Published by the DioCeSe of broome Po box 76, broome, Western Australia 6725 tel: 08 9192 1060 fax: 08 9192 2136 e-mail: [email protected] www.broomediocese.org FREE Issue 04 AUGUST 2011 multi-award winning magazine for the Kimberley • building our future together Kimberley Community Profile AuGuSt 2011 1 Editorial Cannabis Carnage The new laws on cannabis This drug has damaging anti-social behaviour and have come into effect in effects on families, results in significant mental Western Australia. From a relationships and the health problems including Kimberley perspective it is lives of individuals in our schizophrenia. At a time none too soon. The relaxed community. Such conclusions when there is renewed Laws introduced in 2003 are evident to all who live interest in reducing the by a previous Government here. A peculiar thing is that burgeoning suicide rates under Dr Geoff Gallop were the exponential spread of the among Kimberley youth an unmitigated disaster and behaviour-altering drug has special attention must be have been in dire need of occurred coincidentally at paid to stemming the use of reform. They were based a time when several police cannabis, which is a factor in Rodnesia Hicks was amongst those who received the Sacrament of on the ignorant perception stations were built throughout the greater majority of such Confirmation at St John the Baptist that cannabis, marijuana the Kimberley. In other deaths. Parish, La Grange-Bidyadanga. 260611 or ganja or whatever you words, despite a greater Much is made of Photo: CAS want to call it, is somehow physical presence of Police education about alcohol What the Spirit brings is … a soft drug. Nothing could in remote areas cannabis and tobacco, and rightly love, joy, peace, patience, be further from the truth. continues to be an unabated so! But where is the hard kindness, goodness, Since that time the use growth industry. It remains talk about drugs including trustfulness, gentleness and of cannabis has spread to to be seen what extra law cannabis? Where are the self-control. Gal 5: 22 reach epidemic proportions enforcement activities will drug education people and throughout the Kimberley. emerge now, as surely they why are they invisible in our The Parliamentary Standing must, if the Police take the communities? Why don’t Committee (WA) on new laws seriously. the police, the politicians, Education and Health tabled However, the Police alone the social workers, the KIMBERLEY COMMUNITY a Report in May (No.9 in cannot stem the dangerous medical people and the social PROFILE is a publication of the the 38th Parliament) that is flow of cannabis in the educationalists maintain Roman Catholic Diocese of Broome, nothing less than horrific in lives of Kimberley people. strident opposition to this published eight times a year by the Bishop of Broome. its findings about our region. It is also up to citizens, to dreadful scourge? The Articles to do with the It revealed, among other families and to community answer may be found in the Kimberley are welcome things, that almost one in groups to maintain the rage prevalence of cannabis use to be submitted for three Kimberley residents against this popular drug that among Kimberley people. If publication. (30.2%) had used cannabis in gives rise to an addiction one in three are using it that ENqUIRIES the past twelve months. This which destroys motivation, only leaves two in three to do Diocese of Broome, is compared to a statewide negatively and seriously anything about it. So, where PO Box 76, Broome WA 6725 Tel: 08 9192 1060 Fax: 08 9192 2136 average of 13.7%. affects health, encourages are the silent majority? Email: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscription Rate $30.00pa WYD - Pilgrimage and prayer The opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those Showcasing Kimberley Art of the Bishop of Broome. inside Eldoret Diocese in Kenya www.broomediocese.org this issue­­ Ten Steps towards being a Peacemaker 4. Reject violence Safe and strong communities reject violent language and action. think about how you can respond in these situations. Speak and act kindly when there are disagreements or tensions. Speak up when you hear others make derogatory remarks about other ethnic or religious groups. ensure fair play and reject violence in the competitive worlds of business, sport or politics. object when you see another person bullied or demeaned. Stand by those people who have no voice when there are disagreements or conflicts. [Australian Catholic Social Justice Council] 2 Kimberley Community Profile AuGuSt 2011 Viewpoint A Pilgrim’s Way Through Life Travels to World Youth Day through Spain, Portugal and France, obsessed with our own self (WYD) in Madrid 2011 evoke it has dawned on me that I need to importance. images once again of pilgrimage and remind myself again of the truism Speaking of the need of a prayer, so very familiar to us three that by vocation I am always a rightful relationship with God, St years ago when as many as one Pilgrim, travelling on a pathway to Augustine said: “Our souls are hundred and twenty people from holiness, moving closer to God. It is restless until they rest in You, O Broome Diocese went to WYD in what I am called to be. When I Lord.” Our true home, the Sydney. Encouragements of “You’re realize through my prayerful scriptures remind us, is in heaven. Pilgrims, NOT tourists” are ringing reflections that I am supposed to be Without a doubt there is a great deal in the ears of those representing the living a Christian pilgrimage daily, of restlessness in our society and for Kimberley at WYD Madrid this year bringing a holy purpose to many there is no notion of any and at the Holy Shrines of Fatima in everything I do, I am struck by how eternal home awaiting us. As people Portugal and Lourdes in France – much work on myself, on my live in stark contradiction to what places they have been privileged to spiritual life, I still have to do. In God has called us to, is it any visit. It is not just how Pilgrims a very real sense, as I exercise a wonder that today so many people dress or dine that distinguishes them critical examination of my life, I am are maladjusted and disconnected? from the crowd. And it is more than aware that it is easier to be a Pilgrim They simply do not feel at peace their dedication to live simply and to in Madrid or Sydney or wherever with themselves, their neighbour or avoid useless distractions that sets than it is to live consistently an their world. This dysfunctionality them apart from the mundane and authentic Pilgrim’s life for God at so sadly and so remarkably defines the mediocre. It is in fact their home. our era for a lot of people. prayerful attitude and holy purpose It is simply amazing how easy it Fortunately, because of the which gives life and vigour to their is to be distracted from our calling, boundless mercy of God, this is no vocation as Pilgrims, helping them our vocation, to walk the Pilgrim’s reason to despair. There is always to move forward on a real spiritual journey of life for God. We fill our hope. As Pilgrims we are a hopeful journey. Here, moving along the lives with distractions, surround people who keep on walking, avenue of inner discovery, they ourselves with obstacles to the stumbling occasionally, even getting confront their prejudices and address spiritual life, become mesmerized lost now and then, but never do we those obstacles which block their with the marvels of technology, give up. And we pray not only for relationship with God. deafen ourselves to the value of ourselves but for others too that they However, thinking about our silence, fill our heads with may find their place on the journey Kimberley Pilgrim’s journey unnecessary images and become of a lifetime. Aboriginal Sunday The first Sunday in July is set aside for the celebration of Aboriginal Sunday in the Liturgical Calender used for Australia. Parishes are encouraged to celebrate this Sunday to honour Indigenous people in their community and to pray for reconciliation in our land. In Broome, at the Cathedral, the day was well attended. Bishop Saunders and local priest Fr Matthew and Fr Oliver of La Grange were joined by two visiting Bishops from Melbourne – Bishop Les Tomlinson and Bishop Tim Costelloe. flagbearers Kathy Watson (l), Sam Slocombe and Janice tamwoy with didgeridoo player robert Dann led the procession for the celebration of Principal celebrant bishop Saunders with from left, fr oliver, bishop les tomlinson, fr the missa Kimberley. Photo: J Grimson matthew and bishop tim Costelloe. Photo: J Grimson Kimberley Community Profile AuGuSt 2011 3 Office of Justice, Briefly Speaking Ecology and Peace by Dr David brennan, editing and Publications officer of the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council Is Australia hearing the message? Recently a friend of mine, who works for a Catholic charity, asked me for a list of the ACSJC’s publications on Indigenous justice. I was happy to help and asked him why he needed them. He told me that he was becoming alarmed at the number of people who contacted his organisation to express their hostility to its support for Sorry Day. They seemed to feel that, since they had no personal involvement in removing Photo: CAS Indigenous children from their families, it was not appropriate Bishop LEs TomLinson and Bishop TimoThy CosTELLoE that this organisation use their donations to express regret on were in broome enjoying some warm weather, average behalf of the wider Australian community.