Catholic Outlook April 2016

CatholicOutlook 

The official publication of the Diocese of Parramatta | www.catholicoutlook.org 

VOLUME 19, APRIL 2016 | Photo: Alfonsus Fok 

Good Shepherd Sunday 

on 17 April 

13 seminarians for the Diocese 

with Fr John Hogan, Rector 

of Holy Spirit Seminary 

PALM SUNDAY 

PROCESSION 

& WORLD 

YOUTH DAY 

CELEBRATION 

page 5 page 10 

PARISH PROFILE: 

ST NICHOLAS OF 

MYRA PARISH, 

PENRITH

FROM THE DIOCESAN ADMINISTRATOR 

Very Rev Peter G Williams 

CONTENTS 

ECUMENISM 

SOCIAL JUSTICE 

CATHOLIC YOUTH 

DIOCESAN NEWS 

FAMILY & LIFE 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7, 20 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

Once again we are celebrating the great 50 

days of Easter, and let this be a time in all 

our parishes, agencies and communities 

to recognise that the Risen Christ is at the 

centre of all that we do as a local Church here 

in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. 

Several weeks ago I was invited to attend 

a gathering of young people from various 

Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches 

being sponsored by the Melkite Eparchy, 

and held at St Margaret Mary’s Parish in 

Merrylands. 

The purpose of the gathering was to explore 

our ‘oneness in Christ’ and to learn more 

of each other’s traditions and ways of being 

Church. It was very impressive. 

One thing that struck me quite forcibly was 

that while each Church concluded with a 

piece of liturgical music from their rite, sung 

for the most part in ancient languages, the 

voices of the young people who spoke about 

their understanding of Mercy in this Jubilee 

Year all had unmistakable Australian accents. 

As I reflected on this I realised that the 

wonderful cultural diversity we have as 

a Church in Australia is a matter of great 

rejoicing. And, of course, it simply doesn’t 

apply to those from these communities. One 

of the great strengths of the Roman Catholic 

Diocese of Parramatta is the rich ethnic mix 

that constitutes our Church. 

Since before the Diocese came into 

existence some 30 years ago next month, 

the Archdiocese of Sydney had already 

made provision for the establishment of new 

parishes and the building of new church 

plant alongside some of our historic parishes, 

which were founded in the 19th Century. 

The Church could see in the 1950s and 

early 1960s that there would be increased 

migration, and that many of these migrants 

would come from countries which were 

largely Catholic in terms of religious 

adherence, and the Church needed to act to 

make provision for the new Catholic arrivals. 

Last month’s gathering of young people from Eastern Catholic and Orthodox Churches was an opportunity to 

explore our ‘oneness in Christ’. Photo: Elizabeth McFarlane. 

Subsequently, we have seen people come and 

settle from almost every place on the planet. 

Like those young Eastern Catholic and 

Orthodox Christians, they have brought with 

them a wonderful Christian heritage from 

their country of origin, and those traditions 

now enrich and enliven the Church of 

Parramatta through the observance of 

various festivals and other activities. 

Wisely, the Australian bishops made a 

decision to establish ethnic chaplaincies to 

assist the new Catholic arrivals to find their 

feet and provide a place initially where they 

could meet with others from their place 

of origin, celebrate liturgy in a familiar 

language, and seek support when needed as 

they integrated into their new home. 

Over the years the new arrivals have 

incorporated themselves into the local 

parishes and are thus making enormous 

and positive contributions to the life of their 

Catholic communities. 

Their children and no doubt grandchildren 

while still proudly celebrating their heritage 

now, like the young people at Merrylands 

a few weeks ago, also have very Australian 

accents! 

What does this mean for the future 

shape and the substance of the Church of 

Parramatta? 

While it is probably true that the Church 

culture in Australia, until quite recently, 

was somewhat mono-cultural, in that 

principally the traditions and ways of being 

was largely that of Irish Catholicism, that has 

disappeared very fast. 

With clergy coming from a multiplicity 

of nations, and a congregation that might 

have as many as 40 different nationalities 

represented, something unique and new 

is emerging. I think we are still in the 

early days of this evolution and perhaps a 

distinctive Australian ecclesiastical culture is 

still a way off. 

What is essential is that we provide capacity 

in our parishes and communities to 

recognise that we have this potential and 

that we allow the Spirit of the Risen Christ 

to open our eyes to new possibilities in 

the way we present ourselves as Church 

communities, with a blend of various 

Catholic cultures and traditions given 

expression. 

While this is happening, we must ensure 

though that we do not become too 

introspective – Pope Francis continually 

reminds us that we must be a Church that is 

present at the margins and that our task of 

proclaiming the Good News in Jesus Christ 

is to bring others into our parishes so that 

they too can add to the mix. 

It is an exciting and challenging time to 

belong to the Diocese and we have much 

more to do. As we come to the climax of 

the Easter Season with the celebration of 

Pentecost may the Holy Spirit that came 

upon the Apostles like “tongues of flame” 

also inflame our hearts to be the people and 

the Church that Christ wants us to become. 

With joy in the Risen Lord, 


Diocesan Administrator 

NEWS FROM THE CCD 

NEW APPOINTMENTS 

DIOCESAN PASTORAL 

PLAN 

PARISH PROFILE 

CATHOLIC EDUCATION 

CATHOLIC CARE SOCIAL 

SERVICES 

VOCATIONS 

NEWS & EVENTS 

YEAR OF MERCY 

CALENDAR OF EVENTS 

CatholicOutlook 

The official publication of the Diocese of Parramatta 

Publisher: 


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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 

Designers: 

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School news: 

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Tel (02) 9840 5609 

news@parra.catholic.edu.au 

Deadlines: 

Editorial and advertising 

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ORDINATION TO THE 

PERMANENT DIACONATE 

YOU ARE INVITED TO 

THE ORDINATION OF 

George Bryan as a Permanent Deacon 

Sunday 8 May during Mass at 11am 

St Patrick's Cathedral, 1 Marist Place, Parramatta 

Principal Celebrant Most Rev Peter A Comensoli 

Bishop of Broken Bay 

Advertising: 

Tel (02) 8838 3409 

Accounts: 

Alfie Ramirez 

Tel (02) 8838 3437 

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is copyright and may not be reproduced 

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2 CatholicOutlook | APRIL 2016 

www.catholicoutlook.org

ECUMENISM 

Merrylands Parish co-hosts ecumenical gathering 

By Elizabeth McFarlane 

Unity can seldom be achieved without 

dialogue in a diverse community. This 

truth extends to the Church community 

and is manifested in the ecumenical 

movement. 

On 8 March, Eastern and Roman Catholic 

and Orthodox Churches were represented 

by hundreds of young people at the 

‘One in Christ’ ecumenical gathering at 

St Margaret Mary’s Parish in Merrylands, 

co-hosted with the Melkite Catholic 

Church. 

This is the second time the event has taken 

place, which aims to bring together the 

different apostolic churches to discuss 

matters of faith and life. 

In this Year of Mercy, they embarked on 

a night of sharing, focusing on the works 

and acts of mercy that unify Christian 

Churches. 

The night brought together faithful from 

the Melkite, Maronite, Coptic Orthodox, 

Antiochian Orthodox, Slovenian Catholic 

and Assyrian Church of the East to share 

these good deeds. 

Our Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev 

Peter G Williams, and Bishop Robert 

Rabbat, leader of the Melkite Eparchy of 

The night brought together faithful from the Melkite, Maronite, Coptic Orthodox, Antiochian Orthodox, Slovenian Catholic and Assyrian Church of the East. 

Photos: Elizabeth McFarlane. 

Australia and New Zealand, as well as 20 

other clergy from the many denominations 

and apostolic churches, were present on 

the night. 

Fr Peter said he was impressed to see the 

young people from the different churches 

“learning more about each other’s 

traditions and at the same time confirming 

unity in Christ by virtue of a common 

Baptism.” 

“The scandal of disunity is felt by all of 

us as Christians, and since the Second 

Vatican Council, the Roman Catholic 

Church has committed to ecumenism as 

an essential part of the Church’s activity. 

“Much of the reason for our disunity, 

particularly between the Eastern Orthodox 

Churches and ourselves, stems from 

ecclesial misunderstandings and also some 

doctrinal issues. 

“I think it is highly probable that there 

will be a rapprochement with the Eastern 

Orthodox Churches and that will be a 

great blessing to all.” 

During the Mercy Commitment 

Workshop on the night, the young people 

present were encouraged to commit to acts 

of mercy together. 

Amal Sayegh, youth leader of the Saints 

Peter and Paul Antiochian Orthodox 

Christian Church, said the night 

highlighted the ways in which the young 

people of her Church could extend 

their fellowship activities to the greater 

Christian community. 

“Our Antiochian brothers and sisters come 

together during the Lenten period when 

we visit a church once a week and unite in 

fellowship,” she said. 

“Hopefully, in the future we can extend 

this to the Eastern and Roman Catholic 

Churches so that way we can unite with 

them in fellowship, so that we can be 

stronger in working together in the one 

faith.” 

Assistant Priest of St Margaret Mary’s 

Parish, Rev Peter Strohmayer OSPPE, 

said it was an honour to have everyone 

gathered together and to see the young 

people discuss, share and celebrate their 

faith. 

“I have been professionally guided 

and inspired. I look forward to 

applying the principles I’ve learnt 

about approaching legal issues to 

my own practice one day.” 

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CatholicOutlook | APRIL 2016 3

SOCIAL JUSTICE 

Cycling for Caritas 

through Cambodia 

By Cecilia Zammit, Director of the CCD 

Homes have metal roofs thanks to Caritas. 

The group visited the country’s ancient temples. 

In February this year, I travelled with my husband, Frank, 

and 14 fellow Australians on a cycling trip through 

Cambodia to raise funds for projects supported by Caritas, 

the Catholic Church’s overseas aid and development agency. 

Unfortunately, I was injured while training before our 

departure and could not take part in the ride. The other cyclists 

covered more than 350km from Siem Reap in the north, up to 

the Thai border and down to Battambong in the west, then on 

to Phnom Penh. 

We visited many temples, the royal palace, the genocide 

museum and ate beautiful Khmer food. The highlight for 

me was meeting families in villages that were part of Caritas 

projects. 

While in Siem Reap we went to the Caritas headquarters 

where we were given information about how more than 

1000 communities were chosen for Caritas support and the 

expectations on them to commit to a plan for development. 

Field officers worked closely with families to generate 

an income, have a savings plan and to enable them to access 

medical services when required. 

This introduction was followed by a trip to one of the 

remote communities more than 25kms from town along 

dry, dusty roads. We met a group of 15 women who had just 

finished a meeting discussing their personal plans and holding 

on to their savings book. 

Cecilia and Frank Zammit helped to raids funds for Caritas projects in 

Cambodia. 

Through a translator we heard about how some families 

who had been in the program for three years had obtained a 

pond, a cow, a reliable well, a water filter, a vegetable garden 

and chickens. This ensured that the families had a more secure 

food source and clean water supplies. 

Children were assisted with school supplies and generally 

attended primary school from age six for a half day, Monday to 

Saturday. Students in secondary classes still had to walk some 

distance to another town. (Some families dreamed to own a 

family bicycle for easy transport.) 

No rain since November last year meant only one rice 

crop could be grown. Some parents walked great distances to 

forests to collect rattan for weaving baskets to supplement their 

income. 

They climbed tall palm trees to collect palm oil and cooked 

it into palm sugar for sale. A few extra dollars helped them save 

for their goals. 

Several women showed us their homes, most of which had 

metal roofs thanks to Caritas. We also went into a primary 

classroom where resources were sparse but I will never forget 

the smiles on the children’s faces and it was a joy to sing songs 

together. 

Several days later we arrived in the capital city, Phnom 

Penh, where we learnt of a group of very poor Cambodians 

who were shifted from the city to an outlying area with very 

Palm oil is cooked into palm sugar for sale. 

little infrastructure. Their houses were sitting on top of a 

sewer and it was only a plank of wood that enabled us to walk 

through the compound to meet the families. 

This Caritas project focused on assisting the youth to gain 

skills such as screen printing, sewing and gardening as well as 

being encouraged to advocate for their human rights. 

It was a joy to see how proud the parents were and their 

hope for the future. 

While this trip was confronting at times it was a privilege to 

meet the people trying to make a difference. 

Seeing this great work that Caritas is doing in partnership 

with local agencies made the visiting Australians very proud to 

have raised more than $73,000 in fundraising activities prior to 

the trip. 

Personally, I am grateful to Baiada Poultry, Vellex Transport 

and the many family, friends and colleagues who donated to 

Caritas as we fundraised $6500. 

Be assured that every dollar is needed and well spent in 

Cambodia in these Caritas projects. This is a nation that has a 

tormented history; people have suffered much and deserve our 

help. 

Contributing money to Caritas is one way we can do 

something to show mercy to people struggling to stay alive. 

Donations can be made online at: 

http://www.caritas.org.au/donate 



CatholicYouthParra @cyp_parramatta @CatholicYouthParra 

CATHOLIC YOUTH 

Streets fill with flags, palms, 

smiles and song 

By James Camden, Director of Catholic Youth Parramatta 

Catholics from across the Diocese filled the streets of Parramatta for the annual Palm Sunday procession. 

Parramatta CBD came to a standstill last 

month as hundreds of Catholics from 

Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains 

filled the streets for the annual Palm Sunday 

procession. 

The procession commenced at Parramatta 

Town Hall with the blessing of palms and 

featured groups of young people from Catholic 

Education Diocese of Parramatta schools and 

youth from parishes across the Diocese. 

The procession finished at 6pm with Mass 

in St Patrick’s Cathedral when approximately 

500 young people joined their families, friends 

and Cathedral parishioners for our local World 

Youth Day celebrations. 

Young people bearing national flags joined 

our seminarians to led the entrance procession 

along with our WYD Chaplains, Chair of the 

Youth Council Fr Paul Roberts, Diocesan 

Administrator and Principal Celebrant for the 

Mass Very Rev Peter Williams and Diocesan 

MC Fr John Paul Escarlan. 

Music was provided by the 'Lifted' house 

band that will lead the worship during our 

WYD pilgrimages to Poland in July. This core 

group is made up of group leaders and teachers 

who will be joined by pilgrims as formation 

gets underway. They will split into two teams 

for each pilgrimage and come together again 

once we are in Krakow for WYD week. 

The entrance hymn Blessed are the Merciful 

will be the WYD anthem for the next four 

months. 

After the Palm Sunday Mass, the 

congregation was invited to join with pilgrims 

for our WYD event in the Cathedral Cloister. 

They were treated to performances by Filipino 

and Polish dance groups as well as an Aussie 

BBQ and Polish donuts. Thanks especially to 

the Catenians and Cathedral staff for their 

leadership of all the catering. 

Pilgrims also received their Pilgrim 

Formation Pack, outlining the upcoming 

formation nights at Glenmore Park, Stanhope 

Gardens and Greystanes beginning in May. 

At 8pm, the WYD raffle was drawn by Fr 

Andrew Fornal OP and the first pilgrim to 

have registered and paid their deposit, Sarah 

Agbulos from Stanhope Gardens Parish, 

announced each prize winner. 

No prize winners were there on the night 

but we managed to make a live phone call over 

the sound system to speak with the winner of 

the car. Coincidently, he is a parishioner at St 

Patrick’s Cathedral and was extremely excited 

about the win. 

Congratulations to all prize winners. 

First prize – M Alba: Toyota Yaris 5 door 

automatic (supplied by Terry Shields Toyota, 

Parramatta); 

Second prize – A d’Souza: Cosmos 

European 2016 Tour for two to the value of 

$6000 (donated by Cosmos); 

Third prize – D Bent: Apple iPad Mini 

(donated by Campion College Australia – 

offering Australia’s first Catholic BA, in the 

Liberal Arts); 

Fourth prize – C Tolentino: Cash prize of 

$500 (donated by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu); 

and 

Fifth prize – S Matic: Apple Watch 

(donated by Catholic Church Insurance Ltd). 

The Diocese will be taking two pilgrimages 

to WYD in Krakow – one via the Philippines 

and one via Poland, the homeland of St John 

Paul II. 

Full travel details, including pricing, are 

now available. Young people aged 16-35 are 

invited to register online at: 

www.parrawyd.org 

The group arrived at St Patrick’s Cathedral before the sun rose. Photos: Adrian Middeldorp. 

Good Friday Night Walk 

More than 1200 young people made 

the Good Friday Night Walk from 

St Patrick’s Church in Blacktown to 

St Patrick’s Cathedral on 25-26 March. 

Setting off at 10pm, the group walked 

from Blacktown to Our Lady of Lourdes 

Parish, Seven Hills, St Anthony’s Parish, 

Toongabbie, Our Lady of Mt Carmel Parish, 

Wentworthville, and St Margaret Mary’s Parish, 

Merrylands. 

The Diocesan Youth Council developed a 

program to help deepen our appreciation of 

the Year of Mercy in the context of Holy Week 

and our diocesan theme, ‘Mercy has a Face’. 

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DIOCESAN NEWS 

Faithful fill St Patrick’s Cathedral for Chrism Mass 

It was standing room only in St Patrick’s Cathedral for this year’s Chrism Mass. Photos: Art in Images. 

It was standing room only in St 

Patrick’s Cathedral on 23 March 

as the faithful from parishes, 

religious orders, migrant chaplaincies 

and groups from across the Diocese 

of Parramatta came together for the 

Chrism Mass. 

The principal celebrant for the Mass 

was the Apostolic Nuncio in Australia, 

His Excellency Most Rev Dr Adolfo 

Tito Yllana. 

During the Mass, the Oil of the 

Catechumens and the Oil of the Sick 

were blessed and the Oil of Chrism 

was consecrated. Representatives of 

each parish, together with the priest, 

were called forward to receive the oils 

on behalf of their community. The oils 

will be used throughout the Diocese 

for celebrating the sacraments during 

the year. 

The Mass was concelebrated by the 

Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev 

Peter G Williams, Bishop Emeritus of 

Parramatta Most Rev Kevin Manning 

and the presbyterate of the Diocese 

of Parramatta and visiting presbyters. 

Deacons from the Diocese assisted. 

During the Mass, the priests 

renewed their commitment to priestly 

service. 

A light supper was served in the 

Cathedral hall at the conclusion of the 

ceremony. 

To view a gallery of photos from the 

Mass, visit: https://www.flickr.com/ 

photos/parracatholic/albums 

Celebrate the Holy Year of Mercy by supporting priests, religious sisters and brothers wherever the Church is poor, persecuted or threatened 

A priest visiting the sick in Peru 

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www.parrafamlife.org.au @parrafamlife parrafamlife 

How an outcast became 

the first witness of the 

Resurrection 

By Ben Smith, Director of the Family & Life Office 

FAMILY & LIFE 

We are now in the season of Easter in 

which we ponder the Resurrection 

of the Lord. Some key questions to 

consider are: 

• What is the relevance of the Resurrection 

to our modern technological world? 

• How does the Resurrection fit with the 

Year of Mercy? 

To answer these questions it is worth 

looking more closely at the events of Easter 

Sunday. 

One thing that is surprising is that, 

according to John’s Gospel, St Mary Magdalene 

was the first eyewitness of the Risen Jesus. 

She did not recognise Him at first, but when 

He spoke her name she was moved with such 

emotion and surprise that she wouldn’t let go 

of Him. 

Fresh from this experience, she became the 

first witness of the Resurrection to the Apostles. 

Hence, she came to be called “the apostle of 

Apostles” by various theologians and, most 

recently, by St John Paul II. 

The central importance of St Mary 

Magdalene in the Easter story is significant. 

One might wonder why Jesus didn’t first 

appear to Mary, His mother or even St John, 

His beloved disciple. They both seemed to be 

respectable people in terms of Jewish society. 

On the other hand, St Mary Magdalene 

would have been seen as an outcast. The 

Gospels record that Jesus cast seven demons 

out of her during His public ministry. She 

would have lived in a state of desolation until 

she experienced the healing love of Jesus. 

So Jesus’ choice of St Mary Magdalene 

as the first witness of the Resurrection has a 

special significance for people who would be 

considered outcasts or sinners, and this gives all 

of us hope. 

This Easter hope is of relevance for the 

modern world. Despite all the progress over the 

past century, the legacy of two world wars, the 

rise of Nazism and Communism and the social 

upheaval since the late 1960s has left modern 

man in a state of spiritual desolation. 

Pope Francis recently highlighted that: 

“The fragility of our era is this … we don’t 

believe that there is a chance for redemption; 

for a hand to raise you up; for an embrace to 

save you, forgive you, pick you up, flood you 

with infinite, patient, indulgent love; to put you 

back on your feet.” 

Pope Francis sees that people of our era 

need concrete experiences of mercy so that we 

can really feel forgiven and thus be healed from 

the damage caused by sin. 

The Resurrection gives us hope that we can 

be healed. Central to our faith is our belief in 

the bodily resurrection of Jesus. His glorified 

body was a witness to new life, transformation 

and redemption, but it also bore the wounds of 

His crucifixion as St Thomas discovered in the 

Upper Room. 

His wounds remind us of the image of 

St Mary Magdalene was the first eyewitness of the Risen Jesus. Image: LDS Media Library, 

(www.lds.org/media-library) © 2016 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. 

Jesus as the wounded Lamb of God who takes 

away the sins of the world. Jesus’ death and 

resurrection destroyed the power of both sin 

and death. 

The Church’s Easter message has a special 

relevance in the Year of Mercy. It is also fitting 

that the Feast of Divine Mercy is celebrated in 

the season of Easter. 

The past three Popes have made it an 

important part of their ministry. Pope Francis 

has made mercy central to his pontificate, 

and this has culminated in the Jubilee Year of 

Mercy. 

Our world is sorely in need of experiencing 

God’s mercy and the hope of the Resurrection. 

St Mary Magdalene’s role in proclaiming the 

Resurrection should inspire us all. 

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CatholicOutlook | 16/09/2015 APRIL 2016 12:48 pm 7

NEWS FROM THE CCD 

Parish and Regional Coordinators 

come together to plan the year ahead 

NEW APPOINTMENTS 

By Cecilia Zammit, CCD Director 

In February this year, I met with about 60 Parish 

Coordinators and the Regional Coordinators in 

Blacktown for our first CCD planning day for 2016. 

An extended prayer led by Sr Leone Pallisier OSU 

focused on the Catechists called to Nurture God’s work of 

Art. An important question to reflect on was: As a catechist 

what are your hopes and dreams for the children – works of 

art in the making – entrusted to your care this year? 

Parish Coordinators have an important role leading the 

Special Religious Educators (SREs), or catechists, in their 

parish. They liaise with the parish priest, parish office and the 

state schools. 

They make sure there are SREs for each class and that 

work books are distributed to each teacher. In addition, they 

have the responsibility of completing the parish register. 

The February meeting was an opportunity to share 

diocesan information with the Parish Coordinators on 

workbooks for combined classes as well how to respond 

to difficult questions asked in the classroom. It was an 

opportunity for the Parish Coordinators to meet in regional 

groups. 

An important agenda item was the training sessions that 

the Diocese offers to SREs in various locations across the 

Diocese. 

Level 1 Training is a requirement for all new SREs: 

• Fridays from 10 June at the Institute for Mission in 

Blacktown; and 

• Fridays from 12 August in Winston Hills. 

The training days cover the teaching manual, classroom 

management, the Bible, music, child protection and using 

smartboards. 

The children are ‘works of art in the making’ entrusted to our care. 

Level 2 Training will be offered on Mondays at St Marys 

from 25 July, 9.30am to 2.30pm. 

Topics will include faith and meaning, Hebrew Scriptures, 

Christian Scriptures, lesson preparation and the sacraments. 

For inquiries about these training sessions and to 

register please contact Maree Collis at the CCD Office in 

Parramatta tel (02) 9890 4731 or send an email to mcollis@ 

ccdparramatta.com.au 

For more information about becoming a catechist in the 

Diocese of Parramatta visit www.parra.catholic.org.au/ccd 

The Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev Peter 

G Williams, has confirmed the following 

appointments in the Diocese of Parramatta: 

Rev Fr Alfonsus Nahak SVD 

Assistant Priest 

St Bernadette’s Parish 

Castle Hill 

From 1 March 2016 

Rev Fr Sumesh Joseph Illikkaparambil OSA 

Assistant Priest 

Holy Spirit Parish 

St Clair 

From 4 March 2016 

New Diocese of Parramatta website 

A new diocesan website has been launched: www.parracatholic.org 

Please take five minutes to 

tell us what you think at: 

www.parracatholic.org 



How do we engage our people? 

By Richard McMahon, Director of Pastoral Planning & Implementation 

We have the same people 

turning up every time! 

Mary has been the ministry 

coordinator for so long, but no one 

else wants to take it on. No one seems 

interested in what is being offered. 

These are just some of the concerns 

raised by good people passionate about 

involving their communities. 

It may be cold comfort to 

appreciate that the challenge of 

engagement is not isolated to the 

Catholic Church. As a soccer coach, 

there are always challenges of engaging 

parents to help with set up of grounds, 

to bring children to training and to 

even turn up in time for matches. 

It is no different in our workplaces. 

Many employees just turn up, with 

a 2012 US Gallup State of American 

Workplace, Employee Engagement, 

indicating only 30% of workers were 

showing up engaged and enthusiastic 

about their work. 

The work of Gallup identifies three 

types of employees: 

• Engaged – working with 

passion and experiencing a strong 

connection to their company. They are 

full of energy, enthusiasm and ideas, 

fully committed. 

• Not engaged – employees 

are essentially turning up, just getting 

through the day, but not passionate 

about their work. 

• Actively disengaged – 

employees are not just discontented 

but are acting out their frustration, 

undermining the work of their 

colleagues. 

This surveying has also been 

applied to US Christian congregations, 

with actively engaged members having 

a stronger faith commitment, more 

involved in community service and/or 

ministries, more likely to invite others, 

and contribute more money to the 

congregation. 

Gallup suggests congregations 

respond to four key questions 

to increase engagement in faith 

communities. The questions are: 

* What do I get? 

* What can I give? 

* Do I belong? 

* How do we grow? 

They are explained by Albert L 

Winseman, D Min., Religion and Social 

Trends Editor for Gallup as follows: 

“When new members join a faith 

community, they first ask, ‘What 

do I get?’ in an attempt to decide 

if belonging to this organisation 

is worth their investment of time, 

effort and self. If they determine that 

they will receive enough value from 

joining, they will then ask, ‘What can 

I give?’ and look for ways that their 

unique talents can contribute to the 

congregation. From there they will 

ask, ‘Do I belong?’ as they look for 

signs that they are valued. When they 

know that they receive something of 

value from belonging, that they make 

a meaningful contribution to the life 

of the congregation, and that they are 

valued, they will then look for signs 

that the organisation's members are 

growing in their faith. Recognising 

this process is vitally important for 

congregation leaders intent upon 

improving engagement levels among 

their members.” 

In short, our faith communities 

will be strengthened if we are able to 

identify what it is that our people are 

seeking, particularly those engaging in 

sacramental preparation and new to 

our communities. 

Once these needs are met, the 

movement turns to how we are 

engaging people’s gifts, and so on. 

Sometimes, we are pushing people to 

sign up to ministries, when their initial 

needs are not met. Equally, if engaged 

parishioners have no opportunity to 

share ideas, or take on leadership roles, 

they may move elsewhere. 

The Pastoral Planning Office 

assists with all these steps and many 

resources are available both from our 

own Diocese and nationally. We also 

do well to learn from the Catholic 

Church’s national Pastoral Research 

Office. This body spends much time 

exploring the questions of what makes 

our communities stronger, and backs 

up their approaches through tools such 

as the National Church Life Survey. 

For more information or support 

please contact me: 

Richard McMahon 

Tel (02) 9831 4911 

rmcmahon@parra.catholic.org.au 

DIOCESAN PASTORAL PLAN 

‘franciscus’ 

LAUNCHES ON INSTAGRAM 

The first post from ‘franciscus’ on Instagram 

was “Pray for me”. 

On the feast of St Joseph this 

year, Pope Francis launched 

his own Instagram account. 

The Holy Father’s first post under 

the account name ‘franciscus’ (Latin 

for Francis) on the photo and video 

sharing social network site was 

posted on 19 March. 

Instagram was founded in 

2010 and has more than 400 

million users worldwide. The social 

media department of the Vatican’s 

Secretariat for Communications will 

be responsible for the management 

of the Pope’s Instagram account, 

which will post not only photos but 

also short videos. 

In a Vatican statement, Mons 

Dario Vigano, Prefect of the 

Secretariat for Communications, 

noted how, “Instagram will help 

recount the Papacy through images, 

to enable all those who wish to accompany and know more about Pope Francis’ 

pontificate to encounter his gestures of tenderness and mercy.” 

The photographs will be sourced from the Photographic Service of 

L’Osservatore Romano. “In this way we can show those aspects of closeness and 

inclusion that Pope Francis lives every day,” Mons Vigano said. 

He said it was not by chance that the Instagram account was inaugurated 

during the Year of Mercy, with the jubilee year entering into social media in a very 

concrete and natural way. 

In February, Pope Francis met with the CEO of Instagram, Kevin Systrom. In a 

post after the audience, Systrom said they discussed “the power of images to unite 

people across different cultures and languages”. 

The Holy Father already has a strong presence on social media. His Twitter 

account, available in nine languages, has more than 25 million followers whose 

numbers are constantly increasing. 

Source: Zenit.org 

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MEDICAL CENTRE 

81– 83 Richmond Rd, Blacktown, NSW | 9622 1998 

A3-Parra-Concert-2016.indd 1 

11/02/2016 2:26 pm 




ST NICHOLAS OF MYRA PARISH, PENRITH 

A community ‘Grounded in Faith; Growing in Love; Living in Hope’ 


Penrith’s parish secretary, Lyn Olander, with Fr Mathew Antony MS and Fr Joe Manjaly MS 

(right). Photos: Elizabeth McFarlane. 

St Nicholas of Myra Church has a contemporary design. 

In Penrith stands a contemporary 

designed church, circular in build with 

the communal altar in the centre of the 

congregation. 

St Nicholas of Myra Church was opened 

and blessed by Cardinal Gilroy on 30 April 

1967, but the parish itself dates back to 1839, 

when Fr Charles Sumner, the first priest 

ordained in Australia, was appointed Parish 

Priest. 

The fence at the front of the church 

along High Street is constructed from the 

sandstone of the original church, binding 

the community to its roots. 

The parish community is close-knit 

and during Mass, its members are never 

more than eight seats away from the altar, 

assembled to seemingly depict the faith 

connection of the Penrith people and the 

parish over the past 177 years. 

The parish secretary, Lyn Olander, 

has been a parishioner since 1975. “In 

everything we do, we aim to follow our 

mission and motto: Grounded in Faith; 

Growing in Love; Living in Hope,” she said. 

The diverse and vibrant population 

has been strengthened by the humble 

undertakings of many priests, and Lyn feels 

privileged to have worked alongside four of 

them. 

“I have worked with four parish priests: 

Fr Geoff Dickinson for two years, Fr Wim 

Hoekstra for six years, Fr Chris de Souza 

for 10 years and Fr Mathew Antony MS 

presently, as well as with numerous assistant 

priests. Working with all of them has been 

something very special. They have all helped 

me grow in my spiritual life,” she said. 

Serving more than 3000 Catholic 

families who live in the area, the parish has a 

multicultural heart. 

Assistant Priest Fr Joe Manjaly MS 

expressed his elation in celebrating with 

the many cultures that join together to 

worship and praise God: “Every Sunday, it 

is wonderful seeing people from different 

nationalities, languages, colour and ethnic 

groups, worshipping one God and being 

renewed in their spiritual life.” 

The groups that make up the parish 

also carry on the mission of the parish, 

unrestricted by age. 

From the usual youth and social justice 

groups to the more distinctive senior 

groups. 

The Young at Heart group is made up 

of about 20 to 30 senior parishioners who 

join in fellowship every month, embarking 

on bus trips and sharing in morning teas 

together. There is even the weekly Knitting 

Group for older parishioners. 

With a Diploma in Pastoral Care, Lyn is 

dedicated to her role as parish secretary and 

the people she serves. 

“My job is not so much work, as it is 

ministry. It is very rewarding and a privilege 

to get to know the parishioners and form 

lasting bonds with them,” she said. 

The pastoral element of her role offers 

Lyn an opportunity to join with fellow 

parishioners in solidarity during the ups and 

downs of everyday life. 

“I am passionate about the care that is 

needed to be shown to families in times of 

illness or loss of loved ones. Just being there 

can be comforting to someone who may be 

isolated through illness, or struggling with 

grief,” she said. 

“You feel their grief and you feel their 

joy. The parish secretary is the first person 

you see when you come through the door 

so it is very important to be welcoming 

with a smile. The parish secretary is often a 

counsellor and a confidante, sharing your 

joys and sorrows. 

“It is a joy to be part of the Penrith 

parish community.” 

For information about 

St Nicholas of Myra Parish, visit: 

www.stnicholasofmyra.org.au 

Proudly supporting the Parishes of the Diocese of Parramatta since 1950 

www.christimmins.com.au 

Phone 

9630 9688 

Join us on 

 

www.facebook.com/timminsfunerals 



Mother’s prayers pay off for Penrith priest 

By Joseph Younes 

Born into a devoutly Syro-Malabar 

Catholic family (Eastern Church) in 

Kerala, India, Fr Mathew’s mother 

prayed that one of her eight children would 

enter religious life. 

“We would pray and say the rosary daily. 

This was a common practice for Catholics in 

Kerala,” Fr Mathew said. 

His mother’s prayers would be answered 

when Fr Mathew entered a seminary at the 

tender age of 16 and was ordained a priest in 

the Latin Rite in 1987. 

“My family was strongly supportive of 

me in this vocation. In Kerala at the time 

it was customary to have a priest in every 

family. Kerala is known as being a strongly 

Catholic area.” 

Now parish priest of St Nicholas of Myra 

(since 2012), Fr Mathew Antony MS has 

travelled a long way from his subcontinental 

beginnings. 

“Initially, I studied to be a diocesan 

priest. But then, the La Salette Missionaries 

came and spoke at our seminary. I decided 

to join them and finished my studies and 

ordination in the Philippines as a religious 

priest,” he said. 

Having lived and worked in India, the 

Philippines and the US, Fr Mathew came to 

the Diocese of Parramatta at the invitation of 

the then Bishop Kevin Manning. 

“First I was assistant priest at Quakers 

Hill parish, administrator at Riverstone 

Rev Father Mathew Antony MS. 

Photo: Elizabeth McFarlane 

parish now parish priest at Penrith,” he said. 

“At first, I was like, ‘how would I run such a 

big parish?’.” 

His initial questions of how he would 

operate such a large and historical parish 

like Penrith (founded 1839) were quickly 

overcome when he was made “strongly 

welcome, from day one” by the parishioners. 

Fr Mathew is also a polyglot and speaks 

English, Malayalam, Tagalog, Ilocano and 

Hindi. “It is a blessing that I speak so many 

languages. It helps make my parishioners feel 

at home – for example I can speak Tagalog 

and Ilocano with my Filipino parishioners. 

At first they were surprised an Indian priest 

could speak Filipino languages,” he said. 

Penrith Parish is a vibrant faith 

community. “I have people of Irish-Anglo- 

Scottish background, people from the 

Philippines, Islanders like Fijians and 

Samoans, Middle Easterners, Europeans, 

Maltese, Italians and, of course, people from 

Indian and Sri Lanka,” he said. 

“These people are rich in faith, they 

are very cooperative and they are open to 

helping the parish. I can say, they have been 

supportive of me and they have been very 

loving. 

“The parishioners show up on Sunday 

and the committees show up on Tuesday 

and they all support the parish. They provide 

me with strong inspiration and I have very 

supportive staff including my assistant priest 

Fr Joe Manjaly MS.” 

Fr Mathew also draws strength, support 

and inspiration from the Eucharist. “My 

strength comes from the Eucharist, it 

sustains me to keep going, to support people. 

By the grace of God, I can say it is a blessing 

that I am a priest. I can see how God leads 

and carries me to help people.” 

Forty years after first entering a seminary, 

it seems his mother’s prayers have well and 

truly been answered. 


Missionaries 

of Our Lady 

of La Salette 

The Missionaries of Our Lady of 

La Salette (MS - Missionarium 

Saletiniensis) were founded 1852, 

in La Salette, France. 

Focused on reconciliation, they 

call on people to know God and 

are found in 25 countries around 

the world with 1000 active 

members. 

Penrith is the MS community 

hub in the Diocese of Parramatta. 

There are 10 members in 

Australia: five in the Diocese 

of Parramatta, three in the 

Diocese of Armidale and two in 

the Archdiocese of Canberra & 

Goulburn. 

Visit 

www.lasalette.org 

Diocesan Development Fund 

Catholic Diocese of Parramatta 

Supporting the 

growing needs of the 

institutions and agencies within 

the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta 

Put those you love 

in the hands 

of those who care 

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. 

Sydney (02) 9519 5344 | Parramatta (02) 9687 1072 

wnbull@wnbull.com | www.wnbull.com.au 



CATHOLIC EDUCATION www.parra.catholic.edu.au @CatholicEdParra CatholicEdParra 

‘I belong, You 

belong, We belong’ 

This year, the theme of 

Catholic Schools Week was 

‘I belong, You belong, We 

belong’. It’s an inclusive 

message that highlights 

a real strength of every 

great Catholic school 

community. But what 

does it mean to belong at 

school? And what does it 

feel like not to belong, to 

be left out? 

Students on the edge of school communities face many 

challenges including socio-economic disadvantage, 

disability, language barriers, complex learning needs and 

low expectations for academic attainment. For many, 

not fitting in at school is part of a broader experience of 

social exclusion. 

When Neal Murphy from St John of God Health Care 

addressed Catholic Education leaders earlier this year, 

his theme was ‘To belong, I have to be missed’. 

In this powerful reflection on the struggle of students 

with disabilities to belong in school communities, Neal 

identified the inclusive work of schools with the healing 

mission of Christ. 

Last month, I wrote about the call not just to be Christlike 

but to see Christ in all members of our communities, 

especially those on the fringes. After all, Christ Himself 

was an outsider, even in His own town. 

We must go out of our way to listen to the voices of 

those who don’t ‘fit in’: they tell us so much about the 

need for change, in education and beyond. 

Catholic Education Parramatta alumnus Nas Campanella 

is one such powerful voice. Nas, who is blind, went 

on to a career in journalism and currently works as a 

newsreader for Triple J. 

She spoke to system leaders in January about the need 

to set high expectations for students with disabilities 

and to ensure students are part of the conversation 

about their own learning, not left on the fringes. She was 

fortunate to have one such teacher who listened and 

responded to her unique educational needs. 

The ‘preferential option for the poor’ is a basic 

principle of Catholic social teaching. In education, it is a 

recognition that every student can and must learn. It’s 

the principle underpinning the Gonski review of school 

funding that sought to ensure resources were directed 

to schools and to students most in need. 

Applying a needs-based funding model is only one part 

of the puzzle. It’s how the funding is used that makes 

the greatest difference. The schools that have made the 

best learning gains for ‘disadvantaged’ students share 

something in common: they meet learners where they 

are at. 

There are still too many children and young people in our 

communities who don’t know what it feels like to belong. 

By providing these students with both personalised 

learning and a community that recognises the dignity 

and needs of each individual learner, great Catholic 

schools have an opportunity not just to transform 

learning, but to change the world. 

Greg Whitby 

Executive Director of Schools 

@gregwhitby 

blog: bluyonder.wordpress.com 

Exploring creativity 

By Kim Brownlie 

Exploring 

creativity 

CREATIVITY IS OFTEN HIGHLIGHTED AS ONE OF THE KEY 

SKILLS ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS IN THE 21ST CENTURY. 

Innovation today requires adaptability, leadership, 

teamwork, and interpersonal skills. Increasingly, the 

capacity to be creative and innovative is linked to 

the ability to connect with others and with a facility for 

communication and collaboration. 

Deputy Executive Director of Schools Sue Walsh said 

creativity cannot be seen in isolation and needs to be seen 

in the context of other capabilities. 

“In his paper ‘Great to Excellent’, Prof Michael Fullan looks 

at the six Cs underpinning the next stage of Ontario’s 

educational agenda,” Sue said. “Creativity needs to be seen 

in the context of these other capabilities - citizenship, 

character education, communication, critical thinking and 

collaboration.” 

At Delany College, Granville, CAPTIVATE Team 

Leader Author Mark of Drive: Hopkins The Surprising and Drama Truth Mentor About What Dr Miranda Motivates 

Jefferson Us, Daniel have Pink, worked (2005) notes with that the creative college thinking to focus is on increasingly four 

Cs necessary (communication, to accomplish collaboration, goals in the complex, critical interconnected reflection and world. 

creativity) Education researchers as the basis and of psychologists a new approach tout the to social, learning emotional, and 

teaching cognitive called and professional the Delany benefits Connective of possessing creative abilities. 

In an interview with Oprah (2009) Pink said ‘the right brain is 

Mark finally said being the taken fours seriously’. Cs, in essence, are what make us 

human. ‘In many professions, what used to matter most were abilities 

associated with the left side of the brain: linear, sequential, 

“When the forces of communication, collaboration and 

spreadsheet kind of faculties. Those still matter, but they’re not 

critical reflection are being refined and developed then 

enough,’ Pink said. ‘What’s important now are the characteristics of 

you 

the brain’s 

develop 

right 

a capacity 

hemisphere: 

to really 

artistry, 

think 

empathy, 

creatively 

inventiveness, 

and with 

bigpicture 

thinking. 

creativity you get 

These 

the 

skills 

possibility 

have become 

of new 

first 

knowledge, 

among equals 

new 

in a 

ways whole of range approaching of business things, fields.’ new ways of seeing things,” 

Mark Deputy said. Executive Director Sue Walsh said creativity can’t be seen 

in isolation and needs to be seen in the context of other capabilities. 

Miranda said using the four Cs effectively in the classroom 

‘In his paper ‘Great to Excellent’, Professor Michael Fullan looks 

can help students open their minds to new ways of 

at the six Cs underpinning the next stage of Ontario’s educational 

learning. 

agenda,’ Sue said. ‘Creativity needs to be seen in the context of these 

The other creative capabilities and - performing citizenship, character arts provides education, opportunities communication, for 

students critical thinking to develop and collaboration their creative (see skills box right).’ that they can then 

apply ‘Fullan across tells all us that learning the overall areas. purpose of these six Cs is the wellbeing 

of the whole student and society,’ she said. ‘He challenges us 

Drama to think literacy about how we use creativity in everyday life to be a global 

citizen.’ 

CAPTIVATE’s ‘He calls this the Drama ‘new entrepreneurial Literacy program spirit’ uses which creativity he says is ‘a to 

enrich spirit characterised student literacy by innovation, learning. risk-taking, commitment and 

skilled problem solving in the service of a better future’,’ Sue said. 

Run Innovation in stage today groups, has it a social is designed component to increase and requires literacy adaptability, skills 

through leadership, the teamwork medium and of interpersonal drama. Tutors skills. work Increasingly alongside today, the the 

classroom capacity to teacher innovate in is linked capacity to the building ability to and connect developing with others 

skills and with in communication. a facility for communication In addition and to collaboration. literacy and 

communication skills, students develop performance, playbuilding 

and role-playing skills. 

By Kim Brownlie 

St Thomas Aquinas Primary, Springwood, Year 6 teacher 

Kate McKenzie said the way she teaches students drama 

literacy is to think with their bodies. 

“Drama literacy is comprehending the world around us,” 

Kate said. “Not using only our minds but our bodies to help 

us understand the context of things for our learning and to 

improve it.” 

Having participated in the program for the past three years, 

Kate said drama literacy has encouraged both students and 

staff to think more creatively about the learning. 

CREATIVITY IS OFTEN HIGHLIGHTED AS ONE OF THE KEY SKILLS 

ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS IN THE 21ST CENTURY. 

“You can only be creative if you take risks and every activity 

requires some element of stepping out of yourself; being 

part of something bigger and challenging your thinking 

and the thinking of those around you,” she said. 

FULLAN’S 6Cs 

CHARACTER EDUCATION 

Honesty, self-regulation and responsibility, perseverance, empathy 

for contributing to the safety and benefit of others, self-confidence, 

personal health and well-being, career and life skills. 

CITIZENSHIP 

Global knowledge, sensitivity to and respect for other cultures, 

active involvement in addressing issues of human and 

environmental sustainability. 

COMMUNICATION 

Communicate effectively orally, in writing and with a variety of 

digital tools; listening skills. 

CRITICAL THINKING & PROBLEM SOLVING 

Think critically to design and manage projects, solve problems, 

make effective decisions using a variety of digital tools 

and resources. 

COLLABORATION 

Work in teams, learn from and contribute to the learning of others, 

social networking skills, empathy in working with diverse others. 

CREATIVITY & IMAGINATION 

Economic and social entrepreneurialism, considering and 

pursuing novel ideas, and leadership for action. 

Source: ‘Great to Excellent: Launching the Next Stage of 

Ontario’s Education Agenda’, 2013 



UPDATE TERM 4 2015 3

www.parra.catholic.edu.au @CatholicEdParra CatholicEdParra 

CATHOLIC EDUCATION 

Students in the Concert Band program showcase how they harness their creativity in learning. 

The Commercial Dance Ensemble junior group show their creative language through dance. 

Kate said that her class had built on their work in drama 

literacy with students inventing creative ways to show their 

learning and to pose questions in other subject areas. 

Creativity in music 

Research has found that learning music facilitates learning 

other subjects and enhances skills that children inevitably 

use in other areas. 

A 2010 review by Northwestern University pulled together 

research from the scientific literature linking musical 

training to learning that spills over to skills including 

language, speech, memory, attention and even vocal 

emotion. 

The Concert Band program is taught in class groups in 

Years 5 and 6 where CAPTIVATE provides the tutor(s) 

required for the first year of delivery of the program and 

then coordinates the allocation of tutors across the schools 

in the program. 

Music Educator Francoise Marrier d’Unienville said the 

program sits in different forms across the primary schools 

in the Diocese and students learn how to play instruments. 

“It’s holistic learning in music; you’re not just learning 

how to play your instrument, you’re learning how to read 

music, how to count, signs and dynamics and expressive 

techniques,” Francoise said. 

Francoise believes that the program enables students to 

foster creativity because music is a language that is not 

hindered by a student’s ability level in literacy or numeracy. 

CAPTIVATE Artistic Director David Russell said the 

band program exists to provide every student with the 

opportunity to experience and immerse themselves in 

some sort of musical activity or musical process. 

“Nearly half of our primary schools offer the strings 

program or band program, which is providing a musical 

performing experience,” David said. “It’s about how that 

links into the way in which students learn and can transfer 

it into their learning for numeracy and literacy and even 

their physical learning like PDHPE and spatial awareness.” 

Creativity through dance 

The skills developed in dance can be valuable transferable 

skills that can be applied to any form of learning. The 

confidence gained through achievements in dance helps 

to build social skills, increase self esteem and the ability to 

communicate well in a group. 

The Commercial Dance Ensemble comprises both a junior 

(Years 3 to 6) and senior (Years 7 to 12) troupe, which 

rehearses weekly at St Agnes Catholic High School, Rooty 

Hill. 

The ensemble is open to any student with an interest in 

dance and covers high-energy routines combining popular 

dance and performance styles. 

CAPTIVATE Dance Mentor Peta Markham-Ward started 

the program with Mark Hopkins in 2010 to give students 

the opportunity to dance with students with the same 

interests. 

She said the dance ensemble enables students to be creative 

beyond the physical dance steps. 

“It opens their minds to being more creative and to come 

up with new and exciting ideas,” Peta said. 

In fact, throughout Term 4 last year, the ensemble had been 

working on a concept video to hone in on a new skillset 

and explore their creativity to learn more about production, 

storyboarding, video and editing. 

Catherine McAuley Westmead Year 9 student Laura 

SantaMaria said she has been dancing in the ensemble 

since she was in Year 5 in 2011 and it has helped with many 

aspects of learning. 

“It has definitely helped with confidence because we do a 

lot of shows in front of people we don’t know and also with 

our learning because it has helped us pick up things a lot 

quicker,” Laura said. 

Cerdon Catholic College, Merrylands, Year 10 student 

Rochelle Salatino only started dancing last year because of 

the opportunity provided by the dance ensemble. She feels 

that it has helped her to grow artistically. 

“I feel like the dance ensemble has given me the confidence 

to help interact and engage more at school,” Rochelle said. 

Creativity in science 

Creativity is not only the domain of painters, singers and 

playwrights, according to Robert DeHaan, a retired Emory 

University cell biologist who now studies how to teach 

creative thinking. 

While most people associate creativity with playing music, 

performing on stage or painting a picture, Mr DeHaan 

believes it can mean dreaming up a solution to a challenge 

encountered in a lab. 

Chemist Dudley Herschbach of Harvard University said 

scientists themselves describe science not as a set of facts 

and vocabulary to memorise or a lab report with one ‘right’ 

answer, but as an ongoing journey, a quest for knowledge 

about the natural world. 

“In science, you actually aren't concerned right off the bat 

about getting the right answer — nobody knows what it 

is,” Prof Herschbach said. “You're exploring a question we 

don't have answers to. That's the challenge, the adventure 

in it.” 

Teaching Educator Paul Stenning has been working 

with a number of secondary Science teachers across the 

Diocese to help students develop collaboration skills and 

to think critically about real world science experiments in 

astronomy. 

Paul highlighted the project called ‘Our Solar Siblings’ that 

has been running for a number of years in which students 

have access to working telescopes from around the world. 

“This is a project across Years 9 and 10 where students have 

access to telescopes as long as it’s vetted through the teacher 

and then the researcher,” Paul said. 

There are currently 13 schools active in the program where 

students who complete the course in Years 9 and 10 are 

ready for the astrophysics option for Year 12 physics. 

Recently, Paul worked with teachers to pick images that 

students have taken from telescopic readings and created 

using software to make a calendar. 

The project aimed to give students the ability to access real 

world experiments with skills that are transferrable across 

all Science disciplines and provides them with a basis to use 

the Four Cs. 

“That’s the thing about Science, you do things you don’t 

know the answers to, you don’t do Science on the things 

you do know the answers to, because that’s not Science or 

creativity,” Paul said. 



CATHOLIC EDUCATION www.parra.catholic.edu.au @CatholicEdParra CatholicEdParra 

Beginning Teachers and Principals Commissioning Ceremony 

2016 New Leaders’ Breakfast 

Beginning teachers and Principals stand with educational leaders from the Diocese of Parramatta. 

On 4 February, an afternoon tea and commissioning ceremony was held for beginning teachers 

and Principals in the Diocese of Parramatta. 

They were joined by family and friends for Mass in St Patrick’s Cathedral in Parramatta. The 

Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev Peter Williams, was the principal celebrant. 

Bridget Mazzella, a beginning teacher at Xavier College, Llandilo, said she was inspired to become 

a teacher based on the sense of support and direction she received as a student. 

“I look forward to delivering that to the next generation of 21st Century learners,” Bridget said. 

Science teacher Chiara Grella, who has just started at Gilroy Catholic College, Castle Hill, said she 

had been inspired to become a teacher after her experiences tutoring students at university. 

“I could see that just giving them one hour a week helped them so much, I thought how much 

progress could be achieved if I gave a lot more time,” Chiara said. “Eventually, one thing led to 

another and God led me to teaching.” 

Catholic Schools Week 

New REC at St Bernadette’s Primary, Dundas, Mary 

Elliot with her students. 

On 24 February, more than 20 newly appointed 

Principals, Assistant Principals, Religious 

Education Coordinators (RECs) and Team 

Leaders attended the annual New Leaders’ 

Breakfast held at the Catholic Education Office 

in Parramatta. 

The breakfast provided an opportunity for 

newly appointed school leaders to meet with 

System Leaders and Directors of Catholic 

Education in the Diocese of Parramatta. 

The Executive Director of Schools, Greg 

Whitby, said the breakfast was a great 

opportunity for new leaders to meet with their 

peers and be reminded of the importance of 

their roles in Catholic schooling. 

“I'm excited for our new leaders,” Greg said. 

“Our school communities will thrive on the 

fresh approach they bring to our work of 

learning and teaching.” 

Delegate of the Diocesan Administrator and 

Priest Responsible for Education Rev Chris 

de Souza spoke to the new cohort about the 

expectations of being a leader in Catholic 

education. 

“In leading the learning, questions will arise 

and collectively we can find answers together, 

if we remain focused on the mission,” Fr Chris 

said. “I am my work made in the image and 

likeness of God.” 

New REC, Mary Elliot from St Bernadette’s 

Primary, Dundas, said she was reminded of 

what a privilege it is to work in a Catholic 

school. 

“Fr Chris reminded us that we are the face of 

mercy to all those we meet and reiterated the 

importance of working collaboratively with 

others ‘to lead all people in love’,” Mary said. 

Jason Scanlon, Assistant Principal at St Patrick’s 

Marist College, Dundas, said the opportunity to 

lead as part of a team of educators is a challenge 

that both engages and inspires. 

New Principal of St Oliver’s Primary, Harris 

Park, Barbara Young said the breakfast offered 

a meaningful occasion to connect and engage 

professionally with her peers. 

“As a new leader, and as part of the system I am 

connected to, I am challenged to re-imagine 

Catholic education for the contemporary 

world,” Barbara said. “This can only be achieved 

through collaboration with my faith and 

learning community on a local, diocesan and 

global level.” 

From 6-12 March 2016 Catholic Schools in NSW and ACT celebrated 

Catholic Schools Week. Here is a snapshot of events that took place. 

Toddler Day at Trinity Catholic Primary, Kemps Creek. 

Open Day for families at St Finbar's Primary, Glenbrook. 

Stage 3 reading challenge at Holy Trinity Primary, Granville. 

Today's learners: tomorrow's leaders 

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS 

ENROLLING NOW 

Sibling discounts available. School based fees may apply. The Byallawa co-contribution scheme for 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and the Bishop Manning Scholarship Fund have 

been established for families in need of financial assistance. 

No child will be refused enrolment because of a family’s inability to afford school fees. 

@catholicedparra catholicedparra 

www.parra.catholic.edu.au 



www.ccss.org.au 

CCSSParramatta 

CATHOLICCARE SOCIAL SERVICE 

COURSES & EVENTS 

Responsible Gambling Support Group ̶ this group is free 

and is held every Saturday, 9.30am-11am. CCSS Centre, 38 

Prince St, Blacktown. Tel (02) 8822 2222. 

Mamre Homestead – a unique social 

enterprise bringing communities together 

Mamre House was originally part of Rev Samuel Marsden's South Creek farm established in 1804. 

Mamre House is set on an 85ha property at Orchard 

Hills in Sydney's west. It was originally part of Rev 

Samuel Marsden's South Creek farm established in 

1804. 

CatholicCare Social Services took over the operation of 

Mamre Farm from the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta in December 

2014. 

For the past 30 years, the focus at Mamre has been on social 

justice and bringing communities together. 

Our Community Work 

Mamre's Registered Training Organisation - is open to 

people of all abilities, long-term unemployed, older and existing 

workers, and migrant and refugee families. It is able to deliver 

Certificates II & III qualifications in Hospitality, Horticulture 

and Business. 

Mamre Farm - plots are provided to refugee families or 

larger community groups for a nominal fee. Mamre sees this 

as an opportunity for these families to cultivate the produce 

they grew up with, learn about Western produce through the 

guidance of our Farm Manager and sell some of this produce. 

Fresh produce is for sale to the public every Friday, between 

noon and 4pm. Mamre Farm also provides work experience for 

unemployed people and those with a disability. 

Mamre's Refugee program - offers a caring and supportive 

community environment where lessons are structured around 

our students' needs. English and Australian Citizenship classes 

are held weekly. 

To assist our learning we have a creche that can accommodate 

the childcare needs of parents while they are studying. Pastoral 

care is available to families, as well as financial counselling. 

Our Hospitality and Social Enterprise teams offer casual 

employment when it is available. This gives community 

members a chance to contribute to Mamre while gaining 

valuable experience and some financial independence. 

Disability Services - Mamre offers supported employment to 

people with disability through our Garden Services. Employees 

are part of an enterprise that offers a rewarding career in 

lawncare, garden maintenance and landscaping. 

Garden crews work in the community, as well as at Mamre 

where they maintain the gardens. They also grow new plants in 

our nursery space, which are for sale to the public. 

Disability Services offers the opportunity to build 

relationships, cross train in other areas such as horticulture and 

hospitality and be part of Mamre's larger team. We also offer 

a Day Support facility called CreateAbility, which caters for 

individuals aged 18-65 living with a disability. 

Events - with its beautiful grounds and idyllic setting, Mamre 

may be the ideal location for your next event. From conferences 

to birthday parties, baby showers to meetings, Mamre has a 

package to suit your needs. 

For more information about any of Mamre's programs, 

please tel (02) 9670 5321. 

Celebrating the Early Years Mass 

Blacktown Neighbour Aid ̶ can you volunteer one hour 

a fortnight to brighten the life of an elderly person in 

Blacktown? To find out more tel (02) 8822 2222, bna@ccss. 

org.au 

Stepping Beyond – is on the last Tuesday of the month, 

7.30pm-9.30pm. CCSS Centre, 38 Prince St, Blacktown. Fee: 

$5 per meeting. Tel (02) 8822 2222, soloparentservices@ 

ccss.org.au 

Younger Widowed Support Group ̶ third Tuesday of each 

month, 7pm-9pm. Our Lady of Lourdes Centre, Parish 

Centre, 1 Canyon Rd, Baulkham Hills. Fee $5 per meeting. 

Tel (02) 8822 2222, soloparentservices@ccss.org.au 

Post Separation Recovery Program ̶ seven sessions held 

over seven consecutive Wednesdays from 7.30pm-9.45pm, 

11 May to 22 June. CCSS Centre, 38 Prince St, Blacktown. 

Cost $80. The program is open to anyone wanting to 

move forward from their marriage breakdown in a positive 

way. Fee $80. Bookings essential. Tel (02) 8822 2222, 

soloparentservices@ccss.org.au 

Seminar — Annulment Process in the Catholic Church ̶ 

Tuesday 3 May. CCSS Centre, 38 Prince St, Blacktown, from 

7.30pm-9.30pm. Cost $7. Registrations essential. Tel (02) 

8822 2222, email soloparentservices@ccss.org.au 

Bereavement Support Program ̶ for men and women who 

grieve the death of their spouse or partner. Fortnightly 

on Tuesdays, 10.30am-12.30pm, from 5 April to 12 July. 

CCSS Centre, 38 Prince St, Blacktown. Fee $5 per meeting. 

Bookings essential. Tel (02) 8822 2222, soloparentservices@ 

ccss.org.au 

Natural Fertility Awareness Evening ̶ learn about natural 

fertility methods. Wednesday 4 May, 7.30pm, Holy Spirit 

Parish, 5 Todd Row, cnr Moore St, St Clair. Free event, 

supper provided. To register tel (02) 8822 2222, nfs@ccss. 

org.au 

Circle of Security ̶ program designed to enhance 

attachment security between parents and children. Help 

parents raise their children with love, warmth and emotional 

intelligence. Thursdays from 28 April – 16 June, 10am- 

12.30pm, Blacktown CCSS Centre, 38 Prince St, Blacktown. 

Tel (02) 8822 2222. 

BLACKTOWN NEIGHBOUR AID 

25th Anniversary 

Were you, or do you know of anyone who 

was involved with Blacktown Neighbour 

Aid over the past 25 years? This includes 

staff, clients and volunteers. 

To commemorate this special anniversary, a 

celebratory lunch will be held at Bungarribee Hub, 

Blacktown, on Thursday 16 June 2016. 

Please contact Deb Woolacott tel (02) 8822 2238 or 

deb.woolacott@ccss.org.au 

11am on Sunday 1 May 2016 

St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta 

Couples 

celebrating 

Wedding 

Anniversaries 

from 1 year to 

20 years are 

invited 

to attend. 

A light lunch will be served after the Mass. Families of 

couples are very welcome to attend. 

RSVP 21 April 

Please register at marriage@ccss.com.au 

or tel (02) 8822 2222. 

Keeping Kids in Mind program ̶ supports parents and 

families after separation. Five sessions weekly, starts 

Monday 9 May, from 6pm-8.30pm. CCSS Parramatta, 

2A Villiers St, Parramatta. Fee $100 (includes handbook). 

Bookings essential. Tel (02) 8822 2222. 

My Kids and Me ̶ for parents whose children are in outof-home 

care or kinship care. Fridays from 10am-1pm, St 

Nicholas of Myra Parish Hall, 326 High St, Penrith. Bookings 

essential. Tel (02) 8822 2222. 

Rollercoasters for Kids ̶ support for children whose parents 

have separated or are separating. Mondays from 4pm- 

5.15pm, six sessions weekly from 16 May. CCSS Centre, 

38 Prince St, Blacktown. Bookings essential. Tel (02) 8822 

2222. 

Cool Kids ̶ support for families when children are 

experiencing high levels of anxiety. Wednesdays from 

3.30pm-5pm. In Springwood – venue TBA. For further 

information, tel (02) 8822 2222. 

Recover Wellbeing ̶ recovery oriented program and 

support groups for people living with mental distress. 

Monthly get togethers 4Wellbeing include Drum4Wellbeing, 

Dance4Wellbeing, Sew4Wellbeing, Create4Wellbeing, 

Splash4Wellbeing. Further information tel (02) 8822 2222, 

julie.webster@ccss.org.au 

Offices at Blacktown, Emerton, Parramatta, Penrith, Springwood, call (02) 8822 2222 



GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY: 17 APRIL 2016 

Fr Pio Yong Ho Jang: 

Pray and Stay 


In the Hyehwa-dong Parish in 

Seoul, South Korea, an altar 

boy watched on in adoration 

as the Assistant Priest lifted the 

consecrated host. 

The young boy was Fr Pio 

Yong Ho Jang, who now serves 

as Assistant Priest of St Michael’s 

Parish at Baulkham Hills. 

“I was about 10 years old. 

On other days, I would often be 

distracted by ringing the bell 

at the proper time and trying 

to communicate with the other 

small altar boy,” he said. 

“But on this particular day, 

the priest lifted the consecrated 

host and I felt something holy. 

There was a strong holiness 

attracting my heart. I couldn’t 

look at anything else but the 

consecrated host. 

“In that moment I realised 

Jesus, the same Jesus in the 

consecrated host and the same 

Jesus in the person of the priest, 

was calling me for something.” 

Fr Pio’s faith was strong 

through his primary and high 

school years, having been 

brought up in a Catholic family, 

but the pressures associated with 

his schooling made it difficult 

for him to find time to practice 

his faith. 

“School would start at 7.30am 

and I wouldn’t get home until 

10pm. That was my normal 

study load.” 

Due to the pressure to 

succeed, Fr Pio decided to 

enter university rather than the 

seminary. 

“At the time, I didn’t have 

enough courage to respond to 

God’s call,” Fr Pio said. 

University proved to be a 

“dark time” for Fr Pio. “My faith 

went down and sometimes I 

didn’t even attend Mass,” he 

explained. 

While Fr Pio was studying, 

his father migrated to Australia 

and he decided to follow him to 

Brisbane. 

Fr Pio’s initial stay was shortlived 

due to the language barrier 

and the “slower and rural” 

nature of Brisbane. 

Having gone back to Korea, 

after some time studying in 

Chicago in the US, Fr Pio 

acknowledged something 

needed to change. 

“I wasn’t happy in university. 

I came across an article on 

vocation and it inspired me to 

discern God’s calling for me,” he 

said. 

“I began to pray regularly and 

it was Our Lady who interceded 

and helped my discernment.” 

Our Lady’s strength guided 

Fr Pio and taught him not to be 

Fr Pio Yong Ho Jang. 

Photo: Elizabeth McFarlane. 

afraid. 

“Her humility directed me 

towards Jesus. I discerned I was 

being called to the seminary,” he 

said. 

Fr Pio was 29 and despite 

wanting to join the seminary, he 

wasn’t sure if they would accept 

him in Korea due to his age. 

“I didn’t have the humility to 

discern clearly earlier in life, but 

God was too generous and I was 

accepted into the seminary as an 

exception,” he said. 

Fr Pio initially believed he 

would be a priest in his mother 

country, Korea. 

“But I feel I often plan 

something and God 

accomplishes it in His own way. 

That is how I found myself to be 

a priest in Australia,” he said. 

“In Korea there are many 

priests. I thought, should I join 

where Christ’s body is sore or 

where Christ’s body is healthy? 

I hesitated but eventually 

I decided I would join the 

seminary in Australia. I could 

speak English and I had spent 

time in Australia already.” 

Fr Pio was ordained on 

24 June 2015 in St Patrick’s 

Cathedral. 

“This is me giving back my 

gift to God. I don’t think every 

person can live this life but 

everything is possible with God. 

He has given me a special gift 

to be able to live this life. I am 

really thankful,” he said. 

When asked what advice 

he would give others who are 

struggling to discern their 

vocation, Fr Pio said, “Just pray. 

Fifteen minutes a day is like 

1000 years when you are with 

God. Spend some time in front 

of the Lord through the Blessed 

Sacrament. 

“St Thomas doubted but I 

think he was eventually able to 

see Jesus and touch Him because 

he stayed with Our Lady. 

“It is because he stayed, 

despite doubt, that Jesus 

appeared to him. 

“My advice: Pray and stay.” 

Several of our permanent deacons and their wives together with couples who are in formation. Pho 

Permanent deacons calle 

Rev John McSweeney, Priest responsible for Deacons 

On 8 May during the 

11am Mass in St Patrick’s 

Cathedral, George Bryan 

will be ordained as a permanent 

deacon for the Diocese of 

Parramatta. 

George and his wife, Kaye, 

have been preparing for diaconal 

ministry for a number of 

years; and when Bishop Peter 

Comensoli, Bishop of Broken 

Bay, lays hands on George’s 

head and confers the Sacrament 

of Orders on him, it will be 

a significant moment in the 

couple’s life – and will signal the 

beginning of public ministry by 

George for the people of God. 

The Diocese of Parramatta 

was one of the first dioceses 

in Australia to implement the 

revised permanent diaconate of 

the Church. Bishop Bede Heather 

began the process of ordaining 

married men as deacons, and this 

has been supported and followed 

by Bishop Kevin Manning and 

Bishop Anthony Fisher OP. 

At present there are eight 

men who, with their wives as 

supporters of their ministry, are 

active in various parishes and 

chaplaincies as deacons. 

The parishes that have a 

permanent deacon at present 

are St Patrick’s Cathedral, 

Toongabbie, Glenwood-Stanhope 

Gardens, Blacktown, Quakers 

Hill, Granville, and North Rocks. 

In addition, the Filipino and 

Vietnamese chaplaincies have the 

service of a deacon. 

So, what is the permanent 

diaconate? It is an ordained 

ministry, sharing in the 

Sacrament of Orders, which is 

offered to men (most of whom 

are already married); and it 

involves the deacon serving in 

various roles and ministries 

throughout the Diocese. 

Apart from liturgical 

responsibilities in the parishes 

to which they are appointed, 

these generous men also minister 

in different ways to the sick 

and the needy – as ministers of 

charity; they serve as chaplains 

in hospitals and in other services, 

including the Police Force. 

They are always ready to serve 

the bishop in whatever capacity 

in order to further the coming of 

Fr Pio Yong Ho Jang gives a blessing following his ordination to priesthood 



GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY: 17 APRIL 2016 

Andrew Rooney 

enjoys the fraternity 

of seminary life 


to: Art in Images. 

d to ministry of service 

PERMANENT DIACONATE INFORMATION 

AFTERNOON 

Sunday 1 May 2016 from 2.30pm-5pm 

St Anthony’s Parish Hall, 27 Aurelia St, Toongabbie 

Single men aged 25 and over and married couples 

For further details contact Rev Arthur Bridge AM 

There was no ‘burning bush’ 

moment for seminarian 

Andrew Rooney, who at 

22 years old is now in his fourth 

year at Holy Spirit Seminary. 

“I was hoping for a sign. That 

the roof of my house would be 

torn off and God would call out, 

but it was a subtle attraction and 

calling, which over time caused 

me to thoroughly explore my 

vocation,” he explained. 

Andrew grew up attending 

Mass with his family at Padre 

Pio Parish in Glenmore Park. 

The second eldest of five 

children, with a twin sister and 

a doting mother, Andrew was 

taught the value of a supportive 

and close family, and the 

inspiration of a faith-filled 

mother. 

“My earliest memory of my 

mother’s faith was when I was 

just four years old. My mum had 

a children’s Bible and she would 

read it to us while we sat on 

those foam seats for children,” 

he said. 

“The example, strength, 

integrity and faith of my mother 

was foundational for my faith.” 

Andrew attended St 

Dominic’s College in Penrith 

but didn’t reflect on the strength 

and conviction of St Dominic 

Savio until some time after his 

graduation. 

“I had attended an iWitness 

Youth Conference in December 

2012. I was looking for a sign to 

pursue the priesthood and I was 

quite disappointed that I didn’t 

have an epiphany there,” he said. 

“I was in Parramatta the 

next day and went to Mass in St 

Patrick’s Cathedral where I came 

across a St Dominic Savio prayer 

card. 

“I went to Theology on Tap 

that evening. I prayed the rosary 

and for St Dominic Savio’s 

intercession. It was then that I 

came to the realisation that I was 

going to join the seminary.” 

It was through prayer and 

the intercession of St Dominic 

Savio, followed by discussions 

with Fr Warren Edwards, the 

diocesan Director of Priestly 

Vocations, that Andrew found 

the courage to discern the call to 

the priesthood as a seminarian. 

“Reading about St Dominic 

Savio, you can see the courage 

he had throughout his whole 

life. He would stand up to his 

peers and encourage them in the 

faith,” he said. 

“St Dominic Savio is also 

the patron saint of choirboys. 

I had a lot of involvement in 

Church music so I had a lot of 

admiration for that patronage.” 

Andrew began a Bachelor of 

Music in classical vocals before 

he decided to change paths and 

enter the seminary. 

“I started my music 

degree because I liked music. 

But it wasn’t until I started 

my Philosophy degree in my 

seminary year, studying the 

aesthetics and rich musical 

tradition of the Church, that I 

began to love music. 

“Music is integral to 

the liturgy. There is a great 

intelligence in the music of the 

Church. It can speak to different 

Seminarian Andrew Rooney. 

Photo: Elizabeth McFarlane. 

people at different levels in a 

deep way. It can speak great 

theological truths. 

“Music goes beyond what it 

is to be a Catholic and delves 

further into what it is to be a 

person. 

“When we sing, we rise above 

normal conversation. When we 

use song in our prayer, it helps 

us to express the great dignity 

of the act of prayer itself. When 

we do that communally, it 

communicates to everybody our 

devotion to God.” 

Andrew enjoys the 

challenging communal life of the 

seminary. 

“There are currently 13 

seminarians. They’re my 

brothers. They’re my family and 

I’m motivated by them every 

day,” he said. 

“The fraternity that you 

foster within the seminary is 

important to your priesthood 

because you want them to keep 

you level-headed and hold you 

accountable. 

“Even if one of us ends up 

in Blackheath and another in 

Parramatta, our pursuit of the 

priesthood together deepens 

our relationship, cultivating an 

unyielding brotherhood.” 

Tel (02) 9631 3316, arthur.bridge@parracatholic.org 

God’s kingdom. 

There is a process of formation 

which involves the four areas 

of spirituality, human growth, 

academic requirements and 

pastoral work. 

A minimum four years of 

formation is required before 

one of those in formation is 

called to candidacy and then to 

ordination. 

Fr Arthur Bridge AM 

(Toongabbie parish) Director 

of Vocations to the Permanent 

Diaconate and Fr Jolly Chacko 

MS (Glenbrook Parish) is 

Director of Formation, leading a 

very able formation team. 

Both weekends and Saturday 

mornings are attended by those in 

formation, adding to the academic 

study, as well as regular spiritual 

direction. 

The wives of the married 

men are included in all activities 

(except doing the academic 

courses!); indeed, they are integral 

to the whole process of formation. 

Let us continue to pray for all 

those in formation and all who 

serve as permanent deacons in 

our Diocese. And let us also ask 

the Lord of the Harvest to send 

more labourers into His harvest. 

Andrew Rooney (left) with Deacon Tony Hoban at the start of this year’s Palm Sunday procession. 



COLLECTOR CARDS 

WORLD DAY OF PRAYER FOR VOCATIONS: 17 April 2016 

Of nuns, monasteries and 

monkeys 

Marriage requires 

commitment and 

fidelity 

By Karin Abrams, Coordinator, Marriage Education Support and Enrichment 

At the Voortrekker Monument in Pretoria are, from left: Fr Peter, Mother Mary Justin, Sr Thomasina and Bishop 

Rose. 

“O 

f all my kids, it's the one in an 

enclosed religious order who's 

seen the most of the world!” This 

response to the simple question, “So how's 

your daughter getting on?” was not one 

that would come to the lips of most fathers, 

but it has proved true enough for Eddie 

Allchurch. 

In 2003, his daughter Emma (now 

known as Mother Mary Justin) joined the 

Tyburn nuns at Riverstone in the Diocese of 

Parramatta. 

As this is a cloistered Benedictine 

congregation, her family never expected to 

have trouble keeping track of exactly where 

she was … 

But the congregation, whose charism 

is one of liturgical prayer and perpetual 

Eucharistic Adoration, also has an 

irrepressible missionary spirit. 

This spirit led to the rapid expansion of 

the congregation across Australia and NZ, 

Europe, South America and now Africa. 

Mother Justin now finds herself in the 

heart of Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa at 

the invitation of Bishop Graham Rose of the 

Diocese of Dundee. 

She has joined a small Tyburn 

community that is working to found a 

monastic centre of prayer and hospitality. 

As South Africa faces crisis on 

many levels – political, economic, social 

and ecological – the Church's mission 

of evangelisation and hope becomes 

increasingly imperative. 

The sisters in the little Tyburn 

community are from different races and 

backgrounds. As Benedictine religious, they 

are giving themselves totally to helping the 

local community. 

Their monastery, which is currently 

under planning, will be dedicated to 

the Holy Family and will be a place of 

Eucharistic spirituality, fraternal equality 

and natural sanctuary to which all will be 

welcome. 

The sisters plan to establish the 

monastery property according to the 

principles of permaculture and hope 

that this might become a model for the 

surrounding townships and informal 

settlements. 

They hope to foster nutritional 

independence and sustainability in a 

punishing climate very similar to Australia, 

but with the additional challenge of a 

resident family of monkeys on the property! 

The sisters have been warmly welcomed 

and accommodated by the Dominican 

sisters in Blaauwbosch. They feel very much 

at home among the predominantly Zulu 

parish where already the ministry of prayer 

is much appreciated. 

However, the sisters are eager to get 

on site and are looking to establish simple, 

temporary housing to be used over the 

next couple of years while the chapel and 

monastery are being built. 

Holy Mass and Eucharistic Adoration 

will begin immediately in a small chapel. 

It will also allow for the beginning of the 

property development and the oversight of 

the construction process. 

Funds for the purchase of this basic 

accommodation and the upkeep of the little 

community are in very short supply. If you 

are able to help this new venture of prayer 

and hope to become a living reality, the 

sisters would be most grateful! 

Donations can be sent to: 

Tyburn Missions, Tyburn Priory, 

325 Garfield Road East, 

Riverstone NSW 2765 

One vocation that many Catholics 

live in their everyday lives is 

the vocation of marriage. Pope 

Francis explains that Christian marriage 

and family life is a real vocation “just like 

the priesthood and religious life are. Two 

Christians who marry each other have 

recognised in their love story the Lord’s call, 

the vocation to form one flesh, one life from 

the two, male and female.” 

This vocation to marriage is a particular 

way of following the Lord, which challenges 

a couple to live their marriage in a way that 

expresses God’s truth and love in the world. 

As with all vocations, marriage requires 

commitment and fidelity. Living out this 

vocation can be a challenge at times, 

especially in today’s society that does not 

value lifelong marital commitment. 

In 2013, Pope Francis in an address 

to the World Youth Day volunteers, 

encouraged them to follow the Lord and 

respond to their own vocation. 

He went on to say: “God calls each of 

us to be holy, to live his life, but he has a 

particular path for each one of us. Some are 

called to holiness through family life in the 

Sacrament of Marriage. 

“In a culture of relativism and the 

ephemeral, many preach the importance of 

‘enjoying’ the moment. They say that it is 

not worth making a lifelong commitment, 

making a definitive decision ‘forever’.” 

He went on to say: ‘… be revolutionaries 

I ask you to swim against the tide; yes, I 

am asking you to rebel against this culture 

that sees everything as temporary and 

that ultimately believes you are incapable 

of responsibility – that believes you are 

incapable of true love.” 

On Sunday 1 May, many such 

revolutionary couples will attend a special 

Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral to celebrate 

wedding anniversaries of between one and 

20 years. 

The Diocesan Administrator, Very Rev 

Peter G Williams, will be the principal 

celebrant for the Celebrating the Early Years 

Mass at 11am, organised by CatholicCare. 

Any couple celebrating these 

anniversaries is welcome to attend the Mass 

with their families and join us for a light 

lunch in the Cathedral Hall afterwards. 

To register your attendance please book 

with your parish office or with CatholicCare 

tel (02) 8822 2222, marriage@ccss.org.au 

KNOW YOUR SAINTS 

COMPETITION 

Test your knowledge of 10 

inspirational Saints and be in the 

running to win 1 of 3 Tablets. 

SAINTS 


S A I N T J O H N P A U L I I 

SAINTS 


BLESSED MOTHER TERESA 

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Proudly sponsored by 

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NEWS & EVENTS 

Young artists express 

Hope for the Future 

Family Vacation. 

Spirit of Peace. 

The overall prizewinning artwork was Nature. 

Marist Youth Care (MYC) held 

its 9th Art Show at the new 

Wentworth Galleries at No 

1 Martin Place in Sydney in February. 

Forty-two young artists from MYC’s 

Settlement Services Programs, Out of 

Home Care and Educational Supports 

Services had a unique opportunity to have 

their artworks hung in a public gallery. 

All the artworks were a personal 

representation of the artists’ expression of 

the theme, ‘Hope for the Future’. 

On the day before the art show opened, 

the artworks were professionally judged by 

Robin Ross (artist), Maria Aitken (gallery 

owner) and Anne Johnston (artist). 

The overall prizewinning artwork was 

Nature. Other prizewinning artworks were 

Family Vacation, My Way and Spirit of 

Peace. Many of the paintings were sold on 

opening night. 

The annual art show provides an 

opportunity for young people under the 

care of MYC to develop their artistic skills. 

It encourages them to explore their talents 

to create an artwork that is a personal 

expression of themselves. 

Art materials were provided through 

the generous donations of William Blue 

Hospitality College students, the overall 

Prize of an Apple computer was donated 

by sponsor Yellow Edge, and Wentworth 

Galleries provided a very special venue 

for the opening night and display of the 

artworks for the following weekend. 

MYC would like to thank Wentworth 

Galleries, Yellow Edge, Art Scene and 

the judges for their continued support in 

providing this wonderful opportunity for 

young people. 

Calling for nominations 

for 3 diocesan awards 

Nominations are now open for three diocesan awards: 

The Diocesan Medal of Honour 

The Diocesan Medal of Honour seeks 

to encourage and recognise outstanding 

contribution and service by members of the 

Parramatta diocesan community in work 

on behalf of the Church and society. The 

Diocesan Medal of Honour is awarded for 

outstanding service to parish, Diocese and 

community. 

The Diocesan Citation of Merit for Youth 

The Diocesan Citation of Merit for Youth seeks to encourage and 

recognise youth between the ages of 18 and 25 who have shown 

outstanding contribution and service to the parish, Diocese and 

community. 

The Diocesan Certificate of Recognition 

The Diocesan Certificate of Recognition seeks to encourage and recognise 

outstanding contribution by non-Catholic members of the Diocese of 

Parramatta community, for work supporting the parish, Diocese and 

community. 

An overview for how to make a nomination and notations are available 

from: 

Rev Dr Arthur Bridge AM PP 

Chairman of the Diocesan Honours Committee 

Tel (02) 9631 3316 

arthurbridge@arsmusica.org.au 



FAMILY & LIFE 

Changes announced 

to Safe Schools 

Coalition program 

By Ben Smith, Director of the 

Family & Life Office 

www.parrafamlife.org.au @parrafamlife parrafamlife 

St Joseph’s Feast Day Men’s Breakfast 

By Ben Smith 

On 18 March, the Federal Education 

Minister, Senator Simon 

Birmingham, announced a number 

of changes to the Safe Schools Coalition 

Australia program as a result of a recent 

review. 

The program claims to be an antibullying 

program. However, the program 

coordinator, Roz Ward, recently admitted 

that the program was about “supporting 

gender and sexual diversity. Not about 

celebrating diversity. Not about stopping 

bullying.” 

In other words, it was about advocacy 

and social engineering. Some examples of 

this content include: 

• Teaching girls to bind their chests to 

restrict breast development; 

• Encouraging cross-dressing; 

• Teaching gay and lesbian sexual 

techniques; and 

• Teaching students that 

heterosexuality is not the norm. 

More than 500 Australian schools are 

members of this program. Eleven of these 

schools are located within the geographical 

boundaries of the Diocese and they are: 

Blaxland High, Bligh Park Public, Colo 

High, Glenwood High, Jamison High, 

Parramatta High, Parramatta West Public, 

Penrith High, St Marys Senior High, 

Vardys Road Public and Windsor Park 

Public. 

The Federal Government has 

recommended the following changes to 

the program: parental consent be required, 

the removal of web content and third party 

organisation branding (for sex shops, gay 

and lesbian organisations and transgender 

organisations), the removal of gender 

diversity role playing and the banning of 

political advocacy. 

For more information about the 

program please contact the diocesan 

Family & Life Office: famlife@parra. 

catholic.org.au 

Thursday 21 April 2016 

Holy Hour for Vocations 

On 19 March, the inaugural diocesan 

St Joseph’s Feast Day Men’s Breakfast 

was held at St Patrick’s Cathedral, 

Parramatta. More than 50 men took part in 

the event. 

The event started with Mass in the 

Cathedral celebrated by Fr Shane Reade 

SDB. Fr Shane gave a great sermon on the 

importance of the relationship between 

fathers and sons. 

The event then moved into the Cathedral 

Hall where breakfast was served. As the 

men were finishing their bacon and eggs the 

guest speaker, Paul Ninnes from Real Talk 

Australia, began his talk entitled: ‘Learning 

from St Joseph: Living purity of heart in a 

porn saturated culture.’ 

Paul’s talk began with a reflection on the 

growing significance of St Joseph in the 

life of the Church over the past 150 years. 

Paul pointed out that St Joseph’s example in 

leading the Holy Family through a number 

of trials is a great example for Catholic 

husbands and fathers who are leading their 

families through uncertain times. 

Paul spoke about the ubiquity of 

pornography in our society and the problems 

it causes. One statistic that really stood out 

in Paul’s talk was that pornography addiction 

St Patrick’s Cathedral, 1 Marist Place, Parramatta 

Everyone is welcome to join the Holy Hour for Vocations from 

7pm-8pm on the 3rd Thursday of each month for an hour of 

adoration, prayer, music and quiet time in the Blessed Sacrament 

Chapel in St Patrick’s Cathedral. 

To find out more about priesthood in the Diocese of Parramatta 

contact Fr Warren Edwards, Director of Priestly Vocations 

Tel 0409 172 700 or email vocations@parra.catholic.org.au 



More than 50 men took part in the inaugural St Joseph’s Feast Day Men’s Breakfast. Photos: Adrian Middeldorp 

is a strong contributor in more than 50% 

of divorces in the US. Paul emphasised that 

pornography addictions “take out” good men 

and this has significant consequences for 

their families. 

Paul put forward some practical strategies 

to help men overcome their attraction to 

pornography based on his own personal 

experience. He proposed the PASS 

strategy, which is an acronym for Prayer, 

Accountability, Scripture and Sacraments. 

Three of the elements of the strategy are 

fairly well known but the Accountability 

element deals with having trusted mentors to 

help men grow in virtue. 

The final part of the breakfast offered the 

participants a choice of men’s groups to join 

to help them develop some mentors in their 

life. 

Representatives from the following groups 

gave a short explanation of their mission 

and how men could get involved: Brothers 

4 Soul (Schoenstatt Men’s Fellowship), The 

Catenians, Culture Project, Disciples of Jesus, 

menALIVE, and the Men of St Joseph. 

The feedback was very positive and it is 

envisaged that this event will become an 

annual feature of the diocesan calendar. 

Shrine of Our Lady of Mercy 

Penrose Park 

Fatima Day: Wednesday April 13 

Come and pray for your family and this troubled World! 

Exposition 10am, Holy Mass 11am, After Lunch; Procession and 

Devotions at Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. 

Principal Celebrant: Fr Dominik Karnas CSMA 

Parish Priest of Horsley Park Parish 

Divine Mercy Sunday: April 3 

11am Solemn Mass followed by devotions including Chaplet of Divine Mercy. 

Fatima Family Sunday: April 17 

Holy Mass 11 am with Renewal of Wedding vows, followed by Devotions. 

Upcoming celebrations in Our Shrine: 

Tuesday May 3rd, Solemnity of Our Lady of Czestochowa 

Holy Mass 11 am followed by Devotions. 

Pauline Father’s Monastery 

Address: 120 Hanging Rock Road, Berrima, NSW, 2577 Phone: 02 4878 9192 

Email: paulinefathers@yahoo.com.au 

Website: www.penrosepark.com.au

www.mercyhasaface.org.au 

#mercyhasaface 

YEAR OF MERCY 

Year of Mercy: 

24 Hours for the Lord 

A young girl makes cigarettes in Bagan, Myanmar. Photo: Angela N Perryman/Shutterstock.com 

Human trafficking the result of 

economic and social exclusion 

In their submission to a Senate inquiry, 

Australia’s Catholic bishops say human 

trafficking and slavery is a terrible consequence 

of economic and social exclusion. 

Bishop Terry Brady, Chair of the Bishops 

Commission for Pastoral Life, said exclusion was 

the result of a number of factors. “It is the result of 

not recognising the human dignity of each person, 

so people are treated as an object or a means to an 

end,” he said. 

“It happens because people are in poverty 

and don’t have access to adequate education or 

employment. It is caused by putting money and 

not people at the centre of the economy.” 

The Commission made the submission in 

February to the Parliamentary Joint Committee 

on Law Enforcement. 

“One approach that should be investigated as 

part of a community awareness strategy is the 

UK’s Modern Slavery Act, which uses information 

to shine a light on the exploitation of workers,” 

Bishop Brady said. 

“Under the UK legislation, businesses that reach 

a minimum turnover must issue an annual report 

on what they are doing to ensure their business 

and supply chain is not involved in human 

trafficking and the exploitation of workers. 

“Forced marriages are another aspect of 

trafficking, difficult to investigate because victims 

and witnesses are often afraid of reprisals or of 

bringing shame on their families. 

“It is much better to try to prevent forced 

marriages than try to convict people after the 

fact. One important piece of preventative work 

is a school education resource developed by 

Australian Catholic Religious Against Trafficking 

in Humans (ACRATH). 

“In 2015, ACRATH worked to ensure the 

problem of forced marriages could be more easily 

seen by school students and that those students 

who may be at risk of forced marriage would 

know where to go for help. 

“ACRATH ran a 2015 pilot scheme to raise 

awareness in schools about forced marriages 

and to help children be aware of the protections 

offered by the law. 

“It is important for schools to have the 

opportunity to use this program. The Australian 

Catholic Bishops Conference urges the Attorney 

General’s Department to extend the funding 

available to ACRATH. 

“Australia also has an important role to play 

internationally as an affluent nation. Overseas 

aid is an important way in which Australia can 

contribute to reducing economic and social 

exclusion and, therefore, some of the factors that 

put people at risk of being trafficked. 

“The Coalition Government has cut Australia’s 

overseas aid by more than $11 billion since it 

was elected in 2013. These funds would have 

been a significant boost to aid and humanitarian 

programs. 

“Australia and Australians have a moral 

obligation to share their good fortune with people 

less fortunate.” 

A copy of the submission can be found 

at: https://www.catholic.org.au/about-us/ 

public-policy-office-contact 

More than 500 people were at the Mass in St Andrew the Apostle Church at Marayong. 

A 

special time of prayer and 

Reconciliation in the Year 

of Mercy took place in St 

Patrick’s Cathedral and in parishes 

across the Diocese of Parramatta 

during Lent on 4 and 5 March. 

The faithful of St Andrew 

the Apostle Parish at Marayong 

observed 24 Hours for the Lord in 

what was a grace-filled time for the 

community. 

Assistant Priest Rev Charlie 

Al Boustany was assisted in the 

organisation by many parishioners, 

including members of the Legion 

of Mary who decorated the church 

and Therese with beautiful flowers. 

The 24 hours for the Lord was 

embraced by many parishioners, 

with more than 500 people in 

attendance at Mass. 

Visit: www.mercyhasaface.org.au 

Members of the parish music ministry team. 

Free e-book for computer, e-reader, tablet or iPhone 

Son of God: 

The Daily Gospel Year C-2 

This e-book is authored by Father Ted Tyler, Parish Priest of St Mary of the Cross 

MacKillop Parish, Upper Blue Mountains. Copies may be downloaded free of charge 

to a computer or e-reader or tablet. 

The e-book offers the Gospel for every day of this Liturgical Year C-2 (Sundays Year 

C, weekdays Year 2), together with a reflection of some 750 words on each daily 

Gospel. This Liturgical Year C-2 continues till November 2016. 

The e-book contains the Gospel passages not only for this present Liturgical Year, but 

for any C-2 Liturgical Year in the future, together with their reflections. 

It may be passed on to friends or acquaintances as desired. It carries the Imprimatur 

of Most Rev Anthony Fisher OP, Archbishop of Sydney. 

Son of God: The Daily Gospel Year C-2 may be accessed at: 

www.catholic-thoughts.info/ebook/ 



NEWS & EVENTS 

Partnership at heart of asylum seeker centre 

Arrupe Place in Parramatta 

opened its doors just over 

a year ago and already 

this drop-in centre for asylum 

seekers has been recognised for its 

innovative work. 

At the 2016 Zest Awards 

in Sydney in February, Arrupe 

Place received the Exceptional 

Community Partnership Project in 

a Local Government Area Award. 

The centre was established by 

Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in 

collaboration with seven other 

partners, including the Good 

Samaritan Sisters. 

The Co-ordinator of Arrupe 

Place, Maeve Brown, said it been 

a truly collaborative process and 

the award recognised the project’s 

“capacity building, advocacy and 

leadership”. 

“This award is a testament to 

our exceptional partners whose 

great support has helped Arrupe 

Place work.” 

Maeve said that Arrupe Place 

had been established in early 2015 

to provide a welcoming space for 

people seeking asylum and in need 

of essential services in Western 

Sydney. 

To provide these services 

JRS partnered with seven other 

organisations: the Sisters of 

Mercy Parramatta, the Sisters of 

Charity, the Sisters of the Good 

Samaritan, Refugee Advice and 

Casework Service (RACS), the 

Australian Red Cross, Information 

and Cultural Exchange (ICE) and 

Training for Change. 

Two other organisations, 

STARTTS (Service for the 

Treatment and Rehabilitation of 

Torture and Trauma Survivors) 

and Baker & McKenzie, have also 

provided free support for asylum 

seekers. 

“We were drawn together with 

the common goal of providing 

a safe haven that allows asylum 

seekers to live with dignity and 

become self-sufficient whilst 

waiting for their claims for 

protection to be assessed,” Maeve 

said. 

“Arrupe Place ensures that 

accessing support is easier and less 

stressful for those most in need by 

housing our many varied services 

in this one location in Parramatta.” 

Currently, Arrupe Place offers 

a range of services, including 

English language and cooking 

classes, a food bank, legal advice 

and, significantly, according to 

Maeve, “a sense of community”. 

“Asylum seekers can drop in to 

the cottage provided by the Sisters 

of Mercy, receive legal advice from 

RACS, employment support from 

Training for Change, arts and 

playgroup programs from ICE, 

even emergency aid from the Red 

Cross, as well as a cup of tea and 

a chat with our JRS caseworkers,” 

she said. 

“Most importantly, asylum 

seekers visiting Arrupe Place have 

a place where they feel safe and 

less isolated, and where they can 

access programs that have led to 

increased participation in the local 

community.” 

For Good Samaritan Sr Sarah 

Puls, a social worker who leads 

the team of JRS caseworkers, 

Arrupe Place “is an amazing 

thing to be involved in” – and 

that’s due largely to the effective 

partnerships that have been forged 

among those working at the 

centre. 

“It’s great to be able to work 

together. I think it makes the work 

we do so much more achievable,” 

Sarah said. 

“It’s to be able to help our 

clients connect with groups in the 

community that want to support 

them, that want to engage, that 

want to see them as valuable 

contributing members of the 

community. 

“It’s a great thing to be able 

to connect them with those 

opportunities.” 

Some of the Arrupe Place team at the 2016 Zest Awards. 

Sarah is one of six permanent 

staff at Arrupe Place whose work 

is complemented by a team of 

more than 50 volunteers under 

the coordination of Charity Sister 

Margaret Guy. 

Among those volunteers are 

Good Samaritan Sisters Marie 

O’Connor, Veronica McDougall 

and Elizabeth Murray, all English 

teachers, and Good Samaritan 

Oblate Susan Stubenrauch, who 

helps to run the foodbank. 

In 2015, the staff and 

volunteers at Arrupe Place assisted 

more than 1500 people seeking 

asylum. 

If you’d like to assist asylum 

seekers and the work of Arrupe 

Place: 

tel (02) 9098 9336 

ST PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL 

MASS TIMES AND REGULAR SERVICE 

PERMANENT DEACONS BRINGING 

CHRIST TO THE WORLD 

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 

Information afternoon on Sunday 1 May 

2.30pm-5pm in St Anthony's Parish Hall 

27 Aurelia Street, Toongabbie 

AN INFORMATION AFTERNOON FOR MARRIED AND 

SINGLE MEN WANTING TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS 

GOD-GIVEN CALLING TO ORDAINED MINISTRY 

The Second Vatican Council reinvigorated the ancient order of 

deacons, reinstituting the permanent diaconate. By calling and 

ordaining deacons the Church is saying something fundamental: 

that service is at the heart of the human and divine mystery. 

In their active involvement in the community, their outreach 

to the poor and marginalised, and their fostering of Eucharistic 

communion, deacons sacramentalise the Church’s service. 

Inquiries to Rev Fr Arthur Bridge AM 

Director of Vocations to the Permanent Diaconate 

Tel 0411 28 99 54, arthur.bridge@parracatholic.org 



Commercial surrogacy in Australia 

would exploit women and children 

Australia’s Catholic bishops 

say surrogacy, both 

commercial and altruistic, 

is flawed, offends human dignity 

and that it would be intolerable to 

argue harm minimisation to allow 

the development of a commercial 

surrogacy industry in Australia. 

The bishops acknowledged 

the pain and sadness couples face 

when they cannot have children 

because of infertility or the 

inability to carry a child to full 

term, but pointed out surrogacy 

can transfer sadness from the 

infertile couple to the surrogate 

mother. 

The bishops’ comments were 

made in a submission from the 

Bishops Commission for Family, 

Youth and Life to the House 

of Representatives Standing 

Committee on Social Policy and 

Legal Affairs, which is holding an 

inquiry into surrogacy. 

The Bishops Delegate 

for Life Issues, Bishop Peter 

Comensoli, said surrogacy was 

not undertaken with the priorities 

and interests of the child in mind, 

but rather the interests of the 

adults who want a child. “The act 

of surrogacy denies the child the 

right to be conceived, carried, 

born and brought up by his or her 

genetic parents,” he said. 

“Surrogacy is different to 

adoption. Where children are 

adopted by a mother and a father, 

this matches the model a child 

should expect of a mother and 

a father in marriage as a good 

alternative for when a child 

cannot be brought up by her or his 

natural parents. 

"Adoption is a solution to a 

situation that has arisen. A child 

should never be produced for the 

purposes of adoption. 

“Surrogacy allows for the 

exploitation of the women who 

act as surrogate mothers. It 

NEWS & EVENTS 

requires a woman to deny many 

of the significant, integral parts 

of the experience of pregnancy, 

which could have a longstanding 

psychological impact on the 

surrogate mother. It gives priority 

to the childless woman, man 

or commissioning parents over 

the woman who is the surrogate 

mother. 

“Children are not commodities 

and should not be bought. 

Legalising commercial surrogacy 

would allow the introduction of 

market values into the intimate 

and loving role that women have 

of carrying and giving birth to 

their child.” 

A copy of the submission 

has been posted on the ACBC’s 

website: www.catholic.org.au 

https://www.catholic.org.au/ 

acbc-media/downloads/public- 

policy/papers/1793-10-february- 

2016-inquiry-into-surrogacy/ 

file 

8 

9-10 

15 

15-17 

21 

1 

1 

APRIL CALENDAR 

FR ROB GALEA LIVE IN CONCERT 

See Fr Rob Galea and his Band live in concert at the Riverside 

Theatre in Parramatta. Fr Rob is a Catholic priest, singer, songwriter 

and youth worker who appeared on X-Factor Australia last year. 

Purchase your ticket for $30 at: 

www.riversideparramatta.com.au 

WONDERFUL WORLD WEEKENDS 

This course run by Kevin McDonnell CFC is the first in a series 

of three on the topics: Earth, Life in Air, Life on Land. Explore the 

wonder and significance of various aspects of the natural world, to 

bridge the gap between science and religion, to increase awareness 

of the harmony of all creation, and to motivate care for it. Edmund 

Rice Retreat & Conference Centre, 1315 Mulgoa Rd, Mulgoa. 

Inquiries tel 0419 765 353, klmcdonnell@edmundrice.org 

WORLD YOUTH DAY PILGRIM 

REGISTRATIONS CLOSE 

Register now for the Diocese of Parramatta’s pilgrimages to WYD 

Krakow in Poland in July. Young people 16-35 are invited to register 

online where itineraries & pricing are available: 

http://parrawyd.orwg/the-pilgrimage/ 

IS IT I, LORD? MGL VOCATIONS 

DISCERNMENT WEEKEND 

For men seeking to know God's will for their life. Come join the 

Missionaries of God's Love priests and brothers for a weekend 

of prayer, reflection and brotherhood to help you discern your 

vocation. Cost: $20 donation, accommodation and meals provided. 

From 7pm on Friday to 2pm on Sunday at 6 Boake Plc, Garran, ACT. 

Inquiries: frkenmgl@gmail.com or davemgl@yahoo.com.au 

www.mglpriestsandbrothers.org 

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS 

Everyone is welcome to join the Holy Hour for Vocations from 

7pm-8pm for an hour of adoration, prayer, music and quiet time in 

St Patrick’s Cathedral, 1 Marist Plc, Parramatta. 

To find out more about priesthood contact Fr Warren Edwards, 

Director of Priestly Vocations, tel 0409 172 700 

vocations@parra.catholic.org.au 

MAY CALENDAR 

PERMANENT DIACONATE INFORMATION 

AFTERNOON 

Single men aged 25 and over and married couples who are 

interested in finding out more about the ordained ministry of the 

permanent diaconate are invited to an information afternoon. From 

2.30pm-5pm at St Anthony’s Parish Hall, 5 Aurelia St, Toongabbie. 

Inquiries: Fr Arthur Bridge, Director of Promotions for the 

Permanent Diaconate, tel (02) 9631 3316, 0411 289 954, 

arthur.bridge@parracatholic.org 

CELEBRATING THE EARLY YEARS MASS AND 

LUNCH 

This annual gathering for young married couples and their 

families is hosted by CatholicCare Social Services. Mass at 11am 

in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, followed by a light lunch. 

RSVP through your parish or to CatholicCare tel (02) 8822 2222, 

marriage@ccss.org.au 

For more events visit: http://catholicoutlook.org/event/ 

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DIOCESE OF PARRAMATTA 

Philippines Mission 

Experience & 

World Youth Day 

Krakow 2016 

Footsteps of 

St John Paul II & 

World Youth Day 

Krakow 2016 

Youth 16-35 & Year 11 

who are students of 

Catholic Education 

Diocese of Parramatta 

Youth 18-35. 

This pilgrimage is not available 

to students or teachers of 

Catholic Education Diocese of 

Parramatta 

15 July – 4 August 

Philippines & Poland 

20 Days 

20 July – 4 August 

Poland 

17 Days 

From $7,180.00 per person twin share* 

Young adults and youths are invited to join the 

pilgrimage of a lifetime to have a mission experience 

to Bohol Island in the Philippines which was 

devastated by an earthquake in 2013. Pilgrims 

will spend four days working with young people in 

parishes, schools and orphanages. Following this 

mission experience, the group travels to Krakow, 

Poland to participate in and celebrate World Youth 

Day week with millions of young people ready to pray 

in solidarity with Pope Francis at World Youth Day. 

From $5,798.00 per person twin share* 

Young adults are invited to join the pilgrimage of a 

lifetime in the footsteps of a Saint. In 1986 Pope 

John Paul II visited Western Sydney and founded the 

Diocese of Parramatta. In 2016, you can journey, as he 

did so often in his homeland, through all of the places 

he loved and lived before you arrive in Krakow, Poland 

with millions of young people ready to pray in solidarity 

with Pope Francis at World Youth Day. 

*A late fee will apply to registrations after 15 April 

www.parrawyd.org

Catholic Outlook April 2016

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