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ACROSS Our Diocese An Appealing Tradition Twitter feeds from the 14 th Century By Anneliese Scenna A MUSICAL instrument, you could say, bellowing sound, a communication device for the locals. It’s a call to worship, a call to celebrate and a call to mourn – the church bell has been all this and more for centuries. And now St Leonard’s Church, Lower North Shore, is getting six bells all the way from Wales – making it the first Catholic Church in Sydney region in 150 years to have its own peal of bells. Bellringing is an art that takes years of practice. To the uninitiated, a simple pull of a bell-rope would seem to be enough to get a good chime. But there’s a lot to learn, and it’s a team sport, requiring physical and mental stamina, as well as the ability to play with a group. For bellringer Patricia Gemmell, of Naremburn, learning was harder than she expected, and after two lessons she was almost ready to give up. “It’s very difficult at first,” she says. “The second lesson I was totally discouraged, and thought I just don’t know if I’ll go ahead with this.” But Mrs Gemmell persisted, and by the end of her third lesson she had developed a surprising passion for her craft. “I was hooked because I could actually do it,” she says. “It’s a very long slow process, but once I got it, that was it. I love it – I could never have believed I would become so passionate about bellringing.” Months of hard work and intensive learning for Mrs Gemmell and the other bellringers in the area got them to the point where they could control the bells, ring in rounds and do a few call changes, where you change the order in which each bell is rung. Dr Matthew Sorell, President of the Australian and New Zealand Association of Bellringers, says you have to practise until you and the bell become one. “It’s just naturally an extension of you,” he says. Despite the process, the Naremburn group had a target – they were aiming to be ready for the dedication of six new bells at their local St Leonard’s Church. The idea began eight to 10 years ago, and took off in 2009. At first it was opposed by a small group of residents concerned about noise, but it finally won approval with sound and time restrictions. All the way from the Church of Our Lady and St James at Bangor, in Wales, the six bells made a new home in St Leonard’s Church and were rung for the first time in April. An outcome only made possible by donations from the community at large, which funded the bells project in its entirety. “That was amazing, to think this is real – our church actually has a peal of bells now,” says Mrs Gemmell. “And they’re here to stay – once they’re in our church, they’ll be there for 100 or 200 years.” The plan is to ring the bells 15 minutes before 10:30am and 6pm Mass on Sundays, and at a number of weddings and funerals during the year. Dr Sorell hopes the peal of the bells will add to the sense of occasion. Being familiar with the sound from trips overseas, Mrs Gemmell is sure the bells won’t be an annoyance. “I don’t think it will be intrusive into people’s lives – not as intrusive as the barking dogs and whipper-snippers and lawnmowers and helicopters,” she says, chuckling. Now ready for service, Mrs Gemmell says she has a lifetime of learning ahead of her. Dr Sorell, who has devoted nearly 25 years to bellringing and is still learning, says that is one of the great joys. “It’s not just learn the skill, get to a plateau and forget it.” The craft has a history going back centuries, he says. The church was usually built on the highest local point, so the peal of the bells could be heard all around. Dr Sorell calls it “14 th and 15 th century Twitter”. “How would you know it was time for Mass? How would you know it was time for work? The answer is the bells.” Six centuries later, bells continue to be a core element of life for many people – believers and non-believers alike. And more than 100 years after the laying of its foundation stone, St Leonard’s Church has another significant moment to add to its timeline. After a decade-long vision, the six bells from Wales are now proudly hanging at the highest point of the church, sending their joyful peal over the area. And that has to be a call to celebrate. * Photos courtesy of Patricia Gemmell 26 AUGUST 2013 BBN Proudly sponsored by
ACROSS Our Diocese One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism by Lorraine Lobsey, Member of Ecumenical Commission of Broken Bay We had the luxury of our own coach and driver and being dropped off right at the gates of the Catholic church at Woy Woy, where the lights of this tall circular building both welcomed and intrigued us. This was the Fifth Anniversary of the Covenant between the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle represented by Bishop Peter Stuart, the Catholic Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle represented by Bishop William Wright, and the Catholic Diocese of Broken Bay which was represented by Bishop David Walker. From the start there was something a bit different about this Ecumenical Service. The seating in the church follows its circular shape and embraces those assembled bringing all closer to the Eucharistic table. The three bishops sat beside the Baptismal Font, with the congregation. The theme of the liturgy was taken from Ephesians 4: 1-7 – there is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism”. This was all the more poignant as the church is named after St John the Baptist. Words of former Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop Rowan Williams were read and went straight to the point “In the near future of ecumenical dialogue I believe that a more robust assertion of what it is we recognise when we recognise each other’s baptism will be of great significance. To recognise one another’s baptism is not to recognise the mechanical validity of some action; it is to recognise being in Christ”. We were given hope in a reflection of the Bishops of Anglican Communion (1988) “Even where we are not yet “in communion” we recognise that we are not “out of communion” but already experience a considerable degree of communion grounded in a common baptism and shared faith.” The Gospel was from Matthew 28: 16-20. In his homily Rev Greg Woolnough, Minister of Gosford Uniting Church, reflected that following Jesus and His example isn’t easy, it asks a lot. Concluding, he said that it can mean going beyond what’s comfortable, personally, and as church. Such is the challenge with our Covenant. Our true security is in God. Tonight the focus was on our common baptism. In response to The Call of Baptism we each called out loud our name, denomination and location of church sounding a bit like the Tower of Babel might have sounded. We acclaimed our Baptismal Commitment and Profession of Faith and were sprinkled with the Waters of the Font by the three Bishops who had blessed it together. When exchanging the sign of peace we verbally acknowledged the baptism of the person beside us saying “Through our common baptism Christ Photos courtesy Tom Croll Photography has claimed us for his own. Peace be with you”. The challenge and mission of Christian people was reflected in the beautiful concluding prayers and blessing. With the pipe organ and choir in full voice the people led the Bishops and clergy out of the church, passing by the waters of the baptismal font and onto a delicious supper. We pray that one day we pass beyond our baptism and onto share together at the Eucharist table. Date Claimer: Upcoming Ecumenical Events Priests or Ministers? What’s the difference?” To find the answers you will need to come along to the Dialogue between the Catholic Church and Uniting Church being held at Gosford Uniting Church on Wednesday, 21 August at 7.30 pm. The speakers will be Bishop David Walker, Bishop of Broken Bay and Rev. Greg McConnell, Chairperson of the Ku-ring-gai Presbytery of the Uniting Church. Our first dialogue was very well received. Please come along, there’s always something new to discover. Episcopal Dialogues The topic before the Bishops is “In essentials, unity; in non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity” (St Augustine). What would you say are the three essential beliefs in order to be a Christian?” We expect the Bishops will hold the same three essential beliefs, but will they? Respectful and light-hearted but always informative and thought-provoking it is wellworth coming along. All are welcome. Tuesday 13 August at 7.30 pm at St John’s Anglican Church, Gordon (Cnr Pacific Highway and St Johns Avenue) led by Bishop David Walker and Anglican Bishop Glenn Davies. Thursday 5 September at 7.30 pm at Christ Church Anglican Church Mann St, Gosford, led by Bishop David Walker and Anglican Bishop Peter Stuart. Proudly sponsored by BBN AUGUST 2013 27
Page 1 and 2: The Vocation God’s Call facing th
Page 3 and 4: Bishop David’s Message God’s Ca
Page 5 and 6: Vocations Awareness Week Have I Eve
Page 7 and 8: Vocations Awareness Week Celebratio
Page 9 and 10: ACROSS Our Diocese Remembering your
Page 11 and 12: Art Exhibition for Boonah Boonah Cr
Page 13 and 14: It’s on Again: Broken Bay Prepare
Page 15 and 16: Migrant and Refugee Week Let the Ve
Page 17 and 18: EDUCATION of Teaching A Teaching Pr
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Page 21 and 22: How to Develop a Parish Youth Choir
Page 23 and 24: ACROSS Our Diocese “The Light of
Page 25: ACROSS Our Diocese The building was
Page 29 and 30: Spring Racing is On Again! Catholic
Page 31 and 32: BROKEN BAY BIBLE CONFERENCE 2013 Jo
Page 33 and 34: Parish Support Unit Education and F

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