ISSUE 200
FILIPINO CHAPLAINCY
LAUNCHED IN BROKEN BAY
Toukley-Lake Munmorah Parish – a warm-hearted community Rest in Peace Deacon Jim Caulfield
BROKEN BAY NEWS PUBLICATION OF THE CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF BROKEN BAY
JUNE 2019
ISSUE 200
NEWS AND ISSUES
To Rome with the Bishops for our Diocese This year, in the second half of June, the Bishops of Australia will make their required visit “ad limina Apostolorum” to Rome. BY FR DAVID RANSON, DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATOR
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his is a pilgrimage “to the threshold of the Apostles,” which every bishop is bound to make every five or so years. It is referred simply as the Ad Limina. The last one for Australian Bishops occurred in 2011. In the absence of a Bishop for our own Diocese it is my very great privilege, as Diocesan Administrator, to join the Bishops of Australia on this particular occasion of the Ad Limina, thereby ensuring that our Diocese is fully represented in this most important moment in the life of our Church. The Ad Limina has been part of our Church’s practice from the beginning, and its long history demonstrates just how significant the practice has been in our understanding of the Church. In his Letter to the Galatians, St Paul speaks of his visits to Peter,
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“to make sure the course I was pursuing or had pursued was not in vain.” (Gal 1:18; 2:2). Various testimonies speak of the existence of the pilgrimage from the 4th century. The requirement was further clarified by Pope St Gregory the Great in 597. In 1585, Sixtus V extended the practice, and from the 18th century, each Bishop has been required to submit in preparation for the visit to Rome a comprehensive report of his Diocese. This is called the Quinquennial. We submitted our own 200-plus page report in December 2018 and this has been forwarded to the Vatican for review by the different Roman offices and agencies ahead of the meetings that are now scheduled during the final week of June. As the preparatory notes for the occasion highlight, the Ad Limina
The Ad Limina has been part of our Church’s practice from the beginning… pilgrimage demonstrates in a tangible manner the communion of life by which each individual local Church draws its identity and vitality, as well as the collegiality by which the episcopal office and ministry unfolds. Our Catholic understanding of the Church is that it is at one and the same time universal and particular. There are not two Churches, but one and the same Church which for one reason or another can appear now universal, now local and particular. In this dual manifestation, the
Bishop has a privileged and singular role. As Heads of their own particular Churches, and together members of the episcopal College, it is in their very persons, in union with the universal Shepherd, that the particular Churches are integrated in the universal Church. In the act of meeting with the Pope, each bishop professes his deep relationship with the One who, holding the primacy in the Church as visible Head, is also the visible principle of unity among the Bishops.
NEWS AND ISSUES In this light, the primary purposes of the Ad Limina are expressed by the veneration of the tombs of the Holy Apostles, Peter and Paul, and a meeting with the Successor of Peter, the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis. The Ad Limina also becomes an opportunity for the Bishops to meet with the various Vatican offices and officials to discuss the situation of the Church internationally and also to raise matters of local concern. In this way, too, the ministry of the Holy Father, himself, is expressed: receiving account of the Church in its diverse contexts and encouraging his brother Bishops. For the Bishops of Australia, the week-long meeting will be preceded, on this occasion, by a retreat together just outside of Rome from 17-22 June. The Ad Limina itself begins with Mass at the Tomb of St Peter on 24 June followed by a two-and-a-half-hour audience with Pope Francis. We celebrate Mass at the Basilica of St Mary Major on Tuesday 25 June, at the Tomb of St Paul on Wednesday 26 June, and at the Basilica of St John Lateran, the Cathedral Church of Rome, on Friday 28 June. All the Bishops will meet with the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Clergy, and with the Secretary of State, Cardinal Parolin. In between these pivotal meetings, I have also elected to meet with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the Pontifical Council for Culture, the Congregation for Oriental Churches, the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, the Congregation for Consecrated Life and the Congregation for Catholic Education. The week will conclude in a very special way with Mass with the Holy Father at St Peter’s Basilica on Saturday 29 June, the Feast day of Sts Peter and Paul, at which Archbishop Comensoli, our previous Bishop, will be granted the Pallium, a liturgical garment worn around the neck to signify his position as Metropolitan Archbishop of Melbourne. This will occur BROKEN BAY NEWS
12 months to the day since his appointment to Melbourne was made. Doubtless to say, I am personally very honoured and humbled to be serving our Diocese at the time in which such an opportunity presents. However, the fact that I am going is, most critically, a real indication that our own local Church of Broken Bay remains, even in this time without a Bishop, fully in communion with the Universal Church and a vital part of all that goes on in the Church in Australia. I travel to the Holy Father representing you, and to him I will convey your affiliation and affection. Deeply aware that I am going for you, and for no other reason, I will bear you in my heart and in my prayer. Especially, will I be mindful of you, and each of our communities of faith, in the days of the retreat prior to the Ad Limina. And in each of the meetings in which I will participate, I will keep the interests of our own Diocese and its mission uppermost, alert for the opportunities for our continuing growth that may present. Please pray not only for me, but for our Diocese itself, during these days of pilgrimage that it may be a source of grace for us all.
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JUNE 2019 3
NEWS AND ISSUES
New laws further sign that abuse prevention is Church priority The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has welcomed Pope Francis’ new document on the investigation and reporting of abuse within Church settings, which enshrines some measures long in place in Australia but also makes new provisions that will give greater impetus to the Church’s safeguarding efforts in this country.
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onference president Archbishop Mark Coleridge, who represented the Australian bishops at the meeting of leaders of
episcopal conferences at the Vatican in February, said the publication of Vos Estis Lux Mundi (You are the Light of the World) is the latest concrete outcome following that unprecedented gathering. “The release of this document less than three months after the meeting shows that, for Pope Francis, the updating of universal Church law on the investigation and reporting of abuse against children and other vulnerable people is a real priority,” Archbishop Coleridge said. “It’s a priority the Australian bishops share. Now all bishops’ conferences and religious congregations around the world will have to meet more rigorous standards. That’s a good thing.”
Archbishop Mark Coleridge
During the Conference’s biannual meeting in May, the bishops discussed the Church’s ongoing response to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to
Child Sexual Abuse, including reforms related to those Pope Francis has introduced regarding accountability for Church leaders. “While Catholic leaders in Australia have been responding to the sexual abuse for three decades, we’re continually reviewing our policies and procedures to make Catholic settings the safest possible place for children and other vulnerable people. This new document from the Pope will be a great help in that,” Archbishop Coleridge said. Archbishop Coleridge said the Church in Australia will continue to implement protocols that go beyond the requirements of the motu proprio. “For example, reporting allegations to the police and other government authorities has been part of our Church practice for more than two decades. We remain committed to having the most effective practices possible,” he said.
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4 JUNE 2019
Exploring our missionary outreach
NEIGHBOURHOODS OF GRACE
Toukley-Lake Munmorah Parish
... a warm-hearted community
The Catholic Parish of Toukley-Lake Munmorah is nestled between a beautiful lake, beaches and a national park on the Central Coast, but its real beauty rests with its people – a warm-hearted community with a longstanding commitment to parish life. BY DEBRA VERMEER
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arish Priest, Fr Tiziano Torresan, says the Parish, which has two churches – St Mary’s at Toukley and St Brendan’s at Lake Munmorah – lies within a community that is a magnet for retirees and seasonal holiday-makers. “We are fortunate to be located in a beautiful place and we get lots of visitors in the holiday times,” Fr Tiziano says. “But we also have a long and strong tradition of volunteers, a core of people who are strongly passionate about the positive future of the Parish.” Among the long-standing faces in the Parish is the Parish Secretary, Jan Lovett, who has been in her position for more than 40 years. Fr Tiziano, who is due to leave the parish in June, is assisted by Fr Vincent Varghese VC and Deacon Paul Simmons, and says that one of the things that the Parish is becoming known for is a beautiful and welcoming liturgy. “This is something I am passionate about,” he says. “I was lucky to receive two years of pastoral training with the Benedictines in Padua (Italy), studying pastoral liturgy and I try to bring what I learned to life in the parishes where I serve. “A good liturgy makes people feel welcome and BROKEN BAY NEWS
when people feel welcome, they respond in a positive way.” As part of that welcoming climate, Fr Tiziano says the Parish is trying to involve the young people who attend its schools, and their families, in the liturgies. “I’ve been trying to have the children more involved,” he says. “We have special liturgies where we invite the children to come up to the front during the Our Father, and we invite them to bring the gifts up during Mass. They are small things, but they are welcoming.” Central to the life of the community are the three schools within the Parish, St Mary’s Catholic School, Toukley, St Brendan’s Catholic School, Lake Munmorah, and St Brigid’s Catholic College, Lake Munmorah. Principal of St Brendan’s Catholic School, Luanna Fletcher, says the School and the Parish enjoy a warm relationship. “The relationship with Fr Tiziano is a very open relationship and he is a wonderful support to the School,” she says. “The students have really warmed to him and to his singing and the gifts he has brought, especially his desire for beautiful music in the liturgy. He’s
very welcoming to the students and our families and has been very obliging in supporting us to have parish family Masses on the weekend.” Kevin Williams from St Mary’s Catholic School says the students will miss Fr Tiziano when he leaves. JUNE 2019 5
NEIGHBOURHOODS OF GRACE
Exploring our missionary outreach
“With Fr Tiziano leaving our Parish soon, we will miss his warm smile and friendly manner,” he says. “Children have enjoyed waving to Fr Tiziano during his daily bike ride around the local area and our classes have enjoyed the opportunity of joining in Friday’s 9.15am Parish Mass. “We will miss Fr Tiziano’s love of music and, particularly, the vibrant, joyful singing during Mass.” Julie Terry, Principal of St Brigid’s Catholic College, Lake Munmorah, the Diocese’s newest school, which opened in 2014, says the relationship between School and Parish is a happy one. “We are very fortunate to have a very positive relationship with Toukley Parish,” she says. “In particular we are very well supported by Fr Tiziano. He’s been very generous with his time. Apart from celebrating Masses, he celebrates liturgies for us and has been guest speaker for the students and is a very positive advocate for our community.”
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Fr Tiziano says he too loves the relationship between the Parish and the Schools. “It’s beautiful when I am riding my bike around by the lake or somewhere and one of the kids, who is out with family, will call out ‘Hello Father!’,” he says. “But of course, we would love to get more families involved with parish life. Especially families who are having difficulties. And to do that, we need to offer a climate of support, encouragement, peace and healing.” This year the Parish will have about 90 children receiving the sacraments of initiation. A team of dedicated catechists also reaches out to children in the area’s public schools, although, as with most parishes, more catechists would be welcome. Fr Tiziano, who hails from the Treviso Diocese in Italy, says the parish community is becoming more multicultural, with people from the Philippines, India, Eastern Europe, Italy, Indonesia, Malaysia and Malta now represented in the community.
“We will miss Fr Tiziano’s love of music and, particularly, the vibrant, joyful singing during Mass.” “We have a beautiful Filipino choir,” he says. “To create a vibrant eucharistic community, music is very important, and so apart from our Filipino choir, we have very good musicians at St Brendan’s and at St Mary’s. “We have power-points prepared which are in line with the liturgical season to help lead the people and to include them in the liturgy.” The parish bulletin has recently been relaunched, offering four colourful pages full of news, reflections and photos to keep the community connected and informed.
Exploring our missionary outreach
There are six Masses across the weekend in the two churches, as well as a Healing Mass every First Friday of the month at 11.00am, which is followed by a cup of tea. Every first Sunday, after the 8.00am Mass at St Brendan’s and after the 9.00am Mass at St Mary’s, there is a morning tea, which aims to help promote a sense of warm welcome and community. “During Lent and Advent, we have recollections that follow the steps of the liturgies and try to live the spirituality that comes from that,” Fr Tiziano says. Soon, two Augustinian Sisters will join the Parish with a focus on working especially with the young people. For the seniors, apart from the regular Healing Mass, the priests visit local nursing homes for an anointing Mass once a month. The Toukley Catholic Parish also reaches out into its local community in a variety of ways, including a popular ‘Thank-you’ celebration each year for the volunteers in the local emergency services.
BROKEN BAY NEWS
“It is a very nice day, held at St Brigid’s, where we thank all the local volunteers for the work they do,” Fr Tiziano says. “It’s nice for the volunteers to feel valued, but it’s also good for our young people to be involved. It’s an invitation for them to consider the important role of these people behind the scenes, doing work that is vital to the well-being of our community.” A parish Social Justice Group is also active in working with parishioners from neighbouring parishes to keep the local Council accountable in working towards a more just community. “They publish something of interest in the parish bulletin every week and they have been working towards a goal where over the coming 10 years, Council will approve affordable housing for people on a low income. “They have also advocated for more services on issues such as domestic violence in the local area.” The Parish St Vincent de Paul conference is equally active in reaching out to those in need.
NEIGHBOURHOODS OF GRACE
“We have two main appeals each year for Vinnies, and people are very generous, especially at Christmas when people donate goods and the members go out and deliver more than 100 hampers for people,” Fr Tiziano says. Ecumenism is strong in this part of the Central Coast, with the Toukley Catholic Parish being part of a local group called Churches Together, where different Christian communities get together about four times a year for shared prayer and fellowship. As he prepares to leave Toukley and move on to his next assignment, Fr Tiziano says he hopes the Parish has become known as a place of welcome and beauty. “To have a vibrant celebration, with desire,” he says. “That is my hope. To connect people more closely to Jesus through the beautiful liturgy and to welcome people into a greater involvement with the community. “I also hope it is known as a place where we are able to discern and to encourage people to use their particular gifts.”
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ACROSS OUR DIOCESE
Filipino Chaplaincy launched in Broken Bay The Filipino community in the Diocese of Broken Bay had an additional reason to celebrate the month of May this year.
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s the Filipino community celebrates the Flores de Mayo and the Festival of St Helena, they have an additional cause for celebration – the launch of a new Diocesan Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy effective 1 May 2019. The Filipino Chaplaincy was an initiative of former Bishop of Broken Bay, Most Rev Peter Comensoli, and
since January 2018, Rev Dr David Ranson has been working with the Filipino community to bring the vision into reality. “Following a long process of consultation, and now with the confirmation of the College of Consultors, along with the enthusiastic endorsement of the leadership of the Filipino communities in our Diocese, it
The Filipino Chaplaincy is a wonderful affirmation by the former bishop of the Filipino community… gives me great pleasure to announce the implementation of the new chaplaincy,” said Fr David Ranson.
affirmation by the former bishop who wanted to make it a chaplaincy under his care,” explained Deacon Roberto.
The implementation has included the presentation of the Charter for the Filipino Catholic Chaplaincy for the Diocese, and the appointment of Deacon Roberto Corpuz as the Pastoral Coordinator of the Chaplaincy.
A rapidly growing faith community in the Diocese, Filipino congregations are recognised for their contribution to the rich multicultural life of the Church. The new Chaplaincy, Deacon Roberto explains, operates across all five of the Diocese’s deaneries. Rather than drawing membership from existing parish participation, the Chaplaincy has added six additional monthly Filipino Masses in the parishes of Warringah, Chatswood, Hornsby Cathedral, Gosford and Wyong.
For Deacon Roberto, who was Deacon of the Hornsby Cathedral Parish and serving the community for more than seven years, the implementation of the new Filipino Chaplaincy is welcome appreciation of the role of the Filipino community in the Diocese of Broken Bay. “The Filipino Chaplaincy is a wonderful
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For Deacon Roberto, the new chaplaincy is an opportunity to
ACROSS OUR DIOCESE “go deep to encourage the growth of the Church.” One of the future developments under his care will be the gradual transition of the Mass from Tagalog to English. “We’ve made a very providential decision in Chatswood to offer Mass for Filipino congregations in English. We want to expose the children to the faith, and if it’s presented in a language they can’t understand, they’ll be put off,” he said. “We celebrate the old guard also, but they are all conversant in English. Many of the third-generation Filipino youngsters don’t speak Tagalog,” he said, explaining his intention is to slowly convert the other services to English as well. Aspects of the Filipino Mass that won’t change are the salu-salu – or after-Mass hospitality – and the music. So much a part of the life of the Filipino Catholic community, the choir and many members of the community attend weekly rehearsals. For those unable to attend weekday sessions, additional rehearsal take place an hour and a half before Mass. The rehearsals include soprano, tenor, alto and bass preparation with a professional conductor. The choirs are so committed they are now rostered to perform during the regular parish weekend Mass. Deacon Roberto notes the Filipino Mass is a very welcoming occasion and very welcoming of people from all cultural traditions.
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ACROSS OUR DIOCESE
Caring for our community of faith 1. CatholicCare Pastoral Care Practitioner and Hospital Chaplaincy Service
The CWF works by funding the Pastoral Care Practitioners who minister to patients, their families and staff who request Catholic support in seven hospitals in our Diocese. These Pastoral Care Practitioners provide prayer, comfort and ongoing support at times when we are at our most vulnerable. Dr Mary Paradisas, Head of Neonatology at Royal North Shore Hospital describes the value of having a Pastoral Care Practitioner in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: “By having some hope – especially in an intensive care unit – I think that’s a most wonderful thing – because a lot of time we give information that can be quite distressing to families, so by having somebody there (who) can offer some hope gives a spiritual element to the families. The CatholicCare Pastoral Care Practitioner can be there to support through the good times but also through the bad times.”
2. Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD)
The CWF works by funding the CCD – an association of lay Catholics devoted to the work of teaching Catholic religious education to Catholic children who attend public schools. In our Diocese, we have almost 900 catechists teaching an authorised Catholic religious education curriculum across 179 public schools. The Special Religious Education program in public schools provides children with the opportunity to be formed in the Catholic faith. Alison Newell, Diocesan Coordinator CCD, states: “In these days more than ever before, children and young people need to know the love of Christ. They need to know they are loved immeasurably. Our lessons must deliver a message of love and of forgiveness, mercy and peace.”
3. St Edmund’s College St Edmund’s is a 7-12 high school for students with a wide range of disabilities including sensory impairment, intellectual disability and autism. St Edmund’s creates a holistic learning environment incorporating academics and personal wellbeing through co-curricular activities. Candice Palin, Head of Marketing and Communications confirms, “Funds received from the Charitable Works Fund go towards supporting our Speech Program, predominantly for our non-verbal students. This includes purchase of speech apps, technology to use the apps such as iPads, and designing and implementing updated programs for our Social Skills Program and Language and Literacy program, aimed at improving communication among our students.”
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ACROSS OUR DIOCESE
The Charitable Works Fund (CWF) helps the people of our Diocese by providing faith-based services. From Arcadia to Avalon and Westleigh to Warnervale, every day someone in our community benefits from the activities of the CWF. The CWF is a charity funded by the people of our Diocese to help our families, friends and neighbours with Catholic outreach services beyond the parish. By giving to the CWF you are supporting five charities.
4. St Lucy’s School St Lucy’s School is a K-6 Primary School to approximately 140 students with disabilities. Students at St Lucy’s receive education with Catholic values along with the knowledge, attitudes and skills to flourish and participate fully in society. Marnie Cooper, Community Fundraising Manager states: “A great education is vital for every child, thank you for supporting St Lucy’s School for children with a disability. Your gift supports St Lucy’s exceptional services, programs and facilities to help children develop their social and cognitive abilities, laying down foundations for the future. Your gift will contribute to communication technologies for children who struggle to communicate verbally, the swimming pool for physical health and safety, our accessible playground and indoor gym, and the creative arts centre where each child’s strengths and interests are valued and encouraged.”
5. Ephpheta Centre The Ephpheta Centre (meaning “Be Open”) is a Charitable Works Fund ministry that provides pastoral care and support for deaf and hard of hearing people. Comprised of a small team of mostly deaf staff and volunteers, they visit deaf people in their homes, in nursing homes, in hospital and in prison. The Ephpheta Centre has a Chaplain who provides regular Masses for deaf people and Mass is available in Our Lady of the Rosary, Wyoming and St Mary’s, Manly which are accessible to deaf people through Auslan sign language interpreters. Like all Charitable Works Fund Ministries, the Ephpheta Centre are proudly Catholic in their work but aim to support anyone in our Diocese who is in need. Liz McDowell, Business Manager, Ephpheta Centres states: “Many deaf people in our community experience tremendous isolation in their daily lives and much of our work is providing pastoral care and support to deaf people. We provide Mass and sacramental preparation for deaf people and their families for weddings, funerals and baptisms. We are a small dedicated team of mostly deaf people who provide this support and we are the only Catholic agency providing services for deaf Catholic people in NSW. With the donations which we receive from the Diocese of Broken Bay, we can help to train priests and seminarians in the needs of deaf people, provide petrol to our staff and volunteers to visit deaf people in hospitals and nursing homes, and minister to the large numbers of our deaf brothers and sisters who live in the Diocese of Broken Bay.”
When you support the CWF you are supporting your local family of faith. Donations of $2 and over are taxdeductible and can be made using the CWF envelopes in your Parish. Alternatively, you can call (02) 8379 1664 for EFT details. It is important that your donation is credited to your Parish’s contribution.
BROKEN BAY NEWS
JUNE 2019 11
SUPPORTING VULNERABLE CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE THROUGH FOSTER CARE There are many children and young people in our communities who are unable to live with their families. Many have been through experiences few of us could begin to fathom and who, without our help, will go through childhood without the love and support of a family. CatholicCare provides essential support, care and stability for these children and young people affected by family breakdown, to enable them to recover and thrive. We provide foster care through our network of experienced family carers, residential homes, access to therapy and counselling and in-home support to reduce the risk of family breakdown. Through our suite of services, and the dedication of our specialist support teams and foster carers, we are changing the lives of children and young people for the better. Foster carers are people who open their homes and their hearts to those in need, and partner with us to support children and young people during their time in care. They provide a safe home to live in, support them to build healthy connections with their family and community of origin, help them with their health, education and independence and to build their personal identity and self-esteem.
WE ARE LOOKING FOR FOSTER CARERS ON THE CENTRAL COAST The Central Coast has a population of around 337,000 and 74,500 people under the age of 18. In 2017, the NSW Department of Family and Community Services recorded almost 5,000 instances* of children and young people being subject to significant risk of harm on the Central Coast, a figure almost 25% higher than the state average. Across the region there are almost 1,300 children and young people* in Out of Home Care – foster care, group homes or supported care with kin or relatives. This figure is also far above the state average.
*https://public.tableau.com/profile/facs.statistics#!/ KIDS data report – NSW Family and Community Services
That means if you have a child, or niece, nephew or grandchild who are school age, chances are they share a classroom or a desk at school with a child in this situation. It’s a big problem and a string of social factors contribute to the numbers of children and young people entering care – most commonly domestic violence and abuse and neglect. The impact is often lifelong. These children and young people are more likely to end up in the youth justice system and have far poorer education and health outcomes. They will likely enter a cycle of social disadvantage that is difficult to escape, with potential impacts on their own children. We need to turn this around. So, what can we do? Fostering is a practical way we can support children and young people who need a temporary or full-time home while their family is supported to make the necessary changes for their safe return home. At any given time, there are dozens of children on the Central Coast who require foster care. At times these children are housed in emergency motel style accommodation with support workers due to the shortage of foster carers. CatholicCare foster carers receive: •
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A financial allowance to assist with the day-to-day needs of the child/young person. This helps to cover day-to-day expenses for the child such as food, clothing, education, travel and leisure activities. Participation in the process to match children with families. Comprehensive on-going training and counselling. A dedicated case manager and 24/7 support. Social functions and events, and more.
We are looking for everyday families who might consider taking a child or young person into their home – to love and support them – whether for one or two nights, a few weeks, months or long-term. For more information please call (02) 4320 7777, email fostercare@catholiccaredbb.org.au or visit our website www.catholiccaredbb.org.au/fostercare.
MORE THAN 1,300 CHILDREN ON THE CENTRAL COAST CAN’T LIVE WITH THEIR FAMILIES See all our latest videos and find out how you can help at:
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serving in JUSTICE & LOVE
NEWS AND ISSUES
Deacons Jim Caulfield, Harry Housen, David Huntley and Paul Simmons at their ordination at Corpus Christi, St Ives on 16 April 2004
Deacon Jim Caulfield: A man of great faith 23 July 1949 – 16 May 2019 The Diocese of Broken Bay lost one of their most-loved members in May when Deacon Jim Caulfield passed away after a period of ill health.
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eacon Jim was born on 23 July 1949, was educated by the De La Salle Brothers in Lakemba and the Marist Brothers in Penshurst. He was a man who was very committed to his faith and his service to the Church. Jim was a loving husband to Gayle, for 47 years, and a much-loved father to their four children, Joshua, Christian, Rebecca and James-Paul, and father-in-law to their partners. He was also a loving grandfather to his 15 grandchildren. It was with Gayle’s and the family’s love and continuous support that Jim was able to study at tertiary level between 1991 and 2000, gaining
a number of tertiary qualifications, including a Bachelor of Theology, from the Sydney College of Divinity, and a Diploma from the Institute of Tribunal Practice. In 2001, Jim was accepted into the first Diaconate Formation Program for the Diocese of Broken Bay. This would not have been possible without his family’s ongoing love and support. During his four-year formation, Jim had a pastoral placement in the Parish of Woy Woy, which also included pastoral ministry to the Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre, at Kariong. Jim found this ministry very challenging, while at the same time, he also found it to be a very rewarding and gracefilled experience. On 16 April 2004, Jim was ordained as a Permanent Deacon, by Bishop David Walker in Corpus Christi Cathedral, St Ives, alongside Deacon Paul Simmons, Deacon David Huntley (now deceased) and Deacon Harry Housen, (now in Brisbane) as the first Permanent Deacons for the Diocese of Broken Bay. Following his Ordination, Deacon Jim was appointed to the Warnervale Parish, where he remained for the whole of his diaconal ministry. In reflecting on Deacon Jim’s 15 years of diaconal ministry, Jim was a man of great faith, who thanked God for the vocation he had received and lived out his vocation of ministry of service in an exemplary manner. Jim often said, “I am a Deacon 24/7”.
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Jim and Gayle prayed the Divine Office, particularly Morning and Evening Prayer together, and Jim had a tremendous love and care for the sick, which he showed by his dedication and loyalty, both day and night, to their care. He also ministered for many years with the love and support of Gayle, coordinating the priests of the Diocese in attending to urgent sick calls to the various hospitals right across the Diocese. To that end, Deacon Jim took on the role of Manager for the 1300 PRIEST service, and was later appointed as the Chaplaincy Support Officer for the Central Coast Hospitals. Unfortunately, in the last couple of years, Jim’s health deteriorated and he eventually had to retire in March 2018, from the ministry he loved so much. Jim returned to the Father on Thursday 16 May 2019, exactly one month after the 15th Anniversary of his Ordination. We thank God for the gift of Deacon Jim’s ministry of service and for his tremendous love and generosity to those he ministered. May he be welcomed, by our loving and compassionate Lord, into the place prepared for him in Heaven. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
ACROSS OUR DIOCESE
Unlocking Church Renewal
Come and See: Creating an Invitational Culture Their friend was sick. We’ve heard the story: they had heard that a certain Jesus was healing people, but when they arrived at his house with their paralysed friend, many people were blocking the doorway.
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ather than give up on their plan, they came up with a solution – reach Jesus through the roof. How they actually removed part of the roof, and how they eventually managed to lower their friend to the ground from such a height would have required some audacity and ingenuity. Why all this effort? They were convinced that Jesus would be able to help their friend; they believed that he could heal him. They didn’t let fear of ridicule, or sizeable obstacles, stop them from achieving their goal of introducing their friend to Jesus. And the result amazed them all – a healing beyond what they could have hoped for (Luke 5:17-26). Do we believe that introducing people to Jesus today can make a real difference to their lives? The Jesus of the New Testament who came to make our good God known; who spoke words of encouragement and hope to people; and who brought healing to a great many, is the same Jesus who we proclaim today. The power of the Holy Spirit which he left us with is still at work. If we are convinced of this, then inviting our friends to meet Jesus should be a natural thing that we would want to do. Our love and care for them is what drives us. In the Scriptures, we see Andrew bringing his brother, Simon Peter, to meet Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Peter was called only because Andrew was convinced that Jesus was someone special (Jn 1:40-42). As for Jesus, he was constantly inviting people to “come and see” (Andrew in John, Chapter 1); inviting people to “follow me” (for example, Levi in Luke, Chapter 5); and even inviting himself to dinner (Zacchaeus in Luke, Chapter 19). Being invitational is not always easy or natural for us. It is not a prominent feature of our Catholic culture – we are just not used to doing it. However, today it is essential in order to share the treasure that we have with the many who have forgotten, or have never known, the Christian narrative or met the Person at the centre of it. We all want our parishes to grow, but we don’t always realise that this depends in a large part on our collective ability to invite others in. Firstly, what would we invite people to? The most obvious answer is our weekly gathering at the Mass. For people who may not be as connected with our Catholic tradition though, perhaps something like the Alpha series would be more BROKEN BAY NEWS
Our God is a God that is always interested in the lost coin, the lost sheep, the lost son suitable as a space where they can explore Christianity and ask questions. Secondly, am I open to inviting? Do I have the courage to invite? What is stopping me from inviting? Perhaps I’ve never thought about it too much or seen it as my responsibility. Perhaps there is a fear of what people will think, and a real fear that they may say ‘no’. But even with Jesus, some accepted the invitation, and some did not, so this should not stop us inviting. We can gain encouragement from a McCrindle report in 2017 which showed that three out of four people either consider themselves Christian; believe in much of Christianity or Christian values; or believe in religious freedoms. Our role is to invite and to share what we have received. The response is not up to us. We leave the response to the person being invited, and to God. We are sharing in God’s work of outreach, and we trust that the Holy Spirit is also at work in our invitation. We do our part, and trust that God will do God’s part in the life of this person, either now or in the future.
through a rough patch but has no one to turn to. We don’t know how our invitation will be received, or how people may value the love and friendship of Jesus and the faith community that we are offering them at this point in time. A good way to start becoming more personally invitational is to ask God to show us who God would like us to invite and that we will recognise the opportunity when it is presented. We don’t know who the Lord will put before us, and who the Holy Spirit will nudge us to invite. We pray for the guidance of the Spirit in this work, that we might respond to these nudges. Let’s grow in courage. The more we invite, the easier and more natural it will become, as our way of helping to build up the Kingdom. Any renewal in our parishes will take place one person at a time, and we all have a role to play. A friend reaching out to a friend, leading them to Jesus who is the source of goodness, love, healing and peace. Christianity has been described as “one beggar telling another beggar where he found bread.” If we have found this ‘bread’, let’s share it.
Our God is a God that is always interested in the lost coin, the lost sheep, the lost son (Luke, Chapter 15). God has a heart for those who are far away and is constantly waiting and wanting to draw them back. Perhaps our invitation will be the means by which God is calling another person.
Two challenges for regular Mass attenders:
Imagine the impact an invitation can have on someone who is lonely or someone who is going
• Offer an invitation to someone this week to come with you to Mass or, if possible, to Alpha.
• Pray that the Holy Spirit will increase in you the gift of Courage and remove any fear that would prohibit you from offering an invitation. Pray that the Holy Spirit will show you who to invite.
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JUNE-AUGUST 2019
Office for Evangelisation EVENT CALENDAR The Diocese of Broken Bay exists to evangelise, to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, gathered as friends in the Lord and sent out to be missionary disciples. The Office for Evangelisation serves this mission and promotes the growing missionary outlook of parishes, faith communities and individuals.
CATHOLIC LIFE & FAITH FORMATION
CATHOLIC YOUTH BROKEN BAY
Proclaiming Pentecost
PRAISEFEST
“God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit” Romans 5:5
Catholic Youth Broken Bay invites all young people to PRAISEFEST! Join young people (youth & young adults) from across the Diocese to catch up with friends, enjoy our Festival consisting of different activities and a free BBQ, encounter God through vibrant and honest worship, and receive spiritual nourishment through an inspiring and relevant message.
All are warmly invited in the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, to gather as one to celebrate Pentecost 2019. Join Chatswood Catholic Parish and Transforming Sydney in this ecumenical event to pray for a fresh outpouring of the Spirit in our families, our communities, our city and our world. Following on from prayer services in other parts of Sydney, this year’s focus is Sydney’s north – North Shore and Northern Beaches. Date: Saturday 8 June 2019 Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm Venue: Our Lady of Dolours, Chatswood Parish, 94 Archer St, Chatswood (parking via Kirk St) Enquiries: Nicole Gorman nicole.gorman@bbcatholic.org.au or 9410 9000
Celebrating Disciples of All Nations Join us for this special Diocesan Multicultural event to celebrate the 105th World Day of Refugees and Migrants. Mass will be celebrated at Cathedral Parish, presided by Very Rev Dr David Ranson. After Mass, refreshments and live entertainment will follow. We invite you to bring a plate to share from your cultural community, and to wear multicultural dress. All warmly invited. Date: Saturday 17 August 2019 Time: 5.00pm Multicultural Mass; 6.00pm – 7.00pm Refreshments and live entertainment Venue: Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, 23 Yardley Avenue, Waitara Enquiries: faith.formation@bbcatholic.org.au Natalie Moutia 8379 1626
Date Claimer: Making Disciples in the Catholic Parish: Discerning Our Mission Presented by Sherry Weddell, author of Forming Intentional Disciples A day for all committed to parish life and evangelisation to discuss • The nature of intentional discipleship and the thresholds of discipleship • Supporting people from one threshold stage to the next through a variety of entry points • Practical ways that ministries and parish activity can foster intentional discipleship
Dates: Friday 7 June 2019 Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm Venue: Our Lady of Dolours, Chatswood Parish, 94 Archer St, Chatswood (next PRAISEFEST on 23 August 2019)
Twilight Talks Catholic Youth Broken Bay invites you to Twilight Talks. Join Young Adults (18+) from around the Diocese to connect, share a meal, pray and be nourished by inspiring speakers. In July, we will break open the spiritual & practical dimension of mental health and look into practical tools for taking care of yourself & being sensitive to others around you. Date: Tuesday 2 July 2019 Time: 6:30pm – 9:00pm Venue: Hotel Pennant Hills, 352 Pennant Hills Rd, Pennant Hills
LIFE MARRIAGE AND FAMILY Annual Global Rosary Relay for Priests Annual Global Rosary Relay for the spiritual wellbeing of our priests. We are one of the 60 international locations where each rosary group will pray the Rosary at a particular half hour of this special day. Please come and join us as we pray together for our priests and vocations to the priesthood. Date: Friday 28 June 2019 Venue: Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Yardley Ave, Waitara Time: 10.30am sharp Enquiries: steven.buhagiar@bbcatholic.org.au or 0415 600 290
Theology of the Body 4-day Intensive The Human Person – Level 1 course
Date: 14 September 2019
A four-day ‘Theology of the Body’ intensive course facilitated by international expert Katrina Zeno MTS of the St John Paul II Resource Centre, Phoenix Arizona. The content of the ‘Theology of the Body’ presents an integral vision of the human person which sets out in clarity God’s plan for human identity, sexuality, personal vocation and marriage. This is an essential course for understanding the revitalisation of culture!
Venue: Caroline Chisholm Centre, Pennant Hills
Facilitator: Katrina J. Zeno MTS
Date Claimer: Broken Bay Bible Conference “The Holy Spirit Through the Pages of Scripture”
Date: Monday 15 to Thursday 18 July 2019 (2nd week of July school holidays)
Presented by Dr Debra Snoddy and Rev Assoc. Prof. Ormond Rush
Venue: Mt Schoenstatt Retreat Centre, Mulgoa NSW
Date: 11-12 October 2019
Registration: www.trybooking.com/BCAHA
Venue: Caroline Chisholm Centre, Pennant Hills
Enquiries: steven.buhagiar@bbcatholic.org.au and 0415 600 290
• The importance of discerning our gifts and using them to live the mission of Jesus
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JUNE 2019
Time: From 9.00am daily
JUNE-AUGUST 2019
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) CCD training and formation opportunities serve those involved in the mission of Special Religious Education (SRE) in our State Schools but are also open to those in catechesis and evangelising outreach in our Diocese. The Office for Evangelisation offers CCD training to all interested people providing formation that enables the Gospel to be taken into the lives of others. Contact CCD Registrations Phone: 8379 1643 Email: registrations@bbcatholic.org.au
Level 1 Workshop: Tools for teaching in the SRE Classroom – for all catechists Level 1 consists of 6 x 2-hour units and is complementary to the CCDMI. The units offered provide tools and strategies for the SRE classroom. During Term 3 there are two units on offer. 1. Using Stories and Visual Resources 2. Using Drama in the Classroom Northern Beaches Region Course Type: Level 1 Workshop Location: Our Lady of Good Counsel, 9 Currie Road, Frenchs Forest Morning Tea Provided, BYO Lunch Date: Friday 16 August 2019 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Register by: Friday 9 August 2019 North Shore Hornsby Region – Course Type: Level 1 Workshop Location: Caroline Chisholm Centre, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills Morning Tea Provided, BYO Lunch Date: Friday 23 August 2019 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Register by: Friday 16 August 2019 Central Coast Region Course Type: Level 1 Workshop Location: Meeting Room, Our Lady Star of the Sea, 165 Serpentine Road, Terrigal Morning Tea Provided, BYO Lunch Date: Monday 26 August 2019 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Register by: Monday 19 August 2019
Secondary SRE Conference – for all high school catechists ‘Cast Your Nets Wide’ A dialogue with Secondary SRE Teachers Keynote speaker: John Donnelly Engaging High School Students in SRE Managing the SRE Classrooms All High School catechists are invited to attend. Morning tea and lunch will be provided Nominate your 2 preferred workshops when registering (one from the morning and one from the afternoon) MORNING WORKSHOPS: 1. Special Religious Education Procedures Department of Education Requirements for SRE 2. Science and Religion From Galileo to the Present Day AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS: 1. Dealing with Controversial Topics Department of Education – Controversial issues policy 2. Difficult Questions in the SRE Classroom An Authentic Response Location: Caroline Chisholm Centre, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills Date: Monday 17 June 2019 Time: 9:00am – 2:30pm Register by: Monday 10 June 2019
CCD Level 2: The Church in the 3rd Millennium – for all catechists Consists of twelve 2-hour units. Units offered cover the teachings of the Catholic Church. A certificate is awarded on successful completion of Level Two. • Catechist Spirituality • Vatican II and Renewal in the Church BROKEN BAY NEWS
• Development of the Child and Adolescent II • Catholic Sacraments of Initiation • Tools for Catechesis: The Catechism and General Directory for Catechesis • The Natural World and Religion • The Old Testament: The Story of the Faith Community – Exodus/Sinai • The History of Liturgy • The New Testament: Jesus the New Covenant • Catholic Social Teaching • Interfaith Dialogue and Ecumenism • An Australian Perspective on World Religions Central Coast Region – Course Type: CCD Level 2 Location: Lecture Room, Our Lady of the Rosary, 12 Ashton Ave, The Entrance Morning Tea Provided, BYO Lunch Date: Friday 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 August & 6 September 2019 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Register by: Friday 26 July 2019 North Shore, Hornsby and Northern Beaches Regions – Course Type: CCD Level 2 Location: Corpus Christi, St Ives Parish Hall, 263 Mona Vale Road, St Ives Morning Tea Provided, BYO Lunch Date: Monday 5, 12, 26 August and 2, 9 & 16 September 2019 Time: 9:30am – 2:30pm Register by: Monday 29 July 2019 School Holiday In-Service: Safeguarding Children – for Green card catechists Experienced catechists are required to attend In-Service Training every three years in 1) Classroom Management, 2) Authorised Curriculum and 3) Safeguarding Children. During the winter school holidays, the training being offered is Safeguarding Children. Central Coast Region Course Type: Safeguarding Children Location: Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish Hall, 165 Serpentine Road, Terrigal Date: Monday 8 July 2019 Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm Register by: Monday 1 July 2019 North Shore & Hornsby Region Course Type: Safeguarding Children Location: Caroline Chisholm Centre, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills Date: Wednesday 10 July 2019 Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm Register by: Wednesday 3 July 2019 Northern Beaches Course Type: Safeguarding Children Lakes Parish Hall, 21 Lagoon Street, Narrabeen Date: Friday 12 July 2019 Time: 9:30am – 12:00pm Register by: Friday 5 July 2019
Sherry Weddell author of “Forming Intentional Disciples” and Co-founder of the Catherine of Siena Institute presents: ‘Discerning Discipleship in the Practice of Ministry’ A day for Catechists, Sacramental Coordinators and those involved in children’s or family ministries Topics include: • Exploring Intentional Discipleship • Thresholds of discipleship, in particular in ministry to children and families • Discern our own calling as disciples, and identify our gifts Location: Caroline Chisholm Centre, 423 Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills Date: Friday 13 September 2019 Time: 10:00am – 2:30pm Register by: Friday 6 September 2019 JUNE 2019
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EDUCATION
Christine Anu visits MacKillop for Harmony Day
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Students at MacKillop Catholic College in Warnervale had a treat in late March when renowned singer-songwriter Christine Anu performed her show ‘In Conversation and Song’ at the College for Harmony Day.
ear 9 student Lachlan Bishop welcomed Christine in the Darkinjung language with the Acknowledgement of Country before her performance, while Mr Brendan Campbell, Learning Support Teacher, played didgeridoo.
Principal, Steve Todd, said was, “a really positive message for Harmony Day.”
Christine Anu is an ARIA-award winning performer of hits including 1995’s ‘My Island Home’ and 2000’s ‘Sunshine on a Rainy Day’ and is a Torres Strait Islander.
The College Captains, Lucy Pratt and Jack Barseic, said that MacKillop was a “truly inclusive school and we are proud of our very accepting community.”
Students from Years 5 to 12 gathered in the school hall to hear Anu perform. Her show includes a message of diversity and inclusivity, which the
MacKillop students are “leading the way in being truly aware of the world around them,” said Debra Ferguson, the Secondary Principal.
“Christine gave us all a real insight into her life and its trials and successes,” said Mr Todd.
Ms Ferguson said that the College has a program which encourages students to think of others. “Each Tuesday the Year 7 to 10 students meet to look at topics such as the trauma of bullying, cyberbullying, domestic violence and racism,” she said. This year, students have also cooked and served meals at Coast Shelter, raised funds for local charity Orange Sky Laundry, and met with politicians to discuss affordable housing. Some students even travelled to Sydney to attend a rally about the topic of housing. Outreach Coordinator Michelle Baxter said, “Mary MacKillop said ‘Never see a need without doing something about it’ and that’s what the MacKillop community is trying to ensure they do each day.”
A Heart to Serve: the Joy of Leadership
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In March, Mr Francis Sullivan gave a keynote address to 140 teachers and leaders from across the Diocese on the theme of ‘Courage to Lead in Difficult Times.’
r Sullivan, who led the Truth, Justice and Healing Council for six years, was the public face of the Catholic Church’s response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. He commented that, “the sexual abuse crisis has been devastating for Catholics but has also given us a choice: to wallow in the faults of institutions and hierarchy or to step up and take responsibility for shaping our Catholic communities as they ought to be.” The speech was considered to be an inspiration
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by those present. Mrs Barbara Yee, the Principal at St Gerard’s, Carlingford said, “Francis has the ability to articulate what many of us are feeling.” A series of searching questions were posed by Professor Anthony Maher, who also facilitated an insightful Q&A from the assembled audience of Catholic leaders. Hospitality students and staff from St Leo’s College Wahroonga worked together with personnel from the Catholic Schools Office to transform the Light of
Christ Centre into a festive dining space for a delicious two-course meal. The event, titled A Heart to Serve: The Joy of Leadership forms part of a professional development program for leadership in Broken Bay Diocesan schools. Mrs Virginia Ryan, Assistant Director: Evangelisation and Catholic Formation, said, “We are working to enhance the environment where our teachers and school leaders feel informed, and supported in their vocation to serve as missionary disciples.”
EDUCATION
Kindergarten Kids Cut A Deal for New Soccer Coach
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hen Mrs Alix McKittrick, Kindergarten teacher at Our Lady of Dolours Catholic School at Chatswood realised that the soccer fanatics in her class didn’t have a coach this year, she had a surprising solution. Mrs McKittrick suggested the U6 Leopards teammates ask older students
at St Pius X College if one of them might be available to coach.
“I was just there to lead them over safely,” said Mr Ledlin. “The students did all the talking.”
Mr Philip Ledlin, Principal at Our Lady of Dolours, accompanied two representatives from the team to visit the senior school and ask for help. In the office of Mr John Couani, the Principal at St Pius X College, the kindergarten students put forward their case.
A few days later, Mr Couani was excited to share that five students had volunteered to coach the team! Three were ultimately chosen and are now the proud co-coaches of the U6 Leopards.
Students Choose Science Two Catholic Schools in Manly are teaching Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths with a state-of-the-art new “STEM” program.
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eachers at St Mary’s Catholic School and St Paul’s Catholic College were trained by the University of Sydney STEM Academy to deliver the program, which lets students choose their own areas of interest. At St Paul’s, the Year 7 students inquired into the plight of native bees and came up with a design of bee survival kits for locals to put into their own gardens. A bee hive housing a hundred native bees was installed at the school, and students have examined the bee ecosystem from a range of perspectives. “For example, from a Physics perspective, they look at how it stands up,” said Chris Browne, the Principal at St Paul’s. “In Mathematics, the question might be, ‘What’s the maths of the shape of the honeycomb?’ It’s using nature as an entry point for students to engage with these subjects.”
For Primary School students at St Mary’s, the same principle of inquiry applies, but the children will come up with their own research question to investigate. “It has to be a real-world problem for them to come up with a solution to,” said Claire Shefford, a Year 3 teacher at the school and the co-ordinator of the STEM Challenge. “We’re close to the beach so they might want to look at stormwater or wind power, or something to do with sustainability and littering,” said Principal Paul McGuire. Lisa Williams, Assistant Principal and Year 5 teacher, said the school was building a “bank” of ideas for the challenge. “The Northern Beaches council spoke to the school about the stormwater problem in the area and we want as many people from our local community as we can to give the children as many ideas as we can,” she said. “By choosing their own ‘challenge’ they will engage with it more,” said Mr McGuire. St Mary’s has also created a STEM Challenge to be held across all 12 Catholic Primary Schools on the Northern Beaches. As part of
BROKEN BAY NEWS
the Challenge, students from all schools will be invited to present their different research questions to other schools at a Research Fair in Term 3. “It’s not competitive, it’s more about the investigation of what they learn and demonstrating their knowledge of the scientific method,” said Mr McGuire, who added that an eminent scientist will speak at the Fair. Fifteen hundred students in Years 3 to 6 from the 12 different primary schools are expected to participate in the Challenge, with the top two projects selected from each school to be presented at the Research Fair. JUNE 2019 19
EDUCATION
Caritas Visits Manly Schools Students at Broken Bay Catholic schools in the Manly area had a surprise treat in March when International Caritas Speaker, Super Dube, visited from Zimbabwe.
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tudents from St Kieran’s at Manly Vale, St Mary’s and St Paul’s College at Manly heard Super Dube’s story about Caritas Australia helping establish a clean water supply in his community of Msuna Hills. Natasha Hughes, a Year 6 student and the Mission Captain at St Mary’s,
said, “According to UNICEF, four out of ten people worldwide do not have enough water to bathe, cook with and sometimes even to drink each day.” Super Dube told the story of Thandolwayo, a 12-year-old girl from his village who dreamed of becoming a nurse, and how she had to walk over 90 kilometres every week to
collect water for her community. The time taken to collect the water was limiting her time to learn. Now that Caritas has provided support and infrastructure to pump the water from the Gwayi River to Thandolwayo’s village through a solar-powered system, she is able to attend school and is top of her class.
The villagers of Msuna Hills can now bathe every day, breed fish to sell, have a vegetable garden, a dip tank to treat cattle for ticks and enough clean water to drink. “Super’s talk made me realise how lucky I am. I now understand that we need to be grateful for the things we take for granted,” said Natasha.
Growing Up Online Year 6 students at Holy Cross Catholic School Kincumber were the first Primary students in New South Wales to receive training about building an online presence.
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he school engaged a PR expert, Nicole Reaney, to teach the children to engage with technology in positive ways and manage the risks of the online world. Ms Reaney taught the children about crafting a personal brand online, digital footprints, and navigating risks on the internet. She suggested
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the kids employ the ‘grandma test’ and only post images and text they would be happy sharing with their grandma online. Mr Craig McNee, the Principal at Holy Cross, said that primary-age children were more connected online than ever before due to increased mobile phone usage.
“About 95 per cent of children between eight and eleven access the internet,” he said. “While there are risks, we believe technology can be a positive tool.” “We would like to empower our students to understand and manage the risks so that they can realise the value that technology brings.”
The innovation was featured on national news programs including Channel Nine’s The Today Show, where Mr McNee said, “As educators and adults, it’s important that we get our children ready for life and part of that is helping them make the right moral choices, especially in a global and digital world.”
EDUCATION
NRL stars teach students wellbeing Two of our schools on the Central Coast were lucky to be visited by NRL players who talked about wellbeing and Aboriginal awareness.
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acKillop Catholic College, Warnervale hosted Johnathan Wright, an Aboriginal player who previously played for the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, who retired last year and is now running a weekly sports program with Indigenous and non-Indigenous primary and secondary students. The program includes story-telling,
traditional and contemporary dance, and gives students a chance to discuss issues pertinent to Indigenous people and cultures. It gives Indigenous students a sense of belonging, while nonIndigenous students are exposed to Aboriginal cultures. Journalist Michelle Bishop from Channel Seven News covered the story and said the initiative has
potential to become an amazing program to be run in all schools. Meanwhile, students at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic School, Wyoming had three players from reigning champions the Sydney Roosters visit to discuss the importance of wellbeing and the value of team sports. Luke Keary, Latrell Mitchell and
Sitili Tupouniua visited the school to talk about the importance of good nutrition, sleep and exercise. Students asked lots of questions of the players and were rewarded with Roosters merchandise. The presentation was also filmed by Channel Seven and was to feature in a story on the importance of physical and mental fitness for overall wellbeing.
Festival a Resounding Success The inaugural Northern Beaches Sport and Lifestyle festival was held in Narrabeen earlier this year.
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he brainchild of Broken Bay teachers Stephanie Munro from Sacred Heart Catholic School, Mona Vale and Karen Ingram at Mater Maria Catholic College, Warriewood, the festival was designed to raise awareness of the benefits
of sport and physical activity for a healthy lifestyle. “We believe sport is a powerful tool to promote youth development,” said Ms Munro. “We hope to make a difference to children and their families.” The free festival showcased displays from different sporting codes, health services and charities, and included the chance for children and young people to try out activities including netball, tennis, cricket, rugby, gymnastics, cheer and golf. The festival also featured interactive displays for gymnasts and cheerleaders. Charity organisations including Gotcha 4 Life (a male mental health charity) and Love for Lachie (a charity for
BROKEN BAY NEWS
children’s brain cancer research) showcased their work at the festival, and they received great support from Live Life Well, a State Government schools initiative.
NSW Education Minister, The Honourable Rob Stokes attended alongside the Mayor of Pittwater, Michael Regan, and sporting heroes Steve Menzies and Brad Fittler. JUNE 2019 21
CATHOLIC YOUTH BROKEN BAY
ACYF ... exists to provide young people with opportunities to deepen their relationship with Jesus, be empowered to be disciples in the world today and encounter and celebrate the vitality of the Church in Australia.
CYBBies, get ready for ACYF in Perth this December!
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he Australian Catholic Youth Festival (ACYF) is a national gathering of Catholic young people established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC). It exists to provide young people with opportunities to deepen their relationship with Jesus, be empowered to be disciples in the world today and encounter and celebrate the vitality of the Church in Australia. The fourth ACYF will take place at
the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 8–10 December 2019. The CYBB Pilgrimage will unite schools and parishes from around the Diocese of Broken Bay to experience the Festival together. It also means the Festival is not experienced as a ‘one-off’ event but as an opportunity to continue building connections once pilgrims return home.
CYBB Pilgrimage through Harvest Journeys includes: • flights • Perth airport transfers • Twin share accommodation at high quality Perth city hotels, including breakfast • ACYF Registration and meal package • A CYBB t-shirt for all participants Choose from one of the following options:
Package A: 6 Days/5 nights Saturday 7 – Thursday 12 December 2019
Full Travel Package Available Economy class airfare Twin share accommodation Breakfast daily Perth airport transfers ACYF Perth Registrations ACYF Perth Meal ticket CYBB T-Shirt Leadership and Chaplaincy support Departing 7 December 2019 5 & 6 day option Open to young people aged 15 - 30
www.bbcatholic.org.au/acyf 22 JUNE 2019
$1,850 per person
Package B: 5 Days/4 nights Saturday 7 – Wednesday 11 December 2019 $1,750 per person Young people can receive a $500 subsidy towards their pilgrimage cost (paid directly to Harvest Journeys). Students currently in Years 9-12 at one of our Systemic Catholic Colleges interested in ACYF must speak with their school about registering. For more information and Expression of Interest/ Registrations please go to www.bbcatholic.org.au/acyf
CATHOLIC YOUTH BROKEN BAY
Christus Vivit – a letter from Pope Francis to young people Pope Francis has urged young people to embrace their role as the present and the future of the Catholic Church by building relationships with their community and with God.
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n early April, the Holy Father issued the apostolic exhortation following last year’s Synod of Bishops on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment.
Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green OSPPE, the current Bishop Delegate for Youth, also honed in on Pope Francis’ strong message of hope in Christus Vivit.
The exhortation, Christus Vivit (Christ is Alive), takes the form of a letter to young people and, through them, to the entire People of God.
“In the midst of all the problems in our world and in our Church that cause anxiety and alienation among many young people, the Pope’s exhortation offers young people the hope of Christ,” Bishop Macbeth-Green said.
Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP, a Synod delegate and then-Bishop Delegate for Youth, said Pope Francis “presents a vision of and for youth that is optimistic and hopeful”.
“Pope Francis is not afraid to name the problems facing young people in our world, particularly exploitation in all its many forms, but he does not dwell on the negatives. He invites young people to take their place as the ‘now of the Church’, work in solidarity to fight evil and live the gift of the ‘present’.”
“I am pleased that the Holy Father dedicates much of this letter to encouraging young people to cultivate a friendship with Jesus Christ and to invest in family life, in building relationships within their community and to join with others to serve the poor,” Archbishop Fisher said. “There are so many voices in society today promoting individualism and independence as a means of personal fulfilment, but this has left too many youth feeling increasingly isolated, even with the ease of present forms of communication.”
Bishop Macbeth-Green said he was particularly heartened by the three “truths” Pope Francis offers to young people: “God loves you”; “Christ saves you”; and “Jesus is alive”. “The challenge now for young people – and indeed for all the Church – is to bring the Pope’s words off the page and into our hearts,” he said.
Pope Francis calls the Church to become young again and embrace the opportunities presented by young people.
Malcolm Hart, director of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference’s Office for Youth, said it will take time to reflect upon the 68-page document, but some messages speak loudly. “Christus Vivit acknowledges many of the challenges facing the young, including how older people sometimes dismiss them, but also the gifts and energy they bring to our world,” said Mr Hart, who also serves as a consultor to the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life. “Pope Francis calls the Church to
become young again and embrace the opportunities presented by young people. “Christus Vivit highlights the need to accompany young people so they can answer the call to lead the Church in new ways, as did Mary and many other saints like St Francis of Assisi.” Catholic Youth Broken Bay will be hosting a workshop to break open Christus Vivit on Friday 26 July 2019. If you would like to know more, contact Catholic Youth Broken Bay via email youth@bbcatholic.org.au
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BROKEN BAY NEWS
JUNE 2019 23
ACROSS OUR DIOCESE
An Iconographer in our midst:
Why Sacred Beauty Matters On Friday 8 March, the Bishop of Wollongong solemnly dedicated the new church of Our Lady Help of Christians in Rosemeadow NSW.
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n describing the physical structure and decorative elements of the new church, long serving parish priest Fr Christopher Sarkis related, “The beauty of a church building should make one feel that they have glimpsed heaven on earth—drawing us from the secular to the sacred; from the earthly to the heavenly; from the human to the divine.” He added that by, “prayerfully reflecting on its art and architecture, a church building… is meant to point us to the beauty and greatness of God.” One of Australia’s pre-eminent iconographers, Michael Galovic, was commissioned to provide four art installations for Our Lady Help of Christians’ new sanctuary; a task entitled the ‘Marian Project’. The paintings, while taking their inspiration from known classic works, are ultimately the fruit of Michael’s 50 years of art, and crown what has been a fascinating journey from his childhood home of Belgrade. What many may not know about Michael is that he lives within the
BY STEVEN BUHAGIAR bounds of the Diocese of Broken Bay and, specifically, the community of Chittaway Bay on the Central Coast. Michael Galovic graduated from the Belgrade Academy of Arts in 1974. He spent a lot of time in his youth watching his stepfather restore icons and frescoes in churches and monasteries throughout Serbia. With his degree behind him, Michael sought to establish himself more distinctly in the specialised area of iconography and actively sought out professionals who could mentor him in the broader scope of this traditional art form. Having travelled extensively, he finally moved to Australia in 1990. Making a name for himself as an artist on the local scene, it wasn’t long before the Marist brothers and fathers commissioned him to provide art works for their schools and parishes and in the process, established one of the most enduring and creative partnerships in Australian art history. It was, therefore, a privilege for me
Michael Galovic
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…when we look at the great icons through history, it is their diversity of expression which makes them so beautiful and attractive to the soul. to visit Michael at his home on the Central Coast and glean from him more than a few insights from his years of hard-earned wisdom over the two hours that he generously gave me for our informal interview. Over a cup of well-brewed coffee and more than a few homemade brownies, Michael took me on an adventure of the mind where he reminisced about the Middle East, Spain and South America – all places that had enriched his cultural experience of the world and which had freed him from the clutches of what he described as artistic “mechanicity”. To ask a question of Michael was an experience in itself. On asking him “why it is important for a culture to invest in art?” he slowly threw the question around in his mind, considered it from any number of angles, and proceeded to develop a well thought-out response which left me with a deepened appreciation of the transcendent dimension in which the artist of religious works must immerse him or herself in, and on a daily basis. To what I imagined to be the straightforward question of, “How long did this artwork take to complete?” he replied, “well that is actually the wrong question to ask… if we are endeavouring to get closer to an otherworldly dimension, why would we be still fascinated by the notion and dimension of time which exists only on our human level, but not on
a cosmic and on a divine one? We have to let go of our worldly ties if we are aiming for another realm.” With this insight, yes it was the wrong question… to read an icon is not only to determine what is immediately apparent to the eye, but also to reflect and comprehend the effect that it can have on our soul. To qualify this in a practical manner, Michael shared with me his process of advertising his work as an artist. He places an example icon he has painted in a publication such as the Catholic Weekly and includes alongside it this simple phrase: “The Mystical Beauty of Icons”. That is all. In time, I think I have come to understand what Michael was doing here. There is an inherent beauty in an authentic icon that attracts the heart and which has the ability to lift the whole person to the spiritual plane. Only a person who cultivates this spiritual sensitivity will take the next step and possibly commission Michael to produce a work in this sphere. His ‘advertisement’ will only attract those who can ‘see’ his work for what it is… sacred and mystical beauty. Of course in order to appreciate the complex nature of an icon, one does well to ask questions of both the literal and the analogical elements found throughout each unique representation. Michael recently completed an icon of the Marriage at Cana. I was struck by the richness and diversity
ACROSS OUR DIOCESE
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At the Heart of the Home
HEART
A new parish-based THE MarriageOF Enrichment resource
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At the Heart of the Home, produced by the Life, Marriage and Family team in the Diocese of Broken Bay is now available. Look out for this wonderful resource as it arrives in your parish over the next month and see how it can be used quickly and practically to help build up a marriage-affirming culture in your local community. Based on the principles of hospitality and small group sharing, At the Heart of the Home draws wisdom from Pope Francis’ document on the family The Joy of Love and easily provides a structure by which couples can come together to discuss what it is that helps family relationships thrive and move forward.
of the colours used and which did not immediately resonate with icons of the same subject I was already acquainted with.
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On reflecting on his words, I truly believe that Michael’s answer has everything to do with the very essence of what makes sacred art sacred, beautiful and timeless. It is the inherent capacity of art, such as Michael’s stunning icons, to lift the soul and the person towards the Infinite. In this space particularly, we come to understand that with God and with all that reflects the Eternal, there remains the reality that on this earth our hearts will never in fact be ever satisfied. So, as we await on this earth the ultimate state of union with the Divine for which we are destined, let us be grateful for the gift of artists like Michael Galovic who, again in the words of Fr Sarkis, point us ever closer “to the beauty and greatness of God”.
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I cannot of course here relate every detail of the so very interesting time that I was able to share with Michael, but I will close with an answer he gave which has resonated with me ever since. As I got up from the table to leave and thanked him for his kind hospitality, I casually asked him, “Has your experience
The artist that he is answered in a manner which did not seem so immediately apparent. “Whenever I am finishing a painting, I always know that I can do it better the next time.”
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When I asked Michael if it was possible to be ‘creative’ with subjects popularly portrayed in iconographic art, he explained this was what he meant by the term “mechanicity”. He argued that when we look at the great icons through history, it is their diversity of expression which makes them so beautiful and attractive to the soul. I understood by this, that each artist represents their encounter with the Divine in a unique manner which highlights, and in fact authenticates, the uniqueness of the artist created in the image and likeness of the Creator.
of painting icons, which are of their nature deeply religious works, made you a holier person?”
For assistance in implementing this resource into your parish community, please contact Steven Buhagiar from the Life, Marriage and Family team. Email steven.buhagiar@bbcatholic.org.au
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A Parish-ba Marriage Enrichm sed ent Resource Marriage Enrichmen
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ACROSS OUR DIOCESE
Together with our First Peoples
Singing Up Country
Ahead of the recent federal election, the Bishops of Australia called for action for our First Peoples:
“W
e ask for a renewed urgency to the commitment to closing the gap between Indigenous Australians and the rest of the population. This is a running sore at the heart of the nation. Through our agencies, the Church plays a critical role in working with Indigenous peoples in health, education and welfare. But Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to suffer grave disadvantage and should not have to keep waiting for justice. Now is the time to act.” At this time of the year, questions of justice and action arise through the significant dates in our national calendar. 26 May is National Sorry Day, followed by National Reconciliation Week from 27 May (the day of the 1967 Referendum) until 3 June (the day of the High Court Mabo decision in 1992). Following on in July is NAIDOC Week from 7-14 July, which celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia. This coincides with our National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday on the first Sunday in July (7 July), where Catholics can acknowledge and celebrate the gifts that our First Peoples bring to the Church. Interestingly, 2019 is also the United Nations International Year of Indigenous Languages. In this space, there has been a recent increase in the take up of Indigenous languages in schools at primary, secondary and HSC levels; and the Bible Society has been focusing efforts to translate Biblical texts into a number of Indigenous languages as part of their 200 year anniversary of their presence in Australia. The theme of NAIDOC Week this year is “Voice. Treaty. Truth. Let’s
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work together for a shared future,” arising from the Uluru Statement from the Heart. “Working together” is key, which begins with listening to the voices of our First Peoples and respecting and valuing these voices. Connections and relationships are important, so that the journey forward is together. The statement “nothing about us without us” applies. The Gai-mariagal festival, a celebration of Australia’s First Peoples’ culture and heritage, takes place in the Northern Sydney region from 26 May to 14 July. Founded in 2001, events include workshops, art exhibitions, performances, films and talks. Events within our Diocesan region will be held in the Northern Beaches as well as at Chatswood and St Ives. In particular, the Parish of Frenchs Forest hosts the Singing Up Country event on 2 June, as a special night of sharing culture, song, dance and stories. This event comes out of a partnership between the Parish and the Northern Beaches Aboriginal Community as part of the ongoing “Sharing the Story, Sharing the Land Project”.
and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) website. • Add your voice in advocacy towards ‘closing the gap’ of disadvantage. • Consider taking part in an activity of the Gai-mariagal Festival and experience the oldest continual culture on the planet. • If you are speaking at a meeting
or event, take a moment to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land. • Visit the Sacred Forest at Terrey Hills. • Take the Aboriginal Heritage Walk at Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park to see rock engravings that are of great cultural and historical significance.
Dedication of the First Station of the Cross in the Forest at Terrey Hills to the First Peoples
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n Sunday March 31st, when we greeted each-other at the beginning of Mass at St Anthony in the Fields, Terrey Hills, we said, “Waramai Wellamabaoui” – It’s good to see you. It was good to gather together in peace, on Country. From information entrusted to us at St Anthony’s, we have learned that it’s Bandicoot Country, women’s country, where women and men met together. It’s close to where a bora ring stood, where Gaimaragal, Guringai and Dharug peoples met, performed ceremonies together and conducted trade. Kierans Creek which runs through the property was an access route for women travelling from as far away as Gosford. “Christians are beginning to realise that their responsibility within creation and their duty towards nature and the Creator, are an essential part of their faith.” Pope Francis, LS #64.
The St Anthony in the Fields community in this Parish have revegetated a wildlife corridor and refuge since 2013, creating The Sacred Forest Spirituality and Ecology Place, a place for reflection, spirituality and learning. In March this year, a Stations of the Cross installation was blessed, with the first Station dedicated to our First Peoples (see right).
At St Anthony’s we are striving for ecological conversion with the revegetation of this Duffys Forest ecological community, where we can learn to see ourselves in right relationship with the plants and wildlife, and thus with God. Within the re-emerging Forest stand the Stations of the Cross, in silent witness to the final journey of Jesus and mirroring, through accompanying prayers and reflections, the sufferings of Earth, its life-forms, and its peoples.
As we prepare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday, consider an action that you and your family can take.
Fr Jose Philip blessed and dedicated this First Station of the Cross in the Forest, and we prayed, “Under your watchful gaze, O God, let us walk together in trust and respect, revering and communing with this sacred Land and seeking your face, in ways Indigenous people have always known.”
• Make use of resources that can be found at the National Australian
We reflected upon the dispossession of Land and culture of our First Nation People by the inexorable forces of European settlement. In acknowledging past harm, we dedicated ourselves to reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and reconciliation with the sacred and broken Land.
Brian Norman on behalf of the Sacred Forest Initiative at St Anthony in the Fields Church, Terrey Hills.
NEWS AND ISSUES
“There is no way to peace, peace is the way.” Reprinted with permission from Aid to the Church in Need Interview, 29.04.2019 with Fr Malaka Leonard Fernando (Sri Lanka) conducted by Maria Lozano Fr Malaka Leonard Fernando is the Minister Provincial of the Vice Province of our Lady of Lanka, Sri Lanka, of the Third Order Regular Franciscans. His residence is just half a kilometre from Katuwapitiya, where St Sebastian’s Church was bombed on Easter Sunday. The Congregation also has a Friary just in front of St Sebastian’s Church, Katuwapitiya. Fortunately none of the friars were injured. When did you get the news about the bomb blasts? On Easter Sunday, I said Mass at 7.00am at a nearby church. And just after Mass I got the news of six blasts that took place within a short space of time; Katuwapitiya, ColomboKochchikade, Baticaloa and three hotels in Colombo city. UNICEF registered more than 47 died children in the massacre. You also have a school (minor seminary) a few kilometres away from the city of Negombo. What about the children, can they understand what is happened? We Sri Lankans suffered enough from 30 years of war against terrorists. We thought that Sri Lanka was becoming a peaceful environment. But with these blasts, all our hope has gone. We are far away from peace. Today a considerable number of children have become victims of the blasts. Children are innocent. They are unable to understand what is happening. Most of the children are in fear. Schools are closed for a few days.
On the one hand, Sri Lankan Christians always listen to their pastors. They do not harm others. On the other hand, most of the Christians are in fear. That is because only Christians were targeted by the attacks. But now the Police have continued carrying out raids and have arrested some people in connection with the attacks. Did you take part in the funeral last Tuesday? Yes. I did. Not only that; I asked all of our Friars (TOR Franciscans) to attend the funeral services. What was the message of His Eminence? His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith expressed his grief at the explosions that occurred at three churches at Easter Sunday Mass. In his Message to the nation, Cardinal Ranjith invited the people to remain calm and asked them not to take the law into their own hands. His Eminence also expressed his deepest sympathies to the grieving families who lost their loved ones in the blasts, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured. His Eminence requested the public to be generous in donating blood at this hour of need. What is your message for the world? “There is no way to peace, peace is the way.” The way of peace is the
path of love. St Francis, our patron Saint, loved people and nature alike. Let us take every possible step to avoid violence and live peacefully. Do you know a prayer to our Lady of Lanka that we could share with our benefactors to pray for Sri Lanka? Thank you very much for your concern for our country. May God bless you! We recite the following prayer every day for our country (Sri Lanka): “O Most Loving and Tender Mother, Queen and Patroness of Sri Lanka, we humbly ask you to look upon us, your children, in our hour of need. Dearest Mother, you have come to our rescue, even in times of peril, from war and destruction. In your neverfailing love for us, we earnestly ask you, to dispel from our midst, waves of violence, killings and addictions, and various forms of evil actions to disrupt unity among people. Help us to build in our land God’s Kingdom of Justice and Love. We entrust to your loving care and guidance all races and peoples of our country. Help us to bring about brotherhood, peace and unity in our society. Guide the destinies of our nation and obtain for us lasting peace so that all of us may live as brothers and sisters of one family. Amen.”
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) Australia has launched a National Appeal for Sri Lanka in the wake of the Easter Bomb Attacks: For many decades ACN, a pontifical foundation that supports suffering and persecuted Christians, has worked closely with the Church in Sri Lanka on projects around the formation of seminarians and religious, the building of churches, faith education and more. After the 2019 Easter attacks that left 253 dead, Aid to the Church in Need has pledged support for five new projects in Sri Lanka, worth approximately AUD $116,000. This is in addition to already existing pastoral programmes within the country. The newly pledged funding will enable people of all ages to access a counselling centre in Marawila, for at least the next two years, and be part of newly developed Diocesan activities across a number of Dioceses. Those who wish to support ACN’s projects in Sri Lanka can: Donate over the phone: 1800 101 201 Online: www.aidtochurch.org/SriLanka Send a cheque to: Aid to the Church in Need Australia PO BOX 335 PENRITH NSW 2751
*Please send a note that you would like your donation directed towards projects most in need in Sri Lanka.
Are your relatives or the families of the children affected? No, my relatives were not caught in the blast. But some very close friends were injured, and some killed. What was the reaction of the Christians, are they in fear? We never expected these kinds of incidents to happen in our country. BROKEN BAY NEWS
Fr Malaka Leonard Fernando, Minister Provincial of the Vice Province of our Lady of Lanka, Sri Lanka, of the Third Order Regular Franciscans, Copyright Aid to the Church in Need
Inside St Sebastian’s Church after the explosions. Image Credit: Roshan and Pradeep and T Sunil: Copyright Aid to the Church in Need. JUNE 2019 27
NEWS AND ISSUES
My friendship with Jean Vanier
A saintly man committed to peace and justice Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche Community passed away on 7 May 2019 in Paris, aged 90. BY ZACHARIAH DUKE
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s someone who was blessed to share a friendship with Jean Vanier over a number of years, it seems almost unimaginable to accept that he is no longer with us! It has been difficult for me to accept his recent death having only been in communication with him a couple of weeks before. However, in the midst of my grief, I have been comforted knowing that his remarkable legacy will continue to live on through the many L’Arche and Faith and Light communities that exist throughout the world. Moreover, it is reasonable to believe that people will seek out one or more of his many publications and read some of his profound work. This is a good thing. My friendship with Jean began more than a decade ago when I reached out to him during the early months of my doctoral studies. We remained in touch and exchanged many letters. He became one of my trusted mentors – offering advice about my research (which was a project in disability theology) and life in general. I eventually met him in person in June 2012 after attending an academic conference in northern France. It was truly a surreal moment. I have fond memories of sitting at his feet for hours while he shared stories about the beginnings of L’Arche; his meeting with Mother Teresa; and his thoughts on the need for reconciliation of First Nation peoples of Australia. We held hands. We
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prayed together. It was a profound encounter with a saintly man. Since 2012, I have travelled to Jean’s home every year (with the exception of this year!) to spend time with him – either myself or together with a retreat group. Another highlight of my friendship with Jean was interviewing him in June 2015. This interview is now publicly available on YouTube, search for A Witness to God’s Peace: A Jean Vanier Symposium (https:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=7p478XRU8Uw), courtesy of the generous support of my former employer, BBI-TAITE. The genesis of this interview dates back to early 2014, where I very brazenly asked Jean whether he would make the trip to Australia to run a series of lectures. Jean grinded and responded by saying: “I’d love to travel to Australia again, but my body just isn’t up to it”. A fair response from a (then) 85-year old man! However, Jean suggested that I travel to France to interview him. And that’s exactly what I did. This interview then became the foundation of an excellent symposium titled, A Witness to God’s Peace: A Jean Vanier Symposium, which was held in Sydney in March 2017. I will miss my friendship with Jean but will hold my many memories of him, close to my heart. I am a better person having known him for a short time.
I will miss my friendship with Jean but will hold my many memories of him, close to my heart. May he rest in peace and may his legacy live on forever. Zachariah (Zach) Duke is Acting Academic Dean, Acting Head of Learning and Teaching and Lecturer in Theology at The Catholic Institute of Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as a Research Fellow with The Nathaniel Centre – the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre. Zach’s main areas of academic competence include, disability theology; practicalpastoral theology; ecclesiology and ethnography; Jean Vanier and the spirituality of L’Arche; and theological education. Zach volunteers regularly at St Lucy’s School, St Vincent de Paul and L’Arche Australia. Email: zachariahduke@outlook.com.au
Along the journey I met some truly amazing people.
ACROSS OUR DIOCESE
BBI-TAITE graduates urged to take theology out to the world Almost 100 graduating students from BBI-TAITE have been challenged to put their theological education into action by asking questions of, and engaging with, the rapidly changing world around them.
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his year’s graduation ceremony, held at Pennant Hills on 26 April, was the second graduating class from BBI-TAITE since it became an accredited higher education provider in its own right. Seven graduands attended the ceremony, while the majority of the 93 graduands of the specialised online and distance theological education institute received their certificates by mail, right across Australia. BBI-TAITE Principal and Board Member, the Rev Dr John Frauenfelder welcomed those present, both the graduands and their families who had supported them during their studies, as well as the BBI-TAITE academics and Bishop Robert McGuckin of Toowoomba Diocese, who is a member of the Board. Dr Frauenfelder recounted the history of BBI-TAITE, which, he said, began as the dream of three young Sydney priests, David Walker (later the bishop of Broken Bay Diocese), Peter Neville and Neil Brown. Inspired by the Second Vatican Council, they began “a unique ministry in the life of the Church in Australia,” putting together correspondence courses which allowed all people to engage in adult faith and theological formation and education. That enterprise has grown and changed over the years, moving from the Centre for Christian Spirituality in Randwick, to be known as the Broken Bay Institute when Bishop David became chief shepherd of the Diocese (from 1996 to 2013), and most recently becoming BBI-TAITE. Dr Frauenfelder said BBI-TAITE would continue to grow, develop and reimagine itself into the future, following Pope Francis’ example of placing evangelisation at the heart of its mission. “So the dream begun long ago is a dream that BROKEN BAY NEWS
is unfulfilled as yet,” he said. “A dream that has much more to be put in place if we truly want to be known as a boutique institute that is in tune with the Church and with the way in which the Church today, under the guidance of Pope Francis, is envisaging its place within the world in which we live.” Following the graduation, the Occasional Address was given by Professor Gerard Moore a theologian who has taught widely and published extensively in the areas of worship and liturgical spirituality. He is a member of the Charles Sturt University Public and Contextual Theology Research Centre.
Dale Clacherty, a PDHPE teacher at All Saints College, Maitland, who was conferred with a Graduate Certificate in Religious Education, said he took up Theological study because he wanted to be able to teach Religious Education. “It’s always been an interest of mine,” he said. “Growing up Catholic, this was an excellent chance to be able to teach the younger generation and to pass on the message of Jesus Christ.” Dale said he loved the BBI-TAITE learning experience.
Professor Moore congratulated the graduates and welcomed them into the Australian theological community.
“The staff were always helpful, the courses were engaging, and most importantly they were relevant to what we’re doing today.”
“Many of us here today have been in the many and varied bodies of the Australian theological community for a long time,” he said. “We love graduates. We love to welcome people into this community and we want you to take your place. We want you to feel very welcome.”
Wendy Baker, from the regional city of Armidale in NSW, graduated with a Master of Theological Studies, with her research focused on capturing the stories of the people in the Armidale Diocese who were relating with the First Peoples of the area.
He urged the graduates to now go out into the world and ask questions of their life, their community and society through a theological lens. “You walk out into a slightly changed, very interesting Australian world, and we would like you to take to that world the theological thinking and the theological questions,” he said.
“I was concerned that many of the people at the coal face were becoming older and there was a need to capture their stories,” she said. “It’s part of a living legacy and now I need to consult with the people who I talked to, who gave me the information, to see what their wishes are, as to how and where the material will be kept.”
“You’re now invited to take up those conversations in Australia, but from a newer, different perspective.”
Wendy said the experience of studying for her Master’s degree was enriching.
He said at a time when royal commissions had shed light on the lack of trust in institutions, from churches, to banks and government agencies, it is important for theology graduates to engage with the questions arising from this new landscape.
“Along the journey I met some truly amazing people. As our Church changes, as I know it must, I know that more amazing people will come forward to continue this work.”
“Our question theologically is how do we embrace this change and bring the Word of God to it?”
For any inquiries please contact BBI-TAITE Student Services on (02) 9847 0030 or email studentservices@bbi.catholic.edu.au JUNE 2019 29
ACROSS OUR DIOCESE
Catholic Social Teaching
Principles for Hope in Challenging Times In the post Royal Commission era, many Catholics have been left wondering how the Church can ever speak again with credibility on the complex social and moral issues of our time.
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atholic Social Teaching (CST) is a formal body of modern social teachings developed since the 19th Century and drawing on the major sources of Catholic ethics. CST provides guiding principles for judging social and ecological issues and helps in making decisions about how to take positive action for the good. These principles stand as lighthouse beacons for sound, ethical decision-making in the most turbulent of times. At a Frenchs Forest Parish Forum on Sunday 28 April, led by Fr Jack Evans ssc, participants explored the following topics. The Core Elements of CST: Collective wisdom drawn from Scripture, Reason, Tradition and Lived Experience, which has stood the test of time since the early Church and is interpreted in the signs of the current times. The key principles of CST: Since the publication of the Encyclical Letter Rerum Novarum (Of New Things) by Pope Leo XIII in 1891, numerous encyclical letters have been written on social justice issues, the latest being Laudato Si’ (Praise Be), by Pope
Francis in 2015. The Key principles in all the encyclicals are Human Dignity, the Common Good, Subsidiarity1, and Solidarity. Vinnies participants knew about CST because the work of their founder, Frederick Ozanam, preceded Rerum Novarum which was about the plight of workers at the end of the 19th Century. They commented that Church structures such as the Australian Catholic Social Justice Council assist parishes to involve more people in practical action. The process used in the forum enabled learning and dialogue among people from different ages and world views and was an energising experience. Groups chose media articles to discuss briefly and to apply CST in their deliberations. Topics chosen were climate change, the plight of refugees on Manus Island and Indigenous self-determination. Points made were that today everything is politicised, and so people need to keep themselves informed. Laudato Si’ brings a whole new element to these key principles
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by extending them from human relationships to all aspects of creation, thereby adding Care for our Common Home to Catholic Social Teaching. Subsidiarity, perhaps the least known and least well practised principle, even in the Church, was discussed in the context of women being left out of decisions in the Church that affect them. Others were not aware of natural law, a foundation of Church teaching. Today, science and particularly the science of evolution, is important in a 21st Century reflection on natural law. The group welcomed as rapporteurs, Ashleigh Green, Community Engagement Coordinator for CatholicCare and Australian Delegate to the 2018 Vatican Synod on Youth and her fiancé, Justin Donnelly, High School Science Teacher and Young Adult Leader at Hornsby Parish. They listened in to the different groups, then fed back what they heard, adding their own perspectives. Ashleigh pointed out that young people ask questions like, “Why can’t we have values without going to
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Laudato Si’ brings a whole new element to these key principles by extending them from human relationships to all aspects of creation... church?” She highlighted the need to build intergenerational solidarity on social justice issues as a way to engage youth. Justin talked about how he and the young adults “group work” with people to promote social cohesion, and in particular interfaith activities such as Youth PoWR (Youth Parliament of World Religions). Now to spread the word about the gift of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and its value in ways of living the Gospel! Participants thought that the application of CST principles should form a greater part of seminary curriculum and feature in post-graduate clergy education, with a view to increasing CST awareness among churchgoers. 1. All people have the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. Subsidiarity requires that decisions are made by the people closest and most affected by the issues and concerns of the community. (Source: Caritas Australia)
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NEWS AND ISSUES
It’s the little things
DIOCESE OF BROKEN BAY Diocesan Office: Tel (02) 8379 1600 Caroline Chisholm Centre Building 2, 423 Pennant Hills Rd Pennant Hills NSW 2120 (Access off City View Rd) PO Box 340 Pennant Hills NSW 1715 diocesan.administrator@bbcatholic.org.au
CHANCERY OFFICES Diocesan Administrator Very Rev Dr David Ranson Senior Advisor Kelly Paget Chancellor Jo Robertson Diocesan Financial Administrator, Director, Office for Stewardship: Emma McDonald Director, Office for Communications Michael O’Dwyer Director, Diocesan Office for Safeguarding Jodie Crisafulli Tel: (02) 8379 1605 Director, Marriage Tribunal: Adrienne Connaghan Tel: (02) 8379 1680 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) Alison Newell
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OFFICE Director: Peter Hamill Tel (02) 9847 0000 PO Box 967 Pennant Hills NSW 1715
CATHOLICCARE Executive Director: Lyn Ainsworth 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) 4320 7700 Mission, Hospital Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care (02) 9481 2658
BROKEN BAY NEWS Editor: Melissa Loughlin Tel: (02) 8379 1618 news@bbcatholic.org.au Design: Chris Murray Printed by NCP Printing 18,700 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. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply diocesan endorsement of products or services advertised.
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BROKEN BAY NEWS
Through the eyes of one young woman, this series will explore what it means to be Catholic in the modern world. Starting with what it means to be a single Catholic and ending with social issues such as SameSex Marriage, this series hopes to provide a fresh perspective on the issues that are all too important. BY CATHERINE DAY
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t’s the little things. You don’t feel them at first, they just sort of chip away without you even realising what’s happening. You keep telling yourself it’s ok because after all, it’s not like you’ve killed anyone, right? You might start to speak, dress, think and act differently but you still haven’t killed anyone, so it’s not an issue. But it is an issue. Those little things, they build up and before you know it, you’ll find you’ve compromised yourself so much, you won’t be the you you once were. These little things are of course, sin. Sin never starts off as an obvious thing. It doesn’t appear to us in big neon signs. It doesn’t randomly tell a child to murder his mother or father. Instead, because it comes from a cunning and devious mind, sin starts off as a little voice. That voice tells that child he is not loved by his parents and once that lie is believed, that child begins to hate his parents. Over time he will believe that they do not deserve his respect and eventually he will truly believe, he’d be better off without them. This is, of course, an extreme example but I use it to illustrate a point. The moment we begin to believe a lie, is the exact moment we open ourselves up to Satan. He knows what our weaknesses are, and he can exploit them, only if we let him.
Sinning is a choice. We decide to accept the temptation that is offered to us. But how do we get to the point of accepting what we know to be wrong. Simply, we let our defences down. We have been equipped with some amazing weapons; the Bible and prayer. Combined, these allow us to focus on God, to focus on what is right and good. Without them, we become lost. The Devil knows this, and he knows how to play us. I’ve recently realised that I’ve stopped doing one of my favourite things. I used to read a lot. I would read classic authors, modern authors and my Bible. I don’t read anymore. Instead, my spare time is spent in front of Netflix. This might not seem like a big deal, but it is. Reading provides nourishment for the mind. It opens our imagination, it opens us to reason and beauty, it allows us to explore and discover parts of our world we never knew existed. Now, I’m not saying not reading is a sin because it’s not. The hours spent binge watching a show rather than being productive with the time I have been gifted with, that is sinful. It keeps me away from being with family, friends and God. It does
nothing for me other than entertain me after a long day at the office. It is instant gratification that requires me to do nothing but sit. Why has this happened? I think it’s because I believed the lie that little voice told me. Reading requires effort and after spending the day going from meeting to meeting, writing and answering emails, the last thing I want to do is read. I used my brain enough for the day therefore, there’s nothing wrong with sitting in front of the TV. I know I need to get back to reading. But I also know, as funny as it sounds, I can’t do it on my own. I need to pray. I need to ask for the strength to sit down with book in hand and just read. Maybe only for half an hour to start off with, but I need to pray about it. Prayer is one of the greatest weapons we have against the Devil. It becomes like a shield, protecting us from constant attack. And it’s not just prayer that we need. We need to open our Bibles; its words nourish our souls. We need to go to church. After all, the Church is a hospital for us sinners. These three provide us with the ongoing strength that we need to stop those little things from chipping away at us.
The hours spent binge watching a show rather than being productive with the time I have been gifted with, that is sinful
So what is sin? Sin is the rejection of reason, truth and right conscience. Ultimately, sin is a failure of genuine love for God. It loves everything God hates and hates everything God loves. God loves us and has only ever wanted us to love Him. Sin keeps us from God because we end up choosing instant gratification over God. Rather than thinking about the relationship we have with God and those around us, we think only of ourselves. JUNE 2019 31
BBI-TAITE 2019 Events 2019 Religious Education Symposium Moving from Theory to Practice: Religious Education in the Classroom The focus of BBI-TAITE's third National Religious Education Symposium will highlight Religious Education in the classroom. The theme will be animated by the rich wisdom of three key-note presenters and a wide range of engaging, interactive workshops, structured reflection as well as the opportunity for informal networking.
Thursday 12 to Friday 13 September International Conference Centre Darling Harbour, Sydney
Keynote Speakers: This will be the finest gathering of international and national high-profile speakers and experts on Religious Education presented in Australia in 2019. Rev Dr Andrew Pinsent Research Director Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion, University of Oxford Making a god of science: Implications for Religious Education Dr Sandra Cullen Director of the ICRE (Irish Centre for Religious Education), Dublin City University Religious Education in the classroom: Let's talk about God Assoc Prof Brendan Hyde Academic Dean, BBI-The Australian Institute of Theological Education Religious Education in the classroom: The child, theology and the early years.
Stirring the Soul - Formation of Catholic Educators and Leaders
Saint-Paul University and BBI-TAITE Professional Development Seminars
This exciting professional development seminar provides an opportunity for participants to explore the formational responsibilities of those who lead in Christian ministries. Facilitated by Dr Jill Gowdie, this seminar will allow participants to discuss and critique models of spiritual formation in the Catholic educational setting, and facilitate practical ideas and tools that participants can use and adopt into their own leadership contexts.
Synodality holds a preeminent place in the evangelising ministry of Pope Francis. Monsignor John Renken views this as fundamental to servant leadership as he discusses canonical issues for chancery staff, and underpinning missionary discipleship as a way of responding to the sexual abuse crisis and so contribute to safeguarding the flock through honest and mature reflection on the path ahead, a synodal journey.
Author, Speaker & Teacher Dr Jill Gowdie Principal Education Officer for Identity, Mission and Religious Education Services for Brisbane Catholic Education
Full Price: $395 Religious Price: $265 Group Price (5+): $300
Safeguarding the Flock: The Response to the Sex Abuse Crisis A Reflective Workshop for Faith Filled Missionary Disciplines Date: 28-29 August 2019
Thursday 9 July to Wednesday 10 July 2019
Price: $250 for one day OR $395 for both days (Save $105)
Synodal Servant-Leadership In the Particular Church A Workshop on Canonical Issues for Chancery Practitioners Date: 29-30 August 2019 Lecturing Professor Monsignor John Renken Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law, Saint Paul University Ottawa, Canada
For additional information and registration details please contact: Ms Belinda Srour Events Manager E: bsrour@bbi.catholic.edu.au P: +61 2 9847 0030