Broken Bay News August 2015 by bbcatholic

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B R O K E N B AY N E W S P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E C AT H O L I C D I O C E S E O F B R O K E N B AY A U G U S T 2 0 1 5 I S S U E 1 7 7

Conversion, Community, and Mission – St Agatha’s Parish Pennant Hills Vocations Awareness Month NSW Landscape

Mike Salway Photography

Laudato Si’ – On Care for our Common Home “This encyclical is aimed at everyone. Let us pray that everyone can receive its message and grow in responsibility toward the common home that God has entrusted to us.” +Francis

HEART TO HEART

Celebrate all vocations… but pray especially for our priests

reetings to all the faithful of the Diocese of Broken Bay! As I shared when I arrived as your Bishop in late 2014, I have four key priorities which I hope you can assist me in carrying forward in the spirit of a New Evangelisation – dynamic and growing parishes, marriage and family, youth, and vocations. I touched on the question of marriage in the last Issue of Broken Bay News; we have commenced a regular ‘featured parish’ section under the title “Neighbourhoods of

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Grace”; and I hope by now you are well aware that our Diocese is gearing up to take 500 of our young people to World Youth Day (WYD) next year, as a key dimension of our youth outreach. So, may I say something this time about vocations, and especially the vocation to the ordained priesthood. Unlike in many other parts of Australia, every parish in our Diocese of Broken Bay is blessed with at least one resident priest, most have two priests, and a couple have three. Currently, there are 61 priests with parish appointments (not to mention the many men of God who are active in religious ministries or who are now enjoying retirement). Of these 61 men, 21 are Australian, 15 are from India, 9 from Poland, 5 from East Africa (Kenya and Uganda), 3 from Korea, 3 from the Philippines, 2 from Italy, and 1 each from Vietnam, Ireland and Germany. We are certainly a united nations of priests! Some might suggest that we have more than

enough priests in the Diocese to serve our needs, so why all the emphasis on vocations to the priesthood? I am not one who shares that opinion. It is important that we are generous with sharing the gifts of the Lord; which is why our Diocese has committed to loaning two priests to our sister Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes, who are in great need, on an ongoing basis. Nonetheless, I would hope that we would all want a healthy number of good priests for our Diocese, and there are two particular reasons this is so. First, of our 61 priests, less that a third are incardinated into the Diocese (i.e. those priests who are a permanent part of the Diocese). This means two thirds of our priests are here only for a set period of time (most of our priests from overseas are in this group). A diocese that cannot provide priests for its own needs is certainly not a diocese with an oversupply. I would hope that the people of Broken Bay Diocese would want

HEART TO HEART to see plenty of our own young men taking up the bold call to follow Christ, the eternal High Priest. We cannot sit back and expect the rest of the world to supply a steady stream of priests for us. Secondly, and more importantly, priesthood is like marriage in that the more there are, the greater the symbolic value it has. We don’t go around saying: “We have enough married couples, so we don’t need to promote vocations to marriage.” Likewise, we diminish ourselves when we start thinking about priesthood in our Church on a needs basis only. Yes, we need sufficient priests to fulfil the necessary tasks; but more importantly, we want more priests because of the sign value they are in our Church communities. The more there are, the more powerful a witness they are to the good news of Jesus Christ. So, I want to encourage you to do what you can to promote local vocations to the priesthood for our Diocese. How can you do this? Certainly, ask the Lord of the Harvest to send labourers for the work to be done. (Matt 9.38) Prayer is always the first task in fostering a vocational desire. But I also want to encourage you to be proactive in finding young Catholic men you think might make a good priest. If you don’t encourage someone, how can you expect anyone to want to say yes? So, see if you can find a young fellow to tap on the

shoulder, and say: “I think you would make a great priest”. One of the great blessings you might one day receive is for a good and holy priest to tap you on the shoulder and say, “thank you for telling me I’d make a good priest”. And what a reward in heaven there will be for those who encourage vocations. Yes, let’s promote a general vocational awareness among ourselves; let’s celebrate marriage and consecrated life, and other forms of vocational callings in the Church. But right now, at this particular time, and in our particular circumstances in the Diocese, let’s be especially mindful of fostering vocations to the priesthood! Please pray for your priests, as I know they pray for you.

Most Rev Peter A Comensoli Bishop of Broken Bay

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AUGUST 2015

ACROSS OUR DIOCESE DIOCESE OF BROKEN BAY

P O Box 340 Pennant Hills NSW 1715 Diocesan Office: Tel (02) 9847 0000 Fax (02) 9847 0201 Caroline Chisholm Centre Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Rd Pennant Hills NSW 2120 (Access off City View Rd) officeofthebishop@dbb.org.au

CURIA Bishop Peter A Comensoli Vicar General: Fr David Ranson Director, Office for Evangelisation: Daniel Ang Director, Office for Stewardship: David Penny Director, Office for Pastoral Administration: Anne Walker Marriage Tribunal: Adrienne Connaghan Tel: (02) 9847 0458 Catholic Development Fund: Chris Field Tel: (02) 9847 0748

PARISH SUPPORT UNIT Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) Director: Carole Gan (02) 9847 0560

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE

$25,000 Br John Taylor Fellowship to stimulate research by Catholic School Educators Catholic school educators are being offered the chance to travel overseas to research ways that help schools meet present and future challenges.

he Brother John Taylor Fellowship will provide up to $25,000 in travel and accommodation to an applicant involved in Catholic school education – as an employee in schools or associated bodies – who can make a valuable contribution to education in the Catholic schools context. Offered annually by Catholic Education Commission NSW, the Fellowship is designed to build a body of research for the teaching profession that addresses priorities or challenges in Catholic schools. Bishop Peter Comensoli launched the 2015 Br John Taylor Fellowship at the Caroline Chisholm Centre, Pennant Hills in June. “The Fellowship is an opportunity for anybody involved in Catholic schooling to produce lasting research that can make a difference for generations of students and teachers,” CECNSW chairman Bishop Peter Comensoli said. “The successful 2015 Fellow will work with a mentor to write his or her research and have it published for the teaching profession.” Last year’s inaugural Fellow was Mark Gronow (pictured above), a mathematics specialist who used the Fellowship to address the decline in the number of students studying maths, particularly at higher levels.

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Mr Gronow – Head of Mathematics at Stella Maris College in Manly – said the Fellowship was a life-changing experience and had enabled him to attend important teaching conferences in the US, UK and Australia. “In April, I travelled to Boston to join 10,000 maths teachers at an annual conference and research symposium to hear about current difficulties in the US and how they are being addressed. I will then travel to the UK to attend two workshops, including one at Oxford University that is limited to 20 participants. “The opportunity to attend these conferences and workshops and to meet people who are leaders in the field of my research could only have happened through this Fellowship.” Bishop Peter said the Fellowship honours John Taylor, a Christian Brother, and his lifelong dedication to education and the ideals of equity and access. “John made his mark on NSW education over three decades as a teacher, principal and Executive Director of CECNSW,” he said. Applications for the 2015 Brother John Taylor Fellowship must be submitted by 30 September 2015 using the online form at www.cecnsw.catholic.edu.au

Director: Peter Hamill Tel (02) 9847 0000 PO Box 967 Pennant Hills NSW 1715

CATHOLICCARE Acting Executive Director: Trish Devlin Tel: (02) 9481 2600 PO Box 966 Pennant Hills 1715 Children’s Services: Tel: (02) 9481 2660 Family Centres: Brookvale – Tel: (02) 8968 5100 Naremburn – Tel: (02) 8425 8700 Waitara – Tel: (02) 9488 2400 Warnervale – Tel: (02) 4356 2600 Foster and Residential Care: Tel: (02) 4340 0786 Mission, Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care (02) 9481 2658

SOUTHERN CROSS OUTDOOR EDUCATION CENTRE Mr Gordon Crabb Tel: (02) 4372 1221

COMMUNICATIONS Broken Bay News: Editor: Annie Carrett Tel: (02) 9847 0724 / Fax: (02) 9847 0721 news@dbb.org.au P O Box 340 Pennant Hills, NSW, 1715 Design: Chris Murray 22,000 copies of the Broken Bay News are distributed monthly through 26 parishes and 44 schools in the Diocese of Broken Bay. The Broken Bay News is a member of the Australasian Catholic Press Association and the Australasian Religious Press Association. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply diocesan endorsement of products or services advertised.

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Our Neighbourhoods of Grace Exploring our missionary outreach

‘Conversion, community and mission’ at St Agatha’s Parish, Pennant Hills

By Debra Vermeer

Conversion, community and mission are the three cornerstones of the shared life of faith at St Agatha’s Parish, Pennant Hills.

“T

hese three goals underline everything we do here as a parish,” says Parish Priest, Fr Paul Durkin. “Community, Conversion and Mission are not isolated: one builds on the other. Conversion is the centre of our vision because it is the reason we exist as a parish – supporting one another to be open to the action of God in our lives – the God who is always seeking us.” St Agatha’s is a large, multicultural parish, with an average of 1,500 people attending Mass each weekend, a fact that Fr Paul sees as both a wonderful blessing and an ongoing challenge. “Even though people attend in big numbers, we still have to work at making people welcome and building community; perhaps even more so, because people can get lost in large gatherings,” Fr Paul says. Parish members offer hospitality as welcomers and by providing regular morning teas, both after Sunday Masses and some weekday Masses, such as on feast days. Parishioners also gather in smaller groups

like various seniors’ groups, family support groups, Lenten and Advent Groups and other faith-sharing groups. St Agatha’s has just begun a Faith Encounter group for married people with younger children, which is a gathering based around sharing of the Word and looking together at some

of the challenges and joys that present themselves in their lives. Fr Paul is quick to acknowledge the contribution of Assistant priests, Fathers Harry, Joseph and Raja, and the parish team, to the life of St Agatha’s. “In all that we do in parish ministry, the priests and parish team seek to hold in tension

faithfulness to the Catholic tradition, with an openness and care for people in the reality of their lives,” he says. The parish is also home to regular Bible Study groups, a School of Discipleship, youth group, young adult group, Christian meditation, and devotions such as daily Rosary and Adoration every Monday, Saturday and First Fridays. The sacramental life of the parish is of utmost importance, with 132 children having received First Holy Communion and First Reconciliation this year. Preparations are now underway for 144 young people to be Confirmed. The RCIA is also present, with a number of adults baptised or received into the Church this Easter. Fr Paul is currently working with a small group to re-invigorate this ministry. Family involvement at these important times is always encouraged and supported. Parishioners play an active role in preparing candidates and their families for the reception of the sacraments, with 20 group leaders volunteering to host preparation sessions. BBN

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Our Neighbourhoods of Grace Exploring our missionary outreach “I am inspired by the generosity and faithfulness of parishioners who volunteer their time to do this and who undertake so many of the ministries in our parish,” Fr Paul says. Efforts are underway to involve families and children even more in various aspects of parish life, including music and serving ministries. Those who do volunteer for ministries receive regular and ongoing formation, with workshops for musicians, lectors, servers and Extraordinary Ministers held this year. Fr Paul says that as Parish Priest, he sees occasions such as the reception of sacraments as a time to invite parents to be more active members of the Church. “I hold out to them the conviction that it is a real blessing to a family to actively belong to the faith community,” he says. “I remind them of their important role. We, as priests, are teachers of the faith and preside at the liturgy, but we are also here to support parents as the first educators of their children in the faith. “And I always assure parents who might be questioning aspects of their own faith that Jesus, and the Catholic faith, will take nothing from their children, but only add what is true and good and beautiful.” Fr Paul says that Mission is fundamental to the life of the parish. The priests, along with

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particular volunteers, regularly visit parishioners and strangers in the area. One group of parishioners visited 1,000 people in 2014 on behalf of the parish. Part of reaching out to others includes offering St Agatha’s as place for teaching, meeting and discussion. In recent months, events have included an evening with well-known broadcaster Geraldine Doogue interviewing Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald (former head of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue) and musician Peter Kearney sharing his experience of walking the Camino Santiago de Compostela in Spain. One hundred and fifty people recently attended an evening on the Eucharist.

“We also reach out ecumenically in our local area, particularly at Christmas, but also throughout the year and actively join in ecumenical initiatives,” Fr Paul says. “Equally, we are open to inter-faith relations. In July, 30 parishioners from St Agatha’s joined 30 people from the Islamic community in the Hills District to share an Iftar Dinner.” St Agatha’s Parish and St Agatha’s Catholic Primary School foster a close relationship as one community, which includes not only a shared sacramental life, but also faith formation and social justice initiatives. The parish also actively engages with all the local Catholic high schools, and is blessed to have

almost forty catechists volunteer for SRE in the state schools. St Agatha’s school Religious Education Coordinator, Vicki Ford says the warm relationship with parish life is an integral aspect of the St Agatha’s school community. “The relationship with the parish is very important,” she says. “One of the most important aspects is just seeing Fr Paul around the school. His presence among us is wonderful for both the staff and the students.” Vicki says a popular initiative has been a series of faith formation talks for staff. “This year Fr Paul is offering a series on discipleship – what it means to live as disciples and to inspire students and parents to be disciples,” she says.

Our Neighbourhoods of Grace Exploring our missionary outreach

“It’s been a great opportunity for all of us to explore our faith and to share the Gospel.” Years 3-6 have class Masses every term and there are also regular whole school Masses, celebrated by Fr Paul and the assistant priests. “Fr Paul comes once a term to visit classrooms as well,” which is really valuable. “He sits with the kids and they talk about what they’re learning and he just spends time with them.” The school and parish are also working to bring their social justice initiatives together so that they have a shared understanding and can reach out together. “We have formed a social justice committee,” she says, “but our aim is that when we have big social justice initiatives,

such as Caritas’ Project Compassion, we do it together.” The shared social justice initiative is about reaching out financially to those in need, but also about knowing the Gospel and Catholic Social teaching and helping to address inequity. Fr Paul says that practical love and concern for local people who might be lonely or facing difficulty forms part of the parish’s social justice outreach. There is a group which offers practical help and companionship to local people who are housebound, and parishioners also sign up to serve at St Vincent de Paul’s Matthew Talbot Hostel. The youth group also regularly prepares toiletry packs for the homeless people of the district.

“There is a sense of obligation to those in real material need, while always praying for, and working toward addressing structural change that brings greater justice and equality,” Fr Paul says. In an example of the generosity of spirit displayed by parishioners, Fr Paul says a recent winter appeal for St Vincent de Paul raised $20,000 in one weekend. It was followed by another wonderful response to a drive for warm jumpers and jackets. “At the heart of our commitment to social justice is the call to follow the commission of Jesus Christ and in doing so, to be his faithful disciples.” he says. Fr Paul says the St Agatha’s community has

been lovingly built up over many decades, by the people, the priests and the religious congregations with which it has been closely associated. “I often reflect on the deep faith, enormous generosity and commitment of the priests and people on whose shoulders we stand today,” he says. “That same spirit of faith and generosity is still alive in the community and I am energised in my own faith by the level of commitment I see in others. There’s rarely a night when parishioners are not meeting for some form of prayer, faith-sharing, music practice and preparation for ministries. It’s that faith and faithfulness that is so inspiring.”

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EVANGELISATION

Evangelisation in a New Time for the Diocese of Broken Bay By Daniel Ang, Director Office for Evangelisation It has been a great joy to join the Diocese of Broken Bay! In these opening weeks, I have been privileged to attend to the hopes of our clergy, parishes and people, filled as the Diocese is with energy and possibilities for the proclamation of the Gospel.

t has been a delight to witness firsthand people’s tremendous dedication to parish life, to our schools and to other ways in which our faith and mission in Christ impacts the wider community and indeed changes lives. This all bodes well for our future! To speak of ‘evangelisation’ is to be drawn to the heart of our Church, to the heart of our faith, who is Jesus Christ. As bearers and witnesses of Christ’s life, as twenty-first century disciples of his Good News, we are called to ‘go out’ and share this gift of faith with others. We want our homes, families, parish communities, schools and workplaces to be real centres of evangelisation so that the light of the Gospel can touch and transform every aspect of our lives in their personal and social dimensions. It goes without saying that Pope Francis has led this renewed appreciation of our Church as an evangelising mission through his words and actions which have galvanised the world’s attention. He has reminded the Church of its missionary identity through a

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focus on the poor in spirit and circumstance, by his mercy and charity to those who lie under the bridges of life; through his writing on the joy of the Gospel, a joy that calls to be shared and increased through love; and most recently his encyclical on the natural environment as the created gift of God, worthy of our stewardship and protection, as are all forms of life. Pope Francis has made a powerful invitation to the world to faith in Jesus Christ through his profound discipleship and ‘catholic’ or universal concern for all people and situations, a witness of love, integrity and compassion for which a divided and fragmented world hungers. Here in our Diocese of Broken Bay we too are challenged to this depth of discipleship and outreaching spirit as we look to our future. In creating a new Office for Evangelisation and inaugurating a process of diocesan review, Bishop Peter has invited us together – our clergy, parishes, families, agencies, ministries and youth – to embrace

the task of evangelisation anew with renewed passion and creativity. There is so much potential for the growth of disciples, the stirring up of new vocations and an everexpanding mission in our very midst! Broken Bay Catholics account for just over a quarter of the total population in the Diocese (some 223,240 of us amidst a general population of 887,195) while there are over 17,000 children enrolled in our systemic Catholic schools. Strikingly, almost one-third of Broken Bay Catholics are under the age of 19 so we are a young and energetic Diocese! CatholicCare provides social support for some 27,000 people a year, alongside many other expressions of pastoral care and local forms of service and outreach in our parishes (e.g. the St Vincent de Paul Society). We want to build on these strengths and also look for fresh ways to proclaim and express the Gospel which we have received. Of course, like any community of faith there are also challenges amidst the

EVANGELISATION possibilities. Certainly, not as many people join us for weekly Eucharist as we would like (with a participation rate of around 11.4%) and we must continually reflect on how we communicate the Gospel to new generations (for example, the extent of our outreach on what Pope Benedict XVI described as the ‘digital continent’, in the world of social media). We know that the cultural landscape and societal ‘norms’ of the West are shifting and not always in ways that are compatible with Christian faith. However, like St Paul who sought to evangelise the Greeks at Athens (Acts 17:16-34), we find ourselves in this new situation with confidence in the beauty, goodness and truth of the Gospel as the deepest source of human flourishing and the way of true and eternal life. So what is the way ahead for us as the Diocese of Broken Bay with these opportunities and challenges set before us? I would suggest that it is through close collaboration with our clergy and communities, by availing ourselves of the best possible resources, formation for evangelisation and practices of mission, and with a shared desire to foster our people in missionary discipleship that our Diocese, just thirty years young, will not only continue to grow in the years ahead but indeed prosper.

As we look to the future I invite you to open the conversation in your local community about the potential for the evangelisation of parishes, families and marriages, our young people and for the calling forward of vocations to the priesthood and other forms of Christian living. As our new Office for Evangelisation takes shape, I commit myself to assisting you and your communities in any way I can to live these possibilities with clear vision, Spirit-filled

hope and, above all, an enthusiasm inflamed by faith! It is together as a Diocese that we will have the best view of things and together that we will share the Good News of Christ in ever more compelling and abundant ways. With every blessing and appreciation of your warm welcome. To share your questions, hopes or ideas about evangelisation in your parish or our Diocese of Broken Bay, email evangelisation@dbb.org.au

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AUGUST 2015

VOCATIONS AWARENESS MONTH

Vocations

The Diocese of Broken Bay listens to Pope Francis By Fr Paul Durkin

Director of Vocations, Diocese of Broken Bay

In his message for the 52nd World Day of Prayer for vocations on the 26 April 2015, Pope Francis reflected that the experience of Exodus is a fundamental experience or parable of vocation.

hat did he mean? The Holy Father wrote: “I would like to reflect on that particular “exodus” which is the heart of vocation …. The Book of Exodus, the second book of the Bible, which recounts these events, is a parable of the entire history of salvation, but also of the inner workings of Christian faith.” Scripture attests that God keeps calling people at all stages of their lives, whether it’s a young boy like Jeremiah or a Samuel, or to someone like Abraham who’s asked as a very old man to leave everything he’s known and set off ‘for a land that I will show you’. Throughout the Scriptures and throughout the history of the Church, we have examples of God’s specific call in the life of particular people.

Pope Francis reflects on us as a pilgrim Church being called and sent forth: “The Church is faithful to her Master to the extent that she is a Church which “goes forth”, a Church which is less concerned about herself, her structures and successes, and more about her ability to go out and meet God’s children wherever they are, to feel compassion (compassio) for their hurt and pain.” Pope Francis makes a special appeal to young adults discerning their calling: “Dear young friends, never be afraid to go out from yourselves and begin the journey! The Gospel is the message which brings freedom to our lives; it transforms them and makes them all the more beautiful. How wonderful

Fr Paul Durkin

it is to be surprised by God’s call, to embrace his word, and to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, in adoration of the divine mystery and in generous service to our neighbours! Your life will become richer and more joyful each day!” If you are considering a call as priest or deacon be assured your inquiry will be taken seriously and you will be given every support in your discernment. You may like to speak to a local priest or deacon whom you know well. Typically, you would go through a period of inquiry and discernment, during which time you would continue in a life of regular prayer and sacraments, as well as continue with involvement in the life of the Church, regular work or study. You

would be encouraged to read on Vocation, seek Spiritual Direction and attend events on Vocations. Typically candidates for priesthood study at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Homebush and would have a number of pastoral placements in various parishes and special works. Candidates for diaconate follow a formation program set by the diocese. Let us pray for vocations to priesthood and diaconate. Lord, you are the Good Shepherd leading us to a life of blessing and abundance. Raise up in your church shepherds after your own heart. Amen. Contact details: frpaul@stagatha.org.au

Vocations Office: 9484 1427

Upcoming Events Good Shepherd Seminary Open Day: Sunday 9 August Men seeking an insight into seminary life and the vocation to the priesthood are invited to this event at the Seminary of the Good Shepherd. The program includes Sunday Mass, brunch, a talk and a guided tour as well as time to chat with seminarians. Details: 9:00 am – 2:30 pm, Seminary of the Good Shepherd: 50-58 Abbotsford Rd Homebush NSW, Cost: Free, but registration essential. Enquiries/registration: vocations@sydneycatholic.org or 9307-8424.

Weekend of Discernment: Sat 12 and Sun 13 September This is a two-day program of prayer, sacraments, talks, silence and discussion for those seriously considering a call to the priesthood. Contact Fr Paul on 02 9484 1427 for further details.

Reflection Evenings for those considering Priesthood and Diaconate & those who wish to support Vocations ministry: 13 August and 15 October To be held at Holy Name Church and Parish Meeting Room, 35 Billyard Avenue, Wahroonga on 13 August and 15 October, 2015 from 5.30pm to about 9.30pm. Outline of the evening: Gathering, Reflection on Scripture, Input, Adoration, Evening Prayer of the Church, Meal together and closing Reflection.

A day for those interested in the Permanent Diaconate: 20 August Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers from the USA will share his experience and vision for the permanent diaconate: Level 8 at Caroline Chisholm Centre, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Rd, Pennant Hills from 10 am to 3pm. Deacon Harold is known as the “Dynamic Deacon” and is described as “ a powerful and passionate evangelist and preacher whose no-nonsense approach to living and proclaiming the Catholic faith is sure to challenge and inspire those who hear him.”

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VOCATIONS AWARENESS MONTH

We Chose the Right Vocation for Us by Tony and Carmel Smith, Frenchs Forest Parish Growing up as teenagers in the late 1950s while attending Catholic Schools, meant we were encouraged to seek our vocation in life.

as God calling us to a religious life as a priest, brother or nun or to the vocation of marriage? The choice of a single life was never in our thoughts. We both remember praying over this dilemma. What vocation was God calling us to? After celebrating 49 years of marriage in May this year, we definitely know we chose the right vocation for us. When we met over 50 years ago we were attracted by our similar values and our common faith as well of course by each other’s physical attributes and personality. Our shared Catholic Faith has been such a gift to us and has allowed us to serve in so many growth-filled experiences together. We were married at Sacred Heart Church, Mosman (Carmel’s home parish) on 14 May 1966 and after our honeymoon moved into our new home in Belrose where we still live. Our first child, Matthew was born a year after our marriage and 14 months later we welcomed Anna. We were happily experiencing the joys of parenthood with our little family, while setting up our home and garden and settling into our Parish Community. The friends we met in those early days at church and school still remain among our closest friends. When we became pregnant with our third child our life was so happy and settled. Of course we had disagreements and hurtful responses but on the whole all was well. We followed the advice of our parents “to never let the sun go down on your anger.”

At 28 weeks of this pregnancy, Carmel went into early labour and our son, Andrew, was born. He only survived 7 hours. Our sorrow at our loss was deeply felt but in those days we were encouraged to give thanks for the two healthy children we had, get over our sorrow and try again for another baby! (How things have now changed for the better. Thank goodness.) So we followed this advice and Louise was born the following year, followed by Catherine. Our children have given us many delights and some challenging and heart stopping moments but there is never a dull moment now when we gather with their spouses and our 11 grandchildren (1-19 years.) What joy we have as Poppy and Apple (Granny Smith). Lots of baby sitting means lots of special times but also lots of aching bones and tired bodies! After 14 years of marriage we experienced a Marriage Encounter Weekend. The weekend gave us ways to work together on areas of our life and explore our relationship. We looked at ways of communicating and sharing our feelings. There have been times of brokenness in our relationship when we have needed to ask forgiveness of each other but we have tried to keep in mind that “to love is a decision.” With some other local Marriage Encounter couples, we started meeting monthly to explore, improve and enrich our relationships and at the same time support one another in our Marriage vocation.

This year will be the 35th year of our monthly married enrichment meetings. What a blessing and what a help they have been in keeping our marriage on track. Our Smart Loving weekend, a few years ago topped up our ways of growing closer to each other. Would you believe we are still finding out new things about each other after all these years of marriage? A simple but powerful action in expressing our love comes from a recent St Valentine’s Day brochure. We were encouraged to tell or write a note of gratitude to our spouse each day for their loving action – looking for the good and positive characteristics in each other rather than fault finding. Another bonus to our relationship is praying together as a couple. Some nights this is as simple as holding hands and being still in silent or spoken prayer. Each day our marriage and parenting vocations are special, with their challenges and blessings. As part of the Married Couple’s Prayer for Gratitude we pray: “We thank you for all that we have shared together the good times and the bad, the times of plenty and the times of want, the times of sickness and the times of health. We thank you for the many blessings in our lives, most especially for the gift of each other. Amen

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AUGUST 2015

VOCATIONS AWARENESS MONTH

World Youth Day – the kickstart to a priestly vocation Fr Paul Kim, Assistant Priest at Manly Freshwater Parish, was a young seminarian in South Korea back in 2008 when he won a writing competition that earned him a ticket to World Youth Day celebrations in Sydney, Australia.

fter graduating high school in 2001, Fr Paul entered the seminary at 19 years of age. Whilst searching for God in his vocation and practising his faith, he still felt he was struggling because of his young age and was looking for a ‘turning point’ in his journey. At a local level he had attended a Korean Youth Day in 2007, but it was not until he travelled to Sydney that the true impact of the International gathering of young people at World Youth Day would have its effect. In a fortuitous turn of events, Fr Paul was billeted with a

family on the Central Coast in the Diocese of Broken Bay. “When I arrived at the airport in Sydney, many young people welcomed our group from South Korea and took us to The Entrance Parish,” Fr Paul said. “Fr Bill Stevens welcomed us, and many of the parishioners picked groups of 3 to 4 pilgrims to be part of a Home Stay in their own houses. I still remember their warm hearts, even though we were lacking in conversation.” “I will never forget these memories. Max and Jenny, my Aussie Home Stay parents, prepared everything that we

An invitation to men who are interested in discerning vocation to priesthood and diaconate… To be held at Holy Name Church and Parish Centre, Billyard Ave, Wahroonga on the following dates in 2015: 13 August, 15 October. Please join us for: Gathering, Reflection on Scripture, Input, Evening Prayer of the Church, Meal together. The evening will begin at 5.30pm, to finish about 9pm. For more information: Phone Fr Paul Durkin 9484 1427 or email frpaul@stagatha.org.au

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needed and even helped organise a visit to the Reptile Park!” Fr Paul felt that WYD brought every answer he needed to those parts of his life where he struggled. “If somebody were to ask me, ‘was it helpful for my vocation?’ I would say, ‘yes, of course,’ because I saw young people praying. I met young people who desired and were searching for God,” he said. “They touched my heart with their enthusiasm and compassion.” After WYD 2008, Fr Paul concentrated on his studies and was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Boniface Choi in January 2010. His first appointment was as Assistant Priest in a parish in the Diocese of Incheon in South Korea. In October of that same year Bishop Choi asked Fr Paul go to Australia, and in April 2011 he arrived to work in the Broken Bay Diocese – initially at Frenchs Forest Parish. In 2014, he came full circle when he was appointed to Warnervale, so close to that initial Australian experience at The Entrance. “And, do you know what I did first?” said Fr Paul, “I visited my Aussie parent at The Entrance (Max had sadly passed away by this time). Isn’t that a wonderful destiny?” Fr Paul has now moved on to another parish by the sea, Manly Freshwater. For Fr Paul, WYD was a profound grounding for people of all nationalities to learn how wonderful their shared faith is. “Young people in the world often struggle with their faith because

it is something passed to them by parents when they are very young. Schooling keeps them too busy to really focus on it, and often it is not until they have finished school that they really start to find out what their faith truly means to them.” “In my experience, faith is a personal experience. Imitating faith is not growing it, it needs to be experienced.” This experience was captured in the closing Mass of World Youth Day – a real highlight for Fr Paul. “We understood everything in the Mass, even though we lacked the vocabulary, because the Catholic Liturgy is same throughout the world.” “I felt it was such an awesome experience with 500,000 young people, how can I begin to explain this? Like the tower of Babel falling down, or like the day of Pentecost!” Fr Paul would love to join the Broken Bay pilgrims heading to WYD Krakow 2016 and encourages as many people as possible to get on board…. who knows this may be the very beginning of someone else’s greatest life journey.

VOCATIONS AWARENESS MONTH

140 years of Loreto in Australia By Elouise Hahn Loreto Province Communications Manager

This year, Loreto celebrates 140 years in Australia thanks to our pioneering Loreto Sisters from Ireland.

ravelling to an unknown and distant land from the comforts of her home in Ireland, Mother Gonzaga Barry stepped off the SS Somersetshire Ship onto Australian soil on 19 July, 1875. This was to become a defining moment in the history of Loreto that continues to shape its future. The arrival of Loreto’s pioneering Sisters was a response to an appeal by the Bishop of Ballarat, Dr O’Connor asking the Sisters to lead a mission opening the first Loreto School in Ballarat, Victoria. The sacrifices Mother Gonzaga and her nine companions made in leaving behind family, friends and other loved ones to enter the unknown are still being felt today by Loreto women and men touched by her profound legacy. “Mother Gonzaga would have been very fearful to travel so far from home, as she was not a welltravelled person. However, she had a steely determination to serve God and would have answered any call made to her,” said Loreto Province Archivist Robin Scott. The 59 day journey to Victoria was long and arduous to say the least, with accounts from the Sisters saying “the ship was constantly heaving and lurching”,

resulting in those on board, especially Mother Gonzaga, in a perpetual state of sickness. One man died on their voyage from bronchitis, as Mother Gonzaga wrote in her diary, “the great cold and damp here generally make an attack fatal. On the last voyage, two gentlemen passengers died.” To understand fully Mother Gonzaga’s character it is important to appreciate her background. Born into a middle class family in Wexford, Ireland in 1834, she was the eldest of seven children and known fondly as ‘Mamie’. Her vocational journey started at the young age of 19 when she travelled to Rathfarnham and was received as a Novice in 1854. While still a Novice at just 22 years of age she became Mistress of the Day School at Rathfarnham and at 25 was appointed Mistress of Novices at Gorey. In 1867 she was appointed Superior of Gorey and just five years later founded the Loreto Convent in Enniscorthy. Not long after establishing the Convent she was asked to lead a mission to Australia. It is believed Mother Gonzaga was chosen because of her experience and success in strong leadership roles and her charismatic

Loreto student holding hand of Mary Ward’s statue.

personality – two characteristics which continue to be instilled in Loreto women today. During her 40 years in Australia she founded 13 schools (including Kindergarten, Primary and Boarding Schools), two teacher training colleges as well as taking over the running of at least seven parish schools. Mother Gonzaga believed that what the world

Pioneer Sisters 1903.

needed are wise, loveable and well-educated women. She was a pioneer in creating a very broad curriculum that ensured a holistic education to bring the best out of her students so they could ‘make the world a better place for having lived in it’. Her success didn’t come without its challenges as Mrs Scott commented, “she met huge financial difficulties and sometimes clerical obstruction to foundations and missions. Physically, her deafness was a great burden to her as it would have been isolating. But with characteristic positive outlook she always trusted that all would be as God intended.” The strong foundation she and her Sisters laid continues to have a profound influence on hundreds of thousands of Loreto women educated since her arrival in 1875. As we celebrate this great milestone, we give thanks for our Loreto Sisters, friends, colleagues, and particularly all who through our Loreto schools have continued to imbue a culture of justice in personal and social relations, authenticity in our words and actions and felicity in the joy of life. BBN

AUGUST 2015

VOCATIONS AWARENESS MONTH

Each of Us has a Vocation

FR TRU NGUYEN MSC Tru Nguyen was born in Vietnam and lived there until he was 9 years old. For the next four years he became a refugee with his mother and sister.

hey travelled from Vietnam to Cambodia, from Cambodia to Thailand, from Thailand to Malaysia, then from Malaysia to Australia. They arrived in Australia in 1991 and settled in Adelaide, South Australia. Tru has embraced Adelaide as his home town now. Tru exclaims “Go Adelaide Crows, they are doing so well this year!”. At the end of 2007 Tru embarked on a retreat at Douglas Park with the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (MSC). He says “At that time my spiritual director guided me to listen attentively

(right to left); Duy Nguyen (friend), Van Nguyen (cousin), Tru Nguyen.

with my heart. Then draw all my strength to follow that desire. I did that and I found what I wanted most was to be loved by God and loved by the people I love and be able to love others as I am loved.” “Now reflecting on this, I find my response to my vocation is also based on the faith that God is love. It is a faith decision because I am called to leave my familiar life before and enter into a new life without knowing how the new life will be.” During that retreat Tru wrote a letter to the MSC expressing his interest in joining them. He joined the MSC in 2008, and was ordained to the priesthood on 24 July 2015. In his own words “Each of us has a vocation. That is, we are all called to live life to the full. We are all called to live as God’s beloved as Jesus lived. For me to live fully and to live as God’s beloved is ‘to be on earth the heart of God.’”

Reach out to a broken world with compassion, hospitality and justice...

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Family photo (right to left): Front row: Thanh Nguyen (sister), Tru Nguyen Second row: Lac Nguyen (mother) far left.

VOCATIONS AWARENESS MONTH

“God will reveal the best path to take, it will be a path of love.”

FR PETER HENDRICKS MSC

Peter jests, “My life proves that God writes straight with crooked lines!” He knows this reveals the truth that his heart was difficult to settle, “I was inherently restless”.

traight after university Peter joined the Jesuits and was with them for five years. In his own words, “I spent a lot of that time discerning if it was for me. I grew a lot emotionally and I discerned… decided… hoped… that priesthood wasn’t for me”. For the next 12 years Peter

wandered through different career paths. He was a school teacher, completed his Theological studies, did some more teaching, completed a Social Work degree and worked as a Probation/Parole Officer. His restlessness was still keeping him in good company. He

continued to attend retreats to help discern his vocation and life. “One day while I was on retreat I was expressing my absolute frustration with God that he was not being clear enough about what I should do. God’s response to my prayer was wonderful. It was simply this, ‘Peter if you want to be a layperson and get married then do so. If you want to be a priest then do so. My only vocation for you is to know that I love you.” He says, “God has a habit of being right! To know oneself as deeply loved by God is the root to any vocation”. After Peter was accepted into the MSCs, restlessness was still being a faithful pest. “One moment in the novitiate when I found myself struggling, God said, ‘The only way out is through’.” Peter identified

that there was often strong feelings of fear and anxiety in his day. Once those emotions were addressed he found he was able to stop the pattern in his life of ‘moving on’ or ‘backing out’ and was able to settle into a life commitment. Six years on from being ordained as an MSC he feels grateful to live the charism ‘To be on Earth the Heart of God’. For all people discerning their vocation Peter says “God has a vocation for you that no one else can fulfil. The answer lies in knowing that God loves you. I love the saying, ‘The one who walks with God always gets to their destination. Keep walking with God, talking with God and listening to God. God will reveal the best path to take, it will be a path of love.’”

With Thanks for your Priestly Ministry… By Michael O’Connell Chatswood Parish

n conjunction with the Parish Winter BBQ organised by the Parish office, parishioners at Our Lady of Dolours Parish, Chatswood, came together on 12 July to express their appreciation and gratitude to their priests Fr Paul Finucane, Fr Barry Knobbs, Fr Vincent Trung, and also Bishop Emeritus David Walker who assists at the parish. Speaking on behalf of parishioners and the Parish Pastoral Council was Rosetta Lo Presti. Michelle Hirschhorn spoke on behalf of the Marian Catholic Action Group which initiated the Priest Appreciation Day. They thanked the priests for their dedication and ministry and the individual qualities each brings to the parish. Each

priest was then presented with a card of appreciation with a small supplement to their priestly stipend. We were pleased to have the assistance of two visiting seminarians from the Redemptorist Mater Seminary of Chester Hill, Moises Tapia and Simon Hill, who manfully and ably tackled the task of barbequing the 280 sausages provided for the occasion. Parishioners also enjoyed a magnificent cake donated by a very generous parishioner, Margaret Day. It was a wonderful occasion bringing parishioners together in a convivial atmosphere with their priests whose services and dedication were specially acknowledged. Footnote: The Marian Catholic Action Group contributes to the social and spiritual life of the parish with a strong focus on evangelisation and bringing a Catholic view to bear on social issues such as abortions and marriage where Christian moral principles are often under attack. BBN

AUGUST 2015

VOCATIONS AWARENESS MONTH

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a ainm May his soul be at the right hand of God

Fr Paul Fitzgerald RIP

r Paul Fitzgerald, retired priest of Broken Bay, passed away peacefully on 19 June, aged 88. A well-loved pastor, Fr Paul last served as Parish Priest of Toukley, retiring in 1993. He had served this community for 23 years having joined them in 1970. The youngest of four boys and three girls born to Tom and Bridget Fitzgerald (nee Feehan) in the townland of Buckfield near Westport in County Mayo, Ireland, Fr Paul was educated at St Patrick’s Seminary, Carlow. In 1951 Bishop Keogh ordained Paul and his brothers, Frank and John, at St Patrick’s Carlow. Within months the three brothers migrated to Australia. Frs John and Frank served in West Australia. In Sydney, Fr Paul gave dedicated service, including welcoming many young Irish

migrants to Sydney in the 1950s and 1960s, and held appointments in Tempe, Balmain, Bondi Beach, Camperdown, St Mary’s Cathedral, Hurstville, Strathfield, Dundas Valley and Narraweena. In 2001 Fr Paul celebrated his Golden Jubilee. More than 600 attended a Sydney function. In Ireland, too, the event attracted hundreds. The Western People applauded Fr Paul as a: ‘Man of great compassion, commitment, dedication, humanity and humour’. Fr Paul had a lifelong keen interest in sport. As a student he was an accomplished hurler. He loved a day out fishing in his youth and was a keen footballer. He also loved to sit in the pub chatting with friends on his many visits back to the old country. For many years he played golf. On one of his return trips ‘home’

in 1994, Fr Paul delighted in attending Westport Golf Club, where he presented the Fitzgerald Cup. He also had a great fondness for singing and favourites included, ‘The Old Mud Cabin on the Hill ’; ‘The Old Bog Road’ and ‘Some folks say I’m a dreamer’. Fr Paul’s funeral was celebrated at St Mary’s Toukley on 25 June. Three days before his Australian funeral, his Irish family celebrated Eucharist in Fr Paul’s local church. The main celebrant was Canon Jim Walsh assisted by Fr Michael McGreal, a very old friend of Fr Paul’s. The Irish Mass was attended by many of his family and friends and people of the neighbouring parishes. The readings were read by his niece, Paula Carr and by Paul Fitzgerald, his grandnephew. The gifts were brought to the

altar by two of his nephews, Paul Fitzgerald and John Roche. He is mourned by his nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews and a very large circle of friends in Ireland. At the end of the Mass, one of his nieces, Sister Anne Carr, Medical Missionary of Mary, gave the Eulogy in which she expressed the sentiments of the family and many memories of Fr Paul. She united his Irish ‘family’ with his ‘family’ of fellow priests, parishioners and friends in Australia.

A Fond Farewell to Fr John Hannon After 17 1/2 years with the Diocese of Broken Bay, our communities have sadly farewelled Fr John Hannon (Director Marriage Tribunal, Diocesan Vicar General and PP at Manly) as he returns to his State-of-Origin, Victoria.

r John, the eldest of five children, grew up in Melbourne. As a boy it was the enthusiasm of the young priests he knew that led him to the priesthood. He studied science at Melbourne University in 1970, but left in 1971 to enter Corpus Christi Seminary and then the new seminary at Clayton in 1973, where he spent the next five years with a year off in 1976 to complete an honours degree in chemistry. Following ordination in August 1978, he was Assistant Priest at St Edmund’s Parish, Croydon, Victoria. In 1982, Archbishop

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Frank Little asked John to study for a doctorate in Canon Law at St Paul’s University in Ottawa. Fr John returned in 1986 to work in Melbourne’s Marriage Tribunal, where he served 7 years full-time. From 1986 to 1997 he also lectured in Canon Law at the Catholic Theological College and later at the Catholic Institute of Sydney after he was approached by Bishop David Walker in 1997 to help in Broken Bay, heading the Marriage Tribunal. Fr John was appointed as Parish Priest to St Patrick’s Asquith in 1998 and went on to also take over responsibility of Berowra in

2002. He was appointed as PP to the Parish of Manly in June 2003, and remained PP when the Parish became Manly Freshwater in 2008. There were many farewells. The Diocesan offices celebrated his work with a morning tea. St Paul’s College Manly also celebrated his wonderful contributions and noted that he will always be fondly remembered for his love of education, chemistry, his obsession with Dr Seuss, crazy socks and as a faithful man of God. To his Manly family, he wrote the following (as only Fr John can write!): “The time has come to say goodbye (“God be with ye”!), not Adieu (“To God” – too final), but I guess ‘farewell’ (in terms of mutual good health and best wishes for the future) as I conclude my 12 years of pastoral ministry as your parish priest, living ‘in exile’ in Manly and Asquith prior, or as Archbishop Denis Hart, current Archbishop of Melbourne, where I return, described me as ‘Melbourne’s sacrifice to Broken

Bay’ for the last 17½ years! For my sins, he has appointed me to the appropriately named ‘St Jude’s Parish’ (patron saint of hopeless cases, according to a card from our piety stall!) in Scoresby, about 35km south east of central Melbourne, where I am to follow the present parish priest, a great pastor for 42 years, as he moves into retirement! The only water views will be rain running down the window panes!” Fr John noted that he was leaving the ‘three best beaches in the world’ – Manly, Freshwater and Curl Curl! Manly Freshwater parishioner, Marianna Gale said: “Fr John is funny, cheeky and lively while still being thoughtful, reflective and sensitive. He is loved by adults and children alike and well regarded among the local community.” We thank Fr John sincerely for all that has given to Broken Bay, and wish him every joy and success in Melbourne. We are sure his new parishioners will love him as much as we all do in Broken Bay.

ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Broken Bay Farewells Executive Director CatholicCare “I am very grateful for the dedication, professionalism and wonderful gifts Deirdre has brought to her work with the Diocese of Broken Bay…” Bishop Peter A Comensoli

n late May, after 8 ½ years service to Church with the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay, Ms Deirdre Cheers announced her resignation as CatholicCare Executive Director to take up the appointment of Chief Executive Officer of Barnardos Australia. Since joining CatholicCare in January 2007, Deirdre has led a period of extensive consolidation and expansion of social care programs and services provided by CatholicCare throughout Broken Bay Diocese. In the current year alone, CatholicCare in Broken Bay will directly assist in excess of 25,000 children, married couples, families, people affected by disability, and Catholics who are hospital patients in the Diocese. “My time at CatholicCare has been extremely rewarding and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to live out my Catholic faith in this leadership role provided to me since 2007,” says Deirdre. “I am grateful for the support of the Diocese throughout this time, including Bishop Peter A Comensoli and his predecessor Bishop David Walker, and also of course the dedicated CatholicCare staff who provide direct expression of the Gospel message each and every day of the year”. Building on the commitment to community and parish based Family Centres established by

CatholicCare’s founding Director the late Jim Grainger, Deirdre established strong executive and local management teams. In addition to Family Centres located at Naremburn, Waitara and on the Central Coast at Warnervale, CatholicCare currently has 3 Disability Hubs (North Shore, Northern Beaches, Central Coast) focusing on delivery of services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The commitment to supporting families in the years between baptism and kindergarten enrolment has been strengthened by the establishment of 4 Early Learning Centres co-located within Diocesan Catholic Primary Schools, with a 5th site currently

under construction at Woy Woy. CatholicCare also provides Outside School Hours and School Holiday Care for 13 systemic primary schools in the Diocese. As an approved agency to provide foster care and therapeutic residential services, CatholicCare supports over 100 abused and neglected children and young people, with 50 volunteer foster care households and 85 direct care employees. The Diocese formally farewelled Deirdre at a beautiful afternoon tea held at the Caroline Chisholm Centre. Deirdre took the opportunity to thank all those who have shared and supported her CatholicCare journey. “The credit for all these

achievements rightly belongs to all of the wonderful CatholicCare employees, many of whom were here before me, who have committed themselves to working for our wonderful organisation. Thank you to all the past and present CatholicCare executive team members who I’ve worked with over this time, and the managers and coordinators who make CatholicCare team work happen. Keep up the good work. I know that Bishop Peter Comensoli will continue to be proud of the treasure that is your CatholicCare, here in the Diocese of Broken Bay.” The Diocese of Broken Bay wishes Deirdre every blessing for her future at Barnardos Australia.

Deirdre with her mother Val Cheers, husband Warren, two of her sons Jesse and Max and Bishop Peter Comensoli.

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AUGUST 2015

WYD 2016 STORIES ON THE ROAD TO KRAKOW

5 REASONS TO JOIN WYD 2016 1. Exploring beautiful Poland and the home of Pope Saint John Paul II's with over 5 million youth from around the world 2. Pray and journey alongside young people from across our vibrant Diocese 3. Open your heart and mind to your place in the global Church and the world 4. It will be AMAZING 5. Chance to pray with Pope Francis! READY TO GO? BOOK NOW: WWW.WYD2016.COM.AU

PILGRIMS BEGIN THEIR JOURNEY TO KRAKOW Pilgrims from Frenchs Forest Parish have begun their journey to WYD 2016 with a blessing from Bishop Peter Comensoli in mid-June. Now the group is busy planning for a Soup Night, Spring Fair and many more activities that encourage the Parish community to come together in support of their Pilgrims. With less then #365daystogo till WYD Krakow 2016 Parish and School communities are coming together to celebrate and begin their fundraising activities. Be sure to read more about these wonderful events on our blog www.dbb.org.au/wyd and on our Facebook page DBB WYD Krakow 2016

SOMETHING FROM POPE SAINT JPII "People are made for happiness. Rightly, then, you thirst for happiness. Christ has the answer to this desire of yours. But he asks you to trust him. True joy is a victory, something which cannot be obtained without a long and difficult struggle. Christ holds the secret of this victory." (Welcoming Address, WYD 2002) We pray that every step of this journey to WYD is blessed abundantly with grace, joy and community spirit. May we keep in our prayers all those discerning joining us, our Diocese of Broken Bay and community of supporters as well as all those who are in the midst of the long and difficult struggle, may Christ's light shine in all areas of their lives. Amen. "blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy" Matt 4:7

#3 6 5DAYS TO GO ! W W W.D B B .O R G . A U / W Y D 18

WORLD YOUTH DAY 2016

The shrine of Divine Mercy.

Getting Famil-iar with Krakow At the end of May, World Youth Day staff from around Australia headed to Poland for the ‘Famil’ – familiarisation tour for WYD2016.

roken Bay was represented by Kelly Paget, WYD Coordinator, Danielle Mifsud, Youth Communications Project Officer, Fiona Green, Schools WYD Coordinator and Andy Martin, Risk Manager, Catholic Schools Office. “This pilgrimage has broken open the word ‘mercy’ in so many ways. Our journey led us to Auschwitz, followed by the Divine Mercy Shrine near Krakow. The unbelievable depths of pain and sorrow alongside the limitless love of Jesus, all in one day. These two places are an important part of the DBB WYD

Journey in 2016 and they give shape to the upcoming Year of Mercy,” said Danielle. A highlight the pilgrimage was joining the Church of Krakow to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. This feast is traditionally held on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday and is a public holiday in Poland. The day began with the Cardinal of Krakow leading the faithful in a beautiful Mass outside of the Cathedral followed by a huge procession through the streets and into the Old Town Square with the Blessed Sacrament.

Kelly and Danielle outside the Palace of Culture and Science, the tallest building in Poland and the eighth tallest building in the European Union.

NEWS & ISSUES

Broken Bay Bible Conference 2015

God in Narrative and Poetry: Genesis and Psalms Reading the Old Testament can seem a tedious task, with the constant threat of being caught in long lists of genealogies or tiresome instructions for building temples!

owever, without the Old Testament, the New Testament doesn’t have its foundation, and after all, these were Jesus’ Scriptures which he treasured and often quoted. In fact, these genealogies and instructions are actually very meaningful and tell us a lot about the ancient Israelites and their faith. The Books are crammed with narratives, legends, annals, prayers, poetry, proverbs, and prophetic and apocalyptic works which tell us the story of God and his people. This year’s Broken Bay Bible Conference is a great way to start looking at the Old Testament as we look at the narratives in the Book of Genesis, and the poetry of the Psalms. By learning about the beginning of the Biblical story, we can better

appreciate the rest of our Christian family story. The ‘tree of life’ in Genesis 2 comes up again at the end of Revelation (and is alluded to in the cross of Jesus); the creation of the world is revisited in the prelude to John’s Gospel, where Christ brings about a new creation; and the binding of Isaac is reflected in Christ’s own sacrifice. Reading Genesis more carefully can reveal many gems that we may not have noticed before. Why, for example, is God called different names (‘God’ or ‘LORD’ or ‘LORD God’ or ‘Lord GOD’, and do the capitals matter? *) Why are there two creation stories? And why is there no ‘apple’ mentioned anywhere? The Book of Psalms contains wonderful prayers and songs – prayers of praise, “Say to God, ‘How awesome are your deeds!’”;

prayers of lament, “Why do you hide your face?”; prayers of thanksgiving, “O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good”. They give words to my own prayer, and in this Conference we will discover the beauty and patterns in these texts that have been prayed by generations of people of faith.

Dr Mark O’Brien op

Join us and learn how to read the Bible more meaningfully and intelligently, and so enrich immensely your experience of reading sacred Scripture. * LORD or GOD in capitals represents the sacred name “Yahweh” (or the Tetragrammaton YHWH) in the Hebrew text

Dr Mary Reaburn nds Bishop David Walker

Associate Professor, Lecturer Bishop Emeritus Department of Yarra Theological Union of Broken Bay, Biblical Studies, Catholic University of Divinity ACBC Representative Theological College, MCD to the Catholic Biblical University of Divinity Federation

Also celebrating the 50th anniversary of Dei Verbum 1965 – 2015 A key document of the Second Vatican Council on the word of God and divine revelation

Registrations: www.trybooking.com/HMVG Contact: registrations@dbb.org.au or 02 9847 0448 Website: www.dbb.org.au/bible

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18-19 September 2015

Caroline Chisholm Centre, Pennant Hills, NSW

LAUDATO SI’ Encyclical Letter

On Care for our Common Home Pope Francis released his highly anticipated Encyclical Letter Laudato Si’ – Praise be to you on 18 June, in Rome.

his Encyclical calls on every person living on this planet to care for creation, our common home, and take collective action as we face global environmental degradation. It offers a unique opportunity for the Catholic community to enter into dialogue on important social and environmental issues, such as fossil fuel consumption and climate change. (To read the Encyclical visit www.dbb.org.au)

What exactly is an Encyclical? Encyclicals get their name from the Greek word for circle, or circular. They are important letters from the Pope that help everyone better understand how to apply the teachings of Sacred Scripture and Catholic Tradition to a particular issue (in this case, the environment). The title of this Encyclical, Laudato Si’ (“Be praised” or “Praise be to you”) has been taken from a line from the Canticle of the Sun by St Francis of Assisi. It is Pope Francis’s second encyclical. His first Lumen Fidei, was largely drafted by his predecessor, Benedict XVI. Laudato Si’ is thus the first encyclical prepared entirely at Pope Francis’s initiative.

What is unique about this Encyclical?

Firstly, it is the only Encyclical devoted to environmentalism. This topic has been the subject of many papal statements, but Francis is the first pope to devote an Encyclical to it. Secondly, nearly all Encyclicals are usually addressed to the Catholic community. Laudato Si’ is addressed to every person on the planet. Thirdly, Encyclicals are often centered on Catholic doctrine. While Laudato Si’ contains many elements of Catholic teaching, it is not focused on Church doctrine in the same way. For example, the first chapter is devoted to a summary of the various environmental problems Pope Francis sees the world facing, and his summary is based on scientific studies rather than theological documents. When he does begin focusing in a sustained way on Church teaching, in the second chapter, he begins with a note explaining why a document addressed to so many nonbelievers would have a chapter specifically devoted to religious belief. (His explanation is that science and religion can have a fruitful dialogue.)

“In a time where we often take the world in which we live for granted, Pope Francis’ words are a wakeup call to each of us, reminding us that we are called to be good stewards of Creation and not exploiters of its riches. As human beings we are integrally part of the created order and not above it. When we care little for the world around us, it has devastating effects upon the poor and those without material wealth or power. The Gospel calls us in every generation to take up our cross and follow Christ for the sake of the Lord and our brothers and sisters in the human family. Every person matters, and the connection between our physical and our human environments, what various popes have called our ‘human ecology’, must be loved and attended to if we are to care for each person in his or her vulnerability and need. I encourage everyone to spend quality time reading Pope Francis’ encyclical with a prayerful heart and a mind for the poor, and to open their eyes to what the Gospel calls them to do for their neighbour wherever they live and work.” Bishop Peter A Comensoli

Fourthly, and related to the former, the Encyclical does not simply propose views that all are expected to accept because of the pope’s religious authority. Instead, he invites the people of the world to a dialogue on the subject of environmentalism.

What are the key messages in Laudato Si’? Apart from a brief introduction, the Encyclical is based around 6 key areas: 1. What Is Happening to Our Common Home 2. The Gospel of Creation

most high, all powerful, all good lord! all praise is yours, all glory, all honor, and all blessing. to you, alone, most high, do they belong. no mortal lips are worthy to pronounce your name. be praised, my lord, through all your creatures, especially through my lord brother sun, who brings the day; and you give light through him. and he is beautiful and radiant in all his splendor! of you, most high, he bears the likeness. be praised, my lord, through sister moon and the stars; in the heavens you have made them bright, precious and beautiful. be praised, my lord, ENCYCLICAL through brothers wind and LETTER air, and clouds and storms, and all the weather, “Praise mycreatures Lord through through which be you You give your sustenance.our Sister, Mother sustains and governs us..” be praised,Earth my lord,who through sister water; she is very useful, and humble, and precious, and pure. St Francis of Assisi be praised, my lord, through brother fire, ww.dbb.org.au through whom you brighten the wnight.

LAUDATO SI

3. The Human Roots of the Ecological Crisis 4. Integral Ecology 5. Lines of Approach and Action 6. Ecological Education and Spirituality The document concludes with two prayers. One that can be said by all who believe in God as the all-powerful Creator and one that is meant to be said specifically by Christians. Pope Francis’ Encyclical is focused on the idea of “integral ecology,” connecting care of the natural world with justice for the poorest and most vulnerable people. Only by radically reshaping our relationships with God, with our neighbours and with the natural world, he says, can we hope to tackle the threats facing our planet today. Science, he insists, is the best tool by which we can listen to the cry of the earth, while dialogue and education are the two keys that can “help us to escape the spiral of self-destruction which currently engulfs us.” At the heart of the Pope’s reflections is the question: “What kind of world do we want to leave to those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” (paragraph 160) The answers he suggests call for profound changes to political, economic, cultural and social systems, as well as to our individual lifestyles. BBN

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42 “LOVE, OVERFLOWING WITH SMALL GESTURES OF MUTUAL LOVE… MAKES ITSELF FELT IN EVERY ACTION THAT SEEKS TO BUILD A BETTER WORLD”. (Pope Francis – LS231)

WAYS TO ENTER INT towards a “CULTUR

through.. Lau

Fr James Martin SJ invites us to discern how Laudato Si’ calls for a “broad cultural revolution”

Ways for ‘Parishes: as the location of communities of grace’ to Care for our Common Home

The spiritual perspective is now part of the discussion on the environment

Small groups can cultivate real relationships with others (LS47); why not begin a discussion group for Laudato Si’?

The poor are disproportionately affected by climate change Less is more Catholic social teaching now includes teaching on the environment Discussions about ecology can be grounded in the Bible and Church tradition Everything is connected – including the economy

Pray for our leaders and communities to take up the commitment to creation set before us by the Gospel of Jesus (LS246) Reduce, reuse, recycle (LS22, LS192) Encourage parishioners to celebrate Meatless Friday Review the use of paper in parishes – weekly bulletins, handouts, notices

Scientific research on the environment is to be praised and used

Talk to your parish about starting an Earthcare group to lighten your footprint and promote environmental education

Widespread indifference and selfishness worsen environmental problems

Invite parishioners to carpool to Mass, or even walk to Church from time to time

Global dialogue and solidarity are needed

Do an energy audit to identify where energy consumption could be reduced.

A change of heart is required. View Fr James’ overview : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_lqFTYLc_4

What other practical ideas can your Community of Grace draw from Laudato Si’ and put into action?

TO A CONVERSION RE OF CARE”

udato Si’

Ways for ‘Families: as the foundation of human society’ to Care for our Common Home The family is at the heart of the culture of life – a gift from God. Encourage respect for our surroundings, and show love to each other and our neighbours Brainstorm what lifestyle changes you can make as an individual or family to reshape and reduce your own consumerist desires in order to better protect God’s creation Promote energy efficient homes; turn off lights, appliances and electronics not in use Minimise the use and power of air-conditioners and heaters Reduce your water usage and recycle grey water wherever possible Purchase recycled products or used items rather than new Establish a family vegetable garden, start a compost pile or a worm farm Discuss how Pro-life, environmental and social justice movements are all connected. Protecting vulnerable species must include the unborn, endangered animals and the exploited (LS91, LS120) Attend Sunday Mass together; receiving the sacraments; giving thanks for our homes and creation (L233-237). What other practical ideas can your family draw from Laudato Si’ and put into action?

Ways for ‘Young People: as the hope of the Church’ to Care for our Common Home Play your part in conserving energy; turn off the lights! Take shorter showers

8 invitations to extend your vocabulary Integral ecology; an ecology “which

respects our unique place as human beings in this world and our relationship to our surroundings” (LS15)

Consider other modes of transport than the car; for example use public transport, cycling or walking

Superficial ecology; an ecology divorced from nature, an ecology where nature’s meaning is only important from egocentric perspective – removed or power over (LS59)

Accept and care for our bodies, valuing the distinct gifts and complimentarity of each other (LS155)

Technocratic paradigm; our pattern of life that relates and advocates the supremacy of our powerful technical society (LS106)

Take a re-usable water bottle wherever you go Evaluate your media usage. Cultivate real relationships with others (LS47) Fundraise to make a donation to a cause that protects the land and /or supports the disadvantaged (e.g. CatholicEarthcare, Caritas, Catholic Mission) What other practical ideas can young people draw from Laudato Si’ and put into action?

Ecological debt; whereby the level of resource consumption and waste of the world’s richest countries is disproportionate, unbalanced and unsustainable to natural production, depriving the world’s poorer countries (LS51) Inter-generational solidarity; social cohesion between generations Intra-generational solidarity; social cohesion between social classes within an individual’s lifetime Ecological conversion; “whereby the effects of their encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in their relationship with the world around them” (LS217) Compulsive consumerism; consumer behaviour; addictive trappings of materialism, which we are called to resist (LS203, LS226). 23

LAUDATO SI’ Encyclical Letter

Answering the Pope’s call to action on Climate Change

Australian Catholic University (ACU) is inviting the public to get involved in an important discussion on climate change by coming to a panel discussion Integral Ecology – unpacking the Pope’s call to action on climate change, on Thursday 6 August.

he discussion will be held at ACU’s North Sydney Campus and live streamed through the ACU YouTube page. Those attending will be able to submit questions before and during the event. The forum combines ACU’s academic expertise with the voices of Australian leaders on climate change. Reverend Professor Denis Edwards, of the Faculty of Theology and Philosophy, will provide an overview of the Pontiff ’s revolutionary new encyclical that reminds us of our responsibility to protect the earth. Founding CEO of the Green Building Council of Australia

Maria Atkinson AM will then moderate a panel discussion with the following guests: • Bishop Peter Comensoli (Bishop, Broken Bay Diocese) • Mr Paul O’Callaghan (CEO, Caritas Australia) • Ms Jacqui Remond (Director, Catholic Earthcare Australia) ACU Vice-Chancellor Professor Greg Craven said the Pope’s call to action demonstrated his willingness to take leadership on an important global issue. “By speaking out on this Holy Father has opened the way for a larger discussion about how to address the challenge of climate change and take effective action.

SEMINAR

Event details Event: Integral Ecology – unpacking the Pope’s call to action on climate change

Speakers: Bishop Peter A Comensoli, Paul O’Callaghan, Jacqui Remond

Date: Thursday 6 August, 6pm Venue: Ryan Auditorium, Australian Catholic University, 40 Edward Street North Sydney. Tune in to the live stream on YouTube Cost: Free Registration: To register please visit www.acu.edu.au/integralecology

Pope Francis has written a letter to you: A Catholic Christian response to the ecological crisis. What did Pope Francis say in his Encyclical on the environment? To what extent did global warming influence the intensity of super-typhoon Haiyan? What is the scientific explanation for global warming? Apart from humanitarian responses, what actions can ordinary people take to help stop the problem from getting much worse? Is this part of our mission as people of faith?

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When: Saturday 22 August Time: 10.00am – 4.30pm Where: St Agatha’s Primary School Hall 7 Trebor Rd, Pennant Hills

Presenters: Prof Neil Ormerod (Prof of theology at ACU) Nick Grosfield (Climate Change Research Centre UNSW) Thea Ormerod (Pres. Aust Religious Response to Climate Change ARRCC) Fully Catered $10 donation Parking available Enquiries: Fr Norberto Ochoa 0437 324 227 fr.bitz51@gmail.com Hosted by the Filipino Chaplaincies Coordinating Council & ARRCC

NEWS & ISSUES

Euthanasia a dangerous, radical shift in society’s foundational values – Aussie expert By Debra Vermeer Euthanasia is not an incremental change to current end-of-life practices, but a radical and massive shift in our society’s and civilisation’s foundational values, says internationally renowned Australian ethicist, Margaret Somerville.

r Somerville, who is a Professor of Law, Professor in the Faculty of Medicine, and Founding Director of the Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, was speaking at the University of Notre Dame (Sydney), as part of a series of public lectures on ethical issues surrounding euthanasia and assisted suicide during her recent visit to Australia. Her presentation focused on lessons to be learnt from the debate in Canada, where the Supreme Court earlier this year struck down a ban on doctor-assisted suicide for mentally competent Canadian patients with terminal illnesses. She said one of the key arguments of pro-euthanasia advocates was that euthanasia is no different to medical treatments, such as palliative sedation, that are already widely practised. “When used correctly as part of palliative care, palliative sedation is not euthanasia,” she said. “In palliative sedation as part of standard palliative care, physicians often allow the patient to become conscious from time to time and use the lightest possible sedation consistent with relieving suffering. As well, it’s only used as a last resort, and not often.” Dr Somerville said acting

with an intention to kill is “different-in-kind” from allowing a natural death and that doctors are one of the groups most opposed to euthanasia. She said in The Netherlands, where euthanasia is legal, there is so much resistance by physicians to carrying it out that the government has had to set up “mobile euthanasia units” to visit homes and attend to euthanasia requests. “Euthanasia is not just an incremental expansion of current ethically and legally accepted end-of-life decisions, such as refusals of life-support treatment, as pro-euthanasia advocates argue,” she said. “It seems that most politicians and many Canadians do not recognise the momentousness of a decision to legalise euthanasia. It’s not incremental change, but rather a radical and massive shift in our society’s and civilisation’s foundational values.” Dr Somerville said another proeuthanasia strategy to be resisted is the euphemising of euthanasia by calling it “medical treatment” and “medically assisted death”. “Euthanasia is not medical treatment. Defining it as such presents serious dangers to patients, the trust-based physicianpatient relationship, and medicine,” she said.

The medicalisation of assisted suicide establishes suicide as a legitimate response to suffering, thus endorsing suicide, Dr Somerville said. Studies have shown that more honest language such as “state-sanctioned suicide” or “physicians killing their patients” reduces public support for deliberately inflicted death. “Words matter,” she said. “Language affects emotions and intuitions, including moral intuitions, which are important to ethical decision-making.” Drawing on the Canadian experience, Dr Somerville said the appeal to individual autonomy, to empathy and compassion, and the promotion of the idea that death is actually a benefit to someone whose life is affected by illness, were all pro-euthanasia arguments to be vigorously resisted.

She said the dangers of legalised killing to society as a whole must outweigh individual circumstances. “Euthanasia is special (among ethical debates) because there’s nothing new about it. We’ve always got old, suffered, become terminally ill, been dying and somebody could have killed us, and we said ‘No, that is wrong. We don’t do that.’ “So that’s why euthanasia is so important. Because if we change that, we’re changing the very roots of our society. I think we’re changing the essence of what it means to be human if we start killing each other.” Dr Somerville’s presentation at The University of Notre Dame was a joint initiative of the Faculties of Medicine and Law and the University’s Institute for Ethics and Society.

DATE CLAIMER:

Annual Diocesan Charity Race Day THURSDAY 29 OCTOBER 2015 Mark your diaries for this annual charitable fundraising event at Gosford Entertainment Grounds.

If you would like more information on how to support the day through sponsorship or prizes, and for reserving tables, please contact Rhonda Andersen on (02) 9847 0726 or rhonda.andersen@dbb.org.au

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AUGUST 2015

EDUCATION

A Cold Night’s Sleep St Peter’s Catholic College in Tuggerah recently held its annual Winter Sleep Out at the school hall for 72 of its senior students.

aundry baskets were filled with food donations from the students to give to the Vinnies Winter Appeal on behalf of the College. The night was run smoothly by the two Year 12 Social Justice Leaders, Conor Hickey and Jaylah Nakhoul. Students had a rough night’s sleep, without pillows or mattresses on the hard floor. The Sleep Out was held indoors at the school hall to ensure students’ safety and security. There was also an educational part to the night with a visitor from St Vincent de

Paul Society, Keisha Quinn, who talked to the students about issues surrounding homelessness and its effects, as well as explaining the mission of St Vincent de Paul and how the senior students might become involved after leaving school. “Overall the Winter Sleep Out made me more grateful of the great opportunities we have in our lives and was a chance to reflect on those less fortunate,” reflected Jacinta Evans, Year 12. Margaret Renfrew from Year 11

commented that “Keisha spoke to us about homelessness and issues surrounding it, along with sharing statistics, and we watched numerous video clips of people’s experiences and struggles dealing with homelessness. An uncomfortable and cold night’s sleep on the floor of the school hall put the topic in to perspective for us. Even though we may not have slept well, we still had a roof over our head, warm clothes, blankets and the security of being in a safe environment, which many people experiencing homelessness do not.”

Sydney Night Patrol With nights becoming colder, many people living on the streets enjoy a hot drink and a visit from the Sydney Night Patrol.

nce a month, eight Year 11 students from St Leo’s Catholic College, Wahroonga join the night patrol, run by St Vincent de Paul, to help hand out hot food and drinks as well as distributing blankets and sleeping bags when they are available. Youth ministry co-ordinator Adrian Gomez said it was also about building connections with the people, showing

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respect and giving dignity. “It’s seeing a side of Sydney most of these students have never experienced before,” he said. “What we want to tell the students is it’s about unconditional acceptance. Some of [the homeless] with mental health issues may be telling wild stories, but we accept them.” Mr Gomez said the school had been working with the Sydney Night Patrol for

about eighteen years. Nadya Shturman, 16, said she did not know what to expect the first time she went. “It was really surprising because the people were all so nice and so grateful for what you gave them. It’s interesting to see how different they all are from what you normally expect. You just talk about normal stuff, like ‘How was your day?’ It’s like how you would talk to your friend.”

EDUCATION

Appeal For Nepal Year 5 students at St Mary’s Catholic School, Manly have been busy baking cakes to raise money for Caritas Australia for the Nepal earthquake appeals.

n two recent earthquakes in Nepal, over 8,000 people lost their lives and 500,000 homes were destroyed, leaving millions struggling to survive. The class had spent the previous term learning about natural disasters, and this term learning about responsible global citizenship.

The class decided that it was their mission to reach out to people who need help. So the students put their faith and learning into action by running a cake stall for five weeks. They made the cakes themselves and drew in the rest of the school with their inspirational flavours and

creative decorations. They originally had a goal to raise $500, but this was quickly surpassed and $1260 was raised in total. Caritas Australia will use the money to support their work in Nepal in providing shelter, food and water for those effected by the earthquakes.

Interactive Refugee Camp There are 51 million displaced people around the world and only 1% of those will be granted refugee status this year.

his is one of the many harrowing statistics that students from St Paul’s Catholic College in Manly learnt as they participated in Auburn City Council’s Interactive Refugee Camp as part of Refugee Week. Year 10 students attended the mock camp, which was designed to alert them to the many situations that force people to flee

their homes. Students gained a heightened awareness about the rights of people who are forced to flee and the processes that protect and support these people. Students found out just how difficult it is to negotiate the language barrier. Their Sudanese tour guide Francis had been displaced at a camp for seventeen years and it was humbling to listen to his story.

Students identified the lack of support for refugees as the biggest obstacle in their journey and came away with a fresh perspective on the plight of refugees. Australia took just over 13,500 refugees last year and students felt that so much more could be done as part of our international responsibility to upholding the dignity of each person.

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EDUCATION

Valuing Aboriginal Culture Aboriginal Education Officer at Broken Bay, Dave Ella, has been making significant progress in Aboriginal education since beginning work with the Diocese five years ago.

he Aboriginal Education Statement, launched in June, outlines the Diocese’s commitment to improving educational outcomes for Aboriginal students. “The main goal is to engage parents in the educational outcomes of Aboriginal students, and for parents to work in partnership with teachers and the community to close the gap in education between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal students,” Dave said. There are currently 362 Aboriginal students in the Diocese, ranging from K to 12.

Dave has had three main goals for his time working with the Diocese: to establish personalised learning plans for Aboriginal students, to support teachers when teaching Aboriginal studies, and to engage Aboriginal parents in their children’s schooling. One of Dave’s passions is finding crossover between his Catholic faith and traditional Aboriginal beliefs. “I take the students to our sacred sites and marry that in to our Catholic beliefs,” he says. “I think it’s so important to show the kids how to do that with our sacred sites.”

Another key initiative is the introduction of personalised learning plans for Aboriginal students. These are a one-page document which applies to a student, their teacher, and their parents, and allocates responsibility for various education outcomes to each person. Dave has been involved in education for over thirty years, initially working in public schools before joining Catholic schools five years ago. He is also a past president of the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group which represents Aboriginal interests in education throughout New South Wales. Since joining the Diocese, Dave is proud of some of the improvements he has seen as a consequence of the initiatives that have been undertaken and the collaboration between educators and Aboriginal education workers. “Aboriginal student numbers have grown in the Diocese, we have increased the numbers of Aboriginal staff and our NAPLAN data indicates continuing strong achievement within the Aboriginal cohort of students.” Dave believes that the improvements in NAPLAN can in part be attributed to classroom teachers having a better understanding of the specific pressures and difficulties facing Aboriginal students. “They understand more and more that there are cultural differences” he said.

The Art of Teaching Teacher Samantha Britton uses art to engage students at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Catholic School in West Pymble.

amantha teaches Year 5 and 6, bringing art into all classroom subjects. “Coming from a high school background and seeing some of the skills that were lacking when they get to Year 7, I wanted to take [Primary students] back and get some of the foundations like shading and tone,” she says. For example, Samantha says that she used art to teach a stations of the cross unit in Religion. “The class would reflect on the station, and write a piece from the point of view of either Jesus or Mary, and then go a bit deeper, empathise with the character. Then they used the piece to create an image which was based on a stained glass window.” She has also used art to teach English, helping the students analyse picture books. “It’s a great way to look at visual literacy,” she says. “We used lots of different art mediums,” Samantha explains. “I asked the students to think about the feelings that come to mind when they hear their chosen psalm, to help them draw out the meaning and create a symbolic artwork.” Samantha said that some students

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responded especially well to interpreting Scripture and other lessons through artwork. “I think everyone’s different, everyone’s strengths are different. Some students’ strengths lie with Maths, English or Sport – but for a lot of students, creating art gives them their opportunity to shine.”

For Samantha, her proudest moments come when parents or other teachers comment on students’ artwork. “Every time someone comes into the room, they always look at the wall and say, ‘isn’t that great?’ I’m always so chuffed on the kids’ behalf. It means so much to them that they have something they can be proud of.”

EDUCATION

10,000+ Crosses and counting Every year, Jack Costa makes about 180 handmade timber crosses – one for each student in Kindergarten and Year Six at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School in Terrigal.

ack turns 93 this year and says he has made over ten thousand wooden crosses since he became a regular helper at the school thirteen years ago. “The first batch was one hundred crosses,” he says. “I gave them out and then a student came up asking for another, saying that he wanted to give it to his grandfather.” Now, students say that his crosses have become a rite of passage. “I tell them to put them next to their bed so they can say goodnight to Jesus,” Jack says, adding that a former student he sees in his neighbourhood, now a grown man, still carries his cross everywhere in his pocket. Jack also helps at the school, listening to

children read, leading the rosary, and making meccano sets out of timber. “One of the biggest changes now is that the Internet means that some children just sit there and ‘hit that button’,” Jack says. “They seem to have lost that opportunity for learning hand-eye co-ordination, so I help them make meccano.” At Christmas, he brings in a marble roller coaster. “The children love it. We use jaffas instead of marbles.” In his professional life, Jack ran an engineering company, and became a catechist upon retirement. He began travelling around local schools, leading children in prayer. His passion was the story of Fatima, as he visited

the Fatima shrine fifty years ago. “That inspired me to spread the word,” he explains. “My proudest moment is when I meet ex-students who are now young men and women, who tell me they still pray the rosary,” Jack says. “And I love it when I get mobbed by the children – when they come up and ask lots of questions and want to have a talk.” The Principal of the school, Robert Peers, says, “Jack is a wonderful gift to our community. There was a beautiful moment earlier this year when one of our Kinder children pointed to Jack and said – ‘I can see God – there he goes!’. Perhaps it wasn’t God he saw, but he did see someone very close to God”

Making new friends in the profession The Broken Bay Early Career Teacher Induction Program, run by the Catholic Schools Office, aims to assist and support teachers as they begin their careers.

he program includes a fourday professional development course, a mentoring program, and the provision of an in-school supervisor as they work towards accreditation. The professional development course is held at the Catholic Schools Office in Pennant Hills, and the teachers are then paired with mentors, and allocated supervisors for their professional development.

Eliza Scott–Fell, one of the Early Career Teachers, said, “It is reassuring that other new teachers are in the same boat as you. We discussed strategies and shared resources with one another.” The program allows Early Career Teachers to experience supportive relationships and to get a strong understanding of professional teaching standards.

“Overall, the program has been nothing but a positive experience for me so far, providing me the time to reflect on my teaching and make new friends in the profession,” Eliza said. Emily Channell, another teacher, commented, “It allows us to be the best teachers we can be. It is a comfort knowing that we have the support behind us to explore our new roles in a way that will make us all better teachers in the long run.“ BBN

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EDUCATION

Dishing Up Support – Phil Ledlin For nearly five years now, eight schools in the Diocese of Broken Bay have helped run a weekly outreach food van for the ‘needy’ in Hornsby.

he van, known as ‘The Dish’, brings a three-course meal for up to sixteen people every Tuesday and Friday evening, with the Tuesday evenings managed by schools and parishes from our Broken Bay Diocese. “I found out about the Friday evening outreach initiative about six years ago and asked local Catholic schools and parishes if they would consider combining to take on the management of every Tuesday evening in the year,” Phil Ledlin, the Tuesday evening co-ordinator, says. “We’ve been doing the outreach effort now for five years and the regular helpers from the various schools/parishes have developed close relationships with our friends of ‘The Dish’. Essentially, we often run into each other in Westfield and throughout Hornsby.” Phil is the Religious Education Co-Ordinator

(REC) at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School, Waitara. “It’s a real credit to all the wonderful communities involved in this worthwhile discipleship challenge,” he says. “Parents and staff of the schools are rostered on and we simply share the load – although it’s important to note that St Leo’s is a bit of a powerhouse of commitment, especially in the school holidays!” Phil’s proudest moment came when Housing NSW visited ‘The Dish’ in Hornsby Pool Park last year. “Housing NSW set up a simple card table and assisted ten friends to acquire a home,” he said. “Many of our friends from ‘The Dish’ had already been to Housing NSW, but they struggled with the extensive formalities and paperwork. It is now marvellous that we have a close and supportive working relationship with this important Government department!”

Phil added that a number of the friends of ‘The Dish’ also visit Hornsby Cathedral Parish because every Wednesday evening a dedicated parish team puts on a magnificent formal meal in a wonderfully welcoming setting. As well as co-ordinating ‘The Dish’, Phil also started up a knitting club with his Year 6 students to make scarves for ‘the needy’. “We approached our friends at ‘The Dish’ and asked them if they’d like a scarf and what colour/s they would prefer. The students in the knitting club really enjoy it and it’s a lovely discipleship connection for them. I am so proud of the knitting team and I’m thrilled it was an initiative suggested by one of the Year 6 students. I’ve tried so hard to get the knack of knitting, but I have to admit that my daughter and my wife do most of my rows because I’m painfully slow!”

Mini Vinnies

Catholic discipleship is at the heart of everything that is done at St Brendan’s Catholic School in Lake Munmorah.

ithin the school there is an active and enthusiastic Mini Vinnies group who live the mission of discipleship in their efforts to help those less fortunate. As part of their outreach mission, the Mini Vinnies students chose to support Coast Shelter. Coast Shelter is a not-for-

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profit charity group based on the NSW Central Coast. They provide accommodation and support programs for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. As part of their work, Coast Shelter coordinates the provision of over one thousand free meals every week through the Coast Community

Centre. The Mini Vinnies children and their families chose to support the work of Coast Shelter by helping with the meals. The Mini Vinnies students met and worked together to decide which meals to prepare and source the various ingredients. On the day of cooking, the school hall was transformed into an industrial cooking space! The Mini Vinnies students brought in their own ingredients and worked together to create a delicious and hearty vegetable soup as well as large bowls of trifle, which were then taken down to Coast Shelter and given out to their appreciative visitors. Many valuable lessons were learnt by the Mini Vinnies students in their joint outreach mission with Coast Shelter. Through their work, the students were able to see that they have the power to make a real difference to the lives of people living in their own community. In a practical, yet enjoyable way, the students at St Brendan’s truly lived out their mission of Catholic Discipleship.

EDUCATION

Acknowledging the uniqueness of each person In educating students with disabilities, teachers in Catholic schools are supporting families in faith formation, developing life-long learners and providing opportunities for students with special needs to contribute in meaningful ways to their school and parish community. licia Warburton has School, Narrabeen. She represents disabilities. She leads change in dedicated the last twenty the dedication, persistence and practice so that teachers become years to supporting students strategic problem solving that is more confident in their capability with disabilities to experience demanded of all teachers who of meeting the range of student a successful transition into and support students with disabilities. needs and the complexity of some through primary school. Her career is certainly a vocation disabilities. Working alongside Alicia began her career in characterised by the desire to her leadership team, Alicia plans education as a primary class acknowledge the uniqueness of and reviews student progress. teacher. As a result of personal each person; she speaks of the joy Her role promotes collaboration experiences and observing the that the students with whom she between the school and families difficulties faced by students works bring to the life of the school of students with special needs. with disabilities in mainstream and their real sense of belonging Alicia says she has a “very busy schools she retrained as a Learning to their parish community. Alicia job, I have been fortunate to have Support Teacher. Alicia is supports other teachers to build worked with really supportive currently the Learning Support the day to day knowledge they principals and leadership teams Teacher at St Joseph’s Catholic need to educate students with who allow me to be part of the

planning”; we work to “improve learning outcomes for all students and expect that students with disabilities become confident learners making progress”.

Helping Others Through the Winter Months The colder months are keenly felt by the over 100,000 who are homeless or living rough across Australia. very year, the St Vincent de Paul Society runs the Vinnies Winter Appeal to help those in need. This year, the Catholic Schools Office supported the Appeal by calling for donations of warm clothes and blankets from it’s staff. Through this initiative, they filled bags and bags with donations. The CSO staff generously supported this drive and worked hard to co-ordinate the initiative. When the Vinnies men came to collect the goods, one of them said, “You’ve done a great job here! It’s truly appreciated. God bless you.”

Laughter is the Best Medicine Erin Villella, a teacher at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour Catholic School in West Pymble, has been a volunteer for Camp Quality for four years.

passionate supporter of the non-profit organisation, Erin began volunteering for Camp Quality when she was studying to become a teacher. “I wanted to give back, to do something for my community and reach out to others,” she says. “I had no idea how it would impact on my life.” Camp Quality runs camps for children touched by cancer, including those currently in treatment, some in remission or with a childhood history of cancer, or siblings of children who are living with cancer.

Recently, the organisation has also begun inviting children whose parents are in treatment. “The beauty of it is that when the kids are there they can be normal and at ease,” Erin explains. “They can forget about hospitals and they can forget about treatment, and they are surrounded by other kids who have experienced the same things and who understand what they are going through.” The camps include activities such as abseiling, rock climbing, arts and craft, and excursions. There is also a concert night

at the end of every camp. “For kids who aren’t attending school because they’re too sick, they might not have had the chance to perform in front of an audience,” Erin explains. “There’s one little boy who does comedy every time, so for kids like him it’s an outlet and a chance to be themselves. They develop confidence in themselves.” Erin says that the students in her Year 5 / 6 class at Our Lady of Perpetual Succour have loved hearing about her involvement in Camp Quality. “It’s a great way to demonstrate the ways in which we, as disciples of Jesus, can reach

out to the wider community,” she says, adding, “The Camp Quality motto is ‘Laughter is the Best Medicine,’ and I can honestly say that I never laugh as much as I do when I am at camp.” BBN

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ON SACRED GROUND Homemade damper, bush tucker inspired spreads, lemon myrtle cake and wild hibiscus cheesecake were the ‘communion foods’ with which staff celebrated NAIDOC Week. Organised by CatholicCare’s Aboriginal Community Project Worker and Financial Counsellor, Bobbi Murray the events acknowledged that 'we all stand on sacred ground', given recent echo in Pope Francis' Laudato Si'. “The food was great but Bobbi’s stories of the Stolen Generation taken in by local families were more real than anything else we could have had presented," said Peter Dixon, CatholicCare Manager, Disability Futures. (Pictured below: Bobbi Murray)

WE SAY FARE

It’s been a big two months for CatholicCare. We’ve said farewell after 26 years to Vanessa York our longest serving employee. We’ve also farewelled Executive Director Deirdre Cheers who, after 8 years at our agency, has gone to head up Barnardos Australia (see page 17) and we’ve also said goodbye to Chief Operating Officer Dr Steve Mondy who decided to join his wife in retirement (although with two children getting married overseas in the next few months wedding planner is his new interim role!)

We will miss you all for your wonderful contributions in different ways and wish you the very best for the next stage of your lives and careers.

FAMILY CENTRES: Central Coast Naremburn Waitara OUT OF HOME CARE: Foster Care Therapeutic Group Care EARLY LEARNING AND CARE: Forestville Lake Munmorah Terrigal Waitara

DISABILITY: Central Coast Northern Beaches Northern Suburbs

justice love

Serving in and

HIGHEST ACHIEVING LEARNER DIPLOMA OF OSHC

Congratulations to Maaike Hamill who was awarded the Highest Achieving Learner in Diploma of OSHC by ChildCare Network Australia. Maaike is a Supervisor and Educational Leader at CatholicCare’s St Patrick’s Outside School Hours Care, East Gosford. Congratulations Maaike!

EWELL... AND CONGRATULATIONS

TOO BRIGHT TO MISS!

Staff and students at the 13 Diocesan schools where CatholicCare provide Outside School Hours Care will no longer have any difficulty picking out their OSHC team, newly decked out in CatholicCare’s signature bright blue uniforms! Check them out!

OUTSIDE SCHOOL HOURS CARE: Carlingford Collaroy Plateau Davidson East Gosford Forestville Freshwater Lake Munmorah Manly Mona Vale Narrabeen Pymble Waitara West Pymble HOSPITAL CHAPLAINCY: Gosford Hornsby Manly Mona Vale Royal North Shore Wahroonga (SAN) Wyong

NEWS & ISSUES

Protecting and Honouring the Precious Gift of Marriage With the debate about ‘same-sex marriage’ gaining wide media coverage nationally and internationally over the past few weeks, the Australian Catholic Bishops highlighted the meaning of marriage and the important debate around the redefinition of marriage, in a Pastoral Letter to the Catholic community released at the end of May.

on’t Mess with Marriage was made available as a small booklet, and offered for distribution in hard copy and electronically. The importance of its message lies in understanding that marriage is not simply a social contract, the regulations of which can be altered by the State. Entered into freely, unconditionally, permanently and faithfully, marriage is a powerful demonstration of the very life of God, and is a foundation of human society. Marriage is both a personal relationship between a man and a woman, and the protective institution for their children – the foundation of the family unit, which is in turn the first cell of society. If the union of a man and a woman is different – not

the same – as other unions, then justice demands that we treat that union accordingly. If marriage is an institution designed to support people of the opposite sex to be faithful to each other and to the children of their union it is not discrimination to reserve it to them. Redefining marriage in the way that is being proposed would see marriage reduced to a committed, affectionate sexual relationship between any two people. All marriages would come to be defined by intensity of emotion rather than a union founded on sexual complementarity and potential fertility. Husbands and wives, mothers and fathers, will be seen to be wholly interchangeable social constructs, as gender would no longer matter. In a supporting letter sent to the people of Broken Bay, Bishop

Peter Comensoli stated; “The gift of love is a precious thing, and it ought to be acknowledged and respected wherever it is manifested. Those who enter into relationships of care, whatever their sex or gender, deserve our personal respect.” “What is at stake, however, in the current debate is not the loving relationships into which people enter, but the very definition of marriage,” he said. “Claiming that same sex marriage should be made legal as a matter of equality is to deny the unique dimensions of marriage between a man and a woman, especially with regard to having children and protecting their rights to a father and mother. “Equality should not be confused with sameness. Equitable legal protections for a range of relationships are possible without

bringing them all under the term ‘marriage’,” said Bishop Peter. The Australian Bishops have asked all people of good faith to make clear to parliamentarians and leaders that a change to the definition of marriage will impact our local communities in very real and immediate ways. The question of Same Sex Marriage is not something we ought to leave to our parliamentarians to decide, based solely on the views of lobbyists and pressure groups. The Pastoral Letter and further information about making contact with your local parliamentarians in the Broken Bay region can be found at www.dbb.org.au and www.catholic.org.au

The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) is a process through which those desiring to join the Catholic faith prepare themselves for Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist with the help of the community. Join clergy, RCIA teams, sponsors and parish RCIA supporters from around the State at the Biennial Conference for an exciting range of keynotes and workshops.

28 - 30 August 2015 CARolInE CHISHolm CEnTRE PEnnAnT HIllS For more information visit www.dbb.org.au 34

Book at http://www.trybooking.com/HTGT Register by 15 August 2015

ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Ecumenical celebration: Renewal of Tri-Diocesan Covenant

n the evening of 27 May, bishops, clergy and parishioners from three Dioceses gathered at Hamilton for a beautiful liturgy and warm hospitality to celebrate the annual

renewal of the Tri-Diocesan Covenant involving the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay, the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, and the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle.

Bishop Greg Thompson and Bishop Peter Stuart (Newcastle Anglican Diocese) were joined by Bishop Bill Wright from the Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Diocese and Bishop Peter Comensoli, Broken Bay. Bishop Peter Comensoli preached at the service. When the Covenant was first signed a special stole was given to each of the bishops. The three bishops presented Bishop Peter Comensoli with the stole previously worn by Bishop David Walker.

Ramadan Iftar Dinner at St Agatha’s Close to 80 Catholics and Muslims came together on 10 July for a beautiful Ramadan Iftar Dinner hosted at St Agatha’s Parish Pennant Hills, together with the Hills District Muslim Society.

or the first time these two religious communities from the Hills area co-organised a ‘neighbourhood’ Iftar, and were privileged to have as guest speaker the Grand Mufti of Australia Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammed. The presence of the Grand Mufti was joined by other religious leaders and interfaith coordinators including Sheikh Hassan Elsetohy and Sheikh Saleh (HDMS), Fr Paul Durkin (Parish Priest), Fr David Ranson (Vicar General), Mr Amet Polat and Mr Mehmet Saral (Affinity Intercultural Foundation) and Mrs Beth Rich (Building Bridges Together). During the Islamic month of Ramadan Muslims fast each day from sunrise to sunset.

The Iftar meal is the meal that breaks the fast at sunset. It is typically a meal shared with family, friends, neighbours and these days is extended to interfaith hospitality as well. Members of both communities enjoyed a beautiful halal meal and table conversation. Teresa Pirola of the Parish Support Unit, who brokered the joint event, commented on its ground-breaking significance at the parish level.

“Very often Catholics only relate to Islam through the media headlines. To sit at table with a Muslim neighbour is a whole different experience. This Iftar was a first for the parishioners of St Agatha’s and they entered into it so beautifully.” Fr Paul noted: ‘It’s not every day that a Catholic parish welcomes a Grand Mufti to dinner!”’

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AUGUST 2015

NEWS & ISSUES

Working Paper for the 2015 Family Synod has now been published By Janette Davidson The working paper (Instrumentum Laboris) for the 2015 Family Synod was published on 23 June 2015 and can be viewed on the Diocesan website www.dbb.org.au/family.

he theme of the Synod is ‘The Vocation and Mission of the Family in the Church and the Contemporary World’. The working paper contains the final report of the 2014 Family Synod (Relatio Synodi) together with a summary of the worldwide discernment process that has taken place since that Synod (including the response of the Broken Bay community to the diocesan online survey completed in February this year). The working paper will serve as a starting point and framework document to inform discussion at the 14th Ordinary General Assembly of Bishops which will be held from 4 to 25 October 2015. More than 200 Cardinals and Bishops together with other participants appointed by Pope Francis will attend the Synod. The Australian Bishop participants

are Bishop Eugene Hurley and Archbishop Mark Coleridge. The working paper is divided into three parts, Considering the Challenges of the Family which relates most directly to last year’s Synod, the second, The Discernment of the Family Vocation and the third, The Mission of the Family Today which deals more particularly with the theme of the 2015 Synod. Each week of the Synod will deal with one of the three topics of the working paper and will include brief speeches (interventions) by some of the participants together with working party consideration. At the end of the third week a final report will be prepared which will be presented to the Assembly for final amendment and approval. This report will then be forwarded to Pope Francis to assist him in finalising guidelines

Moved by the desperate plight of Christians throughout the Middle East, the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) calls on your support to help the region’s beleaguered Christian population.

for the pastoral care of the family to be contained in an Apostolic Exhortation expected to be published in 2016. Concerning the conduct of proceedings Pope Francis has said that “The Synod is a space in which the Holy Spirit can act, not a parliament. The Synod of Fathers are invited to express themselves with parrhesia (candour).” Key issues arising from the working paper include: • pastoral care of those in civil marriages and who cohabit; • the importance of marriage preparation and accompanying married couples; • giving expression to the mercy of God to couples divorced and remarried; • the welcoming of persons with homosexual tendencies with respect and dignity;

• streamlining annulment processes; • the impact of war, environmental degradation, human trafficking and forced migration. In discussing sacramental marriage and family life the working paper states at paragraph 42: ‘The Gospel of the Family offers an ideal in life which must take into account a sense of the times and the real difficulties in permanently maintaining commitments. In this regard the Church needs to proclaim a message which might give hope and not be burdensome. So that every family may know that the Church never abandons the family because of the ‘indissoluble bond of the history of Christ and his Church with the history of marriage and the human family’. (Pope Francis, General Audience 6 May 2015).

fear as increasing poverty and growing extremism threaten the survival of these ancient communities.

ACN is helping to keep faith and hope alive throughout the region by providing urgent aid to priests, religious and lay people, offering subsistence help to refugees and building and repairing Churches and convents. Please help us strengthen and rebuild the Church in the land of Christ’s birth.

A mass exodus of Christians from the Middle East is now taking place. For some, like the Christians of Iraq and Syria, it is a question of their very survival as they flee the bloody persecution of the militants of the Islamic State (formerly ISIS). A beautiful, olive wood crucifix, handcrafted in For others, in parts of the Holy Land that Our Bethlehem, will be sent to all those who give a Lord Jesus Christ knew so well, the proportion of donation of $20.00 or more to help this campaign. Christians has plummeted from 20% to as little as Please tick the box below if you would like to 1.4% in the last forty years. The faithful now live in receive the little olive wood crucifix*.

Send to: Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 7246 Baulkham Hills NSW 2153 Tel No: (02) 9679-1929 Email: info@aidtochurch.org Web: www.aidtochurch.org I enclose a cheque/money order payable to Aid to the Church in Need OR please debit my Visa or Mastercard:

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ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Generous Response to Global Poverty Caritas Australia, the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency, has thanked thousands of generous supporters, including schools and parishes across New South Wales.

ogether they helped to raise a record-breaking $11.57 million nationally during Project Compassion 2015, joining in solidarity with the world’s poor. Caritas Australia’s major fundraiser is held annually for six weeks during Lent. Money raised will help thousands of vulnerable communities in more than 30 countries globally in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Pacific and Australia. The Archdiocese of Sydney, and Dioceses of Parramatta, Broken Bay, Bathurst, Armidale, Lismore, Maitland-Newcastle, Wilcannia-Forbes, Wollongong and Wagga Wagga, raised a total of nearly $4.14 million towards the total, an increase of almost $425,000 on last year. Of that amount, Broken Bay raised an extraordinary $528, 810 towards the record total. A standout effort, demonstrating that an energetic and powerful Catholic community is alive and well in our region. This year’s theme for Project Compassion was Food for Life and focused on Caritas Australia’s support for the world’s poorest

people to establish sustainable food sources for life. Caritas walks with them as they free themselves from the burden of food insecurity and develop new, improved income streams for a better future. Head of Community Engagement, Helen Forde, says Project Compassion is an extraordinary, ongoing demonstration of the faith, love and generosity of caring supporters, all in the name of justice and peace. “Pope Francis last year said in response to the global food crisis that it is truly scandalous. The Australian Catholic community has responded to that call, through their overwhelming generosity to Project Compassion in solidarity with those facing global injustice and extreme poverty,” Ms Forde said. “Words can’t actually describe how I feel, because not only have our supporters, parishes, schools, Bishops, clergy, volunteers, and staff all given so much during Project Compassion, this time they’ve also responded generously with millions of dollars in support for communities affected by

Cyclone Pam in Vanuatu and the devastating earthquakes in Nepal.” NSW-based Global Education Advisor, Brendan Joyce, said Just Leadership Days held across NSW were attended by more than 750 students and demonstrated exceptional student and teacher leadership on global social justice. Just Leadership Days encourage students to become leaders for justice, in their schools and their communities, for both local and global change. Over 350 schools and 300 parishes in NSW fundraised for Project Compassion. “Schools across NSW held the most extraordinary events during Project Compassion from cake stalls, to book fairs and sponsored solidarity walk events,” Mr Joyce said. “This money raised really helps us enable those communities globally to transform their lives.” Find out more about Just Leadership Days or how you, your school or parish can get involved in Project Compassion in 2016 by phoning 1800 024 413 or visiting www.caritas.org.au/

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AUGUST 2015

ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

The Green Choir.

Red Choir Action.

Choir Games at Ku-Ring-Gai Chase By Patricia Smith

Children’s Choir Director, Ku-ring-gai Chase Catholic Parish

In June 2005, a group of four children came together at St Patrick’s church at Asquith to form a Children’s Choir to sing at Sunday Masses and liturgies.

en years on there are more than thirty singers in the Choir, which has sung at 10am Masses twice a month ever since, as well as at other churches and at diocesan Choral Festivals. Over 150 kids have been part of the Choir over its history, some for only a term, some for eight or nine or even ten years. An achievement like that deserves to be celebrated so on Sunday 31 May, the Ku-ring-gai Chase Catholic Parish Children’s Choir held its 10th Anniversary Choir Games Concert. This was no ordinary concert. We invited young singers from parish choirs from all over the diocese. Fifty-five singers from five different churches accepted the challenge, with ages ranging from 5 to 18. On arrival they were randomly divided into three equal groups, and placed in the hands of three wonderful young directors, Michaela de Souza (18), Naomi Massa (15) and Phillip Cullen (15). Michaela, Naomi and Phillip have been members of Ku-ring-gai Chase Children’s Choir for many years, and are all accomplished musicians and directors of the Choir. Michaela is currently the parish Children’s Choir Intern. Two hours of intensive warmups and workshops followed, while each of the three choirs learnt their

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The winning Gold Choir.

songs, actions and dances, with a strong focus on listening, following direction and teamwork. At 3pm the crowds arrived and the Games began. The three choirs competed in each of three categories, Spirituals, Action Songs and PartSinging. They were awarded points for each performance by our two adjudicators, Fr Robert Borg, Dean of Hornsby cathedral, and Mrs Josephine Edwards, singer, pianist and accompanist for Corpus Christi children’s choir at St Ives.

The audience was also involved: the duration and volume of their applause at the end of every song counted towards a People’s Choice award. Each of the choirs, even though they had hardly known each other just hours before, gave wonderfully polished performances and the judging was extremely close. The People’s Choice award was exactly even across all three choirs, so the final decision was left to the adjudicators who

named the Gold choir led by Phillip Cullen as the winners. This unique event was a perfect way to acknowledge and celebrate the work of these talented and dedicated young members of our parish. It brought people together to listen and work with each other, it helped strengthen connections within our parish and with other parishes, and it gave us an opportunity to have fun together, singing, dancing, laughing, sharing and celebrating.

ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Chatswood Parish supports Refugees By Trish Wilson For the last twelve months the Social Justice Ministry at Chatswood has been active in its attempts to fly the flag for refugees and asylum seekers.

o often we sing words from our national anthem without thinking about their true meaning; For those who’ve come across the seas we’ve boundless plains to share. Recently we displayed this line on our parish notice board as part of the Give us a Sign Campaign This project engaged churches in messages to communicate the need for a compassionate response towards vulnerable people. The complex issues that surround Refugees and Asylum Seekers can be quite divisive within communities so when the Sydney Alliance approached Fr Paul Finucane about hosting an evening of “table talks” at

Chatswood he welcomed the opportunity. Chantelle OgilvieEllis from the Alliance worked with a local team to promote and plan an evening entitled “Australia we need to talk”. On the day of the event a refugee, asylum seeker or refugee advocate spoke at each of the Masses. After the evening Mass and a light supper more than 50 gathered to listen to personal stories and engage in structured workshop conversation. Without doubt the most poignant component of the evening was hearing the powerful and personal testimony of an asylum seeker who fled persecution in Afghanistan where members of

Solidarity: On the Road to Justice Governments at the State and Federal levels must become serious about the immense shortage of housing stocks in townships, instead of contemplating how they can make it worse by forcing more people from remote areas into townzones already suffering from serious deprivations, according to the Bishop of Broome, Christopher Saunders.

n his statement to Catholic parishes across Australia as the Church celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People on Sunday 5 July 2015, Bishop Saunders said, ‘The crime rate in townships is far greater than in remote areas, as is serious drug abuse. Needles are not found lying around in bunches in remote villages as they are in regional townships. ‘The original argument in favour of closing off funds to many remote communities was an economic one. There is not enough money to pay for the homelands, it was said. It is simply amazing how it is in this country that whenever governments overspend or income shrinks, it is always the poor who pay to rectify the fiscal shortfall.’ Rural Australia is in a depressed state and the Aboriginal people in rural Australia are better off when living on traditional lands, than in exile away from it, the statement reads.

‘When this nation realises that more rather than fewer resources are needed to meet the needs of Aboriginal people in this country, then, and only then, will we begin to overcome the challenges before us,’ said Bishop Saunders. ‘Then might we effectively whittle away the disproportionate numbers of Aboriginal people who suicide, who are in gaol, are unemployed, are suffering ill health, are homeless, are under-nourished and who are oppressed by the effects of poverty and a poor education.’ Bishop Saunders declared that ‘Non-Aboriginal Christians must stand in solidarity with their Aboriginal brothers and sisters, while Aboriginal Christians are called to be determined, not to falter, no matter the obstacles that rise up to make a just way difficult. In faith and through prayer, the energy needed to seek justice, to right what is wrong and to find a new, positive way forward is at hand.’ The Statement can be found at: www.catholic.org.au

his family had been murdered for their ethnic origin. He risked his life by travelling to Australia by boat and lives with the uncertainty that comes with a bridging visa. He is unable to work but through the generosity of a stranger he has been able to study – something that he was denied in his country of origin. Representatives from the Mercy Refugee Services and Settlement Services International provided

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information and helped participants grapple with some of the practical ways they can demonstrate support for refugees. Feedback from attendees indicated that they found the evening a very powerful experience. They were in awe of the stories, they gained insights into some key issues and their experience reinforced a desire to be a voice for justice and compassion. Jesus too was a refugee!

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AUGUST 2015

ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Helping to Support our Future: The Art of Communication

By Toni Byrne

The beautiful smiling students in this photo are from St John’s Catholic Primary at Narraweena; St Pius X College, at Chatswood; St Paul’s College at Manly and St Ives Public School.

hey are Yr 6 to Yr 10 students who participated in a three-day communication course during their school holidays that was held in the library at St John’s Narraweena – thanks to the generosity of Principal, Mr Mark Bateman. According to all of them, they didn’t want to do it and take 3

days out of their holiday to do public speaking, but they were all so pleased that they did. The course was designed to give them the confidence to speak in front of a large group, to approach a teacher, to stand up for themselves or others. They all prepared and presented speeches and

toasts. They evaluated each other and voted on the ‘best presented’ and also the ‘most improved student’ each day. The educational sessions on how to prepare and present a speech, how to evaluate rather than criticise, how to use a microphone, use body language and voice projection are all life

skills and will help them both at school and in the future. Those who can speak become the leaders. Our youth may only comprise 30% of our population, they are 100% of our future and in this negative world, they need our support, our encouragement and our example. This course is identical to an adult course that is run. Everyone works to their own ability so the difference in ages was not an issue. Peta Dewar helped me run this course and we had lots of fun. Particularly with impromptu speaking. Students who had shaken at the thought of standing in front of a group and answering a question, stood with ease. Remembering to use the three parts – opening, body and conclusion – they presented with remarkable poise and confidence in front of their parents and peers to receive their graduation certificates. They have even asked for another course to be run in the January holidays! I congratulate them.

Buon Appetito! This issue Domus Australia’s Chef Francesco has added a luscious dessert to the á la carte menu, why not try recreating it at home.

Recipe: Panna cotta with Pear and lemon sauce (serves 2 people) Panna cotta:

To make the panna cotta:

100 grams of fresh cream

Place all ingredients in a saucepan and heat on a low flame for 25 minutes, stirring continuously to prevent sticking.

50 grams of milk 20 grams of sugar Half a sheet of gelatin A quarter of a vanilla stick Mint (for garnish) Compote of pear and lemon: 100 grams of pears, peeled and cut into small cubes 50 grams of sugar

As soon as the mixture starts to thicken and boil, remove from heat and pour into small aluminium/glass moulds. Refrigerate immediately for about 5 hours until set. To make the compote Place all ingredients in a small saucepan and cook over low heat until it begins to caramelize. Allow to cool.

Julienne of lemon peel

Serve with compote and garnish with a mint leaf.

Lemon pulp (4 segments, pith removed)

Buon appetito!

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ACROSS OUR DIOCESE

Rev Dorothy Lee, Dean of Theological School and the Frank Woods Professor in New Testament, Trinity College, University of Melbourne.

Mohamad Abdalla, Associate Professor at the School of Humanities, Griffith University, Jeremy Jones AM, Delegate, International Jewish Commitee for Inter-Religious Consultations, Co-chair, Australian National Dialogue, Christians, Muslims & Jews, C-Chair, ACBC/ECAJ Annual Conversations, Director of International and of Community Affairs, Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council, Bishop Peter Comensoli, Bishop of Broken Bay.

Terry Lovat, Emeritus Professor, University of Newcastle – presenting to the live audience at the eConference.

Mohamad Abdalla – presenting to the live audience at the eConference.

Amy-Jill Levine, Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of New Testament Studies, and Professor of Jewish Studies, Vanderbilt Divinity School and College of Arts and Science, USA – presenting from USA.

Participating external group in Wellington, New Zealand.

An eConference that stimulated much debate The 11th National eConference, Religion: Catalyst for Violence or Peace? Probing the Abrahamic Traditions for Answers attracted the most faith-diverse audience of any eConference so far, with participants including Muslims, Jews and Christians from the Anglican, Catholic, Maronite Catholic, Uniting and Presbyterian communities.

joint initiative of The Broken Bay Institute and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, the eConference not only brought together participants from various faiths, but also stimulated much interfaith dialogue. Participants came from every state and territory in Australia, including every Catholic Diocese. People also joined in from around the world, with Albania, The Netherlands and South Korea joining the eConference for the first time this year. BBI Chief Executive Officer,

Dr Gerard Goldman, says he was delighted that a post-conference survey showed the eConference had been a catalyst for bringing people together. “Around 40 per cent of registrations came from group sites, as opposed to single home viewers,” he says. “These sites had varying numbers of participants, ranging from three to 300. The move towards getting people together to view the eConference has been a growing trend over the course of its history.” Dr Goldman says the survey showed there was real interest in

the continuation of dialogue on the topic of whether religion is a catalyst for violence or peace. “There was a very positive response from the audience in relation to ideas put forward about the interconnectedness of the Abrahamic traditions, including about the medieval translation movement that involved translators from the three traditions working together in what would go on to influence the Renaissance movements of Europe,” he said. “Many comments and questions were received on the factors that may have led to an atmosphere of

intellectual cooperation between scholars of the Abrahamic traditions centuries ago, why these failed in time, and what effect this failure has had on the challenging global issues facing our world today.” Dr Goldman says there were also many positive comments made in relation to the audio captioning which was offered for the first time, and which have made speaker transcripts of the day available. These will be published on the BBI website, under e-Conferences. BBN

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Remember these deceased pastors, risen and glorified in Christ. Fill your Australian Church today, Dear God, with the same spirit you poured out on these your Servants. In August and September we remember our Priests who served in Broken Bay:

August 30: Rev Darcy O’Keeffe (2005)

September 23: Rev Ashley Jones (1999) 27: Rev Noel Carroll (1994) 29: Rev Terence (Terry) O’Brien (2007) 30: Rev Philip (Phil) Murphy (2006) 30: Mons Vincent (Vince) Marley (2011)

DEADLINE for October 2015 edition of Broken Bay News: Monday 7 September 2015 To have your event included in this section please send details to the Editor at: news@dbb.org.au TEL: 9847 07824

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Mary Reaburn nds who will give us many insights into these texts as well as skills to learn to read them meaningfully and intelligently. Bishop David Walker and Bishop Peter Comensoli will also participate. Engaging with our Scriptures nurtures our faith life and allows us to encounter God who speaks to us through these sacred texts. Join us for this special biblical event. Date: F riday & Saturday, 18-19 September 2015 Venue: C aroline Chisholm Centre, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills (Vehicular access via City View Rd) Cost: $ 55 for whole conference, $27.50 day rate RSVP: B y Tuesday 8 September 2015. See www.dbb.org.au/bible for more information

Christians Learning from Judaism – An initiative of Light of Torah and Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay This 2015 education series is an opportunity for Christians to learn from Jewish speakers, texts and experiences. Over the course of the year we reflect on the Hebrew Scriptures under the guidance of Orthodox rabbi and gifted teacher, Rabbi Gad Krebs. We will also engage with other speakers, topics and places of interest to the Jewish-Christian relationship. Join us in this fascinating journey of biblical and spiritual enrichment. Dates: W ednesdays, 2 September, 30 September, 28 October 2015 Time: 6 :00 pm – 7:30 pm Venue: C aroline Chisholm Centre, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills (Vehicular access via City View Road) RSVP: I f you are new to the series, RSVP is appreciated : teresa.pirola@dbb.org.au or 0415 932 638

Liturgical Formation Events NSW RCIA State Conference: Go Make Disciples

RCIA Conferences are held yearly; nationally every second year, and by state in the years between. The Diocese of Broken Bay will be hosting the next NSW State Conference. Keynotes and workshops offered include topics such as Introduction to RCIA, Sharing your Story: Sending out your Message through Social Media, RCIA and the Marital State, RCIA for Young People, Opportunities across the lifecycle of the family, with something for the beginner to the more seasoned RCIA team. Speakers include Bishop Peter Comensoli, Frs. Elio Capra, John Frauenfelder and Ken Cafe, Marita Winters, Daniel Ang, and many more. Date: F riday 28 – Sunday 30 August 2015 Venue: C aroline Chisholm Centre, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Rd, Pennant Hills (Vehicular access via City View Road) Cost: $ 150 More Information: S ee www.dbb.org.au/liturgy

Directory for Masses with Children: Principles and Application

Join Fr Vince Casey in exploring the Directory for Masses with Children. Share with and hear from Fr Vince and other participants’ creative ways of exercising liturgical ministry with children. Date: S aturday 17 October 2015 Time: 9 :30 am – 11:30 am Venue: P arish Centre, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, 239 – 243 The Entrance Road, The Entrance RSVP: B y Wednesday 14 October

Date: S aturday 24 October 2015 Time: 9 :30 am – 11:30 am Venue: C aroline Chisholm Centre, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Rd, Pennant Hills (Vehicular access via City View Road) RSVP: B y Wednesday 21 October

Youth Events #365daystogo Events

The countdown to World Youth Day Krakow 2016 is on! With only a year to go till we are amongst millions of Youth from around the world, we invite you to join in your local Parish event for the weekend of the 25 July 2015. For more details about how you can be involved in this incredible local community celebration email us wyd@dbb.org.au and we can connect you to your Parish.

Location: T he Epping Club, 45-47 Rawson Street, Epping Time: C anapés from 6:30 pm for a 7:00 pm dinner Who: 1 8-35 years old Cost: $ 45 RSVP: y outhministry@dbb.org.au

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)

CCD Level 3 “A Study of the Letters of St Paul”

In this 12 unit course, we journey with St Paul through his writings, growing in understanding of how the people of Paul’s time became the people of God and how we are called to continue this missionary zeal in our parish communities today. This level 3 course is open to everyone who has a desire to grow in the love and knowledge of the Lord.

MWP & NSH Region – Course Type: Level 3

Location: S t Anthony in the Fields, 46 Myoora Road, Terry Hills Dates: F ridays, 7, 14, 21 & 28 August, 4, 11 & 18 September, 16, 23 & 30 October Time: 7 August & 30 October will be 9:30 am – 2:30 pm remaining sessions are 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm RSVP: B y Friday 31 July 2015

CC Region – Course Type: Level 3

Location: L ecture Room, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, 239 – 243 The Entrance Road, The Entrance Date: M ondays, 10, 17, 24 & 31 August, 7 & 14 September, 19 & 26 October, 2 & 9 November Time: 10 August & 9 November will be 9:30 am – 2:30 pm remaining sessions are 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm Register: B y Monday 3 August 2015

CCD Ministry Induction Course (CCD MI)

This seven unit course begins by exploring the Mission of the Church through the Ministry of Catechesis. It also provide the tools necessary to enable catechists to begin their ministry of spreading the Good News to the Catholic children who attend State schools in our Diocese.

CCD Ministry Induction

CCDL1-01MI The Mission and Ministry of the Catechist CCDL1-02MI SRE Teacher in the Parish and the School CCDL1-03MI Child Protection CCDL1-04MI Lesson Planning: Teaching the Authorised Curriculum CCDL1-05MI The Development of the Child and Adolescent I CCDL1-06MI Classroom Management: Positive Discipline CCDL1-07MI Introduction to the Bible

NSH Region – Course Type: CCDMI

Location: C aroline Chisholm Centre, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills (Vehicular access via City View Road) Date: T uesdays, 20 & 27 October, 10, 17 & 24 November, 1 & 8 December Time: 7 :00 pm – 9:00 pm RSVP: B y 13 October 2015

MWP Region – Course Type: CCDMI

Location: T BC Date: W ednesdays, 14, 21 & 28 October, 4, 11, 18 & 25 November Time: T BC RSVP: B y 7 October 2015

CC Region – Course Type: CCDMI

Location: L ecture Room, Our Lady of the Rosary Parish, 239 – 243 The Entrance Road, The Entrance Date: F ridays 23 & 30 October, 6 & 13 November Time: 9 :30 am – 2:30 pm (13 November 9:30 am – 12:00 pm only) RSVP: B y 16 October 2015

Date Claimer: CCD Diocesan Reflection Day Friday 4 December 2015

To register for any of these programs, please telephone Leanne / Colleen on 9847 0448 or 4332 9825 or email registrations@dbb.org.au

Parish Support Unit Education and Formation Opportunities August – October 2015

Come and join the Young Adults of the Diocese for a fun and social night at The Epping Club. Enjoy drinks & canapés followed by a three course meal and amazing entertainment. A great opportunity to celebrate 2015 together as a Diocesan Community. Tickets are essential! Organise a table or come along & join one of ours. Date: S aturday 14 November 2015

Young Adult Dinner – For Young Adults 18-35

SPARK your light as you climb, fly, jump, sing, dance, laugh and much more, while meeting new friends and sharing your faith. The camp is open to all students in Years 7-9 and will be facilitated by the Diocesan Youth Ministry staff, along with a team of school and parish youth ministry coordinators. The cost includes accommodation, food and all activities. Transport to the camp is not included. Dates: M onday 21 – Wednesday 23 September (1st week of school holidays) Location: S outhern Cross Outdoor Education Centre, Somersby Time: 1 :00 pm Monday till 1:00 pm Wednesday Who: S chool students in Years 7-9 Cost: $ 120 RSVP: youthministry@dbb.org.au

SPARK Camp – For School Students in Years 7-9

Date: T uesday 29 September 2015 Location: G osford RSL Club, 26 Central Coast Highway, West Gosford Time: 6 :30 pm to purchase your meal and drink, 7:30 pm Guest Speaker Who: 1 8-35 years old RSVP: c athy.martorana@dbb.org.au

Broken Bay Youth Office invites you to BBYAC Faith Nights 2015. Join Young Adults from around the Diocese to share a meal and be inspired in our lives and faith. Date: T uesday 25 August 2015 Location: T he Greengate Hotel, 655 Pacific Highway, Killara Time: 6 :30 pm to purchase your meal and drink, 7:30 pm Guest Speaker Who: 1 8-35 years old RSVP: c athy.martorana@dbb.org.au

BBYAC Faith Nights

Join young people from across the Diocese as we come together to celebrate our faith through music, testimony and preaching. A free BBQ dinner will be provided before our inspiring night begins. Date: F riday 14 August 2015 Location: O ur Lady of the Rosary, 92 Glennie Street, Wyoming Time: 6 :00 pm BBQ for a 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm event Audience: H igh school students through to Young Adults RSVP: y outhministry@dbb.org.au

Praise and Worship Night

Date: 2 5 – 26 July and 1 – 2 August 2015 Location: Y our local Parish Audience: E veryone especially Youth and Young Adults attending WYD Krakow 2016

The Parish Support Unit is proud to offer the following programs from August through to the end of October 2015. Courses are available to all and are free of charge (unless otherwise stated). Registration is essential. We will notify you if programs have to be cancelled due to lack of numbers or unforseen circumstances. To register for any of these programs, please telephone Leanne / Colleen on 9847 0448 or 4332 9825 or email registrations@dbb.org.au

Adult Faith Formation Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home – A Discussion With the release of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, Laudato Si’, there has been much discussion in the Church and the public square about the ecological issues impacting the world, our common home. Pope Francis deftly connects the environment to issues of peace, justice, and the common good, indeed to the right to life itself. As such, it is a document that extends beyond the singular issue of climate change and concerns the evangelisation and reverence of our whole world as a gift from God. Pope Francis states: “I urgently appeal … for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need conversation which includes everyone…” (§ 14). To encourage dialogue and awareness of his striking message of hope, we warmly invite you to join us for a reading and discussion of the encyclical. Copy of encyclical supplied. All very welcome. Dates: W ednesdays, 16, 23 & 30 September 2015 Time: 1 0:30 am – 12:30 pm Venue: C aroline Chisholm Centre, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills (Vehicular access via City View Road) RSVP: B y Monday 14 September 2015

Becoming Adult in our Faith – Building an Adult Church

We grow up. We age. We become more worldly wise. But do we grow in our faith or are we stuck in the faith we had when we left school? Is it true, as some pundits believe, that we leave our critical intelligence at the door when we enter a church? Through multimedia input, reflection, and discussion, this workshop explores how our faith develops and the implications for developing a more mature faith and contributing to an adult Church. This workshop is jointly hosted by Mount St Benedict Centre and the Parish Support Unit of the Diocese of Broken Bay. Morning tea provided. BYO lunch. Date: S aturday 19 September 2015 Time: 1 0:00 am – 3:30 pm Venue: M t St Benedict Centre, 449D Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills (Enter via Hull Road) Facilitator: P atty Fawkner sgs Cost: F ree will offering RSVP: B y Monday 14 September 2015 to 9484 6208 or mtstbenedict@bigpond.com

“The Church of Mercy: My Vision for the Church” – Book Club

“Collected from Pope Francis’ speeches, homilies, and papers presented during the first year of his papacy, The Church of Mercy is the first Vatican-authorised book detailing his vision for the Catholic Church. From how to be citizens of the world to answering God’s call for evangelisation, Pope Francis’s deep wisdom reminds us that the Church must move beyond its own walls and joyfully bring God’s mercy wherever suffering, division, or injustice exists.” – Fr James Martin, SJ In joyful anticipation of the Jubilee Year of Mercy beginning in December, you are warmly invited to join us in reading and discussing this book by Pope Francis. Over three weeks, we’ll explore the call to share the light of Christ – to be Christ – in an often broken world. The Pope challenges us to be people of the Gospel; a Church of mission; a Church with an outward focus. Warding against the “cult of the god of money” and a “culture of waste,” Pope Francis implores us to live in the light of the word of the Lord: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (cf. Luke 6:36). In this book, he helps show us how. Books supplied. All welcome. Dates: T uesdays, 6, 12 & 20 October 2015 Time: 1 0:30 am – 12:30 pm Venue: C aroline Chisholm Centre, Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills (Vehicular access via City View Road) RSVP: B y Friday 2 October 2015

The 2015 Broken Bay Bible Conference is presented by Old Testament scholars and educators Dr Mark O’Brien op and Dr

Broken Bay Bible Conference 2015 “God in Narrative and Poetry: Genesis and Psalms”