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April 2011 News www.sandpiper.org.au – Page 11
Poor
turnout
for SIP
Bendigo The opening meeting
of SIP for 2011 was not well
attended. This was unfortunateparticularly
for those unable to be
there since it was a “pearler”!
Within the theme of “Spiritual
Journeys” Margie Gallagher and Joy
Reidy explored the topic of Disability
– Who Cares? The topic could well
have been Disability – Who Dares?
since the personal journeys of both
speakers revealed an inordinate
amount of courage – one was left in
awe and humbled.
We were indebted to Margie for
replacing our scheduled speaker, Deb
O'Neill, at short notice. Unfortunately
Deb became ill just a few days before
our meeting. We wish her well for a
speedy recovery.
But what a replacement Margie
proved to be! As the single mother of
three daughters, two of whom have
diagnosed disabilities, she traced her
journey with one of them who now,
as an adult is herself a mother of two
children.
The journeys of both Margie and
Winnie have been extraordinary in
their challenges, in their variability, in
their need to re-locate interstate and
to return.
Margie recounted her story with
a matter-of-factness and humour that
quite belied the unselfish, loving commitment
she provided to Winnie to
ensure her wellbeing.
In accomplishing this she acknowledged
the support, knowledge and
encouragement she’d received from
friends, professionals, schools and
respite providers. All of these had
been critical.
And one of those critical support
people, Joy Reidy, our second
speaker, took us on two journeys –
the first, her personal journey from
teacher’s college, via a developing,
serendipitous interest in disability/
special needs through to her current
position as a passionately committed
Senior Education Officer with the
Catholic Education Office in the Special
Education area.
Here, with colleagues and families
she strives to provide specialised and
individualised education programs
to allow young people with special
needs to become the best they can.
And secondly, via a world premier
of a DVD, a portrayal of the Family
Weekend Program – that unique
opportunity provided at Mt Feathertop
for families of young people with
special needs to enjoy a time of fun,
relaxation, sharing, respite and acquisition
of knowledge.
This program, now in its 20th year,
was instigated by Adrian Sexton, a
past director of Catholic Education
Sandhurst with the strong support
of an earlier Diocesan Bishop, Noel
Daly.
It is within this program that Joy
supports volunteers who are integral
to its continuing success.
In her presentation Joy provided
a sobering statistic – in 1996 there
were 90 students with identified special
needs; in 2011 it is 850 across 54
schools!
During discussion time both Margie
and Joy emphasised the need for
early diagnosis of disability. The earlier
this can be done the greater the
chance of appropriate programs being
put in place before educational difficulties
arise.
The date of the next SIP meeting
is being negotiated – will be on either
May 4 or June 1. Why not pencil in
both – we'll let you know soon.
Father Gerald O’Collins SJ, lectures Sandhurst RECs at St Brendan’s Parish Centre.
RECs enjoy a
masterclass
SHEPPARTON – Sandhurst Fr Gerald quoted St Augustine
Fr Gerald’s scholarship and ability
Religious Education Co-ordinators
during the first segment of his to communicate with practitioners.
were privileged to hear a presentation on Knowing Jesus – Academic understandings were
theologian of the highest calibre “It takes a friend to really know grounded and connected to human
at their recent combined Primary
someone” and made the point about experience through story and anec-
and Secondary Conference the deep link between loving and dotes. An intimate knowledge of
day with the theme “One Body knowing. He later reminded us of scripture was evident with expertise
One Spirit in Christ – Called to an insight from the fox in Antoine in Greek providing understandings
Action” at St Brendan’s Parish
de Saint-Exupery classic The Little of great depth and nuance.
Prince – “you see with your heart.”
Centre, Shepparton.
Fr Gerald’s visit to Sandhurst
Father Gerald O'Collins SJ, the
A high level of academic knowledge
of Jesus was evident in Fr We were blessed with the oppor-
allowed REC’s “time at the well”.
Australian-born, Melbourne-raised
Professor Emeritus of Theology at Gerald’s presentation but so too tunity to learn from the wisdom of
the Pontifical Gregorian University was a deep and personal relationship
with Jesus – here was a man challenged to develop our under-
an extraordinary theologian and
in Rome, shared the insights that
come from a lifetime of study and “drenched in the Gospels.”
standings of the person of Christ, for
work on his area of speciality – the Conversation between participants
our school communities and for our
life and ministry of Christ.
indicated all were engaged by own
spirituality.
Cathedral
ready for
Easter
IT has been a very busy opening to
the New Year. We were jolted out
of our holiday mode by the news of
Bishop Joe’s death.
The funeral was very well attended
– around 4500 people, possibly the
biggest funeral in Bendigo since the
legendary times of Dr Henry Backhaus.
Cathedral parishioners prepared
the Crypt for the burial and just over
100 people from all over the Diocese
assisted in the liturgy, hospitality,
traffic control, accommodation and
seating.
We were most grateful for their
assistance.
The breaking of the drought has
had its repercussions with our building
– bits and pieces of stone have worn
away and we have scaffolding on the
north transept to protect the entrance.
The great February storms saw
water enter the building in 19 places.
Since then a major audit of the
external parts of the Cathedral has
been undertaken – much flashing has
failed, only a few slates and some
guttering need replacing, and added
OH&S works need to be done.
This, in addition to the works done
by the Cathedral Maintenance Committee:
all the exterior doors have
been varnishes, safety strips placed
on the main steps and in the chapels,
repairs to concrete drives are planned
– and a host of small irritants (including
locusts and crickets) have been
attended too.
In between, we have hosted to
Months Mind for Bishop Joe, The
RCIA Rite of Election, hosted a wonderful
series of sausage sizzles and
chocolate drives raising funds to help
send our team of young people to
Madrid! Our Social Group has joined
forces and with the help of a Blumes
Fashion Parade raised $350 for our
young people.
We look forward to the Chrism
Mass on April 14 and then a great week
of the year: Holy Week!
You are always most welcome to
visit the Cathedral!