“Unto Us a Child Is Born, He Is Christ the Lord”
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Published by the DIOCESE OF BROOME PO Box 76, Broome, Western Australia 6725 Tel: 08 9192 1060 Fax: 08 9192 2136 E-mail: [email protected] www.broomediocese.org FREE ISSUE 06 DECEMBER 2012 Multi-award winning magazine for the Kimberley • Building our future together “Unto us a child is born, he is Christ the Lord” Lk 2:10 KIMBERLEY COMMUNITY PROFILE DECEMBER 2012 1 Stepping out of Country Kilala, Fr Bill has been keen in his efforts to support the teachers and students in every Fr Bill Christy CSSp, a member of the aspect of their endeavours. During his tenure as Congregation of the Spiritans, has been recalled Parish Priest Fr Bill participated in numerous by his Superiors to his home activities that included Province of America where he significant moments such as will take up a new the Procession of the World appointment. His five years in Youth Day Cross through the the Peninsula Parish has been Peninsula Parish and more an active time of service recently the Centenary of among the people of the Christ the King. His efforts in numerous communities that the extensive and diverse constitute the Parish. Of Parish of the Peninsula are COVER: In the Kimberley, it is the particular note has been his greatly appreciated. With him, beginning of the wet season - new commitment to the schools of and with Father Daniel Kilala, life comes forth and the birth of the Sacred Heart and Christ the go our prayerful good wishes Saviour is remembered. Two chicks, near Wyndham, young King. There, with Fr Daniel Photo: A Rohr and hopes for the future. Fantails, cry out in expectation. Photo: CAS Fr Oliver Okolie leaves the Parish of La Fr Daniel Kilala Grange-Bidyadanga, at the end of CSSp, left the Peninsula “Unto us a child is born, December. Fr Oliver has been Parish Priest Parish on November 8 he is Christ the Lord” there for the past three years. Our thanks to bound for the eastern Lk 2:10 Fr Oliver, and to his Bishop in Nigeria, for states and further the time he has studies. Fr Daniel’s four given to the Diocese years on the Peninsula of Broome and the has been a period of people of La great experience and Grange-Bidyadanga. growth for him. “I have KIMBERLEY COMMUNITY PROFILE is a publication of the Our good wishes go enjoyed my time and do Roman Catholic Diocese of Broome, with Fr Oliver as he not wish to leave,” he published six times a year by the leaves the said “but now I enter Bishop of Broome. Articles to do Kimberley and another phase of life. I with the Kimberley are welcome to heads to his home am grateful for the be submitted for publication. country of Nigeria. many good memories.” Photo: H Short Photo: CAS ENQUIRIES Diocese of Broome, PO Box 76, Broome WA 6725 Yesteryear Tel: 08 9192 1060 Fax: 08 9192 2136 Images from our past Email: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscription Rate $30.00pa The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Bishop of Broome. www.broomediocese.org Preparing for celebrations in Balgo Parish, circa 1995. Front from left, Charlie Gordon, Jimmy Tchooga and Greg Mosquito (recently deceased). Photo: Archives Diocese of Broome - used with family permission. 2 KIMBERLEY COMMUNITY PROFILE DECEMBER 2012 Christmas message Christmas - A Holy Embrace of Peace and Joy There is something special about Imagine, St Francis of Assisi day, even year to year, our Christmas. The very mention of the wonderfully popularized the idea with minds numbed against the word excites promises of joy, festivity a living nativity scene at Greccio, greatness of the holy life that God and freshness. For the reveller Italy in 1223. offers us, complacent about our call Christmas gatherings engender images As we know, many of these through baptism to participate in the of feasts and recreation. For the symbols and practices that were once new life Christ promises. The true believer it is all of this and more evocative of a holy Christmas or happiness of Christmas must not because remembering the birthday of contained Christian elements have escape us. The uplifting words of Our Lord has a distinct sacredness to steadily become devalued by the Scripture that reveal the birth of the it: “To us a Saviour has been born, He commercial and secular world. Christ Child, the sacredness of the is Christ the Lord.” Lk 2:10 However, for the true believer, Santa nativity Mass, the instructive value Over the centuries the festive is no substitute for Christ and the of Christmas devotions and season has become surrounded with sacred mystery of the Incarnation still practices, are ways and means for symbols and devotions that highlight reverberates for us in Christmas us not only to enjoy this Christmas, its significance in the calendar of carols, those meaningful songs of joy but to feel a part of the unique story human living. The Christmas tree is a that inspire faith filled devotion. of the birth of our Saviour. well known symbol of this holy I am convinced that we must Be grateful. Let the message occasion, its greenness being a make a vigorous effort not to about Christ completely fill your welcome sign of the hope of new life. abandon Christmas to the secular lives, while you use all your The popular use of the Christmas tree world. The real spiritual joy of wisdom to teach and instruct each is said to have had its origins in Christmas is in continuing to praise other. With thankful hearts sing Germany where it was displayed in God fervently for the gift of His psalms, hymns and spiritual songs the home and decorated with bright Son. That is the source of our to God. Col 3:15-16 red apples preserved in wax. Today gladness and our hope, and it is a I wish you and your family shiny baubles will have to do but we magnificent story. It is a story that a God’s choicest blessings at this time get the idea. In the depths of a dark, materialistic and self serving world of special remembrance. I pray that northern hemisphere winter a bright needs to hear and thereby be the Grace of Christmas will unite joyous-looking object with its transformed. you with God and neighbour in a colourful decorations must have been Christ brings new life. You have holy embrace of peace and joy. a welcome sight. been raised to life with Christ. Now So much else in the celebration of set your heart on what is in heaven. Christmas is familiar to us as signs of Col: 3:1 So often we drift from day to the sacred celebration – holly, mistletoe, potted poinsettia, Christmas cards, Christmas carols, Christmas pageants, the exchange of gifts, Kris Kringle, window lights, and of course the Christmas crib, the nativity scene. The latter has long been a powerful means of instruction employed by parents to reveal something of the mystery of the Incarnation to children. WANTED: Volunteer Workers KIMBERLEY CATHOLIC VOLUNTEER SERVICE The Diocese of Broome, Western Australia, urgently requires volunteers – couples and singles – to serve within the Diocese. Duties may include any of the following: cooking, working in stores, building and vehicle maintenance, housekeeping, book-keeping, transport and grounds maintenance. In return for being part of the team we o!er accommodation, living expenses and an allowance. Placements are preferred for a period of twelve months plus but a reduced time would be considered. For further details and an application form please contact the co-ordinator: Phone: 08 9192 1060 or email: [email protected] PO Box 76, BROOME WA 6725 KIMBERLEY COMMUNITY PROFILE DECEMBER 2012 3 Office of Justice, SAINT NEWS Ecology and Peace St Angela Merici By Dr David Brennan, Editing and Publications Officer of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council FEAST DAY: January 27 BORN: 1474 DIED: 1540 The Egypt journey Angela was born in Italy. Her Christmas is a time for many things, among them parents died when she was ten. She celebration, reconciliation, worship, reflection and and her only sister, who was three generosity. So it seems sad that for some people, Christmas years older, loved each other very much. will be a time of disappointment, tension and fear. A rich uncle took the girls into his home. While still For most of last century and all of this one Australia has suffering from the loss of her parents, Angela’s sister been a destination for people seeking protection from oppression and danger. In 1951, in the wake of the Second also died. The older girl died even before a priest could World War, nations came together in the newly-formed arrive to administer the last sacraments. United Nations to make sure that people fleeing persecution Angela worried about her sister’s soul but Jesus in their own countries could find some security elsewhere. revealed to her that her sister had been saved. Angela Australia played an important part in forging the Refugee felt peace return to her own soul and thanked the Lord in Convention and was an early signatory. The Convention prayer. She wanted to do something to show her became legally binding on the nations that signed on to it. gratitude. So she promised to spend the rest of her life In recent decades, however, Australian politics has serving Jesus totally. become poisoned against the idea of refugees – at least When she was about twenty-two, Angela began to against those who have arrived here by boat.