TOGETHERIn the Diocese of wagga.catholic.org.au FREE DECEMBER 2018 DAY OF PEOPLE SCHOOLS CHRISTMAS WITH A IN OUR MASS inside DISABILITY 8 DIOCESE 26 TIMES 31 O come let us adore him 2 FROM THE APOSTOLIC ADMINISTRATOR TOGETHER IN THE DIOCESE OF WAGGA WAGGA is published monthly, eleven Christmas 2018 - times per year, and is available free at parish churches, schools, presbyteries and religious houses throughout the Wagga Wagga we beg to differ! Diocese. Publisher The Diocese of Wagga Wagga Apostolic Administrator of the Wagga Wagga Diocese Archbishop Christopher Prowse - McAlroy House 205 Tarcutta Street Jesus. homeless ness. For most, will not allow human selfishness Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 His coming was prefigured by Christmas is a time of gatherings and aggression to have the last the Angel of light’s encounter for Church and family re­ say. With Jesus – never! There is Editor/Designer Karene Eggleton with the Shepherds. This unions. Sadly, for too many, the always mercy and forgiveness. heavenly light “stood over them thought of family gatherings is It is certainly true to say at Printer and the glory of the Lord shone a heartache and not a reason for Christmas – “Isn’t it great to be The Riverina Media Group Peter Street Wagga Wagga 2650 round them”. (Lk.2/9) joy. The darkness of loneliness loved!” But it is even greater to Here the cosmos or universe is arises in the hearts of some say “Isn’t it great to love!” Submissions com municating a language for marriages and families. Jesus is always found in TOGETHER would not be us all. It is that the dawn begins Finally, the lost, the least and the latter. Jesus is forever the possible without the voluntary at midnight. It is that darkness the last in society are always redemptive light that scatters the labour and cooperation of many contributors from within the will not have the last word – there but at Christmas their darkness of sin. diocese and beyond. Submissions the light begs to differ. There is basic needs are more promi­ If this is what Jesus does, for publication are most welcome hope. There is light. There is a nent. Groups like our St Vincent so must we do the same this but not always guaranteed to be printed. tomorrow of joy. For Christians de Paul offer practical help to Christmas. This is not done in a Recently I came across a that LIGHT IS JESUS, our those confronting the darkness sentimental and trivial manner Advertisers beautiful saying that is so hope, and glory! of insecurity – even for the most but something real and practical. TOGETHER acknowledges suitable to Christmas. In Australia today there seems basic of needs. As St Francis of Assisi with gratitude the generous “A lighted candle came into a so much midnight darkness. Into all this “darkened room” expressed it beautifully in his support of advertisers. Please show darkened room and said: your support to our advertisers For example, I am aware of comes the “lighted candle” of Peace Prayer: “Where there where possible. Please note “I beg to differ.” much mental illness, especially the Christ­child who says in a is darkness, let me bring your that products and/or services On the first Christmas, it was in our rural areas. There has thousand ways to the encircling light.” advertised in this publication are night. Luke’s Gospel makes this been a spate of tragic suicides in gloom: “I beg to differ.” In being the light of Jesus not necessarily endorsed by this clear by observing that “there publication nor by the bishop of farming districts in recent times. The creation and sustaining this Christ mas in many this diocese. were shepherds… keeping Anguish and trauma arises from of a “culture of tenderness”, as unspoken ways, we shout guard over their sheep during this in families and friends. How Pope Francis would helpfully out to the cynical and self- Copy deadline 15th of the month prior to the watches of the night” (Lk will they cope this Christmas? describe it, is a true light in the absorbed dark ness of today: publication 2/8). It seems that Jesus was Then there is even more darkness. Living in Jesus we we beg to differ! born in the middle of the night. Contact Us People were sleeping. All news stories, advertising Yet, it was not simply the enquiries, correspondence and subscriptions to: absence of the sun that caused Together this midnight. Another type PO Box 473 of “darkness” was at play: Wagga Wagga NSW 2650 inhospitality. Email The fact that St Joseph and [email protected] Mary were in a stable in the first place was “because there Facebook was no room for them in the www.facebook.com/ togetherwagga inn.”(Lk.2/7) The Holy Family, at least at this crucial moment of Phone (02) 6937 0004 salvation history, were homeless Member of the due to the absence of hospitality Australasian Catholic Press Assoc. in Bethlehem. Into this “darkened room” Annual Subscriptions $33 Australia $44 Overseas comes the lighted candle” of Prayer for the Prayer Intention for December election of a Evangelization: In the Service of the Prayer for the month... Bishop Transmission of Faith Lord, God of Love, hear our prayer! O God, eternal God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to shepherd, who govern That people, who are involved in the service and me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between Your flock with unfailing transmission of faith, may find, in their dialogue with persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good; I shall do His work. I shall care, grant in Your culture, a language suited to the conditions of the be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it if I do but keep His commandments. Therefore, I will trust Him, whatever I am, I can never be boundless fatherly love a Bishop for present time. thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him, in perplexity, my perplexity the Diocese of Wagga Wagga who will may serve Him. If I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. He does nothing in vain. He knows what He is about. He may take away my friends. He may throw me among please You by his holiness and to us show Pope’s Worldwide strangers. He may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide my future from me. watchful care. Through our Lord Jesus Prayer Network Still, He knows what He is about. Amen. Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with APOSVLESHIP OF PRAYER Visit this link to hear the Pope deliver his December prayer: You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one http://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/ http://popesprayerusa.net/category/pope-video/ God, for ever and ever. Amen. TOGETHER DECEMBER 2018 PROTEST 3 Children off Nauru protest by Peter McPhee The students gathered at midday on the lawn outside On Tuesday October 16th. Old Parliament House and were 40 Year 11 St Francis College joined there by representatives students, together with 3 from ‘Rural Australians for staff members, travelled to Refugees’ (RAR) travelling Canberra to protest against from all over Australia (about the ongoing detention 2000 in number). of children on Nauru; a The St Francis College bi-partisan policy of the students led the march to the Australian Government. current House of Parliament Disgusted at the inhumane holding aloft the banner they detention of young people for had made which stated: “Kids more than five years on Nauru Off Nauru” accompanied by and the gradual physical and a painting of a young refugee mental disintegration of the child. health of these young people, Many of the RAR members our students believed strongly commented that they were that they could no longer ignore delighted and encouraged to this cruel and inhumane policy. be led in the march by young Students walked from the old parliament house to the new parliament house in Canberra. As one of the students stated people who were taking a Nauruan government. the two major political parties. refugees on Nauru (and Manus). to the media: ‘We have hope, powerful stand for other young They told of a grim and The Member for Farrer, Sussan The day was certainly a vision, goals and a plan for people who suffer needlessly desperate story of a people, Ley, did however speak with very educational and a true our future; the young people on and cruelly from psychological essentially all genuine refugees, three of out students inside the testimony to Gospel values, Nauru can have none of these and physical breakdown. who in seeking Australia’s House. I believe. aspirations.’ The rally was addressed by a protection had been locked up in The students returned to The symbol of the Cross on our Prisoners have an end date for number of relevant speakers, an ‘off­shore hell hole’ for more Leeton inspired by the passion Christian schools is not there for their gaol term, these young two of these being a psychologist than five years. The majority of and sense of justice as witnessed decoration, it should be a sign people don’t even have that. and a medical doctor from these people are still being left in the RAR participants.