ISSUE 41 | February 2016 FREE Publication of the Catholic Diocese of Toowoomba YEAR OF MERCY BEGINS Catholic Parish SPRED Schools new and School gives Executive double thanks Director celebration CONTENTS HORIZONS is a quarterly magazine NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE ............................................................ 4 produced by the Catholic Diocese of MILESTONES ............................................................................. 6 Toowoomba. Grateful acknowledgement to the Catholic Education Office for LITURGY ................................................................................... 8 their contribution to production costs, YEAR OF MERCY .......................................................................10 as well as to our advertisers for their support. Opinions expressed in articles CENTACARE ............................................................................ 11 are not necessarily held by the editor. IN MEMORIAM ..........................................................................12 Please direct any enquiries to: Michael Hart, Bishop’s Office, PO Box 756, SPRED ...................................................................................13 Toowoomba QLD 4350. Phone: 07 4632 4277. SPIRITUALITY AND MISSION .........................................................14 Email: [email protected] PASTORAL CARE .......................................................................16 Front Cover: Bishop McGuckin opening the Door of Mercy at St Patrick’s Cathedral. PARISH ..................................................................................18 (Photo taken by Ingrid McTaggart) EDUCATION ............................................................................ 28 Graphic Design: VOCATIONS ............................................................................. Thorley Creative 1300 883 454 37 www.thorleycreative.com.au CARITAS ................................................................................ 38 DEADLINES YOUTH MINISTRY ..................................................................... 40 Editions will be quartely. Deadline for the May Edition 2016 VIEWS OF THE DIOCESE ............................................................. 42 is 13 May 2016. DIOCESAN DIRECTORY .............................................................. 43 FROM THE EDITOR By Michael Hart Sometimes I sit back and think that we the “Good News” and for getting that our sinfulness.” This year should live in very interesting times. There is message out to the whole community. defineately be an interesting year! so much going on that I can’t imagine The Year of Mercy is clearly a As we move towards Easter it is how people could be bored. A quick theme running throughout this important to slow down and take flick through this edition of Horizons edition. It is a pastoral priority in stock. Lent is a time of penance will leave you with no doubt that there the diocese and that is reflected and preparation and that involves is life and vitality in our parish and in many of the events that will be a degree of self-reflection and school communities. There is so much happening in 2016. I have been contemplation. In this Year of activity in the areas of education, social doing some reading and reflecting on Mercy perhaps I should reflect justice, youth ministry and the liturgical Pope Francis’ papal bull of indiction, on the question “How do I show life of our communities that the mind Misericordiae Vultus, and it strikes mercy to those around me?” Maybe boggles. I am extremely grateful to all me that the Holy Father is calling for this will help me open my heart the contributors across our vast diocese the Church to keep alive the spirit of to what God is asking of me. who take the time to record what is the Second Vatican Council. He has I wish you every blessing as happening in their community and some tremendously inspiring things we enter this important time in share it with all of us. The generousity to say about mercy and how it can the Church’s year. May we all be of these people who write stories and be “the bridge that connects God touched profoundly as we celebrate take photos can not be overstated. and man, opening our hearts to the the death and resurrection of Thank you so much for spreading hope of being loved forever despite Jesus Christ, Our Risen Lord. 2 / HORIZON HORIZON / 3 Lenten Message 2016 From Bishop Robert McGuckin Ash Wednesday ushered in the season I commend the Lenten programs of Lent, a special time when we are that are being offered in our parishes. called to grow in our response to the By participating in such programs Lord’s call to love one another. It is a time there is the realisation that Lent is of prayer, of fasting and of alms giving. not a journey we undertake alone. His Holiness Pope Francis The call on Ash Wednesday was has declared this year a special that we turn away from sin and be extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy. He faithful to the Gospel. If Pope Francis has asked that the season of Lent in this can call himself a sinner then we too jubilee year be lived more intensely as should see our need for forgiveness a privileged moment to celebrate and and be ready to receive the mercy experience God’s mercy. He calls us that God continually offers us. The to have an attentive listening to God’s Sereymom from the Mondulkiri Diocesan Liturgy Office has sent to Community Health Program, established word and encouraged the initiative “24 by Caritas Cambodia and supported Parishes the ritual for the Sacrament Hours for the Lord” on 4-5 March. by Caritas Australia. Read about of Penance during Lent. Parishes will In addition to the special 24 Hours for Sereymom’s story in Week 5 of Project offer this Sacrament during Lent and we the Lord, I ask parishes, where possible, Compassion at www.caritas.org.au. should all take that opportunity to be to each week have an hour of adoration reconciled to God and to one another. Spirit of the Lord, opening ourselves before the Blessed Sacrament, a Pope Francis has expressed his to the power of Grace. May we then special time of prayer. May we pray for hope that “the Christian people may be alerted to opportunities of need our needs and the needs of our world. reflect on the corporal and spiritual Please also pray for vocations to the and be so prompted to act in a works of mercy; that this will be a way priesthood and to the religious life. spirit of mercy and compassion. to reawaken our conscience, too often As Pope Francis says, “God shows Project Compassion gives us grown dull in the face of poverty, and himself ever rich in mercy, ever ready to an immediate means to assist our to enter more deeply into the heart treat his people with deep tenderness sisters and brothers who need vital of the Gospel where the poor have a and compassion. God’s mercy commodities that each day we simply special experience of God’s mercy”. transforms human hearts, it enables take for granted. The call for us to May Lent be for all of us a favourable ours, through the experience of faithful fast can be a very positive thing for time by listening to God’s word and love, to become merciful in return”. ourselves but then by our contributions by practising the works of mercy. In Lent then by stepping aside for to Project Compassion we assist others. time in prayer we will grow in the love I am indeed heartened by the Bishop Robert McGuckin of God in our friendship with Jesus young people in our schools who are Bishop of Toowoomba and be more finely attuned to the ambassadors for Project Compassion. February 2016 2 / HORIZON HORIZON / 3 Bishop Robert McGuckin with Paul and Wendy Ladewig, Julie See and Diocesan Priests on the balcony at the newly constructed Kelly House. school groups. Kelly House adds an James Byrne additional 30 beds accommodation, Centre Expansion has a well equipped conference area to comfortably fit 50 By Ingrid McTaggart occupants as well as a kitchen. The James Byrne Centre has Kelly House was officially opened been an invaluable resource to the and blessed by Bishop Robert Toowoomba Diocese. The Retreat and McGuckin on Thursday 7th January. Education Centre is approximately Bishop Robert was joined by Centre 20 minutes north of Toowoomba, Managers, Paul and Wendy Ladewig NEWS THE FROM DIOCESE just outside of Highfields. Set on 130 and Diocesan Priests for the special acres with spectacular range views occasion. The blessing wrapped of the Lockyer Valley and surrounded up the annual Diocesan Priests’ by bushland, the Centre is the legacy Retreat which was being held at Family and Child Connect team at Mercy of Bishop Edward Kelly and generous the James Byrne Centre. Paul and Community Services SWQ (L to R back local families and individuals through Wendy documented the project from row) Perry Miller, Melina Bick, Laurie their bequests of land and money. The Stewart, (L to R front row) Lyn Harland, the Old Hall removal through to the Bridget Visser centre is named after Toowoomba’s Kelly House completion. They have first Bishop, James Byrne. Opened put together the photos in a video new family support service which in 1980, the Centre consisted of presentation which can be viewed helps families with the challenges Sanctuary House, the Chapel, the at www.jamesbyrnecentre.org.au. they face by connecting them to Old Hall and another transportable appropriate services before these building. The Marian Hall was added challenges become acute problems. in 1981, the main accommodation Connecting families