic, or charge my Mastercard Visa having the backing of the pastor. We don’t do the ‘extraordinary form’ Latin Mass (long known as the Tridentine Rite). We’re not doing everything Latin, Card No.: but at the appropriate time.”

Name on card: Wonderful gifts for your friends. . . Expiry date: Signature: PIETA Prayer Books Only $9.90 each, or 10 or more @ $4.50 each. Please send coupon to: Freepost 2583, NZ Catholic, PO Box 147000, Ponsonby, Auckland 1144 (Pay after receipt of your order plus postage) or email: [email protected] or call: 09 360 3067 Ph: (09) 294 8422 REED Printers PO Box 173, Drury, Auck 2247. sub590 20 Features NZ Catholic: May 31 - June 13, 2020 Need for interpreters increased during lockdown in capital by NZ CATHOLIC staff Senior social worker Jess Harward said it would seem that the anxiety The need for the services of in- levels for the families and individ- terpreters increased by about 40 per uals she is working with is slowly cent during level 4 lockdown for the settling down. Wellington Catholic Social Services. “There is a sense of normality Wellington CSS director Karen or going back to normal. For most Holland said the organisation does people, [the anxiety is] . . . still there, a lot of work with former refugees, but they’ve taken precautions. Going both quota and reunification ones, down levels, there is anxiety whether Refugees listen to a translator as they arrive at a transit camp in Idomeni, Greece, on the as well as migrants. it would be safe to do so. I would border of Macedonia, in 2015 (CNS Photo) Not being able to speak English advise them that the Government deepened the isolation for their would not bring down levels unless the lockdown. I was told they were the service they needed. clients. it was safe to do so,” she said. all able to do learning from home,” Ms Harward said half of their “It was a time of real isolation for Ms Harward said the children she said. client base are refugees, and inter- former refugees and, even though were looking forward to going back Some of her clients had health preters are crucial to meeting their their resilience is high, not fully to school and seeing their friends. needs, and she helped them navigate clients’ needs. understanding what was happening, One of the problems the children through the processes of the hospi- “The response from the families and being shut in their homes, was had was having no device to use for tals or health centres. is that they found that it was very very frightening for many,” she said. online learning at levels 4 and 3. She “I think it just highlighted during beneficial for them to know that Ms Holland said, even in levels 3 had to liaise with schools to let the this pandemic that there is still a someone’s contacting them, and that and 2, their social workers still need- schools know about the problem. high level of support that they (ref- there is someone they are able to talk ed interpreters to help the refugees “Not everybody has devices or ugees) needed, mainly with support- to and ask for advice and support. and migrants with their appoint- internet. So, it did take them just ing them in understanding what is They were very isolated (at level 4). ments with agencies such as health a little while for them to get fax or happening,” she said. It feels isolating for lots of people, clinics, Work and Income and even desktops at home. And some of them She said the support she offered but not being able to speak English schools for their children. had to buy, within the last week of was being the key contact or link to furthers the isolation,” she said. Call for Catholics to work hard for Christian unity by ROWENA OREJANA different councils: Ephesus, Nicaea spoke before a women’s interde- umenical movement because she and Chalcedon. nominational group Women’s Aglow wants and prays for what her Son On the 25th anniversary of Ut Around the year 1000, the Church when he was a priest in Timaru. wants. And his prayer is that we be Unum Sint, Saint John Paul II’s split into East and West, or the Or- “I talked about how we each took one, completely one, that the world encyclical on ecumenism, Hamilton thodox Church and the Roman Cath- different things from the tradition will know it was the Father who sent Bishop Stephen Lowe called on New olic Church. Around the 1500s, the with us, but how we are hopping him,” Bishop Lowe added. Zealand Catholics to work hard to- Reformation resulted in the further along on one foot because we ha- In the week of Christian Unity, wards achieving Christian unity, say- breaking up of the Church, when ven’t taken the whole of the tradi- celebrated in New Zealand from May ing this “is what Christ asks of us”. Martin Luther’s followers went off tion with us,” he said. “And now as 25-31 this year, Bishop Lowe called In his homily on May 25, Bishop in one direction and the Catholic we get together, we have to share on Christians to make a real effort Lowe said we need to put a real ef- Church in another. each other’s faith and learn to walk at uniting the Church. fort into achieving unity as it is “a “For a long time, we’ve been hop- together on two feet. That’s always “The energy for working together scandal that the body of Christ, the ping along on one foot,” Bishop Lowe the challenge for us. We need to walk towards Christian unity is waning. Church, is broken”. said. “But more and more, as the together on two feet.” And I know for myself, this can be “The fact is the body of Christ is ecumenical movement has started He said this will result in losing really hard,” he said. broken and that should be a scandal up, we’ve learned to speak together.” something of ourselves but also ad- “There are so many people who for every believer,” he said. He cited, as an example, how the vancing in our faith. think I don’t actually need to do He said, as early as the fourth followers of Martin Luther are well- At that meeting, he said, he spoke this. Actually, we can’t call ourselves and fifth centuries, there were al- versed in the Scriptures, while the to the women about the Blessed Catholic . . . if we don’t work for ready debates over what Christians Catholics gave more importance to Virgin Mary, a woman open to the Christian unity. This is what Pope believed in. the saints and the sacraments. Holy Spirit. John Paul II said 25 years ago,” he These debates resulted in the Bishop Lowe said, years ago, he “Mary is at the heart of the ec- said.

If you have any questions about NZ Catholic during Alert Level 2, please email: admin@nzcatholic. org.nz or call 09 360 3067