CO_November16

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Bishop Vincent launches A Place at the Table
By Sr Louise McKeogh FMA
Social Justice Director
SOCIAL JUSTICE SUNDAY ON 25
September saw a most significant and
meaningful launch of this year’s Australian
Catholic Bishops Social Justice Statement
at Sacred Heart Parish, Blackheath.
A Eucharistic celebration began our
morning with the celebrants being Bishop
Vincent Long OFM Conv and Parish Priest
Fr Bob Sheridan. Our Eucharist began
with a prayerful PowerPoint reflection. We
then invited Don (as the representative
for our senior community members) and
Chantelle (as the voice of the young) to
read the prayer for Social Justice Sunday, A
Prayer for All Ages.
Communion reflection was an inspiring
social justice hymn written and sung by Pat
Drummond and supported by the rest of the
music ministry team.
We then gathered in the parish hall to
launch and break open the social justice
statement, beginning with a reflection and
challenge from Pope Francis.
“There was a father, mother and their
many children, and a grandfather lived with
them. He was quite old, and when he was at
table eating soup, he would get everything
dirty: his mouth, the serviette … it was not
a pretty sight!
“One day the father said that, given what
was happening to the grandfather, from
that day forward he would eat alone. And
so he bought a little table, and placed it in
the kitchen. And so the grandfather ate
alone in the kitchen while the family ate in
the dining room.
“After some days, the father returned home
from work and found one of his children
playing with wood. He asked him, ‘What
are you doing?’ to which the child replied,
‘I am playing carpenter’. ‘And what are you
building?’ the father asked. ‘A table for you
papa, for when you get old like grandpa’.
“This story has stayed with me for a lifetime
and done me great good. Grandparents are a
treasure.” (Pope Francis)
After being welcomed by David Buckley,
chair of the Parish Council, Bishop Vincent
launched the statement.
“At this time in Australia, we face a
threefold challenge: to work for an inclusive
society that brings older people into the
heart of the community; to ensure the
dignity and care of people who are frail and
most vulnerable to neglect or abuse; and
to foster solidarity among all generations,
recognising the special affinity that exists
between young and old.
“We must never forget that the older person
before us is a spouse, a parent, a brother or
sister, a friend and, most importantly, a son
or daughter of God. All of us are called to
have our rightful place at the table.”
The faith community of Sacred Heart Parish at Blackheath hosted the launch of the 2016-17 Social Justice Statement.
Photos: Art in Images.
Bishop Vincent as chair of the Australian
Catholic Social Justice Council spoke of
his concern for all areas of Social Justice
and the impact of his recent meeting with
Pope Francis.
Monica Bright then spoke of a local parish
response to A Place at the Table within the
context of parish community. The care and
concern of this inclusive faith community
flowed through all of their preparation,
including the beautiful sacred space
prepared in the hall.
Trace, Irene and Val from Blacktown
Neighbour Aid then spoke of the
CatholicCare program in the Blacktown
LGA to encourage and support inclusion
and social contact for seniors within
the community.
It was inspiring to hear of the energy,
joy and vibrancy for life that this program
was bringing to people and the support
it was providing them in remaining
connected and socially engaged within
the wider community.
Before we concluded with some final
words of recommendation from Fr Bob
Sheridan PP, we gathered in small groups to
reflect on what we had shared, and to take
up the challenge of the Ten Step action leaflet
that accompanies the statement.
Led by the ACU Strathfield Student Choir
MONDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2016
6pm, followed by light refreshments
Barron Memorial Chapel
ACU Strathfield Campus, 25A Barker Rd, Strathfield
For further information contact 02 9701 4223 or email:
AVC.NSW-ACT@acu.edu.au
4 CatholicOutlook NOVEMBER 2016 www.catholicoutlook.org