Catholic Outlook March 2016

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PARISH PROFILE Fr Fernando: The Mexican with the amazing lexicon By Joseph Younes While living in Hong Kong, Fr Fernando was invited to Australia in 2006 by the then Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Kevin Manning. The invitation was simple enough, to lead the Chinese Chaplaincy in the Diocese of Parramatta. Fr Fernando took up the offer and quickly settled into his dual role at St Monica’s Parish, North Parramatta, initially as assistant priest under Fr Brian Rooney and by 2008 as parish priest. “Initially, I struggled with the Australian language, people speak so fast here,” the jovial Fr Fernando said. Fr Luis Fernando Montano Rodriguez MG, affectionately known as Fr Fernando to his parishioners, has a well-travelled, multilingual history. Ordained a priest in 1991 by the Guadalupe Missionaries (see panel below), Fr Fernando was born into a devoutly Catholic family in Mexico City, Mexico. He recalls his tender upbringing as laying the foundation for him wanting to become a priest. “From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a priest. The idea of being a priest was natural as I come from a devout practising Catholic family. This was normal, like someone wanting to become a lawyer or an engineer, I wanted to become a priest,” Fr Fernando said. “I want people to know who God is and what God can do for them. People need to know who Jesus is.” Undeterred by his initial hurdle in trying to understand Australian English, Fr Fernando puts his language skills to good use in his “highly, highly diverse, very highly diverse” parish. “We are small in geography, but a tight-knit community. I have people from all over the world; Australians, Europeans, South Americans, Lebanese, Indians, Sri Lankans, Filipinos, Chinese,” Fr Fernando said. “I speak Cantonese, Spanish, English, and Chinese signlanguage. My parish and chaplaincy are very close. We are a friendly Catholic community and are proud of being Catholic.” Fr Fernando’s ability to speak many languages is a gift to his parishioners at St Monica’s and the 300 faithful who make up his Chinese Catholic community. “People want to pray in their own language. The number of people from Hong Kong and, more recently, from China has The Guadalupe Missionaries The Guadalupe Missionaries ‘MG’ (Spanish: Misioneros de Guadalupe) are a missionary society from Mexico City, Mexico. Founded in 1949, they are dedicated to foreign missions around the world and have a presence through 150 priests in Mexico City, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Kenya, Angola, Mozambique, Brazil, Cuba and Peru. “As Guadalupe Missionaries we go to countries in need. As a society, we are dedicated to giving out of the little we have,” Fr Fernando Montano MG said. “Our work is in foreign countries where there is a need.” Fr Fernando Montano MG. Photos: Elizabeth McFarlane increased. Me speaking to them in their own language is a huge experience, especially as some people have not heard the Gospel preached in their native tongue before,” Fr Fernando said. As for his chaplaincy work, Fr Fernando believes “there is always a need to minister”. “Language is important for people to speak to God. All chaplaincies are trying to be a bridge between a local ethnic community and the Church in Australia.” As a priest, Fr Fernando believes his work is about Jesus and His message of love, regardless of who the person is. “I want to help Jesus establish the Kingdom,” Fr Fernando said. What’s the secret to his ability to communicate with so many different groups of people with seemingly little in common other than a shared faith? “People come to church to hear the word of God, and for me, it’s about how I break down that message to such a diverse community. I try and use plain, simple, language” Fr Fernando said with a smile. Fr Fernando with the Southern Lion mask. The lion dancers pose for the 'eye opening' ceremony. Fr Fernando is the sole MG representative in Australia. Sr Angeles Melero MN practising using chopsticks. Music of J.S. Bach MUSIC OF JS BACH and Sacred Readings for Good Friday Friday 25 March 2016 at 7.30pm The Blue Mountains Chorale Robert Ampt Conductor and Organist Amy Johansen Choir Accompanist Readers from St Finbar’s Parish and neighbouring Christian Churches, Fr Jolly Chacko – St Finbar’s Parish Priest at St Finbar’s Church 46 Levy Street, Glenbrook There will be a retiring collection; Suggested donation $15, $10 concession Inquiries tel (02) 4754 1780 Bulk Billing for GP Services MEDICAL CENTRE OPENING HOURS Monday-Friday 8.00am-6.00pm Saturday & Sunday 9.00am-2.00pm Public Holidays to be advised NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY DOCTOR HOME VISITS AND AFTER HOURS SERVICES AVAILABLE Parking on-site available Pathology on premises DENTIST (DR GARIMA MALHOTRA) • Free initial check-up • 10% discount for seniors • Veterans’ Affairs cover and pensioners • Dental X-rays • Patients from all funds welcome • Medicare Bulk Billing - Health fund claims on the spot - for eligible children aged between 2 and 17 years of age Benefits up to $1000/child DOCTORS AND PHYSIOTHERAPIST DR. ARUNTHA JESUTHASAN (Female GP) DR. CHARLES HAYES (Male GP) DR. VAN NGUYEN (Male GP) DILHAN JAYAMANNE (Physiotherapist) • Children’s/Women’s/Men’s Health Immunisations Health Assessment • Heart and Lung Assessment • Prevention of Chronic Illnesses • Weight Loss Programme • Skin Diseases Management - including Skin Cancer • Minor Surgical Procedures • WorkCover • Pre-employment Medicals • Travel Medicine MEDICAL CENTRE 81– 83 Richmond Rd, Blacktown, NSW | 9622 1998 8 CatholicOutlook | MARCH 2016 www.catholicoutlook.org
PARISH PROFILE Chinese community welcomes New Year By Elizabeth McFarlane The Chinese community gather in St Monica’s Church, North Parramatta. Krystal Au and Tony Ng. Young families attended the celebration. There was a flurry of noise and colour as the Chinese New Year celebrations unfolded in St Monica’s Church, North Parramatta, on 14 February. St Monica’s Parish Priest and Chinese Chaplain, Rev Luis Fernando Montaño Rodriguez MG, was the principal celebrant for the Mass, which was concelebrated by Mons John Boyle and Rev Clement Hill. The church was adorned with the sights and sounds of China, with hanging Chinese lanterns adding a splash of red and orange to the milieu. Members of the Chinese community welcomed each other with a Happy New Year greeting: “Kung Hei Fat Choy!” A banquet lunch followed at Phoenix Restaurant located in Westfield Shopping Centre, Parramatta. “It was a big celebration of life, joy, community spirit and the richness of the Chinese culture,” Fr Fernando said. In China, families gather for the New Year to take part in a 15-day festival and enjoy meals, gift exchanges, parades, fireworks and theatre. Making wishes for luck, prosperity and good fortune, and warding off evil spirits, are central to the Chinese New Year celebration. Every year, a zodiac animal is featured; 2016 is the year of the fire monkey. Enjoying the cultural experience of the Lunar New Year festivities and dressed in Chinese attire, Fr Fernando took part in the traditional Chinese ‘eye opening’ ceremony of the dramatic lion dance. There was a burst of sound in the restaurant as the Chinese drum rolled. Two young women donned helmet doll masks, as two others stepped into the lion costume. As the lion sat on the ground, Fr Fernando dotted the lion’s eyes to wake him from his slumber and imbue his spirit. The Southern Lion represented in the performance is associated with the legend of a mythical monster called Nian. The lion worked its way around the tables, interacting with diners. The rhythmic and sprightly music continued as the lion operators danced in unison. Spectators fed the lion with red envelopes filled with money to help fundraise for the youth of the Chinese community attending World Youth Day in Krakow, Poland, in July. Tony Ng and Krystal Au represented the youth and directed the running of the day. The day’s activities not only offered an up-close and personal view of the country’s customs and culture, but also provided a hands-on opportunity for the non-Chinese present to practise eating with chopsticks. Sr Angeles Melero MN of the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family of Nazareth and her fellow Spanish Sisters relished the opportunity. Guided by onlookers, they learnt quickly, diving into the bowls of delicious Chinese cuisine with the chopsticks at hand. Originally from Mexico, Fr Fernando is the first non- Chinese Chaplain for the Chinese Catholic community at St Monica’s. He speaks Spanish, English and Cantonese, and knows Chinese sign language. As he engaged with those who attended the New Year lunch, he could be heard speaking all three languages. Parishioners were eager to get a photo with the energetic young priest. Allison Hamilton, Parish Secretary of St Monica’s, said Fr Fernando makes the parish unique. “He is very clever. He is brilliant in everything that he does. He gets involved with everyone,” she said. “He is the best boss I have ever had. He is so caring and he would do anything for anyone!” The parish is a cultural hub with 40% of the congregation being Chinese. Mass in Chinese is celebrated every Sunday at 11.30am in St Monica’s Church, North Parramatta. To view a gallery of photos from the event, visit www.flickr.com/parracatholic/albums DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY DEVOTIONS 2.30pm on 3rd April 2016 ST NICHOLAS OF MYRA PENRITH 326 High St, Penrith • Blessing of Divine Mercy Image • Chaplet of Divine Mercy • Stations of the Cross • Homily and Benediction • Reconciliation till 4pm • Afternoon tea 4.15pm-5.15pm • DIVINE MERCY MASS 6pm ‘Jesus I trust in you’ FROM* $5390 *PLUS AIRFARES *Costs have been based on prices as at 30 September 2015 and must remain subject to change without notice based on currency exchange rates, departure city and minimum group size contingency. Prices are based on twin share or double rooming. Lic. 2TA 003632 CALL: 1800 819 156 VISIT: harvestjourneys.com GRACES OF ITALY A 16 day pilgrimage departs 30th May 2016 with Fr Ray Chapman SM Not only is Italy a land of unforgettable charm and beauty, it is also a land made rich in grace by its colourful history of holy men and women. Featuring: Venice • Padua • Florence • Assisi • Loreto • San Giovanni Rotondo Also departing 9th April and 29th September. Rome extension available. www.catholicoutlook.org CatholicOutlook | MARCH 2016 9
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Catholic Outlook March 2016

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