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MEMBER OF THE AUSTRALASIAN CATHOLIC PRESS ASSOCIATION ISSN 1446-0041 CIRCULATION 6,200 Catholic VOL 24 - NO. 2 WINTER 2015 Viewpoin DIOCESE OF ARMIDALE His 9th decade begins! Happy 80th birthday, Bishop Luc WINTER 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 1 The World The comes to Bishop Armidale Speaks The face of the priesthood in the Diocese of “top ten” of youngest priests. That’s right. 8 of our Armidale is changing. Within the living memory of 10 youngest priests have come to Australia from many parishioners, the priests of the diocese would overseas with a missionary spirit. have virtually all been Australian-Born with a few This trend of aging Australian-Born priests and Irishmen still about. This is certainly not the case increasing numbers of young international priests anymore. There are currently 25 priests in active is set to continue. Given the significant number of ministry in the Diocese of Armidale: 16 were born immanent retirements amongst our older priests and in Australia; 5 in the Philippines; and 1 each in only one Australian Born candidate for priesthood India, Vietnam, Ghana, and Nigeria. 64% of our in the seminary, I have been searching the world for active priests were born in Australia and 36% born priests and seminarians. overseas. Fortunately the Church is blessed with many Looking more closely at our 16 Australian Born generous souls who are willing to take Jesus’ words priests we see that 6 of them are over the age of 75, literally and leave everything behind, even home, the standard retirement age for priests to step back family, and country, to follow him and to go wherever from active parish ministry, and 2 more are nudging th they are called and needed. And so, dependent upon closer to their 75 birthdays. In 2017 we might have the Department of Immigration, later this year I only 8 Australian Born priests in active ministry. I am expect two seminarians and two priests to arrive the youngest Australian-Born priest in the diocese! from Nigeria; I am hopeful of a priest arriving Looking at the 9 priests who were born in other from India either this year or next year; and I am countries but who now call Australia home we see in discussions with the Provincial of the La Salette the younger face of our clergy. 8 of them are in our Fathers in the Philippines about additional priests of Fr James Poovathinkal with Chris Smyth Frs Joseph Armah & John Carey Frs Paul McCabe, Paul Aguilar, John Willis with Bishop Kennedy Clergy at the Chrism Mass 2 - WINTER 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT the order coming to join the three already serving in can only benefit when newly arrived priests bring our parishes. By 2020 I expect 65% of our priests to with them the best aspects of their particular local have come here from overseas. Our priesthood, like culture and pick up the best aspects of our Aussie our Church, is certainly becoming more “Catholic”, culture, and discard the worst aspects of both. Yes, more “universal”. our new priests have quickly taken on the smell of I am incredibly grateful to the priests and seminarians their Aussie sheep! who have sacrificed so much to come here for us. I In two thousand years of missionary activity the hope the whole diocese shares this gratitude. It really Church has always seen the emergence of what it is no small thing to leave behind one’s family and calls a “native clergy” as a sign that the Gospel is homeland. Additionally, our priests and seminarians well and truly planted in a new land. When a country come here from societies and cultures in which no longer relies on missionary priests from another priests and the priesthood are looked upon with the country but can produce enough priests on its own utmost awe and respect, whereas in Australia, whilst was a sign that the faith life of the local Church parishioners do indeed demonstrate great respect and was strong and that the Gospel had been truly love for their priests, our wider society, “enculturated” or planted in the lives often for understandable and hearts of its people. Clearly reasons, demonstrates Australia has a problem scorn and contempt. “every here; we have taken This must be difficult a step backwards, for a newly arrived maybe even two or priest. flock needs its three! With the Grace I have never heard a of God our efforts single one of our priests will bear fruit in turning or seminarians from overseas shepherd” this around and our families, complain or lament for what they have left parishes and schools will be ‘fertile’ behind. I find in them only joy for the opportunity ground for priestly vocations. to serve the Lord and his Church in our wonderful Admittedly, the behaviour of some priests and even country and our welcoming diocese. I know they some bishops in recent times make our task of are happy here, which only increases my sense of encouraging priestly vocations more difficult, but gratitude to them. I am similarly grateful to you, our not insurmountable. With the history of the Church many parishioners, who have been so welcoming of as our guide we have every reason to hope that our these new priests and drawn them to your hearts. present difficulties and sufferings as a local Church The years since the Second Vatican Council have will be the seedbed of a flourishing Church and rightly seen an increase in the participation of lay generous vocations into the future. people in parish liturgy, ministry and decision I, along with the whole diocese of Armidale, making processes. Nevertheless, every parish still welcome those priests and seminarians who come needs its priest, most essentially for the celebration to us from across the seas, and I plead with every of the sacraments, but just as importantly to be the young man of the diocese to ask God whether he shepherd amongst the flock. It is for good reason that might be calling you to the priesthood too. the Scriptures and the Fathers of the Church give us this image of priesthood as shepherd, and that Pope Francis says the priest needs to have the “smell of the sheep on him”. There is no such thing as a “priest-less parish”; every flock needs its shepherd. If it were not for our generous brothers from over the seas many of our flock would indeed be without a shepherd; a situation I am keen to avoid. We are blessed in the fact that all of our priests from overseas Most Reverend Michael Kennedy have made great efforts to “enculturate”, to get to Bishop of Armidale know and understand and be a part of our Aussie culture, of our particular way of communicating, of doing things, and approaching life. Our local Church WINTER 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 3 Bishop Doody CLERGY APPOINTMENTS Medallist - Paul O’Keefe From 6th July, 2015 Paul O’Keefe was recently • Fr Paul Aguilar – Parish Priest Saint awarded the Bishop Doody Edward’s Parish South Tamworth Medal at the University of New England. This award, • Fr Tuan Tran – Parish Administrator Saint with the medal itself sup- Andrew’s Parish Wee Waa plied by the Diocese to UNE, was set up to honour Bishop • Fr John Willis – moves into retirement Edward Doody the 5th Bishop of Armidale. “I had the pleasure to meet Bishop Doody, years ago Happy moments, now, when I came up north with Fr Ted Kennedy. The 68) as the Latin and Ancient Bishop had, of course, retired History teacher at Inverell Praise God. by then.” said Mr O’Keefe High.”, he reminisces. He Difficult moments, Paul O’Keefe spent two years later switched to teaching at at Springwood and one year at TAFE, completed a law de- Seek God. Manly studying the Philoso- gree and spent 25 years as a Quiet moments, phy course for the priesthood lawyer, in practice in the Wol- where Bernie Frize and Mi- longong area. Worship God. chael Green were classmates. In retirement Mr O’Keefe Painful moments, He then studied at Sydney University for his Bachelor of took up Latin and Greek Arts and Diploma of Educa- again at the University of Trust God. tion and taught for 12 years New England after a gap of Every moment, in the State School system. several plus decades. A wor- “During that time I spent two thy winner of this prestigious Thank God. very enjoyable years (1967- award. Serving Tamworth and Barraba Districts Funeral Directors / Monumental Craftsmen Gavin Fletcher Margaret Tarbert Simply ... We’re here to help q Personal, caring funeral directors q Burials q Cremations q Prices tailored for all budgets q Private viewing facilities q Showroom Suite 3 / 178 Peel Street, Tamworth Tamworth 6766 9663 Barraba 6782 1568 4 - WINTER 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT A Small Giant Have you ever composed an epitaph for yourself? Or followed by a litany of requests for blessings on sailors, perhaps ordered a headstone for a family member and fishermen, farmers, doctors, priests etc, until exhausted decided what the inscription should say? Perhaps, like we would fall asleep. But somewhere along this journey, me, you have antecedents’ names inscribed on a war her own devotion to Mary was rekindled with a deeper memorial. My father and maternal grandfather’s death understanding than ever before. in WWII and WWI respectively are memorialised. But We are taught that Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. But my mother’s wish to be cremated and her ashes dispersed I believe my mother ran the local Holy Spirit Agency, means there is no place with a written epitaph to mark her because she imbued in us a great faith.

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