CO_November16

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–Share your Christmas joy and donate today! www.faithatwork.org.au Seeing God’s voice By Jordan Grantham FINDING SILENCE TO HEAR God’s voice can be difficult in these busy, connected times but the deaf Catholic community in Seven Hills regularly ‘sees’ God’s voice in a quiet signed Mass, each third Sunday of the month at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish. The Ephpheta Catholic Centre for Deaf & Hard of Hearing People – based in Punchbowl – provides the Sunday Mass at rotating locations across Sydney and the Central Coast. It also offers pastoral care and support for deaf people throughout the greater Sydney area. ‘Ephpheta’, “be opened”, is from the sacred Aramaic language, spoken by Christ when he cured a deaf man in St Mark’s Gospel. Fr Michael Lanzon is Chaplain to the Ephpheta Centre and shares the duty of providing the deaf Mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Seven Hills, with Fr John Paul Escarlan. They use Auslan, Australian sign language, to communicate the words of the Mass. “I’m still working on improving my Auslan,” Fr Lanzon admits. The Masses also use professional Auslan interpreters, which means the Mass is quite elaborate, being said in two languages at the same time. At Mass the readings are led by deaf people in Auslan. “It is quite different to what you would experience. When deaf people attend this Mass, they remain seated the whole time to maintain a line of sight. We also normally have a PowerPoint so that the Mass is accessible to everyone.” The Vatican released guidelines for the pastoral care of deaf people in 2009. The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference implemented recommendations from the Pontifical Council for Health Pastoral Workers, providing liturgical, catechetical, social and employment support, dedicated to the deaf. Fr John Paul Escarlan started his involvement with the deaf chaplaincy in 2009, at the Diocese of Parramatta’s Seminary of the Holy Spirit. “One of the readers at my ordination to the priesthood was from the deaf community and there was a voiceover translation of the Auslan signing,” he said. This pastoral connection to the seminary continues today with Shinto Francis, a current seminarian. Daina Caruana from the Ephpheta Centre signs during Mass. Photo: Alfred Boudib. The Catholic Church has for many years had a long and proud tradition of support for the deaf community. The centre’s previous Director, Stephen Lawlor, was the first deaf leader of a Catholic deaf facility in the world. Nicole Clark is the Interpreter and Consultant for the staff and community at the Ephpheta Centre. She said Stephen’s appointment “was a very overt way that Cardinal Pell recognised the importance of self-determination for the deaf community.” “We have a rich Catholic heritage from Ireland, through the Dominican Sisters from Cabra. Many signs in our Masses come from the Irish sign language.” Folklore holds that the Cabra deaf school started when a bishop’s sister had a deaf child. The mother was considering sending the child to the only available school for the deaf – a Protestant institution. “‘We won’t be having any of that!’ was the bishop’s hearty response,” Nicole said. The rest is history. You can learn more about the work of the Ephpheta Centre at www.ephpheta.org.au Your donations to this month’s Diocesan Works Fund Appeal will help to support the work of the Ephpheta Centre. Appeal envelopes are available from your parish or you can make an online donation at: www.faithatwork.org.au. BUILDING SERVICES LOCALLY TO MAKE A CRITICAL DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES $49 $24 $10 $__ $49 can help provide financial or family counselling $24 can help provide refugees educational supplies for English courses $10 can help provide equipment and uniforms for employment courses. Your support will go a long way in providing counselors and case workers to our disadvantaged across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains Please give generously today and support our social services CatholicCare Social Services: Choices (employment) | Blacktown Neighbour Aid | Financial Counselling | Relationship and Family Counselling | Solo Parents Ministry Houses to Homes and Project Elizabeth | Mamre, Refugee Education (English Course) Ephpheta Centre (for deaf and hard of hearing people): Community Visits | Education Programs | Marriage Services | Funeral Services | Volunteering You can donate using the DWF Appeal envelope or donate online at parracatholic.org/dwf 12 CatholicOutlook NOVEMBER 2016 www.catholicoutlook.org
– Please give generously and provide hope to someone this Christmas www.faithatwork.org.au Blacktown Neighbour Aid lends a helping hand BLACKTOWN NEIGHBOUR AID is a service of CatholicCare Social Services in the Diocese of Parramatta that assists frail aged people, people with a disability and their carers who are living within the Blacktown Local Government Area (LGA). The service is primarily directed towards meeting a need for social contact and/ or a companion to assist participation in community life. Blacktown Neighbour Aid provides a community-based service to consumers and carers, which assists them to remain living independently in their own homes. The service is provided Monday to Friday during normal business hours. We employ a social support worker initially to establish a routine that meets individual needs. A trained volunteer is then allocated, on a one-to-one basis, to visit for up to two hours per week at a time that suits the personal needs of consumers and carers. Anyone can refer a person to Blacktown Neighbour Aid. Referrals may be made by a family member, relative, a friend or neighbour, community group, health professional, or consumers can self-refer. We endeavour to support and complement other services, including family and friends, by providing a social Dedicated volunteers provide companionship and assistance. support worker or trained volunteer who offers practical assistance, social support and companionship. Services include: • Friendly home visits; • Assistance with filling out forms, writing and posting mail; • Reading; • Assistance with banking & paying bills; • Phone support; • Support to attend a social activity; • Transport and assistance to shopping (fees apply); and • Transport and accompany to medical appointments within Blacktown LGA (fees apply). Blacktown Neighbour Aid needs volunteers to assist our frail aged, people with a disability and their carers. The requirement is a couple of hours of your time, either weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Volunteers receive training, supervision and support, and reimbursement of travel and out-of-pocket expenses. There is the opportunity to socialise and enjoy engaging with consumers and a team of like-minded people. To find out more about becoming a volunteer, contact CatholicCare tel (02) 8822 2222, bna@ccss.org.au Recover Wellbeing tackling mental distress Mamre House was originally part of Rev Samuel Marsden’s South Creek farm. Mamre programs for migrants and refugees MAMRE HOUSE AND FARM is set on an 85ha property at Orchard Hills. It was originally part of Rev Samuel Marsden’s South Creek farm established in 1804. Mamre House was the working farmhouse of a busy rural property, a model farm that included orchards, exotic pasture and other crops. For the past 30 years, the focus has been on social justice and bringing the community together. CatholicCare Social Services took over the operation of Mamre Farm from the Sisters of Mercy Parramatta in 2014. CatholicCare has developed innovative approaches that improve individual and community wellbeing. Mamre operates programs for migrants, volunteers and refugees. CATHOLICCARE SOCIAL SERVIC- ES in the Diocese of Parramatta has a team of highly skilled and dedicated people who work in its Houses to Homes program. This service for pregnant girls or parenting young women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness offers: • Transitional semi-independent housing; • Referral pathways towards long-term stable housing solutions; • Case management support; • Access to brokerage; • Home visits to young mothers and their babies; • Empowerment for independent living; • Access to parenting and living skills, employment and education; Mamre Farm plots are provided to refugee families or larger community groups for a nominal fee. It is an opportunity for families to cultivate the produce they grew up with, to learn about Western produce and to start a conversation with people they have not met before. Mamre’s Refugee Program offers a caring and supportive community environment where lessons are structured around students’ needs. English classes cater for all levels of English and Australian citizenship classes are offered. A creche accommodates the childcare needs of parents while they are studying. Pastoral care is available to families, as well as financial counselling. For more information about Mamre’s programs contact CatholicCare (02) 8822 2222. Houses to Homes support for young mums • Advocacy, support and referral; and • Assistance in accessing community resources. The demand for this service is constant. Vulnerable members of our community are afforded the opportunity that many of us take for granted. Louise Masters heads the team: “All babies and children have the right to lead a healthy and fulfilling life with safe and secure housing and early intervention,” Louise said. “We are committed to providing the best service possible so this can be achieved.” For more information about Houses to Homes contact CatholicCare tel (02) 8822 2222. CATHOLICCARE SOCIAL SERVICES runs Recover Wellbeing in the Diocese of Parramatta. It is a unique program offering practical recovery-oriented education and support to people living with mental distress. Recover Wellbeing providing pathways to positive mental wellbeing through a combination of education, social activities and peer-led recovery groups in accordance with the principles of REACH, the Black Dog Institute’s nine-week psychoeducational program. Recover Wellbeing’s combination of professional support, social inclusion and informal camaraderie between participants is what makes the program appealing and beneficial for people living with mental distress. Groups include a culturally specific Aboriginal program at Emerton in addition to monthly get-togethers that include Art and Writing Group 4 Wellbeing, Visual Arts & Crafts Group 4 Wellbeing, Create 4 Wellbeing, Walk 4 Wellbeing, Dance 4 Wellbeing, Drum 4 Wellbeing and Breaking Habits 4 Wellbeing. For more information about Recover Wellbeing contact CatholicCare (02) 8822 2222. All babies and children have the right to lead a healthy and fulfilling life. Your donations to this month’s DWF Appeal will help to support the Diocese of Parramatta’s social services www.catholicoutlook.org NOVEMBER 2016 CatholicOutlook 13
Page 1 and 2: CatholicOutlook The official public
Page 3 and 4: LIFE, MARRIAGE & FAMILY 2016 DIOCES
Page 5 and 6: CatholicYouthParra @cyp_parramatta
Page 7 and 8: DIOCESAN NEWS New Blacktown centre
Page 9 and 10: CONFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE
Page 11: PARISH PROFILE Fr Greg Jacobs SJ: a
Page 15 and 16: www.parra.catholic.edu.au @Catholic
Page 17 and 18: INSTITUTE FOR MISSION Nourishment f
Page 19 and 20: OFFICE FOR WORSHIP More than 70 peo
Page 21 and 22: City of Parramatta a Refugee Welcom
Page 23 and 24: NEWS & EVENTS Students create a pla

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