TOGETHERIn the Diocese of wagga.catholic.org.au FREE FEBRUARY 2020 Ash Wednesday inside BUSHFIRE FEATURE 4 For dust thou art GIVE IT UP FOR LENT 10 and unto dust shalt IN OUR SCHOOLS 22 thou return MASS TIMES 30 2 FROM THE APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR TOGETHER IN THE DIOCESE OF WAGGA WAGGA is published monthly, eleven 2020 - Plenary Council times per year, and is available free at parish churches, schools, presbyteries and religious houses throughout the Wagga Wagga Pilgrimage Diocese. Archbishop Christopher Prowse - Apostolic Administrator of the Wagga Wagga Diocese Publisher The Diocese of Wagga Wagga Either directly or indirectly we have Their insistence was for the Catholic gatherings.” One had a good number of McAlroy House begun already our Plenary Council Church in Australia to re-discover with the Aboriginal youth present. The affirming 205 Tarcutta Street Pilgrimage in Australia. Directly – our young a new and vibrant evangelising energy atmosphere of the festival gave them extra Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 representatives coming together in Adelaide of the Holy Spirit. Just when many were confidence to share openly their hopes and Editor/Designer (October 2020)and then Sydney (2021) is surmising that the young had abandoned anxieties. Their sharings were prophetic. Karene Eggleton the Church, the opposite seems to be How can we be the Church that Jesus wants approaching. Indirectly – our gatherings of Printer all those interested throughout Australian happening! The Sacraments of the Eucharist us to be without allowing the Holy Spirit The Riverina Media Group parishes and communities is now well and Reconciliation were in great demand. to speak through this ancient culture in our Peter Street Wagga Wagga 2650 advanced. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (long midst who continue to be marginalised in our Submissions I can only – once again – encourage you periods of Ritual Silence) were a highlight. land of plenty? There was no doubt about TOGETHER would not be to participate in our pilgrimage journey It is especially pleasing to know that their love of the Catholic Church and their possible without the voluntary together, to where the Holy Spirit is leading Regional Youth movements through large desire to be active in Her future here in this labour and cooperation of many the Australian Catholic Church in these parts of Australia have now reached a certain new but ancient land. contributors from within the diocese and beyond. Submissions times. How can we become a more Christ level of sophistication. Returning from THE HEAD, THE HEART for publication are welcome but not centred Church? national (or international) youth kerygmatic AND THE HANDS always guaranteed to be printed. Through Baptism, we all become festivals youth are able now to engage in the Pope Francis often talks about the Church’s participants in the mission of Jesus in His essential catechetical formation directed at mission embracing together the head, Advertisers TOGETHER acknowledges Church. This mission of Jesus has three missionary discipleship when they return to the heart and the hands. After all, we are with gratitude the generous aspects according to our ancient tradition – their home dioceses. the one Body of Christ. Let us avoid any support of advertisers. Please sanctifying (priest), prophetic (prophet) and PROPHETIC fragmentation of our tri-partite Baptismal show your support to our governing (King). During the Perth Youth Festival, the third Mission of priest, prophet and King. We need advertisers where possible. Please note that products and/or services GOVERNANCE dimension of Christ’s mission became, for a logical and pragmatic HEAD to embrace advertised in this publication are Much emphasis has been given to the me at least, manifest in a most subtle manner. the kindly/governance dimension. We ask not necessarily endorsed by this governing (Kingly) office of Jesus’ mission. It was through the considerable presence of for a HEART that is open to the sanctifying publication nor by the bishop of this diocese. Clearly, the sex abuse scandal raises this so many youth from Aboriginal and Torres presence of the Holy Spirit, to a conversion, dimension. However, even without this Strait Islander backgrounds. The prophetic like the youth. We pray too for HANDS Copy deadline scandal in Australia, society’s aggressive (prophet) dimension of Christ’s mission was that are ready to serve the marginalised and 15th of the month prior to secularism demands governing structures heard in their essential “voice” for the future prophetic voice in our midst (especially the publication and foundational attitudes that are both of the Catholic Church in Australia. first Australians). Contact Us transparent and accountable. So much of I recall participating in several Plenary This is the Plenary Council worthy of All news stories, advertising the helpful feedback so far is focussed on Council – “Listen and Discern Youth the Lord’s blessing! enquiries, correspondence and governance issues. We are grateful. This is subscriptions to: surely a sign of the presence of the Holy Together PO Box 473 Spirit in our midst. Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 SANCTIFYING When I attended the spectacularly Email successful Australian Catholic Youth Festival [email protected] in Perth (Dec 2019), it was clear to everyone Facebook that the almost 6,000 new Millennial www.facebook.com/ Catholics from throughout Australia were togetherwagga focussing on another aspect of Christ’s Phone 0437 738 726 Mission: the sanctifying (priestly) dimension. The youth took for granted that the Catholic Member of the Church is to be transparent and accountable Australasian Catholic Press Assoc. in Her governance. Yet, their incredible Annual Subscriptions thirst and hunger for Jesus in Scripture and $33 Australia $44 Overseas Tradition (especially our Sacramental life) was a great surprise to others. Prayer Intention for February - Pray with Pope Francis Prayer for the Knock knock. “Who’s there?” After the birth of Jesus, Mary and Joseph fled election of a This is a familiar format for a children’s riddle. to Egypt with their child. They escape from King Listen to the Migrants’ Cries You knock, I ask, you reply. Herod who searches for the child “to destroy Bishop We pray that the cries of our migrant brothers It’s based on a simple action– someone him” [Matt 2:13]. After this danger passes, the O God, eternal knocks on my door and I ask, “Who is it?” Holy Family returns to their homeland. They and sisters, victims of criminal trafficking, may Is this a stranger? A friend? A criminal? Who were refugees only temporarily. Perhaps they shepherd, who govern is knocking? knocked on an unfamiliar door seeking shelter. Your flock with unfailing be heard and considered. We’re right to be curious. And it’s ok to ask Imagine Joseph offering to work in exchange questions. But should we automatically be for food and housing. Knock knock. “Who’s care, grant in Your Visit this link to hear the Pope deliver his monthly prayer: suspicious? What if this is a friend, or someone there? who needs my help? Modern migration is a complex issue. A boundless fatherly love a Bishop for http://popesprayerusa.net/category/pope-video/ This February, Pope Francis asks us to hear humane response requires compassion, the Diocese of Wagga Wagga who will the cries of migrants. After all, we shouldn’t bolt wisdom, and cooperation from citizens, the door until we know who is knocking, right? churches, police, and government leaders. please You by his holiness and to us show Pope’s Worldwide He writes, “Every stranger who knocks at our If we shut our ears and lock the doors of our watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus door is an opportunity for an encounter with hearts, then we will never hear the cries of the Prayer Network Jesus Christ, who identifies with the welcomed poor seeking protection and opportunity. Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with and rejected strangers of every age” (Pope says, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one APOSVLESHIP OF PRAYER Francis, Message for the 2018 World Day of Who is knocking at our door? How will we http://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/ Migrants and Refugees). respond? God, for ever and ever. Amen. TOGETHER - FEBRUARY 2020 NEWS 3 St Therese of Lisieux relics touring Australia with parents On the 1st April the St Therese of Lisieux relics will tour Albury with a morning Mass being held at Saint Patrick's Church. When St Therese’s relics last visited Christian faith. She became the 33rd Australia in 2002 an estimated person to be so recognised in the history 700,000 Catholics turned out to pray of the Church. seeking her intercession. Greater Therese was also the youngest, and numbers are expected on this tour. only the third of four women to be On this occasion her relics will be recognised with the title; the three others accompanied by those of two other are fellow Carmelite St Teresa of Avila, modern saints: her mother, Zelie and St Catherine of Siena and St Hildegard father Louis. of Bingen. The dates and locations of the visit of Therese’s appeal has grown steadily the relics of the three saints from the since her death. one family were issued in December by Key to her influence on the modern Catholic Mission, the Church’s agency Church is the only work she ever in Australia which supports missionaries wrote, a series of letters on her spiritual and respecting sacred sites. A place may around the world. The official itinerary journey, which were edited by her be sacred for a number of reasons. It can be found at www.catholicmission. sister who also became a Carmelite and may be a place of spiritual significance org.au/relics-of-saint-therese-of-lisieux eventually published under the title of to a people who identify with and are Saints Louis and Zelie Martin are the The Story of a Soul.