ARCHDIOCESE OF CANBERRA AND GOULBURN BRIGHT FUTURE PRAYER POWER 150 YEARS ON Marymead unveils Several local parishes Sisters of St Joseph plans for growth and host ‘24 Hours for celebrate milestone development the Lord’ PAGE 16-17 PAGE 5 PAGE 4 FREE No. 319 April 2016 Circulation 20,000 From left to right, Marist College students Xavier Mooney, Pat Cross (John) Andrew Colmer (Jesus), and Aiman Batsch during a portrayal of the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. PHOTO: MATTHEW BIDDLE In a world of darkness and despair, Jesus Christ is OUR REASON FOR HOPE THE RESURRECTION of Je- becoming a hostile planet,” the “She places herself in a tailspin Yet, just as Mary Magdalene’s the midst of our darkness, we want sus Christ is not just an historic Archbishop told a crowd of more of fear and despair with humanity, fears were soon overcome by joy, to be people of hope, not a naïve event, but the source of all hope than 800, which spilled outside and and she says ‘They have taken the we too must never lose hope. optimism, but a realistic hope.” in a world engulfed by darkness, onto the steps of the Cathedral. Lord out of the tomb, and I don’t “Despite all the reasons for Christ, through his suffering and Archbishop Christopher Prowse These fears, the Archbishop know where they have put him’,” dragging us down into the dark- death, has “nailed our darkness” to told the congregation of St explained, include concerns over he said. “It’s a bit like us saying, ness, there is every reason for hope the cross, taking on our burdens and Christopher’s Cathedral on Easter ecological issues, threats to mar- ‘They have taken the dignity out because of Jesus Christ, and only redeeming us, the Archbishop said. Sunday, March 27. riage and family life, and homeless- of humanity and we don’t know because of Jesus Christ,” Arch- “Only God himself can transform “So many people in the world ness, among others. He likened where they’ve placed dignity’. bishop Christopher said. sinful, broken, fragile humanity today feel that the world is not such fears to the fear experienced So we can easily join the nascent “We don’t just come to Mass into something that reflects God’s becoming a place of safety or by Mary Magdalene on Easter Christian Church in the first mo- today to recall an historic event. original design for us,” he said. care, indeed some would say it’s morning. ments there.” We come here today because in HOLY WEEK COVERAGE - PAGE 12-13 WINNER OF THE 2015 ACPA AWARD FOR BEST NEWSPAPER 2 LOCAL April 2016 Archbishop Christopher’s Easter faith and political issues Diary • Refugees, and so on? good. Of course, there is much in secular world is a particular task May I suggest a few moral com- common in these two worlds, but of the laity (see Gaudium et Spes, s. pass markers? there is, however, an autonomy 43). All of this important work is 1. We will not locate specific and independence to be respected part of evangelisation. answers to particular political in both. Cooperation is needed In our Australian political questions of our day simply by (see Gaudium et Spes, s. 40). world, as in so many Western Archbishop’s Message finding particular proof texts from 3. Catholic social teaching will democracies, ideological agendas Archbishop the Bible. In the Scriptures, we will insist that basic and fundamental abound. Being part of the pro- Christopher Prowse April 1st find, however, moral and ethical human rights must be respected phetic Church, we are to distin- 5pm Man Overboard - Archbishop’s principles, values and general di- by all. Among others, there is the guish truth from falsehood. We House TO THE people of God in the rections, and motivations that will right to human life from womb to are to focus on what deepens and Archdiocese of Canberra and assist us in our common search for natural death. There is freedom of perpetuates true human happiness April 2nd Goulburn. and hope. With our gaze on faith 10am 10th anniversary of St John Easter faith is the fundamental and holiness that leads to eternal of God Mass and tree dedication in source of Christian joy, hope and With our gaze on faith and holiness life, we are best equipped to offer the grounds of Sts Peter and Paul’s peace! Throughout the centuries, true contributions to the chal- Cathedral - Goulburn that leads to eternal life, we are best 2pm 30th anniversary Mass of Christians have summarised our equipped to offer true contributions lenges faced by all today. thanksgiving for Missionaries of united response to the death and I am sure there are many other God’s Love and turning of the sod - resurrection of Jesus in one word: to the challenges faced by all today. moral compass markers. These MGL Chapel, Garran Alleluia! (Praise the risen Lord!) are but four examples that come The arising question soon immediately to mind. April 3rd follows – how is Easter faith to human flourishing in our world of religious expression and freedom In the Archdiocese of Canberra 11am Divine Mercy Sunday be lived in our daily life? More today (for example, the ‘Golden of speech. There are all the human and Goulburn, there is consider- Mass - St Christopher’s specifically, in an election year for Rule’ of Matthew, chapter seven). rights of family and children, and able talent among many faith-filled Cathedral both the Federal and ACT ‘political 2. Our Catholic Tradition will lay Catholics. In the vexed political so on. The dignity of human per- April 6th worlds’, how is Easter faith to im- state that though the Catholic sons forms the basis of all human world of today, I hope the above 12.30pm College student leaders pact on the big political issues of Church and the political commu- rights. Duties and responsibilities offers some cause for reflection barbecue - Archbishop’s House the moment? Such political issues nity both exist in organisational arise from such rights. and encouragement. are many today. For example, how structures, they are by nature 4. The Second Vatican Council Be assured of my prayers for April 8th-10th is Easter faith to respond to: and purpose quite distinct. The strongly underlined the duties of you and your families. Parish visitation - Temora Mission • Abortion, Church is organised so that its the lay faithful in the Church to ex- Yours sincerely in Christ, • Euthanasia, spiritual and prophetic roles are ercise their baptismal dignity and April 12th • Same-sex marriage, paramount. The political com- take on particular responsibility Archbishop Christopher Prowse 10am Institute for Professional Catholic Archbishop of Standards and Safeguarding • Aboriginal references in the munity is to organise temporal in the world and society. Day-to- governance day for clergy - Australian Constitution, structures that serve the common day politics and advocacy in the Canberra and Goulburn Rheinberger Centre, Yarralumla 6pm Commissioning Mass for Warwick Fulton, St Vincent de Paul April Society new president - St Thomas BELCONNEN REGION the Apostle Church, Kambah Feast Days April 13th As part of the ongoing process commenced in ARCHDIOCESE OF CANBERRA AND GOULBURN 12.30pm Lunch with Canberra 2006, the Archbishop has written to the parishes of 4 April THE ecumenical leaders - Archbishop’s the Belconnen region about a consultative process ANNUNCIATION OF EDITOR: Matthew Biddle House [email protected] 6pm Jesus Youth teen retreat - THE LORD concerning the reorganisation of the Belconnen Ph. (02) 6163 4308 Greenhills Conference Centre parishes. 5 April St Vincent April 16th Ferrer ADDRESS: PO Box 7174 Monaro Deanery Assembly - St This letter will be available on the weekend of April Yarralumla, ACT, 2600 Andrew’s Uniting Church Hall, 7 April St John Baptist Rheinberger Centre, cnr Weston Cooma 2-3 and will be read out at each Mass. Members of de la Salle the Belconnen Parishes Working Group will also be and Loch Streets, Yarralumla April 17th 11 April St Stanislaus www.cgcatholic.org.au 11am Good Shepherd Sunday on hand to answer questions. Mass - St Christopher’s 13 April St Martin I Cathedral A public meeting will be held at 7.30pm on Tuesday 21 April St Anselm DEADLINE: Editorial and April 20th May 3, 2016 at St Francis Xavier School theatre, Flo- advertising 15th of the month 23 April St George; St 9am National Aboriginal and Torres rey. Your attendance at this meeting is welcomed. before publication. Strait Islander Catholic Council Adalbert formation and catechesis - Alice Catholic Voice is published by Springs Inquiries can be directed to: 26 April St Mark the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn and printed by April 23rd 27 April St Louis de Capital Fine Print, Fyshwick. It 6pm Mass - St Anthony’s Church, Bernard Meadley is a member of the Australasian Wanniassa Montfort Chair, Belconnen Parishes Working Group Catholic Press Association and 28 April St Peter April 24th [email protected] the Australasian Religious Press 11am Mass - St Christopher’s Chanel Association. Cathedral Fr Tony Percy 29 April St Catherine Every month 20,000 copies are April 30th Vicar General of Siena distributed. Northern Deanery Assembly - St Print Post Publication Joseph’s School Hall, Goulburn [email protected] 30 April St Pius V No.100008082. April 2016 April 2016 LOCAL 3 Strong prayer, Sacramental life essential for RECs RELIGIOUS education coordina- education coordinators, so you’re schools, but added that the role be an REC, you’ve got to have, “What has been the difference tors (RECs) in Catholic schools close to the Catholic Church, you would not be an easy one.