Download this publication as PDF - Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst

SandPiper.org.au 

Catholic Newspaper of the Sandhurst Diocese FREE May 2011 

Mercedes and Trinity 

Celebrating 

education 

Catholic Education Week is celebrated from May 13-20, with Sandhurst 

Diocese schools showcasing their wonderful learning environments.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK 

Notre Dame College provides a 

dynamic learning environment in 

which all students have access to: 

A broadly based innovative and 

academic curriculum 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Challenging vocational education 

programs including VET and VCAL 

Student Notebook Programme 

Modern and extensive specialist 

facilities 

Learning Enrichment Centre 

providing support for students who: 

- have learning difficulties 

- English as a second language 

- are gifted 

Year 9 Programme on the Emmaus 

Campus 

- Purpose built facilities 

- Innovative curriculum with an 

emphasis on applied learning 

Extensive co‐curricular activities in: 

- Orchestra, Stage Band, Choir 

- Instrumental Programme 

- Debating 

- Musical Theatre Productions 

- Sporting Pursuits 

- Special Interest Groups, including 

Remar, Seeds of Justice, St. 

Vincent de Paul 

- Day Excursions, Camps, Retreats 

NOTRE DAME COLLEGE 

A modern Catholic College offering students a co‐educational 

learning experience from Years 7‐12. 

OPEN DAY 

Tuesday, 17 th May, 2011 

Knight Street Campus ‐ 

Tours commence from the Administration Building 

between the following times: 

9.15am – 11.45am 

2.00pm – 2.30pm 

3.45pm – 4.30pm 

Year 9 Programme ‐ Emmaus Campus 

Grace Rd 

Tours will be conducted between 2.00pm and 

4.00pm 

Copies of the College Prospectus and enrolment 

information will be available from the Knight Street 

Campus on Open Day. 

To receive a Prospectus or to arrange a Tour of the College at any other time, please contact 

the Office Manager, Notre Dame College, 139 Knight Street, Shepparton 3630 

PH: (03) 5821 6622 www.notredame.vic.edu.au 

One Body, 

One Spirit 

in Christ 

From the wheat fields of the service to Catholic Education, is a highlight 

on the Catholic Education Week 

Northern Plains through the 

Goldfields and Goulburn Valley 

to the high country, our schools at this years Eucharist. 

calendar. 20 Jubilarians will be honoured 

are providing vibrant and progressive The Bishop Noel Daly Award for Outstanding 

Service to Leadership in Catholic 

learning centres for families in the 

Sandhurst diocese. 

Education will be presented at the Jubilarian 

Mass. 

Catholic Education Week which takes 

place from May 13 to May 20 is a wonderful 

time to celebrate our schools, parishes memory of the late Bishop Noel Daly, in 

The award was established in 2005 in 

and the dynamic communities that make recognition of a life time of outstanding 

up Catholic Education Sandhurst. 

service to Catholic Education in Sandhurst. 

“One Body, One Spirit in Christ - Another significant event that takes 

Called to Action!” is the theme for Catholic place during Catholic Education Week is 

Education Week 2011 as we endeavour to “Sandhurst Switches Off - a day of social 

grow in our understanding, commitment justice action”. Now in its fourth year all 

and living of the Gospel as members of the Catholic schools across the Sandhurst 

Sandhurst Diocesan Catholic community. Diocese will take positive action against 

Director of Catholic Education Sandhurst 

Ms Billington is passionate about the switching off school lights for a full day. 

global warming on Wednesday, May 18, by 

2011 theme. 

The theme for Catholic Education Week 

“This theme reminds us all of the centrality 

of the Eucharist in our lives – it is 

2011 provides the perfect impetus for this 

day. Sandhurst schools will combine to 

the source of our nourishment in our commitment 

to God and it is the summit from 

raise awareness about the effect of greenhouse 

gas emissions and to demonstrate 

which we move to action in the world to 

how schools, homes and businesses can 

make it a better place for all,” Ms Billington 

said. 

reduce their impact on the environment. 

Catholic Education Week will commence 

on Friday, May 13, with the annual schools will engage in local celebrations 

During Catholic Education Week 

Jubilarian celebration. 

and open days. 

The Jubilarian Eucharist will be celebrated 

by the Diocesan Administrator, continue to strive to be faith-filled com- 

Throughout the year our schools will 

Monsignor Marriott at St Kilian’s Church munities where students are encouraged to 

followed by a celebratory dinner at the be respectful, caring and compassionate, 

Bendigo Town Hall. 

to achieve academic excellence and to be 

The Jubilarian Ceremony, which celebrates 

those who have given 25 years in which we 

aware of social issues affecting the world 

live. 

St Joseph’s Catholic 

School, Rochester 

The St Joseph’s School 

Community & Parish would 

like to sincerely thank all 

those who helped in the 

recent flood crisis. 

The support of the 

Sandhurst Catholic 

Education Community has 

been extraordinary and truly 

appreciated. 

We extend an invitation to 

visit our beautiful school, 

especially to those who have 

helped us recover so quickly.

CATHOLIC EDUCATION WEEK 

St Mary of the Angels Secondary 

College, Nathalia, Nathan 

Brown, Anna Bakogianis, Erin 

Howes with Debating and Public 

Speaking Co-ordinator for the 

school, Jane Hando. 

St. Mary of the Angels Secondary College 

bÑxÇ Wtç 

WEDNESDAY, 18 th MAY, 2011 

Guided Tours 

9.30AM – 2.30PM 

Join the College community in action and experience the 

facilities, culture and personal difference at 

St. Mary of the Angels Secondary College, Nathalia. 

Scholarships for 2012 offered in Year 7 and Year 10. 

Enquiries to Principal’s Assistant 

Ph: 5866 2222

Catholic College Bendigo 

is a Catholic Secondary College developed in the Marist 

and Mercy Traditions, in partnership with the Sandhurst 

Diocese, on the land of the Jaara people. Our learning 

community strives to provide each young person with the 

best educational opportunities to experience personal 

success. Making Jesus Christ known and loved by all in our 

community, especially by our young people, is central to our 

mission. This love of Jesus is reflected in the daily lives of all 

in our community. 

At Catholic College Bendigo we believe: 

• Life is a gift from God 

• Learning brings fullness of life 

• Relationships are built on love and respect 

• In the goodness of young people. 

Therefore we are committed to: 

• Living the Good News 

• Enabling personal excellence 

• Listening, reflecting and responding 

• Caring for God’s creation 

• Celebrating our story 

• Building community within and beyond our college 

• Promoting lifelong learners 

• Developing confident, courageous and hope-filled people. 

Enrolment applications for Year 7 in 2012 close on 

Friday 17 June 2011 

OPEN DAY: Sunday 15 May at La Valla 

Enrolment enquiries: Mrs Trish Martin 5449 3466

Our Lady Help of Christians, Tangambalanga 

SandPiper.org.au 

Annabelle Cassidy and Rhianna Harris 

Catholic Newspaper of the Sandhurst Diocese FREE acpa newspaper of the year Issue 79 • May 2011 

The end of an era 

By Lucia Southern 

St Mary’s Primary School, Myrtleford 

The Presentation Sisters came 

to Myrtleford in 1923 at the 

request of Fr J Kennedy to 

establish St Mary’s Primary 

School. 

Sunday, March 27, was a day of 

celebrations to mark the end of 87 

years of dedicated service by these 

women to education and ministerial 

involvement in the Myrtleford 

community. 

The enrolments began at St 

Mary’s with 53 students and 

through the years the numbers 

have grown and changed with up to 

1000 students between St Mary’s 

and Marian College at one stage. 

The farewell celebration began 

with a Mass concelebrated by Fr 

Peter Taylor and Monsignor Frank 

Marriott the Administrator of the 

Sandhurst Diocese. 

The music was uplifting and the 

children of St Mary’s acted out a 

hymn These Hands in thanks for 

the work the of the Presentations 

Sisters, recalling their founder 

Nano Nagle who worked tirelessly 

in education and in service to those 

in need. Nano’s motto is “Not 

words but deeds”. 

The students of St Mary’s and 

Marian College are encouraged to 

live this motto daily. 

Following Mass the community 

gathered for a meal in the newly 

refurbished Parish Centre. 

Fr Peter Taylor was the MC for 

the day and welcomed 19 Sisters to 

the gathering. 

P4 

After 87 years of service to the Mytleford community, the Presentation Sisters were farewelled last month. 

Good Friday 

Passion Play 

 

P3 

Teachers gain 

top recognition 

P4 

St Matthew’s, 

Gunbower, 

closes 

P8 

Authorised by CSF Pty Limited ABN 30 006 169 286, Trustee of Catholic Super ABN 50 237 896 957. Information is about the Fund and is not intended as financial advice. It does not take into account specific needs, so members should consider their personal position, objectives and requirements before taking any action.

Page 2 – www.sandpiper.org.au From the Administrator’s desk May 2011 

Vision of the Sandhurst Diocese: 

That every person’s 

heart be inflamed by 

the love of God 

Pastoral Principles that we share: 

We, the people of Sandhurst, will bring to life our 

vision through the application of the following 

principles that we will observe when we gather: 

Faith and tradition will be the bedrock for all 

interactions and will be acknowledged when 

we come together. 

Love of God made present in Jesus Christ and 

led by the power of the Holy Spirit will be 

the motivating and guiding force in our work and 

celebrations. 

Aspiring to inflame with the love of God all those 

with whom we come into contact. 

Mutual respect for each other by listening, 

sharing and supporting one another at 

diocesan, parish and individual levels. 

Exploring together ways to sustain and 

invigorate our diocese at every level so that our 

Church is vibrant and flourishing in every area. 

FLAME will be the channel through which 

our Diocesan Vision becomes evident to 

those we meet. 

Chancery CONTACTS: 

Chancery and Diocesan Ministry: 174 McCrae 

Street (PO Box 201) Bendigo Vic 3552. Ph: (03) 5441 

2544, Fax: (03) 5441 8278, 

Website: www.sandhurst.catholic.org.au 

Diocesan Administrator: Monsignor Frank Marriott 

Diocesan Administrator’s Secretary: Carmel Fitt, 

chancery@sand.catholic.org.au 

Director of Liturgy: Denise Braddon, 

liturgy@sand.catholic.org.au 

Adult Faith Education Coordinator: Lyn Breen, 

adultfaith@sand.catholic.org.au 

Marriage Tribunal: Judy Browne, 

tribunal@sand.catholic.org.au 

Youth Ministry Worker: Tim Lougoon, tim. 

lougoon@chancery.org.au, website: www.sym.org.au/ 

Business Manager: Cameron Fraser, 

cameron.fraser@chancery.org.au 

Personal Assistant to Business Manager: 

Sally Holmes 

SANDPIPER CONTACTS: 

SandPiper Vision Statement: SandPiper aims to 

develop a sense of community, linking faith and life 

through dialogue. 

The Board: Geoff Holland (Chair), Fr Joe Taylor (Vice 

Chair), Margaret Brodie, Audrey Brown, John Howley 

The Editorial Team: Fr Joe Taylor, Sr Cecilia Merrigan, 

Kate Murray, Peter Murray and Mary Pianta. 

Editor: Damian Griffin. 

Address: The SandPiper, C/- The Chancery, PO Box 

201, Bendigo, 3552. 

Email: editor@sandpiper.org.au 

Phone: (03) 5442 8531 Fax: (03) 5441 8278 

Advertising: Email advertising@sandpiper.org.au for an 

advertising pack, or call the editor for further information. 

Subscriptions: Margaret Brodie, 

tambrodi@mcmedia.com.au 

Disclaimer: SandPiper is a free newspaper 

published monthly (except January) by the Catholic 

Diocese of Sandhurst It is distributed through all 

Sandhurst Diocese Catholic schools and parishes. 

The views expressed in published articles are not 

necessarily those of the Diocese. Every advertisement 

is subject to diocesan approval SandPiper may refuse 

to accept ads for publication. SandPiper accepts 

no responsibility or liability in relation to any loss 

due to the failure of an advertisement to appear or 

if it appears in a form which is not in accordance 

with the instructions received by SandPiper. 

Pray for bishop, 

seminarians 

Index 

News...1, 3-8, 10, 12-13, 19-20 

Liturgy.................................9 

From the Archives ...........12 

Justice News...............14-15 

Crossword.........................16 

Featured Reader...............16 

Sand Pit.............................18 

Deadline 

Monsignor Frank 

Marriott 

Administrator of the 

Sandhurst Diocese 

Easter Sunday Prayer in the Office of 

Readings says: “On this day, Lord 

God you opened for us the way to 

eternal life through your only Son’s victory 

over death”. 

A proud, hopeful proclamation that has 

been prayed for hundreds of years; prayed in 

the open, prayed in freedom, prayed behind 

locked doors, prayed in prisons – but prayed! 

We, despite the many challenges of life in 

the 21st century still pray it. 

We are all promised Eternal Life. We live 

trying to be worthy of that promise and we die 

hoping to be welcomed by the triumphant and 

Risen Christ. 

I trust you have had a prayerful Lent and 

joyous Easter and extend Diocesan greetings 

in a special way to all the RCIA Teams and the 

new members of our church! 

Christ is Risen, 

He is Risen indeed. 

Alleluia , Alleluia ,Alleluia. 

Since the last edition of SandPiper, William 

Wright has been nominated as Bishop 

of Maitland-Newcastle and Peter Comensoli 

nominated as an Auxiliary Bishop to Cardinal 

Pell in Sydney. 

Bill Wright is the current Parish Priest of 

Liverpool, and Peter Comensoli is a Lecturer 

at the Catholic Institute of Sydney and a priest 

of the Wollongong Diocese. 

So we advance two steps of the ladder and, 

to answer the most pressing question, I don’t 

know when the new bishop will be appointed. 

I do know that the process is under way. 

Please pray the prayer sent to all parishes 

and printed above. 

Our seven Australian-based seminarians 

spent three days in Bendigo during Holy Week. 

The reflective days covered a virtual tour of 

the mission of the Diocese. Meetings with St 

Vincent de Paul, Youth Ministry, Chaplaincy 

in Senior Schools, meditating on the Passion 

from a Woman’s point of view – as well 

as meeting our Diocesan Priests, and other 

events. It was a positive experience for all 

concerned. 

Further, good news was received from 

Cebu during that time. Deacon Junjun Amaya 

is to be ordained priest in Cebu September 28, 

2011, Bernald Agustines Deacon on September 

3, 2011 in Wodonga. Junray Rayna to be 

made an Acolyte at St Kilian’s on June 5, 2011. 

We are awaiting news of the date of priestly 

ordination for Eugene Dela Corte. 

So there is considerable activity. In addition 

to the pastoral placements, all seven 

The deadline for submissions for the 

next issue of SandPiper is the 15th of 

this month. Please email stories and 

photos to editor@sandpiper.com.au 

or call (03) 5442 8531. 

Prayer for a new bishop 

Father you have given us your Son, Jesus Christ, to 

teach, sanctify and govern your people. 

You also gave us the gift of your Holy Spirit so that we 

may forever remain one in your name. 

We thank you for our past bishops who have served the 

Church in Sandhurst. 

Father, we ask that you look with favour upon those in 

our Church, who will prayerfully select our new bishop. 

Give them a Spirit of Wisdom and Counsel that they may 

discern your will. 

We ask in the name of your Son, the heart oft he 

Good Shepherd. Bestow upon him the zeal of St Paul 

in preaching the Good News; the humility of St John 

Vianney in ministering the sacraments; the compassion 

of St Vinvence de Paul in serving those most in need; the 

wisdom of St Augustine in teaching the doctrine of our 

Church and the courage of Australia’s first saint, St Mary 

of the Cross MacKillop. 

We ask this through the intercession of Mary, our 

Mother and Model, Our Lady of Good Counsel, patroness 

of our diocese. 

seminarians will be in parishes for Good Shepherd 

Sunday, May 15. 

Pray for these men. 

Pray that their numbers increase. 

Since my last column Fr Tony Shallue has 

arrived to serve in our Diocese. 

Tony will be attached to the Cathedral for 

the ‘sede vacante’ period. 

Fr Antony Joseph is appointed as of 30 

April, 2011 to be ‘Priest in Residence’ at 

Heathcote. 

This will enable him to work with Fr Joe 

Taylor, the Administrator, and thus enabling Fr 

Antony to get a feel for us and our ways and in 

a few months to be available for a more permanent 

appointment. 

The Confirmation/First Eucharist season 

is fast approaching, a marvellous time for all 

parishes. 

If you are involved, may I urge you to get 

really involved and remain attached to your 

worshipping community. 

First Communion is meant to be that, not 

LAST! I have been invited to celebrate these 

sacraments in a number of parishes. I look forward 

to meeting you. 

Finally, and on behalf of the Priests and 

Church of the Month 

Our Lady Help of Christians, Tangambalanga. 

Mass is celebrated here on the 2nd and 4th 

Sunday of the month at 10.30am. 

the Diocese may I express in this forum our 

gratitude to Bishop Hilton Deakin, retired 

Auxiliary Bishop in Melbourne, for being with 

us on Thursday, April 14. 

The day began with lunch for the clergy 

– a three-hour conference followed and then 

the Mass in which people, religious and laity 

pledged their lives in the service of God. 

Further the Holy Oils were blessed and the 

Sacred Chrism consecrated. 

Olive Oil this year came courtesy of Chris 

Curtis of Numurkah and it was pleasing to see 

parish representatives holding their special Oil 

Cruets proudly. 

Bishop Hilton preached a brilliant sermon 

and many clergy and lay people have 

commented. 

There was a great buzz and many positive 

vibes from all concerned. 

It’s been a very busy month! 

I hope the Lenten and Holy Week journey, 

pilgrimage if you like, has once again taken 

each of us a little further down the path of 

moving from looking for a Saviour, finding 

the Saviour, and coming to the realisation that 

Jesus is my Saviour 

It’s a precious journey. Love it! 

Faces of the Diocese 

Friends Annabelle Cassidy and Rhianna 

Harris had their faces painted at St Joseph’s 

School Cobram’s 34th annual fete. 

– More photos in Around the Diocese, P10-11

May 2011 News www.sandpiper.org.au – Page 3 

Pilgrims ready for WYD 

By Tim Lougoon 

Youth MInistry Worker 

After four very busy 

months of campaigning 

and telling people all about 

the diocesan pilgrimage to 

Madrid awaits for Sandhurst youth 

WYD 2011 in Madrid during 

August the closing date 

for registration has come and 

gone. 

A great deal has happened 

since the last edition of 

Sandpiper and our pilgrimage 

group more than 50 people have 

come from across the diocese. 

The group includes not 

one, but two chaplains, Fr. Jake 

Mudge and Fr. Rob Galea, 

two pilgrimage leaders Tim 

Lougoon (Youth Ministry 

Worker) and Jane Branigan 

(FCJ College and CEO), four 

seminarians, small group leaders, 

two parents and more than 

40 excited young pilgrims who 

have begun their journey on the 

great ‘Road to Spain’ pilgrimage. 

On the 10th of May this 

journey will take a great leap 

forward when those attending 

WYD will descend on 

Shepparton for the first of five 

formation sessions that will 

help to prepare everyone both 

practically and spiritually for 

what could very well be a once 

in a lifetime opportunity. 

Pilgrims will then gather in 

deanery groups for three more 

formation sessions and these 

will occur in the weeks May 

Cathedral gathers for Passion play 

29th – June 4th, June 19th – 

25th and July 3rd – July 9th 

before gathering together for 

one final diocesan formation 

session in Shepparton that will 

include a Commissioning Mass 

on July 20th. 

For those that have missed 

out on joining the pilgrimage 

stay tuned as plans for a local 

diocesan celebration have begun 

and an announcement about 

these will occur in the next edition 

of SandPiper! 

A Good Friday Passion play was held at the Sacred Heart Cathedral last month. Young people from the parish acted out 

Christ’s trial, suffering and death, in and around the cathedral. 

Photo by Lisebeth Van Emmerik 

Shepparton celebrates Holy Week 

By Michelle Hicks 

St Luke’s Catholic Primary, Shepparton 

Shepparton – St Luke’s Catholic Primary 

School came together as a whole school community 

during the last week of Term One to 

remember the events of Holy Week. 

The Junior, Middle and Senior Learning Communities 

each presented important aspects of the 

journey towards Easter, with large numbers of 

parents and grandparents gathering to pray with 

the children. 

Shouts of Hosannah, Bless Our King, the 

powerful Lenten song by Andrew Chinn, began 

the week’s liturgies, and all children waved their 

palms, shouting praise for Jesus as he entered 

Jerusalem! 

The important words of the Last Supper, Do 

This In Memory of Me, by John Burland, were 

sung later in the week as the Last Supper was 

re-enacted. 

The prayerfulness of the liturgies intensified 

on the final day of the reflections, as the Senior 

Learning Communities presented the Stations of 

the Cross, using silhouettes. 

A powerful and extremely meaningful lead-up 

to the events of Holy Week and Easter. 

The Year 6 children will lead the liturgy after 

the holidays, when the “Alleluia,” which was buried 

on Ash Wednesday, will be recovered and a 

special acclamation sung! 

Families share 

the dream 

The Secretary to the Pontifical Council 

for the family, Bishop Jean Laffitte, 

delivered the closing address at the 

Third National Catholic Family Gathering 

in Melbourne, on Sunday, April 

17. 

Over the weekend, 15-17 April, more 

than 800 people attended a wide variety of 

lectures, and workshops on more than 40 

topics related to marriage and family life. 

In his closing address, Bishop Laffitte 

encouraged those gathered to take the love 

of Christ in all its dimensions, as the only 

sure foundation and hope for the family. 

“For it is only when the couple together 

open their hearts to love,” he said.

Page 4 – www.sandpiper.org.au News May 2011 

Students enjoy Worlds of Work. 

Students 

have wow 

of a time 

By Louise Levy 

Education Officer – Indigenous Education, 

CEO Wangaratta 

fifteen Indigenous students from across 

Victoria have attended a residential program, 

WOW (Worlds of Work). 

WOW is a flagship initiative of the Education 

Foundation, a division of the Foundation for 

Young Australians. 

WOW brings students into the CBD to visit 

a number of workplaces and take part in workshops 

designed to build on students’ strengths, 

their communication skills and their broaden their 

aspirations. 

WOW provides students with an environment 

in which they will be challenged with new contexts, 

ideas and role models as they set out to find 

answers to a very potent essential question: 

“What does it take to succeed in the global 

world of life and work?” 

The process of gathering a range of data to 

answer this question will inform all the activities 

for the week. 

Students explored this question in many different 

contexts and with many different people, 

including their peers. More than this the program 

provides students with the tools to understand 

themselves better through a process of teamwork, 

reflection and analysis. 

Drawing on a range of innovative pedagogies 

including Experiential Learning, Reflective Practice, 

Action Research, Visualisation, Role Play 

and Metacognitive tools, the program takes the 

students on a journey that broadens their view on 

what it means to be effective in the changing world 

of work. 

The three main objectives of the WOW program 

are: 

Objective 1: To increase students’ awareness 

of, desire and ability to access opportunities in life 

and work outside their local environment 

Objective 2: To provide new experiences, connections 

and opportunities for students to explore 

and expand their definitions of success in life and 

work 

Objective 3: To increase students’ capacity to 

identify and utilise their skills and strengths to 

create their own pathways and achieve their future 

aspirations. 

The program was fully funded by The Department 

of Early Education and Workplace Relations 

and the Catholic Education Commission of 

Victoria. 

Caring at a time of need 

VAEE President Sarah Housman with Dr Kate Auty, Sharon Darling and Paul Dullard. 

Teachers awarded 

By Jenni Kennedy 

Catholic Education Office, Bendigo 

Catholic Education Sandhurst, Education 

Officer Mr Paul Dullard has been 

recognised as joint winner of the Victorian 

Association for Environmental 

Education’s 2010 Educator of the Year. 

The VAEE Educator of the Year Award 

was presented by Dr. Kate Auty, Victoria’s 

Commissioner for Sustainability, at the 

2011, Melbourne Toolbox for Environmental 

Change Conference for Educators, on March 

17. 

Environmental Educator of the Year, in 

existence since 1985, recognises individuals 

who have made an exemplary contribution to 

the field of environmental and sustainability 

education within Victoria. 

Paul shared the award with Dr Sue Lewis, 

Sustainability Catalyst, Education and 

Training for Sustainability, National Centre 

for Sustainability at Swinburne University of 

Technology. 

Paul was recognised for his outstanding 

work championing sustainability education in 

the Catholic education system in Victoria and 

Australia. 

This included facilitating Sandhurst 

schools to improve their resource management, 

mentoring sustainability educators and 

facilitators in regional Victoria and developing 

Leadership for a Positive Future workshops 

for students across the diocese. 

An acknowledgment was also made of 

Paul’s work to develop new curriculum initiatives 

in Sandhurst, to create professional 

networks for Victorian Catholic schools, 

which in 2010 was able to coordinate and 

develop better sustainability initiatives 

throughout Victoria and to make links with 

CEOs in other dioceses across Australia. 

Paul’s project to develop, source funding 

and implement a Certificate III in Carbon 

Management pilot for Secondary teachers 

in Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools in 

2010/11 was recognised as innovative and 

leading in the field of Sustainability education. 

Also commended for her contribution to 

leading practice in environmental education 

in 2010 was Ms Sharon Darling, teacher at St 

Augustine’s College, Kyabram. Sharon was 

acknowledged for her consistent and strong 

application of the ResourceSmart AuSSI Vic 

framework in a P-12 rural school. 

The award recognised Sharon’s dedication 

to making St Augustine’s a leading school in 

resource management in our diocese. 

Dr Lewis and Mr Dullard are Victoria’s 

nominations to the Australian Association for 

Environmental Education’s Educator of the 

Year Award. 

Farewell to the Presentation Sisters 

From - Page 1 

Monsignor Marriott spoke on 

behalf of the diocese noting the 

effective contribution the Presentation 

Sisters had made to this 

community. 

The principals of both schools 

spoke on behalf of the schools 

recalling the many significant 

challenges the sisters faced in establishing 

the schools and developing 

and maintaining high educational 

standards. 

They also ensured the buildings 

supported excellence in teaching. 

The Sisters’ influence on learning 

in the spiritual and faith aspects 

of the life of the students is ongoing 

today. 

Pat Webb spoke on behalf of the 

wider community and spoke of the 

many challenges the Sisters’ faced 

and that if anything happened the 

catch cry was, “Tell Sister!”. 

Pat recalled stories about stray 

cats and burning tyres taking off 

to see to recalcitrant boys and Deb 

Balls and Mock Weddings wherein 

the nuns took their part happily. 

The sisters were very generous 

in opening the convent grounds to 

the public and many a hot scone 

and cake came out of the convent 

kitchen. 

The first and last Principals of 

Marian College was present last 

Sunday, Sr Maria Therese Harold 

and Sr. Liz Lamprell. 

Many former principals and 

teachers of St Mary’s were also here 

for the celebrations. 

They were delighted by the 

entertainment provided by ‘Bishop 

Frank’ from Melbourne and the 

Nun’s Chorus. 

The St Mary’s Parish Events 

Committee created a wonderful 

atmosphere and served beautifully 

prepared food and Fr Peter and his 

committee need to be congratulated 

for their efforts. 

The Presentation Sisters presented 

to the Parish a framed image, 

an iconic picture of Nano Nagle and 

her works. 

Fr Peter then invited Sr. Bernadette 

Keating the head of the 

Presentation Congregation to veil a 

plaque commemorating the many of 

years of service to St Mary’s Parish. 

Some online stories and galleries this month: 

151 McCrae Street Bendigo 

12 Victoria Street Eaglehawk 

P. 5441 5577 

www.williamfarmer.com.au 

A tradition that continues... 

Passion 

Play at the 

sacred heart 

cathedral 

visit www.sandpiper.org.au for more 

Got a story to tell? 

put it into 300 words 

and email it to 

editor@ sandpiper. 

org.au


Cobram kids show their 

style in bonnet parade 

By Leonie Bourke 

St Joseph’s Primary, Cobram 

cobram – St Joseph’s School 

students finished their first term 

in style with an Easter Bonnet 

parade on Friday. 

Librarian Carmel Wilson who 

organised the celebration said 

the children had been studying 

Australian and Italian Easter traditions 

and customs. 

“Students from each class participated 

in activities similar to 

those held in Italian villages on 

Easter Monday such as donkey 

races, cheese-wheel races and 

egg and spoon races,’’ she said. 

The Easter celebration concluded 

with children singing and 

dancing to the Italian Easter song 

Buona Pasqua 

St Joseph’s Easter bonnet 

competition class winners were: 

Front: Ethan Baxa, Ashley 

Retallack, Callum Hulley, Robyn 

Roisetter , Betheney Gramson 

Second row: Benjamin 

Macheda, Riley Bushby, Hugh 

Hyde, Zoe Poustie, Mariah 

Tejones, Lacee Williams Back: 

Peter Gattuso, Stephanie 

Steele, Tyler Seabrook, 

William Sefton, Eli Miller 

and Kathryn Squires 

St Brendan’s celebrate 

By Julie Cobbledick 

St Brendan’s Primary, Shepparton 

Shepparton – On Monday, 

March 21, St Brendan’s Primary 

School gathered as a community 

to bless and open its new facilities 

and play spaces. 

The school combined this special 

event with Harmony Day. 

The blessing and opening was 

a celebration of the school’s Irish 

history and heritage and this 

was very evident as we gathered 

around our Celtic cross, which is 

paved, into our new outdoor community 

hub. 

St Brendan, the school’s 

patron saint, and the Mercy Sisters 

have ensured that the school 

has a strong Irish connection. The 

Mercy Sisters were a part of our 

school from 1902 to 1998. 

The school’s Indigenous students 

began the celebration with 

Welcome to Country, followed by 

the children singing our national 

anthem. 

Seven children from different 

regions of the world, dressed 

in national costume, shared with 

everyone all the work that had 

been completed at the school during 

the past two years. 

Monsignor Peter led the Liturgy 

of the Word and blessed the 

new buildings and facilities. 

Diocesan Director of Catholic 

Education Phil Billington 

spoke beautifully about Catholic 

Education and, along with Monsignor 

and Major Geoff Dobson, 

unveiled the plaques to officially 

open the school. 

All the students and more 

than 300 visitors sang, prayed 

and processed their Celtic crosses 

‘St Brendan’ arrives to the delight of students in Shepparton. 

from the Opening Mass. They also 

acknowledged the highly skilled 

team of trades people and architects 

who assisted in the two-year period 

of construction. 

A highlight of the celebration 

was Robert Baxter, one of the Year 6 

students singing the Irish Blessing. 

Mr Chris Quinn accompanied 

him and it was just beautiful. We 

all loved singing our Hymn to St 

Brendan and the children particularly 

enjoyed St Brendan sailing 

through our courtyard in his carrack. 

Our student leaders conducted 

many tours around our school 

with a number of visitors before 

we all enjoyed morning tea. We 

were pleased to have one of our 

Parishioners Loretta Grace make 

us a beautiful cake with the Celtic 

Cross on top of the icing for our 

celebrations. 

The children enjoyed a number 

of activities for the remainder of the 

day in their learning communities 

about Harmony Day. 

We are thoroughly enjoying our 

beautiful facilities and new play 

spaces and we are all looking forward 

to our recently commissioned 

bronze sculpture of a modern day 

Catherine McAuley being completed 

and installed in our indoor 

atrium later in the year. 

St Luke’s students enjoy a 

Mount Feathertop camp 

By Michelle Hicks 

St Luke’s Primary, Shepparton 

Shepparton – Year Five 

and Six from St Luke’s Catholic 

Primary School in Shepparton 

recently enjoyed a three-day 

camp to Feathertop Chalet in 

Harrietville. 

The children participated eagerly 

in a number of fun and strenuous 

activities including rafting, ponding, 

water polo, photo trail, damper making, 

archery and ball games. 

The emphasis of the camp was 

developing stronger leadership skills 

within the senior students and team 

building activities, such as “Clans 

and Tribes” and “Ultimate Ninja”, 

helped the students form dependence 

on one another and a common 

unity amongst themselves and their 

close friends, their organised groups 

for the camp and the thirty seven 

students as a whole. 

Inspirational positive comments 

from the children over the three days 

was evidence for the leaders and 

teachers that the camp was a great 

success! 

Special thanks to Kevin and 

Trish Burke and the Feathertop Chalet 

staff for a wonderful time. 

Maddi Moroney, Thomas Wardell (hidden), Olivia Hanlon, Steffi 

Dempster and Bridget Drum enjoy rafting.


Reunion 

success 

Sr Margaret Duffy 

Sr Joseph’s College, Echuca 

echuca – It was not 

without great pride that St 

Joseph’s College, Echuca, 

gave free reign to a weekend 

of celebrations to recall 

with gratitude all that has 

gone before in its history 

since 1886. 

As past students reminisced, 

laughed, cried, sang, 

recited little prayers learned 

by rote more than 50 years 

ago, and talked non-stop as 

they viewed photos from past 

eras, one could not help but 

share in their enthusiasm for 

all that had been experienced 

throughout their time of education 

at “the Convent” now 

known as St Joseph’s College. 

The students who acted as 

Tour Guides had a wonderful 

time learning so much more 

from the stories of their visitors 

than they had prepared 

for them. 

Friday, April 1, was the 

College celebration. 

In a well orchestrated blend 

of liturgy, history re-visited in 

a very creative manner and 

music the students shared in 

the spirit of the college journey 

since it began in 1886. 

As it was in the period of 

Lent, the students combined 

generosity with fun in the 

Mini-Mart. 

Each homeroom had prepared 

an activity that involved 

all sorts of skills (or lack of 

them) and all money raised, 

The first weekend in May will see 

the beginning of the 2011 National 

Count of Attendance, a project 

which aims to ascertain the practicing 

population of Australia’s 

Catholics. 

First held in 2001, this will be the 

third time the Australian Catholic 

Bishops Conference has conducted the 

count at a national level. 

$3392 in total went to Caritas. 

In the evening visitors 

enjoyed reminiscing and rediscovering 

past friendships. 

The balmy evening, the 

quality music from the band 

and the spirit of joy at been 

back in old surroundings 

allowed people to relax and 

simply enjoy themselves. 

Saturday was the real talking 

day! From 10am there 

were guided tours around the 

school, tours which featured 

the chapel, built in 1899, the 

upstairs classrooms, formerly 

bedrooms and dormitories, 

the hall, so full of musical 

memories, classes on the stage 

and Mother Leo’s Commercial 

lessons. 

As each area captured its 

memories, the visitors were 

full of admiration for the 

Woodwork room, the Art and 

Home Economics until they 

reached the “piece de resistance”, 

namely the restructured 

Science rooms. 

The keys for these rooms 

were given only on Friday 

so their viewing was new to 

everyone! 

Seeing is believing and 

surely some great scientists 

should graduate from such 

modern facilities. 

The evening gathering 

shifted to the Moama Bowling 

Club which was a beautiful 

setting. 

The buzz and chatter continued, 

memories of past days 

and ways were resurrected, 

past eras were recalled in a 

President of the Australian Catholic 

Bishops Conference Archbishop 

Philip Wilson said that this project was 

part of a wider strategy to look into the 

ministry in parishes in Australia. 

“Information collected, in addition 

to the number of people in attendance, 

includes the language and frequency 

of celebration. The count is conducted 

both for Masses and Sunday 

Hundreds gathered to celebrate St Joseph’s College Echuca’s 125-year anniversary last month. 

Jill Hickey sporting the hat of the 

50s uniform, complete with all the 

badges of the day, and Lesley 

Mongan (nee Lord). 

fun-filled skit, and the DVD 

played like a background 

historical sketch while the 

champagne bubbled. 

The culmination was Sunday 

morning. In the glory of 

an autumn morning, Mass 

was celebrated on the front 

lawns of the College facing 

the historical building that 

is so familiar to generations 

of people who have passed 

through the front gates. 

To all who contributed 

to the celebration: guests, 

parishioners, staff, students, 

choir, readers, celebrants 

and all, it was a joy-filled 

Eucharist. With the underlying 

emphasis in Sunday’s 

liturgy on light, it served as 

a fitting image for a school 

community to be reminded of 

its basic mission to be a light 

to others. 

Jesus’ message of courage 

and compassion is the 

goal encapsulated in the College 

motto of “Strength and 

Kindliness”. 

It is with deep gratitude 

that the College community 

thanks everyone who prepared 

for, was present at, 

and enjoyed this historical 

weekend. 

Australian parish headcounts to happen this month 

Assemblies in the absence of a Priest 

and consists of a simple headcount of 

all those who attend Mass at parishes 

and other Mass centres throughout 

the whole of Australia over four 

weekends.” 

“This count will allow us to better 

understand our Catholic congregations 

and provide ministry to them”, he said. 

In 2006, the last time a National 

Count was held, an average of 708,618 

people attended Mass, or a Sunday 

Assembly in the Absence of a Priest, 

each weekend. 

The total attendance figure represented 

13.8 per cent of Australia’s 

2006 Catholic Population. An average 

of at least 58,000 people attended 

Mass celebrated in one of 30 languages 

other than English. 

There was an average of 102 Sunday 

Assemblies in the Absence of a 

Priest, with an overall weekly attendance 

average of 2357, or around 23 

people per Assembly. 

This year, for the first time, the 

National Count of Attendance will 

be conducted electronically, and most 

parishes will submit their counts 

online, rather than using paper forms. 

Providing 

counselling 

and family 

support 

services for 

couples, 

families and 

individuals 

throughout 

the 

diocese 

including mini-golf. 

Appointments/Enquiries phone: 

Bendigo 03 5438 1300 

Echuca 03 5438 1300 

Shepparton 035831 4699 

Wodonga 02 6056 1861 

Wedderburn 02 5494 3798


NET team visits 

shepparton – Members of the 

NET team had been billeted in 

Shepparton and Tatura overnight, 

as they travelled from Dubbo on 

the Saturday, and then to Ballarat 

the next day, after attending 8am 

Mass at St Brendan’s. 

There were five young men, and 

seven young women travelling in a 

mini-bus with a trailer. 

They are travelling around Australia, 

visiting schools and young 

people in Parishes as they go. 

NET (National Evangelization 

Team) share the Gospel with youth 

through drama and music. 

They proclaim the Gospel of 

Christ through a personal witness of 

faith. 

They Invite young people to live 

for Christ. 

They help to form young people 

in Christian character through the 

study and practice of their Christian 

faith. 

They equip youth workers and 

young adults with the ministry skills 

needed for evangelization. 

Schools can invite the group to 

visit their school. 

More information can be 

obtained by getting on the internet 

and looking up National Evangelizing 

Team. 

They are on Facebook also. Fr Rob Galea joins NET ministry team at St Brendan’s Parish, Shepparton. 

Maitland - 

Newcastle 

bishop 

appointed 

Catholic Bishop Michael 

Malone has advised that the eighth 

bishop of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle 

will be Reverend 

William Wright. 

The announcement was made by 

Pope Benedict XVI in Rome on Monday, 

April 4, 2011 at 8pm. 

Bishop-elect Wright was ordained a 

priest at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, 

August 20, 1977, and is currently the 

Parish Priest of All Saints Liverpool in 

the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. 

Born on October 26, 1952, Fr 

Wright is the third and youngest 

child of Jack and Nan Wright (both 

deceased). He has a sister, Patricia, 

and a brother, Robert. 

Father Wright is currently a member 

of the Archbishop’s Council of 

Priests and is Chairman of the Sydney 

Archdiocesan Catholic Schools Board. 

Father Wright will take up his 

appointment within three months, and 

will be ordained Bishop of Maitland- 

Newcastle in Sacred Heart Cathedral, 

as was Bishop Michael in February 

1995. 

As we all know kids will be kids and 

accidents happen. Our personal accident 

insurance covers children 24/7, wherever 

they may be – at home, school, even on the 

sports field. There is no excess and it can 

provide a buffer between medical expenses 

and health insurance rebates. For the full 

list of benefits, see the product disclosure 

statement available from us. 

Call 1300 655 003 or visit 

www.catholicinsurances.com.au 

* 

* $32 per kid, per year inclusive of GST and statutory charges. Prices based on a policy with one 

insured person. This Insurance is underwritten by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Allianz) 

ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS Licence No. 234708 and is arranged by Catholic Church Insurances 

Limited ABN 76 000 005 210 AFSL 235415, 485 La Trobe Street, Melbourne VIC 3000, as a promoter 

for Allianz. A Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) for insurance products can be requested by calling 

1300 655 003; or online from www.catholicinsurances.com.au. Any advice here does not take into 

consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs, which you should consider before acting 

on any recommendations. You should read and consider the PDS before deciding whether to acquire 

any products mentioned. If you purchase this insurance, Catholic Church Insurances will receive 

commission on these insurance products as a percentage of the premium paid for each policy. 

Ask us for more details before we provide you with any services on these products. 

CCI Sandpiper Ad Mar2011.indd 1 

17/03/2011 3:50:43 PM


Last Mass 

held at St 

Matthew’s 

By Denise Waterson 

St Matthew’s Church Contributor 

gunbower – Mass was celebrated 

at St Matthew’s Catholic 

Church in Gunbower for the last 

time last month. 

St Matthew’s in Gunbower was 

blessed and opened by Bishop McCarthy 

in 1926 and provided a spiritual 

home for the people of Gunbower, 

Leitchville and the surrounding district 

for over 84 years. 

On April 10 present and past 

parishioners gathered with Fr Chris 

Reay and Fr Frank Jones to celebrate 

the final Mass there. 

The Church had been lovingly prepared 

for the day and, although a sad 

occasion, it was also a time to remember 

happy times past and draw from 

them to focus on the future. 

After rain early in the day the sun 

shone for a delightful afternoon tea 

which was enjoyed by all in the Church 

grounds. 

The Broken Bay Institute 

in partnership with 

The Diocese of Sandhurst offers 

Theological Studies 

2011 Program 

Biblical Studies 

– Foundations 

Rev Hugh Brown OCarm 

THEO1030/6030 

Weekend Seminar: 19-20 February 

9.00am – 4.00pm 

Faith, Theology and 

Revelation 

Dan Fleming 

THEO1040/6040 

Weekend Seminar: 6 -7 August 

9.00am – 4.00pm 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ATTEND A SEMINAR? 

The weekend seminar is open to all with a serious interest in Theology. 

WOULD YOU LIKE TO STUDY THEOLOGY? 

Enrolment is available at undergraduate or post graduate level 

(for previous degree holders). 

Enrolled students complete the unit in distance education mode (readings 

provided for home study) and are supported by a BBI tutor available via 

email, and monthly meetings in a regional cluster group with a local mentor. 

Current course costs: Available on request. Commonwealth Fee-Help is 

available for all Australian citizens. 

For bookings and further information: 

Adult Faith Education Sandhurst 

PO Box 201 Bendigo Vic 3552 

Contact Lyn Breen 03 5441 2544 

Email: adultfaith@sand.catholic.org.au 

Seminar Venue: 

St Brendan’s Parish Centre, 

(behind St Brendan’s Church) 

Knight Street, Shepparton. 

Lunch: 

BYO or book catered lunches $10 ea. 

Seminar Fees: 

Enrolled BBI students: $55 per 2 day seminar. 

Others: $45 / day or $80 2 day seminar. 

Broken 

Bay 

Institute 

Sponsored by the Diocese of Sandhurst 

www.bbi.catholic.edu.au 


The Broken Bay Institute is proudly affiliated with the 

University of Newcastle

May 2011 Liturgy www.sandpiper.org.au – Page 9 

The Beatification of 

Pope John Paul II 

Denise Braddon 

Sandhurst Diocese 

Liturgist 

May 1st will see the 

beginning of three 

days of ceremonies 

in celebration of the beatification 

of Pope John Paul II. 

On January 4 this year the 

“Decree for the Beatification of 

the Servant of God John Paul 

II”, who died April 2005, was 

announced by Pope Benedict 

XVI. 

The choice of the Feast of 

Divine Mercy, May 1, 2011, is 

not accidental. 

In August 2002, John Paul II 

declared the Second Sunday of 

Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday 

in honour of Polish nun, Saint 

Faustina Kowalska to whom he 

had a deep devotion. 

The Decree of the Pope’s 

Beatification states that, “Since 

the beginning of his pontificate, 

in 1978, John Paul II often spoke 

in his homilies of the mercy of 

God.” 

This became the theme of 

his second encyclical, Dives in 

Misericordia, in 1980. So it is 

wholly appropriate to begin the 

celebration of John Paul II’s 

Beatification on this date. 

John Paul II’s legacy 

John Paul II was a wellloved 

Pope; he was truly 

international, spending 

much time travelling to 

various countries, some that 

had never been visited by a 

Catholic Pope, showing by 

example the love and forgiveness 

of God. 

This forgiveness was well 

exemplified after he visited 

Mehmet Ali Agca, the man who 

in 1981 attempted to assassinate 

him. 

John Paul II took the Christian 

message to places of despair 

and spoke with leaders and 

faithful alike. 

He worked hard for ecumenism 

and inter-faith dialogue, 

visiting the Jewish places of 

Rome and the Middle East in 

order to try to bring Christians 

and Jews into conversation. 

He was a prolific writer, penning 

more encyclical letters, 

apostolic exhortations, constitutions 

and letters than any other 

Pope in the Churches nearly 

2000-year history. 

John Paul II also beatified 

more than 1000 people, more 

than the sum of all of his predecessors 

since Pope Sixtus V 

(1585–1590), who established a 

beatification procedure similar 

to that used today. 

He established World Youth 

Day in 1984 and attended all 19 

that took place during his pontificate, 

calling young people into 

the Church and her activities. 

The Celebrations 

The three days of liturgy 

will begin with the 

Vigil Prayer on April 

30 in the Circus Maximus. 

The liturgy will be divided 

into two parts: 

The first part will be dedicated 

to remembering the words 

and actions of John Paul II. 

There will then be a solemn 

procession during which the 

image of Maria Salus Populi 

Romani will be enthroned; this 

will be accompanied by representatives 

of all the parishes and 

chaplaincies of the diocese. 

Words of account will be 

given by Joaquin Navarro-Valls 

and Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz, 

both of whom worked closely 

with the Pope, and by Sr Marie 

Simon-Pierre, whose miraculous 

recovery opened the way 

for the beatification process. 

The second part will focus 

on the celebration of the Luminous 

Mysteries of the Rosary, 

which were introduced by John 

Paul II. 

Cardinal Vallini will give an 

introduction summarising the 

spiritual and pastoral character 

of John Paul II. 

The Rosary will then be 

recited, with a live connection to 

five Marian sanctuaries around 

the world. 

The Mass of Beatification 

will be on May 1 at St Peter’s 

Square. 

The solemn liturgy of beatification 

begins with an hour’s 

prayer then Mass, using the texts 

for the Sunday after Easter. 

At the end of the rite of 

beatification, there will be an 

unveiling of a tapestry depicting 

the newly Blessed John Paul II. 

The Mass of thanksgiving, 

the following day at St Peter’s 

Square will be the first celebrated 

in honour of the newly 

Blessed John Paul II. 

The texts shall be those of 

the Mass of the Blessed John 

Paul II. 

Music during the celebrations 

shall be provided by the 

Choir of the Diocese of Rome, 

with the participation of the 

Choir of Warsaw and the Wadowice 

Symphony Orchestra, 

Poland. 

The Body of John Paul II 

On the evening of Friday, 

April 29, the 

tomb of the Blessed 

Pope Innocent XI – currently 

in the Chapel of St Sebastian 

in St Peter’s Basilica - shall 

be transferred to the Altar 

of Transfiguration, to make 

way for the body of John 

Paul II. 

That morning, the coffin of 

John Paul II – which shall not 

be opened – will be transferred 

before the tomb of St Peter, in 

the Vatican grotto. 

On the morning of May 1, it 

will be brought before the Altar 

of Confession in the Basilica. 

Following the beatification 

ceremony, the Pope and the concelebrating 

cardinals will make 

their way to the Altar of Confession 

in the Basilica and will pray 

for a moment before the body of 

the newly Blessed. 

From that evening, those 

who wish to do so may venerate 

the remains of John Paul II. 

Finally... 

For the many things 

Pope John Paul II 

may be remembered, 

it should be noticed that he 

did lead the Catholic Church 

for almost thirty years with 

faithfulness and kindness. 

He took the Papacy out of 

Rome and in fact Italy into the 

whole world. 

He went to where the people 

were and spoke out against 

injustices. 

And now he will be Blessed 

John Paul II and no doubt will 

move into sainthood, and many 

would say, that is as it should be. 

Servant of God Pope John Paul II 

A lecture by 

Sr Patricia Madigan OP 

Welcoming People of Different Faiths: 

Why and How 

Wednesday 18 May 

7.30-9 pm 

St Brendan’s Parish Centre 

Knight St, Shepparton 

Thursday 19 May 

7.30-9 pm 

Inter-faith Dialogue Forum 

De Campo Hall, Catholic Education Office 

120 Hargreaves St, Bendigo 

Friday 20 May 

10.30 am - 2.30 pm 

Judaism-Christianity-Islam: 

One God, Three Faiths Forum for Teachers 

St Brendan’s Parish Centre 

Knight St, Shepparton 

RSVP: Adrian Gallagher 

PO Box 954, Bendigo Central 3552 

Email: abag49@bigpond.com 

Ph: 0410 306 256 

Trish Madigan, a Dominican sister, is 

Executive Officer of the Broken Bay Diocese 

Commission for Ecumenical and Interfaith 

Relations and is experienced in interfaith 

dialogue in many contexts. She is a foundation 

member of the Women’s Interfaith Network 

(WIN) and a Christian representative on the 

Australian National Dialogue of Christians, 

Jews and Muslims (ANDCJM).


St Joseph’s rocks 

Students enjoyed the ’50s Rock ’n’ Roll night at St Joseph’s, Kerang. 

By Alicia Makeham 

St Joseph’s Primary, Kerang 

Kerang –St Joseph’s 

Primary School Kerang 

recently hosted a free 

’ 

family 

fun rock’n’roll night 

for the school and parish 

community. 

The Parents and Friends 

organised the night to boost 

community spirit and reconnect 

families after the recent 

floods this year. 

The Parents and Friends 

also decided to focus on having 

fun – not just fundraising 

this year. 

Before the evening, members 

of the Barham Rock and 

Roll club taught the children 

some rock ‘n’ roll dance 

moves during school Performing 

Arts lessons. 

The children were then 

able to teach mum and dad at 

home and then on the night 

with the assistance of these 

helpers. 

Quite a few adults but 

especially the children 

seemed to dance almost nonstop 

to the terrific upbeat 

music from Allen Bowers. 

The Grade 4, 5 and 6 children 

also performed Grease 

Lightning, which was choreographed 

with the children 

and Grade 4/5 teacher Kristy 

Walsh. 

It was a highlight of the 

night with an encore performance 

to finish off the evening. 

Many dressed in ’50s costumes, 

which added to the 

atmosphere of the night. 

It was really special to 

see the children dancing with 

their mums, dads or friends 

and just generally relaxing 

and enjoying themselves. 

Grades 1 and 2 perform Give me a home among the gum trees. 

Fete fantastic 

Leonie Bourke 

St Joseph’s Primary, Cobram 

cobram – With perfect 

weather and huge crowds St 

Joseph’s School Cobram’s 

34th annual fete proved an 

outstanding success. 

The many colourful, wellstocked 

stalls attracted large 

numbers of people and the 

Continental Food Stall was 

again a major highlight of the 

day. 

Children enjoyed face 

painting, train rides, mini golf, 

quad bikes and jumping castles 

and each class performed 

a musical item to a large audience 

of parents and friends. 

Major fundraisers were the 

auction, the spinning wheel, 

the raffle hampers and the 

main raffle. 

Fete secretary Carolyn Cassidy 

said this year, as well as 

ongoing support from parents 

and friends, the committee 

appreciated the help of many 

new St Joseph’s families and 

ex students. 

Nikita Carroll enjoys a 

ride on her father Wally’s 

shoulders.


Prep students 

and their 

Grade Six 

buddies begin 

the school year 

by praying 

together and 

learning the 

Sign of the 

Cross during 

the Opening 

Mass at St 

Joseph's, 

Benalla, on 

February 4. 

Michelle Gaston and Trish Shaw visited children at St 

Bernard’s Primary School for an informative and engaging 

show as part of The Traveling Mary MacKillop Foundation. 

St Joseph’s Kerang’s relay team Liam Radcliffe, Sam 

Radcliffe, Josh Lee and Katelyn Wishart won a silver 

medal in the 4x4 100m relay Victorian Primary 

Schools Regional Swimming Championships at 

Bendigo. 

St Joseph's Kerang enjoyed their 1:1 Laptop launch recently. 

Sassi Jo McGrath and her mum Kyllie (inset) were at the lauch 

along with students in grades 4, 5 and 6. 

Cr Michael Polan from Greater Shepparton City 

Council congratulates St Brigid’s parishioner Sue 

O’Mahony, Murchison's Citizen of the Year. 

 

Photo courtesy of the Waranga News 

Father Rom Hayes with the St 

Kilian’s, Bendigo RCIA group 

Marian College Myrtleford welcomes Mr 

Gerard Sullivan who has been appointed 

Principal of the College for 2011. 

Catholic Women's League, Benalla Branch, met on the Feast of St 

Patrick and wore something green and brought something green for 

afternoon tea.

Page 12– www.sandpiper.org.au May 2011 

Wodonga 

joins for 

Caritas 

By Judy Ryan 

Caritas/Social Justice Team 

Wodonga Catholic Parish 

Wodonga – The inaugural Caritas 

Café was held at Sacred Heart 

Church, Wodonga, on Sunday, 

April 3, after 8.30am Mass. 

The Parish’s Caritas/Social Justice 

Team invited parishioners to 

prepare a simple recipe from the 

six countries profiled throughout 

the 2011 Project Compassion 

campaign: rice doughnuts from 

Nepal, bisamuni (warm samosas) 

from the Democratic Republic of 

Congo, potato salad from Bolivia, 

vegetarian spring rolls from Vietnam, 

coconut buns from Samoa 

and cinnamon, macadamia and sultana 

muffins from our Indigenous 

community. 

Around 60 parishioners enjoyed 

the international morning tea 

and donated over $200 to Project 

Compassion. 

There was a lovely “buzz”: lots 

of conversation and interest in the 

food and the country of origin. 

A couple of older parishioners 

asked for recipes as they enjoyed 

the food so much. The children also 

enjoyed sampling the food. 

The Café was particularly significant 

as one of our families comes 

from the Democratic Republic of 

Congo. 

Yves, Edwidge and two-year-old 

Ecka, who arrived in our Parish in 

2010, brought along warm treats 

from their country. 

People donated very generously 

with plenty of leftovers for the 

10:30am parishioners to enjoy at 

their morning tea! 

The narthex was decorated with 

artifacts from various countries. 

Parishioner, Michael McLinden, 

went to a lot of trouble to decorate 

the Samoan table as well as wearing 

Samoan traditional dress. 

Photos of parishioners enjoying 

the exotic food are attached. 

It was the first time the Caritas 

Café was attempted in Wodonga, 

raising awareness of the countries 

supported in a practical way by Caritas 

Australia. 

Co-ordinators Julie Cotter and 

Judy Ryan were delighted with the 

interest in the event: a wonderful 

experience that will be repeated 

next year. 

Abortion survivor to speak 

Melissa Ohden is considered 

a 'Voice for the voiceless' and 

passionately advocates for women 

and families facing unplanned 

pregnancy. 

In 1977, Melissa Ohden's 

mother underwent an abortion 

attempt during her fifth month of 

pregnancy. The abortion failed, 

and Melissa was born alive and 

provided with medical treatment. 

After being adopted, she found 

out (during her teen years) the 

story of her birth and experienced 

first hand the incredible emotional 

pain that abortion can inflict. 

Melissa went on to complete her 

Master's Degree in Social Work 

and has worked in the fields of 

substance abuse, mental health, 

domestic violence/sexual assault 

counselling and child welfare. 

After years of personal grief 

and questioning, Melissa is telling 

the world her story – a story of 

survival, triumph and hope. 

She toured Australia last 

September, receiving an 

overwhelming response from 

thousands who heard her speak 

and now Bendigo residents have 

the opportunity to also be inspired, 

when she visits in May. 

Where: The 

Bendigo Library, 

R.L Campbell 

Theatrette - 

269 Hargreaves 

Street, Bendigo. 

When: 

Tuesday, May 

10 at 7:15 pm 

Enquiries: Lois 

0402 915 960 

Supper Provided 

Supported by 

lifematters2u - 

Bendigo 

Journey 

Christ 

OF 

Sandhurst Diocese Pilgrimage 

Departing 21 September 2011 

A 15 DAy PilgrimAge Journey 

FEATURING: Mt Tabor • Nazareth • Cana • Sea of Galilee • Jerusalem • Bethlehem 

INDICATIVE COST FROM 

$6990 AUD 

Incl. Taxes, Fuel levies & Tipping 

For further information 

contact: Marina Scott, 

(03) 5443 2377 or email: 

mscott@ceosand. 

catholic.edu.au 

TOUR CODE 

1PV12 

Spiritual Chaplain 

Fr. Joe Taylor 

Harvest Pilgrimages Victoria, Suite 1/1 Smith Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065 • Tel: 039495 6488 • Fax: 039495 6499 • email: jeff.jones@harvestpilgrimages.com • www.harvestpilgrims.com

May 2011 Adult Faith Education www.sandpiper.org.au – Page 13 

>> adult faith education 

Disciples with questions 

This is the second 

article focused on 

the Gospel of John, 

proclaimed during 

Sunday celebrations of 

the Easter Season. 

In the fourth Gospel, we meet 

characters who ask important 

questions, and teach us a great 

deal about what it means to be a 

disciple of the risen Christ. 

Among these are Philip and Thomas, 

both present during the washing 

of the feet and teachings during Jesus’ 

last Passover meal. Philip is one of 

the first to join Jesus (Jn 1:43). Thomas’ 

role in the Resurrection stories is 

important for us all. 

Thomas 

Thomas is one who speaks 

up for other disciples. His 

honest doubts, fears and 

questions bring out truths about 

what it means to believe in and follow 

Jesus (14:5-7 and 20:24-29). 

He is also a realist who recognises 

that following Jesus could mean risk 

to life. 

When Jesus decides 

to return to Judea after 

Lazarus’ death, it is 

Thomas (called ‘the 

Twin’) who says, “Let us 

go, that we may die with 

him” (11:16). 

During the last Passover 

meal with Jesus, 

Thomas’ asks a question 

that leads to one of 

Jesus’ most important 

teachings; 

“I am the Way, the 

Truth and the Life. 

“No one comes to the 

Father except through 

me. 

“If you know me, 

you will know my 

Father also. 

“From now on you 

do know him and you 

have seen him.” 

(Jn 14:5-7) 

The way of discipleship 

is Jesus himself 

(14:6). To know Jesus 

is to know the goal of 

the journey, God whom 

Jesus calls “Father”, and 

the way to the Father – 

Jesus himself. 

Faith in him, and a life following 

his way of self-giving love, leads to 

true and abundant life (Jn 10:10). 

In Jesus Christ the invisible 

God who wants to save all people is 

made known and accessible in Jesus. 

Anyone may reach the goal of their 

existence by following him. 

Paradoxically, Jesus’ way leads 

to life and also to death. Thomas is 

one of the few, perhaps the only one, 

who recognises the ultimate sacrifice 

which discipleship may entail (11:16). 

He understands the situation of the 

earthly Jesus and the risk of death. 

Yet although he has declared his 

intention to go and die with Jesus, 

when their friend is dying, Thomas is 

among the majority of disciples who 

flees in fear. He cannot grasp death 

leading to resurrection and life. 

After the resurrection, Thomas’ 

doubts and questions again evoke a 

teaching which is vital for the rest of 

us. 

He was absent when others first 

saw the risen Jesus. His response to 

their news was disbelief without tangible 

proof (Jn 20:25). 

One week later, “Jesus came and 

stood among them, saying, “Peace be 

with you.” 

Jesus admonishes Thomas, “Do 

not doubt, but believe”. He invites him 

to touch the wounds of crucifixion. 

In response, Thomas’ response 

echoes down the centuries, “My Lord 

and my God.” 

It is those who will “see” only 

with eyes of faith whom Jesus commends; 

“Have you believed because 

you have seen me? Blessed are those 

who have not seen and yet have come 

to believe.” 

Thomas and fellow-disciples meet 

Jesus once more by the sea, after a 

huge catch of fish. They recognise the 

Risen One as they share a meal with 

him on the shore (Jn 21:1-12). 

Philip 

Philip, whose name has Greek 

origins, was from Bethsaida, 

‘the city of Andrew and 

Peter’ (Jn 1:43). 

He answered Jesus’ call to “follow 

me” and brought Nathaniel to Jesus, 

respectfully inviting him to “Come 

and see” for himself (1:43-47). 

When a large hungry crowd draws 

near, Jesus tests Philip: “Where are 

we to buy bread for these people to 

eat?” 

“ 

Philip realises 

there isn’t the money 

I am the Way, to feed so many and 

he is among the 

the Truth and disciples who witness 

the feeding of 

the Life. the people and the 

Eucharistic teaching 

No one comes which follows (Jn 

6:5-14; Jn 6:22-40). 

to the Father During Jesus’ 

final days, it is Philip 

except through who is approached 

by Greek people 

me. 

wanting to see Jesus 

(12:21). 

If you know me, Philip involves 

Andrew and together 

you will know they inform Jesus. 

The news is 

my Father also. 

important. 

It becomes a sign 

that Jesus’ life and 

death will be for all 

people of all nations. 

From now on 

you do know 

him and you 

have seen him. 

(Jn 14:5-7) 

However, life 

comes through 

self-giving love, 

and death. Jesus 

answered them: 

“The hour has come 

for the Son of Man to 

be glorified. 

“Very truly, I tell you, unless a 

grain of wheat falls into the earth and 

dies, it remains just a single grain; 

but if it dies it bears much fruit.” (Jn 

12:24). 

During the last Passover meal, 

Philip’s question, like that of Thomas, 

leads to further teaching that is fundamental 

for understanding who Jesus 

is, and the life and purpose of Jesus’ 

disciples. 

Although with Jesus for a long 

time, Philip, speaking for the group, 

asks for more: “Lord, show us the 

Father and we shall be satisfied” 

(14:8) Ironically, then as now, signs 

do not really satisfy those who witness 

them, including disciples. 

Jesus will praise those who believe 

without seeing (Jn 20:29). 

Jesus’ response to Philip carries 

a note of sadness and exasperation, 

perhaps as a teacher or parent whose 

patience is almost worn out (Jn 14:9). 

Given the time spent witnessing 

Jesus’ word and work, disciples 

should have come to a deeper level of 

The incredulity of Saint Thomas, by Caravaggio 1602-1603. 

insight and knowledge of him as the 

one who reveals the Father. 

Jesus wants them to believe in himself, 

his word and work, and act upon 

this belief rather than seek extraordinary 

visionary experiences (14:9-14). 

Philip must go on believing, 

without the concrete evidence he 

would like to have and without full 

understanding. 

Philip’s question leads to reassurance 

and promises. Jesus asks them 

STUDY ONLINE IN 2011 

WITH 

THE BROKEN BAY INSTITUTE 

Online COurses are Offered fOr semester 1, 2011. 

RELI3000 Islam: History, Theology and Culture 

THEO1008 Spirituality & Pastoral Care: An Introduction 

THEO1011 Introduction to Youth Ministry 

THEO1030 Introduction to the Bible 

THEO1040 Introduction to Theology 

THEO2002 Studies in Christology 

THEO2005 New Testament 2 

THEO2017 Directed Studies in Spirituality 1 

THEO2018 Directed Studies in Spirituality 2 

THEO2024 Specialised Youth Ministry 1 

THEO3003 History and Practice of Christian Mission 

THEO3005 Directed Studies in Theology 2 

THEO3025 Directed Studies in Pastoral Leadership 2 

THEO6005 Advanced Studies in New Testament 

THEO6006 Jesus the Christ 

THEO6007 Theology of Religious Education 

THEO6011 Advanced Studies in Education and Mission 1 

THEO6013 Advanced Studies in Mission and Culture 

THEO6016 Studies in Spirituality 

THEO6017 Contemporary Studies in Spirituality 1 

THEO6018 Contemporary Studies in Spirituality 2 

THEO6021 Youth Ministry – Foundations 

THEO6022 Advanced Studies in Youth Evangelisation and Christian Mission 

THEO6030 Biblical Studies – Foundations 

THEO6040 Faith, Revelation & Theology 

Online learning with The Broken Bay Institute gives you a comprehensive and 

contemporary study experience in a new, user-friendly and interactive learning 

environment. It’s learning that is flexible and convenient. And it allows you to interact 

with your tutor and your fellow students in the online discussion facility so that you’re 

never isolated while learning. 

fOr mOre infOrmatiOn COntaCt: 

Francis Flores 

Online Learning Community Coordinator 

Email: fflores@bbi.catholic.edu.au 

Phone: 02 9847 0536 

Broken 

Bay 

Institute 

to believe he is in the Father, and the 

Father in him. 

He invites them to ask in his name 

for what they need and promises them 

the gift of the Spirit: “If you love me, 

you will keep my commandments. 

And I will ask the Father, and he 

will give you another Advocate, to be 

with you for ever. This is the Spirit of 

truth, whom the world cannot receive, 

because it neither sees him nor knows 

him. You know him, because he 

abides with you, and he will be in 

you.” (Jn 14:15-17). 

For reflection: Revisit stories of 

the fourth Gospel which include Thomas 

(Jn 14:5; 20:24-29; 21:2) and 

Philip (John 1:43ff, 6:5-9; 12:20-22; 

14:8). 

What aspects of their faith 

journeys resonate with your own? 

Consider Jesus’ teachings in response 

to their questions. What is the meaning 

of these teachings for you? 

Resources: Value resources for 

exploring John, or all four gospels, 

include books by Fr Frank Moloney 

SDB (available from bookshops). 


The Broken Bay Institute is affiliated with the 

University of Newcastle

Page 14– www.sandpiper.org.au Justice News May 2011 

Leap into action 

Caritas Australia, in partnership with 

the Sandhurst Diocese, is offering a Justice 

Learn Experience Action Program (LEAP)! 

It is, in fact, an Immersion Program (although 

the immersion phase is not compulsory). 

It has run regularly in Melbourne with some 

from our diocese participating there, as well as 

in Bendigo in 2008. 

It comes highly recommended as a course for 

those interested in justice issues and Catholic 

Social Teaching. 

In the words of 2008 participant, Andrea 

Dillon: 

“I signed up to the program with a deep sense 

of wanting to become more involved in social 

justice issues, and perhaps to find a range of 

options on how I could help those less fortunate 

than myself,” she said. 

“I was surprised to find that by the end of 

the program I had not so much found out how 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHASE 1: Learn 

 

 

 

 

PHASE 2: Experience 

 

 

PHASE 3: Action 

 

 

Expressions of interest to 

Kerry Stone: kmstone@bigpond.net.au or 0408 579904 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“You (the Aboriginal People) are part of Australia and 

Australia is part of you. And the Church herself in 

Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants 

her to be until you have made your contribution to her 

life and until that contribution has been joyfully 

received by others. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I could ‘go and help’ people living in poverty, 

but that I had taken a transformation in my own 

thinking and attitude towards poverty and injustice, 

my own lifestyle, fair sharing of the earth’s 

resources, the importance of the ‘dignity of all 

people’ and a deeper appreciation of long term, 

sustainable development. 

The program is a chance for anyone who may 

be interested in initiating justice activities in 

their parish, to obtain an excellent grounding in 

the basics of Catholic Social teaching, an understanding 

of poverty issues. 

This 30-hour course will be held over two 

weekends: Wangaratta 25-26 June and Shepparton 

6-7 August. 

No assignments or assessments are involved. 

Registrations are requested by May 27. For further 

information or a brochure, contact Kerry on 0408 

579 904 or kmstone@bigpond.net.au 

>> justice news 

Conference participants join Melissa Brickell with her artwork The Mysteries of Light, 

A chance to 

pray together 

By Kerry Stone 

Diocesan Coordinator 

Caritas /Justice 

The Journey Unfolds: 

Symbols and Liturgy 

Day was held at 

Avila College in Melbourne 

on April 2. 

Aboriginal Message Stick 

custodians from across the 

Melbourne Archdiocese 

came together for the third 

Custodians gathering held 

in Melbourne since the Passit-on 

Message Stick Relay in 

2005/06. 

Also present were Sandhurst 

identities – Kerry Stone, 

Diocesan Caritas/ Justice 

Coordinator, Bernadette 

McPherson and Louise Levy, 

Indigenous Educators from the 

Sandhurst Catholic Education 

Office and Donna Widdicombe 

from Bendigo, a member of the 

Victorian Aboriginal Catholic 

Council. 

The purpose of the day was 

to provide ongoing opportunities 

for development for those 

who are using rituals and 

prayers based in Aboriginal 

spirituality e.g. Message Sticks 

and Turning the Coolamon. 

The programme included 

Keynote Speakers, Graeme 

Mundine, former head of 

NATSIEC, now Executive 

Officer Aboriginal Catholic 

Ministry NSW, and Fr Tony 

Kerins, Episcopal Vicar for 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

Islanders. Graeme spoke 

powerfully of the meaning of 

‘symbol’ and the diversity of 

meaning attributed to symbols, 

before focussing specifically 

on Aboriginal spirituality. Fr 

Tony emphasised the importance 

of liturgy incorporating 

‘symbols of our land’. 

The Mysteries of Light, 

painted by Melissa Brickell 

have been added to the Dreaming 

in the City Rosary Series 

– a set of paintings of the Mysteries 

of the Rosary, aboriginal 

style. 

During the day, Melissa 

spoke to the meaning of the 

painting “Jesus: the Proclamation 

of the Kingdom”. 

This Mystery of the Rosary 

was then prayed – aboriginal 

style with Donna Widdicombe 

from Bendigo leading the 

prayer. 

Aboriginal spirituality/ 

symbols/liturgy days 

for Sandhurst 

2006 marked twenty 

years since Pope John 

Paul II met with Indigenous 

Australians in Alice 

Springs. 

The message he delivered 

that day was both affirming 

and challenging. He called for 

renewal founded on courage 

and hope. 

He acknowledged the value 

of Aboriginal culture and 

encouraged Indigenous people 

to cherish and promote it: 

“Your culture, which shows the 

lasting genius and dignity of 

your race, must not be allowed 

to disappear. Do not think that 

your gifts are worth so little 

that you should no longer 

bother to maintain them. Share 

them with each other and 

teach them to your children. 

Your songs, your stories, your 

paintings, your dances, your 

languages, must never be lost.” 

As both an expression of, 

and a response to, this challenge, 

the call was issued by an 

Indigenous symbol, a Message 

Stick. 

In May 2005, Aboriginal 

Message Sticks were sent out 

from St Mary’s Cathedral in 

Sydney to every State. 

The following year, 2007, 

at the invitation of Aboriginal 

Catholic Ministry Victoria, 

Bishop Joe Grech committed 

Sandhurst Diocese to continuing 

the message of the Pass It 

On Message Stick Relay with 

parishes and schools being 

invited to become custodians 

of their own Message Stick for 

use in their liturgy and other 

community events. 

Since then, parishes and 

schools have been encouraged 

to become custodians of their 

own Message Stick. 

Presently, 20 parishes in 

Sandhurst and most schools 

are Message Stick custodians. 

In this time, Aboriginal 

Catholic Ministry has held a 

Commissioning Ceremony and 

two gatherings for Custodians 

(those who have Message 

Sticks) and potential Custodians 

(everybody else!) in 

Melbourne. 

Now Sandhurst will have 

this opportunity – on Sunday, 

May 22, in Bendigo (and Sunday, 

August 14, in Wangaratta) 

This day will unpack what 

it means to be Custodian of an 

Aboriginal Message Stick. 

But we will also discover 

more about Aboriginal Spirituality 

and its fit with our 

Catholic faith and about other 

symbols which can be incorporated 

into our liturgies and 

celebrations. 

Significantly, there will 

be an official commissioning 

ceremony of all custodians by 

Aboriginal elders. Each parish 

and school is asked to bring 

your Message Stick. 

As lunch is provided, an 

RSVP is requested. Please 

contact Kerry on 0408 59904 

or kmstone@bigpond.net.au 

Rights & reconciliation 

The end of this month 

provides us with an 

opportunity to focus on 

Reconciliation, to hear about 

the cultures and history of 

Australia’s Indigenous peoples, 

and to explore new and 

better ways of meeting challenges 

in our communities. 

National Reconciliation 

Week, which was first celebrated 

in 1996 runs from May 

27 to June 3. 

It is a time for us to renew 

our commitment to Reconciliation 

and to think about how we 

can help turn around the continuing 

disadvantage experienced 

by Aboriginal and Torres Strait 

Islander Australians. 

The week coincides with 

two significant dates in Australia’s 

history which provide 

strong symbols of our hopes 

and aims for Reconciliation. 

May 27 marks the anniversary 

of the 1967 Referendum 

in which more than 90 per 

cent of Australians voted to 

remove clauses from the Australian 

Constitution which 

discriminated against Indigenous 

Australians. 

Mabo Day June 3 marks 

the anniversary of the High 

Court of Australia’s which 

recognised the Native Title 

rights of the Aboriginal and 

Torres Strait Islander peoples, 

the original inhabitants of the 

continent, and overturned the 

myth of terra nullius - that the 

continent was empty, unowned 

land before the arrival of Europeans 

in 1788.

May 2011 www.sandpiper.org.au – Page 15 

A beaut tale of 

Business Card Directory 

church building 

Building the first 

Catholic church in 

Mt Beauty was a 

community effort 

writes Barry Jackson 

St Joseph’s, Mt. Beauty was 

consecrated on November 7, 

1954, at that time St Joseph’s 

belonged to the parish of Bright that 

had been formed in 1948. 

Before the Parish of Bright, the 

Mass centre for Tawonga and the Kiewa 

valley. 

The early history of Catholics in the 

Kiewa Valley is not recorded, the earliest 

records we have is a family from 

Kilkenny in Ireland, Thomas and Elizabeth 

Crotty who took over the Bogong 

Hotel in Tawonga in about 1893. 

It is believed Mass was celebrated at 

the hotel or community hall from this 

period. 

There were 14 baptisms recorded as 

being Tawonga residents between 1939 

and 1947. There must have been others 

before this, but no record can be found. 

With the start of the Kiewa hydro 

Electricity scheme and the increase in 

population, Masses were said in various 

schools, homes and public halls at Mt 

Beauty and Tawonga. 

At that time, Masses were said by 

Father John Hussey, who was Parish 

Priest from 1948 to 1951. 

Father Hussey’s first Masses were 

proceeds from various functions and 

Anagram Crossword 

activities passed the halfway mark to 

In this crossword, anagrams are given raise the instead money. 

celebrated in Tawonga South School, The entire project was undertaken by 

of clues for each of the six, 9-letter words. 

now the National Parks office in volunteer labour, using the many skills 

Tawonga South. Shortly after Masses of the labour force employed in the construction 

of the hydro electric were conducted every two weeks in 

scheme. 

Across: 

Down: 

St Joseph’s Catholic Church, Mt Beauty. 

township of Mt Beauty. Father Hussey 

called a meeting after Mass to discuss 

the erection of a church. 

Several parishioners immediately 

donated money towards this project. 

A building committee chaired by 

Leo Reid was immediately formed and 

monies were raised via various methods 

including the raffling of a Holden 

motor car and the issuing of debentures 

redeemable in three year’s time. 

The church was expected to cost 

between three and four thousand 

pounds, and by February 1954 the 

Tawonga school. 

St Joseph’s was opened debt free 

1. ABBGILLNO 

At this time Leo and 1. Biddy ABEEMORRT 

Reid by Bishop Bernard Stewart on Sunday, 

were the driving force for the proposal November 7, 1954. 

4. AEKMNOOQU 2. AIINTTQUY 

for a Catholic Church at Mt Beauty. The total cost was four thousand 

5. AEEMNPRT 

Leo was employed by 3. the DEGIOPSTU 

State pounds and had taken 18 months to 

Electricity Commission as a building complete. 

1 

construction foreman. 

Father Hussey used 2 the Reid’s 

kitchen to hear confessions on the Saturday 

evenings before Mass. 

The SECV allocated a block of 

land to each denomination for a place 

of worship during the planning of the 

The priest’s 3 flat, meeting room 

The meeting room and flat next to 

the church became essential because the 

Priest would travel from Bright over the 

mountain on the Saturday afternoon to 

prepare for Mass at Mt Beauty on the 

Sunday. 

In the short term, while funds were 

being raised a house was rented for the 

use of the priest from the SECV and 

was referred to as the “temporary parish 

house”. 

The parish flat and meeting rooms 

were built during 1959 and comprised a 

sitting room, kitchenette, bedroom, toilet 

and bathroom. Two extra toilets were 

added to cater for parishioners. 

The Church extension was constructed 

by contract during the later part 

of 1978 to cater for an extra 50 people; 

this extension was blessed and opened 

by Bishop Daly on Sunday, December 

2, 1979. The reconciliation room at the 

rear of the church was added in 1991. 

Former Priests – St Josephs Catholic 

Church. 

Fr. John Hussey 1948 – 51 

Fr. Vincent Cochrane. 1951 – 56 

Fr. Basil Thomas. 1956 – 74 

Fr. Patrick Farrell. 1974 – 78 

Fr. Leo Lacey. 1978 – 79 

Fr. Kevin Howath. 1979 – 82 

Fr. Eric Loorham (assistant preist) 1980 

– 81 

Fr. Robert Burtonclay 1982-87 

Fr. Robert Morley. 1987 – 93 

Fr. Christopher Reay 1993 – 97 

Fr. Anthony Hill. 1997 – 2001 

Fr. Matthew O’Hagan. 2001 – 2005 

Award Winning 

Custom Built Cabinets 

Free measure and quote in the Bendigo area 

176 Murphy Street 

BENDIGO 3550 Ph 5441 7786 

www.bourkeskitchens.com.au 

Refill your empty 

printer cartridges at 

Cartridge World and watch the 

FUNERAL DIRECTORS 

savings pile up! 

KENNEDY and TODD 

Dan Kennedy 

Serving Benalla, Nagambie, Seymour and District 

Prepaid funerals available 

24 hour service - 7 days a week 

Nagambie 5794 2759, Benalla 5762 2461 

Refill your empty printer cartridges 

at Cartridge World and watch your 

savings pile up! 

Cartridge World stores are independently owned and operated 

Cartridge World Bendigo 

300a High Street P: 5444 4984 

4 

5 

Crossword solutions 

Solution 

B I L L A B O N G 

A N U 

R T I 

O I D 

M O O N Q U A K E 

E U P 

T I O 

E T S 

R E P A Y M E N T 

Your business card here for only 

$44 

For further details, contact 

advertising@sandpiper.org.au or 03 5442 8531 

 

 

 

 

 

Goulburn Valley 

Limousine Services 

T 1300 13 9740 • E chauffeur@limousinesatcall.com.au 

• Baby seats available 

• Credit cards accepted 

• Accounts and tax invoices available 

• Stretch limousines, mini buses, coaches, town cars

Page 16 – www.sandpiper.org.au Relax May 2011 

Featured reader 

Meet this month’s 

featured reader, Year 9 

student at FCJ Benalla, 

Amanda Leslie 

Marital/family status? 

Single 

Three words that best describe 

me are: 

Helpful, bubbly and responsible 

My job is as a: 

Year 9 Student at FCJ College 

Benalla 

But I wish my job was: 

An Occupational Therapist, so 

that I can help people, who need 

assistance. 

The most famous person I’ve ever 

met was: 

Peter Norman, he was famous for 

standing in solidarity on the podium 

while two Americans delivered the 

Black Power Salute with their heads 

bowed at the Mexico Olympics. 

The nicest thing a perfect 

stranger ever did for me was: 

My family was on holidays in the 

Northern Territory. When we were 

stranded by a mechanical breakdown, 

some soldiers rescued us with 

their tank carrier and carried our 

broken camper trailer one thousand 

kilometers to Port Augusta, they 

were very nice and I was thankful 

for them helping us. 

I’m reading the book: (include, title 

and author in response): 

‘The Night is for Hunting’ by John 

Marsden. This book is second last 

book of the ‘Tomorrow Series’ and 

the series has been very exciting and 

addictive. 

The most fascinating place I’ve 

ever been is: 

Lake Eyre, because it is a totally 

dried salt lake in one of the most 

remote, driest places in Australia, 

but about every 30 years it fills with 

water! 

The place I’ve always wanted to 

travel to is: 

Europe to see all the amazing places 

and to experience all the different 

cultures. 

The most embarrassing moment of 

my life was when: 

I was three years old and I climbed 

the bread stands at Safeway and got 

stuck. 

Favourite quote: 

Live today like there’s no tomorrow, 

but plant trees like you’ll live 

forever. 

The funniest (clean) joke I know: 

A duck walks into a bar. He goes up 

to the bartender and says “Got any 

nuts?” The bartender says “No” so 

the duck leaves. The duck comes an 

hour later, goes up to the bartender, 

and says “Got any nuts?” The bartender 

says “No” so the duck leaves. 

An hour later the duck returns. He 

goes up to the bartender and says 

“Got any nuts?” The bartender says 

“Look duck. We don’t have any nuts 

today, we didn’t have any yesterday. 

If you come back in here and ask for 

nuts again, I’m going to nail you to 

the floor.” So the duck leaves. The 

duck comes back an hour later, goes 

up to the bartender and asks “Got 

any nails?” The bartender says “No.” 

Then the duck says “Got any nuts?” 

My proudest achievement: 

Is organising a successful statewide 

camp for Young Christian Students 

Victoria. 

The person I really admire most is: 

My Parents, they always know 

what to do and have and love me 

no matter what. 

My favourite movie is (include 

what made it so good in your 

response): 

Tomorrow When The War 

Began, because not only have I 

read the books but I love the storyline 

and fun, exciting scenes! 

If I could invite any three guests 

to dinner they’d be 

Hamish Blake and Andy Lee, 

because they would always have 

something to talk about and they 

would be easy to get along with 

and Bear Grylls because he would 

never complain about what was 

served. 

Qualities I admire most in people 

are: 

Friendliness, 

and happiness. 

thoughtfulness 

My most memorable memory is: 

Riding on a camel train on 

Cable Beach in Broome. 

People would be surprised to 

know about me: 

I like to watch Vintage Motor 

Racing at Winton with my Dad. 

Famous last words: 

Smile, be happy! 

>> SANDPIPER CROSSWORDS 

Anagram Crossword 

In this crossword, anagrams are given instead 

In this crossword, anagrams are given instead 

of clues for each of the six, 9-letter words. 

of clues for each of the six, nine-letter words 

Across: 

1. ABBGILLNO 

4. AEKMNOOQU 

5. AEEMNPRT 

Down: 

1. ABEEMORRT 

2. AIINTTQUY 

3. DEGIOPSTU 

1 2 3 

4 

5 

>> CAPTION COMPETITION 

Entries accepted online at www.sandpiper.org.au or can be 

posted to SandPiper C/- PO Box 201, Bendigo, 3552. 

Write caption here (under 30 words): 

__________________________________________ 

__________________________________________ 

__________________________________________ 

ACROSS 

1 Ancient and popular board game 

(10) 

6 Children’s word game (1,3) 

9 Copy (7) 

10 Indoor playing arena (7) 

12 Prescribed list of food (4) 

13 Exclusive traders or businesses 

(10) 

15 Pre-dinner drink etc, (8) 

16 Popular hamburger (3,3) 

18 Education setting (6) 

19 Pertaining to the brain (8) 

21 Nursery book storyteller (5,5) 

22 Middle East ruler (4) 

24 Humorous legal Latin term “Bent 

not broken” (6,3,6) 

25 see 3 Down 

26 Documents satchels (10) 

DOWN 

1 Children’s party game (8’1,4) 

2 Board game with jumping pieces 

(7,8) 

3 and 25 Across: ballgame target 

pole (4,4) 

4 Word or short verse to aid memory 

Solution (8) 

B I5 LSecond L A hand B store O (2-4) N G 

7 Liquor suppliers (6,9) 

A 8 One branch N of Eastern Catholics U 

R (9) T I 

11 Party game involving walking and 

O I D 

sitting (7,6) 

M O14 OBallet N movement Q U A (9) K E 

E 17 Ordered U pattern or series P(8) 

20 Lamb (6) 

T I O 

23 Large water reptile (abbrev) (4) 

E T S 

R E P 

Crossword 

A Y M 

Solution 

E N T 

Page 15 

Name: .................................................................... 

Address: .................................................................. 

........................................... Post Code: .................. 

last month’s 

winner: 

“We had one, but the 

wheels fell off.” 

K Michaux, Nathalia

May 2011 Relax www.sandpiper.org.au – Page 17 

>> RESOURCE REVIEWS 

Getting a grip of scripture 

Reviews by Jennifer Greblo 

Images of God: for Young 

Children”. 

By Marie-Helene Delval. 

Illustrated by Barbara 

Nascimbeni 

beautifully written book 

A using biblical images of God 

as an inspiration and then encapsulating 

the thoughts and ideas 

around this in a brief poem. 

Marie Helene Deval has put 

spiritual layers of meaning to each 

image for example: 

“God is light. 

God is light so dazzling 

that our eyes cannot look into it. 

But the beauty of each day, 

the rays of the sun, 

the kindness and joy that light up 

a face, 

the hope and happiness 

that brighten our days – 

all these reflect a little of God’s 

light” 

This is not the type of book to 

pick up and read in one session, it 

is more a base to begin prayer and 

reflection. 

Young children would ask so 

many questions in response, forming 

>> IN THE GARDEN 

A beautiful autumn flower 

Crepe Myrtle trees 

will soon be in 

bloom, and they’re 

bred to last, writes 

John Holder 

Camellias 

are 

indispensable plants in 

the garden from autumn 

onwards through the winter. 

In our climate, the autumn 

flowering Camellia Sesanquas 

are probably the most 

important in the group. 

As roses and other summer 

flowers loose there grip, 

and later their leaves, the 

Sesanqua Camellias and other 

strongly evergreen plants 

such as the conifers provide 

continuity in the garden. 

Sadly, most written 

accounts of Camellias give 

little space to the Sesanquas, 

possibly because most of what 

is written is from collectors or 

from those associated with 

clubs and shows. 

The usefulness of the 

Sesanquas, though, is another 

matter, for, while the winter 

Winter–flowering Camellias 

are limited in where they may 

be grown, since most will 

not stand full sun, and the 

blooms are badly damaged by 

exposure to frost, Sesanquas 

have hardier root systems, sun 

hardy foliage, tougher flowers 

and flower through a milder 

time. 

While the winter camellias 

may be more suited to those 

who want to grow blooms for 

a cosy sharing of faith between parent 

and child. 

The illustrations by Barbara 

Nascimbeni show respect for the 

mellow, soft nature of the text but 

also show imagination and colour. 

There is so much to explore and 

wonder at, in each illustration. 

Children would easily be able to 

pick out their favourite image/s and 

may be inspired to express their faith 

through visual image. 

They may also choose/compose a 

piece of music to reflect each image. 

Camellia Sesanquas are an autumn flowering plant. 

the show bench, these autumn 

-flowering Sesanquas are better 

in the garden, as trimmed 

screens, low hedges espaliered 

on wires along a fence or in tubs 

or as a single plant. 

A summer and winter hardy 

plant that flowers well for four 

months starting late February 

and March is an essential 

addition to our gardens. 

Here are some handy tips 

to consider when planting 

Sesanqua Camellias. 

They tolerate a wide range 

of soil conditions and even 

make a good rootstocks on 

which to graft winter camellias, 

rendering them resistant to root 

rot diseases. 

Plant them almost any 

time, but autumn and winter are 

popular times. 

Sesanquas are slow rooting 

plants but respond to well 

On Your Mark: Reading 

Scripture Without a Teacher 

By William J O’Malley 

William O’Malley writes in 

the hope that we will forget 

all we have heard before and 

look at Mark’s Gospel with fresh 

eyes and ears, giving us a chance 

to “Discover the Jesus story for 

the first time, as the first non- 

Palestinian converts did: through 

Mark.” 

His depth of knowledge about the 

scriptures, culture and etymology 

enhance our understandings. 

In Part 1 the background information 

about the Gospel of Mark is 

discussed. 

a) How the Gospel became the 

Gospels. 

b) Mark the Collector and Editor 

c) Jesus’ Consciousness of His 

Divinity 

d) Suffering. 

Part II features the biblical 

text and a commentary. William 

O’Malley (an American Jesuit priest) 

draws on; his studies, The New 

Interpreter’s Bible and the Jerome 

Biblical Commentary but expresses 

loosened soil that is neutral or 

slightly acid and that has old 

compost or peatmoss mixed 

into it. 

Avoid manure or manure 

pellets. Soil must drain freely. 

Avoid adding fertilizer at planting 

time, since the plant you buy 

is likely to have adequate slow 

release fertilizer in its soil. 

Further, winter feeding or 

adding additional fertilizer at 

planting time is likely to upset 

the plant. Leaves may scorch 

at the edges and drop off if 

overfed. 

Sesanquas break into new 

leaf growth as the soil warms up 

in October and it is best to delay 

feeding the plant until then. 

Most years new growth is 

made in a very short season 

of about three months and 

flowering buds are already 

formed in January. 

# 

this knowledge in very simple clear 

terms. 

At the end of each Chapter of 

Mark’s Gospel William J O’Malley 

provides review questions to help 

consolidate understandings. 

There is also a section called For 

Reflection where he poses questions, 

that arise from the text but relate to 

the life of the reader today. 

I found many of these questions 

great food for thought and they took 

my understandings to a new level. 

I found this very hard to put down 

which surprised me. I have listened 

to the Gospel readings this Lent with 

a new awareness and appreciation. I 

will certainly track down other books 

that bear his name. 

These and many other titles are available for free loan at the Resource Centre, 118 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo. Open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5pm. Phone (03) 5442 

6108 or Fax: (03) 5442 9463. Email: library@ceo.sand.catholic.edu.au or search online at: web.ceosand.catholic.edu.au (no www at beginning). 

On the other hand, given a 

moist soil, surface mulch and a 

slow release fertilizer over this 

period it is startling just how 

much growth the Sesanqua can 

make in a short time. 

Neglect your plant over this 

period and your opinion will be 

that they are slow growers! 

Select a variety that is suited 

to the position you have in 

mind. Ask someone who has 

experience of them. 

There are several distinctly 

different habits of growth. 

The low, slow growers can be 

trimmed to a low hedge or will 

suit a pot. 

The variety Little Pearl has 

double white flowers, is slow, 

compact, dwarf and quite lovely. 

Silver Dollar is similar, but 

with less pink on the back of the 

outer petals. Both have attractive 

large, glossy foliage. 

The compact, upright 

growers make nice pot 

specimens such as Yuletide 

which is a single orange-red or 

Interlude which is rose pink with 

a lilac overcast. 

The so-called groundcovering 

varieties are more likely 

to have low, spreading growth 

such as the double bright pink 

and very long flowering ‘Showano-sakae’. 

This one, confusingly, makes 

an excellent tall pot plant or 

specimen but the shoots must 

be staked to be held upright. 

For more information, visit John 

Holder at the Shepparton Garden 

Centre, 535 Archer Road, Kialla. 

Phone (03) 5823 5677 

>> SIMPLY COOKING 

Cottage 

pies 

The best thing about these 

cottage pies is that they are 

low cost, easy to prepare with 

little mess and they’re delicious! 

Preparation Time: 10 minutes 

Cooking Time: 40 minutes 

Makes: 4 

Ingredients 

• 500g potatoes, peeled, 

cut into cubes 

• 60ml (1/4 cup) hot skim 

milk 

• 2 tbs chopped fresh 

chives 

• Olive oil spray 

• 1 brown onion, finely 

chopped 

• 1 carrot, peeled, finely 

chopped 

• 1 zucchini, trimmed, 

finely chopped 

• 2 garlic cloves, crushed 

• 400g lean beef mince 

• 1 tbs no-added-salt 

tomato paste 

• 1 x 400g can no-addedsalt 

diced tomatoes 

• 125ml (1/2 cup) water 

• Mixed salad leaves, to 

serve 

Add above ingredients to 

your shopping list 

Method 

1.Preheat oven to 200°C. 

Cook the potato in a 

saucepan of boiling water 

for 10 minutes or until 

tender. Drain and return 

to the pan. Add the milk 

and mash until smooth. 

Stir in the chives. Season 

with pepper. 

2. Meanwhile, heat a large 

non-stick frying pan over 

medium heat. Spray 

with olive oil spray. 

Add the onion, carrot 

and zucchini. Cook, 

stirring occasionally, for 

6 minutes or until soft. 

Add the garlic and cook, 

stirring, for 1 minute. 

3. Add the mince and cook, 

stirring with a wooden 

spoon to break up any 

lumps, for 4-5 minutes 

or until mince changes 

colour. Add the tomato 

paste and cook, stirring, 

for 1 minute. Stir in the 

tomato and water. Cook, 

stirring occasionally, 

for 10 minutes or until 

mixture thickens. 

4. Divide the beef mixture 

among four 250ml (1- 

cup) capacity ovenproof 

dishes. Top with the 

potato mixture. Place the 

dishes on a large baking 

tray. Bake in oven for 15 

minutes or until golden. 

Serve with mixed salad 

leaves. 

Variations 

Swap it: For a different 

flavour, swap the potato for 

sweet potato.

Page 18 

s 

a n 

d p 

i 

t 

The road to emmaus 

After the death of Jesus, His disciples were filled with 

despair and disbelief. Only days before, Jesus had been 

greeted by the crowds as He entered Jerusalem, and now 

He lay dead in a tomb. 

Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10 

Early one morning two disciples of Jesus were walking 

sadly towards a village called Emmaus. They felt totally 

miserable as they talked about the events of the past days 

and the death of Jesus. As they walked, Jesus himself joined 

them, but they did not recognize Him. 

Jesus asked them, “What are you talking about?” One of them 

answered, “Surely you must have heard about what happened 

to Jesus of Nazareth! He was handed over to the chief priests 

and the Roman governor, who had Him crucified. We have heard 

that His body is missing from the tomb where they laid him, but 

we do not know what has happened.” 

Jesus said to them, “Do you not believe what the prophets 

have foretold?” 

Then he began to explain to them to prophecies about 

Himself in the Old Testament. When they arrived at Emmaus, the 

disciples asked Jesus to stay and share a meal with them. 

While they were at supper, Jesus took some bread, blessed it, 

broke it, and gave it to them. At that moment they saw clearly that 

the stranger was in fact Jesus, but he had already disappeared 

from their sight. 

“Of course it was the Lord,” they said. 

“Remember how our hearts seemed to burn as He shared the 

scriptures with us. How could we have been so blind!” 

At once, they returned to Jerusalem to tell the other disciples 

that Jesus had risen from the dead, and that they had known 

Him in the breaking of the bread. 

d r j d d r b 

d r d d f 

p r b d l 

l d r b r 

l n l 

n d 

f 

d p l n 

r n z 

d d b j d 

 

Dpl 

J 

rfd 

Brd 

Bld 

Brn 

Rn 

Rnz 

Discussion 

Have you eveer felt really disappointed when something 

has gone wrong? 

- A friend is coming to play buy has to cancel becasue 

she is ill. 

- Your football team almost makes it to the top of the league, 

then loses an important match. 

Jesus’ disciples were terribly disappointed and depressed 

about his death. They then knew that his body was missing from 

the tomb, and they did not understand the things that Jesus 

had said about “rising from the dead.” They were quite sure that 

people did not come back to life. 

What made the two disciples at Emmaus realise who Jesus 

was? He blessed the bread and broke it. It was his special way 

of sharing himself with his friends. Through sharing God’s word 

and the breaking of bread, their eyes were opened and they 

could see clearly. 

Prayer 

Lord Jesus, each time we come together to share in the 

breaking of bread, help us to recognise you and feel our 

hearts burn with your love.


>> from the archives 

Where our forebears rest 

By Mal Nolan 

Sandhurst Diocesan Historical 

Commission 

On the right-hand side 

of the road leading 

into the monumental 

section of the Bendigo 

cemetery, there is an area 

in which many Catholics 

are buried. 

These include priests 

and members of religious 

orders. One of the most 

prominent monuments in 

this section is on the grave 

which previously contained 

the first three bishops of 

Sandhurst before their 

exhumation and reburial 

in the crypt of the Sacred 

Heart Cathedral in 1974. 

Close by, there are 

graves of about 23 priests. 

Considerable information 

about the lives 

of priests buried here is 

available, but such is not 

the case for most of the 

deceased members of religious 

orders of nuns and 

brothers who often spent 

their lives in obscurity. 

This article provides 

some general information 

on graves of these religious. 

Next to the former 

grave of the bishops, there 

are three graves, two of the 

Sisters of Mercy and the 

other of the Sisters of the 

Good Shepherd. 

The oldest of the graves 

of Mercy sisters contains 

the remains of 29 nuns, 

the earliest burials being in 

1900 and the last in 1967. 

Sr Mary Agnes Costello 

and Sr Mary Vincent 

Monahan were the earliest 

burials. 

These nuns may have 

been members of the 

group who arrived in Bendigo 

to establish a convent 

and school in 1876. 

The earliest Sisters of Mercy grave in Bendigo. 

The other grave of Mercy 

sisters contains 28 nuns 

who died between 1969 and 

2001. 

The grave of the Sisters 

of the Good Shepherd 

contains 20 nuns who died 

between 1917 and 1977. 

The sisters had established 

St Aidan’s orphanage 

in Bendigo in 1905. 

The first burial was Sr 

Mary of the Immaculate 

Heart (Landy) who died in 

May 1917, aged 28 years. 

While there are many 

nuns buried in the Bendigo 

cemetery, there are only 

three brothers. 

These were all very 

young Marist brothers, and 

some brief details of them 

are available. 

All three died from tuberculosis 

which was one of 

the many diseases that were 

generally fatal in that era. 

The three were Brothers 

Mathias (Patrick Hickey) 

who died in April 1895 aged 

24, Timothy (John Gallagher) 

who died in January 1901 

aged only 18 and another 

Mathias (Edward Conway) 

who died in August 1901 

aged 22. 

All were from Victoria 

and had entered the Marist 

Brothers’ Training College 

in Sydney when they were 

14 years of age and were 

teaching by age 17. 

John Gallagher was born 

in Bendigo in October 1882 

and was baptised by Fr 

Daniel O’Connell (who died 

in 1923 and whose grave is 

only a short distance away). 

He attended St Kilian’s 

school before joining the 

Marist Brothers. 

There is another very 

large grave that is close to 

that of the Good Shepherd 

sisters. 

This contains the 

remains of 51 children and 

adults who were cared for at 

St Aidan’s Good Shepherd 

Centre, the first burial being 

in 1907 and the last in 1977. 

The Good Shepherd 

nuns initially provided care 

for the many orphans at 

that time and later provided 

for unmarried mothers and 

women with disabilities of 

various kinds. 

There would be few 

who read the names on the 

plaque who would not be 

touched by the experience. 

Discovering details of 

those buried here would be 

a major task but would be a 

valuable addition to Catholic 

history in the region and 

hopefully will be undertaken 

by an interested person at a 

future date. 

Noticeboard 

• May 2 

Diocesan Celebration of Our Lady of Good 

Counsel. 

• May 8 

Mother’s Day. 

• May 14 

Bendigo Spirituality in the Pub. Foundry Hotel. 

• May 14-16 

“One Spirit, One Body in Christ, Called 

to Action,” Harrietville Weekend, Mr Jim 

Quillinan, Br Michael Herry fms. 

• May 19 

Holy Spirit: eConference, Fr Denis Edwards, 

Sr Jan Gray, Fr Chris Ryan and Mrs Jan 

Heath. 

• May 22 

Aboriginal Spirituality/Symbols/Liturgy. 

11.30am De Campo Hall, CEO Bendigo. 

• June 11 

Prayerful Discernment & Decision Making, for 

Individuals and Groups, Sr Margaret Claver 

FCJ, St Kilian’s Parish Centre, Bendigo 

• June 13 

Queen’s Birthday holiday. 

• July 1 

School Term 2 ends. 

• July 17 

Sandhurst Diocese Pilgrimage Preparation 

(1st). 

• July 18 

School Term 3 begins. 

• July 24 

Numurkah Parish Seminar: Catholic Faith. 

• August 6-7 

Faith, Revelation & Theology seminar, St 

Brendan’s Centre, Knight Street Shepparton, 

9am – 4 pm. 

• August 7 

Sandhurst WYD 2011 Pilgrimage to Madrid – 

Departure. 

• August 21 

Sandhurst Diocese Pilgrimage Preparation 

(2nd). 

• August 27 

Sandhurst WYD 2011 Pilgrimage to Madrid – 

Return 

• September 4 

Father’s Day. 


Following Jesus – Matthew: eConference. 


Diocese Holy Land 2011 Pilgrimage – 

Departure. 



• October 6 

Sandhurst Diocese Holy Land 2011 Pilgrimage 

– Return. 

• October 10 

School Term 4 begins. 

• December 22 


Diocesan Priesthood 

Sandhurst Diocesan Vocations Ministry 

“Before I formed you in the womb, I 

knew you; before you came to birth I 

consecrated you; I have appointed you as 

a prophet to the nations.” Jer 1:5 

Contact Father Steve Bohan for information 

PO Box 36, Yarrawonga Vic 3730 

Phone: 03 5744 3030 Fax: 03 5744 3434

Catholic Newspaper of the Sandhurst Diocese May 2011 

Celebrating 25 years 

of helping each other 

On February 24, Centa- 

Care celebrated 25 years 

of family and community 

services in the Sandhurst Diocese. 

A number of happenings occurred 

to celebrate that occasion: Some people 

got together to write the stories of 

those 25 years and as a result a beautiful 

booklet was produced. 

A DVD was also created to present 

the programs that CentaCare provides 

for couples, families, children and 

individuals. 

On the day itself there was a Conference 

with the theme “Being Family 

Today”. 

To present the theme there 

were five very interesting, relevant 

and invigorating talks by professionals 

with expert knowledge and 

experience. 

There was a 25th birthday cake 

and the day concluded with a formal 

celebration, with guest speaker Professor 

Alan Hayes, Director of the 

Australian Institute of Family Studies 

speaking on “Celebrating Families 

today”. 

There were 120 people at the 

events including the first Director of 

CentaCare, Fr Gerry Gallagher and 

some of the counsellors who provided 

the first counselling service at 

Bendigo, Shepparton, Wangaratta and 

Wodonga. 

It was a fantastic day full of energy, 

hope and optimism for the future of 

families today. 

On that occasion, CentaCare celebrated 

a lot of things. In a special 

way it celebrated its services as the 

work of the Church out in the market 

place; that its reason for existing 

is based on Gospel teaching that God 

loves all people and because of that, 

people need to deeply respect each 

other; It celebrated that it is part of the 

Social Mission of the Church with a 

central focus on the dignity of everyone, 

no matter what the circumstances 

are in which they find themselves; it 

celebrated that it is inspired with a 

vision of hope, growth and wellbeing 

for couples, families and individuals 

and for the whole community. 

CentaCare is very grateful for all 

Father Gerry Gallagher and CentaCare director Paul Fogarty with the 25-year birthday cake. 

it has been given: For Church support, 

for State and Federal funding, 

for generous donors and supporters, 

for the Parish Appeals throughout 25 

years, for the quality of people who 

have come to work within it, and for 

the capacity to provide high quality 

family services. 

One current story about the work 

CentaCare does, is a story of an activity 

that happens at a women’s prison. 

It is very moving. 

In the past 12 months, CentaCare 

has facilitated a playgroup for mothers 

and children in the prison. Seven to 

ten children attend the Playgroup. 

Children have opportunities to 

socialise with other children and 

adults, and learn self esteem, problem 

solving and resilience. 

Mothers receive positive parenting 

support, develop confidence in parenting, 

learn about appropriate child 

development and about healthy eating 

options for their children. 

Initially some of the children were 

reluctant to participate and were very 

clingy to their mothers. 

Some of the children found it hard 

to focus and participate in the structured 

activities. 

The mothers were also initially 

reluctant to participate and engage 

with the facilitators. 

Over some time, however, there 

has been a significant change in both 

children and mothers. 

There are now children waiting for 

CentaCare to arrive at the prison. 

There is lots of laughter and fun 

during sessions. 

There is a high sense of 

achievement in what is produced in 

the activities. 

Mothers are now listening to each 

other’s stories. Mothers and children 

actively participate in songs and 

rhymes, mothers participate in food 

preparation, mothers engage with 

facilitators about personal or parenting 

issues, and much more. 

One parent wrote at the end of 10 

sessions: “I have two daughters residing 

with me here. “At first I could not 

get my four-year-old to come. She isolated 

herself where my 2-year-old was 

happy to come. Since my 4-year-old 

has attended, she has come a long way 

with her speech, singing, dancing and 

joining in with other kids. 

“All the time she has learned 

how to be happy with other kids. My 

2-year-old sings all the time around 

our unit. The most important thing 

is that it brings us all together and 

teaches us all a lot, parents as well.” 

Another parent wrote: “My 3yr 

old daughter presently attends Prison 

Playgroup every Tuesday. She is 

enjoying it immensely and she is 

learning a lot from what she participates 

in. We are hoping this playgroup 

could possibly occur each and every 

Tuesday, as it would benefit all of our 

children greatly here at this Prison” 

Since those statements were written, 

the Department of Justice now 

funds it for a weekly program and the 

Prison has nominated the CentaCare 

workers for a Victorian State Award 

for Innovation and Excellence. 

Through CentaCare services, 

people in need find new hope. Couples, 

families and individuals get 

opportunities to start again in their 

relationships with others. And as in 

the story, people get to see new meaning 

in what is happening in their lives. 

The CentaCare 25 Anniversary 

Parish Appeal begins on Sunday, May 

1. 

Some Parishes will have it later 

because of other commitments. The 

Appeal provides an opportunity for 

everyone to support a wide range of 

services to families, couples and individuals 

in need. Donation of $2 or 

more are tax deductible. 

ADVERTISING IN SANDPIPER 

If your goal is to promote your business 

with a minimum promotional outlay, 

SandPiper could be your answer! 

ADVERTISING IN SANDPIPER 

Email advertising@sandpiper.org.au or phone (03) 5442 8531

Download this publication as PDF - Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?