Catholic Outlook July 2015

CO
CatholicOutlook
Volume 18, July 2015
Photo: Wentworth Falls, Blue Mountains
NEW ENCYCLICAL FROM POPE FRANCIS
Laudato Si’ – ‘Praise be to you’
A call to ecological conversion

2 CatholicOutlook July 2015
FROM THE DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATOR
Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s mercy
Dear Sisters and
Brothers,
On 11 April this
year, Pope Francis
published what is
technically called
a Bull of Indiction.
What is a Bull of
Indiction you may
well be asking?
A Bull for
the Indiction
is the formal
Very Rev Peter G Williams announcement or
proclamation of a jubilee, for instance, in
the case of an extraordinary Holy Year.
In this case Pope Francis has decreed
that a Jubilee Year of Mercy will commence
on 8 December 2015 and conclude on
the Solemnity of Christ the King on 20
November 2016.
The focus of the extraordinary Holy Year
is on the subject of mercy. In fact, the Latin
title to the Bull indicates that immediately:
Misericordiae vultus – Jesus Christ is the
face of the Father’s mercy.
The word mercy is well known to us in
the Church and occurs frequently in both
Sacred Scripture and in the liturgy. In the
broader community the word mercy gained
prominence recently when a campaign
was launched by a group of prominent
Australian lawyers and journalists to seek
clemency from the Indonesian President
for the convicted drug smugglers Andrew
Chan and Myuran Sukumaran.
If you asked the average person what
they thought the word mercy meant, you
would more than likely get a response
that linked it to the judicial system
and seeking reprieve from an imposed
sentence by a judge.
But the word mercy in a theological
context is very rich indeed and as we
begin to think about the ways in which
this Jubilee Year might be observed in the
Diocese of Parramatta it is a good starting
point to explore just what mercy means.
‘He never tires of
throwing open the doors
of his heart and repeats
that he loves us and
wants to share his love
with us.’
This word is cited in the Old
Testament 148 times, two-thirds of
which are in the Psalms. The Hebrew
word is chesed. It is not easy to translate
into English, but the most common
translation is that which came from
Coverdale’s translation of the Bible in
1535 which renders it “loving kindness”.
It thus signifies the continued
forbearance of God to the people of Israel
in terms of the covenant which is at the
centre of Jewish theology.
Two other Hebrew words closely
related to chesed are racham, which
expresses God’s tender compassion, and
chanan, which refers to God’s generous
and kindly disposition.
The word ‘mercy’ in the Old Testament,
except accidentally, has nothing to do
with the forgiveness of sins. Interestingly,
the same applies to the New Testament
where the word in Greek is eleos, which is
sometimes translated as pity.
In relation to sin then it is more
accurate to use the word forgiveness as the
word mercy would seem to have a much
broader application even though we do
use the word mercy in the Rite of Penance
not inappropriately.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church
there are two specific references to mercy.
Firstly, in 1829 it says: “The fruits of charity
are joy, peace, and mercy; charity demands
beneficence and fraternal correction; it
is benevolence; it fosters reciprocity and
remains disinterested and generous; it is
friendship and communion: Love is itself
the fulfilment of all our works …”
Secondly, in 2447 it reads: “The works
of mercy are charitable actions by which
we come to the aid of our neighbour in his
spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing,
advising, consoling, comforting are
spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving
and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal
works of mercy consist especially in feeding
the hungry, sheltering the homeless,
clothing the naked, visiting the sick and
imprisoned, and burying the dead. Among
all these, giving alms to the poor is one of
the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is
also a work of justice pleasing to God.”
This provides us with a good foundation
as we begin to think about what this Year
of Mercy might mean for us in the local
Church of Parramatta.
To begin with, it is a moment for our
own spiritual growth as individuals as we
come to contemplate what the mercy of
God means to me in all its fullness.
‘How do we as the local
Church of Parramatta
authentically and
credibly show the face
of Christ?’
If we can accept the totality of God’s
loving kindness embracing each of one
of us, then it will lead us to the second
moment, which is how will we extend and
show that mercy to others.
In the last paragraph of the Bull of
Indiction Pope Francis tells us: “In
this Jubilee Year, let us allow God to
surprise us. He never tires of throwing
open the doors of his heart and repeats
that he loves us and wants to share
his love with us. The Church feels the
urgent need to proclaim God’s mercy.
Her life is authentic and credible only
when she becomes a convincing herald
of mercy. She knows that her primary
task, especially at a moment full of great
hopes and signs of contradiction, is to
introduce everyone to the great mystery
of God’s mercy by contemplating he face
of Christ.”
So there is a central challenge in the Year
of Jubilee – how do we as the local Church
of Parramatta authentically and credibly
show the face of Christ?
If we cannot as individuals contemplate
the face of mercy ourselves, we cannot
hope to show that face of mercy to others.
Only a few weeks ago we celebrated the
Solemnity of the Sacred Heart – an ancient
devotion that draws us to yet another
expression of the love of God expressed
through the Sacred Heart of Christ.
So much of Catholic devotional life of
the past and of the present draws us to
contemplate the mystery of God’s love and
mercy manifested in the lives of the saints.
The Jubilee Year of Mercy provides
another privileged moment for the
universal Church to revitalise itself for the
ongoing work of mission. It all connects
together and so it should.
Let us as a Diocese seize this moment
in the history of the Church and show the
face of the mercy of God found in Jesus
Christ to all we encounter.
With my prayers,
Very Rev Peter G Williams
Diocesan Administrator
Go Make Disciples
RCIA State Conference, 28-30 August 2015
Keynote address by Most Rev Peter A Comensoli, Bishop of Broken Bay
The NSW RCIA State conference is held once every
two years. ‘Go Make Disciples’ is an opportunity
for clergy and lay RCIA teams to come together
to discuss and explore various ways to make the
journey for those wanting to join the Catholic
Church deeply personal and exciting.
Venue: Diocese of Broken Bay,
Caroline Chisholm Centre, Pennant Hills
Cost: $150. Further information:
Carole Gan tel (02) 9847 0504 or visit
www.dbb.org.au/liturgy
Register by 15 August with
http://www.trybooking.com/HTGT
inside
Housing affordability
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On the evening of
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instituted by Emeritus
Bishop Kevin Manning
during the celebration
of Mass in St Patrick’s
Cathedral in Parramatta.
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In his encyclical letter
Laudato Si’ – ‘Praise be
to you’, Pope Francis has
challenged everyone on
the planet to enter into
a new dialogue towards
building a better future.
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of St John Paul II leading
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Cathedral filled with joy as 2 priests ordained for Diocese
It was an occasion of great
rejoicing when Thomas Thien
Hien Bui and Pio Yong Ho Jang
were ordained priests for the
Catholic Diocese of Parramatta in
St Patrick’s Cathedral last month.
They were ordained on
24 June by the Bishop of
Toowoomba, Robert McGuckin,
who has known the men for
many years during his time as
a former Vicar General in the
Diocese of Parramatta.
In his homily, Bishop McGuckin
said the Australian bishops issued
a statement in 2009 entitled
Graced by Migration. “It states
quite deliberately: ‘Migration
has made Australia a greater and
richer country, demographically,
economically, culturally, socially,
linguistically and religiously.’
“We certainly have been blessed
by the many people who have
migrated to Australia and this is
particularly evident in the Diocese
of Parramatta.
“The call to priesthood comes in
as many and varied ways as there
are priests. Each of us would have
a somewhat different story that we
could tell.”
Originally from An Long Village
in Central Vietnam, Thomas is the
youngest of nine children. He was
delighted that his brother Jerome
Thien Thao Bui OP, a Dominican
priest, travelled from France to be
with him at this special time.
Pio was born in Seoul, Korea,
and came with his family to
Australia when he was 20. He
has a particular interest in the
capacity of priests from diverse
backgrounds to minister to
migrant communities in Australia.
“Thomas and Pio, remember
that you are taken from among
the people and appointed on their
behalf for those things that pertain
to God,” Bishop Robert said.
“Therefore, carry out the
ministry of Christ the Priest
with constant joy and genuine
love, attending not to your own
concerns but to those of
Jesus Christ.
“Keep always before your
eyes the example of the Good
Shepherd who came not to be
served but to serve, and who
came to seek out and save what
was lost.”
Thomas said being a shepherd
to the people and leading them
to the Holy Trinity and God’s
salvation was an important aspect
of the life of a priest. “This is
closely connected with serving
the Church and God’s people
wholeheartedly,” he said.
“I will act in the person of Christ
(in persona Christi). In particular,
I will pour out divine grace on to
God’s people in sacraments.”
Thomas said while celibacy was
a challenge in today’s world, for
him it was an opportunity to serve
the Church without reserve. “I
am happy to sacrifice my own life
for Christ and His Church, as He
sacrificed His for me and everyone
else,” he said.
Pio said to be ordained a priest
was important, “but living as a
priest is more important; to try to
live as a good man of God”.
“As St Paul says in Galatians
2:20: ‘I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live
by the faith of the Son of God,
who loved me, and gave Himself
for me.’”
The Mass was concelebrated
by Parramatta’s Bishop Emeritus
Kevin Manning, Most Rev
Joseph Dang Duc Ngan,
Bishop of Lang Son Diocese in
Vietnam, Parramatta’s Diocesan
Administrator, Very Rev Peter
Williams, clergy of the Diocese
and visiting clergy.
Thomas will serve as assistant
priest in Holy Trinity Parish,
Granville, and Holy Family Parish,
East Granville. Pio will serve as
assistant priest in St Michael’s
Parish, Baulkham Hills.
During their years in formation
for the priesthood the men studied
at Holy Spirit Seminary, which
outgrew its premises at St Marys
and is now located at Harris Park.
Currently, the Diocese has 12
seminarians in various stages of
preparation for priesthood.
As a seminarian, Thomas
undertook pastoral work
CatholicOutlook July 2015 3
in parishes in Blacktown,
Marayong, Toongabbie, Penrith
and Greystanes.
Pio’s pastoral placements have
been in parishes in Greystanes,
Windsor, Toongabbie and
Glenmore Park.
Photos and a video of the Mass
of Ordination can be viewed
on the Diocese of Parramatta’s
website: www.parra.catholic.org.au
Men wishing to find out more
about priesthood in the Diocese
of Parramatta are welcome to
contact Fr Warren Edwards,
Director of Priestly Vocations, tel
0409 172 700 or send an email to
vocations@parra.catholic.org.au
Photos: Alfred Boudib Visualeyes Photography
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NEW ENCYCLICAL FROM POPE FRANCIS
Laudato Si’ – ‘Praise be to you’
PUBLIC FORUM ON
PAPAL ENCYCLICAL
Laudato Si’
‘Praise be to you’
Saturday 15 August,
10am to 4.30pm
A forum on Laudato Si’,
the new encyclical from Pope
Francis, will be held in the Diocese
of Parramatta on Saturday 15 August.
Everyone is welcome to participate in this
forum, which is hosted by the Australian
Religious Response to Climate Change
(ARRCC) and Holy Family Parish, Mt Druitt.
• What is Pope Francis saying in his
encyclical on human ecology and
the environment?
• What is the scientific explanation for
global warming?
• What global effects have we seen already
and what can we expect?
• What does this mean for us?
• Apart from the humanitarian response,
what actions can ordinary people take
to help stop the problem from getting
much worse?
• How do we live out this aspect of our
mission as people of faith?
Speakers:
Fr Gregory Jacobs SJ,
Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish
Prof Neil Ormerod,
Professor of Theology at Australian Catholic
University
Dr Hamish Clarke, Senior Climate &
Atmospheric Scientist, NSW Office of
Environment and Heritage
Thea Ormerod, ARRCC President
Venue: Loyola Senior High Hall, 91 North
Parade, Mt Druitt. Light lunch and refreshments
provided – $10 suggested donation
RSVP: Thea tel 0405 293 466,
chair@gmail.com
Details: http://www.arrcc.org.au/
news-a-events/event/details/298
Further information: The text of the encyclical
is available on the Vatican website:
www.vatican.va A key source of information
about the encyclical is the website of
Catholic Earthcare Australia:
www.catholicearthcare.org.au
In his encyclical, Pope Francis urges us to slow down, recover values and the meaning of life. Photo: Giulio Napolitano/Shutterstock.com
Encyclical appeals for a new dialogue
Pope Francis has challenged every person
living on this planet to enter into a new
dialogue towards building a better future in
his encyclical letter Laudato Si’ – ‘Praise be
to you’, published on 18 June.
In dialogue with all people about our
common home, the encyclical challenges us
to ask “how anyone can claim to be building
a better future without thinking of the
environmental crisis and the sufferings of
the excluded” (13).
The Holy Father also drew attention to
pressing environmental concerns such as
pollution and climate change, and the use of
fossil fuels.
“Climate change is a global problem with
serious implications, environmental, social,
economic, political and for the distribution
of goods; it represents one of the principal
challenges facing humanity in our day” (25).
The Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev
Peter Williams, welcomed the encyclical,
which he said provided a detailed and
comprehensive view on the impact of
climate change and the role of humanity
and extreme consumerism on the natural
ecological environment.
“As climate change can have a profound
impact on the human race and nature, there
is a strong moral implication to act. Indeed,
Pope Francis urges action and the role of
the Church in effectively acting on climate
change,” he said.
“Pope Francis writes: ‘209. An awareness
of the gravity of today’s cultural and
ecological crisis must be translated into
new habits … 213. Ecological education
can take place in a variety of settings:
at school, in families, in the media, in
catechesis and elsewhere.’
“We are called upon as Christians to
protect our ecology and understand the
fragility of our planet.
“As always Pope Francis is blunt in his
message, not only to Catholics but to all
people of goodwill. There is an urgency in
his call for action. Our beginning point in
the Diocese of Parramatta is to study the
document in its fullness and all levels of
diocesan life.”
A public forum on the encyclical will
be held on Saturday 15 August
at Loyola Senior High, Mt Druitt
(details see panel, left).
The President of the Australian Catholic
Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis
Hart, said he was pleased to see that the
encyclical critiques our weak response to
ecological and social issues.
“Pope Francis calls on people to seek new
ways to understand the economy, condemns
our throwaway culture and dependence
on technology, and is calling on people to
reassess the dignity of humanity and the
integrity of creation in finding solutions to
the ecological crisis.”
Pope Francis draws upon bishops’
statements from around the world,
including the Australian bishops.
The Director of Catholic Earthcare
Australia, Jacqui Remond, said Laudato
Si’ was a game-changer for the Catholic
community and it offered us in Australia a
powerful moral and spiritual imperative for
environmental and social action.
The Pope refers to a broad range of
topics including pollution and its effect
on the poor, urban chaos, drug trafficking,
refugees and human trafficking.
Pope Francis points to the “intimate
relationship between the poor and
the fragility of the planet, and the
conviction that everything in the world is
connected” (16).
He highlights the fact that local
individuals and groups can make a real
difference. They are able to instil “a strong
sense of community”, “a readiness to protect
others” and “a deep love for the land”.
He calls us to listen to the voices of our
Indigenous peoples because for them, land
is not a commodity but a sacred space and a
gift from God.
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• Do not give in to denial,
indifference, resignation,
blind confidence in
technical solutions.
(14, 59)
• Have forthright and
honest debates and
policies; issues cannot be
dealt with once and for all, but
will need to be "reframed and enriched
again and again" by everyone with plenty
of different proposals because there is no
one way to solve problems. (16, 60, 185)
• Reduce, reuse, recycle. Preserve
resources, use them more efficiently,
moderate consumption and limit use of
non-renewable resources. (22, 192)
• Slash pollutants and greenhouse gas
emissions. Transition to cleaner and
renewable energies and replace fossil fuels
"without delay". (26, 165)
• Promote green construction
with energy efficient homes
and buildings. (26, 180)
• Protect clean, safe
drinking water and don't
privatise it with marketbased
fees for the poor.
(27-29, 164)
• Keep oceans and waterways clean and
safe from pollutants; use biodegradable
detergents at home and business.
(30, 174)
• Be aware that synthetic pesticides and
herbicides will hurt birds and insects that
are helpful for agriculture. (34)
• Protect biodiversity, especially wild
forests, wetlands, coastal areas, mangrove
swamps. (39)
The Pope Francis ‘To Do’ List
Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home, is a call for global action as well as an appeal for deep inner conversion.
Pope Francis points to numerous ways in which world organisations, nations and communities must move forward
and the way individuals – believers and people of good will – should see, think, feel and act.
Here are some of the Holy Father’s suggestions, with references to the encyclical:
• Promote smart growth. Create
livable communities with
beautiful design and plentiful
green spaces for everyone,
especially the poor. Tackle
noise and ‘visual pollution’
and save cities' cultural
treasures. Design spaces that
help people connect and trust
each other. (44-45, 113, 143, 147)
• Put an end to ‘mental
pollution’. Think
deeply, live wisely, love
generously. (47)
• End the tyranny of
the screen, information
overload and distractions.
Watch out for media-induced
melancholy and isolation. Cultivate real
relationships with others. (47)
• Get down from the ivory tower
and stop the rhetoric. Get to
know the poor and suffering;
it will wake up a numbed
conscience and inspire real
action. (49)
• Stop blaming problems on
population growth. The real
threat is excessive consumerism and
waste. (50)
• For genuine change, put the
common good first. Special
interests manipulate
information, offer
‘superficial rhetoric,
sporadic acts of
philanthropy and
perfunctory expressions of
concern’. (54)
Thomas Koch/Shutterstock.com
NEW ENCYCLICAL FROM POPE FRANCIS
Laudato Si’ – ‘Praise be to you’
• Get back to nature – ‘the
caress of God’ – to
recharge. Be more
attentive to its beauty
and wonder and revisit
places that left you with
happy memories.
(84, 97, 215, 233)
• Be consistent. Pro-life,
environmental and social
justice movements are all
connected. Protecting
vulnerable species must
include the unborn,
endangered animals and
the exploited. (91, 120)
• Use technology to solve real
problems and serve people, helping
them have more dignity, less suffering
and healthier lives. (112)
• Believe in a happy future, a
better tomorrow. Slow
down, recover values
and the meaning of life.
Putting the brakes on
‘unrestrained delusions
of grandeur’ is not a call
to go back to the Stone
Age. (113-114, 225)
• ‘Business is a noble vocation.’ Create
jobs that allow for personal growth,
stability, living out one's values.
(124-128)
• Listen to, protect
lands of and involve
Indigenous peoples. The
disappearance of cultures
is even more serious than
losing a species. (145)
Source: Catholic News Service. Read the full text of the encyclical at: www.w2.vatican.va
• Create neighborhood networks
and improvement programs.
Create welcoming spaces
that help people connect
and trust each other. Do
something nice for your
community. (148-150, 152,
219, 232)
• Provide essential services to rural
areas. (154)
• Accept and care for the body God gave
you. Value sexual differences and your
own gender. (155)
• Join, implement and police global
agreements on sustainable development,
caring for the ecosystem, limiting
greenhouse gases, handling hazardous
wastes, ozone protection. Nix the "ploy" of
trading carbon credits. (164, 167-171)
• Politicians: don't be afraid of long-term
goals and upsetting people with
measures that affect levels of
consumption, financial risks.
Citizens: put pressure on
your representatives.
(177-180)
• Harness purchasing power.
Examine what you buy and
know that boycotts make a
difference. (206)
• Plant a tree. Take mass transit. Car pool.
Turn off the lights when you leave the
room. Chilly? Wear a sweater. Little things
add up. (211)
• Practise ‘the little way’ of St Therese. (230)
• Go to Sunday Mass; receive the
sacraments; encounter God in everything;
rest on Sundays. (233-237)
• Pray. (246)
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6 CatholicOutlook July 2015
‘A perfect storm’ – the complexity of housing affordability
John Kelly
Considerable
discussion
has taken
place recently
regarding housing
affordability. The
Federal Treasurer,
Joe Hockey, has
a particular view
of how people can afford a ‘good
home’, while the Council of Social
Service of New South Wales
(NCOSS) sees the phasing out
of negative gearing tax benefits
as a critical lever in increasing
housing affordability.
The reasons for the affordability
crisis in Sydney and Melbourne
are complex and the result of
a number of factors creating a
‘perfect storm’.
At CatholicCare our staff are at
the frontline assisting community
members who are homeless or
struggling financially to hold on to
their accommodation.
Our financial counselling
service provides advice around
managing money and negotiating
debt with creditors. A primary
concern for many people is losing
the roof over their heads, the most
basic human need.
The shortage of community
and social housing options means
there is often little alternative for
someone experiencing the stress
of becoming homeless.
Almost half of Australia’s
population lives in two urban
centres; Sydney and Melbourne.
As a result these cities experience
particular pressures around the
demand and supply of housing
stock that are not as critical in
regional areas.
In simple economic terms if
the demand for housing exceeds
the supply, the price of housing
increases. With increasing
foreign investment in housing,
Employment growth must target permanent employment as the key focus so that more workers and their families can
we have not only local demand
but international demand placing
pressure on prices.
All levels of government have
a major part to play in improving
housing affordability. Some
key issues that government can
address are:
• Better coordination and
planning around development
of dwelling types, zoning
and location;
• Improving processing
systems to ensure timely and
consistent decisions;
• Reducing over-regulation and
red tape;
• Prioritising and planning
key infrastructure to reduce
pressure on urban areas by
providing employment, services
and infrastructure to regional
and rural centres;
• Reviewing the taxation system
around tax incentives for
new dwellings;
• Reviewing the impact of
foreign investment in the
housing market;
• Providing incentives for the
construction of and/or changes
to existing housing stock to
affordable housing overseen by
specialist housing providers in
the not-for-profit space; and
• Developing policies that will
increase the levels of full-time
employment as opposed to
casual employment, which
precludes many from gaining
home loans.
At the local level there is a
need to make better use of space
in existing suburbs without
dramatically impacting on
established land use patterns.
This includes higher density
development around transport
nodes and along shopping strips.
This benefits local business,
especially smaller business such as
food and retailing.
It requires the reduction in lot
sizes to enable development such
as dual occupancies, which are
lower impact than units but add to
housing stock.
It is vital that higher density and
newer suburbs are serviced by first
class public transport, roadways,
drainage, footpaths, schools,
hospitals, government services,
and parks and recreation.
Where these issues have been
ignored it has led to the creation
of social issues and dislocation
access the ‘great Aussie dream’.
for residents isolated from vital
services and opportunities.
These are overlooked or
underfunded because they are big
ticket items that carry significant
capital cost; but this is a short
sighted view that leads to greater
social cost in the future. All
levels of government need to take
responsibility in this area.
Sydney’s land area is enormous,
which exacerbates issues around
transport, access to employment,
jobs and services. A greater focus
on regional development to take
housing stress from the urban
areas will stabilise housing prices
and alleviate social issues.
Negative gearing was
established to encourage
investment in new development
and add to housing stock. If it is
to maintain relevance and serve
a purpose government needs
to re-establish a focus on tax
incentives for new stock.
At the moment it is draining our
national tax base and doing little
to address affordability and supply.
An essential ingredient in the
affordability mix is the provision
of affordable housing, especially
for key service workers in the
community; teachers
and emergency
service staff.
Community housing
providers play an
essential role across the country
for lower income families.
Government has made it
difficult for providers to access
stock from the public system as
well as funding to develop and
maintain stock.
Realistic funding from
government to the provider
for upgrading and maintaining
existing stock is required. This
funding should be viewed as a
key investment in the future,
not a penny-pinching budgetary
exercise off-loading cost to the
NFP sector.
Providers are willing to make
large investment choices to
provide innovative solutions to
housing affordability and support
services but struggle to access
stock (even with government
owned land and buildings).
Lastly, while Mr Hockey tells
people to “get a good job” to
afford a house, increasingly
there is a class of worker that
remains disadvantaged due to
their employment status; the
casual employee.
It is extremely difficult, if
not impossible, for this worker
to access a home loan. Casual
employment has become more
prevalent in modern times
as employers seek a ‘flexible’
workforce, and the lack of absolute
job security for this worker
precludes the banks from lending
to them.
Employment growth must target
permanent employment as the key
focus so that more workers and
their families can access the “great
Aussie dream”.
John Kelly is the Executive Director
of CatholicCare Social Services,
Diocese of Parramatta
© Shirley Purdie, Gurragurrag, 120x120 cm, natural ochre and pigment on canvas, 2013, courtesy Warmun Art Centre.
Grounding the Sacred through
Literature and the Arts Conference
You are invited to join the conversation as Australian and
international speakers and performers ask where creativity
sits in relation to religion and the search for meaning.
Thursday 23 July to Sunday 26 July 2015
Australian Catholic University
25A Barker Road, Strathfield
Program and registration details at
www.acu.edu.au/groundingthesacred

CatholicOutlook July 2015 7
Fellowship to stimulate research by Catholic educators
Catholic school educators
are being offered the chance
to travel overseas to research
ways that help schools meet
present and future challenges.
The Brother John Taylor
Fellowship will provide
up to $25,000 in travel
and accommodation to
an applicant involved in
Catholic school education –
as an employee in schools or
associated bodies – who can
make a valuable contribution
to education in the Catholic
schools context.
Offered annually by
Catholic Education
Commission NSW, the
fellowship is designed to
build a body of research
for the teaching profession
that addresses priorities or
challenges in Catholic schools.
CECNSW chairman Bishop
Peter A Comensoli said the
fellowship was an opportunity
for anybody involved in
Catholic schooling to produce
lasting research that can make
a difference for generations of
students and teachers.
“The successful 2015 fellow
will work with a mentor to
write his or her research
and have it published for the
teaching profession,” he said.
Last year’s inaugural
fellow was Mark Gronow, a
mathematics specialist who
used the fellowship to address
the decline in the number
of students studying maths,
particularly at higher levels.
CECNSW chairman Bishop Peter A Comensoli and 2014 BJTF fellow Mark Gronow.
Mr Gronow, who is Head of
Mathematics at Stella Maris
College in Manly, said the
fellowship was a life-changing
experience and had enabled
him to attend important
teaching conferences in the
US, UK and Australia.
“In April, I travelled
to Boston to join 10,000
maths teachers at an annual
conference and research
symposium to hear about
current difficulties in the
US and how they are being
addressed. I will then travel
to the UK to attend two
workshops, including one
at Oxford University that is
limited to 20 participants.
“The opportunity to
attend these conferences
and workshops and to meet
people who are leaders in the
field of my research could
only have happened through
this fellowship.”
Bishop Peter said the
fellowship honoured John
Taylor, a Christian Brother,
and his lifelong dedication to
education and the ideals of
equity and access.
“John made his mark on
NSW education over three
decades as a teacher, principal
and Executive Director of
CECNSW,” he said.
Applications for the
2015 Brother John Taylor
Fellowship must be submitted
by 30 September 2015 using
the online form at
www.cecnsw.catholic.edu.au
Budget boost for schools
The NSW Minister for Education, Adrian Piccoli,
recently announced an additional $50 million
to fund new classrooms and facilities in nongovernment
schools over the next four years.
This increase in funding was welcomed by the
Diocese of Parramatta as Western Sydney is set to
experience an unprecedented growth in schoolaged
children over the next 15 years.
Minister Piccoli acknowledged the significant role
non-government schools would play in meeting the
increasing demand for school places in NSW.
Executive Director of Schools, Greg Whitby, said
that although he welcomed the increase in capital
works funding for non-government schools, it
would not address the substantial burden local
council charges and development costs place on
Catholic schools, charges that government schools
are exempt from.
“Over the past three years, Catholic schools
were forced to pay $21.3 million in local council
infrastructure charges, almost cancelling out
the capital works funding provided by the NSW
Government,” Greg said.
Greg also said that it was time for the NSW
Government and the non-government sector to
partner more effectively to meet the expected
growth in enrolments over the next 15 years and to
explore new ways of building schools.
“It no longer makes sense to build schools just for
use six hours a day, 40 weeks a year,” he said.
“We need to partner with the community,
business and government to build connected
learning communities that meet the changing
needs of students and parents in an urban 21 st
Century environment.”
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CCI CatholicOutlook - halfpage MAY15.indd 1
14/05/2015 11:23:38 AM

Year of Consecrated Life
29 November 2014 – 2 February 2016
Celebrating the Year of Consecrated Life
Solemn Mass
and Vocations Fest
Sunday 9 August 2015
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta
Come and join us
Everyone is welcome to this family-friendly day to celebrate and
thank the religious priests, brothers and sisters of our Diocese.
Program
11am: Mass will be celebrated by the Diocesan Administrator,
Very Rev Peter Williams.
12.30pm: Shared lunch and a festival in the Cathedral grounds.
Festivities will include interviews and Q&A with religious from
around the Diocese, music and entertainment.
3pm: Holy Hour for Vocations in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
Kiribati women professed as Good Samaritan sisters
Two Kiribati women, Tuata
Terawete and Juniko Toaua, were
professed as Sisters of the Good
Samaritan of the Order of St
Benedict during a ceremony on
6 June.
The Rite of First Profession
took place during Eucharist at
St Thomas Aquinas Church,
Springwood. The Parish Priest,
Rev Fr Paul Slyney, was the
principal celebrant.
Good Samaritan sisters, Good
Samaritan oblates, parishioners
and members of other religious
congregations came together for a
ceremony that was moving, joyful,
inspiring and prayerful.
Congregational Leader
Sr Clare Condon SGS gave the
admonition, an address delivered
in the Benedictine tradition by
the congregational superior
to novices.
“This profession ceremony is
a ritual of acceptance, a ritual
of invitation to belong, a ritual
to be united as one with the
community,” she said.
“It is love that brings you
here today. You are choosing to
love through a celibate life and
to belong to a community by
vowing your life to God through
the vows of stability, conversion,
and obedience as Sisters of the
Good Samaritan.
“The vows that you will
pronounce today bind you to
the God of integrity and justice,
tenderness and love,
and faithfulness.
“As we heard in the first reading
(Hosea 2:16, 21-22), this God seeks
us first. God speaks to our heart
and so we respond from the heart
by seeking God with the same gift
of integrity and justice, tenderness
and love.
“It is this gift that you bring to
the community that you join today.
The members of the community
bind themselves to you also today.”
Tuata and Juniko proclaimed
their vows of stability, conversion
of life and obedience, and sang the
Suscipe (an ancient prayer from
the Rule of St Benedict) in their
own language.
Both born and raised in the
Republic of Kiribati, Juniko
and Tuata are part of a growing
group of Kiribati women drawn
to the Good Samaritan way of
life. Currently this group consists
of two perpetually professed
sisters, four temporary professed
sisters and three women in
the pre-novitiate phase.
For the past two years, Tuata
and Juniko have participated in
the novitiate program where they
lived in the Lawson community
of Good Samaritan sisters and
studied the charism and history
of the congregation, the Rule of
St Benedict, Scripture, theology
and mission.
Novice Director Sr Maree
Nash SGS said Tuata and Juniko
had grown spiritually during the
two years of novitiate. “They are
joyous, thoughtful and prayerful
young women. It has been a
privilege to journey with them,”
she said.
While 24-year-old Tuata said she
felt nervous about making the next
step in her journey with the Good
Samaritan sisters, she is “excited
about it and also eager to be part
of the congregation in their living
and in the mission”.
Juniko Toaua and Tuata Terawete with
Sr Clare Condon SGS.
Similarly, Juniko, 27, said it
was a big step. “But I am so
happy to continue my journey
with the Good Samaritan sisters.
I would love to work with my
people in Kiribati.”
In the coming weeks, Juniko
and Tuata will return to Kiribati
where they will continue with
a study program and engage in
ministry. If after four years they
wish to continue in the Good
Samaritan way of life, they can
renew their vows for a further
two years or request to make their
perpetual profession.
The Congregation of the
Sisters of the Good Samaritan
of the Order of St Benedict,
known affectionately as the Good
Sams, is Australia’s first ‘homegrown’
congregation of Catholic
religious women.
They were founded in Sydney
in 1857 by Archbishop John
Bede Polding, an English
Benedictine monk and
Australia’s first bishop.
Today, there are about 235
sisters living and working
throughout Australia, in Japan,
Kiribati, and the Philippines.
Since 1991, the sisters have
been working in the remote
Pacific island nation of Kiribati
in education, pastoral and
community development roles.
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BUS DRIVER
Volunteer
St Hedwig Village is an aged care facility located in Blacktown.
We are seeking a volunteer driver for our regular Friday bus outings.
The person must have an excellent driving record and hold a current LR (light rigid)
or equivalent licence.
For further information please contact the Manager on
8822 9903 or forward resume to fax 9672 4458 or email
admin@sthedwigvillage.com
“Caring for the Aged is our Commitment”
8

CatholicOutlook July 2015 9
Messing with marriage: This will affect us all in ways we would not expect
Ben Smith
The ‘marriage equality’ lobby has been using
a highly focussed, small target strategy over
the past five years. They have used a simple
message that marriage is about love between
two persons and that to limit marriage to
just a man and a woman is discriminatory
and unfair.
Furthermore, they have asserted that
children nurtured in same-sex households
are not disadvantaged in any way.
This overall approach has appealed to
the Australian sense of social justice and a
fair go.
It would seem that any change in the
definition of marriage will have no negative
impact on children or anyone else. It all
sounds so reasonable.
As a result, anyone who opposes this
logic is susceptible to being labelled as a
bigot or homophobic.
An alternative to this way of thinking has
been developed by the Australian Catholic
Bishops Conference. They have released
a pastoral letter concerning the ‘same-sex
marriage’ debate entitled Don’t Mess With
Marriage (DMWM).
DMWM presents a very considered and
strongly argued view that contrasts with the
‘marriage equality’ perspective.
DMWM starts by identifying the universal
dignity of the human person including
those who experience same-sex attraction.
Consequently, these people need to be
treated with respect, sensitivity and love and
not be subject to unjust discrimination.
However, unjust discrimination does
not apply when it comes to the issue
of marriage.
DMWM argues that marriage can only be
between a man and woman as marriage is
about a lot more than whether two people
love each other.
DMWM points out that the Church sees
marriage as connecting sex and love, male
and female, sex and babies and parents
and children.
This view has been universally recognised
across cultures and history. It is based on
the complementarity of a man and woman
that occurs at the level of our biology,
psychology and spiritual gifts.
DMWM points out that marriage is the
”foundation-in-waiting” of a new family
that becomes a basic cell of society. This
basic cell becomes a place where new life is
welcomed and nurtured and is a refuge for
the weak, the sick and the aged.
An important aspect of this basic cell
of the family is the role of fathers and
mothers. DMWM highlights the distinctive
contribution that a mother and a father each
play in the upbringing of a child.
This combination has been found to
provide the best environment to ensure the
wellbeing of children and research is cited in
DMWM to substantiate this claim.
Sometimes life’s circumstances prevent
children being able to grow up in the
same household as both of their biological
parents. However, DMWM identifies that
there is a big difference between these
unintended circumstances and deliberately
planning to create an alternative family that
deprives a child of a mother or a father.
This line of argument leads DMWM to
argue that “messing with marriage” and the
family structures that result can also involve
“messing with children”.
Beyond the impact that the redefinition
of marriage will have on spouses and
children, DMWM points out a range of farreaching
consequences for all members of
our society.
One of the results of this change would
be that husbands and wives, mothers and
fathers, will be seen to be social constructs
that would no longer matter.
These terms will be replaced with partner
1 and partner 2 along with parent 1 and
parent 2. Those who still adhere to the
traditional meaning of these terms will be
open to discrimination.
DMWM provides a number of examples
of religious leaders, business owners,
parents, professionals, politicians and
medical professionals in different parts
of the world who have suffered from
discrimination. There is no reason for us to
believe that Australia will be immune from
these changes if the law changes.
Once our society is given a chance to
properly consider the arguments presented
in DMWM without the pressure of name
calling and social stigmatisation, the
marriage debate will change considerably.
We must read DMWM and inform
ourselves on this most important topic
for the sake of ourselves, our children and
future generations.
DMWM is available in parish churches
and in Catholic schools. Once you are
informed then we need to take action. The
time for being silent has passed. Bad things
happen when good people do nothing.
Please visit www.parra.catholic.org.au/
ssmdebate to gather some resources to help
you make your views known to your federal
politicians who will eventually decide on the
future of marriage in this country.
Ben Smith is Director of the Diocese of
Parramatta’s Family & Life Office.

10 CatholicOutlook July 2015
Discovering an awareness of the presence of God within
A participant’s reflection on the Certificate in Pastoral Formation
I’m so happy to share a few
comments about the Certificate in
Pastoral Formation at the Diocese’s
Institute for Mission at Blacktown.
I missed the boat to enrol last
year but three friends completed
the program. They told me of
the commitment to weekly and
monthly sessions but unanimously
said it was worth the effort.
So this year I took the step and
am now well under way with a
great group of about 35 others.
I’m pleased the Spirituality unit
was first because it’s the one I
was attracted to and doing it has
whetted my appetite for more. In a
nutshell, it was amazing.
I converted to the Catholic faith
more than 30 years ago and have
been educated at an adult level
plus had lots of parish involvement
over the years.
But I really wanted to renew
and grow my spiritual wellbeing,
having survived a second bout of
cancer in less than five years.
While doing the program I
met wonderful people with many
life experiences, many different
cultural backgrounds and a
diversity of faith journeys.
The atmosphere of support led
by the Institute for Mission team
is compelling and illustrates God’s
love for us as we see this in each
other. This is true at the Tuesday
evening sessions and especially in
the small companioning group that
meets once a month.
We are also encouraged to have
a spiritual director to deepen our
awareness of the presence of God
with and within us.
The first unit, Experience of
God, challenged us to question
our image of God and search
more deeply into our personal
relationship with God.
In previous courses I had learned
of Catholic doctrine and other
aspects of our religion, but the
Certificate in Pastoral Formation
has facilitated an ‘encounter’
with God; an awareness of the
presence of God within and of a
discernment or listening for what
and how God is calling me to be.
It has affirmed God’s deepening
call for me to be truly who I am.
The unit was interactive,
which helped my reflection
about my own and others’
unique relationship with
God and provided many
opportunities for prayer.
Having completed the
Spirituality unit, I look forward
to the next three: ‘Word of
God’ which is about Scripture,
‘Speaking about God’ which is
about theology and ‘Called by
God’ which focuses on ministry
and mission.
I am excited for the Bible Study
unit, inspired already looking
ahead to the Theology unit and
keen to see how the ministry and
mission focus might encourage
me in my next steps in life, faith
and service.
This course is giving me a new
understanding of what it means to
live the Catholic Christian life and
how to be at peace no matter what
trials come my way.
For more information about this
and other IFM courses visit
www.ifm.org.au
St Finbar’s Parish, Glenbrook,
celebrates its ‘pioneers’
St Finbar’s Parish at Glenbrook is celebrating 50 years as a parish. On
Pentecost Sunday, 54 parishioners received certificates of appreciation for
their participation for the past 50 years and more. This is a remarkable
milestone. Formal recognition of a Catholic community began in the early
1900s but Glenbrook only achieved parish status in 1965.
Following the Corpus Christi Mass on 4 June this year, a procession was held
in the church grounds. It was a wonderful experience for all who attended,
and all who enjoyed hospitality for the special Glenbrook Parish Year of
Jubilee. Commemorations will take place throughout 2015 and everyone is
welcome. Photo: Dawn Wilis.
Cameroon
The atmosphere of support within the group illustrates God’s love for us
as we see this in each other.
Monaghan
& Gleeson
A priest in the Andes
annointing the sick
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Catholic Outlook

CatholicOutlook July 2015 11
Filipino faithful welcome new Nuncio
The Australian Devotees of Our
Lady of Penafrancia (ADOLP)
made a courtesy call last month
to Archbishop Adolfo Yllana, the
Apostolic Nuncio to Australia at
the Nunciature in Canberra.
Pictured are the ADOLP
Officers reciting with
Archbishop Yllana the Prayers
of Commitment to Our Lady
of Penafrancia. From left: Au
Aaron, Archbishop Adolfo Yllana,
Norma Evans, Neria Soliman and
Jun Relunia.
ST PAULS PUBLICATIONS
We thank God for the many graces and blessings we received on this special day.
Corpus Christi a day of special blessings
Julia Symons
Tangara School for Girls has
a longstanding tradition of a
Eucharistic Procession in the
week preceding the Solemnity of
Corpus Christi each year.
For 2015, we were blessed with
a beautiful sunny winter’s day.
The whole school including the
students from our Preparatory
School at Wahroonga were in
attendance with more than 100
parents and friends.
We were fortunate to have
two visiting priests, including
recently ordained Fr Youssef
Elias from the Maronite Eparchy
of Australia.
Our School Chaplain, Fr John
Flader, was the principal celebrant
and he was assisted by our other
chaplains, Fr Felix Navarro and
Fr Peter Fitzsimmons.
The ceremony began with
benediction in the recently
renovated chapel. Under a
beautiful embroidered canopy
carried by four parent fathers
the priest processed with the
monstrance to the altar of Our
Lady where we asked the blessing
of the Mother of God.
All proceeded to two outdoor
altars – one in front of Our Lady’s
Grotto at the school’s Infants
campus and one in front of the
Swan building. At both venues the
crowd was solemnly blessed with
the monstrance held aloft.
The ceremony ended back in
the chapel and was followed by
Holy Mass.
A beautiful aspect of
our annual event is the
procession of all the Primary
students who made their
First Holy Communion the
previous year dressed in
white Communion dresses.
These students carried rose
petals in baskets at the head of
the procession to mark out a
flower-strewn route.
We thank God for the many
graces and blessings we received
on this special day.
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following:
St Pauls Books & Gifts Centre
238 Church St
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E: bookcentreparra@stpauls.com.au
St Pauls Book Centre
277 Elizabeth Street
Brisbane, QLD 4000
T: 07 3336 9236
E: bookcentre@stpauls.com.au
LAUDATO SI’
ON CARE FOR OUR COMMON HOME
AN ENCYLICAL LETTER ON ECOLOGY AND CLIMATE
Possibly one of the most important encyclicals of our time,
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critical ecological and environmental issues facing us all.
9781921963827 | RRP $12.95 | PB
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Visit www.stpauls.com.au for the full range of new titles

12 CatholicOutlook July 2015
New enterprise agreement
for teachers and school staff
Over the past 12 months, I have been involved in the
process of negotiating a new Enterprise Agreement for
systemic Catholic schools on behalf of the 11 dioceses of
NSW and the ACT.
On 11 June, the Catholic Commission for Employment
Relations (CCER) and the Independent Education
Union (IEU) reached agreement on the terms of a new
Enterprise Agreement, which will be put to teachers
and school staff to vote on early in Term 3 before being
approved by the Fair Work Commission.
The proposed agreement addresses a number of issues
impacting schooling today, such as Catholic ethos,
changing student needs and the role of the teacher,
new approaches to learning and teaching and the
impact of technology.
The agreement brings together eight different industrial
instruments into one and will introduce a number
of changes including a new structure for teachers
that aligns to national teaching standards, a new
classification structure for general staff and associated
pay increases of 2.27% for teachers and school staff.
While this has been a complex and, at times, challenging
process, it is also a significant milestone for Catholic
systemic schools as it brings together for the first time 11
dioceses into one agreement.
It is also significant because, for the first time, Catholic
school employers engaged directly with their staff in a
consultation process, as well as through negotiation with
the union.
The consultation process, and ongoing conversations
with teachers and staff, will be critical for the shaping
of future agreements. The nature of schooling and the
role of teachers and school leaders are changing rapidly
and industrial arrangements must allow for new ways of
working to respond to the needs of today’s world.
The personalisation of learning, the analysis and
use of student data, the diversity of the student
population and the impact and speed of technological
change has created a vastly different context for our
school communities.
Teachers and school staff work very differently in many
cases and we need the flexibility for our school leaders
to work collaboratively with their teachers and staff to
respond to these changing demands and to ensure the
very best learning experiences for our young people
and the most professionally rewarding working lives for
our staff.
This new agreement is a first step on that journey but
a very important one as it seeks to respond to this new
context and to do so in a collaborative way with our
teachers and staff who are committed to this work.
I would like to thank our teachers and staff for their
willingness to engage in this process and our school
leaders for leading this with their school communities.
Greg Whitby
Executive Director of Schools
@gregwhitby
Blog: bluyonder.wordpress.com
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY
Each and every day Catholic schools put their faith into action by supporting the Church's
mission of outreach in the community and care for the environment.
Here is a snapshot of some of the ways that Catholic schools are making a difference in raising
awareness of social justice issues, contributing to the environment and learning more about
their communities.
Pope Francis calls for a new dialogue on the environment
On 18 June, Pope Francis published his
new encyclical letter entitled Laudato
Si’ – ‘Praise be to you’, which addresses
humanity's relationship with the
natural world.
Pope Francis said the urgent
challenge to protect the Earth includes
a concern to bring the whole human
family together to seek a sustainable
For World Environment Day on 5
June. St Patrick’s Primary, Blacktown,
partnered with Catholic Earthcare
Australia to create the Connect, Care,
Share: Our Common Home video,
which showcases the school’s
kitchen garden.
The kitchen garden was established
to create a natural approach to oral
language through fun, activity
and exercise.
For the International Year of Light
and Soils, Catholic Earthcare featured
the St Patrick’s kitchen garden in a
video showing how it enables students
to learn about the role gardens play in
growing fresh produce.
St Patrick's Primary Learning
Support teacher, Maria Marks,
found that by working together on
the different projects in the garden
the students’ ability to socialise,
communicate, connect and interact
with their peers had improved.
“Students need plenty of varied
naturalistic opportunities for language
use,” Maria said. “The kitchen
garden provides motivating learning
Each year as part of a project-based
learning project, Year 12 students from
McCarthy Catholic Trade Training
Centre, Emu Plains, are asked to produce
a sculpture from reusable materials.
Car parts might be the most unlikely
and integral development.
“I urgently appeal, then, for a new
dialogue about how we are shaping the
future of our planet,” the encyclical reads.
“We need a conversation which
includes everyone, since the
environmental challenge we are
undergoing, and its human roots, concern
and affect us all.
materials to use when creating ‘snakes
and ladders’ inspired archway sculptures,
but this is exactly what the Year 12 Metals
and Fabrication students are using.
Metals and Fabrication teacher, Ed
Sobiesiak, said the term-long project
“It is my hope that this encyclical
letter, which is now added to the body
of the Church’s social teaching, can
help us to acknowledge the appeal,
immensity and urgency of the challenge
we face.”
To read the encyclical:
http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/
encyclicals/index.html
St Patrick’s kitchen garden aids environment and learning
experiences that challenge students
both linguistically and cognitively.”
A volunteer for the kitchen garden,
Clare Maloney said the students shone
with confidence as they discussed the
aspects of their outdoor learning space
which were most important to them.
“The kitchen garden group was
Students enjoying working in their kitchen garden.
McCarthy’s Metals and Fabrication class reuse, recycle and create
Metals and Fabrication teacher, Ed Sobiesiak, and Year 12 students with 'Welding Man'.
able to discuss how vegetables, herbs
and flowers are planted and nurtured
with their teachers and are able to ‘act
out’ how plants grow from seeds to
maturity,” Clare said.
With the support of a generous
parent, the harvested produce was
cooked and served to the students.
was a collaboration of creativity and
experience in both teaching and learning
to produce the sculptures.
“The project offers students an
opportunity to think outside the box
and find new ways to reuse fabricated
materials,” Ed said.
Inspired by the work of the six
students in the 2014 class who created
a life-size Lego man sculpture from
10 decommissioned gas bottles, the
2015 class plans to have their project
completed by the end of July.
“The process to safely decommission
gas bottles is often too time intensive for
metal recyclers so gas bottles with a life
expectancy of only three years end up in
landfill,” Ed said.
“This year’s team plans to use body
panels to create the leaves and creeping
vines of the structure as well as brake
springs for caterpillars.”
The archway sculpture will be donated
to the McCarthy Catholic College library.
The Lego man sculpture more
affectionately known as ‘Welding Man’ is
the Metals and Fabrications mascot.

Greening Delany Project
Delany College, Granville, has been
reducing its carbon footprint, improving
sustainability and contributing positively
to the environment through the Greening
Delany Project.
The project was established in June 2011
and aims to utilise and maintain unused
vacant land through recycling, reusing and
repurposing practices.
The area includes an outdoor learning
space, a kitchen garden with vegetables
and herbs, mini orchard, water harvesting
abilities, composting, worm farming and
native gardens.
There is also a Sacred Space that is
available to staff and students and serves
as a place of reflection. The outdoor
learning space provides a green alternative
classroom environment.
Vegetable waste from the school’s
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY
Catholic schools put faith into action
The Diocesan Works Fund Appeal is a
pastoral care appeal held once a year in
schools to fund a number of works and
ministries in the Diocese of Parramatta,
including CatholicCare Social Services.
In 2014, more than $44,000 was raised
by schools to support various social welfare
Hospitality kitchens and the canteen
is used to develop compost and worm
farming techniques which improve the
health of the gardens.
Water has been harvested by diverting
the existing rainwater from the adjacent
college building into water tanks. This
water is then used to irrigate the plants
and gardens of the outdoor area.
Delany has also acquired exercise
equipment for students and staff to use
in the outdoor space. This can be used
for individuals, classes or
sporting activities.
Delany’s Senior School Officer, Tracey
Flynn, said the green spaces provided the
students with a hands-on way of engaging
with environmental studies and a new way
of learning and teaching.
“Students are learning how to reuse
agencies to continue assisting people in
Western Sydney through CatholicCare, the
Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD),
hospital and prison chaplaincies.
In 2015, schools participated in a
number of fundraising and awarenessraising
initiatives.
and recycle a variety of products to
produce a sustainable garden area,”
Tracey said.
“They have been involved in the
CatholicOutlook July 2015 13
Students worked collaboratively to create the green spaces.
planting, weeding, harvesting and general
maintenance of the area. We are hoping it
will continue its growth as a lasting legacy
for the community.”
Sacred Heart Primary, Westmead, organised a pyjama day.
St Nicholas of Myra, Penrith, held a football jersey and mufti day and
a crazy hair, silly sock and mufti day on the following Friday.
St Michael's Primary, Baulkham Hills, held a crazy sock
day with the theme 'Step into action' for DWF.
St Monica’s Primary, North Parramatta, asked students to place
their gold coin donations to spell out the letters DWF.
Diocese of Parramatta hosts
Notre Dame Folk Choir
On Friday 29 May, the Catholic Diocese of
Parramatta hosted the renowned Notre
Dame Folk Choir on their 2015
Australian Tour.
Students and teachers from across the
Diocese gathered at St Patrick's Cathedral,
Parramatta to participate in music
workshops with the choir.
The day began with morning prayer,
followed by a concert featuring
opportunities for students to join with
the choir in song. Students participated in
workshops designed to explore liturgical
music in a variety of styles and reflect with
the choir on music as ministry.
Teacher workshops focused on enhancing
dialogue and collaboration between
Religious Education Coordinators and Music
teachers and how to select liturgical music.
The day concluded with Mass and a final
moving performance from the choir.
Dr Steven Warner directing the Notre Dame Folk Choir.

14 CatholicOutlook July 2015
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY
Catholic Schools lend a hand to Vinnies
From 15 – 19 June, Catherine McAuley
Westmead held their first ever Homelessness
Awareness Week event in support of the
St Vincent de Paul Society Vinnies Van
which provides friendship, compassion, hot
drinks, snacks, blankets and referrals to
those experiencing homelessness and social
isolation in the Penrith and Parramatta areas.
Catherine McAuley’s Year 12 students
who already volunteer for the Vinnies
Van organised the week, which included
St John Paul II Catholic College, Schofields
Campus recently received a generous
donation of $2,500 to the music program
from the Murray family.
Michael Murray said he had always
attended the functions at St John Paul II
that his daughter was involved in, namely
Academic Award Ceremonies and a musical
in 2014.
“At each of these events the students
displayed a remarkable ability to
showcase their musical and theatrical
talents,” he said.
“I started to think to myself, what if
there were some students who through no
fault of their own needed some help in a
To coincide with National Refugee Week,
Jesuit Refugee Service Shelter Project
Coordinator, Maeve Brown, visited St
Monica’s Primary, North Parramatta on
16 June.
Maeve spoke to the students about the
difference between refugees and asylum
seekers and why they need to leave their
homes to seek safety in other countries.
In her presentation, Maeve showed the
students the living conditions of refugees
Catherine McAuley students with donated blankets for the homeless.
fundraising stalls and a blanket drive,
where all students brought in any preloved
(or new) blankets to be donated
to those in need of them this winter.
Parramatta Marist High School
students also joined Catherine McAuley
Year 12 students to make a monthly
trip with the Vinnies Van during
Homelessness Awareness Week.
The Vinnies Van operates 364 days per
year and provided 8790 meals last year.
St John Paul II music program receives donation
St Monica’s celebrates Refugee Week with JRS
Maeve Brown speaking with
students at St Monica’s.
From left: Co-operating Principal,
Phil Smith, with Michael and Tina Murray.
financial way to kick along their talents, but
had no way of obtaining this,” Michael said.
and asylum seekers including tents in
refugee camps with very limited resources.
“There are about 51 million forcibly
displaced people in the world and only one
percent are awarded refugee status in other
countries like Australia, Canada and in
Europe,” Maeve said.
“While they wait for their refugee status,
we help them to learn English, provide them
with food and clothing and help them feel at
home here in Australia,” she said.
St Monica’s Assistant Principal, Mary
Jo Mason, said Maeve’s talk was a terrific
opportunity to open the students’ eyes to
the hardships faced by refugees and asylum
seekers in the world.
“This opportunity allows them to ask any
questions they have and to give them a real
focus during Refugee Week,” she said.
The school has asked their families to
donate food, warm clothes and blankets as
part of the Jesuit Refugee Service’s winter
appeal for asylum seekers.
Jesuit Refugee Service is an
international Catholic organisation with a
mission to accompany, serve and advocate
on behalf of refugees and other forcibly
displaced persons.
Emmaus student selected for Nike Football Academy
Emilio Martinez, a 16-year-old
midfielder from Emmaus Catholic
College, Kemps Creek is the latest
Australian to enter the burgeoning
Nike Football Academy.
Emilio was selected from a pool
of 60 to represent Australia at the
trials. After three days of intense
testing, Emilio was joined by five
others from Colombia, Japan,
USA, Belgium and England as the
academy’s latest recruits.
OLOW students meet Prime Minister Tony Abbott
Emilio Martinez will join the Nike Football Academy.
Emmaus Catholic College Principal Brad Campbell said Emilio played a pivotal role in the
school's soccer team for a number of years, but even greater than this was the contribution
he made to the College.
“While clearly focused on his sporting goal, Emilio is equally dedicated to his studies and is a
diligent and hard working student,” he said.
Year 6 students from Our Lady
of the Way (OLOW) Primary, Emu
Plains got a special surprise when
Prime Minister Tony Abbott joined
the class on their excursion to
Parliament House in Canberra.
Mr Abbott, who had formerly
trained as a seminarian with
former Parish Priest Fr Kevin
Hannan at the OLOW Parish, in
1986, was delighted to share his
time and experiences with
OLOW students meet Prime Minister, Tony Abbott.
the students.
“It was nice to think that the place (OLOW) is still going strong and that the school came to
Canberra to learn more about our parliament and our democracy,” said Prime Minister Abbott.
Students said the excursion was a memorable experience that proved they could be anything
they wanted to be, if they put their minds to it.
School leaders presented Prime Minister Abbott with a candle and postcard of the school's
learning platform signed by all the Year 6 students.
St John’s Riverstone get a taste of Jamie Oliver’s food revolution
St John's Primary, Riverstone
welcomed healthy eating with a
difference with Jamie Oliver's Food
Revolution Day on Friday 15 May.
Students and 15 parent helpers
from the St John’s community took
part in one of Jamie’s classroom
lessons that aim to teach students
life skills through healthy and
simple recipes.
Fun while learning about healthy food choices.
Photo: Fairfax Media/Isabella Lettini.
Lessons of the day included
preparing a wide range of fresh salads and Jamie’s ‘squash it’ sandwiches, as well as
identifying healthy food choices.
St John’s parent and mother of two, Amanda McIntyre, who first saw Jamie Oliver live earlier
this year, said by educating children about food in a fun and engaging way, we can equip
them with the basic skills they need to lead healthier, happier lives, for themselves and their
future families.
St John’s Principal, Patricia Charlton said the event held dual purposes as it also encouraged
children to read and follow recipes as well as teaching healthy food choices.
“When Amanda approached me about the idea I thought it was a great opportunity to
expose our children to a healthy lunch and a way to promote the healthy snack options,”
Patricia said.
Faith at the Fiddler
On Thursday 21 May, teachers and staff from Catholic schools across the Diocese gathered at
the Mean Fiddler Hotel, Rouse Hill, for a special forum on World Youth Day.
The event was aimed at engaging educators with an interest in participation in World Youth
Day Krakow 2016 through a panel discussion led by Australian World Youth Day Chair, Selina
Hasham, who was also the former World Youth Day Coordinator for Harvest Pilgrimages.
Fellow speakers included the Diocese of Parramatta’s WYD Executive Officer, Mark Tuffy and
Director of Catholic Youth Parramatta, James Camden.
The forum provided a great opportunity for teachers to consider participation in World Youth
Day Krakow 2016 from their own personal and professional formation.
The next Faith at the Fiddler will be held to coincide with visit from
Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, in August.
For more school news visit CatholicEdParra and @CatholicEdParra or www.parra.catholic.edu.au

CatholiCCare SoCial ServiCeS
diocese of parramatta
… providing compassionate, professional and relevant support to the people in our diverse community
ServIce
SpotlIght
Problem Gambling Support
CatholicCare Social Services provides counselling for a
diverse range of needs, one of these is Problem Gambling.
As well as one on one counselling sessions, each Saturday
we run a support group from Blacktown where individuals and
families impacted by problem gambling can be supported towards
overcoming their challenges.
Last week CatholicCare invited former Eels captain Nathan Hindmarsh
to share his experiences with Problem Gambling and how he resolved
this problem through the support of family and professional help.
Nathan spoke openly about his former gambling habit, the extent
to which it impacted his relationships and about how difficult it is as
a man to ask for help, however he realised he could not stop this
habit on his own. After talking honestly and openly with mates and
family and receiving professional support this is no longer a problem
for Nathan.
Pictured: CCSS Financial Counsellors Vinh Bui and Thu Le with
Nathan Hindmarsh.
For a confidential talk about Problem Gambling
call CatholicCare Social Services on 02 8822 2222.
COURSES
& EVENTS
• NAIDOC Celebration – rides, face
painting, sausage sizzle Tuesday 7 July
2015, 10am – 2.30pm. Holy Family Parish
at 252-254 Luxford Road Emerton (enter
via Emert Parade). Call: 02 9628 0084
• Problem Gambling Saturday Support
Group – every Saturday 10am – 11.30am.
Allawah Street Blacktown.
Call 02 8822 2222
• Recover Wellbeing comprising REACH
(Black Dog Accredited 9 week program)
and support groups for people
experiencing mental distress and carer
support groups. Call (02) 8822 2222 for
more info.
• Younger Widowed: Bereavement Support
Group – 3rd Tuesday of each month,
7pm – 9pm, 51 – 59 Allawah Street
Blacktown. Fee $5. Call 02 9933 0205 or
soloparentservices@ccss.org.au
C L I M B T Y V S Q R U S L B
K W P A M Y X F C S D E I W K
O B L J C C U E C R N I R H N
G M A O S P D A R D F D W K D
R R N Z I E R A P U U D N S R
A Q T K E D L W N W N W K Q J
F E S G S Z H Z I C Y P M U J
Y L O P O N O M Z L E S T V U
U Y Y V V N L A I U P D O I H
X H K N F X I M U V P N G X X
M L P L B D A N B I A E N U S
J I M D V F D R A W Z I I X F
X C W S M D L U E J T R S Z Q
J D Y S P D V F I U V F O G I
K N N C J J S R Y X P W F D E
Find-a-Word created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com
Find-a-Word Puzzle ClueS
CARDS
CLIMB
DANCE
DRAW
FAMILY
FRIENDS
JUMP
MONOPOLY
PLANT
PUZZLES
RUN
SING
SKIP
SWIM
WIN!
Can you recommend a great family/
child friendly app, book or movie?
Please email support@ccss.org.au to be eligible
to win 1 x $30 Event Cinema gift voucher.
We will announce the winner in the August edition.
Our July winner ...
Congratulations to Bridie from St Francis of Assisi
Glendenning who said her family enjoyed many belly laughs watching
Parental Guidance. Thank you Bridie!
• Stepping Beyond – Post Separation
Support – last Tuesday of each month,
7.30pm – 9.30pm, 51 – 59 Allawah Street
Blacktown. Fee $5. Call 02 9933 0205 or
soloparentservices@ccss.org.au
• Understanding Family Law – Wednesday
22 July and 12 August at DAC Centre,
1 – 5 Marion Street Blacktown
• Keeping Kids in Mind – post separation
parenting group (parents attend
separately) Begins 10 August at 6pm for
5 weeks. Call 02 9933 0222
Parramatta: (02) 9933 0222 Blacktown: (02) 8822 2222 Springwood: (02) 4751 4956
Visit www.ccss.org.au www.facebook.com/CCSSParramatta

16 CatholicOutlook July 2015
Acolytes instituted into ministry of service at the table of the Lord
Sr Mary Louise Walsh ISSM
On the evening of 23 June, 53 acolytes
were instituted by Emeritus Bishop Kevin
Manning during the celebration of Mass
in St Patrick’s Cathedral.
They were joined by family and
friends who supported them. Many of
their respective parish priests were also
present. To mark their readiness for
their ministry, as each candidate’s name
was called he rose and acknowledged
his presence.
After the homily given by the Diocesan
Administrator, Very Rev Peter Williams,
each of the candidates was handed the
paten with the bread to be consecrated.
They held the paten while the Bishop
prayed: “Take these vessels with bread
and wine for the celebration of the
Eucharist. Make your life worthy of your
service at the table of the Lord and of
His Church.”
As with other liturgical ministries the
acolyte has a specific role, that is, to
assist the priest or deacon in the service
of the altar.
We read in Sacrosanctum Concilium:
"Those who serve at the altar exercise a
genuine liturgical function. They ought to
discharge their office therefore, with the
sincere devotion and decorum demanded
by so exalted a ministry and rightly
expected of them by God's people.
“Consequently, they must all be
deeply imbued with the spirit of the
liturgy, in the measure proper to each
one, and they must be trained to
perform their functions in a correct
and orderly manner." (Vatican II,
Sacrosanctum Concilium, 29)
Accordingly, acolytes undergo specific
training and formation. They should
familiarise themselves “with everything
which pertains to divine worship and
should endeavour to understand its spirit
and its inner meaning." (Pope Paul VI,
Ministeria Quaedam, 15 August 1972, #6)
The acolyte has a particular role in
preparing the altar and the sacred vessels.
Once instituted, the acolyte may serve
within the diocese in agreement with the
parish priest.
During the period of training, the
acolytes may be assigned a mentor from
their parish, who accompanies them on
their journey of spiritual formation.
Sr Mary Louise Walsh ISSM is Liturgy
Educator in the Diocese of Parramatta’s
Office for Worship.
Photos: Alfred Boudib.
Catholic Diocese of Parramatta
Holy Spirit Parish, St Clair
Parish Secretary
(temporary, 24 hrs/week)
Expressions of interest are invited from suitably qualified persons for the part-time
position of Parish Secretary (temporary) commencing on 3 August 2015. The
vacancy has become available due to maternity leave.
Duties include preparation of the weekly Parish Newsletter, routine correspondence,
maintenance of parish registers, record keeping, general reception duties, word
processing and management of office resources, liaison with suppliers and
tradespersons as required, and provision of administrative support to the Parish
Moderator and Parish Team.
For a copy of the position description, please contact the Parish Office
tel (02) 9670 8222 or admin@holyspiritstclair.com.au
Applications close: Friday 10 July 2015
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PARRAMATTA
The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine
ANNUAL SRE MASS & PRESENTATION
Friday 21 August at 11am
Principal Celebrant Very Rev Peter Williams
Diocesan Administrator
Concelebrants Priests of the Diocese of Parramatta
St Paul the Apostle Parish, 40 Buckleys Rd, Winston Hills
A light lunch will be served. RSVP 10 August to Maree Collis
Tel (02) 9890 4731 or email mcollis@ccdparramatta.com.au

CatholicOutlook July 2015 17
Inspiring celebration of the Feast of Pentecost
Adrian Walker
An inspiring celebration of the
Feast of Pentecost on 24 May was
enjoyed by the faithful from many
parts of Sydney and beyond. This
joyful feast has been celebrated
in Our Lady Queen of Peace at
Greystanes for many years and is
always a time of grace and renewal.
Following an uplifting session
of praise led by the Servants of
Jesus music ministry, Mass was
concelebrated by Fr Bony Abraham
MGL, Fr John Iacono, Fr Yacub
Barakat, Fr Bill Cunningham and
Fr Kene Onwukwe.
Fr Abraham gave the homily
based on St John’s Gospel Chapters
14, 15 and 16. Summarising Fr
Abraham’s homily, he talked of
how Jesus speaks to His disciples
about going away to the Father
and says He will send them an
advocate who will be with them on
the journey. He will give them joy
and peace.
For all Christians, if we want
to follow Jesus, we need the
Spirit of Truth. Without the Holy
Spirit, the Christian journey is
impossible. To love one another
we need the Holy Spirit.
Every person is of equal dignity
with the courage to call God our
Father. We need to pray every day
for the humility to recognise that
without Him we can do nothing.
Fr Abraham concluded with the
line from Psalm 81: “Open wide
your mouth and I will fill it.”
After Mass we enjoyed a
barbecue lunch and caught up with
old friends and members of other
prayer groups and communities.
In the afternoon, the hall was
overflowing for a prayer and
praise session led by the Servants
of Jesus.
The speaker for the afternoon
was Bruce Downes, ‘The Catholic
Guy’, who has a ministry of
reaching out to people and
(Conducted by the Christian Brothers)
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Website: www.winbourne.org Address: 1315 Mulgoa Road, Mulgoa, NSW, 2745
Every person is of equal dignity with the courage to call God our Father.
connecting them to parishes. He
opened with a challenge to believe
that God will do miracles, and to
expect miracles.
He shared from his own
experience of being called by God
when he was a young teenager,
with the knowledge that he was to
serve the Church in evangelisation.
He shared about how he spent
years in preparation, with this call
on his life, but he was not being
chosen for anything, not till he was
30 years old.
His message from this is,
“God sees you.” Don’t give up
the dream but pray, “God, what
should I do now?”
After his second talk based on
the story of King David, his sin
and repentance, there was a time
of prayer ministry.
A vote of thanks was given to
the Emmaus Prayer Community
for the preparation and hosting of
this annual event, to the members
of the various prayer groups who
contributed in so many ways
to the celebration, and to the
Servants of Jesus for leading the
people in prayer and praise.
Remembering loved ones we have lost can
take many forms.
At WN Bull Funerals we understand this.
As the funeral liturgy expresses faith, it also
contextualises the life of the deceased with
traditional and contemporary elements.
Even as our lives move on we may look back
and recall the experience with warmth and
gratitude.
And isn’t that the mark of good funeral service?
(02) 9519 5344
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AUSTRALIAN OWNED

18 CatholicOutlook July 2015
Catholic Diocese of Parramatta
Appointments
Rev Fr Thomas Thien Hien Bui
Assistant Priest
Holy Trinity Parish, Granville &
Holy Family Parish, East Granville
Rev Fr Pio Yong Ho Jang
Assistant Priest
St Michael’s Parish, Baulkham Hills
Rev Fr Luis Herrera
Assistant Priest
Mary, Queen of the Family Parish, Blacktown
and Spanish chaplaincy
Rev Fr John Rizzo
Assistant Priest
Our Lady of the Angels Parish, Rouse Hill
Mr Chris Ohlsen
Assistant Diocesan Master of Ceremonies
Diocesan Development Fund
Catholic Diocese of Parramatta
Supporting the
growing needs of the
institutions and agencies within
the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta
www.parra.catholic.org.au/ddf
Solidarity: On the road to justice for Indigenous peoples
Governments at the state and
federal level must become serious
about the immense shortage
of housing stocks in townships
instead of contemplating how
they can make it worse by forcing
more people from remote areas
into town-zones already suffering
from serious deprivations,
according to the Bishop of
Broome, Christopher Saunders.
As the Church prepares
to celebrate Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander People
on Sunday 5 July, Australia’s
Catholic bishops have published a
statement entitled Solidarity: On
the road to justice.
Bishop Saunders said the
crime rate in townships was far
greater than in remote areas, as
was serious drug abuse. “Needles
are not found lying around in
bunches in remote villages as
they are in regional townships,”
he said.
“The original argument in
favour of closing off funds to
many remote communities was
an economic one. There is not
enough money to pay for the
homelands, it was said.
“It is simply amazing how
in this country whenever
governments over-spend or
income shrinks it is always the
Recollection Day for Health Care
Professionals and those who
have a desire to serve the sick
The day is
designed for
nurses, doctors, allied
health staff, pastoral care
workers, extraordinary
ministers of the Eucharist
and all who minister to
the sick and carers. The
aim of the day is for those
in the caring professions
to have a time of prayer
and to be renewed in your
professional calling.
poor who pay to rectify the
fiscal shortfall.”
Rural Australia is in a
depressed state and the
Aboriginal people in rural
Australia are better off when
living on traditional lands than
in exile away from it, the bishops’
statement said.
“There is no evidence to
suggest that leaving traditional
homelands for life in towns will
benefit the people presently
living in remote villages,” Bishop
Saunders said. “It is a fact that
life is better in the remote
villages than in the fringedwelling
settlements.
“When this nation realises that
more rather than fewer resources
are needed to meet the needs of
Aboriginal people then, and only
then, will we begin to overcome
the challenges before us.
“Then might we effectively
whittle away the disproportionate
numbers of Aboriginal people
who suicide, who are in gaol,
are unemployed, are suffering ill
health, are homeless, are undernourished
and who are oppressed
by the effects of poverty and a
poor education.
“Sadly, it appears that history
repeats itself. Just when we
thought that there was light at
Saturday 11 July from 10am-4pm
Sacred Heart Parish, Westmead
the end of the
tunnel – the
result of legal
judgements
like Native
Title and
Wik – and
just when the
Homelands
Movement
had proved a boon to displaced
traditional owners, the ominous
noise of negative change and
repression is heard yet again.
“There are numerous examples
of Aboriginal people in Australia
who have learnt to live above the
quagmire of defeat. But there
are many, many others who live
below a robust capability.”
Bishop Saunders called on
non-Aboriginal Christians to
stand in solidarity with their
Aboriginal brothers and sisters.
“Aboriginal Christians are called
to be determined, not to falter, no
matter the obstacles that rise up
to make a just way difficult.
“In faith and through prayer,
the energy needed to seek
justice, to right what is wrong
and to find a new, positive way
forward is at hand.”
Copies of the statement can be
downloaded from the ACBC’s
website: www.catholic.org.au
Disclosure Statement
The Diocesan Development Fund Catholic Diocese of Parramatta (DDF) is not subject to the provisions of the Corporation Act 2001 nor has it been examined or approved
by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Deposits with the DDF are guaranteed by CDPF Limited, a company established by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference for this purpose.
We welcome your investment with the DDF rather than with a profit oriented commercial organisation as a conscious commitment by you to support the Charitable,
Religious and Educational works of the Catholic Church.
Neither the DDF nor the Trustees of the Roman Catholic Church for the Diocese of Parramatta are prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority;
contributions to the DDF do not obtain the benefit of the depositor protection provisions of the Banking Act 1959; the DDF is designed for investors who wish to promote
the charitable purposes of the DDF.
It is hoped that by coming
together with others
the love of your calling
will be rekindled. Time
for reflection, prayer
and sharing. Suggested
donation $10. Morning &
afternoon tea provided,
BYO lunch.
Further information: Michelle Davis
tel (02) 4734 3150 (BH), michelled95@hotmail.com

CatholicOutlook July 2015 19
At the launch of the Community Care Van were (from left): Assoc Prof Anthony Schembri; Jenny O’Mahony A/Program Manager Inner City
Health St Vincent’s Hospital; and the NSW Chairman of the Order of Malta, David Hall.
Community Care Van set to hit the road
A new initiative by members of
the NSW Order of Malta will
begin delivering much-needed
community healthcare to the
city's poor, sick and homeless
from a fully equipped and
staffed mobile van on a twiceweekly
basis from 15 June.
The Order of Malta will
provide drivers and volunteers
for the new service while a
partnership with St Vincent's
Hospital in Darlinghurst will be
responsible for the van's teams
of skilled trained nurses and
healthcare workers bringing
healthcare to people struggling
and on the margins.
The newly equipped Order
of Malta NSW Community
Care Van was unveiled at a
presentation on 20 May. The
van along with its custom
fit-out has been donated
by the Sanderson family of
Sanderson Motors.
The NSW Chairman of
the Order, David Hall, gave
thanks for what he called
"the big-hearted generosity
of Greg Sanderson and the
Sanderson family".
"The donation of the van by
Greg and the Sanderson family
is remarkable in its generosity
and much appreciated by all of
us," he said.
About 12 months ago the
Order began discussions
about establishing a
community care van.
"Our Order operates
community care vans in France
and the UK where they tend
the homeless, the sick and the
poor, and we were keen to do
the same," David said
After discussions with
David Scarf AM, the Order's
Ambassador to Timor-Leste
and the man who designed the
NSW branch's now famous
‘coats for the homeless’, David
Hall sought the advice of fellow
member and long-time friend
Greg Sanderson.
"I knew he dealt in high-end
motor vehicles but thought
he could steer me in the right
direction about who best to
approach, who could tell me
what sort of van we might need
and how to go about acquiring
it," David said.
"But almost before I had
finished speaking, Greg said
'Don't worry about talking to
anyone else. I'll look after that
for you!’”
David began discussions
with Assoc Prof Anthony
Schrembi, CEO of St Vincent's
Health Network Hospital,
about staffing the van with
trained nurses and healthcare
workers and received
immediate support.
While many of Sydney's
homeless and people living
in poverty have access to
hot food, soups and drinks
through long-running
initiatives such as the St
Vincent de Paul Society's
Night Patrol and the Matthew
Talbot Hostel or St Canice's
Kitchen at Potts Point there is
little in the way of community
care for those doing it tough.
"The work of organisations
and volunteers who provide
food and, in particular, hot
nourishing meals during
winter to those in need is
fantastic," David said.
"But what is also needed
is health care and first aid,
particularly in areas outside
the CBD that are currently
not well serviced such
as Parramatta and
Western Sydney."
The mobile van will visit
different parts of Sydney
on a regular basis so that
those needing care, advice
or first aid, help with skin or
other problems triggered by
exposure, treatment of cuts
and abrasions will always
know that the van will be in
a particular area on a certain
day each month.
People who are ill or
whose health problems
need further specialised
care will be transported by
van to the nearest hospital
emergency room.
Once the Sydney mobile van
service is up and running, the
Order’s NSW branch plans to
expand the mobile initiative
not only to outer Sydney but
to regional towns and cities
across the state.
Catholic Communications
Archdiocese of Sydney
Order of Malta provides support
to the poor and vulnerable
The Order of Malta’s full name is the Sovereign
Military Hospitaller Order of St John of
Jersusalem, of Rhodes and Malta. It was
founded more than 900 years ago to "care for
the sick and poor without judgment, distinction
of religion, race or political persuasion".
With just over 100 members, the Order's
NSW Branch provides support for the poor
and vulnerable. Over the past eight years,
members have raised more than $1.3
million for Gorman House, the residential
detoxification unit at St Vincent's Hospital in
Darlinghurst, which treats more than 1500
men and women battling addiction each year,
many of whom are homeless.
St Joseph's Hospital's Palliative Care Unit
also receives support from the branch, which
provides funds for medical aid and equipment
not covered under normal health care budgets,
such as morphine pumps or the refurbishment
of quiet rooms for families and their loved ones.
In addition, since 2013 the branch has given
away more than 2000 specially designed coats
to the homeless, with a further 1500 coats to
be distributed via the Community Care Van
this winter.
What started as a NSW initiative has now gone
national with many thousands of coats given
free of charge each year to people who
are homeless.
The coats were designed after consulting
extensively with residents of Matthew Talbot
Hostel and are quilted for warmth, come with a
hood, are showerproof and light enough to be
carried or stowed easily.
The coats also come with hidden pockets to
protect what few valuables the homeless person
may have and are purposely made up in black
to prevent wearers standing out in a crowd and
becoming targets of physical violence or theft.
To find out more about the Order of Malta’s
NSW branch and to donate to support
these important initiatives visit
www.orderofmalta.org.au
People who are interested in learning more
about volunteering opportunities with the Order
can email info@smom.org.au
Donations to support the Charitable Works of
the NSW Branch, including the Community
Care Van and Coats for the Homeless, are
tax deductible and can be made by cheques
payable to The Order of Malta and sent to: NSW
Charitable Works, Order of Malta, 33-37 West
Street, Darlinghurst, NSW, 2010.
Allan Drew OAM, JP
Supporting families in a time of need is
what Allan from Allan Drew Funerals
has done best for more than 25 years.
Tel (02) 9680 1344
allandrewfunerals.com.au

20 CatholicOutlook July 2015
In the footsteps of St John Paul II
St Mary's Basilica
in Krakow.
Auschwitz was a sobering experience for us all.
Members of the Australian delegation sample the delights of Polish cuisine.
The Shrine of Divine Mercy, home to the
revelations of St Faustina.
Holy Hour for
Vocations
Thursday 16 July 2015
from 7-8pm
Everyone is welcome to join the Holy Hour
for Vocations on the 3rd Thursday of each
month for an hour of adoration, prayer,
music and quiet time in St Patrick’s Cathedral.
To find out more about priesthood in the
Catholic Diocese of Parramatta contact the
Director of Priestly Vocations, Fr Warren
Edwards, tel 0409 172 700 or send an email
to vocations@parra.catholic.org.au
Blessed Sacrament Chapel,
St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta.
James Camden
Dzien dobry! We have returned from
Poland and what a learning experience
it was!
An important strategy for the National
World Youth Day Project is providing a
small team of local diocesan organisers
and representatives from each diocese
with the opportunity to travel to the host
country for WYD 2016 with the official
tour operator, COSMOS.
Our team spent almost two weeks on
the ground stepping through each part
of the pilgrimage that our young people
will experience.
For us, it was particularly important
because we have elected to have a
second pilgrimage that allows young
adults to walk in the footsteps of St John
Paul II leading into WYD week. Our
familiarisation proved to follow a very
similar path.
We began in Warsaw where we visited
the 14 th Century Cathedral of St John,
walked through the Old Town and
experienced the Warsaw Ghetto.
The following day we travelled to
Czestochowa where at the Jasna Gora
Shrine we were able to see and pray
before the famous Black Madonna – an
image and devotion St John Paul II held
close to his heart.
In many ways we learnt, and saw,
how this place is the ‘beating heart’ for
Catholics in Poland.
By day five we were standing at the
boom gates that confronted so many
people before they entered Auschwitz
concentration camp.
This was a sobering experience for
us all to witness pure evil and human
behaviour at its worst, but it will
contextualise the theme of mercy within
our WYD pilgrimages.
Seeing the cell where St Maximilian
Kolbe spent his final days reminded us of
the selfless sacrifice he made for another
Vocation Discernment
Afternoon
Sunday 26 July 2015
from 2pm-6pm
All young men who feel God might be
calling them to the priesthood are invited
to the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta’s
vocation discernment afternoon. The
afternoon starts at 2pm and concludes
with a shared meal at 6pm.
To find out more about priesthood in the
Catholic Diocese of Parramatta contact the
Director of Priestly Vocations, Fr Warren
Edwards, tel 0409 172 700 or send an
email to vocations@parra.catholic.org.au
Holy Spirit Seminary,
31-33 Allen St, Harris Park.
and how that must have inspired and
given hope to so many.
Once we arrived in Krakow, the host
city for WYD, we visited the Shrine of
Divine Mercy, home to the revelations of
St Faustina, a Sister of Mercy to whom
Jesus appeared in 1931. St John Paul II
played a critical role in her cause when
he arrived in Rome.
Visiting the hometown of St John Paul
II was also a highlight for many of us. It
is a quaint village, not far from Krakow,
that has become a site of pilgrimage for
so many.
His physical home has been
transformed into a modern, high-tech
museum that captures the pivotal
moments in his life and provides a
wonderful formative experience
for visitors.
Our accommodation in Krakow, the
transport, the WYD sites, and the city
itself all show great promise and it was
good to visit each of these aspects so that
we know how to prepare our pilgrims for
the journey.
As you can imagine, it’s really hard to
capture all that we saw, felt, learnt, and
were touched by, but now we are even
more confident that this World Youth
Day will be one of the best and has the
potential to transform so many lives.
Why? Because this story of St
John Paul II is not well known by
this generation of young people. His
influence led the people of Poland out of
so many dark places that at times must
have felt impossible.
He is woven into every strand of
the historical tapestry that is Poland.
I know that I walked away inspired,
reinvigorated and faith filled for my
own vocation and journey as Director of
Catholic Youth Parramatta.
Live Jesus in our hearts, forever.
James Camden – Director
Catholic Youth Parramatta
jcamden@parra.catholic.org.au
Year of
Consecrated Life
Solemn Mass &
Vocations Fest
9 August 2015
from 11am-4pm
To celebrate the Year of Consecrated Life
there will be a Solemn Mass at 11am
in St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta,
followed by a Vocations Fest.
The program includes lunch, speed
expo in the Cloister, religious sharing
their stories, and entertainment for all
the family. The afternoon will conclude
with a Holy Hour for Vocations.
16 26 9
July July August
20

CatholicOutlook July 2015 21
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PARRAMATTA
We prayed before the
famous Black Madonna.
In the Old Town we visited the
Warsaw Ghetto.
Blonia Park is the events site for World Youth Day Week.
theLMent.com
PILGRIMAGE
Philippines Mission
Experience &
World Youth Day
Krakow 2016
PHILIPPINES
+ POLAND
21 days
Pilgrimage
Tentative Dates:
15 July – 4 August
This itinerary takes
pilgrims to Bohol Island in the
Philippines, where in 2013, the Diocese
of Tagbilaran was devastated by an
earthquake. Pilgrims will spend four
days working with young people in
schools, parishes, and orphanages
looking to rebuild and provide hope
for the future. Following this mission
experience the group travels to Poland
and joins the second pilgrimage for
World Youth Day week in Krakow.
Who: Youth & Young Adults aged
16-35 and Year 11 (2016) who are
students of Catholic Education
Diocese of Parramatta
1 PILGRIMAGE 2
Footsteps of
St John Paul II &
World Youth Day
Krakow 2016
POLAND
16 days
Pilgrimage
Tentative Dates:
20 July – 4 August
This itinerary begins in
Warsaw, Poland and follows in
the footsteps of St John Paul II.
Pilgrims will travel to the Pope’s
hometown of Wadowice, visit the
remains of the former World War II
concentration camp, Auschwitz and
visit famous shrines including the
Divine Mercy and the Black Madonna.
After six days the group will connect
with the first pilgrimage in Krakow for
World Youth Day week.
Who: Young Adults aged 18-35.
This pilgrimage is not available to
students and teachers of Catholic
Education Diocese of Parramatta
Gabrielle Sinclair, Project Manager with the ACBC Office for Youth, and
Parramatta’s James Camden.
Pilgrimage details subject to change and more details will be provided about specific days.
For more information and details about each itinerary, come along to the
Pilgrim Information Nights or visit www.parrawyd.org
Have you ever thought
God might be calling you
to the priesthood?
Vocation Discernment Afternoon
Sunday 26 July 2015
All young men who feel God might be calling them to the priesthood are invited
to the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta’s Vocation Discernment Afternoons. The
afternoon starts at 2pm and concludes with a shared meal at 6pm.
Venue: Holy Spirit Seminary, 31-33 Allen Street, Harris Park
To find out more about priesthood in the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta:
Contact Fr Warren Edwards – Director of Priestly Vocations
tel 0409 172 700 or email: vocations@parra.catholic.org.au
Visit: www.parra.catholic.org.au/vocations
www.parra.catholic.org.au/holyspiritseminary
21

22 CatholicOutlook July 2015
Volunteers needed
for Vinnies Winter
Doorknock Appeal
Can you spare a few hours of
your time to be a volunteer
collector for the Vinnies Winter
Doorknock Appeal in the Diocese
of Parramatta? The appeal will be
held on two weekends: 22-23 and
29-30 August.
Funds raised will support muchneeded
services including the
Vinnies Van and outreach to
young people.
For more information
contact Alison Bryett
Doorknock Coordinator
tel (02) 8861 9700
alison.bryett@vinnies.org.au
Rachel's Vineyard
Healing Retreat
14-16 August
This weekend retreat is designed
to bring psychological and spiritual
healing to anyone who has been
affected by an abortion experience
including women, men, couples
and grandparents.
Rachel's Vineyard Ministries
Australia is supported by the
Australian Catholic Bishops
Conference.
Venue
Mount St Benedict Centre
Pennant Hills
Confidential inquiries
tel or SMS 0400 092 555
info@rachelsvineyard.org.au
For more information about
Rachel's Vineyard Healing Retreats
visit: www.rachelsvineyard.org.au
In response to the portrayal Loyola Senior High students, pictured with host Tony Jones, took a stand on the ABC-TV ‘Q&A’ program.
Struggle Street stigmatises Mount Druitt community
Fr Pat Mullins SJ
The Shed is an institution
funded by the Commonwealth
Government to support men at
risk. Two Aboriginal men manage
and run the program under the
auspices of the University of
Western Sydney. The program
is conducted in a building in
partnership with Holy Family
Parish, Mount Druitt.
Several weeks ago I happened
to be at the Shed while 20 or so
men and a couple of women were
in attendance. A spokesman for
the production company KEO
Films said he wanted to produce
a documentary for SBS, which
would portray the real people of
Mount Druitt as they are.
He was looking for people who
might be able to participate in
the documentary. I said to him
that whatever he did, he should
not stigmatise the community
members. He strongly asserted
that he had no intention of
doing that.
The result of his efforts is the
three-part documentary Struggle
Street, which aired on SBS in
May this year. Two Aboriginal
men from the Shed had agreed
to participate, and came to be
known as Bob and William in
the program.
Two other organisations
associated with Holy Family Parish
in Mount Druitt also agreed to
participate. One is Family by
Family; the other is Graceades
youth project, which featured
strongly in the first episode.
All three are mentioned in the
credits to the documentary. There
was no formal or proper approach
by either KEO or SBS to the
Parish Priest, Fr Greg Jacobs SJ, or
anyone else from the parish, about
their intentions.
The question is whether it is
ethically justifiable to produce
such a documentary. Arguably
there could be benefits, such as
demonstrating the struggle people
have in confronting disadvantage
or merely in surviving at all.
The exposure might lead to
renewed efforts by governments
and others to reduce the
disadvantage that many people
are burdened with. It might give
rise to better research and action,
resulting in benefits to many
people, not only in Mount Druitt
but in disadvantaged communities
Australia-wide.
In my experience, such
justifications offer little solace
to those who actually live in the
community. Certainly, they would
seem to hold little sway with the
students from Loyola Senior High,
Mount Druitt, who took a stand in
the audience on the ABC-TV Q&A
program on 11 May.
I have lived here for 10 years
and have endured a number of
sensationalised headlines: 'The
worst school in the state' (re
Mount Druitt High), 'Mount
Druitt the road to nowhere', and
those who decried the so-called
'Bidwill riots'.
Locally, the overwhelming
reaction to Struggle Street has
been the same as the reaction
tends to be to those headlines:
“Why don't they show the
positive things in Mount Druitt?
Why do they only show the
bad things?”
In other words, the view that
Struggle Street could produce
benefits is not even mentioned
by local people, compared to
their fear of the damage done
by stigmatisation. “They must
think we are a mob of idiots”, is a
common response.
Stigmatisation has serious
consequences. If the goal is for
people to rise above the kind
of poverty and disadvantage
depicted in Struggle Street, it will
take a very long time to achieve
this while those people still feel
disempowered, while they lack
confidence and feel ashamed and
of low self-worth.
‘It actually sets
progress back
instead of helping
people who are
disadvantaged.’
The stigmatisation of Struggle
Street directly reinforces this
powerlessness. It actually sets
progress back instead of helping
people who are disadvantaged.
The spokesman who assured
me that they were not intending
to stigmatise people either
regarded the finished product
as good enough to outweigh the
stigmatising effect, or he just did
not understand what stigmatising
is and does. One suspects that he
is not alone in that.
Fr Paul Hanna, a previous parish
priest of Mount Druitt for 23
years, used to quip of people like
that film crew, “Are they coming
here to see a museum or a zoo?”
I prefer the description of
Struggle Street as poverty porn —
voyeuristic and objectifying; 'us
and them' in a salacious tangle for
others to profit from.
Fr Pat Mullins SJ is assistant priest
at Holy Family Parish,
Mount Druitt.
“The most beautiful
and visually
compelling film
I have ever seen. I did
not want it to end.”
Kim, Brisbane.
Filmed and Edited by
Michael Luke Davies
A unique inside portrait of
the world of the Tyburn Nuns.
“This film takes you into
another realm…”
What is life in a cloistered Benedictine
community really like? Let the Tyburn
Nuns take you to their 9 monasteries
around the world. Witness the nuns’ holy
life of prayer and work, centred on the
Eucharist, in this remarkable film.
ORDER ONLINE:
www.tyburnconvent.org.uk
or send cheque/money order for $25
payable to:
Tyburn Priory, 325 Garfield Road East
RIVERSTONE NSW 2765
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Address.....................................................
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ALBERT & MEYER
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Rebecca Pincott Michael Bolton
Serving the Parramatta Diocese since 1967
Australian Family Owned & Operated
301-303 PENNANT HILLS ROAD, THORNLEIGH
9484 3992
ALL SUBURBS 24 HOURS
www.albertmeyer.com.au

Mrs Milka Stanič still loves to play the organ at St Raphael's Slovenian Church after more
than 75 years.
Lifetime of service making beautiful music
Rev Fr Darko Žnidaršič OFM
St Raphael's Slovenian Church and Mission
in Merrylands is celebrating its 45 th
anniversary this year. The community is in
the pastoral care of the Franciscan Fathers
and on Epiphany Sunday they welcomed
former provincial Rev Fr Michael S Vovk
OFM, who celebrated his golden jubilee of
ordination to priesthood.
Another milestone was marked on Ash
Wednesday when Mrs Milka Stanič, an
organist at the church, celebrated her
90 th birthday.
A Mass and celebration to honour
older parishioners was organised by the
Sacred Heart Prayer Group and Milka's
contribution to the Slovenian community
was acknowledged on the day.
She continues to play the organ every
Thursday and Sunday for Mass and on
other occasions whenever she is asked.
For many years Milka has been a member
of the church choir and prepared music
for celebrations.
She has been a catechist and as a
member of the sacramental team has
prepared children for First Communion
and Confirmation.
An accomplished seamstress, Milka has
sewn albs for altar servers, vestments and
clothes for the Franciscan Fathers and
others over many years.
Milka was born in Zapotok above Kanal
ob Soči in Western Slovenia. Her parents
died when she was a small girl. She walked
4km to Marijino Celje Parish and back.
Sr Bernarda, who cared for Milka and her
siblings, taught her to give intonations as
the congregation sang.
The Parish Priest, Rev Fr Alojz Makuz,
began to teach Milka to play the organ
when she was 15 and now she has been
playing for 75 years.
"I enjoy playing the organ and singing very
much," Milka said. "I play in honour of our
Lord and to bring joy to the people."
When Milka arrived in Australia in
1951 she joined the church choir at
Bonegilla Migrant Camp near Wodonga.
The choir leader, Mr Alojz Furlan, was
Slovenian and the singers sang Slovenian
songs because they didn't know English or
Australian hymns.
Rev Fr Baron, a German priest, provided
music for the Latin Mass and English
hymns. In 1952, they joined the Christmas
carols in Albury Park for an unforgettable
evening. They sang Silent Night in Slovenian
and other migrant groups sang the carol in
their languages.
Milka married Darko Stanič in Paddington
in 1953. They had two sons, Steven and
Daniel, and a daughter Marianna, who
passed away after a long illness.
Milka's husband, Darko, died two years
ago aged 93. Steven continues to care for
his Mum.
Dear Milka, may the Lord bless and
keep you, that we can still continue to do
'something beatiful for our God' (Blessed
Mother Teresa).
Missionaries of God’s Love Sisters
Young women: are you open to whatever the Lord is calling you to do with your life?
The Missionaries of God’s Love Sisters invite you to their Consecrated Life weekend.
Hear what sisters do, day-to-day, how they discerned their vocations, and what
consecrated life is all about. Pray, eat and chat with the MGL Sisters and spend time
yourself listening to God’s amazing plan for you.
Sydney House: 11-13 September 2015
Contact Sr Rosie for more details: rdrum@parra.catholic.org.au
JULY
11 Recollection Day for Health Care
Professionals and those who have a
desire to serve the sick: The day is
designed for nurses, doctors, allied
health staff, pastoral care workers,
extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist
and all who minister to the sick and
carers. The aim of the day is for those
in the caring professions to have a time
of prayer and to be renewed in your
professional calling. It is hoped that
by coming together with others the
love of your calling will be rekindled.
From 10am-4pm in Sacred Heart Parish
Hall, 14 Ralph St, Westmead. Suggested
donation $10. Morning & afternoon tea
provided, BYO lunch. There will be time
for reflection, prayer and sharing. Further
information: Michelle Davis
tel (02) 4734 3150 (BH) or email:
michelled95@hotmail.com
16 Holy Hour for Vocations:Everyone
is welcome to join the Holy Hour for
Vocations from 7pm-8pm on the 3 rd
Thursday of each month for an hour
of adoration, prayer, music and quiet
time in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel
in St Patrick’s Cathedral, 1 Marist Place,
Parramatta. To find out more about
priesthood in the Catholic Diocese of
Parramatta contact the Director of
Priestly Vocations, Fr Warren Edwards:
tel 0409 172 700 or send an email to
vocations@parra.catholic.org.au
23-26 Grounding the Sacred through
Literature and the Arts Conference:
Join the conversation as Australian and
international speakers and performers
ask where creativity sits in relation to
religion and the search for meaning.
Hosted by Australian Catholic University,
25A Barker Rd, Strathfield. Program and
registration details at
www.acu.edu.au/groundingthesacred
26 Vocation Discernment Afternoon: All
young men who feel God might be
calling them to the priesthood are invited
to the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta’s
Vocation Discernment Afternoon. The
afternoon starts at 2pm and concludes
with a shared meal at 6pm. Holy Spirit
Seminary is at 31-33 Allen St, Harris Park.
To find out more about priesthood in
the Diocese of Parramatta contact the
Director of Priestly Vocations,
Fr Warren Edwards, tel 0409 172 700 or
vocations@parra.catholic.org.au
AUGUST
9 Year of Consecrated Life Solemn Mass
and Vocations Fest:To celebrate the
Year of Consecrated Life there will be a
Mass at 11am in St Patrick's Cathedral,
Parramatta, followed by a Vocations Fest.
The program includes a shared lunch,
religious sharing their stories, Q&A and
entertainment for all the family. The
afternoon will conclude with a Holy Hour
for Vocations. Everyone is welcome.
14-16 Rachel's Vineyard Healing Retreat:This
weekend retreat is designed to bring
psychological and spiritual healing to
anyone who has been affected by an
abortion experience including women,
men, couples and grandparents. Rachel's
Vineyard Ministries Australia is supported
by the Australian Catholic Bishops
Conference. Where: Mount St Benedict
Centre, Pennant Hills. Confidential
inquiries: tel or SMS 0400 092 555,
info@rachelsvineyard.org.au For more
information about Rachel's Vineyard
Healing Retreats visit:
www.rachelsvineyard.org.au
21 SRE Mass and Presentation:The
Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev Peter
Williams, will be the Principal Celebrant
for the annual Mass for the Confraternity
of Christian Doctrine, which will be
concelebrated by priests of the Diocese.
CatholicOutlook July 2015 23
2015
At 11am in St Paul the Apostle Parish, 40
Buckleys Rd, Winston Hills. A light lunch
will be served. RSVP 10 August to Maree
Collis tel (02) 9890 4731,
mcollis@ccdparramatta.com.au
15 Public Forum on Laudato Si’: A forum
on the new encyclical from Pope Francis,
Laudato Si’ – ‘Praise be to you’, will
be hosted by the Australian Religious
Response to Climate Change (ARRCC) and
Holy Family Parish, Mt Druitt. Speakers:
Fr Gregory Jacobs SJ, Parish Priest of
Holy Family Parish; Prof Neil Ormerod,
Professor of Theology at Australian
Catholic University; Dr Hamish Clarke,
Senior Climate & Atmospheric Scientist,
NSW Office of Environment and Heritage;
and Thea Ormerod, ARRCC President.
From 10am-4.30pm at Loyola Senior High
Hall, 91 North Pde, Mt Druitt. RSVP: Thea
tel 0405 293 466, chair@gmail.com
16 Christian Meditation Day: This Christian
Meditation Introduction & Renewal
Day at St Benedict's Monastery includes
presentations, Introduction to Christian
Meditation, two periods of meditation,
Eucharistic celebration and information
exchange. BYO picnic lunch. Tea &
coffee provided. Books & CDs for sale.
All welcome. Arrive 10am for 10.30am,
concludes about 3pm. Monastery is at
121 Arcadia Rd, Arcadia, tel (02) 9653
1159. Self-catering accommodation may
be available in the monastery guest
house. Contact Br Terry 0438 282 318.
Ann Bergman (02) 9498 2625,
anniebergman@hotmail.com
or Ann Lomas (02) 9456 4775,
atlomas@bigpond.com
23 3 rd Annual Faith in Marriage Conference:
This year’s conference has the theme:
Marriage – A Culture of Love &
Life. Speakers include the Diocesan
Administrator, Very Rev Fr Peter
Williams, Jonathan Doyle and Lara &
Tim Kirk. Bought to you by CatholicCare
Social Services and Australian Catholic
University. From 9am-3pm at Our Lady of
Mercy College, Victoria Rd, Parramatta.
On-site child minding available. To
register your interest tel CatholicCare
Parramatta (02) 9933 0222,
marriage@ccss.org.au
28-30 ‘Go Make Disciples’ RCIA State
Conference: This is an opportunity
for clergy and lay RCIA teams to come
together to discuss and explore various
ways to make the journey for those
wanting to join the Catholic Church
deeply personal and exciting. Venue:
Diocese of Broken Bay, Caroline Chisholm
Centre, Pennant Hills. Cost: $150. Further
information: Carole Gan tel (02) 9847
0504 or visit www.dbb.org.au/liturgy
Register by 15 August with
http://www.trybooking.com/HTGT
SEPTEMBER
3 Bishop of Parramatta Award for Student
Excellence:The ceremony for the
Bishop of Parramatta Award for Student
Excellence will be held from 5.30pm-7pm
in St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta.
This prestigious award is made to one
Year 12 student from each systemic and
congregational school in the Diocese of
Parramatta and PARED schools.
11-13 Missionaries of God's Love Sisters
Consecrated Life Weekend: Young
women: are you open to whatever the
Lord is calling you to do with your life?
The Missionaries of God's Love Sisters
invite you to their Consecrated Life
weekend in the Sydney House. Hear what
sisters do, day-to-day, how they discerned
their vocations, and what consecrated
life is all about. Pray, eat and chat with
the MGL Sisters and spend time yourself
listening to God's amazing plan for
you. Contact Sr Rosie for more details:
rdrum@parra.catholic.org.au

Faith in Marriage
A Conference about Marriage for Couples
Sunday 23rd August 2015 • 9.30am – 3pm
The gifts and graces of marriage give us great hope and strength for
ourselves and our society. Speakers share their insights, observations
and experiences for building and enriching marriages.
Theme: Marriage – A Culture of Love & Life
Incorporating the Ray Reid Memorial Lecture about the blessing and graces of marriage. This
conference is aimed at married couples, engaged couples and any individual interested in marriage.
Jonathan Doyle is founder of
CHOICEZ MEDIA, Australia’s largest
provider of relationship programs and
student seminars.
Lara and Tim Kirk have been married
for 25 years with 5 children. Lara works
as a Marriage Relationships Coordinator
and amongst other things, Tim was
2013 Australian winemaker of the year!
Welcome and Blessing from
Very Rev Peter Williams,
Administrator of the Catholic
Diocese of Parramatta.
Date: Sunday 23rd August 2015 Time: 9.30am – 3pm (Registration from 9am)
Venue: Edith Angel Hall at Our Lady of Mercy College, Ross Street, Parramatta
Cost: $25 per person ($50 per couple) which includes lunch, morning and afternoon
tea and is payable prior to the Conference. Mass will be celebrated for the Conference
participants at 12 midday.
To register for the Conference ring on 9933 0222 or email marriage@ccss.org.au
Child minding on site will be available for the children of Conference participants
at $30 per family. Bookings and payment prior to the Conference are essential.
To book for child minding please phone or email as above.
www.ccss.org.au
www.facebook.com/CCSSParramatta