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<strong>CO</strong>NFRATERNITY OF CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE Taking the Gospel to the wider world Cecilia Zammit, CCD Director AT EACH OF THE WEEKEND Masses we are dismissed with the command to ‘share the good news of Jesus Christ’. Armed with the necessary authorisation cards, their teaching manuals, music, craft and a smile some 900 women and men from our 47 parishes have returned to their local state primary and secondary schools to do just that! Priests, religious and laypeople throughout the world have been going into parishes and schools as catechists for centuries. In 1896, the Australian bishops expressed their concern for families in remote areas in WA: “children in our country are growing up a godless race”. By 1923, a team of three religious sisters set up the Catholic Bush Mission and as they received the names and location of Catholic families, these sisters wrote monthly, personal letters to the children on the faithdoctrine and sacraments. This Religion by Post program grew from 270 children in 1923 to 1093 children in 1926. It was found that these pastoral letters helped not only the children but the parents who were living distant from towns. Summer school camps were successful in bringing these children into parishes for ‘faith and fun’. By 1935, the Bush Mission program had spread to the eastern states as they worked with volunteers from Church sodalities such as the Legion of Mary, the Theresians and St Vincent de Paul Society to teach ‘sound doctrine in simple language’. With post-World War II migration into Australia, it became evident that Catholic schools could not accommodate all the Catholic children. The Motor Mission reached hundreds of families in the Archdiocese of Sydney, which included Western Sydney. Eventually, CCD Offices were established in Sydney and the dioceses of Parramatta, Broken Bay and Wollongong as well as other dioceses to meet the growing need for training and resourcing of catechists who are Special Religious Educators in state schools. This brief history gives an indication of the dedication of the many men and women Meet the SRE team at St Patrick’s Cathedral Parish in Parramatta. who with very little training or resources went out to catechise about Jesus Christ. These are the shoulders the current catechists stand on today and we give thanks for their pioneering spirit and for setting down the path we now follow. In the Diocese of Parramatta we continue to have the support of our Bishop as well as our Parish Priests in this important ministry, and with your help we look forward to reaching students in more state schools in 2017. Regional Masses are under way in the Diocese and training courses commenced on 20 February. Caritas lessons that relate to the season of Lent have been distributed and support for combined end-of-term seminars is available. Senior students from 20 Catholic high schools are also preparing lessons to go into local state primary schools as part of our diocesan SRE team. It is not too late for you to join the CCD family of catechists. Catechists often comment how much they receive from being in the special religious classroom as they share their faith and pray with the children. Your faith will grow by becoming an SRE teacher. Training and resources are provided and you will start by being a helper with an experienced SRE. If you can see yourself taking part in this great ministry as an SRE/catechist, contact your parish office or Maree Collis in the Parramatta CCD Office tel (02) 9890 4731 or send an email to mcollis@ccdparramatta. com.au We look forward to hearing from you soon. Follow our greatest example Love your neighbour Empower our most vulnerable people around the world. Support Project Compassion Donate today 1800 024 413 or caritas.org.au 10 CatholicOutlook MARCH 2017 www.catholicoutlook.org
NEWS & EVENTS Australian Catholic Superannuation: working with you, working for you Superannuation: a marathon not a sprint We focus on investments that will see success for our members for their retirement which is why we’re proud to have an average return of 9.2% pa over the past 35 years. Superannuation is a long game and a strong 12 months is not a measure of future success. Today, in increasingly uncertain markets, we have close to $7 billion under investment in a diversified portfolio where we balance our members’ financial security and peace of mind with low-risk, long-term growth of their superannuation. Members’ interests meet annual interest Our members have told us they prefer lower reward with less risk*. They’ve also said they place a high value on their relationship with us and consistent, quality service. Our members are the focus of everyone who works at Australian Catholic Superannuation, and we’re always on the lookout for ways we can help improve the member experience. Here are just some of the ways we’re working with members: • Regional managers embedded in members’ workplaces across different dioceses to meet one-on-one about superannuation, insurance, retirement and disability • Free seminars to empower members, keeping them up to date with legislative changes and new products • Connecting with diocesan members in non-financial ways, such as health and wellbeing, charity, community events and Catholic celebrations. Here’s how working with a planner helped Des Fox, Principal, St Jerome’s Catholic Primary School Punchbowl, feel confident about his retirement: “Working with an Australian Catholic Superannuation planner has helped me build up my knowledge of what I need to do to maximise my opportunities to have a secure financial future after retirement.” Listening to our members We want all Australians to feel confident in their retirement plans and achieve their financial goals. There is more than just investments that help meet this goal; support and customer service are crucial to helping members feel confident in their fund. Sophie Ryan, retired Director of System Performance, Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta and a member of Australian Catholic Superannuation says, “I have recently retired, and the support around organising my finances has left me feeling confident about my financial future.” ‘Over the past 35 years, we have averaged an impressive 9.2% pa return.’ We’re proud of the Catholic ethos that runs through all sectors of our organisation, and we know this is important to our members, too. “There is a great sense of relief when you feel people are offering an ethical and trustworthy service,” Ms Ryan says. It’s not just members who rate us highly The past 12 months have been hugely successful, and we’ve picked up many awards, including: • Australian Financial Review: Top 50 Most Innovative Companies List 2016 • SuperRatings Platinum rating: Top 25% of super funds in Australia for eight consecutive years • ABA100 winner for Product Innovation 2016 • Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees Best Member Facing Project 2016 We have been proud partners of Catholic Outlook for the past 11 years and look forward to continuing our partnership with the Diocese of Parramatta. • Winner Industry Fund Financial Services Financial Planning Team of the Year 2016 • Finalist in the Customer Services Institute of Australian “Services Excellence in a Small Contact Centre” award 2016 Have you attended one of our free seminars yet? Head to catholicsuper.com.au/seminars to find out more and book your seat at our next seminar – 60 minutes on super changes. *Investment Trends Data, 2016 Recent government changes to super could affect your retirement plans Despite the changes, superannuation is still one of the most tax-effective ways to save for your retirement. Furthermore, your retirement could last for 20 to 30 years. More changes take effect on 1 July, 2017 so take this chance to learn the facts. NON-MEMBERS FRIENDS & FAMILY ALL WEL<strong>CO</strong>ME For venues and bookings visit www.catholicsuper.com.au/seminars or call 1300 658 776 DISCLAIMER - SCS Super Pty Limited, ABN 74 064 712 607, AFSL 230554, RSE L0002264 has engaged Industry Fund Services Limited (IFS) ABN 54 007 016 195 AFSL No 232514 to facilitate the provision of financial advice to members of Australian Catholic Superannuation. Advice is provided by one of our financial planners who are Authorised Representatives of IFS. Fees may apply. Further information about the cost of advice is set out in the relevant Financial Services Guide, a copy of which is available for download at www.catholicsuper.com.au or by calling 1300 658 776. IFS is responsible for any advice given to you by its Authorised Representatives. www.catholicoutlook.org MARCH 2017 CatholicOutlook 11
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