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2 CatholicOutlook August 2010 Vocations on the up? THE BISHOP’S LETTER Bishop Anthony Fisher OP To my delight we have a new Marist community in Harris Park, with a vibrant group of religious consisting of Brothers Anthony Robertson, Tony Leon, Anthony Robinson and Michael Callanan. Meanwhile, the Diocese of Parramatta has 10 seminarians and some other Australian dioceses are also doing relatively well for vocations. Please pray for our seminarians: Deacon John Watkins, Peter Kuraya, Arnulfo Tolentino, Nino Canete, Alfredito Dalogdog, Anthony Saliba, Galbert Albino, John Sultana, Thomas Hien Bui and Charles Nwaorgu. Recently, I attended a number of conferences and meetings overseas and took the opportunity to visit my Dominican confreres. The Irish Dominicans have had only a trickle of vocations in recent years. Yet amidst the outrage and dejection occasioned by the sexual abuse crisis, when ordinary human wisdom would tell us to expect a collapse in vocations, 13 novices entered this year! They are fine young men who fill me with confidence for the future and they have lifted the spirits of the whole Order and the Irish Church. In New York I found that the Eastern Province (one of four provinces of Dominican friars in the US) has 21 novices this year alone – the biggest number in decades – and many more students for the priesthood further advanced in formation. In Nashville, Tennessee, where the Dominican Sisters were celebrating their 150 th jubilee, I encountered more than 50 young nuns in formation, including two Australians – bright, articulate, fun-loving, God-loving women. And on the day I returned to Australia three new novices and two new students joined the Australian Dominicans. What’s going on? What’s going on here? Why, in a secular age, when faith and religious practice are waning; in a consumer August age, when people are frequently valued only by what they own and control; in a non-committal age, when selfsacrifice is unpopular and life-vows seem impossible – why would vocations be on the rise in some places? The principal answer, I am convinced, is divine grace. Vocations are a pure gift. No matter what we consciously do to promote them – or what we unconsciously do that undermines them – God makes the call. Right now we need more vocations and God is clearly calling more young men to the priesthood, more women and men to consecrated life. God knows our need, He cares, and He responds. Mostly our job is just to get out of the way and let God work His magic! That said, we must also cooperate with God’s grace. We must do what we can. That means being open to the possibility that it’s one of our own children or grandchildren, family members, friends or fellow parishioners who God is calling to priestly or religious life. Daring to suggest a vocation to someone we think might have one. Praying for those who are discerning their vocations and those who are trying to live them out faithfully. Encouraging our existing priests and religious. For young people it means being open to the possibility that God is calling you. Asking God for wisdom and courage, for a big heart and small fears. Seeking advice from wise people. Talking it through, thinking it through, praying it through. Daring to take the first step by searching the net, talking to the Diocesan Vocation Director (Fr Paul Roberts), attending a discernment day or vocations retreat. Daring, in turn, to take the plunge. And being confident that God wants you, loves you, has great plans for you. Some people have a nagging sense that God wants them to preach the Gospel, offer the Eucharistic sacrifice, lead and minister to God’s people, teach or care as His vowed collaborators. No thunderbolts, no angelic visitations, just a growing clarity that this is where they could be most happy and do most to help others to experience ‘life to the full’. Some take a good while to sort out that this is right for them. Some seek a kind of mathematical certainty they’ll never have or want the approval of everyone around them, which is unlikely to come till much later. Some delay for too long making up their mind and ‘go off the boil’. Some join ‘the Order of Perpetual Discerners’. 1 August 10am: Installation of Rev Peter Blayney as Parish Priest of St Patrick’s Parish, Guildford 4 August St John Vianney Day for Clergy, St Patrick’s Cathedral; 7pm: Introduction to Saints/Sainthood – Parramatta Institute for Mission, Blacktown 5 August Opening & Blessing, St Bernadette’s School, Lalor Park; Mary MacKillop Dinner, Sydney 6 August Opening & Blessing, Mary MacKillop Primary, Penrith South 11 August Catholic Schools Council 13 August Opening Address: Dominican Governance Symposium, Strathfield; 7pm: Confirmations at St Bernadette’s Church, Dundas Valley 15 August 11am: Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta That’s not what we need here in Parramatta. What we need is young men and women of faith and daring, willing to embrace God’s call with full heart. No priests means no Eucharist means no Church – simple as that. No religious means no spiritual heroes, no hidden service, no one totally consecrated to God and His people. But with more priests and religious we will do great things in Western Sydney. Join me in this great adventure! Our seminary is waiting for you … Have a look at: www.parra.catholic.org.au/vocations One year to WYD2011 Madrid This month it is one year to World Youth Day in Madrid. There’s no better place to explore your vocation than on pilgrimage with two million other young people! I ask every parish, migrant community, school and movement to do what they can to encourage their young people to join one of the Diocese of Parramatta’s pilgrimages to WYD2011. Some young people will need our financial sponsorship; others need simple words of encouragement from us to dare to go. The rewards are enormous for every young person who attends World Youth Day and for those to whom they return. There might even be some vocations amongst them. Have a look at the WYD section on the home page menu of our diocesan website at: www.parra.catholic.org.au Eucharistic Adoration at St Patrick’s Cathedral Starting from next month we will have Eucharistic Adoration on the first Thursday night of each month in St Patrick’s Cathedral, specifically to pray for our young people and to pray for vocations. For further details see P14 in the Vocations feature in this issue of Catholic Outlook. Please support this initiative by your attendance and prayers. O God, you wish all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of your truth: send, we pray, labourers into your harvest, and grant them the grace to speak your word with all boldness, to offer your sacraments with all reverence and to guide your people as true shepherds; so that all people may know and love you, the one true God, and the One whom you have sent, Our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen. THE BISHOP’S DIARY 16 August Opening & Blessing, St Canice’s Primary, Katoomba 18 August Catholic Education Commission of NSW; Diocesan Finance Council 19 August Catholic Education Office Biennial Awards 21 August 8.30am: Youth Breakfast, St Patrick’s Cathedral Hall. Parramatta 22 - 24 Confirmations at St John Vianney Parish, Doonside; August Visitation at St John Vianney Parish, Doonside 26 August Opening address: Sesquicentenary of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Lismore 29 August Installation of Rev Arthur Cook as Parish Priest of St Matthew’s Parish, Windsor 31 August Mass for residents and staff at St Dominic’s Hostel Canonisation of Mary MacKillop Diocesan Celebration on the afternoon of Sunday 31 October 2010 Everyone is invited to join together in a diocesan celebration of the canonisation of Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint. Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, Bishop of Parramatta, will be the principal celebrant for a special Mass. The venue is the Morley Centre in the Westmead Catholic Education Precinct, Darcy Street, Westmead (opp. Westmead Hospital). Pick up the September 2010 issue of Catholic Outlook for full details of the program. What does Mary mean to you? The Diocese of Parramatta’s website has a section dedicated to the canonisation of Mary MacKillop. This section will include stories from people across the Diocese whose lives have been touched by Mary. If you have a special connection to Mary that you would like to share, go to “Mary MacKillop Canonisation” on the home page menu at www.parra.catholic.org.au The official publication of the Diocese of Parramatta. Publisher: Bishop Anthony Fisher op Tel (02) 9683 6277 Fax (02) 9630 4813 PO Box 3066, North Parramatta, NSW, 1750 Email: bishop@parra.catholic. org.au Website: www.parra.catholic.org.au Editor: Jane Favotto Tel (02) 8838 3409 Fax (02) 9630 4813 editor@parra.catholic. org.au PO Box 3066, North Parramatta, NSW, 1750 Advertising: Tel (02) 8838 3409 Fax (02) 9630 4813 Deadlines: Editorial and advertising – 10th of the month prior to publication School news: Catholic Education Office Tel (02) 9840 5683 news@parra.catholic.edu.au Journalist: Virginia Knight Design: Chris Murray limad@mac.com Website: Andrew Emmerson Tel (02) 8838 3407 aemmerson@ parra.catholic.org.au Peter Gresser Tel (02) 8838 3406 web@parra.catholic.org.au Printing: Rural Press Printing, North Richmond 40,000 copies of Catholic Outlook are distributed monthly through 49 parishes and 82 Catholic schools. All material in this publication is copyright and may not be reproduced without permission of the editor. Catholic Outlook is a member of the Australasian Catholic Press Assoc. and the Australasian Religious Press Assoc.
Parramatta’s Lord Mayor, Cr Paul Garrard, hosted a reception for Bishop Kevin Manning and Bishop Anthony Fisher OP. Photo: Karen Steains Photography Civic reception to honour bishops Virginia Knight On 2 July 2010, the Lord Mayor of Parramatta, Cr Paul Garrard, hosted a civic reception for Bishop Anthony Fisher op and Bishop Kevin Manning at Granville Town Hall. Councillors, local dignitaries and businesspeople gathered with many representatives from diocesan ministries and local parish communities to welcome Bishop Anthony as the new Bishop of Parramatta and to acknowledge the long-serving contribution of Bishop Kevin, who retired in March this year. In his speech, Cr Garrard thanked Bishop Kevin for his tireless dedication to the people of the city of Parramatta over the past 13 years, and added warmly “you will always have a home in Parramatta”. In response, Bishop Kevin thanked the members of Parramatta Council for their cooperation during the rebuilding of St Patrick’s Cathedral, citing it as a place of reflection for all who live and work in the city. He likened the relationship between the Catholic Church and Parramatta Council to a partnership in building up the social capital of the city. “One of the highlights of my time in Parramatta has been the opportunity for inter-religious dialogue, probably one of the best in Australia, and Council has always been supportive,” he said. Bishop Kevin said he had an abiding interest in the city, its people and their welfare “and I pray for you daily. My time with you has been most enjoyable and fruitful and I thank you all sincerely”. On behalf of the people of Parramatta, Cr Garrard extended a welcome to Bishop Anthony. “I know that all Catholics in Parramatta welcome you to your new leadership role, and we look forward to the important contributions you will no doubt make over the coming years.” Bishop Anthony acknowledged the gracious welcome extended to him by people across the Diocese and thanked them for their support. “I undertake to pray for you and work with you as best I can for the good of the people of Western Sydney in the years ahead,” he said. He recognised Bishop Kevin’s contribution to the Diocese, noting that “history will remember him as one of the great leaders of the area”. Bishop Anthony spoke of the distinction between Church and state and the importance of developing a healthy collaboration to work together for the common good. He cited World Youth Day 2008 as an example of this ideal. “One of the things that made me proudest was the way every sector of our community cooperated in the planning and delivery. It demonstrated a model of the relationship between Church and state, and between people of various religions and none, that can teach the world something very important.” Bishop Anthony spoke of the diversity of the Australian people and their capacity to coexist and cooperate with their neighbours in a generous ‘live and let live’ spirit. “It means we are willing to work together for the common good, for justice for the most disadvantaged, for freedom of religion and other proper liberties, for a recognition of our country’s constitutive values and traditions, and for a better Western Sydney in a better world.” CatholicOutlook August 2010 3 National clergy gathering More than 250 Australian bishops, priests and deacons attended the 12-16 July convention in Parramatta, reflecting on the changing face of contemporary ministerial priesthood and the risen Christ’s presence in the midst of this change. Fr Ian McGinnity, Chairman of the National Council Priests of Australia (NCP) and Parish Priest of Mary Immaculate Parish, Quakers Hill, said the conference was a time to reflect on the ministerial priesthood today and its role into the future within the Australian context. “It is an opportunity for priests to honestly face the challenges ahead and to renew their hope and vision that the risen Christ moves in and through this time.” In his welcome address, Bishop Anthony said the Diocese of Parramatta shared in the challenges faced by other parts of the Church in Australia and around the world. “The increasing secularisation of society, how to respond to rapid change in economy, ecology, technology and culture, the ageing and declining numbers of people in priestly, religious and married life, the effects of more than a decade of battering in the media on our credibility and morale, and the need to ensure that all people, and especially young people, are welcomed, safe and genuinely built up in our Church … every part of this country has particular challenges, related to size, distance, personal-ities, economy and history,” Bishop Anthony said. “In the context of current controversy about physical and sexual abuse by clergy and religious and the sometimes grave mishandling of these matters by Church leaders, it is appropriate that at this convention there will be a reconciliation liturgy acknowledging our personal and ecclesial responsibility and praying for healing and conversion.” Four keynote speakers addressed the convention: Fr Donald Cozzens: Writer in Residence and Adjunct Professor of Theology at John Carroll University in Cleveland. Prof Richard Lennan: Author of Risking the Church: The Challenges of Catholic Faith, The Ecclesiology of Karl Rahner, is a priest of the Diocese of Maitland- Newcastle and Professor of Systematic Theology at Boston College. Assoc Prof David Tacey: Author of books such as ReEnchantment: The New Australian Spirituality and Edge of the Sacred: Transformation in Australia is associate professor at La Trobe University, teaching literature, spirituality and Jungian psychology. Geraldine Doogue: ABC commentator and journalist, host of ABC TV’s Compass program. At the convention dinner, Fr Ed Campion launched Damien Williams’ book Sign of Unity, Instrument of Peace – A Short History of the National Council of Priests of Australia. Presiding at the closing Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Bishop Anthony urged delegates to be bridge-builders between the sacred and secular worlds “Soon we will return to our daily bread, a world of many opportunities but one that too often presses us to eschew nuance and take sides,” Bishop Anthony said in his homily. “Ours must be a commitment to the whole of reality, to every human person, to the beautiful if challenging worlds to which they belong, and to the God who is our author and sustainer.” Fr Ian McGinnity addresses the NCP convention. Photo: Andrew Ballard ALBERT & MEYER FUNERAL DIRECTORS Serving the Parramatta Diocese since 1967 Australian Family Owned & Operated 301-303 PENNANT HILLS ROAD, THORNLEIGH 9484 3992 ALL SUBURBS 24 HOURS www.albertmeyer.com.au Rebecca Pincott Michael Bolton
Page 1: CatholicOutlook Volume 13 August 20
Page 5 and 6: CatholicOutlook August 2010 5 Big c
Page 7 and 8: Campion is for thinkers … like yo
Page 9 and 10: Theology of the body - an overview
Page 11 and 12: CatholicOutlook August 2010 11 Howe
Page 13 and 14: Diocesan Youth Leadership Breakfast
Page 15 and 16: National Vocations Awareness Week 8

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