CA HO IC V LIFE Diocese of Lismore

Tweed Coast to Camden Haven www.lismorediocese.org December 2013 Vol. 11 No.4

The Importance of Forgiveness in Families “And they need Jesus’ help to walk beside one another in trust, to accept one another each day and daily to forgive one another. And this is important! To know how to forgive one another in families because we all make mistakes, all of us! Sometimes we do things which are not good and which harm others. It is important to have the courage to ask for forgiveness when we are at fault in the family.” Quote from Francis – see feature on pages 16-17 Roadside assistance, 24/7

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CCI CatholicLifeLismore ad DEC13.indd 1 18/11/2013 5:11:08 PM The Bishop Writes A Momentous Year for the Church s I write these words a momentous year for the Church is drawing to a close. Twelve months ago who among us would have thought that Pope Benedict would resign and a new Pope from Latin America whose name few of us knew would be elected to the Chair of St Peter? In this time the Year of Grace in Australia was completed at the end of November by the conclusion of the Year of Faith. has drawn the world’s attention to the II and Pope Benedict. What was being addressed by the Church by his words and gestures, simple, humble and Church fifty years ago has now come to pass in the radical direct. He has spoken in his colloquial style in the homilies secularisation of what was once western Christendom and of weekday Masses, the talks at the Wednesday audiences its replacement by a culture of material acquisition and in the Vatican and the Sunday Angelus message. In June he personal fulfillment that has no vision beyond the here and wrote to the whole Church in the Encyclical Letter “Lumen now. Its glittering promises are not only not fulfilled, but Fidei” (the Light of Faith) and again at the end of November have led many to great misery and poverty of heart. It is a in the Apostolic Exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (The Joy world of disorientation, of lostness and darkening despair. of the Gospel). It is all around us in failures of personal relationships, the Pope Francis has put forward clear indications that widespread collapse of marriage and fulfillment in true and he intends to lead a movement of reform to boost the happy family life. effectiveness and accountability of the administration and But the way we see it, this is precisely the opportunity financial management of the Vatican and to challenge the for what Pope Francis and his predecessors are spelling entire Church from the centre to her farthest borders to get out: a renewed and revitalised Church, a Church of a new onto a stronger footing for mission and evangelisation. discovery of the faith and conversions among the young, The appeal and the strategy are not addressed simply that life does have a great meaning and destiny and that to the bishops and clergy, but to every single member of happiness and hope pass precisely by way of the family as the Church. Baptism and Confirmation give each of us an humanity has known the family in every culture since the individual mission. We are all in this together. beginning of time. Already, through the Year of Grace and the Year of Faith, There is around us a new excitement being generated by this message has been taken to heart across the parishes the vision of what the Church is meant to be and has to of the diocese. In the prayer, the worship, the listening to offer to people today – pointing us to the path of real and God, the meetings and discussions and in the secret places lasting happiness amid the chaos of bankrupt ideologies of many hearts there has been an opening to the power of and empty promises. The driver of this excitement is what God’s grace and the deepening of faith. Pope Francis has adopted as the title of his November exhortation, The Joy of the Gospel and is proclamation in I wish to thank all the clergy and diocesan and parish today’s world. coordinators and each and every parishioner for the way in which this special time was made fruitful: in turning Here is how the Holy Father begins: “The joy of the to God afresh and building relationships around His love Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. and His mercy, community has been strengthened, people Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from have reconnected with the parish and others have found sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ their way to the faith and been received into the Church. joy is constantly born anew. In this Exhortation I wish to More care has been taken in celebrating the Liturgy of the encourage the Christian faithful to embark on a new chapter Church, in a beautiful setting and with sacred music. There of evangelisation, while pointing out new paths for the have been many stories of the personal rediscovery of the Church’s journey in years to come.” face of Jesus Christ our Lord, a new awareness of who He This document and our charter for the future, gathering is, what He has done for us and how absolutely we are up and consolidating the teaching and mission of the indebted to Him. There has been a discovery too of the signs Church for the present era. Its language is simple, its of hope and good news all around us and a recognition that message clear and delivered with a certain “punch” as we the Church will not be a better Church until I have become have come to expect from Pope Francis. It is our reference a better Christian and taken my own place in her mission. point for the time ahead and the work before each of us. God’s providence has been clearly at work in raising Most immediately at this time in Australia our attention up Pope Francis to lead the Church in her continuing is being given to the Church’s full and active cooperation renewal, further illuminating the path set by the Second with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses Vatican Council and the crucial years of Pope Paul VI to Child Sexual Abuse and the issues that have led to and consolidating the work of Blessed Pope John Paul it. The Royal Commission is welcomed by the Church as Continued over page

Catholic Life, December, 2013 3 CONTENTS The Bishop Features Writes Continued from previous page 6 & 20 CSO Director’s Article 8 Catholic Women’s League News an opportunity for victims to obtain a just hearing, for processes within 9 Catholic Life Wins Prestigious Award institutions to be scrutinised and for the whole community to understand 10 Venerable Nano Nagle abuse and its incidence better and find ways forward to eliminate this tragedy 15 Typhoon Haiyan Emergency from young lives. 16-17 The Pilgrimage of Families We face the reality of cases of child abuse by clergy and other church 18 Catholic Education in Lismore personnel without trying to minimise it or explain it away and admit that the Leading the Way failure of the Church as an institution in the past to address the issue and deal with it adequately has damaged its credibility and standing for many Catholics 19 Q&A with New Arrivals and in the community at large. from the Congo Since 1996 the Church in Australia has responded and worked according 29 Army Chaplains Centenary to its protocol “Towards Healing” to encourage victims to come forward, to be heard and for help to be given according to need. Many ‘historic’ cases have been heard, including from our own Diocese of Lismore. We still do Regular not claim that we have a fully adequate process and look to the findings and recommendations of the Royal Commission to further help in refining Features our response. As a bishop, I have continued to make my own, the apology of 3 & 4 The Bishop Writes Pope Benedict in Australia in 2008, when he said he was deeply sorry for the pain and suffering the victims have endured as a result of these evils, which 5 Editorial constitute so grave a betrayal of trust and merited unequivocal condemnation. 7 Vocations As we pass through this current crisis brought on by our sins and failures 11 Churches of the World we must see it as an opportunity for purification, a time of real penance and 12-13 Liturgy acknowledgement of sin. Like each of us, the institutional church needs a 14 Religious Art of the World good confession if there is to be a healing and recovery of strength, just as a boil must be lanced or a cancer removed for the body to regain its health. A 21 World View penitent church is a church that can be most renewed, in the same way that 28 Question Box God works in our own souls. We can recall the song of the psalmist: those who are sowing in tears, will sing when they reap; that after the darkness of School News the night, joy comes with the dawn. 22 St ’s Primary School, Alstonville And there’s the perspective – we do not lose sight of the large picture of Xavier Catholic College, Ballina the part the Church has so long played in society, of the generations of holy 23 Catholic Schools Education Office and devoted priests and religious sisters and brothers right to the present, 24 Aboriginal Catholic Ministry the overwhelming majority who have worked with all their energies for the glory of God and the good of the people they serve. We are a people engaged 25 St Primary School, Pottsville through the Church in society on so many levels of parish life, education, St Joseph’s Primary School, Laurieton health care, social welfare and outreach to the marginalised. Amidst the 26 St Patrick’s Primary School, Macksville current consciousness of our failures there is also the huge and wonderful Holy Family School, Skennars Head perspective of the Church’s great mission and ongoing work in Christ’s name. St John’s Primary School, Mullumbimby As Christmas draws near and we prepare to celebrate the birth of our 27 Mount St Patrick College, Murwillumbah Saviour in our families and homes, I wish you all the blessings of the Lord and St James’s Primary School, Yamba his Mother. Grace and peace be with you! Our Lady Help of Christians Parish School, Yours devotedly in Christ, South Lismore ✠ Geoffrey Jarrett, 28 St Mary’s Primary School, Casino Bishop of Lismore St Mary’s Primary School, Grafton

Cover Caption: Editor and Publisher of Parish events: “Catholic Life”: Email your planned Parish events, celebrations, The boy in CA HO IC yellow embraces V LIFE Father Peter M Karam anniversaries, etc., for inclusion on our website Diocese of Lismore Pope Francis Email: [email protected] and in the next edition of “Catholic Life”. Tweed Coast to Camden Haven www.lismorediocese.org December 2013 Vol. 11 No.4 as he leads a Fax: 02 6622 1771 Email to: [email protected] special audience Visit our Diocesan website: Advertising Enquiries: with families www.lismorediocese.org JFH marketing & media consultants at St. Peter’s Our website contains a daily news 0478 227 806 Square in the bulletin, spiritual reflections and daily [email protected] Vatican October The Importance of Mass readings. Printed by: Forgiveness in Families 26th, 2013. “And they need Jesus’ help to walk beside one another in trust, to accept one another each day Lismore City Printery 02 6621 5371 and daily to forgive one another. And this is Catholic Life – A member of the Australasian © REUTERS/Osservatore important! To know how to forgive one another in families because we all make mistakes, all of us! Sometimes we do things which are not Catholic Press Association and the Romano good and which harm others. It is important Art Direction & Graphic Design: to have the courage to ask for forgiveness when we are at fault in the family.” See feature on pages 16-17 Australasian Religious Press Association Inc. GPG [email protected]

4 Catholic Life, December, 2013 Editorial

At the end of each year, Christmas is where we start from

For those who have had a battered year, there is relief at the prospect of a new start. or people of faith and goodwill, it is a time for freedom, to feel relaxed and still be convinced to believe in innocence and humility. Despite the transience, there is reason to hope because you’ve done the best with what you had. St. John in his Gospel, does not describe the Nativity scene. There is no mention of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. No mention of angels, shepherds or wise men. He describes the coming of Christ as an image of light shining in the darkness: great rate. Despite the confusion and This Christmas is most appropriate “All that came to be had life the anxiety that follows, the pain of to recall those words of Christ: “Read in him and that life was the our transience continues to point us the signs of the times.” (Luke 12:Vs54- in the direction of where we can find light of men, 56 JB text). Sometimes the signs can values that don’t change, namely faith, be frightening. At other times we a light that shines in the hope and love. rejoice in the goodness of humanity as dark, Today, more than ever, we are we see one helping another, generosity a light that darkness could clinging to the celebration of displacing selfishness, the pretentious not overpower.” Christmas as the environment helping those wounded by injustice. (John 1: 4-5 JB text) where wisdom continues to Our greatest challenge this In the year past, many didn’t be born. Christmas could be to look for light recognise the light, feeling orphaned, inside of darkness. This is the basis of It leads us to a shift in consciousness disconnected or wounded. Others our belief that God does shine through that wakens us to recognise that the followed the light for a while but they in everything that happens. Light of Christ does continue to shine found the brightness boring and they and we are the instruments of that Father Peter M. Karam left. Others stayed with the light and abiding presence. Editor have come home to start anew. These are some of the many mysteries of Christmas that I would like to take this come together when the year opportunity to wish the readers of winds down. But images “Catholic Life” every blessing and my do change. personal best wishes at Christmas and in the New Year. I thank the advertisers who have supported Our country, our world is different from when we last celebrated our magazine, enabling us to provide this publication Christmas. The pace of life borders on at no cost to our readers. My special thanks to our marketing and the suffocating. Society has become advertising manager Mr John Howard and our graphic designer porous, leaking established norms of Johanna Evans for their dedication to the task and editorial support. moral conduct, truth and justice at a

Catholic Life, December, 2013 5 Ready to Teach in a Catholic School

by Condon, Director of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Lismore

Research emphatically shows that quality teachers are the most essential element required in any successful classroom or indeed educational system.

t therefore logically follows that quality Catholic teachers must be operating in the classrooms of our parish schools if the system of parish schools in the Diocese of Lismore L-R: Ewan Trafford, Lachlan Miles, Brendan Tickle (RTT Graduate), is to be judged as successful. So, in terms of Catholic Elka Keirle – St Primary School, Ballina schools, what does the phrase quality Catholic teacher 2007 Pastoral Letter Catholic Schools at a Crossroads mean? Certainly, there is an expectation that teachers are stated unequivocally that our parish schools needed to: outstanding in terms of their understanding of current • be truly Catholic in their identity and life; curriculum needs and contemporary pedagogical methods • be centres of the “new evangelisation”; (pedagogy can be simply defined as the art or science of • enable our students to achieve high levels of Catholic teaching or in other words the ability to teach well using literacy and practice; a variety of approaches). After all the 1977 document, • be led and staffed by people who will contribute to these The Catholic School (Sacred Congregation for Catholic goals. Education) states that “a good Catholic school has first to For this to effectively happen, therefore, it is obvious be a good school.” that a teacher in a Catholic school must be much more However in a Catholic school setting, a high quality than just an effective classroom practitioner. Teachers in teacher who can produce excellent outcomes is only part a Catholic school need to see their role as a vocation and of the equation. The Bishops of NSW and the ACT in their not just a . They need to show that they themselves are “truly Catholic in their identity and life” otherwise, how can our parish schools be effective and centres of the “new r all yea evangelisation”. fo r As Pope Paul VI wrote “Modern man listens more at ro willingly to witness than to teachers and if he does listen to e u teachers, it is because they are witnesses. What educators tr n d do and how they act are more significant than what they A say – inside and outside the classroom. This is how the Church evangelises. The more completely an educator can give concrete witness to the model of the ideal person (Christ) that is being presented to the students, the more this ideal will be believed and imitated”. Father Mac’s Every year, parish schools in the Diocese of Lismore employ up to twenty-five graduates or “brand new” Heavenly puddings teachers. It is necessary that these new teachers understand A product of the Alstonville Catholic Parish their responsibilities as teachers in a Catholic school Made from quality Australian ingredients. setting and that adherence to and modelling of these No salt, artificial flavourings or preservatives. responsibilities is crucial if our schools are to meet the Special prices for group fundraising requirements of the Bishops’ Pastoral Letter of 2007. With all of the above in mind, the Catholic Schools Office OR personal purchases has introduced a program entitled Ready to Teach which from the factory. has run over the last three years in the diocese. Through 800g Gluten Free the program, 4th year students are offered the opportunity Pudding Now Available to participate in a mentor based environment designed to PO Box 102, 9 Perry St, provide the best possible preparation immediately prior Alstonville 2477 to teaching. Selected students engage with the class and Ph: 6628 5474 the class teacher in an intense three week period of team Fax: 6628 3077 teaching specifically designed to prepare the teacher for Email: imminent employment in the workforce (in this case, in [email protected] a Catholic school). The program is open to primary and secondary applicants. Continued on page 20

6 Catholic Life, December, 2013 to yourself - then do something about it – check out the Priestly Ordination Lismore Diocesan website and talk to a priest”. Fr Holloway also shared his hopes: “My hopes are that all people will of Fr Joseph experience God’s love – remembering that God is always Holloway looking out for us and waiting for our response. My personal hope is that I will be a fitting and useful servant of the Church to bring Christ and His good news to all”. In a certain sense, ordination is only the beginning for a by Fr Nicolas Maurice new priest. And so we keep Fr Joe in our prayers. There will Vocations Director be many new things to learn as he begins serving God’s people as a priest. Please pray also for our seminarians in On the 12th of December 2013 the Diocese formation for the priesthood and also for other young men of Lismore had the great blessing of an to hear Christ calling. ordination to the priesthood. If – after prayer – you feel God has chosen you for a he faithful gave thanks as Bishop Jarrett ordained vocation then please contact: Joseph Holloway for the diocese. It marked the Most Rev’d Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett conclusion of a thorough and lengthy preparation Bishop’s Office, P.O. Box 1, Lismore NSW 2480 for Fr Holloway. Fr Nicolas Maurice, Bishop’s Office, P.O. Box 1, A native of Casino, he pursued his studies for priesthood Lismore NSW 2480 Phone: (02) 6626 0200 at the Beda College in Rome. Fr Joe completed his parish placements in Kempsey, Ballina and Coffs Harbour. He was ordained a Deacon on the 15th of June 2012 in Rome at the Basilica of St Paul outside the walls. After completing Give a gift his studies in June 2013 he returned to Kempsey for subscription to a diaconate placement in the lead up to his priestly ordination. For over 8 weeks of that time, though, he was CA HO IC based in Brisbane while he completed a hospital pastoral course at the Princess Alexandria Hospital. V IFE To a young (and not-so-young) man thinking about a L vocation he says, “I would suggest with prayer, open your heart to patiently discern what is God’s will and be true

A detailed pictorial coverage of the Ordination will be printed in the Yearly subscription – 4 issues per year $25 includes March 2014 edition of “Catholic Life” postage Email: [email protected]

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Catholic Life, December, 2013 7 Catholic Women’s League News

Members of Catholic Women’s League in the Lismore Diocese from Murwillumbah, Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Wauchope and Port Macquarie converged to South Grafton on the South Grafton President Anne Maloney and Guest Speaker Debbie Taylor weekend of the 25th and 26th May to attend the in concluding, we joined Sister Colleen in praying together Annual Lismore Diocesan Conference hosted by the beautiful prayer of St. ‘Lord, make me the members of South Grafton branch. an instrument of your peace’….. Debbie Taylor, a local Aboriginal woman gave a iocesan Treasurer Ann Pereira had the pleasure wonderful account of the story of the Lindt Photographs of introducing our NSW State President and soon in which she appeared in the ABC’s programme Australian to be National President Carolyn Metcalfe and Story earlier this year. her Treasurer Pauline O’Malley from Lake Munmorah to Gai McPherson from Kempsey gave us much valuable the Conference. Carolyn spoke to members about recent information on the availability of many services in our happenings concerning Catholic Women’s League, especially communities particularly for the aged. of the wonderful celebrations Sydney Archdiocese members Diocesan Social Responsibilities Officer, Anne-Marie are enjoying in this their Centenary year. Farrelly, highlighted the issue of gambling during sporting Certificates of Appreciation were presented by Carolyn programs. to four of our long serving members in appreciation of Following the celebration of Mass by Father Jim Griffin their loyal service to Catholic Women’s League over many in St. Patrick’s Church we enjoyed a relaxed social evening years. We congratulate Grafton members Noeline Kelly, together at the conference dinner at the Grafton District Jan McKenna and Margaret Geary and Wauchope’s Wendi Golf Club, with Joy Walters providing the entertainment. Heffernan. It was decided our Diocesan Project will be to support We were thrilled with the choice of our guest speakers. the training of our Seminarians in our diocese. Sister Colleen Brady RSM spoke beautifully to the theme 2014 will be a busy year for our diocese as the NSW of the Conference ‘In You Lord I have found Peace’ – Sister Conference will be held at Sawtell in September and also Colleen an extremely gifted speaker, kept all enthralled, it will be 40 years since Catholic Women’s League was giving us much to think about during her inspiring talk, formed in the Lismore Diocese. Lynne Higham

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8 Catholic Life, December, 2013 “Catholic Life” Wins Prestigious Award

At the recent Australasian Catholic Press Awards recently held in Melbourne, the Diocesan Magazine “Catholic Life” won the prestigious award: Best Feature Story. Written by Father Gerard Kelly, the President of the Catholic Institute of Sydney, where he is a lecturer in Theology. The article was printed in the December 2012 edition of “Catholic Life”. This is the sixth award for “Catholic Life” in as many years. Editor of “Catholic Life” Father Peter Karam has congratulated Father Gerard Kelly for his award winning article. He also congratulated graphic designer Ms Johanna Evans for her expert use of images and graphics. Australasian Catholic Press Association Awards 2013 Best Feature Story WINNER: Catholic Life, Diocese of Lismore ‘Vatican II: A Timely Council’ by Fr Gerard Kelly This topical feature, distinguished by good writing, took on a difficult but important task – to convey both the historical and contemporaneous Neither did personal opinion nor polemic. It was well contexts of the Second Vatican Council and to structured, so that the conclusion, in its orientation introduce its key themes and concepts in an accessible towards the future, expressed something of the and meaningful way. It achieved this task very well, dynamism the author ascribed to the Council. The text so that the titles of the key Council documents, was greatly enhanced by the accompanying pictures for example, did not become hurdles in the text. and credits.

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Catholic Life, December, 2013 9 Founder of , Nano Nagle, Declared Venerable by His Holiness Pope Francis

Announcement brings declaration of and Nano had the benefit of a European education and Sainthood of Nano Nagle a step closer as her privileged lifestyle. She devoted her life to God and to working with people on the margins of society. life of ‘heroic virtue’ is officially acknowledged. Nano Nagle is one of the great pioneers of Catholic he Presentation Sisters around the world and all education in Ireland. Her mission of educating the poor those involved with them are celebrating the official began in a ‘little school’ in Cove Lane in in 1754. In announcement of the declaration of the Order’s setting up schools in defiance of the established colonial founder, Nano Nagle, as Venerable. order she sided with those made poor and challenged the This announcement brings the Canonisation of Nano institutional injustice that perpetuated marginalisation Nagle one step closer as it is the second of four stages in and poverty. Nano responded to the needs of her time the Canonisation Process. and developed an educational curriculum suitable to the Commenting on the declaration, Head of the Irish individual capabilities of her students. Hers was a global Congregational Leadership Team for the Presentation vision as in 1769 she wrote to a friend: “For I can assure Sisters, Mary Deane, said: “We are delighted with the news. you my schools are beginning to be of service to a great By proclaiming Nano Nagle as venerable, the Universal many parts of the world – this is a place of such trade – Church has recognised Nano as a woman of faith, hope and they heard of and my views are not for one object alone. If heroic virtue whose vision and work transformed the lives I could be of service in saving souls in any part of the globe of so many. For our Sisters, Associates and Friends of Nano I would be willing to do all in my power.” throughout the world, Nano has been and continues to be Nano’s words proved to be prophetic as her efforts led to a source of inspiration and challenge as we respond to the the introduction of a network of schools across Ireland and needs of today in fidelity to the Gospel and in the spirit of the world. She founded the Congregation later known as the Nano.” Presentation Sisters on Christmas Eve 1775, the culmination Nano Nagle was born Honora Nagle in Ballygriffin in of 20 years of a life of devotion to the cause of improving Cork in 1718, a turbulent time in Irish history due to penal the circumstances of others. She died in Cork in 1784 and laws. The Nagle family were a wealthy Catholic family is buried in the grounds of South Presentation Convent in Cork city in a location which has become a place of prayer and pilgrimage in her honour. To this day Presentation Sisters and friends of Nano remain committed to working with those most in need through a broad range of ministries. Those ministries include spirituality and faith development, lifelong learning and innovation, social finance, social inclusion and outreach, human rights and justice, ecology and sustainable living and healthcare projects. A more detailed biography of Nano Nagle’s life is available by navigating here: www.presentationsistersunion. org/aboutus/default.cfm?loadref=130

Our website: Nano Nagle www.lismorediocese.org

10 Catholic Life, December, 2013 Churches of the World Saviour on Spilled Blood St. Petersburg The Church of the Saviour on Spilled Blood is one of the main sights of St. Petersburg, Russia. It is also variously called the Church on Spilt Blood and the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ, its official name. The preferred Russian name for this great church is Храм Спаса на Крови (Khram Spasa na Krovi), but each English-language tourist publication seems to list it under a different name. This Church was built on the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated and was dedicated in his memory. It should not to be confused with the Church on Blood in Honour of All Resplendent in the Russian Land, located in the city of Yekaterinburg where the former Emperor Nicholas II (1868– 1918) and several members of his family and household were executed following the Bolshevik Revolution. Construction began in 1883 under Alexander III, as a memorial to his father, Alexander II. Work progressed slowly and was finally completed during the reign of Nicholas II in 1907. Funding was provided by the Imperial family with the support of many private donors. The Church is prominently situated along the Griboedov Canal; paved roads run along both sides of the canal. On March 13, 1881, as Tsar Alexander’s carriage passed along the embankment, a grenade thrown by an anarchist conspirator exploded. The tsar, shaken but unhurt, got out of the carriage and started to remonstrate with the presumed culprit. A second conspirator took the chance to throw another bomb, killing himself and mortally wounding the tsar. The tsar, bleeding heavily, was taken back to the Winter Palace where he died a few hours later. From Wikipedia: the online encyclopaedia

Catholic Life, December, 2013 11 Liturgy Bishop Peter Elliott Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne We Have an Altar – Part II photo credit: Fiona Basile

The Story Of The Peter’s, St Paul’s outside the walls, St Mary Major etc. Christian Altar Silken curtains were hung When we go back to the from this canopy and these beginnings of the Church, veils were drawn around the the first Christians used two altar to conceal the most Greek words to describe sacred and mystical moments their eucharistic table: of the Mass, the consecration thusiasterion, meaning “altar” of the bread and wine during and trapeza meaning “table”. the Eucharistic prayer. The words thus express the The altar was always twofold meaning of the Mass located in an area set apart – a holy sacrifice and a sacred from the rest of the church, banquet. the “sanctuary” or holy place. When Paul speaks of A low screen separated the the “table of the Lord” in sanctuary from the rest of 1 Corinthians 10:21, this the church. In the East this refers more to eating the screen was used to display Eucharist than to the place holy images, the icons where it is celebrated. But and gradually the screen the words “we have an altar” developed into the solid in Hebrews 13:10 may be screen that now conceals the the earliest reference to the altar in the Byzantine Rite eucharistic table as an “altar”. of the Greeks, Ukrainians, In post-apostolic times, Russians, Melchites etc., in early in the Second Century, both Catholic and Orthodox used churches. This is called the the Greek word for “altar”, ikonostasis. In this tradition thusiasterion, referring to the of concealing a sacred place celebration of the Eucharist and a holy action emphasizes by the bishop and the place the mystery, the supernatural where the holy sacrifice is Vienna – the main altar of the baroque St. Peter’s Church or event. By concealing offered. This word is derived Peterskirche © Jozef Sedmak | Dreamstime.com something sacred you also from the Greek version of the reveal it as a mystery. Old Testament, where it describes the stone altars where the The altar and sanctuary in the Christian East seems to Hebrew people offered their sacrifices. symbolise more the heavenly altar in the Letter to the The Latin Fathers used standard Latin words for an altar, Hebrews. Therefore the way Eastern Christians celebrate their ara (an altar on a “high place”) and altare, to refer to the beautiful liturgies reflects the offering of Jesus Christ our great Eucharist itself and the holy table where the Christian sacrifice High Priest and the eternal worship angels offer to God in is celebrated. In North Africa, Tertullian used ara, but Saint heaven. Christians on the earthly pilgrimage are raised into took this word to refer to a pagan altar. He preferred the heavenly dimension each time they are gathered by God altare for the eucharistic table and this is the Latin origin of to celebrate the holy liturgy. our English word “altar”. In the West, where the simpler Roman Rite prevailed, the The Christian altar was always treated with great reverence. custom of concealing the altar steadily faded. In the Medieval The Greek Fathers described the “holy table” as “mystical”, era the altar was moved closer to the back wall of the “tremendous” and “priestly”. It was regarded as so holy that sanctuary. Gradually it lost its cubic form, becoming longer. nothing was allowed to be placed on it except the sacred Behind it rose a reredos adorned with paintings, carvings vessels for the Eucharist, the chalice and paten and the holy or sculpture. A cross, candles and relics began to be placed Book of the Gospels. directly on it in the early Middle Ages. As already noted, the first Christian altars in the centuries With some exceptions, the tabernacle for reserving the of persecution were wooden, but by the Fourth Century, Eucharist was not set on an altar in Western Europe until when Christianity had become legal and many churches were the Sixteenth Century. Before that time the tabernacle took being built, altars were usually constructed of stone, marble various forms: a eucharistic tower, a vessel suspended over or alabaster and this became the more widespread tradition. the altar (often shaped like a dove) and known as a hanging In Ravenna a mosaic of the priest Melchisedech depicts the pyx, or a noble safe set in a wall (aumbry). Placing flowers on altar of the age of the Church Fathers. This was usually a large the altar or on shelves behind it seems to date only from the cube-shaped table, freestanding and dressed in rich hangings Eighteenth Century and is still frowned upon by liturgists. and embroidered cloths. The celebrant at the Christian altar faced East from the Candles stood around the altar and a jewelled cross and oil earliest times. This custom was symbolic of God’s People lamps were suspended by chains above it. It was enshrined looking towards the rising sun, a sign of the coming of the under a canopy, resting on four columns, the ciborium or risen Christ with his light of grace, hope and salvation. To baldachino that we still see in the great Roman basilicas: St face East usually meant that the priest and people all faced

12 Catholic Life, December, 2013 the same way, so the priest was leading the people, with Once the altar moved forward, the tabernacle had his back to them, as in a procession. But if the sanctuary to be relocated. We have returned to earlier methods happened to be at the Western end of the church, then of eucharistic reservation, that is, setting the tabernacle the priest faced the people (eg. in ’s Basilica, into the wall or in a tower or shrine apart from the altar Rome). This was also necessary if the tomb of a saint was but located on the sanctuary of the church. According set directly under and in front of the altar (also the plan of to a second option, the tabernacle may be located on a Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome). side altar or in a separate eucharistic chapel, which is to It has been argued that linking an altar to the tomb of be visible from the body of the church (see the revised a saint went back to when Mass was celebrated over the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, nos. 314-317). tombs of martyrs in the Catacombs. We still maintain this Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is an expert liturgist. By link by inserting the relics of saints under a new altar during public example and in line with what he wrote when he was the rite of dedication. a Cardinal, he promotes what is called “the Benedictine Some scholars in the liturgical movement of the last altar”. This is really a rearrangement of the crucifix and century claimed that the Eucharist was originally celebrated candles. The crucifix is set on the altar, at the centre. The facing the people, a view that is strongly contested today. candles (two, four or six) are arranged symmetrically on To promote better participation in worship, Mass facing each side. When the celebrant faces the people the crucifix the people was revived before the Second World War in need not block the people’s view, because they all look parishes, monasteries and student chaplaincies in France at the altar from an angle anyway. The real point of this and Germany. Mass facing the people therefore became development is to make Jesus Christ the centre of the the favoured option in the reforms of the liturgy, authorised celebration, not the priest. Any altar can now “look like an after the Second Vatican Council. It was hoped that this altar”, not just a table adorned with candles and flowers. arrangement would promote “full and active participation”, Unfortunately we have not always maintained the deep especially now that the language of the people was used sense of reverence for the altar which was part of the faith for worship. of the Christians of the first centuries. They expressed their Mass facing the people has had a radical effect on altars eucharistic devotion in the care they took to build beautiful and sanctuaries. In many churches the existing altar was and valuable altars. Some of our churches contain altars that brought forward or a new freestanding altar was constructed still seem temporary, even looking like cheap tables. Yet the in front of it. The new altars took a simpler form, with Church calls us to set up noble and permanent altars for the reduced proportions because a cumbersome altar might celebration of the Eucharist according to the post-conciliar dwarf the priest standing behind it. In some churches the liturgy. The guidelines are set out clearly in the revised ancient cube-shaped altar reappeared. While this is suitable General Instruction of the Roman Missal, nos. 296-308. in a small chapel, it may make the altar look trivial in a large (Part III. The Story of the Christian Altar will be published church. The great sign of Christ must be significant. in the March 2014 issue of “Catholic Life”)

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Catholic Life, December, 2013 13 Religious Art of the World The Adoration of the Magi in stained glass

14 Caritas Australia Response to the Typhoon Haiyan Emergency

Caritas australia, the international aid and development cathedral building where shelter, water, hygiene and cooking agency of the and its Caritas emergency kits can be distributed. It is also serving as a refuge for response partners are in the process of delivering over 4,000 homeless families. temporary shelters to families in the poorest villages of Ormoc The Archbishop of Palo, John Du, said, “When you stand on where Super Typhoon Haiyan decimated 80-90% of homes. the hill at my place in Palo, you look down and what you see is Tarpaulins hygiene kits and other household items are coming like a valley of death, as if a bomb has been dropped. Almost by boat from Cebu City and will be delivered to more than 4,000 families. Along with the tarpaulins, affected families will everything is destroyed. In spite of that we are still hopeful, receive shelter tools to construct sturdy shelter using materials we will rise from this ordeal, because of the support of our salvaged from the storm’s wreckage. neighbouring dioceses, provinces and countries.” Tens of thousands more tarpaulins arriving from Pakistan and Donations to Caritas Australia’s Typhoon Haiyan Emergency will be distributed in Ormoc, Palo in Leyte, and Basey in Samar. Response Appeal will help provide immediate humanitarian In Palo, 15km south of the Province capital city of badly relief to those affected by the disaster. Donate online via affected Tacloban, Caritas has set up an office in a Catholic www.caritas.org.au/typhoon-haiyan or freecall 1800 024 413.

15 The boy in yellow with Pope Francis on Family Day at St Peter’s Square - Pope Francis listens to his new found friend during a meeting with families at St Peter’s Square on October 26th, 2013 at the Vatican. © Donatella Giagnori/ MAXPPP Note: Dubbed ‘the boy in yellow’ he joined Pope Francis on stage during the Pope’s address on the occasion of Pilgrimage of Families for the Year of Faith in Rome. Families from all around the world visited Rome and many others joined in the celebrations online.

The Pilgrimage of Families

DURING THE YEAR OF FAITH

26th October,• 2013 St peter’s square, vatican city

Left: Pope Francis prays at the Icon of the Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple. Pope Francis celebrated a mass on the occasion of the Family Day, in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, 27th October 2013 © Riccardo De Luca - MAXPPP

16 On the unity of the Catholic Church “You have come as pilgrims from many parts of the world to profess your faith before the tomb of Saint Peter. This Square welcomes you and embraces you: we are one people, with one heart and soul, gathered by the Lord who loves and sustains us. I also greet the families who have joined us through television and the internet: this Square has expanded in every direction!” Life can be hard for families, but Jesus gives us rest “Life is often wearisome and many times tragically so. We have heard this recently… Work is tiring; looking for work is exhausting. And finding work today requires much effort. But what is most burdensome in life is not this: what weighs more than all of these things is a lack of love. It weighs upon us never to receive a smile, not to be welcomed. Certain silences are oppressive, even at times within families, between husbands and wives, between parents and children, among siblings. Without love, the burden becomes even heavier, intolerable... Jesus wants our joy to be complete! He said this to the apostles and today he says it to us. Here, then, is the first thing I would like to share with you this evening and it is a saying of Jesus: Come to me, families from around the world - Jesus says - and I will give you rest, so that your joy may be complete. Take home this Word of Jesus, carry it in your hearts, share it with the family.” Marriage is a journey of faith “Those who celebrate the sacrament say, “I promise to be true to you, in joy and in sadness, in sickness and in health; I will love you and honour you all the days of my life”. At that moment, the couple does not know what will happen, nor what joys and pains await them. They are setting out, like , on a journey together. And that is what marriage is! Setting out and walking together, hand in hand, putting yourselves in the Lord’s powerful hands. Hand in hand, always and for the rest of your lives. And do not pay attention to this makeshift culture, which can shatter our lives.” People should listen to and learn from their grandparents “But let me ask you: Do you listen to your grandparents? Do you open your hearts to the memories that your grandparents pass on? Grandparents are like the wisdom of the family, they are the wisdom of a people. And a people that does listen to grandpar- ents is one that dies! Listen to your grandparents... Like the Holy Family of Nazareth, every family is part of the history of a people; it cannot exist without the generations who have gone before it. Therefore, today we have grandparents and children. The children learn from their grandparents, from the previous generation.” Marriage is difficult, The Pilgrimage which is why we receive grace in the Sacrament to help us of Families “But today, Father, it is difficult… Of course it is difficult! That is why we need the grace, the grace that comes from the sacrament! The sacraments are not decorations in life – what a beautiful marriage, what a beautiful ceremony, what a DURING THE YEAR OF FAITH beautiful banquet…But that is not the sacrament of marriage. That is a decoration! Grace is not given to decorate life but rather to make us strong in life, giving us courage to go forwards! And without isolating oneself but always staying together. Christians celebrate the sacrament of marriage because they know they need it! They need it to stay together and to carry out 26th October,• 2013 their mission as parents. “In joy and in sadness, in sickness and in health”. This is what the spouses say to one another during the celebration of the sacrament and in their marriage they pray with one another and with the community. Why? Because it is St peter’s square, vatican city helpful to do so? No! They do so because they need to, for the long journey they are making together: it is a long journey, not for a brief spell but for an entire life!” The importance of “please”, “thankyou” and “sorry” in families “And I want to repeat these three words: please, thank you, sorry. Three essential words! We say please so as not to be force- ful in family life: “May I please do this? Would you be happy if I did this?”. We do this with a language that seeks agreement. We say thank you, thank you for love! But be honest with me, how many times do you say thank you to your wife and you to your husband? How many days go by without uttering this word, thanks! And the last word: sorry. We all make mistakes and on occasion someone gets offended in the marriage, in the family and sometimes - I say - plates are smashed, harsh words are spoken but please listen to my advice: don’t ever let the sun set without reconciling. Peace is made each day in the family: “Please forgive me” and then you start over. Please, thank you, sorry! Shall we say them together? Please, thank you and sorry.

17 Catholic Education in Lismore Leading the Way

In recent times it has become clear that Catholic Education in the Diocese of Lismore is leading the way in New Evangelisation and Catechesis, through Proclaim 2013-2015. t the end of September a Lismore contingent travelled to the International Conference of Catechists in Rome and came away convinced that the initiatives being undertaken in 2013 by the Catholic Schools Office are (L-R) Fr James Foster, Mr Gary Reen, world leading. Most Rev Geoffrey Jarrett, Bishop of Lismore, As part of the Year of Faith celebrations, Most Rev Mrs Anne O’Brien and Fr Jim Griffin Geoffrey Jarrett (Bishop of Lismore), Fr Jim Griffin (Catholic Schools Council chair), Fr James Foster (Assistant Priest, Port Macquarie) and SEACS consultants Anne 3. Starting anew from Christ means not being afraid to O’Brien and Gary Reen, attended the Conference. President go with him to the outskirts. ‘God is creative, he is not of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the closed and so he is never rigid. He welcomes us; he meets New Evangelisation, Archbishop Fisichella introduced the opening theme ‘The Catechist – Witness of the Faith’ before us; he understands us. To be faithful, to be creative; we 1700 Catechists from 51 countries and five continents. need to be able to change and adapt to the situations in The conference featured many international speakers, which we must proclaim the Gospel’ he said. including the Holy Father (pictured below). These elements – being closer to Christ, placing him at Pope Francis spoke with great warmth using three our centre and thinking creatively – have certainly been teaching points: in focus in Catholic schools in the diocese. From their 1. Starting anew from Christ means being close to him. learning, the Lismore pilgrims were confident that the The Holy Father said if we are not joined to him, then we are unable to bear his fruit. ‘If we wish to know him Catholic Schools Office was well ahead in promoting New we must look to him and must let him look at us… If Evangelisation, through the process of Lismore Proclaim he warms our heart, we can warm the hearts of others. 2013. Proclaim 2013 key note speaker, Mr Chris Lowney, How can we teach about him if we don’t know him as a had asserted in May that Lismore was ‘at the vanguard’ of friend? We must look at each other often’ he observed. a new expression. This was certainly no exaggeration in 2. Starting anew from Christ means we put Christ at what the group witnessed and heard. the centre of our life. ‘We ourselves don’t become the centre. The heart of the Catechist receives the gift of the During the Conference the group also attended daily kerygma and in turn offers it to others as gift.’ Mass in St Peters, including Mass at the Altar of the Chair, at which Fr Jim Griffin read the Gospel. Catechists also had a pilgrimage to the tomb of the Apostle Peter and a final Sunday Mass presided by Pope Francis in St Peters Square, with 100,000 others. This was a very moving and joyful occasion. Immediately after the Conference the Lismore pilgrims walked in the footsteps of St Ignatius Loyola in Rome, with Gary Reen and Fr Jim travelling on to Barcelona and Montserrat in Spain to pray and reflect on his life and visit Sacred Heart College. Anne O’Brien travelled on to Assisi to participate and pray at the feast day of St Francis, at which the Holy Father once again presided. In short, the trip was a wonderful opportunity to learn and equally a great reassurance that the directions of the Catholic Education Office are very well placed for the future.

18 Catholic Life, December, 2013 no combined classes with different Q&A with years, no whiteboards or interactive whiteboards and students did not get New Arrivals their own school laptop to take home and take to school every day. from the Congo What can you see yourself doing when you finish High School? by Mivi Evans, Go to University, Labelle would like to Kyogle High School, Yr 10 be a nurse, the other boys are unsure although one of them mentioned they were going to be a Number 1 star. ollowing on from the article in Do you enjoy playing much sport? the September 2013 edition of Catholic Life I interviewed the We love sport. children from the Congo on the way What sports do you like to play the we did when we lived in Africa. they felt about their new home. most and what position do you like to Have you tried meat pies yet? How play in the team? When you lived in Africa did you about vegemite? attend school on a regular basis? Labelle – basketball, Mbo – Soccer Jeremy said he did try a meat pie (mid-field) Mpia – Soccer (he’s a star Yes. although he didn’t like it much and and he likes to play defender) Jeremy What was the name of the school? it made him feel a little sick (poor – Basketball (offence). Don Bosco College. possum). We don’t like Vegemite but Are you starting to feel more at home Is Kyogle High much different to Don we do like Tim Tams. Bosco College and in what ways? in Kyogle and are you enjoying living here so far? What are your preferences in music? Yes, students had to be at school at Mbo – Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Eminem, 7am for a 30 minute assembly every Yes, we enjoy playing with friends, London Karma. Labelle – Australian morning, students would then go very quiet, peaceful and the people dance music, Damian from the voice home at 12.30 for a break and to are very nice. (they all said they like him!) Jeremy have lunch and would come back Are the foods in Australia much to school at 2pm until 4pm. They different to what you might have – Grinspoon. did not move classrooms after every eaten in Africa? Do you think you will learn about lesson like most high schools do in The foods that you might buy from different things than what you would Australia, but the teacher did change the supermarket are slightly different learn about if you still lived in Africa? every lesson. Every year is separate, but we still cook the same food that Yes, we enjoy learning English.

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