ServingServing FaithfullyFaithfully Newsletter of the Catholic Diocese of the Australian Defence Force November 2014 Published by the Diocesan Curia. Editor: Monsignor Peter O'Keefe Issue # 19 From the Vicar General Christian Marriage and Family Life in the Church and within Society nyone who had been attentive to the As part of its response, the Bishops spoke about A various forms of the media during October the promise and hope of Christ's message of love and the would have heard that Pope Francis had convoked a profound goodness of so many Catholic families faithfully special Synod of Bishops with lay participation on the living out their vocations and the mission of the Church challenges for the family and the New Evangelisation. amidst all the fears and threats to family life. The synod This took place at the Vatican between 4‐19 October also made it clear that marriage is between a man and a 2014. woman intended for life. As more definitive reports are The Pope told married people that this synod released on the synod's deliberations, I am sure that it was to be "dedicated in a special way to you, to your will become more and more evident that the synod vocation and mission in the Church and in society; to the returned to the source of our faith: Jesus himself, His challenges of marriage, family life, the education of teaching on God's love as expressed in the vocation and children; and the role of the mission of Christian marriage, family in the life of the Church". together with Christian Since Pope Francis marriage's exclusiveness and announced the Synod there has permanence and in the raising certainly been a lot of talk about up of families. the more controversial issues There seemed to be a challenging the Church requiring sense of pastoral realism for its pastoral response to such most of the synod participants. matters as divorce and re‐ Discussion focused on the marriage, communion, mission of the Church with its cohabitation prior to marriage fundamental support of and 'same sex marriage'. marriage and family life together As Archbishop Fisher , with its provision of pastoral Archbishop elect of Sydney, Baptised into Christ, the Defence Family is sanctified care for those in cohabitating stated in his pastoral letter through the mission of the Military Diocese to effect relationships, for single parents, published in the Diocese of Christ’s presence in the ADF those in same sex relationships, Parramatta's October edition of as well the divorced and for 'Catholic Outlook': "this raises many issues: what is those remarried outside the Church. There was a sense marriage and the family today? What is Holy that these realities demand listening, compassion and Communion all about? What is the place of Scripture, care with respect for the person rather than magisterium and the Church tradition and disciplinary condemnation. This will certainly not mean that in tradition? How do we express the ideals for marriage respecting persons as Christ seeks, the Church will and family life amidst the hard realities of ordinary life? respect every human behaviour. But in this pastoral love How do we mediate God's infinite mercy to suffering for the person; the fertile ground for the Church's New people? And so on...". Hard questions. The gaze of the Evangelisation, the missionary focus of the Church takes world was upon the Church as the synod progressed and root as Christ's mercy become more and more evident. will continue to be so as this special Synod was only the What does the synod on the family mean first part, the second phase as an Ordinary Synod will for ADF families? take place from 4‐25 October 2015. The ADF is certainly a microcosm of society when The underlying spirit of the synod seems to be one of listening to the needs of our families across the it comes to the realities of marriage and family life. Many world with a gaze fixed on Christ. The Pope asked that would say that military life exacerbates the stresses and strains on marriage and family life. Marriage breakdown all participants would freely speak with clarity, charity and humility, listening to one another. As a result the and family dysfunctionalism is a very common reality in the ADF alongside the myriad examples of sound and spirit at the synod was described as more pastoral than academic in approach as the Bishops wrestled with the fruitful relationships where family life excels. Certainly frequent postings can result in family dislocation, reality facing family life in today's world across cultures Continued page 2 and continents. From page 1 chaplain deals pastorally with those in various forms of where for a variety of reasons, including children's relationship including same sex relationships. The education and spouse employment, it is becoming more pastoral considerations for the suffering and the common. requirement for mercy and care spoken to at the synod Deployments can put immeasurable stresses on is definitely the challenge facing all clergy, and is the some marriages along with many other factors in ADF 'bread and butter' challenge to our military chaplains life. It is becoming evident that marriages and family life which, due to God's grace, is readily shown. can be severely affected with many ADF members Within this reality we cannot stop proclaiming returning from deployment developing symptoms of the beautiful ideals that Christ gave us for marriage and post traumatic stress disorder. It does take a particular family life. We cannot acquiesce on these ideals due to strength and resilience to live out the vocation of the pressures of popular thinking or secular attitudes but marriage and deal the realities on family life within the we do need to respond in love and mercy to those in ADF. need. One of the pastoral joys for our Catholic To our Catholic families as well as our Chaplains, Chaplains within Defence is being involved in the the recent synod can be a source of hope and sacramental life of a family, whether it be the confidence. To all of us it hopefully demonstrates that sacraments of Marriage, Baptism or Confirmation. There our Church is striving to listen, provide care and reach are many marvellous experiences that our chaplains out with Christ's mercy in and through our pastoral share with our families setting up rich pastoral intent. relationships and often indeed good friendships. The We pray that the Military Diocese will continue presence of the Catholic Chaplain is so important to our to connect and engage with families and those who seek families in assisting them in their vocations so that they pastoral care as part of its fundamental mission. We may thrive in and through Service life. prayer for our Diocese, made up of so many full‐time and Our Chaplains in living and working closely with part‐time ADF Catholic members and families. Please ask our ADF members experience first hand pastorally the the Lord to urge us on that we will be listening and open realities of good and broken marriages and relationships. to His Spirit of service and transformation, and that this Unfortunately it is often a weekly, if not a daily Diocese will take up more and more Pope Francis' occurrence where a Catholic chaplain deals with these pastoral plea that we 'smell the sheep' as part of the pastoral realities of brokenness. Perhaps a Catholic Church's New Evangelisation. Please pray for our Priest, Deacon or Pastoral Worker in a normal parish Chaplains. Thank you. setting would not come across these realities of brokenness and pain as often as the military chaplain, Monsignor Peter O'Keefe due to a chaplain’s close links with serving personnel Vicar General embedded with them within a military unit or formation. Diocesan Administrator Our hearts go out to those whose marriages are broken and who are struggling with family life. The Vocations Prayer the courage and generosity to Creator God, respond to Your love, Your call. Life is your gift to me. I pray especially Through Baptism you invite me to grow for those who serve you as Priests, Deacons, Brothers and into a very real, full and loving Sisters. Every vocation is an exodus from person, and to share the gift of my life in service to others. Keep them close to you. self … it leads us on a journey of Open the minds and hearts of many Adoration of the Lord …and service Be with me others, to him in our brothers and sisters. as I choose each day to accept the challenge to show your presence to build Your Kingdom. Amen. From Pope Francis’ Letter for 2014 in our world. Mary, Help of Christians, World Day of Prayer for Vocations Give me Pray for us Wishing you and your family every Blessing and Joy this Christmas. We thank you for your on-going support. 2 Donations from within the church in Australia Throughout 2014 the following donations were gratefully received from Dioceses and from one Parish. These have been significant in assisting the Military Diocese this year in its various operating commitments. From Donation From Donation Diocese of Armidale $2,000 Archdiocese of Melbourne $15,000 Diocese of Ballarat $2,500 Diocese of Parramatta $7,500 Diocese of Bathurst $6,626 Diocese of Rockhampton $4,746 Archdiocese of Brisbane $20,000 Diocese of Sandhurst $5,000 Diocese of Broken Bay $8,500 Diocese of Wagga Wagga $5,000 Diocese of Darwin $500 Diocese of Wilcannia‐Forbes $2,000 Diocese of Lismore $5,000 Parish of St Kevin's Eastwood (Sydney) $880 Total $85,252 Pope Francis meets with engaged couples in St Peter's Square The event organised by the Pontifical Council for the Family took as its starting point the idea that one does not get married once all the problems are solved, but rather that one marries in order to face problems and challenges together, and stated that it is still possible to take the risk of saying ‘forever’.