Catholic Outlook October 2015

CatholicOutlook
The official publication of the Diocese of Parramatta
VOLUME 18, OCTOBER 2015 | Photo: Giovanni Portelli
ST JOHN PAUL II
MONUMENT
UNVEILED
page 4
CELEBRATION
OF OUR
LADY OF
PEÑAFRANCIA
page 6
AUSTRALIAN
BISHOPS
2015/16
SOCIAL JUSTICE
STATEMENT

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
The most enduring image that dominated
our consciousness over this past month
was that of Aylan Kurdi, a 3-year-old who
drowned as his family tried to flee from
Kobani to Europe. It has been a wakeup
call to many governments around
the world about the disastrous situation
in the Middle East as conflict continues
unabated in both Iraq and Syria, and the
humanitarian issue around millions of
refugees.
In the week following the image of
Aylan appearing in our newspapers and
on television, a number of rallies were
held around Australia calling the federal
government to increase the number of
refugees coming to Australia, and in
particular those who have fled from Syria.
Archbishop Anthony Fisher has also
called on the government to give priority
to Christian refugees from Iraq and
Syria who have no hope of remaining in
whatever is left of Iraq and Syria and the
end of the conflict.
We are only too well aware of the plight of
Christians at the hands of Daesh and other
terrorists groups. Sadly, it would seem
that after a two thousand year presence
in the ancient lands of the Bible that the
Christian population will be reduced
to a rump or maybe even extinguished
altogether.
Late last year, three Bishops from the
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
went on a special mission to the Middle
East under the guidance of Bishop Antoine
Tarabay, the Australian Maronite Bishop.
They visited a number of displaced
Christian families from Iraq and Syria
currently dwelling in Lebanon, and the
report to the May Conference of the
Bishops this year was both enlightening
and disturbing.
The question of refugees has also been
a centre piece of the declaration of the
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference in
their social justice statement for this year,
For Those Who’ve Come Across the Seas –
Justice for Refugees and Asylum Seekers.
In summary, released for last Sunday 27
September, it says:
The Statement takes its inspiration from
the actions and words of Pope Francis
on his 2013 visit to the Italian island of
Lampedusa, where he met the survivors of a
refugee tragedy and mourned for those who
had died. It begins and ends with the Pope’s
own words and is strongly based on the
Scriptures and Catholic teaching.
The Bishops’ document traces the
experiences of asylum seekers from their
flight from persecution and danger, through
their perilous journeys, to their experience
FROM THE DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATOR
Very Rev Peter G Williams
Welcoming the stranger
Erbil’s Children: Syrian Refugees in Urban Iraq. Three young Syrian girls play in a rundown area of Erbil. The
six-year-old in the middle lives with her family in a partially-constructed home. They fled from Syria after a tank
entered their neighbourhood and began firing at houses. Photo: UNHCR/ B. Sokol
"Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one
of the least of these who are members
of my family, you did it to me."
(Matthew 25:40)
in Australia of indefinite detention,
deprivation and insecurity. It asks why both
sides of Australian politics have felt the need
to introduce such cruel and self-defeating
policies as offshore processing and indefinite
detention.
With a new focus on the subject of
refugees, it might well be the circuit
breaker to remove the stigma associated
with those fleeing by whatever means
they can to provide safety and stability
for their families and a better way of life.
There is little question that Australia
has the capacity to do more. We are
by world standards a very wealthy and
prosperous country. Whilst it is true we
face challenges in terms of our social and
economic direction, we are nevertheless
well placed to offer a home and a place of
refuge for those in desperate need. Earlier
last month, Pope Francis requested every
Catholic parish in Europe to accept and
care for at least one refugee family. As
he so frequently does, the Pope does not
just speak words but also matches that
by practical action. It is heartening that
so many Catholic people are generous
in their support of refugees and asylum
seekers through the various agencies of
the Church. I am also aware that some
parishes have taken initiatives at the local
level to reach out to "those who’ve come
across the seas."
I am also aware that there are parishioners
in the Diocese who were refugees and
have now found a home here in Australia.
No doubt, they can very much identify
with the pain and bewilderment of those
forced to flee their homeland, and perhaps
the recent images have brought back
memories of their own journey.
The images of refugees this past month
have been confronting, and often, if
you are like me, you feel a sense of
powerlessness in the face of such numbers.
Yet, we can respond each in our own way
and in doing so we are simply responding
to the Gospel imperative:
“Come, you that are blessed by my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world; for I
was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me something to
drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed
me, I was naked and you gave me clothing,
I was sick and you took care of me, I
was in prison and you visited me.” Then
the righteous will answer him, “Lord,
when was it that we saw you hungry and
gave you food, or thirsty and gave you
something to drink? And when was it
that we saw you a stranger and welcomed
you, or naked and gave you clothing? And
when was it that we saw you sick or in
prison and visited you?” And the king will
answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you
did it to one of the least of these who are
members of my family, you did it to me.”
(Matthew 25:34-40)
With my prayers,
Very Rev Peter G Williams
Diocesan Administrator
CONTENTS
DIOCESAN NEWS
NEWS & EVENTS
SOCIAL JUSTICE
FAMILY & LIFE
NEWS
CATHOLIC
EDUCATION
CATHOLICCARE
SOCIAL SERVICES
CATHOLIC YOUTH
YEAR OF
CONSECRATED LIFE
AROUND THE
DIOCESE
FAITH
INSTITUTE FOR
MISSION
CatholicOutlook
The official publication of the Diocese of Parramatta
Publisher:
Very Rev Peter G Williams
Diocesan Administrator
Tel (02) 8838 3400
Fax (02) 9630 4813
PO Box 3066,
North Parramatta, NSW, 1750
Email: diocese@parra.catholic.org.au
Website: www.parra.catholic.org.au
Editor:
Jane Favotto
Tel (02) 8838 3409
editor@parra.catholic.org.au
PO Box 3066,
North Parramatta, NSW, 1750
Journalists:
Adrian Middeldorp
Elizabeth McFarlane
Designer:
Aphrodite Delaguiado
School news:
Catholic Education Office
Tel (02) 9840 5683
news@parra.catholic.edu.au
Deadlines:
Editorial and advertising
– 10th of the month prior to publication
Advertising:
Tel (02) 8838 3409
Accounts:
Alfie Ramirez
Tel (02) 8838 3437
ARamirez@parra.catholic.org.au
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Printing:
Rural Press Printing, North Richmond
40,500 copies of Catholic Outlook are
distributed monthly through 48 parishes and
86 schools. All material in this publication
is copyright and may not be reproduced
without permission of the editor. Catholic
Outlook is a member of the Australasian
Catholic Press Association.
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2 CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015
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By Elizabeth McFarlane, Photos: Giovanni Portelli
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP blesses the monument. Photo: Giovanni Portelli.
Photo: Adrian Middeldorp.
St John Paul II monument
unveiled in Parramatta
Hundreds of people gathered in the forecourt
of St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta on
Saturday 5 September, 2015 for the unveiling of
a new monument dedicated to St John Paul II.
The monument, created by renowned Sydney artist,
Linda Klarfeld, was commissioned by the Catholic
Diocese of Parramatta as a tribute to its founder - St
John Paul II.
Sydney’s Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP led the
unveiling ceremony. Also in attendance were local
dignitaries and hundreds of youth from Western
Sydney.
“St John Paul II was truly the saint of the youth.
He founded World Youth Day, which enabled millions
of young people to experience the faith in a new and
almost revolutionary way,” Archbishop Anthony said.
“He also established the Diocese of Parramatta to
better serve the Catholic people of Western Sydney and
the Blue Mountains, one of the youngest and fastestgrowing
areas of Australia.”
St John Paul II visited the Diocese of Parramatta
during his pontificate shortly after its creation in 1986.
The Principal of St Thomas Aquinas’ Primary,
Sergio Rosato, was a young worker at Transfield in
Seven Hills when Pope John Paul II visited the factory
in 1986. “This company provided employment and
dignity for many men and women, including many
migrants – my late father was one of those,” Sergio said.
“During his address in workshop five at Seven Hills,
the Holy Father shared his meditation on the dignity
of work as part of the Creator’s design and plan for the
world.
“I recall vividly his strong voice as he proclaimed,
‘You may know that I, too, was a worker for some years
in a quarry and in a factory.’
“He went on to say that Australia was a great
country because working people go about their tasks
day after day with both cheerfulness and seriousness,
earning their bread by the sweat of their brow,
producing goods and services for their fellow citizens,
and thus gradually bringing to perfection a world that
was created by a good and loving God.”
Klarfeld said commissioning and creating a
sculpture of someone was a real gesture of love. “Pope
John Paul II is my favourite Pope because he was
instrumental in helping to end communism in Eastern
Europe. This meant that I was reunited with my
grandparents when the Iron Curtain fell. I hadn’t seen
them since I was four years old.”
Klarfeld describes the work as “light-hearted but
reverential. Hopefully it will inspire miracles”.
The grouping of five bronze figures weighs one
tonne and took Klarfeld two years to create.
The unique artwork can be viewed daily at St
Patrick’s Cathedral, 1 Marist Place, Parramatta.
For more images of the event, please visit:
www.flickr.com/parracatholic/albums
The Amice
The amice - a liturgical vestment worn by Archbishop
Anthony Fisher OP (pictured below) during the statue
unveiling, was originally worn by then Pope John Paul
II at a mass he celebrated in Christchurch, New Zealand
during his 1986 Oceania Papal Tour.
I came into possession of this amice when at the time,
as a Marist priest, I assisted in the organisation of the
New Zealand leg of that papal tour.
My job as sacristan to the tour was to look after
and set up all the vestments worn by the Pope, his
visiting entourage, and the New Zealand Bishops
who concelebrated at the public masses in Auckland,
Wellington and Christchurch.
It is only fitting now, 29 years later, it was worn by
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP during the blessing of
the statues dedicated to St John Paul II.
Geoff Officer, Chief of Operations & Finance,
Diocese of Parramatta
Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP wearing the amice.
Photo: Giovanni Portelli.
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DIOCESAN NEWS
Celebration of Our Lady of Peñafrancia
on the Nepean River
By Elizabeth McFarlane
Australian Devotees of Our Lady of Peñafrancia (ADOLP).
The fluvial procession on the Nepean River. Photos: Elizabeth McFarlane.
An image of Mother Mary adorned
with a shining gold dress and
enveloped by yellow and white
flowers, devoutly and endearingly
called “Ina”, was lifted above the mass of
Filipino devotees who came to Penrith
on Saturday 19 September to celebrate
the 10th anniversary of the Feast Day of
Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Australia.
The festivity is an avenue for devotees
to seek blessings and graces for the poor
and for personal intentions, following
this year’s theme, “Living the Faith –
Empowering the Poor”.
The Australian Devotees of Our Lady
of Peñafrancia (ADOLP) was founded
in 2005 by Jun Relunia, President, Neria
Soliman, Vice President, and Josie Musa,
Secretary, under the guidance of the
Basilica in Naga City, Philippines, and
the Filipino Chaplaincy of the Diocese
of Parramatta.
The growing devotion to Ina started
in 1434, when Simon Vela found
an image of Our Lady in Peña de
Francia in Salamanca, Spain. In 1710,
the celebration was brought to the
Philippines.
Millions turn out every year for
the Marian Pilgrimage in Naga City to
celebrate the Principal Patroness and
Queen of Bicol, making it one of the
biggest religious celebrations in the
Philippines.
Solemn observance of the Feast Day
at St Nicholas of Myra in Penrith began
with the Holy Rosary, Novena to Divino
Rostro, and Novena to Our Lady of
Peñafrancia, followed by Mass, which
was celebrated by Fr Mathew Antony
MS and concelebrated with other priests
from the Diocese.
A parade of colour pervaded the
Church and later, the Nepean River, as
followers cheered back and forth, “Viva
La Virgen – Viva!” and proceeded to
the Fluvial Procession. The image of Ina
was hoisted onto a boat, decorated with
banners, flowers, and orange material,
and followed by devotees on the Nepean
Belle.
The Procession was followed by
lunch, with food stalls showcasing
a great variety of Filipino/Bicolano
dishes, the annual cake cutting, and
entertainment.
Norma Evans, the treasurer for
ADOLP, became a devotee after her
mother’s miraculous experience with
Our Lady of Peñafrancia.
“For a long time, my mother
couldn’t lift both her arms, as they
were paralysed. There was a procession
and every time the people said, ‘Viva’,
everybody lifted their hands. And my
mother was doing it subconsciously,
The image of "Ina" or Mother Mary.
until she got home and said, ‘Look! I can
raise my hands!’ This is why I am a firm
believer that Our Lady of Peñafrancia is
miraculous, but only if we believe, and I
think my mother did with all her heart,”
Norma reflected.
Devotees do not believe that the
image of Ina and the Divino Rostro
hold magical or divine powers, but
they believe that it is a channel of God's
graces.
For more images of the event, please
visit: www.flickr.com/parracatholic/
albums
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NEWS & EVENTS
Bishop Saunders: Racism has
“scarred the psyche of the nation”
By Adrian Middeldorp
Devotees during the procession.
Filipino and Bicolano dishes were enjoyed by all.
Bishop Christopher Saunders, Bishop
of Broome has described racism
as having “scarred the psyche of
the nation” in a powerful keynote speech
given at the Australasian Catholic Press
Association (ACPA) annual conference.
Bishop Saunders, also member of the
Australian Catholic Social Justice Council,
explained that a life devoid of social justice
is “tantamount to spitting in the Face of
Christ”.
In his speech, he reflected on the
history of the church in the Kimberley
region and said “the Church had a
remarkable record in correcting the abuses
spurred by racism and greed”.
He referenced the life of Bishop
Matthew Gibney, Bishop of Perth (1886-
1910) as a champion for the treatment
of Australian indigenous people. Bishop
Gibney established a protectorate mission
for Aboriginal people and was “brazen
in his resolve in opposition to the
exploitation of Aboriginal people”.
He said that he could not find a better
banner or manifest (with the exception of
the Gospel) to mount a concerted effort
against racism and all policies of racist
attitudes than Bishop Gibney’s own words,
“So long as I consider (Aboriginals) as
being cruelly treated under the sacred
name of justice, I shall not cease to raise
my voice”.
Bishop Saunders was grateful for the
role of Catholic Media in Australia, saying
that it was Catholic publications that “gave
oxygen” when the secular media and press
had ignored him and the social justice
council on key social justice issues.
He said that Catholic schools and
communities in the region had developed
leaders who could stand their ground
against forces of tyranny. “The Church
is called to stand in solidarity alongside
these leaders, to be with the marginalised
and the oppressed, and to do so while
proclaiming the mantle of Christ’s love.”
Bishop Christopher Saunders at the Australasian Catholic Press Association. Photo: Adrian Middeldorp
"The Church is called
to stand in solidarity
alongside these
leaders, to be with the
marginalised and the
oppressed, and to do so
while proclaiming the
mantle of Christ’s love.”
He believes that the Church in
Australia is called to be bold in its part
in the service of Australian society. “We
share a unique moment in the pages of
our country’s history, and we are being
well prepared as we learn humility, which
we know is the foundation of all Christian
endeavour.
“During these days of the Royal
Commission, our Church is being
scrubbed clean of the soot and grime
that comes from arrogance, power and a
twisted sense of vocation.”
He ended the speech calling on the
Catholic media to play a role in the
Church in Australia that is “devoid of
racism” and “promotes the fundamental
option for the poor”.
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SOCIAL JUSTICE
Welcoming The Australian
Bishops 2015/2016 Social
Justice Statement In Parramatta
By Sr Louise McKeogh
The mission of the Church
is to care for humanity
By Elizabeth McFarlane
"Forget about being
Australian. Think of
yourself as human.
We have to treat
refugees. We have
to help refugees."
Photo credit: AP Photo/UNRWA
The Australian Bishops launched their
2015/2016 Social Justice Statement on
the 9th September at Mary MacKillop
Place, North Sydney, the same day the
Australian Government announced their
increased intake of 12,000 Syrians.
The launch also paralleled the moment
people from across the world were stopped
by the media image of deceased Syrian
toddler, Aylan Kurdi.
The Diocesan Social Justice Office, staff
and students from Bede Polding College,
Windsor, parishioners from Mary Queen of
the Family, Blacktown, Holy Spirit Parish, St
Clair, and St Bernadette’s, Lalor Park, as well
as the Parramatta St Vincent De Paul Social
Justice Network, gathered with 200 others at
the launch.
Aunty Elsie Heiss, Indigenous Elder and
past president of the National Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council,
began the launch with an acknowledgement
of country and a reflection that reminded
us that we have much to learn from our
Indigenous brothers and sisters in terms of a
broad concept of family and community.
Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen, a
former boat person and now Auxiliary
Bishop of Melbourne, launched the
statement that was authenticated by the
powerful sharing of his own personal story
of seeking asylum.
“For me the desperate plight of refugees
is particularly poignant because I came to
Australia as a boat person, fleeing from
Vietnam…I saw how tyranny and cruelty
can leave people with no choice but to seek
refuge elsewhere in any way possible. With
the increasing global movement of peoples
and our nation’s fearful response, it is timely
for us to reflect on this important issue,” he
said.
This is an extremely important social
justice statement for the Diocese as
Western Sydney is home to twenty of the
most multicultural suburbs in Australia.
It is reflected in our families, schools and
parishes and in the way that we continue
to value the ongoing contribution and
dynamic gifts that each of our diverse
communities bring to the Diocese. This
year’s Social Justice Statement challenges us
to continue finding real and practical ways
to go about this.
Sr Louise McKeogh is the Social
Justice Coordinator for the Diocese of
Parramatta.
John Cinya, refugee and Permanent Diaconate.
Photo: Elizabeth McFarlane.
Following the 2015-2016 Australian
Catholic Bishops Conference Social
Justice Statement on asylum seekers
and refugees (see article opposite),
CatholicOutlook chatted to prominent
refugee, Schools Liaison Officer for
Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta,
and Permanent Diaconate candidate, John
Cinya.
A refugee from South Sudan who fled
the civil war in 1995, Mr Cinya spent two
weeks walking through bushland to get
from Khartoum, Sudan to Ethiopia. He
then lived in a refugee camp in Ethiopia
for three years before being granted
refugee status in 1998. From Ethiopia, he
was flown to Australia to begin a new life.
Whilst welcoming the Australian
government’s recent announcement of a
one-off intake of 12,000 Syrian refugees,
Mr Cinya feels it is not enough. “A rich
country like Australia can do more. Here
in Australia, how many times a day is a
tonne of food being thrown away, while
other people in the world have nothing to
eat?
“When I was in the refugee camp, we
were just given five kilograms of dried
corn, one litre of oil, and five kilograms
of red beans for two weeks. Sometimes I
finished it early and I would go out to the
bush and I would have to collect leaves to
eat. I would boil the leaves just to fill my
stomach, so I wouldn’t feel hungry. It is
very difficult to be a refugee,” he reflected.
Having lived in a refugee camp and
being formally resettled in Australia, John
does not believe people who come by boat
are ‘jumping the queue’, explaining, “In my
culture, we say if you see a frog jumping
during the day in the hot sun, it means
there is a problem where he has come
from. The frog does not move unless there
is a problem. That is why these people are
moving. There is a problem.
“Most people who come to Australia
would not want to leave if their place
was peaceful. I would not have left South
Sudan if there was no problem. I had
no choice. I had to leave. In the western
world, people move because they are
talented. They just want to change their
life. It is different. They wouldn’t risk their
life to come unless there was a problem. I
would not risk walking through the bush
for two weeks where I could meet lions or
looters, unless there was a problem where
I lived. Due to war, drought or disasters,
people move.
“People asked Jesus why he went to the
Gentiles, but he went because they were
human. Forget about being Australian.
Think of yourself as human. We have to
treat refugees. We have to help refugees.
The mission of the Church is to care for
humanity. Australians are not called to just
help Australians.”
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Will Familyfest rival Oktoberfest this October?
By Ben Smith, Director of the Family & Life Office
Many people, especially
those with a German
background, will
celebrate Oktoberfest this month in
pubs around the globe. In parallel
with this celebration, Catholics
will be celebrating a “Familyfest”
of their own during the month of
October.
The 8th World Meeting of
Families was held in Philadelphia,
USA from 22 September to 27
September, 2015. The thousands of
families that attended were given a
great opportunity to grow in their
faith by attending a Congress over
the first four days of the event, in
which they heard from a range
of international speakers. The
Congress addressed the theme
for the event, which was “Love
is our Mission: the family fully
alive.” Pope Francis attended the
event from 26 September to 27
September and led a Festival of
Families on the Saturday night,
and celebrated the concluding
Mass on the Sunday morning.
The great spirit of the event and
the words of Pope Francis have
provided a magnificent entrée to
the Familyfest.
On the October long weekend,
Pope Francis will be back in Rome
to open the Synod on the Family
that begins on 4 October and closes
on 25 October. The Synod will be
attended by a number of Cardinals,
Bishops, priests, religious, and lay
people from all over the world.
The theme for the event is “the
vocation and mission of the family
in the contemporary world”. This
theme will look at how the beauty
and goodness of marriage and
family life can be proclaimed in our
contemporary world.
The Synod will also tackle
a range of hot button issues
such as divorce and remarriage,
contraception, and same-sex
attraction to explore how Catholics
who struggle with these issues
can be engaged and accompanied
in a non-judgemental and
encouraging manner in their faith
journeys towards Jesus Christ. The
discussion of these topics is bound
to generate a robust debate among
the participants. It is important for
us to pray for those who will take
part in the Synod so that they can
be inspired by the Holy Spirit in
their deliberations.
One special married couple,
who will be canonised during
the Synod, will play a special role
in praying for the success of the
Synod. On Sunday, 18 October,
2015, Pope Francis will canonise
Louis and Zelie Martin, the parents
of St Thérèse of Lisieux. They will
be the first married couple in the
Church’s history to be canonised
together. Their marriage and family
life was a great source of happiness
and holiness for them. They shared
something special that we need to
discover and share in our modern
world. Not only did one of their
children become a saint, but their
five surviving daughters all entered
consecrated life.
Louis and Zelie brought up
their family in France in the second
half of the 19th century. At the
time, France was recovering after
a major revolution that created
a secular government when the
Church was suffering persecution.
Louis was a watchmaker and Zelie
was a lace maker, and they lived
a middle class lifestyle in the city
of Alencon. They were a devout
family who attended daily Mass
and helped the poor in their town.
They shared many happy occasions
but suffered a number of tragedies,
with the death of four of their
children at a young age and Zelie
dying of breast cancer at the age of
45. St Therese of Lisieux’s words
concerning her parents provide a
good way to summarise their lives:
“The Lord gave me a mother and a
father more worthy of Heaven than
earth.”
FAMILY & LIFE
“Love is our Mission”
The Theme for
DIOCESE of
PARRAMATTA
DIOCESAN FAMILY SUNDAY
Sunday, 18th October 2015
Parish Celebrations
Family Sunday will be celebrated at Masses in every Parish.
Afternoon Family Gathering
Time: 2.30pm – 6pm
Where: MacKillop Centre,
cnr Swanston & Collins St, St Marys
Talks will cover:
• Testimonies from Parramatta Diocese World
Meeting of Families delegates
• Synod on the Family Update
• Blesseds Louis and Zelie Martin,
(parents of St Thérèse) who will be
canonised on 18 October 2015
Children will have their own
activities on-site.
Sausage sizzle at the
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CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015 7
20/08/2015 3:36:08 PM

DIOCESAN NEWS
Vale Fr Kevin Hay
By Elizabeth McFarlane
"Those who have spent
some time with Fr Kevin
would be aware of his
great knowledge of so
many things, of science, of
history, and especially as a
great storyteller." - Fr Wim
Fr Wim Hoekstra "I could have listened all day to his
fount of knowledge.”
Bishop Kevin Manning incenses Fr Kevin Hay's coffin. Photos: Elizabeth McFarlane
A
funeral mass in memory of Rev
Kevin Nelson Hay was held in
St Thomas Aquinas’ Church,
Springwood on 11 September, 2015.
“It was a glorious spring day, which was
fitting for a priest who not only enjoyed
this season but fell in love with the Blue
Mountains from his first day as a student
of St Columba’s Seminary in 1943,” Deacon
James Phelan reflected.
Fr Kevin was a retired priest of the
Diocese of Parramatta, who died at the
age of 85 on 3 September at Our Lady of
Consolation Home, Rooty Hill.
He was born on 26 June, 1930 and
ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal
Gilroy on 24 July, 1954 in St Mary’s
Cathedral, Sydney.
His years of ministry covered many
parishes in the then Archdiocese of Sydney
with a number of years spent in the
Dioceses of Armidale, Sydney, Parramatta,
and Perth.
He served in the parishes of Ermington,
Concord, Gladesville, Guildford,
Katoomba, Manly, Gymea, Neutral Bay,
Camperdown, and Blackheath.
Fr Wim Hoekstra provided a moving
homily at the funeral mass for the wellloved
man. “Indeed, I first came to meet Fr
Kevin when I was a seminarian in my last
year at Manly, just before my ordination
to the Diaconate. I had chosen to do my
pastoral work at Royal Prince Alfred
Hospital in Camperdown, and so Kevin, as
Parish priest there, was my supervisor,” Fr
Wim explained.
“He loved the Blue Mountains, and
was an active member of the Catholic
Bushwalking Club. He especially loved St
Columba’s College in Springwood, where
seminarians studied philosophy till their
move to theology at Manly, so I wasn’t at all
surprised he asked for his funeral to be in
Springwood,” Fr Wim said.
“Throughout his 61 years as a priest,
he offered the Mass faithfully. Indeed,
many who have visited him at Our Lady of
Consolation will have seen the little altar he
had for his private mass,” Fr Wim noted.
“Those who have spent some time
with Fr Kevin would be aware of his great
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An Amazing Story
Of Conversion
For fourteen years Geraldine has shared,
in Australia, the USA, Ireland, New
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death experience of Jesus and Mary.
She went from living as a lapsed Catholic
to being convinced that God and Heaven
really existed and now wanted to go there
at any cost. “To suffer here is nothing
compared to the joy that awaits”. “How
happy my heart is that the mercy of
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Her messages from Jesus and Mary are for
these times. Her talks strengthen faith, give
courage and hope; people have received
healings, physical and spiritual, including from addiction.
If you would like Geraldine to speak to your Parish or home group,
or if you wish to order books, DVDs or medals then please contact Doreen
by telephone on 02 9688 1097 or visit the website www.divine-inspirations.org
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
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.
8 CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015
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DIOCESAN NEWS
knowledge of so many things, of science, of
history, and especially as a great storyteller.
His homilies were brilliant, as testified by
those who were his parishioners. I actually
could have listened all day to his fount of
knowledge,” Fr Wim reflected.
Fr Kevin is remembered especially
by his family, fellow Religious, and carer,
Debbie Hicks.
For more images of the event, please visit:
www.flickr.com/parracatholic/albums
New Director has
Faith In Our Future
The Diocese of Parramatta has
appointed Mr Richard McMahon
as the new Director of Pastoral
Planning and Implementation.
Richard comes to the Diocese
of Parramatta from the Diocese of
Wollongong where he has spent the past
ten years, most recently as Director of
Parish Services. Prior to that, Richard
was the Coordinator of Adult Faith
Formation.
He completed theological studies
in the 1990s following an under-grad
science degree, and his early professional
career included serving as a pastoral
associate in three different parishes.
During Richard’s time with the
Diocese of Wollongong, he developed
and implemented the first Diocesan
Pastoral Plan. He also helped shape and
guide the Parish Services Team to ensure
appropriate support to parishes in a
range of pastoral areas including youth,
pastoral planning, liturgy, adult faith,
and outreach.
Richard is married to Judy and they
have four children; James 18, Liam 15,
Laura 14, and Hannah 11. Richard and
Judy are very active in their parish where
Mr Richard McMahon
they have extensive ministry experience.
Richard commenced his new role on
Monday, 28 September and will report
to the Diocese through Fr Paul Roberts,
Priest responsible for Pastoral Planning
& Evangelisation.
NEW APPOINTMENTS
The Diocesan Administrator,
Very Rev Peter G Williams,
has confirmed the following
appointments in the Catholic
Diocese of Parramatta:
Rev Fernando Montano Rodriguez
Director of Pastoral Formation
Holy Spirit Seminary
From 28 September 2015
Mr Richard McMahon
Director of Pastoral Planning
& Implementation
From 28 September 2015
Cecilia Zammit
Director of the Confraternity
of Christian Doctrine
From 21 December 2015
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CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015 9
16/09/2015 12:48 pm

NEWS
CreateAbility participants, Mark and Kylie, with Disability Services Manager, Melissa Caldwell (right).
Photo: Elizabeth McFarlane.
Mamre Homestead
Welcomes CreateAbility
By Elizabeth McFarlane
Mamre Homestead in Orchard
Hills spans 200 acres of tranquil
gardens, farms, and orchards,
and is home to programs provided by
CatholicCare Social Services, Parramatta.
The programs support individuals living
with a disability, the unemployed, as well
as migrant and refugee families, and a new
service called CreateAbility aims to further
support individuals living with a disability,
in light of the National Disability Insurance
Scheme (NDIS), which has recently been
rolled out in Western Sydney.
Melissa Caldwell, the Disability Services
Manager for Mamre, noted that the NDIS
is a positive change for participants.
“The NDIS is going to be great for every
participant and family in the area, as they
will be able to have individualised funding
and will have more choice in what they
do and how they spend their money. Our
participants will get to say, ‘I want to come
here’ and ‘I want to do these activities,’” she
explained.
The new three-tiered CreateAbility
service is all about providing participants
with options for their day activities and
opportunities for them to self-manage what
it is they want to do. The service includes
the Community Participation Program
that targets young adults between 18 and
24, the Life Choices Program that targets
individuals between 25 and 64, and the
Active Ageing Program, which is offered to
older individuals over the age of 64.
The programs make use of the vast
land, rich in biodiversity and a focal point
for participants who enjoy lawn mowing,
weeding, planting, and pruning.
The Community Participation Program
aims to support young people living with
a disability to develop skills, socialise with
peers, and participate as active members in
their community.
The Life Choices and Active Ageing
Programs assist adults living with a
disability to maintain their independence
and participate as valued members of their
community.
Life Choices promotes social inclusion
and interaction between people, with a
focus on learning new skills. But Active
Ageing participants can choose to focus on
staying active and healthy, and linking with
the community, as they grow older.
CatholicCare Social Services receives
government funding, as well as funding
from the Diocese of Parramatta.
Pope Francis
streamlines marriage
annulment procedures
By Adrian Middeldorp
Pope Francis has streamlined
canonical procedures for marriage
annulment in a Motu Proprio,
“Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus” (Clement
Judge, Pastor of our souls). He has
also issued a separate Motu Proprio
for the Eastern Rite churches, “Mitis et
misercors Iesus” (Clement and Merciful
Jesus).
The Holy Father said it was his
concern for the salvation of souls that
remains his shared supreme objective
with brother bishops, as “they share with
him the task of the Church to protect
unity in faith and in discipline regarding
marriage, the cornerstone and origin of
the Christian family”.
“The drive to reform has been fuelled
by the enormous number of faithful
who, while wishing to be at peace with
their conscience, are too often separated
from the legal structures of the Churches
due to physical or moral distance.
Charity and mercy therefore require the
same Church, as a mother, to be closer
to her children who consider themselves
separated.”
The reforms cover key areas:
- A single judgement in favour of
executive nullity
- A single judge under the
responsibility of the bishop
- A shorter procedure: Aside
from streamlining processes for the
declaration of nullity, a form of shorter
process is designated – in addition to
the current documentary procedure – to
be applied in cases where the alleged
nullity of the marriage is supported by
particularly clear arguments.
- That the processes are free of cost
Most Reverend Robert McGuckin
DD MCL JCL, Bishop of Toowoomba
and Chair of the Australian Bishops
Conference, Commission for Canon
Law, explained, “It’s not that it will do
Most Reverend Robert McGuckin DD MCL JCL
"Charity and mercy
therefore require the
same Church, as a
mother, to be closer
to her children who
consider themselves
separated."
away with the teaching of marriage, but
that it will be compassionate in the way
we interpret, and indeed in the way we
try to assist people to have their status
sorted out rapidly within the Church”.
The changes come into place
in December and the Australian
Catholic Bishops Conference are
preparing resources before the time of
implementation within Australia.
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CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015 11

CATHOLIC EDUCATION www.parra.catholic.edu.au @CatholicEdParra facebook.com/CatholicEdParra
‘Saints of
the future’
the work
of Catholic
schools
Recently some of our students and staff attended
the unveiling and blessing of the new St John Paul II
statue at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, which is a
wonderful tribute to his Holiness and his passion for
engaging young people in the life of the church
The Bishop of Parramatta’s Student Excellence
Awards, which were held in the Cathedral a few days
earlier, reminded me of another outstanding artwork
at the Cathedral, Rachel Ellis’ ‘Communion of Saints’.
Entering the ‘old’ Cathedral from the narthex, the
Communion of Saints Shrine is located in the niche
to your right. It features an image of the distinctive
Cathedral doors and a host of ‘saints’, people of
all ages and cultures gathered around. The artist
hoped to convey "the continual process of becoming
holy" in this joyful piece that takes as its theme the
Communion of Saints: the Church itself.
When Pope Benedict XVI addressed school students
in the United Kingdom in 2010, he emphasised
the importance of the growth of holiness through
Catholic education, calling on students to become
‘saints of the future’. This is the mission of each of our
Catholic schools in the Diocese of Parramatta.
Students showcase
captivating performances
On Thursday 13 August 2015, 20 students performed in
both music and dance for the CAPTIVATE’s Got Talent
Showcase at Xavier College, Llandilo in front of judges,
mentors, peers, and family.
This year, 72 students auditioned to take part in the 2015
CAPTIVATE’s Got Talent program. From the auditions,
32 students were selected to take part in a full day of
mentoring, provided by an industry professional, before
performing their audition piece at the Showcase concert.
CAPTIVATE’s Got Talent dance mentor, Simone Samuel,
said the opportunity for students to work with industry
professionals allowed them to take their performance to
the next level.
“The calibre of talent in this program has been outstanding
and I can already see how the masterclass and mentoring
sessions have helped to bring an extra level of
professionalism to the students’ performances,” Simone
said.
Fellow dance mentor, Brad Green, said he was impressed
with the diverse range of talent.
“The level of maturity and professionalism from the
students has been really impressive considering the
diverse range of talent from Year 4 to Year 11,” Brad said.
"It would be fantastic to be invited back next year as a
mentor and to see the progress that these students have
made," he said.
CAPTIVATE’s Team Leader, Mark Hopkins, said the
program came from CAPTIVATE’s Commercial Dance
Coordinator, Peta Markham-Ward’s passion to give
students access to the industry beyond what they do in
their individual schools.
“The idea is to extend the mentoring opportunity for
students to work deeply around something they are also
passionate about,” Mark said.
“It’s really exciting to imagine what students who received
ongoing mentoring in a structured way would be able
to achieve, especially when we can see from the final
performance how much students have improved from
only one mentoring session.
“I would love to see their talent and enthusiasm meet
the professionalism and discipline of focus, and come
together more often for students to reach a level of artistic
and technical excellence that blows everyone away,” he
said.
See www.captivate.parra.catholic.edu.au website for details.
The Student Excellence Awards recognise an
outstanding Year 12 student from each of our
secondary schools. It was a privilege to witness these
excellent young people receive awards for their
impressive contributions to school and the wider
community. It was a gathering full of diversity, joy,
and holiness, and I have no doubt that there were
‘saints of the future’ in the pews.
It was also encouraging to observe the support that
students received from their families, with many
mums and dads, brothers and sisters, grandparents,
and other proud members of extended families
present.
We must also recognise the importance of great
teachers and their role in forming young people of
faith and action, particularly as World Teachers’ Day
approaches on 30 October. Pope Francis’ words
to educators delivered in 2013 are instructive:
"Educating is not a profession but an attitude, a way
of being; in order to educate it is necessary to step
out of ourselves and be among young people, to
accompany them in the stages of their growth and to
set ourselves beside them".
To share this journey with students, their families,
and educational communities is both challenging
and humbling. I know your prayers will be with all
our Year 12 students as we accompany them in the
final stages of their secondary schooling. May they
always continue to learn and grow in holiness as they
venture beyond their school communities to lives of
service in Jesus Christ.
Dance mentor Brad Green giving a masterclass to selected dance students.
Music talent Toby Lowing practicing the drums at the Music mentoring day.
Ella Carroll singing her final piece.
Greg Whitby
Executive Director of Schools
@gregwhitby
blog: bluyonder.wordpress.com
The panel of industry professionals judging the final performances.
Dance duo Hunter Hakim and Rochelle Salatino receiving feedback from
the judges after their final performance.
12 CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015
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www.parra.catholic.edu.au @CatholicEdParra facebook.com/CatholicEdParra
CATHOLIC EDUCATION
Recipients of the 2015 Bishop of Parramatta award for student excellence.
Bishop of Parramatta Awards
recognise student excellence
The annual Bishop of Parramatta Awards for Student
Excellence, which recognises the religious and
academic achievement of Year 12 students across
the Diocese of Parramatta, were presented at St Patrick’s
Cathedral on 3 September, 2015. The award acknowledges
the contribution of one Year 12 student from each
Catholic secondary school towards their school and local
community as nominated by their Principal.
The priest responsible for Education and Formation,
Rev Fr Christopher de Souza PP, said this award really
acknowledges the wonderful contributions of students
from our Diocese who are proclaiming the mission of
Jesus Christ
“For the Diocese, it serves as a great sign of hope for
the future that these students will continue the mission
of Jesus Christ where they happen to live and in their
parishes,” Fr Chris said.
“It is wonderful that these achievements have been
acknowledged by the greater church and also expressed in
their school and parish communities,” he said.
The Executive Director of Schools, Greg Whitby, said
the hope for graduates of Catholic schools was that they
would become change agents in the world.
“Catholic schools actually exist to give saints to the
world and all we ask of them is that they do whatever they
can to make the world a better place,” Greg said.
Tyran Liddiard
Patrician Brothers' College,
Blacktown
Principal: Santo Passarello
Denielle Plara
Nagle College,
Blacktown South
Principal: Delma Horan
Christopher Callan
Gilroy Catholic College,
Castle Hill
Principal: Cheryl
Merryweather
Amy Deakin
Oakhill College, Castle Hill
Principal: Br Peter Ryan FSC
Clare Carrington
Tangara School for Girls,
Cherrybrook
Principal: Dr Katrina George
Rebecca Hofmann
St Patricks Marist College,
Dundas
Principal: Angela Hay
Nicholas Adamcewicz
McCarthy Catholic College,
Emu Plains
Principal: Robyn Meddows
Samantha Arnold
Caroline Chisholm College,
Glenmore Park
Principal: Mary Leask
Raphaella Chidiac
Delany College, Granville
Principal: Peter Wade
David Sebastian
St Pauls Catholic College,
Greystanes
Principal: David Bourne
Emad El-Nachar
Emmaus Catholic College,
Kemps Creek
Principal: Brad Campbell
Kristine Gerardino
Marian Catholic College,
Kenhurst
Principal: Jayne Campbell
Benjamin Trini
St Dominics College,
Kingswood
Principal: Michael Ronchetti
Vanessa Calleja
Xavier Catholic College,
Llandilo
Principal: Michael Pate
Emma Webb
St Andrews College,
Marayong
Principal: Nic Vidot
Catherine Le
Cerdon College, Merrylands
Principal: Patricia Baker
Johanna Larkin
Loyola Senior High School,
Mount Druitt
Principal: Cathy Larkin
Yvonne Moussa
Maronite College of the
Holy Family, Parramatta
Principal: Sr/Dr Margaret
Ghosn
Georgia Scott
Our Lady of Mercy College,
Parramatta
Principal: Stephen Walsh
Monique Borg
St John Paul II Catholic
College, Schofields
Principal: Jim Fanning
and Phil Smith
Laura Belfanti
St Columba’s Catholic
College, Springwood
Principal: Paul Ryan
For more school news, visit:
Alexander Surdich
St Marks Catholic College,
Stanhope Gardens
Principal: Dr Peter Webster
Jeremy Blades
Wollemi College,
Werrington
Principal: Matt Aldous
Brianna O’Brien
Catherine McAuley
Westmead
Principal: Laetitia Richmond
Bradley Murphy
Parramatta Marist High,
Westmead
Principal: Br Patrick Howlett
FMS
Elyse Popplewell
Bede Polding College,
Windsor South
Principal: Kevin Jones
CatholicEdParra @CatholicEdParra
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015 13

CATHOLIC EDUCATION www.parra.catholic.edu.au @CatholicEdParra facebook.com/CatholicEdParra
Seismic shift in
assessment needed to
respond to changing
nature of schooling
International expert on
student assessment,
Emeritus Professor Patrick
Griffin, delivered the 16th
Annual Catholic Education
Ann D Clark Lecture on
Tuesday 25 August to
more than 450 educators,
principals, and staff at the
Evan Theatre in Penrith.
In his thought-provoking
lecture titled, ‘Time for a
Seismic Shift in Systemic
Assessments’, Dr Griffin
reflected on the changes
in assessment over the
last four decades and
Dr Griffin calls for change in student assessment.
explained why the 21st
century demands a new approach to assessment that is relevant to
learners and a knowledge age.
Dr Griffin challenged the factory system of schooling and argued
that standardised assessments like NAPLAN were inadequate for the
needs of contemporary schooling and focused teachers’ attention on
the bottom 10 per cent of students.
Dr Griffin explained that in the information age, the media controls
information and knowledge.
“The people that control the media are the ones that control what
information is being produced and consumed,” Dr Griffin said.
“The opposition to that is a literate society, a critical, communicable,
problem solving, collaborative community,” he said. “They’re the 21st
Century skills and that's the reason it’s so important that we start to
think about those particular skills in our curriculum and we start to
empower our society.”
As assessment is moving towards online testing, the way students
are thinking can be interpreted and progress can be mapped.
"We can measure collaborative problem solving and collaboration,
we know how to get an estimate of the intellectual and social capital
of groups, we can develop things about curiosity of where their
perspective is and their communication," Dr Griffin said.
Dr Griffin argued that a seismic shift was needed in education,
outlining a systematic approach to assessment involving six year
cycles of testing the same students, and incorporating assessing
creative subjects to develop those skills. He said we needed to
change our approach to assessment in Australia and challenged
teachers to lead the reform.
“We get away from the March and April binge testing of reading and
maths, and we start providing teaches with the sorts of materials
that they would need to change education in this country, and to
move us out of a factory model, industrial era education system
and into a 21st century type education knowledge economy driven
education system.
“All we need is to make sure that the teachers are provided with the
resources that enable them to lead that reform.
“We can’t do it from the outside, you’ve got to get in on the ground
with the teachers and empower the teachers with information, with
resources and with strategies that they can use to help the kids, and
all of that means we need to understand developmental learning and
the stages of increasing competence.
“That's part of the culture and ideology of education in Australia, we
need explicit teaching, materials, but more than ever we have got to
get school leadership on side and leading that kind of charge.”
Executive Director of Schools, Greg Whitby, presented the Ann
D Clark medallion to Dr Griffin at the conclusion of the lecture.
Now in its 16th year, the Ann D Clark lecture is an annual event
held to honour the memory of the founding Executive Director
of Schools in the Diocese of Parramatta, Ann D Clark, who was a
visionary educator. Past speakers have included Professor Stephen
Dinham OAM, Dr Peter Hill, Professor John Hattie, Professor Viviane
Robinson, Professor Michael Fullan, Patrick Dodson, and Professor
Yong Zhao.
New before and after school care
grants available for all schools
Premier Baird and Minister Williams making inroads at the Mother
Teresa Primary COSHC.
NSW Premier, Mike Baird, and Minister for Early
Childhood Education, Leslie Williams, visited Mother
Teresa Primary, Westmead and the onsite Catholic Out
of Schools Hours Care service on Thursday 27 August
2015 to announce that more families will be able to
access before and after school care following the opening
of applications for a $20 million grants program.
Premier Baird and Minister Williams were accompanied
by State Member for Parramatta, Geoff Lee, and State
Member for Seven Hills, Mark Taylor.
“We recognise that balancing the demands of work and
family can be hard, which is why this government is
funding up to 45,000 extra before and after school care
places,” Premier Baird said.
Loyola student immerse
themselves in Bourke
Loyola immersion students with hygiene hampers ready to
deliver to local families in the Bourke community.
On 21 June 2015, Loyola Senior High and Catholic
Trade Training Centre, Mt Druitt students picked
up their tools and set off for a five-day social justice
immersion trip to St Ignatius Parish School, Bourke.
On arrival in Bourke, students worked on a number
of projects, starting with building new picnic tables
for the school led by Carpentry trade teacher, Steve
Hanson. The students also teamed up with Centacare,
the Catholic social services agency, to create hygiene
hampers to support families in the community.
Friday 30 October 2015
An Apple (mini iPad)
for the teacher!
Paper cranes will fly from St Finbar’s
to Hiroshima for anniversary
Year 4 students Scarlett Jurd and Sophie Keast with Japanese K-6
LOTE teacher, Amanda Miller.
Thursday 6 August 2015 marked the 70th anniversary
of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in
Japan.
Since the anniversary, students from St Finbar’s Primary,
Glenbrook have been working towards creating 100
paper cranes that will be sent to Hiroshima Primary
School. Inspired by the story Sadako and the Thousand
Paper Cranes, students each created paper cranes,
which they added to their ‘Heiwa’ (Peace) artworks to
symbolise Sadako and her wish for peace.
Hot Air Balloon inflates the
imagination of St Angela’s students
St Angela's students try to figure out how a hot air balloon landed
on their oval.
St Angela’s Primary, Castle Hill students arrived at
school on 20 August 2015 to find something unusual.
As part of St Angela’s Writing Festival, a hot air balloon
that looked as if it had crashed, was placed on the school
oval.
The writing festival encourages all students from
Kindergarten to Year 6 to write an informative,
persuasive or entertaining piece based on the hot air
balloon. Classes came out to examine the scene and its
many artefacts and returned to class to plan and begin
their writing.
To enter the competition, take a
selfie with your teacher and tell us
in 25 words or less how your
teacher inspires you!
You can enter the competition at
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
WIN A $200 ITUNES VOUCHER
FOR YOU AND AN APPLE MINI IPAD
FOR YOUR TEACHER!
Follow @CatholicEdParra on Facebook to see if your selfie is featured as a finalist
#selfieforworldteachersday @CatholicEdParra catholicedparra
14 CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015
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Mamre_Festival_Outlook.indd 1
17/07/2015 12:01 pm
www.ccss.org.au
SERVICE
SPOTLIGHT
Cool Kids
Anxiety
Support
Program
Is your child shy?
Are they slow to warm up to others?
Is your child a bit of a worrier?
Would you describe your child as
fearful or sensitive?
CatholicCare Social Services have recently added the
Cool Kids and the Cool Little Kids Anxiety Support
Program to their vast array of support services. For
both primary school children and pre-school children,
these programs are evidence-based and offer anxiety
support and therapy to families where their children are
experiencing high levels of anxiety. This program runs
for 8 – 10 weeks.
The Cool Kids program has been running at Macquarie
University since 1993. It is a structured, skills-based
program that teaches children and their parents how to
better manage a child’s anxiety.
If your child is experiencing high levels of anxiety
and you are interested in finding out more about the
program, contact us via the details below.
Everyone is invited to CatholicCare’s
next
Couples Evening
Friday, 6 November at 7.30pm
Mr Ben Smith, Director of the Family and Life Office
will give an address on ‘Theology of the Body’.
This free event will be held at St Paul the Apostle
Parish Hall, 40 Buckley’s Rd Winston Hills.
To register please call the CatholicCare office (02)
9933 0222 or email marriage@ccss.org.au
Light supper to be served, donations welcome.
facebook.com/CCSSParramatta
CATHOLICCARE SOCIAL SERVICES
Providing compassionate, professional and relevant support to the people in our diverse community
Parramatta: (02) 9933 0222 Blacktown: (02) 8822 2222 Springwood: (02) 4751 4956
Similarly, if you are interested in running this program for
children and parents in your school community, you can book
a two hour information session that can be held at your school.
School information nights are free of charge and will cover the
following:
1. What is anxiety?
2. How to recognise what is happening when anxiety is
present?
3. How does the Cool Kids Anxiety Program work?
4. What sort of things do I need to know as a parent to
allow the program to be successful for my child?
To find out more about how the Cool Kids Anxiety Program
can be of support to your family, please contact Trish Nowland
on (02) 8822 2222 or email trish.nowland@ccss.org.au
FAMILY
FRIENDLY
Carols @ Mamre
Sunday 13 December
181 Mamre Road St Marys,
from 5:30 - 9pm
Bring a picnic!
BBQ ,drinks & snacks available for purchase
Fireworks, Music, carols and entertainment
Free Face Painting
VOLUNTEERS
NEEDED URGENTLY
(Mamre Creche and Blacktown Neighbour Aid)
If you are interested in making a difference
for local services, email
volunteer@ccss.org.au
COURSES
& EVENTS
MAMRE FESTIVAL
Sunday 25 October, 9am-3pm
Mamre Festival
Sunday 25 October
9am – 3pm
at Mamre House & Farm
181 Mamre Road, Orchard Hills
A service provided by
Face painting for kids – coin donation!
Free art exhibition “SHARING THE SEEDS”
Teacup rides & jumping castle
Summer slush puppies
Sausage sizzle AND bacon & egg rolls
Music & entertainment
Plants and seeds
Entry is gold coin donation with
kids under 12 free!
Ample parking available!
Responsible Gambling Support
Group is free and on every Saturday,
9.30am-11am at 51 Allawah St
Blacktown. Please contact (02) 8822
2222 for more information.
Recover Wellbeing comprising
REACH (Black Dog Accredited nine week
program) and support groups for people
experiencing mental distress and carer
support options. Call (02) 8822 2222 for
more information.
Post Separation Recovery
Progam - seven consecutive
Wednesday nights: 21 October to 2
December 2015 7.30pm–9.30pm, DAC
1-5 Marion Street, Blacktown. Fee $80.
Register by calling (02) 9933 0205.
Younger Widowed:
Bereavement Support
Third Tuesday of each month, 7pm-
9pm, 51-59 Allawah St, Blacktown.
Fee $5. Call (02) 9933 0205 or
soloparentservices@ccss.org.au
Stepping Beyond –
Post Separation Support
last Tuesday of each month, 7.30pm-
9.30pm, 51-59 Allawah St, Blacktown.
Fee $5. Call 02 9933 0205 or
soloparentservices@ccss.org.au
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CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015 15

CATHOLIC YOUTH
Parramatta Diocese Youth Rally
We’re bringing back our first large
scale youth event to the Diocese
of Parramatta for all young people
aged 16-35. 22 October marks the
Feast Day of Saint John Paul II,
Founder of our Diocese and Father of
World Youth Days. A huge outdoor
concert and festival will take place
on Saturday 24 October from 7pm
to 9:30pm in the Cathedral Precinct.
We have particularly invited school
students, teachers, and young adults
who are attending the Australian
Catholic Youth Festival in Adelaide
this December, and all those
registered or still discerning joining
us for World Youth Day in Poland
next year. That being said, this is
an event open to all as we celebrate
the young Catholic Church in the
Diocese of Parramatta.
HSC Youth Masses
Parra-Matters!
Answering the Tough Questions
This recent event was a great team
effort by so many youth and young
adults across the Diocese. Incredible
music before the blessing ceremony was
provided by Blacktown Parish Youth
Minister and Diocese Youth Council
member, Alison Ryan. Thanks goes
to the many others who helped with
welcoming the hundreds of guests.
Saturday 24th October | 7 - 9:30pm
St Patrick’s Cathedral Precinct, Parramatta
“Celebrate the Feast of
St John Paul II Father of WYD”
For more details, go to:
catholicyouthparra
www.parrawyd.org
@cyp_parramatta
@catholicyouthparra
Connect with other Young People
Live Bands
Food & Activity Stalls
More Information for
WYD & ACYF
Good luck to our HSC students this month. We have personally invited
each and every one of them to almost 30 parishes that have elected to dedicate
a special youth mass to them in the week leading up to their first exam on
Monday 12 October. They’re offering them a blessing, a BBQ, and some unique
gifts to keep them going. Let’s get behind them!
Pastoral Care
Accredited Qualifications
Pastoral Care attends in a sustained
way to the emotional and spiritual
needs of people through a ministry of
presence, companionship and support.
Nationally recognised qualifications:
CHC41112 Certificate IV in Pastoral Care
91561 NSW Diploma of Ageing
and Pastoral Care
For further information contact:
Holy Family Services
Registered Training Organisation
Tel (02) 9678 8200
email: educator@holyfamilyservices.com.au
www.holyfamilyservices.com.au
A highlight has been seeing youth
and young adults making a pilgrimage to
the statues over the last month at various
times of the day and night, and posting
their prayerful pictures online. What an
incredible asset these monuments will be
to the life of the Diocese, and especially
young people and those involved in
future World Youth Days.
91448NSW
CatholicYouthParra @cyp_parra @cyp_parra
Blessing of the
St John Paul II Monument
Photos: Adrian Middeldorp
The youth leaders of Emu Plains Parish
provided wonderful hospitality, music,
and background information on their
local ministry. The core part of the
evening was an opportunity for everyone
to learn a framework for deconstructing
loaded statements that are often packed
with multiple smaller questions. David
Bradshaw was brilliant at doing this for us
and providing some real examples from his
time in youth ministry. This month’s Parra-
Matters will be hosted by Granville Parish
and will feature a presentation by our teams
from Parramatta Young Christian Workers
(YCW) and Young Christian Students
(YCS) on the services and experiences that
they provide to youth with the support of
the Diocese.
Live Jesus, in our Hearts, Forever.
James Camden
Director
Catholic Youth Parramatta
jcamden@parra.catholic.org.au
Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy
Penrose Park
Fatima Day: Tuesday October 13
Main Celebrant: Fr Marek Dutkiewicz, osppe
Order of St Paul the First Hermit
Divine Mercy Devotions
First Sunday of the Month
Fatima Family Sunday: October 18
October is a special month when we commemorate Our Lady of the
Rosary and the final apparition of Our Lady at Fatima in 1917.
Let us pray the Rosary more often this month especially as a family.
“The family that prays together, stays together.” Fr. Paton
Upcoming celebrations in Our Shrine:
November 2nd: Commemoration of all the Faithful Departed:
Exposition and Devotions after the 11am Mass
Pauline Father’s Monastery
Address: 120 Hanging Rock Road, Berrima, NSW, 2577 Phone: 02 4878 9192 Fax: 02 4878 9351
Email: paulinefathers@yahoo.com.au
Website: www.penrosepark.com.au
16 CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015
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Zara Tai says it was times of deep solitude in the bush that she worked out where
God was calling her. Photo supplied.
YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE
First Consecrated Celibate in the
Diocese of Parramatta By Elizabeth McFarlane
Blue Mountains between 1998
and 2003, and it was there that
she heard God’s call.
“It was during the times of
deep solitude in the bush that
I really worked out where God
was calling me,” she said. “The
Gospels tell us that Jesus spent
a lot of time in deep solitude
with His Father, particularly
before He did anything really
important. I like to think I
followed Jesus in that way.
“However, I do believe it was
the Holy Spirit that led me to the
bush to pray and to discern.”
Zara’s search came to an end
when her old university chaplain
suggested consecrated virginity.
“My search for where I
was called to be had come full
circle; where I was called to be
was exactly where I was,” she
explained.
“Loving God in the way I
am called is the most life-giving
experience. I am finally ‘at home’.
The joy is like one who is totally
in love.”
Zara sees that she lives her
consecration within the context
of her workplace. “Witness and
service is a wonderful part of it,
whether I am down at the beach
or at work.
“People are surprised when
I answer their questions about
whether I am married. I get asked
about faith and God and it is
wonderful for me to answer the
questions.”
When asked what advice she
had for women or men who were
considering the consecrated life,
Zara said the core of any religious
vocation was being in relationship
with God.
“If what you see in the various
forms of consecrated life does
not ‘fit’ with what God is calling
you to be, keep looking,” she said.
“The vocation you discern should
reflect who you are and make you
the best person you can possibly
be.”
Zara Tai aspires to be a
consecrated virgin, celibate
for all her life. She will
request to pursue this form of
consecrated life when a bishop
is appointed to the Diocese of
Parramatta. Zara refers to herself
as a consecrated celibate.
Zara’s consecrated life is
founded on her remaining chaste
and being obedient to the local
bishop. “My celibacy is set aside
to God and not to man in a
marriage,” she said.
Saint John Paul II wrote in
his apostolic exhortation Vita
Consecrata: “The Consecrated
Life, deeply rooted in the example
and teaching of Christ the Lord,
is a gift of God the Father to his
Church through the Holy Spirit …
In every age there have been men
and women who, obedient to the
Father's call and to the prompting
of the Spirit, have chosen this
special way of following Christ, in
order to devote themselves to him
with an undivided heart.”
Zara’s calling to the
consecrated celibate life is different
to simply following the single
life. “God was calling me to a
permanent exclusive relationship,
consecrated to God, but outside of
a religious order,” she said. “Being
single and being a good Catholic
didn’t satisfy the yearning for God
within me.”
A consecrated celibate
commits to a life of celibacy, daily
prayer, and service to the local
church under obedience to the
Bishop. Zara felt a strong calling
to serve the Church and dedicated
many years to reflecting on where
she was called to be. As well
as regular prayer times, Zara is
expected to engage in a structured
and regular time of Christian
service.
“After discerning religious
life since I was 15, I decided by
my mid-20s that I wasn’t called
to it. However, I still felt a strong
desire to live a vowed life, but
not as a member of a religious
congregation” Zara said.
Zara worked and lived in the
Edmund Rice Retreat &
Conference Centre
Winbourne
(Conducted by the Christian Brothers)
Winbourne is a place of quiet reflection, peace and tranquillity, set on 100 hectares, located in Mulgoa.
We welcome:
School self run retreats
Staff spirituality days
School day groups
Church groups
Professional groups
Sporting groups
Reflective groups
Special occasions
Hermitage available for single retreat
Our Centre offers various sized conference rooms with all AV equipment supplied, including free
wifi. Accommodation is available on site along with catering. We welcome your enquiry.
Enquiries
Phone: 02 4773 5555 Fax: 02 4773 5500 Email: reception@winbourne.org
Website: www.winbourne.org Address: 1315 Mulgoa Road, Mulgoa, NSW, 2745
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
wnbull@wnbull.com
www.wnbull.com.au
AUSTRALIAN OWNED
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CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015 17

AROUND THE DIOCESE
A Source for Spiritual Nourishment of both Heart and Mind
By Elizabeth McFarlane
Mass celebrated on weekdays.
The store and chapel, 238 Church St, Parramatta. Photos: Elizabeth McFarlane.
As you walk down Church Street in
Parramatta and sidestep out of the way
of other shoppers, you’d be forgiven
for not noticing a quaint gift centre and chapel,
tucked in amongst the other shops.
As the rush for lunch begins, the hustle
and bustle is bound to disorientate many.
However, a growing number of workers in the
area are finding time during their lunchbreak to
attend Mass and peruse through the shelves of
devotional material on offer.
St Pauls Books & Gifts Centre publishes
and sells books, CDs, DVDs, devotional items,
and prayer cards for adults, teenagers and
children.
The centre is owned and operated by the
Society of St Paul, which was founded in 1914
by Fr James Alberione. In the Spirit of St Paul,
Fr James had a vision to utilise all media to
disseminate the message of salvation to all
people.
Fr Joselito Layug SSP, manager of the
centre, said that a lot of people come in to the
store for the small devotional items such as
rosaries, scapulars, chaplets and medallions
more than anything else, as well as to attend
Mass in the Chapel upstairs.
“The people who work in the area stop by
during their lunchbreak to buy religious articles
and attend Mass. We have about 50 people
attend Mass every day.
“A lot of the people hear about the centre
from their colleagues and friends. Good News
spreads like wild fire and word of mouth is the
most common way that people hear about us,”
Father explained.
Even though Parramatta Cathedral is just
950m away, many local workers are opting to
attend the Chapel for Mass, as it is closer to
their workplace, and other local shops and
businesses.
Maree Takchi, a catechist at Matthew Pearce
Public School in Baulkham Hills and member
of St Paul the Apostle Parish in Winston Hills,
said that she often buys her teaching material
from the centre. “They’ve got great things on
offer here – a lot of different things for children
and also adults.”
The centre is also a great place to visit
before religious occasions, as they provide a
wide variety of specialised gift items. Maree was
stocking up on religious gifts for her nephews
The centre has a wide range of Catholic books and gifts.
and nieces recently. “I’ve got Baptisms coming
up and I think it’s good to give something
religious for those occasions,” Maree explained.
When she is in the area, Maree likes to stop
by for Mass. In amidst the chaotic working
day, it is a place of quiet and adoration that can
really strengthen one’s relationship with God.
The resources showcased are opportunities
for new inspiration and can really recharge
spiritual batteries.
The Chapel is named after Saint Mary
of the Cross MacKillop, who is Australia’s
first officially recognised saint and patron of
the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta. Mary
MacKillop worked in the community, reaching
out to the poor to raise them up through the
service of education.
It is therefore fitting that the Chapel and
bookshop combine to be a source for spiritual
nourishment of both heart and mind.
Located at 238 Church Street, Parramatta,
the store seeks to serve the people of
Parramatta where they are present: in offices,
schools, and shops.
St Pauls Books and Gifts Centre
Opening hours: Monday to Friday – 9.30am to
5pm; Saturday – 10am to 2pm.
Address: 238 Church St, Parramatta, almost
opposite Peter Wynn sports store.
Tel: (02) 9126 8912.
Email: bookcentreparra@stpauls.com.au
Orders: www.stpauls.com.au
Chapel of Saint Mary MacKillop
Mass: Celebrated at 1pm on weekdays.
Location: On the first floor of the St Pauls
Books and Gifts Centre, 238 Church St,
Parramatta
Catholic Diocese of Parramatta
THE
PERMANENT
DIACONATE
A God-given calling to ordained ministry,
open to married and single men
In the service of the Liturgy, the Word, and Charity
Catholic Diocese of Parramatta | www.parra.catholic.org.au
Inquiries to Rev Dr Arthur Bridge AM, Director of Vocations to the Permanent Diaconate
Tel 0411 289 954, arthurbridge@arsmusica.org.au PO Box 23, Toongabbie, NSW, 2146
18 CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015
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FAITH
Faith at the Fiddler: Relationships, Holiness and Intimacy
By Steven Buhagiar – Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta
Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers. Photo supplied.
Attendees were in for
something a little different
at the Mean Fiddler,
Rouse Hill, when they turned
up to listen to Deacon Harold
Burke-Sivers on Thursday 20
August for the third instalment of
Faith at the Fiddler for 2015.
The US based ‘Dynamic
Deacon’, as he is affectionately
known, immediately set the
stage for an interactive night by
stepping out from behind the
lectern to perform a one-man
skit. While alternating between
the role of an attractive young
lady and the male leader of a
group of macho and gawking
young men, the Deacon had
the audience in stitches as he
humorously portrayed the
prevalent culture that surrounds
and so often corrupts the minds
of young people today.
Cameroon
"The best gift
I can give my
children is to
love my wife
as Christ loved
the Church."
- Deacon Harold
The evening’s talk was
entitled, ‘Relationships, Holiness
and Intimacy’, and the Deacon
didn’t hold back in tackling the
critical moral issues of our time.
He noted how sex
had become an everyday
commodity. Marriage, as
presented by Scripture, had been
deconstructed and re-imagined
by a culture that had pushed
aside any notion of a loving God
and a divinely revealed moral law.
Deacon Harold put forward
St John Paul II’s ‘Theology of
the Body’ as the antidote and
the framework with which to
understand the mystery and
inherent beauty of human
sexuality, as well as the wonderful
difference but simultaneous
complementarity of man and
woman.
He explained with great
insight that the pervading
contraceptive mentality that
marks our age, had brought
about a destructive separation
between life and love, and was
a key element in the breakdown
of married life. He admitted
that this is often a difficult and
unpopular message to get across,
as it is seen as one of the Church’s
“hard sayings”. He emphasised
that despite increasing opposition
to key Church teachings, we must
continue to speak the truth but to
always do so in love.
He ended the evening with
two final tips. “The best gift I can
give my children is to love my
wife as Christ loved the Church.”
The second gave some practical
advice on father-daughter
relations. “If I want my daughter
to marry the man of ‘my’ dreams,
I’d better show her what a real
man looks like.”
For those interested in
listening to more of Deacon
Harold’s talks on family life,
Catholic apologetics, and
evangelisation, please contact
Parousia Media.
A priest in the Andes
annointing the sick
Monaghan
& Gleeson
FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Catholic Outlook
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CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015 19

NEWS & EVENTS
Celebrating just some of the St Finbar’s Catechist team, from R-L: Back Row: Terry Keogh, Vince Dobson, Rene
Pears, Elizabeth Culliver, Melissa McDonald, Dr George Grodzicki. Front Row: Anne Hobbs, Fr Jolly Chacko, Georgina
Barisic, Dawn Willis, Mila Svelha.
Celebrating Our Catechists
By Margaret Rivas
Last month, St Finbar’s Parish,
Glenbrook held a special morning tea
after Mass on Sunday 16 August to
celebrate and promote our wonderful team
of Catechists.
St Finbar’s have a team of 15 dedicated
people working across six public schools
in the lower Blue Mountains, bringing the
Word and love of God to approximately
150 children who attend Catholic Special
Religious Education (SRE).
They show children God’s love in word
and deed, supporting families in providing
a basic education for children in God our
Creator, Jesus our Saviour, and the Holy
Spirit within us inspiring us to live His Way.
At a high level, topics covered
include Church Seasons, the Bible, the
Sacraments, Saints, and God’s way of love
and compassion. Truly, children deserve to
hear this message no matter what school
they attend. The Confraternity of Christian
Doctrine (CCD) in Parramatta provides
three levels of training for SRE Teachers
(only one compulsory), and all teachers use
a Curriculum approved by the Bishop.
If you’d like to join this ministry in your
local Parish, contact your Parish secretary
or SRE Coordinator, or visit the CCD
Parramatta website to find the Regional
Coordinator for your Deanery. It’s an
amazing ministry, helping to inspire the
next generation to love and serve Our Lord,
Jesus.
ST PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL
MASS TIMES AND REGULAR SERVICE
Weekend Masses
Saturday 8am, 9:30am
(Mass in the Extraordinary Form – Latin),
6pm (Vigil) Sunday 8am, 9.30am (Family
Mass), 11am (Solemn Mass), 6pm
Weekday Masses
Monday to Friday 6.45am,12.30pm
Public Holidays 8am
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
Monday to Friday 11.15am-12.20pm
First Friday of the month 6pm-7pm
Sacrament of Penance
Weekdays 11.15am-12.20pm
Saturdays 8.30am-9am, 5pm-5.30pm
Devotions
Morning Prayer of the Church
Monday to Friday 6.30am
Saturday and Sunday 7.30am
Angelus
Monday to Friday noon
Rosary
Monday to Friday after Angelus at noon
Canticle of Our Lady’s Marian Movement
Friday 1pm
Christian meditation
Tuesday 9.30am-10.15am
Baptism - Sunday 12.45pm by appointment
Marriages - By appointment
Contact the Parish Secretary
tel (02) 8839 8400 or email
1 Marist Place, Parramatta
Parramatta Marist High
School Old Boys Union
Dinner
Parramatta Marist High School is
expecting its biggest attendance ever
at this year’s annual Old Boys Union
(OBU) dinner at Parramatta Leagues Club
on 16 October.
The reunion has had a shot in the arm
in recent years as former students from very
recent years to the students from the Class of
1951 and many years in between gather for
a night.
Parramatta Marist OBU President,
Adam Hendry, said the focus this year
was attracting the students from previous
years, their mates, teachers, and classmates
celebrating their significant anniversaries
such as 10 or 30 years since graduation.
“I think we are seeing a nice camaraderie
develop between the students who went
through the school together and those from
other years,” Adam said.
“Some of the men who choose to
attend every year, or recently, have a great
time talking and having a good laugh. It’s
brilliant.”
The annual event not only reunites
schoolmates, it also raises funds for the
Brother Coman Memorial Scholarships,
which have raised tens of thousands
of dollars over the years to assist with
education costs for some students.
“Br Coman was a much-loved father
figure who embodied the best that Marist
could offer and positively shaped the lives
of many young men. We are proud to offer
scholarships in his name,” Adam said.
“The generosity of the OBU is not lost
on the Parramatta Marist community, whose
members appreciate the value of the Br
Coman Scholarships for families,” he said.
“We not only get some unique prizes
from generous donors, we have a lot of fun
quickly auctioning them, giving a quick
school update so we maximise the time for
catching up, which is the main aim.
“I’m particularly delighted the
Parramatta Marist OBU is having a new
lease on life and mates want to meet up
and support other young men with their
education.”
Parramatta Marist is Australia’s oldest
Catholic school, established in 1820.
RSVP: Book and pay by Friday 9
October at: http://www.trybooking.com/
HGRW
Time: 6.30pm.
Where: Auditorium, Parramatta Leagues
Club, O’Connell St, Parramatta.
Cost: $55 for buffet dinner (drinks not
included).
Contact: (02) 9635 7066.
Shoppers For A Cause
14 th ANNUAL SHOPPING COACH TRIP
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Shop & Chat in Chauffeur (coach) Driven Comfort !
In the Company of a group of your Good Friends,
Book Now & Don’t Miss this Great Day Out !
Come shopping on a Full Day Trip to the factory outlets
Women’s, mens & children’s clothing & footwear, manchester,
homewares, bags, toys & confectionery
Home & Gift Warehouse, Manchester Importer,
KB Toys, Kingsgrove Shoes, City Chic, Katies, Autograph,
Paragold, Barcs Jewellery, Dolci D’Oro, Studio Ten
Find all your favourite brands; 20 – 75% Discounts:
Morning & Afternoon Tea
Bistro Lunch
On Board Raffle & Lucky Door Prizes
Adults $ 55,
Children (5-17) $20,
Seniors/Students $45
Tour departs from either (with on-site parking)
7.00am – Burns T-Way Station Kellyville
7.00am – I Fly Info Cnt, Panthers Leagues Club, Penrith
For individual or group bookings contact
Virginia Knight on 0413 607571 knightofgin@bigpond.com
Bookings close October 19, 2015
Payment accepted via direct deposit, cash or cheque
Thank you to our hosts: Shop & Save Tours & Pick of the Crop Coach Tours
Raising Funds
for
Breast Cancer
Research
20 CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015
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NEWS & EVENTS
Seminarians take next step
By Fr John Hogan
Photo supplied.
God’s Masterpiece: Singles
for Christ Oceania Regional
Conference 2015
families are God’s
Masterpieces given to us” was
“Our
the message of the 2015 Singles
for Christ Oceania Regional Conference
held from the 4 - 6 September in Sydney.
Singles for Christ is a Catholic lay
community under Couples for Christ
International that envisions a world where
every man and woman experiences Christ.
The Regional Conference occurs every
two years and this year it was based in
Sydney, with over 200 young adults from
across the region, stretching from the
Solomon Islands and New Zealand to the
Philippines.
The weekend was filled with vibrant,
God-seeking young adults who arrived on
the first night ready to receive messages
God had to offer.
Over the weekend, delegates were
invited to reflect on the Holy Family as a
model to aspire to in our world today, and
to recognise the importance of building
our home in love and with God at its
centre.
With the family under attack, the
conference’s theme, ‘God’s Masterpiece’,
comes at a critical time. Speakers
challenged their audience to go against the
tide that seeks to redefine the family and
be champions of God’s design.
For some, it was an emotional time,
as those who bore witness to their stories,
shared past hurts and struggles in their
families. However, the hope that comes
with forgiveness and reconciliation was a
firm reminder of the mercy and the love of
God in our families, despite brokenness.
The workshops were diverse and
gave delegates the opportunity to explore
other areas of ministry and the Catholic
Faith. Workshops included a Vocations
Panel, Social Justice, Evangelisation on the
Digital Age, and Becoming a Missionary.
Saturday night was filled with fun as
a dance party, themed ‘Roaring Twenties’,
was entertained by a live band featuring
young adults from the ministry.
With Mass celebrated each day,
reconciliation offered, and adoration on
the Friday night, those who attended were
time and time again invited to reconnect
with God.
Next year’s conference will be a
National Conference to be held in
Adelaide, South Australia.
For more information about Singles for
Christ, visit sfc.cfc-australia.org.
Adam Carlow (left) and Matthew Dimian (right) installed as lectors at St Margaret Mary’s Church, Merrylands, by
Emeritus Bishop Kevin Manning. Photo: Shelly Barnes
Our Diocesan Seminary of the Holy
Spirit, Harris Park, continues to
go from strength to strength. On
site, there is a lot of building work going
on to provide new accommodation for the
increasing number of young men pursuing
a priestly vocation in the diocese.
Irrespective of all the distraction, the
seminarians are undeterred in fulfilling
their path to ordination.
On Sunday 20 September 2015, two
of them were installed as Lectors at St.
Margaret Mary’s Church, Merrylands,
by Emeritus Bishop Kevin Manning. For
Adam Carlow and Matthew Dimian,
becoming Lectors is a significant step in
following their vocation. The first step, of
course, is entering the Seminary in the
first place. The steps that follow involve:
becoming a Lector, then an Acolyte, being
accepted for Candidacy for the Diocese,
followed by ordination to the Diaconate
and finally to the Priesthood.
The word ‘Lector’ is from the Latin
word, ‘legere’, which means ‘to read’. As
Lectors, Adam and Matthew become
official Ministers of the Word of God. It will
be their task to proclaim the non-Gospel
readings during the Church’s liturgies.
Lectors can be seen as ministers at the Altar
of the Word just as Acolytes can be seen as
ministers at the Altar of Christ’s Sacrifice.
In order to fulfil this ministry of
Lector as effectively as possible, Adam and
Matthew will now dedicate themselves
to taking Sacred Scripture as their way
of life. In proclaiming the Scriptures to
their brothers and sisters in Christ, they
become part of the process of God’s
revelation to His people, an office that has
to be undertaken with great reverence.
Consequently, it will be part of their
duties to study the Scriptures seriously, to
meditate on the implications of what they
learn there, and to contemplate the great
mysteries of our faith that are contained
there. Not a bad second step for someone
who wishes to dedicate their whole life to
Christ.
The mass was celebrated by Emeritus
Bishop Kevin Manning and I concelebrated
with Father Janusz Palwic OSPPE and
Father Peter James Strohmayer OSPPE.
The other seminarians served alongside
Brother John and Brother Zachary, who
are students with the local community of
hermits.
The parishioners of Merrylands joined
in the celebration of Mass and treated
Adam, Matthew, and their guests to an
elaborate morning tea afterwards, for which
all were very grateful.
It is hoped to keep you informed of
yet another major seminary event toward
the end of the year, when some of the
seminarians will take yet another step
forward by becoming Acolytes.
Fr John Hogan is the Rector of Holy
Spirit Seminary, Harris Park.
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
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CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015 21

INSTITUTE FOR MISSION IFMCONNECT IFMCONNECT IFMCONNECT
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF PARRAMATTA
Free Resources Audio & Visuals Programs
Ministry Connections
New Logo, New Website, Same Mission
New logo, new website, same mission
By Raimie Now into Caramancion my young adult life, it was in my teens that I first searched American websites
into about my young my Catholic adult life, faith. I parishes, drove to groups, Strathfield and individuals to find faith resources participation and in started God’s mission; our
Now
it was looking my teens for quieter that I first spaces than of the even Parramatta my Mac Diocese Uni library. in God’s And now united as call an to IFM go beyond team borders
searched member, American I value websites the vision for of the mission. IFM to care about such searching and barriers and possibilities to meet people where
information our lives about in my faith. Catholic The IFM is here I feel to proud support to announce the place to of you parishes, they are groups in life and individuals
of the Parramatta Diocese in God’s mission. I feel proud to announce to you
faith.
faith. I drove to Strathfield to that our/your new IFM website has Please feel welcome to connect
find faith resources and started now been created! Discover the with the IFM and to be at home
looking our/your for a quieter new IFM space website! than Discover site, a variety the site, of a opportunities, variety of opportunities, free with us free for a resources new phase of the
even and my lots library about at the our University goals at of www.ifm.org.au resources, and lots . Look about up our the goals meaning journey. of the new logo. I
Macquarie. love the way it draws people in at to www.ifm.org.au.
see more and have an ‘Aha’ moment! It symbolizes
And sacramental now as an Institute nourishment for and active Look participation up the meaning in of God’s the mission; INSTITUTE our united FOR call MISSION to
Mission
go beyond
(IFM) team
borders
member,
and
I
barriers
value new
to meet
logo on
people
the website.
where
I
they
love
are in
1-5
life
Marion
and faith.
St, Blacktown
Please
2148
the vision of the IFM to care about the way it draws people in to Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
such be searching welcome and to possibilities connect with the see IFM more and and be to have at home an ‘Aha’ with us for Telephone: a new phase 02 9831 of the 4911
for journey. lives in By faith. Raimie The IFM Caramancion moment! – Team It symbolises Assistant sacramental Email: office@ifm.org.au
is here to support the place of nourishment and active
www.ifm.org.au
INSTITUTE FOR MISSION
1-5 MARION ST, BLACKTOWN 2148
OPEN MON-FRI 9AM-5PM
02 9831 4911 | OFFICE@IFM.ORG.AU
WWW.IFM.ORG.AU
INSTITUTE FOR MISSION
/IFMCONNECT
The new IFM logo symbolises sacramental
nourishment and active participation in God's
mission; our united call to go beyond borders
and barriers to meet people in life and faith.
Have you ever thought
God might be calling you
to the priesthood?
Vocation Discernment Afternoon
Sunday 25 October 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
email: vocations@parra.catholic.org.au
visit: www.parra.catholic.org.au/vocations
www.parra.catholic.org.au/holyspiritseminary
22 CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015
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The Feminine
Genius Talk
Saturday 24th October 2015
An event for Women of all ages
• What is the Feminine Genius?
• Is being a woman more than what she does?
• How can you be a fully authentic woman in
today’s society?
Distinguished speaker Anna Krohn
will be joining us to share her
thoughts on what is the Feminine
Genius.
She’s an expert in Bioethics, Philosophy
and Theology. She started the Anima
Woman’s Network and has given
numerous talks nationally. She has also
written hundreds of articles on various
aspects of Catholic pastoral welfare,
especially in the areas of bioethics and
family life.
Where: St Patrick’s Cathedral Hall, 1 Marist Place, Parramatta
Registration at 9am, Event will start at 9.30am and finish at 12pm
Cost: $5 for students, $10 for adults
(no EFTPOS facility available)
RSVP by Wednesday, 21st October and enquiries to:
Family and Life office
famlife@parra.catholic.org.au or (02) 8838 3440
www.parrafamlife.org.au
7
15
15
16
17
18
24
24
25
25
27
OCTOBER CALENDAR
PASTORAL CARE COURSE: WEDNESDAY EVENINGS, 7, 14, 21, 27 OCT, 4 NOV
The Diocese of Parramatta is offering a 40 hour Pastoral Care Course to its
people, endorsed by the Civil Chaplaincies Advisory Committee. This very
experiential course, comprising of five evenings (and recommended reading in
your own time) will provide life skills that are not only relevant to Chaplaincy but
to all human interactions; places are limited. Where: Sacred Heart Parish Hall, 14
Ralph St, Westmead. When: Wednesday evenings 7th, 14th, 21st, 27th, Oct; 4th
Nov. More Details: Ensure your seat, please email: JBowen@parra.catholic.org.au
MUSIC AND COPYRIGHT WORKSHOPS
Open to all parish music groups, parish liturgy coordinators and anyone interested
in understanding their parish’s music ministry. Topics include: Appropriate
copyright practices for parishes in the Diocese of Parramatta and working with
music and copyright in your parish. Presented by Robert Barden, acting Chair of
the Diocesan Liturgical Commission. Time: 7.30-9pm
Location The Institute for Mission Hall (downstairs), 1-5 Marion St, Blacktown.
RSVP 10 October: Adelle Lobo tel (02) 9831 4911, ofw@ifm.org.au
HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS
Everyone is welcome on the third Thursday of each month to pray for vocations
including adoration, music and quiet time in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
Location St Patrick’s Cathedral, 1 Marist Place, Parramatta.
Time: 7pm – 8pm. More Details: 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 send an email to vocations@parra.catholic.org.au
PARRAMATTA MARIST HIGH SCHOOL OLD BOYS UNION DINNER
Location: Auditorium at Parramatta Leagues Club, O’Connell St, Parramatta.
Time: Starts 6.30pm. Cost: $55 for buffet dinner (drinks not included). Contact:
(02) 9635 7066. Book and pay by Friday 9 October at: http://www.trybooking.
com/HGRW. More Details: See page 20
BLACKHEATH REFLECTION MORNING
Topic: Honest to God Prayer. Presented by Carol Teodori. Time 10am-1pm
Location Sacred Heart Parish Hall, cnr Sturt & Wentworth Sts, Blackheath.
More Details: Entry by donation. No need to book. Morning tea provided.
Contact: Carmen Vanny tel (02) 4787 8706.
DIOCESAN FAMILY SUNDAY
Where: MacKillop Centre, cnr Swanston & Collins St, St Marys. Theme: ‘Love is
Our Mission’. Time: 2.30pm – 6pm. More Details: See page 7
PARRAMATTA DIOCESE YOUTH RALLY
Time: 7pm – 9:30pm. Where: St Patrick’s Cathedral Precinct, 1 Marist Place,
Parramatta. More Details: See page 16
FR ERIC BURTON’S 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION
Join the parishioners of Christ the King Parish, North Rocks, to celebrate Fr Eric
Burton’s 90th birthday. Time: 6pm Celebration of the Eucharist followed by
supper. Where: Christ the King Parish, North Rocks. RSVP 2 October: (02) 9683
1752, ctk.nrocks@bigpond.com
MAMRE FESTIVAL: 25 OCTOBER
Face painting, rides, market stalls. Fun for all ages. Time: 9am – 3pm. Address: 181
Mamre Road, Orchard Hills. More details: See back page
VOCATION DISCERNMENT AFTERNOON
All young men who feel God might be calling them to the priesthood are invited
to the Diocese of Parramatta’s Vocation Discernment Afternoon.
Time: 2pm and concludes with shared meal 6pm. Where: Holy Spirit Seminary,
31- 33 Allen Street, Harris Park. More Details: See page 22
THE FRANCIS EFFECT II COLLOQUIUM
A discussion on how to incorporate Pope Francis’ vision and challenge into our
everyday lives. Time 8.30am-4pm. Where: Dooleys Lidcombe Catholic Club, 4-28
John St, Lidcombe. Cost $195 (concession $95). More Details: Anita Lee, Catholic
Mission, tel (02) 9919 7800 or alee@catholicmission.org.au
“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
Name ........................................................
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Address .....................................................
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CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015 23

Mamre Festival
Sunday 25 October
9am – 3pm
at Mamre House & Farm
181 Mamre Road, Orchard Hills
Face painting for kids – coin donation!
Free art exhibition “SHARING THE SEEDS”
Teacup rides & jumping castle
Summer slush puppies
Sausage sizzle AND bacon & egg rolls
Music & entertainment
Plants and seeds
Entry is gold coin donation with
kids under 12 free!
A service provided by
Ample parking available!
24 CatholicOutlook | OCTOBER 2015
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