CatholicThe official publication of the Diocese of Parramatta OutlookVOLUME 18, OCTOBER 2015 | Photo: Giovanni Portelli ST JOHN PAUL II MONUMENT UNVEILED CELEBRATION AUSTRALIAN OF OUR BISHOPS 2015/16 LADY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE page 4 PEÑAFRANCIA page 6 STATEMENT FROM THE DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATOR CONTENTS Very Rev Peter G Williams DIOCESAN NEWS 3-4, 8-9 NEWS & EVENTS 5, 20-21 SOCIAL JUSTICE 6 Welcoming the stranger FAMILY & LIFE 7 NEWS 10 Dear Brothers and Sisters, CATHOLIC 12-14 EDUCATION The most enduring image that dominated our consciousness over this past month CATHOLICCARE 15 was that of Aylan Kurdi, a 3-year-old who SOCIAL SERVICES drowned as his family tried to flee from Kobani to Europe. It has been a wake- CATHOLIC YOUTH 16 up call to many governments around the world about the disastrous situation YEAR OF 17 in the Middle East as conflict continues CONSECRATED LIFE unabated in both Iraq and Syria, and the humanitarian issue around millions of AROUND THE 18 refugees. DIOCESE In the week following the image of FAITH 19 Aylan appearing in our newspapers and on television, a number of rallies were INSTITUTE FOR 22 held around Australia calling the federal MISSION government to increase the number of refugees coming to Australia, and in Erbil’s Children: Syrian Refugees in Urban Iraq. Three young Syrian girls play in a rundown area of Erbil. The particular those who have fled from Syria. six-year-old in the middle lives with her family in a partially-constructed home. They fled from Syria after a tank CatholicOutlook entered their neighbourhood and began firing at houses. Photo: UNHCR/ B. Sokol Archbishop Anthony Fisher has also The official publication of the Diocese of Parramatta called on the government to give priority to Christian refugees from Iraq and Publisher: Syria who have no hope of remaining in "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one Very Rev Peter G Williams whatever is left of Iraq and Syria and the of the least of these who are members Diocesan Administrator end of the conflict. Tel (02) 8838 3400 Fax (02) 9630 4813 of my family, you did it to me." PO Box 3066, We are only too well aware of the plight of North Parramatta, NSW, 1750 Christians at the hands of Daesh and other (Matthew 25:40) Email: [email protected] terrorists groups. Sadly, it would seem Website: www.parra.catholic.org.au that after a two thousand year presence in Australia of indefinite detention, with the pain and bewilderment of those in the ancient lands of the Bible that the deprivation and insecurity. It asks why both forced to flee their homeland, and perhaps Editor: Christian population will be reduced sides of Australian politics have felt the need the recent images have brought back Jane Favotto to a rump or maybe even extinguished to introduce such cruel and self-defeating memories of their own journey. Tel (02) 8838 3409 altogether. policies as offshore processing and indefinite [email protected] detention. The images of refugees this past month PO Box 3066, Late last year, three Bishops from the have been confronting, and often, if North Parramatta, NSW, 1750 Australian Catholic Bishops Conference With a new focus on the subject of you are like me, you feel a sense of went on a special mission to the Middle refugees, it might well be the circuit powerlessness in the face of such numbers. Journalists: breaker to remove the stigma associated Yet, we can respond each in our own way Adrian Middeldorp East under the guidance of Bishop Antoine Elizabeth McFarlane Tarabay, the Australian Maronite Bishop. with those fleeing by whatever means and in doing so we are simply responding They visited a number of displaced they can to provide safety and stability to the Gospel imperative: Designer: Christian families from Iraq and Syria for their families and a better way of life. Aphrodite Delaguiado currently dwelling in Lebanon, and the There is little question that Australia “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, report to the May Conference of the has the capacity to do more. We are inherit the kingdom prepared for you School news: Bishops this year was both enlightening by world standards a very wealthy and from the foundation of the world; for I Catholic Education Office and disturbing. prosperous country. Whilst it is true we was hungry and you gave me food, I was Tel (02) 9840 5683 face challenges in terms of our social and thirsty and you gave me something to [email protected] The question of refugees has also been economic direction, we are nevertheless drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed a centre piece of the declaration of the well placed to offer a home and a place of me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, Deadlines: Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in refuge for those in desperate need. Earlier I was sick and you took care of me, I Editorial and advertising – 10th of the month prior to publication their social justice statement for this year, last month, Pope Francis requested every was in prison and you visited me.” Then Catholic parish in Europe to accept and the righteous will answer him, “Lord, For Those Who’ve Come Across the Seas – Advertising: Justice for Refugees and Asylum Seekers. care for at least one refugee family. As when was it that we saw you hungry and Tel (02) 8838 3409 In summary, released for last Sunday 27 he so frequently does, the Pope does not gave you food, or thirsty and gave you September, it says: just speak words but also matches that something to drink? And when was it Accounts: by practical action. It is heartening that that we saw you a stranger and welcomed Alfie Ramirez The Statement takes its inspiration from so many Catholic people are generous you, or naked and gave you clothing? And Tel (02) 8838 3437 the actions and words of Pope Francis in their support of refugees and asylum when was it that we saw you sick or in [email protected] on his 2013 visit to the Italian island of seekers through the various agencies of prison and visited you?” And the king will Lampedusa, where he met the survivors of a the Church. I am also aware that some answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you Printing: refugee tragedy and mourned for those who parishes have taken initiatives at the local did it to one of the least of these who are Rural Press Printing, North Richmond level to reach out to "those who’ve come members of my family, you did it to me.” had died. It begins and ends with the Pope’s 40,500 copies of Catholic Outlook are own words and is strongly based on the across the seas." (Matthew 25:34-40) distributed monthly through 48 parishes and Scriptures and Catholic teaching. 86 schools. All material in this publication The Bishops’ document traces the I am also aware that there are parishioners With my prayers, is copyright and may not be reproduced experiences of asylum seekers from their in the Diocese who were refugees and without permission of the editor. Catholic have now found a home here in Australia. Very Rev Peter G Williams Outlook is a member of the Australasian flight from persecution and danger, through Catholic Press Association. their perilous journeys, to their experience No doubt, they can very much identify Diocesan Administrator 2 CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015 www.parra.catholic.org.au @parracatholic facebook.com/parracatholic By Elizabeth McFarlane, Photos: Giovanni Portelli Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP blesses the monument. Photo: Giovanni Portelli. Photo: Adrian Middeldorp. St John Paul II monument The Amice The amice - a liturgical vestment worn by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP (pictured below) during the statue unveiled in Parramatta unveiling, was originally worn by then Pope John Paul II at a mass he celebrated in Christchurch, New Zealand undreds of people gathered in the forecourt the Holy Father shared his meditation on the dignity during his 1986 Oceania Papal Tour. of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta on of work as part of the Creator’s design and plan for the I came into possession of this amice when at the time, Saturday 5 September, 2015 for the unveiling of world. as a Marist priest, I assisted in the organisation of the Ha new monument dedicated to St John Paul II. “I recall vividly his strong voice as he proclaimed, New Zealand leg of that papal tour. The monument, created by renowned Sydney artist, ‘You may know that I, too, was a worker for some years Linda Klarfeld, was commissioned by the Catholic in a quarry and in a factory.’ My job as sacristan to the tour was to look after and set up all the vestments worn by the Pope, his Diocese of Parramatta as a tribute to its founder - St “He went on to say that Australia was a great visiting entourage, and the New Zealand Bishops John Paul II. country because working people go about their tasks who concelebrated at the public masses in Auckland, Sydney’s Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP led the day after day with both cheerfulness and seriousness, Wellington and Christchurch. unveiling ceremony. Also in attendance were local earning their bread by the sweat of their brow, dignitaries and hundreds of youth from Western producing goods and services for their fellow citizens, It is only fitting now, 29 years later, it was worn by Sydney.