NEWSLETTER St.Thomas DECEMBER 2017, VOLUME 4, NO. 3 Eparchy of St.Thomas the Apostle of of the Syro Malabars

IN THIS ISSUE

l 3RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE SYRO-MALABAR EPARCHY

l BISHOPS’ PASTORAL LETTER

l FOURTH PASTORAL COUNCIL REPORT

l SR RANI MARIA’S BEATIFICATION

l REX BAND LIVE TOUR 2017

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3RD ANNIVERSARY OF THE SYRO-MALABAR EPARCHY

WELCOME SPEECH - BISHOP BOSCO PUTHUR

Dear brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ, Thomas the apostle in India. We are lack of enough job opportunities and Today is the day that Lord has given to us, the children of St. Thomas and we demographic reasons lead us to migrate a day of thanksgiving for all the graces he consider him as our father of faith. to other places like Australia. abundantly showered on the Syro-Malabar That is why we were traditionally called Of course, we come here for job or for community in Australia, especially in WA Thomas Christians. At present there are study, but we uphold our tradition and and in . I am sure you experienced 5 million Catholics in the Syro-Malabar faith and at the same time try to become the presence of god through this bible church and we got lot of migrants relevant to the Australian society. convention led by Fr. Dominic. from our church all over the world. in Australia, the Syro-Malabar diocese Now, I am entering into my duty of And a word about the Syro-Malabar was inaugurated in 2014. The place welcoming everyone. First of all, I would community in Australia especially for the where we come from, the southern like to introduce to you a man who is knowledge of our guests. Syro-Malabar state in India has got number of living according to the heart of Jesus church is an ancient catholic community educational institutions run by catholic here in Australia. I shall share with you bloomed from the apostleship of St. church. We have high literacy rate but an experience I had when I went to 2 ST. THOMAS NEWSLETTER

meet Emeritus . DEAR FRIENDS, WE And then we have got Fr. Anish, the parish I saw a homeless old lady lying in front priest of the St. joseph Syro-Malabar of his house and came to know that he HAVE BEEN SPENDING parish in Perth. I am so happy to welcome accommodates many homeless like that. TIME KNOWING JESUS him to this meeting. And he even makes coffee for her. I was humiliated and edified to see that because AND LOVING JESUS. Dear friends, we have been spending time I am not able to do that by myself. Media MOTHER THERESA SAID, knowing Jesus and loving Jesus. Mother who speak about scandals of the church “THE FRUIT OF SILENCE Theresa said, “The fruit of silence is prayer, never see such kinds of goodness in the fruit of prayer is faith, fruit of faith is love, church and they don’t want to speak IS PRAYER, FRUIT OF and the fruit of love is service”. Important about it. A man according to the heart of PRAYER IS FAITH, FRUIT thing is to love and to serve. This is a Jesus. In the name of all gathered here I chance to know and love Jesus to prepare cordially welcome Archbishop Emeritus OF FAITH IS LOVE, AND ourselves to serve others. Let us make use Barry Hickey. THE FRUIT OF LOVE IS of this time effectively. And we have got Tony Buti, a politician, member of Armadale and representative SERVICE”. IMPORTANT Thanking God for everything and seeking of Hon. Minister Paul Papalia, minister for THING IS TO LOVE AND the intercession of Mother Mary, I multicultural affairs. His name shows he welcome all of you once again. Thank you. is an Italian. Italians are very generous, TO SERVE. loving and lively. I am happy that being the member of assembly he agreed to come for this meeting. I cordially welcome you to this meeting.

Another distinguished personality with us is Adrian Martino, vice principal of La Salle College, Perth. Many of our children are studying here and they all agree that he is a good teacher and I am sure he is loved by all the students. Dear Adrian, thank you so much for being with us today and I welcome you to this meeting.

Of course, here with us, Fr. Francis, the Vicar General of our diocese. I need not welcome him because he is one of us. Yet for all the hard work he has done for this great event, I thank Fr. Francis and welcome him to our midst. 3 ST. THOMAS NEWSLETTER

SPEECH BY EMERITUS ARCHBISHOP BARRY HICKEY ON THE THIRD ANNIVERSARY MEETING AT PERTH

Most Rev. Bosco Puthur, Distinguished cater for the particular needs of the Syro- guests, Vincentian Priests, ladies and Malabar community. gentlemen… I am deeply impressed by their enthusiasm and dynamism, especially in It was indeed a pleasure to receive this country where Christianity is facing an invitation to address this public formidable challenges. meeting on the third Anniversary of the establishment of the Syro- Your excellency, Bishop Bosco, I Malabar Eparchy in Australia. I do congratulate you for adding new life and so on my own behalf and on behalf vigour to Christian life in Australia in these of the Most Rev. Timothy Costelloe difficult times. SDB, Archbishop of Perth, who unfortunately could not be here I can assure state and federal governments today. around Australia that the members of The establishment of the eparchy is the newly established eparchy will add an indication of the strong religious Since then they have shown remarkable new religious and cultural richness to desire of the many people from Kerala energy and zeal in offering not only those Australian life and be an enormous force and other parts of India who are now of Syro-Malabar rite but all of our people for good. residents in Australia, to participate in vibrant preaching, healing services, retreats May god’s blessings continue to bring the vibrancy of the Syro-Malabar rites, and Christian formation programmes. Very energy, happiness and love to and community life and language that recently they opened a residential retreat through the Syro-Malabar eparchy of St. they enjoyed back home. centre in Byford (Karrakup). Thomas. In my visits over the years to India Thank you. and to Kerala in particular, I have Now, since the establishment of the eparchy personally witnessed the strong faith they are pioneering even more activities to and traditions of the Syro-Malabar people, and count amount the priests some seminary classmates. FELICITATION SPEECHE This public meeting comes at the end of the three days of a bible ADRIAN MARTINO convention during which faith Honestly it’s a pleasure for us to host and was shared by huge number of have you all here at La Salle College. John enthusiastic participants. De La Salle is a great saint on whose name I am pleased to note that some years this college is known. So there is nothing before the establishment of the wrong when you hold a Bible convention at eparchy, the Syro-Malabar Vincentian this place, which proves education and faith priests accepted my invitation goes hand in hand. So we welcome you to to come to Perth to administer La sale Collage. It’s our pleasure to have it two of our parishes, Shenton Park here in the lovely swan valley and we wish and Maddington and to provide you all the best for the rest of your Bible chaplaincy at some of our public Convention and for the established of your hospitals. community here in Perth. Thank you.

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Prot.No.MPL: 52/17/19 (ENG) institutions that arrange a home for these homeless people in our homeland. I am very happy to introduce to you one of PASTORAL LETTER these charity institutions called “Deivadhan” (meaning Gift of BISHOP’S God), which specially deserves PASTORAL Dear Rev Fathers, Brothers, Sisters, our helping hand. and my dear Children in Jesus Christ, LETTER Many of you may know Fr. The liturgical season of Annunciation Abraham Kaippanplackal who has commenced. It is a graceful was a priest from Palai Diocese. season for us to prepare spiritually He was a saintly priest who was and mentally for the birth of our Lord called to his heavenly abode Jesus. Let us prepare ourselves these at the age of 100, while taking days before Christmas with prayer, care of thousands of homeless penance and fasting. Christmas people. Fr. Kaippanplackal greetings to everyone! Not just in the established a religious order cribs, but let the baby Jesus be born for sisters called “Deivadhan” in our hearts and families as well. (DDS) at Malayattoor in 1998. Currently this congregation “Fear not, for behold, I bring you has 23 professed sisters (Nuns). good news of great joy that will be for More than 800 homeless all the people. For unto you is born people receive their shelter and this day in the city of David a Saviour, services across Malayattoor, Bishop Bosco Puthur who is the Messiah, the Lord. And this Kanjoor, Vadakancherry, Kolayad, will be a sign for you: you will find a Thankamani under Deivadhan baby wrapped in swaddling clothes institutions. I invite you to give and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2: 10-12) this year’s Christmas gift to the Yes, dear ones, today also God invite poor as “a shelter for baby Jesus” us to meet Jesus! Each Christmas to Deivadhan. gives us the good news of great joy to encounter Jesus in our lives regularly, The amount gathered from your SYRO-MALABAR to experience Jesus’ love in the sacrifices during the season of EPARCHY OF Gospel continuously and to welcome Annunciation, may be donated others to Jesus’ fraternal circle. Let when you participate at the THE ST. THOMAS us pray that this Christmas may once Christmas Qurbana. This is also a THE APOSTLE, again be a cause for “God’s glory in good opportunity to encourage the high” and “peace for people on our little children to help the poor MELBOURNE earth”. in the name of Jesus.

For the past two years during I request all Parish Priests/ Christmas our Eparchy organised a Chaplains to announce and gift for baby Jesus from the sacrifices remind their communities about made by our members. This year I this great charity program. I invite you to make “A shelter for baby would be most grateful if the Jesus”. amount collected during the Christmas Qurbana services could As you know there are many be transferred to the Eparchial thousands in Kerala who are finance office on time. May baby destitute and homeless, who have Jesus bless you for your love for no place to sleep. There are many the poor.

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FELICITATION SPEECH Our Eparchy has received $43,846.95 (Rs 21,44,000) last year as the Christmas gift named “a meal for baby Jesus”. I am happy to TONY BUTI MLA inform you that I personally handed over the amount collected to Sri. P. U. Thomas from Navajeevan Trust. Thank you for your generosity. Baby Jesus is waiting for your kind-hearted gesture this Christmas season as well.

Dear brothers and sisters, on this occasion, I would like to draw your attention to another serious topic. As we are aware, the Australian community, which generously received us, which we made our home, is currently going through turbulent situations. The current political instabilities, legalisation of same-sex marriages and euthanasia (with a pet name of “mercy killing”), and Royal commission reports, all have the capacity to seriously influence our faith community and personal life. I hope you have a very clear view on these issues based on our Christian faith. Apart from the older generation, I specially invite you to have healthy discussions with your children and young people, who risk having their future deeply affected by these issues. It’s a very great pleasure that I am here for the third diocesan anniversary meeting for Syro- Malabar We have a duty to lead a family life rooted in Christian faith and Eparchy of St Thomas. Also I acknowledge Most its moral values, as well as to be actively involved in promoting Reverent Archbishop Barry Hickey, Bishop Bosco those same values to the public/general community. Let us ask Puthur, Fr. Francis, Fr. Anish and Adrian Martino, forgiveness for the failures which happened in these areas of our the Vice Principal of this collage. As mentioned by church community and church life. Let us pray for God’s grace. Archbishop Barry Hickey, this church has given new vibe to Christian catholic community in Western Let me say a word of thanks before I conclude. As you are Australia and the whole of Australia. If my research aware, the Rexband concert tour in November was organised is correct, I believe this is the biggest diocese of the by our Eparchy in seven cities of Australia, and was a great Syro-Malabar church outside India. As Bishop Barry success. Many Australian Bishops contacted me to convey Hickey said the has to face new their congratulations in organising such a fruitful concert tour. challenges in Australia. Of course, as I mentioned, The Rexband concerts benefited us with faith proclamation, if you go back to the history of Catholic Church to introduce Jesus to others and to empower our faith of Australia we find that we had to learn a lot to communities. I offer my sincere thanks to all priests and lay accept the new incoming catholic communities. members who took on leadership roles, and the benefactors and The Syro-Malabar community is really strong in lay faithful for their active involvement and promotion of the . As a member of Armadale I concerts. welcome all to Armadale and any one can come and live in Armadale. Because of your outstanding With Christmas wishes, community services and respect for education, I think we have a new class of your community in Your Loving Father, Armadale area. You all are welcome, come down to Armadale. We open our hands to you and in respect + Bosco Puthur to your community in my region. Even though I am representing the Minister for cultural affairs here now, FROM THE EPARCHIAL CURIA, PRESTON, MELBOURNE I was introduced to your community much before 3 DECEMBER 2017. by your own community members. I hope you have the ability to make a new church and I hope that it N.B: This pastoral letter is to be read during the Sunday Holy will be functional soon. You deserve your own church Qurbana on 10 December 2017. as you are a fantastic Christian community. So dear congregation, God bless you and happy anniversary and I wish all the best in future. Thank you

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REXBAND LIVE IN AUSTRAILIA The successful “Rexband Australia Tour On 11 November 2017, the Melbourne 2017” would mark the close of the year Convention Centre hosted the biggest 2017 with beautiful experience of the joy crowd of the entire tour, inaugurated that Jesus brought in the lives of many by Bishop Bosco Puthur of the Syro- Australians including our faithful from all Malabar Eparchy of Australia again seven cities of Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, was another testimony of the four Darwin, , Adelaide and Brisbane. intentions, Bishop Bosco envisaged the This would continue to be a source tour to achieve: evangelisation of youth blessing for many. The ways in which the and other, community building for our members of the Rexband use their God parishes, outreach to wider Australian gifted talents would remain as powerful population and a source of fund raising testimonies for many Australians in the for the financial needs of our Eparchy years to come. and parishes. tour, the first performance being on 10 November 2017 in Canberra. The meeting The members of the Rexband arrived on The band performed at the Perth of the band members with the Archbishop 08 November 2017 in Sydney and travelled Convention Centre on 12 November of Canberra served to Canberra by road for a day of intense 2017 graced by the presence of Bishop as a great source of blessings for the practice and final shaping of the entire Timothy Costeloe was followed by members during their entire tour. 7 ST. THOMAS NEWSLETTER

the first and most successful outreach Community Church in Adelaide who attended the concert and the to Darwin local community on 14 continued to testify God’s providential hard work many priests and laymen November 2017, the fourth event blessings upon the band members undertook in the organisation of of the tour. The large presence of and the crowd who came to celebrate the tour would continue to keep the Australian school children at the the joy Jesus brings through the flame of faith strong and witnessing Darwin Convention Centre was medium of music. The seventh and to people around us. Thank Almighty another golden feather to the crown. final performance of this tour at God for the protection and anointing The event in Sydney graced by Bishop Edmund Rice Performing Arts Centre all received through the tour may help at the Sydney Olympic in Brisbane concluded the most hectic us to witness our faith in this land with Park Sports Centre on 17 November and first extensive tour in the Asia- more vigour and value. 2017 and on the next day at Paradise Pacific region to a joyful closure.

The powerful testimonies people

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THE EPARCHY OF ST THOMAS THE APOSTLE, MELBOURNE FOURTH PASTORAL COUNCIL REPORT 29-30 OF SEPTEMBER 2017 FOOTHILLS CONFERENCE CENTRE, 48 EDINBURGH ROAD, MOOROOLBARK, VIC 3138

The fourth Pastoral Council of the participants to the Pastoral Council for Dony Peter Chacko, Leadership Eparchy of St. Thomas the Apostle, very fruitful sessions. The themes Council consultant from Cathedral parish gave Melbourne was held at Foothills discussed mainly were on: a talk on Year of the Youth - 2018, Conference Centre, 48 Edinburgh • Same Sex Marriage and Euthanasia announced by Australian Catholic Road, Mooroolbark, Victoria from • Year of the Youth - 2018 Church. Dony suggested many practical Friday, 29 September to Saturday, • Safe guarding Children steps which can be meaningfully 30 September 2017. In attendance implemented during the Year of the were Bishop Bosco Puthur, seventeen Fr. Tony Kerin, Episcopal Vicar for Youth. On this occasion, Bishop Bosco (17) priests and thirty-two (32) lay Marriage, Life and Family from the announced the appointment of Sojin representatives, including members Archdiocese of Melbourne gave the Sebastian from Darwin as Syro-Malabar from the regional/interstate keynote address on Same Sex Marriage Youth Movement Eparchy Director. communities of Australia. and Euthanasia. The below topics on the subject were presented by Fr. Tony: Professor Daryl Higgins from Australian The meeting was inaugurated • Marriage Equality - A misleading but Catholic University gave a presentation with a Holy Qurbana celebrated by very effective framing of the Same Sex on general principles in Safeguarding Archbishop Mar Kurian Vayalumkal, Marriage debate. Children. Prof Higgins stressed raising Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New • All relationships are important, but not awareness about safeguarding children Guinea and Solomon Islands. In his all relationships are a marriage. within the parish communities is homily Archbishop expressed his joy • Euthanasia - Proponents of new law extremely important for the successful to inaugurate the Pastoral Council are well intentioned, trying to remove implementation of the programme. of the Eparchy. Bishop Bosco Puthur its social stigma and falsify the cause of Later, Lissy Tresa & Benny Sebastian welcomed Archbishop Vayalumkal and death on certificate. 9 ST. THOMAS NEWSLETTER from the Eparchy Professional in November, which the Eparchy Standards Division presented on organised as part of its evangelisation Safeguarding policy & practice effort. guidelines implemented in the Eparchy with open discussion Bishop Bosco informed the council with participants. Bishop Bosco that the 2016 Christmas charity announced the appointment of collection was $43,846.95. It was Lissy Tresa from Christ the King handed over by Bishop to ‘Navajeevan parish, Sydney, as the Eparchial Trust, Kottayam’, an institution run by Professional Standards Director Mr. P.U. Thomas on 26 August 2017. and Benny Sebastian from In addition, Bishop Bosco announced Cathedral parish as Eparchy the below: Safeguarding officer. • Appointment of Johnykutty Thomas (Sydney) as the National Coordinator The past year’s Pastoral of Catholic Congress. Council report was read by • Youth Year 2018 to be celebrated Gene Thalappillil, Secretary. widely across our Eparchy. Representatives from various • Encourage youth to participate in communities introduced the next (Jan 2019) themselves and presented brief in Panama, and find sponsors for their reports/updates on their parish/ travel expenses. mission’s current status and • Wish to start a Catholic Radio challenges. channel with support of Radio Maria, Rome. An Indian nun murdered on a bus - on Second day’s meeting started • Fr. Sebastian Mandapathil is the order of moneylenders affected by with morning prayers, and Holy appointed as the Mathruvedhi her social work among the poor - is the Qurbana by Bishop Bosco Puthur. Director. latest person to be beatified in India. • Fr. Sabu Adimakiyil VC is appointed Sister Rani Maria Vattalil, a member of Dr. Cyriac Mathew, member of as the Chaplain for Syro-Malabar the Franciscan Clarist Congregation, the Pastoral Council and Santhom Youth Movement. was stabbed 54 times in front of more Trust board member, emphasised than 50 passengers on January 25, 1995. the importance of ‘showing There was time for open discussion The crime took place near the village of Empathy during our walk as a with Bishop Bosco before conclusion Udainagar, in the central state of Madhya Christian’ with an interesting of the Pastoral Council meeting, Pradesh. The state is over 90 percent presentation. where many of the members Hindu and less than 1 percent Christian, participated with great enthusiasm. and the Christian community often Fr. Varghese Vavolil, Eparchy’s Various suggestions and ideas from suffers various forms of discrimination. Catechetical Director, and Fr. the discussions were consolidated for George Mankuzhikary, Family future action. Next year’s meeting was Vattalil worked with the landless poor, Apostolate Director; updated on decided on 21-22 Sep 2018. urging them to insist they receive a their respective Ministry activities. living wage from their landlords, and While concluding, Bishop encouraged encouraging them to give up bad habits, Antony Joseph, member of members to actively participate in like drinking. In addition, the Kerala- Eparchial Finance council and the growth of parish/mission and born nun taught farmers more modern Santhom Trust, updated on the share/communicate the outcome agricultural methods, and helped Finance policy, legal structure and of Pastoral council meetings to the parents send their children to school. its compliance of Eparchy and Parish Council. Meeting concluded She organized village women into ‘SANTHOM TRUST’. with a thanksgiving prayer by Bishop self-help groups - that could even pool Mar Bosco Puthur. resources to provide financial assistance Bishop Bosco reminded and in emergencies - and helped families requested prayers for the Report prepared by Gene Thalappillil, Secretary establish savings accounts. upcoming Rexband concert tours Her work among the poor meant 10 ST. THOMAS NEWSLETTER

Paul - visited Singh in prison in 2002, and my own hands stabbed her tied a Rakhi to his hand. repeatedly and for this, I will regret The rakhi symbolizes the obligation my actions till the day I die,” he of the man to honor and protect the said. “In my own small way, I try to woman. The universal meaning of the follow her example, helping those festival means it has been adapted by who are less fortunate than me, other religious groups in India, including like Tribal Christians and all those Christians. Singh, overcome by this sign who are marginalized,” Singh said of forgiveness, expressed his repentance at the time. In 2006, at the request for the murder. of Vattalil’s family and Catholic “I was overcome with grief and remorse leaders, Singh was released for killing an innocent nun, who only from prison. Singh, a Hindu, has selflessly worked to uplift the poor continued to be an advocate of people and make our nation progress,” interreligious harmony in India, he told Asianews in 2010. and has often praised the work of the Christian community Even though he was hired to perform in the country. A 56-minute the murder, he still assumed full documentary film, Heart of a responsibility for his actions. Murderer, about Vattalil’s murder “I accept full responsibility for my and Singh’s repentance, was heinous murder of Sister Rani Maria. I released in 2013, and won the cannot say that I was instigated, because top prize at the World Interfaith Harmony Film Festival.

“We are sure that Sister Rani Maria SR. RANI MARIA’S who worked, served and died for the people, through her powerful intercession, our services may BEATIFICATION be more effective for the good of all the people,” said Indore A “GREAT BLESSING” FOR INDIA Bishop Chacko Thottumarickal. “Blessed Rani Maria is a model for they were less likely to make use of local us, as she was ready to shed her moneylenders - who often were also the blood for the sake of the poor and landlords of the villagers - and they arranged downtrodden,” the bishop said. to have her killed. Thottumarickal told Crux the relic presented at the ceremony As the 41-year-old nun was dying, she kept is one of the nun’s rib bones, repeating the name of Jesus. “Jesus” was the which bears the knife marks of last word from her lips. “Sister Rani Maria, the her martyrdom. Cleemis told daughter of the Church of India is a model Crux Vattalil’s martyrdom and for heroic life,” Cardinal Baselios Cleemis told beatification is the culmination Crux. Cleemis, the president of India’s bishops’ of her Christian Life. “She lived, conference, said the nun is a symbol of the worked and surrendered her life deep Christian commitment to the service of and was martyred for her mission,” the poor and marginalized. “Sister Rani Maria the cardinal said. is a model for proclaiming the Gospel in a pluralistic country,” the cardinal said. https://cruxnow.com/global- church/2017/11/04/murdered- Vattalil’s murderer, Samundar Singh, was nun-beatified-india-sister-rani- sentenced to life imprisonment. The nun’s maria-martyr-social-justice/ younger sister - also a religious, Sister Selmi

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Youth camp participants and volunteers with bishop on the concluding day - mount morton camp centre Belgrave heights South east Melbourne.

Marian Procession by St Alphonsa Parish Canberra

Confirmation and Holy Communion at St Alphonsa Cathedral Melbourne North 12 ST. THOMAS NEWSLETTER

Kudumbolsavam 2017 ST. Thomas parish Melbourne south East.

Visit of Mar Kurian Vayalumkal, the apostolic Nuncio of Papua New Guinea and solomon islands to St Mary’s Knanaya Mission Melbourne

Holy Communion: St Mary’s Knanaya Mission Melbourne Holy Communion: St Alphonsa Parish Canberra 13 ST. THOMAS NEWSLETTER

Confirmation and Holy Communion: St Thomas Mis- Confirmation and Holy Communion: St Thomas Mission sion Wollongong Campbelltown

Bishop’s visit at the Bowral community

Annual Retreat of the priests working in the eparchy with Bishop

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BISHOP BOSCO’S PROGRAM DIARY “THE FACT IS, GOD LOVES US EVEN JANUARY 2018 MORE THAN WE LOVE OURSELVES. 1 MON & 6 SAT: HE BELIEVES IN US EVEN MORE ORDINATION’S IN KERALA THAN WE BELIEVE IN OURSELVES. 8 MON– 13 SAT : HE IS ALWAYS “CHEERING US ON”; SYRO-MALABAR BISHOP’S SYNOD, KERALA HE IS OUR BIGGEST FAN.” 17 WED - 20 SAT: FATIMA PILGRIMAGE, PORTUGAL POPE FRANCIS 23 TUE: ARRIVAL IN LISBON FOR ACTON CONFERENCE 24 WED - 27 SAT: ACTON CONFERENCE, LISBON 28 SUN : RETURN TO AUSTRALIA PRAYER TO MARY, FEBRUARY 2018 OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE 11 SUN - FEAST OF ST ALPHONSA Our Lady of Guadalupe, mystical rose, CATHEDRAL, MELBOURNE make intercession for the Holy Church, 12 MON - VIBHOOTHI ( ASH MONDAY) protect the Sovereign Pontiff, help all those who invoke thee in their necessi- 20 TUE - BISHOP’S CONFERENCE PLENARY MEETING (BCPL), SYDNEY ties, and since thou art the ever Virgin MARCH 2018 Mary and Mother of God, obtain for us 2 FRI - 4 SUN - VISITING CHRIST CHURCH, from thy most holy Son the grace of NEWZEALAND keeping our faith, sweet hope in the 25 SUNDAY - PALM SUNDAY midst of the bitterness of life, burning HOLY WEEK charity and the precious gift of final APRIL 2018 perseverance. Amen. 1 EASTER SUNDAY

The Church in Australia kicked off Advent with a Catholic Youth Festival in Sydney, drawing AUSTRALIA’N some 20,000 attendees and including the country’s largest Mass since the World Youth Day CATHOLIC in 2008. The event was also the opening of a “Year of Youth” meant to “open new horizons for spreading joy for the young Church and our communities.” The festival was held Dec. YOUTH 7-9, shortly after Archbishop of Melbourne, president of the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference, invited the nation’s youth to participate in the 2018 Year of Youth, which FESTIVAL will last until Nov. 25, 2018. The festival mostly took place at the Sydney Olympic Park. There young people attended workshops, Mass, faith-filled discussions, and even interactive games, 2017 such as a Saint John Paul II video game. https://cruxnow.com/global-church/2017/12/12/australian-catholic-youth-festival-draws-tens-thousands/

St. Thomas Newsletter December 2017, Volume 4, No. 3, Published by Fr. Mathew Kochupurackal, Chancellor Eparchy of St. Thomas The Apostle of Melbourne of the Syro Malabars | Designed by Australia Media Team For any comments or suggestions, contact us at [email protected] 15