Catholic Outlook Magazine | Lent & Easter | 2023 Issue

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Grow your money in the Diocesan Development Fund and invest in our Church and its people The parish community of Kellyville can now welcome all to worship, thanks to renovations made to their church. A beautiful new altar, rededicated in December 2022, a new crucifix and pulpit are the centrepieces of the works which feature new entrances, ramps and accessible toilets for people who are wheelchair bound. The forecourt was landscaped to include a contemplation space, and the entry can either be a crying room or overflow area. Other upgrades included a new sacristy, twin confessionals, an expanded piety store, a refurbished baptistry, and lovingly refurbished pews. Alongside the generosity of parishioners, the parish reached out to the team at the Diocesan Development Fund, who gave them advice on applying and taking out the loan, and how to pay it back. The DDF’s services include: • Providing loans to assist Catholic agencies to further their Mission. Loans are available for any worthwhile purpose including construction, renovation, land purchase, furnishings, and equipment. • Facilitating transactional services to Catholic agencies such as parishes and schools. • Operating efficiently to generate income for the Diocese to support the Mission of the Church, pastoral priorities, and ministry programmes. • The development of deep long-term relationships with all Catholic entities within the Diocese. To contact the DDF please phone (02) 8839 4500 or email enquiries@parraddf.org.au Visit the DDF website at www.parracatholic.org.au/ddf Disclosure Statement The Diocesan Development Fund Catholic Diocese of Parramatta (DDF) (the Fund) is required by law to make the following disclosure. The Fund is not prudentially supervised by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority nor has it been examined or approved by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. An investor in the Fund will not receive the benefit of the financial claims scheme or thedepositor protection provisions in the Banking Act 1959 (Cth). Investments in the Fund are intended to be a means for investors to support the charitable, religious and educational works of the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta and for whom the consideration of profit are not of primary relevance in the investment decision. The investments that the Fund offers are not subject to the usual protections for investors under the Corporations Act (Cth) or regulation by Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Investors may be unable to get some or all of their money back when the investor expects or at all and an of the Fund are not comparable to investments with banks, finance companies or fund managers. The Fund’s identification statement may be viewed at https://parracatholic.org or by contacting the Fund. The Fund does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence.
A woman in Abu Dhabi waves the flag of Pope Francis during his visit to the United Arab Emirates in 2019. Image: Shutterstock. Interfaith: bringing others ‘into the tent’ STORY CHRISTINA GRETTON The Interfaith Commission of the Diocese of Parramatta is a recently formed group with the goal of building networks with people of other religions. Members of the Commission explain the power of listening and ‘letting others in’. “All I can say is our poor world needs all peoples to work together for our environment and the wellbeing of all,” observes Lorraine Murphy, a member of the Interfaith Commission in the Diocese of Parramatta. Deep, respectful listening has been the key to Lorraine’s success in creating bonds with people of other faiths and she describes the Women’s Interfaith Network she currently belongs to. “There are two participants from each of the following faiths: Jews, Muslims, Hindu, Bahá'í, Buddhist, along with Christians of Anglican, Uniting and Catholic Communities,” she says. The group nominates a speaker to speak on a topic from her faith’s perspective – “uninterrupted,” Lorraine is at pains to point out, followed by a Q&A. Sr Colleen Foley OSU is another member of the Commission. “Jesus prayed that we all may be one, to know the love of God for all God’s children,” she reminds us. “We are one human family, living on the one planet. Everything is connected. People of faith have a special role in bringing love and justice to our world because we believe in God’s love and actively try to be a reflection of that love wherever we are. We need to walk together to make this a reality.” In this regard, Sr Colleen refers to the example that Pope Francis sets when he seeks to bring global religious leaders together on issues impacting our world. “Pope Francis is leading us by his words and actions,” she says, referring to the document he signed in 2019 in Abu Dhabi on Interfaith Relations. Closer to home, the Interfaith group ‘Voices for PoWer’ is lobbying for better outcomes in Western Sydney for heat and energy. She refers to the image of our Church as a ‘tent’ promoted by the Vatican’s Synod of Bishops document “Enlarge the space of your tent” (Is 54:2) and how well the Asian Synod of Bishops, SynodBangkok, has expressed what is understood by Interfaith dialogue. “The image of the ‘Church as tent’ projects it to be a place of refuge that can be expanded to all in a spirit of inclusivity,” agrees Sr Colleen. “It expresses that God can pitch His tent wherever the Spirit of God blows, including places of violence, unrest, and suffering. Most importantly, in the tent, there is room for everyone; no one is excluded, for it is a home to everyone. In this process, those who in the past felt 'left out' now realise that they have a home in this tent – a sacred and safe space.” Lorraine considers Australians blessed for the opportunity for Interfaith connections. “We are so fortunate in Australia, and especially in Western Sydney, to have the opportunity to get to know and experience this diversity,” she says. “We are one human family. All must be included.” Find out more about the Synod of Bishops at www.synod.va 23
Page 1 and 2: FREE M A G A Z I N E DIOCESE OF PAR
Page 3 and 4: A message from the Editor Dear frie
Page 5 and 6: 12 26 36 20 On the Inside Lent & Ea
Page 7 and 8: Outlook Looks Our Good Shepherds ar
Page 10 and 11: Short & Sweet We learned that the y
Page 12 and 13: Bishop Vincent’s Easter Message B
Page 14 and 15: Pope Benedict at World Youth Day Sy
Page 16 and 17: Cardinal George Pell A Reminiscence
Page 18 and 19: Bishop Vincent Long, Bishop of Parr
Page 20 and 21: The most influential woman in the V
Page 22 and 23: Synodality sparks conversation STOR
Page 26 and 27: Mothers Models of faith and love ST
Page 28 and 29: Children playing at Ambrose Mary Qu
Page 30 and 31: Aspirations for Western Sydney stud
Page 32 and 33: ‘Towards a Spirituality of Synoda
Page 34 and 35: The Paschal candle, during the East
Page 36 and 37: Christ and the Garden of Olives by
Page 38 and 39: Appearance of Christ by Ukrainian a
Page 40 and 41: The Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Page 42 and 43: 12 MONTHS OF ACHIEVEMENTS www.parra
Page 44 and 45: Fr Andrew Bass, Parish Priest of Ho
Page 46 and 47: Parish Profile Holy Cross Parish, G
Page 48 and 49: Seminarians Paul, Victor, Jose, Jas
Page 50 and 51: Watch, Read, Listen, Reflect Cathol
Page 52 and 53: KIDS’ CORNER JESUS AND MARY MAGDA
Page 54 and 55: Directory of services (02) 8843 250
Page 56: LENT APPEAL Celebrating 25 years CO

Catholic Outlook Magazine | Lent & Easter | 2023 Issue

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