Catholic Life – June 2019
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CA HO IC V IFE LDiocese of Lismore Tweed Coast to Camden Haven www.lismorediocese.org June 2019 Vol.17 No.2 Lest we Forget NO FEES Looking for Work? Looking for Workers? Find us at Ballina Land Marketing 02 6686 2711 THE BISHOP Writes As I watched pictures of Notre Dame cathedral burning in Paris, I was surprised at the sadness and loss which I felt. am not French and, except for the one visit to the cathedral and a few walks around it, have no real association with Ithe cathedral. If it had been the Sydney Opera House or St Mary’s Cathedral I could understand my initial feelings, but this was not a Sydney building. Later that day I discovered that I was not alone in this response. People, all over the world, were moved. The sense of sadness was lifted when we knew that the cathedral was not destroyed and that it would be rebuilt. Why is the experience of Notre Dame so powerful? I remember walking around Notre Dame and taking in the view of its graceful flying buttresses and observing so many others looking with wonder at its beauty. Somehow this building, though lace-like in its stonework and majestic in structure, did not draw attention to itself, but moved my soul to ponder higher things. I suspect that for the Firefighters fight to save the Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, people of Paris, Notre Dame is more than a building, it is France. Christian Jakob | Dreamstime.com an expression of what it is to be French. I however, think In a world which can so often be overwhelmed by noise, that it is more even than this; it is an expression of what power, wealth and the need to be successful, it is good to it is to be human. be jolted abruptly from these accepted norms, even if the catalyst is the burning of a dear friend like Notre Dame. The Great buildings, classic works of literature, profound shock of what we see awakens a space within our hearts music, masterpieces of art and enduring teachings, are all and souls, a space which until now was dormant. We can expressions of the human spirit. They are attempts to reveal rise beyond ourselves to God the fashioner of all that is what is in the human heart and what it means to be human. beautiful. We can experience another side of ourselves. Each, regardless of country of origin or culture, enhances our experience of life and expands the depth and meaning Belief in God and Jesus Christ empowered the architects of that experience. They are classics. We are changed by and builders of Notre Dame. The beauty of the Gospel them and each time we come back to them we do so as which underpins the French nation, I believe also underpins fuller people. They are not items on our bucket lists, they Australia. We should take time to reflect upon the are part of who we are. intersection of the Gospel and all that we value in Australia. In the case of Notre Dame, this cathedral is more than We have just celebrated the Holy Spirit. The pre-eminent an amazing place in which we can worship God. I think experience of the Spirit is through the fruits of the Spirit that it is a human statement – there is more to life than such as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, what we find in the world. It says that we are not confined gentleness and self-control”. The very things the fire of by the limitations of the world, our spirits can rise beyond Notre Dame awakened in me. the world to a higher place, a place of beauty and peace. May you receive the Holy Spirit and may the fruits of the Whether you believe in God or not, you can’t visit Notre Spirit be a leaven in your lives. Dame without your spirit being lifted. The skill of the stone masons and the medieval architects is found in their ability With my prayers and best wishes, ✠ to make their belief a reality in the on-looker. Bishop Greg Homeming OCD The builders of Notre Dame didn’t just build a great church, they built an edifice which moves us to experience their belief in God and love of beauty. There is magic in the way in which we share the belief and inner experience of the builders. We rise above ourselves, we discover within ourselves the spiritual. Human genius has the capacity to infuse the spiritual into an artefact which becomes the means to a shared common experience and reality. Catholic Life, June, 2019 3 Religious ART Local artist makes religious art in his shop in the old city in Rhodes, Greece Evan Spiler | Dreamstime.com Regular Features Editor, Publisher and Advertising Enquiries for “Catholic Life” 3 The Bishop Writes Father Peter M Karam 4 Religious Art Contents Email: [email protected] 5 Editorial Mobile: 0419 401 258 Fax: 02 6622 1771 7 Book Review Parish events: 13 Liturgy Email your planned Parish events, celebrations, 28 Unusual Churches of the World anniversaries, etc., for inclusion on our website and in 29 Question Box the next edition of “Catholic Life” Features Email: [email protected] 6 Appointment of Dr Sally Towns Printed by: Quality Plus Printers (02) 6686 7488 7 St. Anthony’s Kingscliff welcomes 9 new members 8-9 Mass of The Chrism Art Direction & Graphic Design: 10 New crosses shining the light Johanna Evans – [email protected] 10 Pope Francis Begs for Peace Visit our Diocesan website: www.lismorediocese.org 11 New laws further sign that abuse prevention is Church priority Our website contains a daily news bulletin, spiritual 12 Theresa Adler: Budbili Story reflections and daily Mass readings. 14-16 Our Parish Schools Remember on ANZAC Day 17 Australian Schools Give Generously Catholic Life – A member of the Australasian 27 What is the Australian Catholic Youth Festival? Catholic Press Association and the Australasian Religious Press Association Inc. School News 18 St Mary’s Primary School, Grafton St. John’s College, Lismore 19 St. Joseph’s Primary School, Tweed Heads Cover Holy Family Primary School, Skennars Head CAPTION 20 St. Finbarr’s Primary School, Byron Bay 21 Trinity Catholic College, Lismore A pupil from St. Finbarr’s St. Joseph’s Primary School, Wauchope Primary School, Byron 22 St. Patrick’s Primary School, Macksville Bay waits in line to join 23 St. Joseph’s Primary School South Grafton the ANZAC Day March Our Lady Help of Christians Parish School, Sth Lismore 2019. 24 Xavier Catholic College, Ballina 25 St Joseph’s Primary School, Alstonville 26 St Joseph’s Primary School, Woodburn Mt St Patrick Primary, Murwillumbah 4 Catholic Life, June, 2019 An Obvious Choice Every magazine editor faces the challenge the certain to the unsure is a fascination. There is more to find the ‘right’ image for the cover. It attention to what is predicted to happen than what has should be sharp, attract attention and carry a been tried and proven. What we see happening in our country in splurges of violence and wanton preparation thought-provoking message. for terrorism, scars the ideals and values that once were or this issue of Catholic Life the task was easy…a considered unassailable. young pupil from St. Finbarr’s School at Byron Bay Domestic violence, abuse of children and the elderly standing in line and waiting to join the 2019 ANZAC F continue to impair human life. With so many negatives Day March. Clutching the Australian flag and a photo of a is there any room left to recreate a better way where sacred memory of a family member who answered the call. peace is re-established? Where is the starting point? It’s all there: youthful courage to march for an ideal, respect for self-sacrifice, love for country and the What effect will these tragedies have on generations to price paid for peace. In our continuing search for come? Looming large is global warming and the effects motivation, it is encouraging to know that each of climate change. As stewards of creation how best can year in our Diocese, so many of our pupils with their we respond not just for our welfare but for the future of teachers, march to the same beat. humanity? This year ANZAC Day brought our country to a standstill It has been said that if you want to understand what and reminded us of the sacred virtues, whether weak or is happening in a culture you have to listen to the stories strong, that still have some influence in our society. It was it tells. These are troublesome times and the poems that a welcome respite from an election that had degenerated we read and hear do not rhyme. Society has to heal itself into a maelstrom of who is right and who is wrong. before the pendulum begins to swing back. For many, it was a warm feeling of being safe and For our Church, the healing is a way back that is more involved…like a real beacon of hope. personal. I believe it is time to leave the ranks of the It is interesting to note that when our beliefs and faith confused. Pope Francis recalls the words of St Paul: practice are challenged by upheavals in our society, we “If one member suffers, all suffer together.” He often ask the question: What do our youth think about continued: “By an attitude of prayer and penance, this? Do they say: “When sufferings and tragedy come, we we will become attuned as individuals and as a should examine the deeds and return in repentance?” Or community to this exhortation, so that we may grow do they say: “It will get better tomorrow”..