Saint Paschal's College Friary

Saint Paschal’s College Friary Franciscan Friars of Melbourne

July 2019

GUARDIAN MESSAGE THE LORD GAVE ME BROTHERS Some notable anniversaries. St. Francis of Assisi in his Last Will and Testament recalled significant events in his life – his conversion (“When I was in sin…”) and his first companions (“the Lord gave me brothers”.) Brotherhood is a basic part of the fabric of our way of life. The ideal of fraternal fellowship is very much centre and foremost in our Franciscan Constitutions: As sons of the heavenly Father and brothers of Jesus Christ in the Holy Spirit, the friars following the Gospel way of life revealed by the Lord to St. Francis, lead a brotherly life in common, and love and support one another more than a mother loves and supports her child according to the flesh (GC., art. 38). Yet brotherhood does not drop down from heaven; it must grow and mature through our daily interactions at prayer, work, study and relaxing times together. In my first year as a Franciscan, my novitiate year, I found myself living daily with nine other cleric novices, some who I knew previously, others whom I met for the first time. But one thing we all had in common was that we had never lived together as brothers. In preparation for our reception into the Order, we were taught the antiphon, Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum, habitare fratres in unum (How great and good it is when brothers live in unity). The learning of the melody was the easy part; the living out of the reality of being brothers was quite another story. There were ten of us (not counting the three lay brother novices with whom we had very little communication – such was the rather odd cleric/brother dynamic in force at the time). Seven of us had spent a year or more at a preparatory college, St. Bonaventure’s in Waverley, NSW and we were joined by a young man, graduate from Sydney University, another who had served for several years during WWII in the Australian Navy, seconded to the British Navy, and the tenth was a young man from a Victorian high school. Every one of us in our own way desired to follow in the footsteps of St. Francis - some young and immature, others who had experienced more of life, yet all called to aspire to something more. I’m sure we never thought of it but in the mind of St. Francis we were given to each other as brothers. We had all very different personalities, different backgrounds, different intellectual gifts. Yet somehow or other we formed a brotherhood which grew and matured; we learnt to be brothers and some of us in later life were close friends. Of the ten who arrived at our novitiate house, ‘Maryfields’, in February 1947, eight were ordained to the priesthood in 1953. I don’t think we were any different from the first companions of Francis. On one occasion Francis described a true friar minor. His description certainly highlights the different gifts and qualities of his companions as well as saying that together, as brothers, they formed a mosaic of what it meant to be a friar minor. Francis used to say that a good Lesser Brother is one who would possess the life and qualities of the following holy brothers: namely, the faith and love of poverty of Brother Bernard …; the simplicity and purity of Brother Leo …; the courtly bearing of Brother Angelo who was the first soldier to enter the Order…; the friendly manner and common sense of Brother Masseo…; the mind raised in contemplation which Brother Giles had…; the virtuous and constant prayer of Brother Rufino…; the patience of Brother Juniper…; the bodily and spiritual strength of Brother John of Lauds..” Friary Prayer/Mass Times (Francis of Assisi, Early Documents, vol. III, The Prophet, A Mirror of Perfection, 85). Morning Prayer: 7:15 am In our Newsletter this month we celebrate the anniversaries of six friars: Paul Smith (40 years of Mon-Sat Mass: 7:30 am solemn profession); Anthony Malone (50 years of ordination); Allan Hartcher and Austen Crapp Anointing Mass: 1st Sat of the month. (60 years of ordination); Albert Williams and Benignus Clowes (65 years of ordination). Between Reconciliation: By request. them they have served God’s People for a total of 340 years. That in itself is a good reason to We encourage people to support their celebrate but there is more. For the past many years they have been part of our brotherhood. We local parish community. thank them, we congratulate them! Allan and Austen will celebrate their anniversary of ordination together at St. Francis Church, Paddington on July 14th. Each one has been invited to tell something of his story. May we rejoice with them even as we St Paschal College Franciscan Friary thank them for being our brothers. Ad multos annos. Theo Rush ofm 90 Albion Rd [PO Box 79} Box Hill 3128 If you would like to receive this newsletter by email and help us keep our printing Phone: 03 98964400 and mailing costs low Email: stpaschals@franciscans.org.au please send an email to [email protected]

1 90 YEARS AGO THE STORY OF SIX BROTHERS AT CENTRAL RAILWAY STATION, Albert William’s Story SYDNEY Birth: 8 Nov. 1927 (Maurice) Otahuhu, NZ On the weekend of June 15/16, the First Profession: 18 Feb. 1946 Parish Community of St. Thérèse and St. Ordination: 25 July 1954 Anthony celebrated 90 years of Franciscan presence at Kedron. By way Appointments of celebration a cake was bought out at 1955- 1958: Paddington: parish the end of each of the three Masses 1959 - 1960: Mt. Alverna Retreat House, Wahroonga and cut by Mario, one of the MFIC 1961- 1962: St. Francis Retreat House, Auckland, NZ. sisters and a parishioner—the three (1963 -1967); 1964-67 (V): Morning Star holding the knife and cutting 1968- 1970: Parish Assistant: Townsville West, Qld. together. Each cake was then taken to 1971-76 (V): Mt. Alverna Retreat House, Wahroonga. the entrance and available for any who 1977: Sabbatical Year (Oakland, Cal., USA so desired to receive a piece. News is 1978- 1979: Mt. Alverna Retreat House, Wahroonga. that they were mostly eaten by the 1980 -1983: Parish Mission Centre, Riccarton, Christchurch, NZ kids. 1984: St. Francis Retreat House, Auckland, NZ 1985- 1987: St. Francis Retreat Center, San Juan Battista, CA, USA However 90 years ago at Central 1988 - 1989: St. Francis Retreat House, Auckland, NZ. Station, Sydney another event took 1990 – 1992: St. Anthony’s, Mangere Bridge, Auckland, NZ (G) place which places the 90 years 1993 - 1995 St. Francis Retreat House, Auckland, NZ. , Supply Apostolate celebration in Kedron in perspective. 1996 – 2007 (G); 2008 – 2017: San Damiano, Mangere Bridge. On 12 June, 1929, Frs. Fidelis Griffin, 2018 – Present: Mercy Parklands, Ellerslie. Ronan Healy and Celsus Kelly left In conversation with Antoni Selvaraj and Michael Goh at Pentecost, Albert recounted that it was at Central Railway Station in Sydney to a retreat held in the Retreat Centre in 1943 that he first saw the friars and was subsequently im- take up work in Kedron parish. On that pressed by them. So began his Franciscan journey. evening an old friar priest was there to witness the event. Fr. Celsus left us a Looking back on his life, Albert considered his whole life in ministry as significant. Throughout his wonderful account from 90 years ago: years as a friar, he has been and is still happy and contented. There was not a bad period that he Looking out of the carriage window I could account for. However, he did say that his present ambition is to make it to the top of the saw on the platform a quiet, unassum- Directory of Friars of the Province! ing elderly priest – it was Fr. Bernardine Lawler. He had come to wish us Ben Clowes’ Story Godspeed in the undertaking. Here was At 17, when Brisbane born Colin Clowes entered the Franciscan novitiate at Maryfields, Camp- a friar who had grown old in the service belltown NSW, he was on the top on the world. Ben professed his first vows on 17 February 1947 of the Order in Sydney. I could see the at our novitiate house, Maryfields, Campbelltown. He studied for the priesthood at St. Paschal’s tear of joy well up in his eyes as he College and Greyfriars, Mornington. On 28 July 1954 Ben was ordained to the priesthood together spoke of the historical importance of with Angelo O’Hagan in St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane. In October, Ben will celebrate his 90th the occasion – the first foundation of birthday in the Shalom Wing at Holy Spirit Care Services, Carseldine, Qld where he now lives in the Order in another State. He had retirement. waited long – 44 years in fact – for this Much of the following story Ben wrote in the 1990’s when he and his fellow friars were asked to moment. His labours had not been in prepare a brief summary of their life. vain; they were now bearing fruit. He could sing his Nunc Dimittis, which in “A month after arriving at St. Paschal’s College (1947), I had sur- fact he did. Bernardine died on 1 gery to remove my appendix. Soon afterwards there began a December 1929. ‘demise’ which would colour my life for decades. I slithered into a state of scrupulosity, a condition I’d never known before. I was to While at this moment our Province learn over the years that it can definitely come under control, but faces diminishment rather than it doesn’t go away.” expansion, we can still be inspired by the memory of dear Fr. Bernardine and After teaching at the Franciscan Juniorate in Robertson, NSW for dream dreams. two years (1955-56) and studying at the University of Melbourne for a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education (1957-63), Ben Theo Rush ofm. taught Latin, history, English and religion at Padua College, Ked- ron in Brisbane from 1961-77. He was vice-rector from 1973-77 and then rector from 1978-83. Transferred to the St. Francis Retreat House in Auckland in 1984 to help in the retreat movement, for several months, without warning, he fell into a very deep and frightening depression. After a sabbatical year at the Franciscan Study Centre in Canterbury in the UK where the depression dissi- pated, unfortunately he was again afflicted with depression when he returned to Australia and was admitted to the Melbourne Clinic. Ben wrote: “A second stay at the clinic some months later when I was in good spirits (called manic) brought with it the diagnosis that I have manic depression, and I continue to this day to be under treatment.” Normally bipolar disorder is diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 25; Ben was not diagnosed until he was 57. For so many years he lived with the disorder without any treatment.

Fidelis Griffin ofm Continued p3

2 THE STORY OF SIX BROTHERS continued BR. PETER DALTON OFM In an interview with a journalist, Peter Bugen, in 2014, Ben shared very tellingly of his dark times. “In a way, for me, it has been a very personal and real experience of how important pain or suffer- ing is. I’m inclined to think, without sounding morbid, that pain in one of our greatest teachers if we let it be. You don’t have to know too much Christian theology to know the part that pain plays, even though we don’t like it. What I like, have come to like, is that it’s an approach to life, an approach to spirituality, which makes sense and is very sympathetic so that it is a spirituality that has a wonderful openness about it. The sort of thing that Pope Francis is advocating – life is meant to be a joy. Life is meant to be a joy.” (The Catholic Leader, September 14, 2014). Providentially Ben was appointed one of the assistant friars at St. Francis Xavier parish in 1991. This move gave him a new lease of life: “As time went by, I recovered good health and I was able to do, with great pleasure and satisfaction, all the very things that I thought as a callow youth of 17 I would be doing from the earliest years after my ordination. Ben in his modesty says little of his great work in the parish. Bob Matthews who lived with Ben as another parish assistant for many years, fills in the gap. “Despite the struggles in health which Ben experienced, he had an extraordinary gift (among others) of joke-telling. Friends offered him any books and magazines of jokes for his perusal but he was choosey about which ones he would use. At functions of a social nature Ben would be considered an essential feature for a laugh. Near the end of Mass, he often delighted parishioners with a hearty laugh to take home with them. He seemed to be a natural stand-up comedian. It is with sadness that we announce the Jovial and prolific joke-teller as he was, Ben prepared serious sermons and delivered them with death of Br. Peter Dalton ofm. Peter passion. I heard a sermon he gave at a nuptial Mas where the theology of marriage and family life died in Auckland, NZ on Sunday, June was a powerful message. He spoke about the importance of preaching and teaching the Faith to 16th. Anthoni Selvaraj, Michael Goh the young and people of all ages. I often reflected that he drew his gift of preaching from the great and Albert Williams (friar members of Franciscan preachers like St. James of the March or St. Bernardine of Siena. his community) were with Peter as he was called home by the Lord. Pastoral care of the sick and disadvantaged was special attribute in Ben’s pastoral life. Consistently he visited needy parish folk whom he knew would be missing Christ’s care if he did not call on Peter came from the Melbourne parish of them” Thornbury and throughout his long life kept up his close friendship with good mates with Thank you, Ben. whom he went to school. He was the grooms- man for one of them (John Giddings) and then Anthony Malone ofm entered the Franciscan Order in February 1955. Peter professed his first vows at Maryfields Appointments: Friary, Campbelltown on 15 February 1959. Padua College, Kedron: teaching staff: 1970-1971 Peter moved to Auckland, NZ in 1976 and New Aitape Mission, PNG: 1971-1975 Zealand became his home. He is remembered Leuven University, Belgium: 1975-1978 fondly as a wonderful promotor of the Francis- Bomana Seminary, PNG: 1978-1988 can Missionary Union Op. Shop and his contin- St. Paul University, Ottawa: 1988-1992 ued maintenance work around the friary and its St. Paschal’s, Box Hill, YTU: lecturer 1993 grounds. Auckland, NZ: Tribunal of the Catholic Church: 1994 - present NZ Commissary of the Holy Land: 1995-1998; 2007 - present An ever-present community man, he had a President: Foundation of St. Andrew, NZ: 1998-2006 unique sense of humour. Peter was a smoker Guardian: San Damiano: 2007-2016 for most of his life (but only “roll your own”!); Chaplain to the NZ Magistral Delegation of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre he said it kept him going. At Morning/Evening of Jerusalem: 2010 - present Prayer in the chapel, Peter would ALWAYS add an intercessory prayer asking God’s blessing for the group of retreatants or the lone retreatant Why I joined the Friars? or the conference participants or whoever Anthony tells us of his vocational journey: “I read myself into the Friars! Starting with my name- were guests in the house at the time. He was a sake, Anthony of Padua, then moving on to Francis of Assisi. Then with encouragement from Fr. great friar and his presence will be a big loss to Paul Tindale, OFM, I joined the Franciscan Province of the Holy Spirit. the NZ Region friars and people. When asked what was the most blessed time of his fifty years ministry as a Franciscan friar priest,

Anthony wrote: “I have found this an almost impossible question to answer since every new as- signment has been the most important and blest for me at that time. After fifty years as a friar- priest my main memory is one of gratitude. For the excellent academic and formation training I QUIPS AND QUOTES received; the experience of Franciscan fraternity – Kedron, Aitape, Belgium, Bomana, Canada, Box An elder friar surprised by the unexpected Hill, Auckland; for having taught – students at Padua College, seminarians in PNG, students at YTU, arrival of a carer to give him a shower: and students at Auckland university; for the support of parishioners at Corpus Christi, Arop, PNG [my only parish], St. Anthony’s Mangere Bridge & St Therese, Three Kings, Auckland; for the op- “There should be water restrictions!” portunity to assist the six dioceses of NZ and their Bishops; and for the company of the many priests with whom I have worked over the last fifty years. It has been and is a good life! Anthony, we bless God for your life and calling and congratulate you on your continued faithful- ness to Jesus’ call. Ad multos annos.

Continued p4

3 TAWNY FROGMOUTHS IN OUR THE STORY OF SIX BROTHERS continued CLOISTER GARDEN Allan Hartcher ofm Our pair of Tawny Frogmouths have now taken Birth: (John) 6 February 1933 up residence again in our cloister garden. Each First Profession: 19 February 1953 day they may be clearly perched in a Liquid Ordination: 18 July 1959 Amber. As you see they are wonderfully camouflaged, blending into the background of Appointments the tree. Last month, we invited names for our 1961-64: Maryfields, Campbelltown, NSW two Froggies. Here are some suggestions: 1965-66: Collie, WA Kermit and Miss Piggy, Gin and Tonic, Rum and 1967: Maryfields, Campbelltown, NSW Raisin, Romeo and Juliet, Francis and Clare. 1968: Kedron, Brisbane, QLD What do you think? 1969-70: La Verna Retreat House, Kew, Vic. 1971-72: Albert Park, Adelaide 1973-75: Waverley 1976-82: PP Taperoo, SA 1983-85: Waverley, NSW 1986-92: PP, Box Hill, Vic. 1993-96: Admin. Narellen Vale, NSW 1996-97: PP, Midland, WA 1998-2008: Adm.inistrator Narellan Vale, NSW 2008-2014: Parish Priest, Riverside, Tas. 2004- S tar of the Sea, Waverley, NSW.

Why I joined the Friars? When I was 14, I knew I wanted to be a priest. In 3rd year of High School (Marist Brothers, Forbes, NSW), Fr. Joseph Gleeson ofm gave our school retreat. He encouraged me to be a friar, as did his blood sister, a Sister of Mercy in Forbes’ Convent. The parish priest of Forbes told me to write to the friars in Waverley. Fr. Kieran O’Connell ofm came to visit me and my parents. The next year when I was 17 I went to Robertson Seraphic College. Through my reading, the ideals of St. Francis seemed to meet all that I desired. The most blessed time of my priesthood and Franciscan Life was when I was Administrator of what the Bishop (of Wollongong) called “the Parochial District of St. Clare, Narellan Vale, Parish of Camden.” In 14 years I experienced the growth of a living community, which was enthusiastic and joyful. We had no church but we crowded into the auditorium of a former Masonic Bowling Club. Adults and children enjoy the informality of it all, as well as some Creative Liturgy. The parents and children thought it a bonus to have a Friar as their Pastor, as well as other friars and Poor Clares visiting from “Maryfields”. The Church of St. Clare is yet to be built, but St. Clare’s School is filled with reminders of Franciscan AN INTERESTING HOLY WATER FONT tradition and ministry. The Motto of St. Clare’s School, Narellan Vale is: “A Great Flame follows a Small Spark”. The holy water font standing at the entrance to Allen Hartcher ofm. St Paschal’s Large Chapel: marble statue of an angel holding a bowl of holy water has “H. Austen Crapp ofm, CBE Credgington & Co. Melbourne” engraved (Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Aitape, PNG) along the base. His Life at a glance: The uncommon surname on the base of this Birth: (Robin) 5 March 1934 large free-standing font made me curious to First Profession: 19 February 1953 know more. My investigations revealed that Ordination: 21 July 1959 not all was ‘angelic’ about the importer of this Appointments: lovely marble piece! 1960-62: Palm Island Herbert Credgington, late of New Zealand, ran 1962-66: Mukili, PNG a business in Melbourne selling church 1966-77: Chaplain, 2 PIR, Wewak ornaments, marble statuary, candlesticks and 1978-80: Chaplain, Igam Bks, Lae the like. He traded as the Catholic Art Gallery 1980-82: Chaplain, Townsville, QLD and in 1916 his business was located in 1983-86: Pastor, Lumi, PNG, VG Elizabeth House, in Elizabeth Street, 1987-93: Provincial, PNG Melbourne. 1994-96: St. Paul’s Uni., Ottawa, JCL 1996-1999: Pastor, Pes, PNG, VG To stock his business, Mr Credgington 11 July 1999: Ordained Bishop of Aitape frequently travelled by steamer between 2009-2018: St. Anthony’s Parish, Townsville (Bishop Emeritus) Melbourne and Europe, particularly Italy. He 2019- Star of the Sea, Waverley, NSW (Bishop Emeritus) arranged contracts with marble craftsmen and others, to supply statuary, stained glass windows, paintings and other items of church furnishings for his Melbourne business. Continued p5

Continued p6

4 PRAYERS FOR OUR SICK THE STORY OF SIX BROTHERS continued The 1998 Tsunami Friars/ Sisters in Nursing Homes: On July 17, 1998, a moderate 7 magnitude (Mw) earthquake struck the island of Papua New Guin- Greg Bourke, Tony Stott (St, Joseph’s, ea at 5:49 p.m. local time. But the terror for the villagers along the coast was far from over, as Kensington); Theodore Gillian (Our Lady of three catastrophic tsunami waves followed—devastating and razing the entire villages of Sissano, Consolation, Rooty Hill, NSW), Benignus Clowes Warapu, Arop and Malol in the Franciscan diocese of Aitape, PNG, killing at least 1,600, injuring (Holy Spirit Care Services, Carseldine, QLD); 1,000, and displacing more than 10,000 people. Albert Williams (Mercy Parkside, Ellerslie, NZ); Peter Cantwell (Nazareth House, East Austen Crapp at this time was the administrator of the Aitape Diocese; Bishop Brian Barnes had Camberwell); Sr. Pauline Mary Babici osc;, Clare moved to Port Moresby to take up the position of Archbishop. In an interview, Austen takes up Donegan osc (Our Lady of Consolation, Rooty the story: Hill, NSW ). “On the evening of 17 June 1998, tsunami waves 10 metres high and travelling at 60 K’s wiped out Friends/ Relatives: five coastal villages, displacing more than 10,000 people. Churches, hospitals, schools, houses were Romuald Green (Franciscan Commissariat, all destroyed. In Aitape township there was no news of the devastation until the following morn- Washington DC, US), Jim Fitzgerald; Akie ing when Sr. Margaret Conway, a Presentation sister, gave a first report from Malol saying that Callaghan (cancer); Annette Brown osc; Moya 20/30 people were dead.” Austen immediately called the Government Disaster Centre and re- Slevison (cousin of Bob Matthews); Frank ported the tsunami and the then known causalities. Matthews (brother of Bob Matthews); Neil & In his book, Aitape Story, Hugh Davies described what had happened: “When the earthquake hit, Margaret Brown (brother and sister-in-law of families in the coastal villages were gathered for their evening meals. It was the beginning of a Michael Brown ofm); Daisy Holmberg; Mary week of school vacation, so students had returned from their boarding schools to be with their Mead; Genevieve Slattery. Please keep them families. Soon after, the villagers heard a loud boom and went to the beach to investigate the in your kind prayers. unusual noise, observing that the sea was “boiling” or bubbling. They could see a large wave devel- RECENTLY DECEASED: op in the distance. The villagers ran from the approaching waves, and a few escaped by climbing trees or pushing their boats into the lagoon, but almost all were caught.” Br. Peter Dalton ofm (d. 16.6.2019); Sr. Clare Conway rsm (d. 18.6.2019), sister of Matthias “Those who were lucky were able to cling to floating debris, but the less fortunate were swept out Conway ofm; Margaret O’Shaughnessy. to sea or killed by piles of logs and debris. In the end, three tsunami waves had come in quick suc- Eternal rest grant to Peter, Clare and Margaret, cession, killing and injuring virtually all in their path.” O Lord, and to all our friends who have died in Austen continued: “As news of the magnitude of the disaster reached the international press, June. donations of money poured in, totaling 23 million dollars, but the money was not directed to the HERE AND THERE: Government but to the Diocese. The simple reason was that the Prime Minister, Bill Skate, was Joe McKay: Jerusalem JPIC Conference known for his corruption. In retaliation, Bill Skate (d. 2006, aged 56) spread defamatory rumours (see report) against Austen, stating that the funds were being misused for personal and church purposes. These allegations were put to rest with the employment of an accountant who meticulously kept Matthew Beckmann: Singapore: History & track of all donations and their disbursement. Health clinics, schools, community halls, hospitals Theology Lectures to friars in formation. were rebuilt but no churches. The people were given tools and materials which they used to build Cormac Nagle: Annual OFM Retreat (Varroville, their own churches.” NSW). The time was extremely stressful for Austen who was later diagnosed as having 2nd degree trauma Guests: A warm welcome to John Lourey ofm forcing him to spend some time in rehabilitation. Eventually all the renovations were completed, & Michael Ford. leaving $500,000 which was put into a Trust Account for orphans of the tsunami. Austen was Events: Noel and Janette Elliot: holiday awarded by Queen Elizabeth the Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for his outstanding ser- excursion on The Ghan from Adelaide to vices to the people of the Aitape Diocese. Darwin and points in between. We wish then In 1999, Austen was chosen by the Pope John Paul II as Bishop of Aitape. Bon Voyage and a safe return. Coat of Arms Rays on top: Sunset in Aitape: Aitape is in Sandaun Province of PNG. ST PASCHAL’s CLOISTER Tau cross dividing panels IN THE WINTER SUN.. Left side: Dove: The Holy Spirit Right side: Tree beside running water (Ps. 1) Caption: The Spirit gives Life When asked about the best part of his life in PNG, Austen nominated his time in the Australian Army in PNG and Townsville. Continued p6.

A MEETING IN JERUSALEM In June I attended the Franciscan Friars International Council for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (ICJPIC) in the San Salvador Friary, Jerusalem. I was representing the South Asia, Australia and Oceania Conference (SAAOC) region. The ICJPIC meeting sets the international priorities for the work of the Franciscan Friars in JPIC. The Old City of Jerusalem is a mystical place. It is the city of faith, of our Lord and prophets. Orthodox Jew, Christian pilgrim, and muslim faithful walk past each other. Existing in the same space but rarely interacting. Invisible lines divide the city across which its divided citizens rarely cross. The Old City has streets packed with shops and pilgrims paralleling streets empty except for the occasional cat. Cars drive down alleyways which seem only designed for pedestrian traffic. In the morning and evening the city noise is dimmed by the ringing of bells, the crying from the mosques and the occasional blowing of a shofar. . Continued p7. 5 THE STORY OF SIX BROTHERS continued AN INTERESTING HOLY WATER FONT Paul Smith Continued.. Unfortunately for him, the Australian customs Born: 2 May 1954 officials discovered that between 1928 and 1st Profession: 2 February 1974 1931 he had evaded payment of the full Solemn Prof. 1 July 1979 amounts of duties on his imported goods, Ordination: 29 August 1980 using false invoices and false entries. After lengthy investigations and months of work Meeting the Franciscans in 1964 as a nine-year old boy at Padua (because Credgington’s methods were so College in Brisbane happened providentially because my father devious), he was brought to trial on 32 charges had heard from a colleague about a relatively new school at of defrauding the Australian Customs Kedron, closer to home and less expensive than the alternative! Department. I could never have imagined then what the next 55 years (and Mr. Gorman, K.C., and Mr. A. L. Read more) would bring. In fact, there had been an unrealised Fran- (instructed by the Commonwealth Crown ciscan connection almost from birth: being baptised in the church of St Paschal, Wavell Heights, solicitors) appeared for the Customs the only parish in Australia named after the Franciscan saint – from the days when it was once a department, and Mr. Stretton appeared for ‘station church’ of the Franciscan parish of Kedron. I was educated until Year Four at the local con- Credgington. In his defence, Credgington vent school whose title, Our Lady of the Angels, also held a Franciscan link. argued that the Scullin Ministry tariffs were However, I have no doubt that it was the Franciscan spirit personified in the many friars who excessive and were ‘an unjust interference taught me for nine years at Padua that attracted me to be a friar. Their affable manner, practical with his business’ - arguments the Court ways and genuine care for students may have been intangible attributes but they were clearly felt rejected. around the college. Through a couple of mentoring friars, I came to know more about how the A newspaper of the day reported: ‘Herbert friars lived. I liked what I saw. Credgington, aged 74 years, importer, of Post- Since solemn profession (1 July 1979) in the Kedron church where I had attended school Masses – Office Place, was fined £800, with £252 costs, and ordination there in 1980 – I have had many opportunities and experiences as a friar. Parish and was ordered to repay £1,154 to the work and youth retreat ministry for the first few years, then twelve years as prov- department, by Mr. Freeman, P.M., at the ince vocation director, overlapping for a time as secretary of the province, and District Court yesterday afternoon. … His then being part of the provincial administration and leadership teams. As vocation methods were elaborate and very difficult to director, I trusted in God’s wisdom that I helped candidates find their true vocation detect. Credgington had been trusted by the in life, even if not many stayed with the Order. In leadership, I felt privileged ‘being Department, and invoices made out for half of with’ the friars in their life and ministry, in times of joy and sadness, achievements the value of the goods had not been and disappointments, hopes and struggles; I was fortunate to work amidst teams suspected. … Mr. Gorman said that which included dedicated friars and supportive lay staff. I have always felt at home Credgington had been absent from Australia with friars wherever I lived in various communities and enjoyed the camaraderie. for a year, and was now in New Zealand.’ I These days, the minister general has asked me to accompany the mostly indige- hope the NZ authorities were vigilant! nous friars in Papua New Guinea through some of their challenges and to help Miranda Fyfield them fulfil their potential and vision. I don’t recall exactly what I thought 55 years ago on that first encounter with Fr Odoric, a jovial teacher wearing a friar’s robe with a knotted cord. I do know that in the 40 years since solemn profession I have mostly enjoyed my time as a friar and have experienced the guidance of St Francis in a lifestyle once promoted by this former vocation director with the motto: “The Franciscans – some of them priests, all of them brothers”. Paul Smith ofm

FEAST OF ST BONAVENTURE (1221-1274) 15 July Bonaventure, a native of Bagnoregio in Umbria, joined the friars and studied at the University of Paris where he became a lecturer. He was a contemporary with Thomas Aquinas and together they disputed with the secular clergy about the life of the mendicant movements. After John of Palma was removed from his position of Minister General of the Friars Minor, accused of holding the heretical views of Joachim of Flores, Bonaventure was nominated by John as his successor. As Minister General Bonaventure tried to unite the friars by introducing a common Constitution and seeking a common understanding of St Francis’ life. It was St Francis’ life that inspired Bonaventure’s theology and life. In addition to numerous theological works, he wrote two legends on the life of St Francis and many practical directions for the life of the friars and the Poor Clares. The imagery of Itinerarium Mentis in Deum (Journey into the Mind of God) reveals he was also a mystic. He did not take up an appointment as Archbishop of York but was later made a cardinal by Gregory X who valued his advice. He was canonized in 1482.

6 A MEETING IN JERUSALEM Continued SNAPSHOTS OF JERUSALEM Roof of the Holy Sepulchre leading to the Coptic and Ethiopian Monasteries. Station Nine on the Via Dolorosa

Just inside New Gate is San Salvador which like the rest of the Old City contains its own world. While students come from across Europe and Africa, and the language in the streets is Arabic or Hebrew within the walls the lingua franca is Italian. The food is often pasta. The company is great. If you however climb to the roof to look over the modern city to the west you still can see buildings marked by war. The ICJPIC heard about how the world seemed to be on the move. From South America people were fleeing poverty and violence for a dreamed life in USA. The Eastern European friars had experienced a flood of people from Syria, Afghanistan and beyond that had both governments and NGO’s scrambling to find the basics of life for this wave of humanity. The Mediterranean Sea had become a doorway for people into Europe. The flow of humanity who comes towards Australia is a just a drop. The ICJPIC talked about mining and other extractive industries which in many places displaces people from their homes, destroys their environment and gives them nothing. Often the ownership of these industries is in an another country like Australia or the UK , another world away, but the effects are very local. Often the people are left with nothing but a barren land when the industry moves on. The effects of the climate crisis is being seen around the world. The friars talked about the challenges it asks of them and how more change is needed. They were also inspired by the hope and energy in young people who know that we can live in a better world. We listened to friends from the Global Catholic Climate Movement, Pax Christi, Franciscans The Assyrians at prayer in a small chapel of the International and our brothers and their collaborators in the Holy Land. We then talked, listened Tomb of Joseph of Arimathea and prayed with each other to discern what we could do together in response to the cries we in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre heard. The pope’s encyclical Laudato Si’ continues to inspire friars JPIC work around the world. It is a call to listen and respond to the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth. The friars at the ICJPIC see that the call to see the world through the lens of integral ecology, the deep connectedness of Creation, calls for a deepening of our faith. It calls for us to renewal of our spiritual life, to look at how we friars live in God’s creation and regain a prophetic Franciscan voice. The Jerusalem Declaration of the ICJPIC is a radical document. It however builds on the call of the Order’s Plenary Council to make concrete steps to live a more prophetic life. After the meeting we had time to explore around Jerusalem. Going out south from the Old City walls one comes to another walled place. This is a modern wall built out of people’s fear of each other. It circles a town where the Prince of Peace was born, Bethlehem. This new wall cuts off the fields on the rolling hills from each other. These are the same fields shepherds once heard angels joyfully cry.

South East of the Old City one climbs the wooded hills of Judea, Ein Karem, a place now of cafes and art shops, but in ages past it was a place where two cousins, Elizabeth and Mary, joyfully met and a prophet , John the Baptist, was born. Back in Jerusalem walking east through the cobbled streets and out the Lion’s Gate one comes to the Kedron Valley and the Garden of Gethsemane. Even today amongst the olive trees one can feel peaceful and cut off from the city. Continued p8 7 SNAPSHOTS OF JERUSALEM A MEETING IN JERUSALEM Continued Franciscan Chapel of the Nailing of the Cross A steep climb further up the Mount of Olives brings one to a small chapel, Dominus Flevit, with a on Golgotha panoramic view across the Kedron Valley. Here the Lord stood looking over the city and wept.

Down from San Salvador friary, reached through unevened cobbled streets, there is an enclosed hill where a cross once stood and close by an empty tomb. Today it is a chaotic place of clashing Christian traditions and liturgies. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre is a maze of chapels but early in the morning it truly is a place of prayer. It is the endpoint of the waves of pilgrims following the Via Dolorosa, the place 2000 years ago that was the site of the Lord’s Resurrection and our salvation.

The restored Aedicula, On the southern side of the Old City is the Upper Room, the Cenacle. To get there on Pentecost The chapel housing the tomb of Christ the friars walk silently in procession through the city. It is a place where the Master gave his disciples himself in a gift of bread and wine. A place where the Holy Spirit came among the frightened disciples and sent them to the ends of the earth. There on Pentecost in that hot and crowded Upper Room, celebrating with the brothers and the faithful from around the world, you can feel the Holy Spirit sends us still.

ANNA MASSAROTTI, CUSTODIAN OF OUR LADY’S GROTTO You may have noticed that the Grotto of Our Lady is always kept neat and tidy. Flowers and candles are in abundance and Christmas greetings even appear at the appropriate time. The beauty of the Grotto is largely due to the devotion of Mrs. Anna Massarotti who for the last 20 years has cared for the Grotto and its surroundings. Several times a week she spends time in prayer and very practical devotion to Mary. Anna and her husband, John, looked after the flower arrange- ments at St. Francis Xavier parish church, Box Hill, for at least 25 years. One day her grandson, Tino, aged 4 years at the time, asked Anna: “Nonna, do you get paid for this flower work?” Anna replied: “No, well really, ‘yes’. You see Jesus on the cross up there over the altar. He pays me well.” Bright Tino answered: “Nonna, I’ve never seen Him come down from up there to give you anything.” Out of the mouth of babes! Bob Matthews