Record Spring 2008 NOWHERE TOGO The crisis in affordable housing WORLD YOUTH DAY International Vincentians celebrate 2008 OZANAM LECTURE Cardinal Rodríguez’s call to accompaniment poetry and prose POETRY ANDPROSE “Poetry is an orphan of silence. The words never quite equal the experience behind them.” – CHARLES SIMIC A POEM PRAYER Dedicated to the staff at Vincenpaul The tram driver stuck in traffic Hostel in Mont Albert North for looking Passengers safe on board after my mother, Barbara O’Neill, with Remembers, as the lights change care and kindness. To pray and thank the Lord The Society is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the Gospel message by serving Glory be to God Proclaim the Rubenesque roundness Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, For dimpled, dappled things Of the suburban mama hope and joy, and by working to shape a more For childrens’ gap-toothed smiles The swarthy eat-your-heart-out just and compassionate society. And stoic sparrows’ wings Of the rock n’ rolling drummer This logo represents the hand of Christ that For the milky slice of sunshine The pensioner and his flutter blesses the cup, the hand of love that offers the cup, and the hand of suffering that receives On a dreary winter’s day At the local TAB the cup. For mittens, scarves and beanies Corporate kings in their fiefdoms The Record is published four times a year by the In warmest thanks we pray The loyal worker bee St Vincent de Paul Society National Council of A hymn for school clothes mended Blessed be those with blot and blemish Australia. By worn-out mums at night Imperfection, scab and sore National Council of Australia PO Box 243, Deakin West, ACT, 2600 And dads who help with homework Ungainly gait or shyness Contact: Donna Scheerlinck Who ease the fray and fight For those called to fight in war Phone: 02 6202 1200 Of words spoken harshly The ordinary, the average Email: [email protected] Inked with spite and sneer The dull and the routine Web: vinnies.org.au Truce made ’tween squabbling siblings For those of kinder hue Editor: Rebecca Comini With a hopeful note of cheer And those whose lives are lean Catholic Communications Melbourne Give thanks for ragged lawns Rejoice in those sweet moments The Record is overseen by an editorial committee comprising Syd Tutton (Chairperson), Rebecca Green jungles underfoot The patchwork quilt of life Comini, Danusia Kaska, John Campbell, Raymond Where children find old tennis balls The places, pets and people James, Tony Thornton and Dr John Falzon. And imagine fairy loot In good times and in strife Advertising: Tony Thornton Where forgotten toys lie buried Amen for different colours Phone: 02 6202 1200 In a past not yet grown old And the breath of different creeds Email: [email protected] And all are called to dinner Songs of grace and glory Design: Catholic Communications Melbourne To join the family fold Prayers on rosary beads PO Box 146, East Melbourne, Victoria, 8002 Phone: 03 9926 5677 Hail the boy with freckles Alleluia for the angels Web: www.catholiccommunications.com.au That play chasey on his nose Guardians for us all Printing: Doran Printing Long backyards in summer Despite the wounds and welts of life 46 Industrial Drive, Braeside, Victoria, 3195 Sun-licked dry old clothes We heed that better call Phone: 03 9587 4333 Fax: 03 9587 3177 For dusky dowager roses To love as we are loved Email: [email protected] Clambering, climbing still And in each yearning face Web: www.doran.com.au For daddy-long-legs families To see that most wondrous of creations Opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Resting on the sill God’s very human race. Praise for furry faithful dogs Ann Rennie Who guard and fetch and bark The gleeful whoop of girls on swings Life’s music in the park THE RECORD – SPRING 2008 frontlines IN THIS ISSUE 2 POETRY AND PROSE OUR GREAT AND A selection of readers’ contributions 3 FRONTLINES From the National President NOBLE TASK 4 MAKING HISTORY Profile on NSW State President “The Society is a lay Catholic organisation that aspires to live the Gospel Barbara Ryan message by serving Christ in the poor with love, respect, justice, hope and 5 WYD SPECIAL joy, and by working to shape a more just and compassionate society.” 5 The journey up the mountain 6 300 gather for FamVin 7 Vinnies at Days in the Diocese his readers, is the new Mission Statement recently endorsed and approved 7 WYD international gathering by the National Council of Australia. 8 Locked Up – Dr John Falzon’s address to WYD TWe take seriously the injunction in the Book of Proverbs (31:8-9): 10 THE CRISIS IN “Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves, protect the rights of AFFORDABLE those who are destitute. Speak out and pronounce a sentence of justice, defend the HOUSING cause of the needy and the poor.” Public policy and public anger in a We need to ensure that we are clear about who we are to take on this sacred cause. 24/7 world This is why we need to ensure that our Mission Statement is indeed an up-to-date, precise articulation of who we are and what drives us. 11 MENTAL HEALTH AND HOMELESSNESS I wish to encourage all Vincentians to open the window so that the creative winds of change can enter the Society, especially in the emergence of a younger more vibrant Vincentian presence. 12 THE EXCLUDED The prayer of Dom Helder Camera reflects my wish: “Lord this world needs this marvelous wealth that is youth. Help young people! 14 SORRY – AFTER THE They possess the inexhaustible wealth of the future.” APOLOGY AND THE WAY FORWARD *** The PM’s apologised, but what In this issue John Falzon explores the new poor – the homeless, the mentally ill happens now? and the working poor. This is a special challenge to the Society at this time. The Society will not be satisfied in our work until justice rolls down like waters and 16 COMPANIONS ON righteousness like a mighty stream for these people. THE JOURNEY The 2008 Ozanam lecture by Cardinal *** Oscar Rodríguez The wind of change is blowing through our Society. We face a serious challenge to reignite the flame of our founding story. As Fr 20 FROM THE ARCHIVES Gerry Arbuckle the eminent anthropologist who is guiding the St Vincent de Paul The 1928 International Eucharistic Society in our Refounding journey puts it, the Scriptures call for a preferential Congress option for the poor, this has never been more relevant. 21 LETTERS TO THE Let us return to our founding story of Frederic Ozanam and his young adult EDITOR companions. Readers have their say As Pope John Paul II said: “The future starts today – Not tomorrow.” 21 NEWS IN BRIEF Syd Tutton National President St Vincent de Paul Society 22 REFLECTION The heart of relating Cover photos courtesy of the St Vincent de Paul Society and its clients. ST VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY AUSTRALIA profile MAKING HISTORY The Society in New South Wales is undergoing a renewal under its new State President, writes REBECCA COMINI t’s been a busy seven months A ‘spiritual symposium’ was held earlier since Barbara Ryan became the this year as a way to achieve the first step. Ifirst female State President of Spiritual advisors from each of the NSW the St Vincent de Paul Society New dioceses brought information and ideas from South Wales in its 127 year history. conference members to the symposium, and “It’s been hectic, but nothing more the information is now being disseminated than I expected in all fairness,” says back through the dioceses, regions and to the Barbara, who replaced former conferences. State President John O’Neill, who “We’re still working on the communications – retired in late 2006, and Acting State that’s a slow one and again the information President, Raymond James. needs to come through the dioceses,” says It was a notice in a church bulletin Barbara. calling for volunteers at the Mat- “We’ve had meetings and recommendations thew Talbot Hostel that sparked are currently being looked at for our pro- Barbara’s involvement in the Society cesses, projects and committees, and we’ve back in 1994. made an active commitment to raise the Since then, Barbara has developed profile of the Society both with the public, Above: Barbara Ryan a great passion for services for the politicians and donors.” homeless. She has also held a number One high profile politician has already been husband Frank, have six children of positions within the Society, secured to open the new Ozanam Learning and sixteen grandchildren. “I like across the areas of Migrants and Centre in inner-city Sydney on 6 November – to spend time with my family and I Refugees, Overseas Partnerships and Prime Minster Kevin Rudd. also enjoy playing bridge,” she says. Twinning, Aged Care and particu- The educational facility is linked to the Frank is also an active Vincentian larly in homeless services. Talbot via an airbridge and will be a day cen- who is happy to support his wife in Barbara came to the role as State tre offering learning opportunities to adult her demanding role. “He’s very sup- President with a clear goal - the men and women who are experiencing, have portive, without him I couldn’t do it.” renewal of the inclusive spirit and experienced or are at risk of being homeless.