CAVHO ICLIFEDiocese of Lismore

Tweed Coast to Camden Haven December 2014 Vol.12 No.4www.lismorediocese.org

Tony Bazzana of WCA Financial Planning has been named “Planner of the Year” at the Lonsdale and IOOF Alliances Annual Conference, competing against four other finalists on a national basis for the prestigious title. The award is the highest individual honour given to a planner who can demonstrate excellence in advice, community involvement via contribution to both the Lonsdale network and the greater industry, a personal commitment and investment to their own professional development, strong communication and client engagement skills and exhibit a strong desire to genuinely make a difference to their clients financial wellbeing.“I am honoured to receive this recognition on behalf of WCA,” Tony said when accepting the award. “I would like to recognise the support from Lonsdale, my fellow principals and our staff whom have provided enormous support to achieve this recognition”.A Lonsdale and IOOF panel of industry professional’s – including technical, compliance, business management and the leadership team, judged the award. Mark Stephen, Chief Executive Officer, Lonsdale confirmed there was some fierce competition from the entire network of planners. Mark Stephen said: “With more than 120 practices in our dealer group Australia wide, sitting on the panel reviewing this category was quite a task as there were so many planners who were deserving of this award. The firm’s Solution Driven approach was also recognised with WCA being nominated as a finalist for Lonsdale Practice of the Year Award. This award is

judged on the basis of the practice’s value proposition to clients, exemplary compliance record, commitment to professional development of staff within the organisation and professionalism exhibited within the broader financial planning industry and general community. Tony said “It was a great achievement for WCA to be recognised at a national level” acknowledging the firm’s long standing history as a trusted professional services firm within both the local and broader community.Mark Stephen said of Tony Bazzana: “Tony and WCA are a valued member of the Lonsdale network and consistently deliver an exceptional level of service and advice to their clients.”The award was presented in October at the gala dinner during the Lonsdale and IOOF Alliances National Conference.

WCA Financial Planning wins ‘Lonsdale Planner of the Year’

A D V E R T O R I A L

WCA Financial Planning staff: Kate Forbes, Melissa Rosolen, Janice Gallagher, Lucy Gannon & Jodie Nommensen

LONSDALE CEO Mark Stephen, WCA Director Tony Bazzana and Head of IOOF Alliances Craig Joscelyne

Tony and WCA are a valued

member of the Lonsdale network

and consistently deliver an

exceptional level of service and advice to their

clients.”LONSDALE CEO

“

Catholic Life, December, 2014 3

TheBishop Writes

Continued over page

The recent installation of Archbishop Anthony Fisher in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney, as our Province’s ninth Metropolitan Archbishop was an occasion as joyful as it was memorable. On behalf of all the clergy, religious and faithful of the diocese of Lismore I was able to express our welcome to him and the assurance of our prayers.

aving known the new Archbishop since his days as a Dominican student friar, I have been able to trace the path along which he has come to this appointment of

such significance for the Church in this State and indeed in our country. Among all his qualifications, however, I believe his best is as a pastor, an approachable and kindly shepherd of the Lord’s people.

Young people especially are attracted by his warmth and wisdom and by his clear stand for truth and goodness. Their response is to be seen in the energy of the expanding youth movements in the Diocese of Parramatta and prior to that in the ongoing fruits of the 2008 World Youth Day in Sydney which he organised when he was the Auxiliary Bishop. In his installation homily Archbishop Fisher used words which every bishop would seek to echo to his own young people: “To the young people of Sydney I say with special affection: open your hearts to the adventure of the Gospel. In my bill of appointment you heard tonight the Holy Father refer to you as spesEcclesiæ, “the hope of the Church.” I am depending on you to lend me all your energy and idealism. Never buy the lies that nothing is true, all is relative, your ideals illusory, your good works in vain. With God on your side, my young friends, who can be against you?”

While I was on my recent annual leave, which included some time in Rome, like many of you I followed closely the course of the Third Extraordinary Synod of Bishops, devoted to the family in today’s world. It certainly had its moments of excitement, as one would expect in the atmosphere of openness and honest speaking which Pope Francis encouraged, telling the bishops to speak as the Lord inspired them, without hesitation or polite deference and for all to listen with a similarly open heart.

The work of the Synod was summed up in the Holy Father’s concluding address and in the final document which was voted on by the bishops on 18th October. These texts are easily accessible on the internet. They reveal the ongoing and steady concern of the Church to care pastorally for those in fragile or troubled marriages, to present a clear understanding of the indissolubility of marriage, of its relation to Christ and to openness to life and of the truth and beauty of family life. The need was seen for better preparation for marriage, the formation of priests to give true Christian accompaniment at the parish level to people in the early years of marriage and for better pastoral approaches towards single parent families.

It was among these challenges identified by the bishops that we find the questions presented by the situation of remarried divorcees, the question of a possible exception

in some cases for admission to Holy Communion and the need for further reflection on how the Church should view those who are committed to same-sex relationships.

As far as the secular media was concerned, these latter seemed to be the only questions of interest and worthy of its emphasis. It seemed to have a subtext that Pope Francis may have been more on the side of discordant voices, seeming to open up matters of doctrine previously regarded as closed, than he was to the Church’s established teaching. It is not to be wondered that the secular reportage and comment on church matters generally is beguiled by the Pope’s more informal style in discharging his office, his distancing from some old Vatican protocols and his determination to bring new and more efficient and accountable order to church governance.

But is Pope Francis being a little romanticised by the media and sections of public opinion in the same way that St John XXIII was in the aftermath of the Second Vatican Council, both in contrast to their immediate predecessors? Is there a certain superficiality in the way much of the media assesses Pope Francis as being more in tune with secular modernity than the popes who preceded him? Why is it that some things that Pope Francis says and does are broadcast with approval, but others, such as his constant and sometimes threatening references to the Devil are allowed to fall into silence?

There was an interesting example recently, following two statements made by Pope Francis in his address on 28th October to the Pontifical Academy of Science. “The Big Bang, which today we hold to be the origin of the world, does not contradict the intervention of the divine creator, but rather, requires it.”

A second statement also drew the attention of the media. “Evolution in nature is not inconsistent with the notion of creation, because evolution requires the creation of beings that evolve.”

Certain media outlets proclaimed these to be “provocative, progressive statements,” that “could be aimed at healing a rift between science and religion.”

The secular presumption is that the Catholic Church is intellectually backward and somehow engaged in a battle against science. Its default position seems to be that the Church is blindly attached to ideas and doctrines that no enlightened person could regard with anything but ridicule.

The fact is that the scientist who developed and proposed, in 1931, the most important theory of modern

Catholic Life, December, 20144

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The Bishop Writes Continued from previous page

Cover Caption: Close up of an ornate religious icon of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus.Photo taken on: August 6th, 2011 © Costa007 | Dreamstime.com

CONTENTSRegular Features3-4 The Bishop Writes 5 Editorial7 Vocations12 Liturgy13 Churches of the World20 World View

Features6&19 CSO Director’s Article – Proclaim8-9 Around Our Parishes – Maclean10 CCD in the Diocese11 Peace & Justice14 ABC Welcomes Family Synod Concluding Message 15 Rising Incidence of Violence against Women Condemned

16-18 Ninth Archbishop of Sydney Installed19 New Performing Arts Centre for Woodlawn

School News21 MacKillop Senior College, Port Macquarie St Paul’s High School, Port Macquarie St Ambrose Primary School, Pottsville22 St Brigid’s Primary School, Kyogle Mt St Patrick Primary School, Murwillumbah St Joseph’s Primary School, Sth Murwillumbah23 St Finbarr’s Primary School, Byron Bay St Mary’s Primary School, Grafton Xavier Catholic College, Ballina

24 St John’s Primary School, Mullumbimby Mary Help of Christians Primary School, Sawtell25 Mt St Patrick College, Murwillumbah St Joseph’s Regional College, Port Macquarie St Joseph’s Primary School, Wauchope26 Newman Senior Technical College, Port Macquarie St Joseph’s Primary School, Wauchope27 St Mary’s Primary School, Casino St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour Holy Family Primary School, Skennars Head28 St Patrick’s Primary School, Macksville St Joseph’s Primary School, Coraki29 Trinity Catholic College, Lismore St John’s College, Woodlawn

cosmology, known to us as ‘the Big Bang,’ was a Belgian priest and protégé of Albert Einstein, Monsignor Georges Lemaître (d. 1966). Its priestly origin and the reception by the Church of the Big Bang theory demonstrates how free the Church is to theorise about causation and change in the cosmos as a whole. By contrast, it was the old Soviet Union, committed to an atheistic view of the world’s origins, that opposed the Big Bang theory until the 1960’s.

What Pope Francis said about evolution in October and which the mass media thought so new and “progressive” of him, has in fact been the teaching of the last six popes. In 1950, Pope Pius XII deemed the theory of evolution compatible with Christian belief; more recently, Pope Benedict XVI bluntly called anti-evolutionism “absurd.”

While it is easy for us to lament the ignorance of the secular mindset of our real position in many areas, we should also ask if we are not somewhat to blame. The same ignorance can be found among many Catholics, even among those whom we could reasonably expect to know better. The way in which we present to young minds today, in our own Catholic educational institutions, the interaction of reason and faith and of science and religion, with precision and balance, is of great importance. The contribution of Catholics and other Christians to some of the modern world’s great scientific breakthroughs, among them many priests, is an absorbing and exciting story and I wonder that it is not better known and regarded with pride.

We may well find a bit amusing the way in which some of the secular media likes to portray Pope Francis

as seeming to be more sympathetic to positions that preoccupy them and much of the modern world, than the succession of Popes before him. What will be their reaction when finally he disappoints them, when finally they realise that the pope will always be the Pope and the Church will always be the Church?

Let us pray constantly for Pope Francis as he has asked us to do and for our new metropolitan, Archbishop Fisher.

As Christmas draws near and we prepare to celebrate the birth of our Saviour in our families and homes, I wish you all the blessings of the Lord and his Virgin Mother. Grace and peace be with you!

Yours devotedly in Christ,✠ Geoffrey Jarrett, Bishop of Lismore

Catholic Life, December, 2014 5

Every life is a story, unique and valued. At the end of each year we gather up the stories that our life has told and we leave those that are still in the telling. Our stories describe who we are, what we have tried to achieve and how we measure up to what is left.

ur faith in fact comes from stories with all their power and mystery, stories in a book

we call the Bible, interpreted and retold in what we call Tradition. Our stories inspire worship and ritual as we move through our life journey. They speak of what has gone before us and how we can learn from history.

There are other stories that include varied human experience, endeavour, strength and weakness. These stories have been lived out in communities and family, with friends and co-workers.

The most interesting personal stories are those that question us about what life expects of us rather than what we expect from life.

Sometimes we have to battle to tell our stories with truth and probity. Many would say that this is becoming harder to do in a world where so many bad stories are being told, bad stories that say life doesn’t mean much, it is good to cause havoc and that human goodness does not have any real purpose. Don’t show compassion because it makes you appear weak. It is better to thieve, lie and steal because that is what makes easy wealth. There is a growing distance between the City of God and the earthly one.

The Church is blessed with a storyteller of great moment.

Pope Francis is among the most listened-to human beings on the planet. As he tells his stories of truth, human goodness, justice and peace, he reflects the teachings of Christ in a language that does not exclude.

Every day he tells a miracle, he laughs, he hugs, he gives the kiss of welcome. He tells the greatest story that we haven’t heard in a long time.

As recently as November 11th, he spoke of two issues dearest to his heart: Action to combat hunger and greater effort to protect the environment, linking these issues to the need for greater social justice. “Nowadays there is much talk of rights, frequently neglecting duties; perhaps we have paid too little heed to those who are hungry,” the Pope said.

“It is painful to see the struggle against hunger and malnutrition is hindered by ‘market priorities’, the ‘primacy of profit.”

The Pope went on to say “The second challenge to be faced is the lack of solidarity. Our societies are characterised by growing individualism and division: this ends with our depriving the weakest of a decent life and provokes revolts against institutions.”

In the endings of 2014, we ask what kind of a year was it and where do we go from here?

Urged on by Pope Francis, we ask how far are we prepared to go to take responsibility in finding the right answers in our own environment to help those displaced, disturbed, hungry and with nowhere to be safe and appreciated. Where does our spiritual awareness lead us in a world that crumples up faith?

Perhaps if we can look to the horizon, we might find a gem of wisdom that says: ‘Time will do its job.’

Father Peter M. Karam – Editor

Editorial

Collecting and Telling Stories

I would like to take this opportunity to wish the readers of

“Catholic Life” every blessing and my personal best wishes at Christmas

and in the New Year.

I thank the advertisers who have supported our magazine, enabling us

to provide this publication at no cost to our readers. My special thanks to our

marketing and advertising manager Mr John Howard and our graphic designer

Johanna Evans for their dedication to the task and editorial support.

Pope Francis blesses a child upon his arrival to lead a mass at Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan, 24 May 2014. The pontiff held a mass service lasting about three hours at a stadium in Amman, attended by about 20,000 people, many wearing white, waving Jordanian and Vatican flags and cheering for the leader

of the Roman Catholic Church when he entered. His first Middle East tour comes amid what religious leaders describe as a new chapter in Arab Muslim-Christian relations, following years of tense ties between followers of

two of the world’s largest faiths. EPA/AMEL PAIN

Catholic Life, December, 20146

Every parent, I’m certain, has a burning desire to ensure that their children receive the best possible education they can. I’m just as certain that most parents don’t always feel comfortable spending time in their children’s school. Schools are busy places; I don’t want to annoy the teacher; my child might be embarrassed; I don’t have any skills to offer and so on. Can you relate to this?

Sometimes schools aren’t comfortable with parents either – schools are indeed busy places. And so what should be the most symbiotic of relationships, is

sometimes not.It’s nobody’s and everybody’s fault. I don’t think any

generation has got the relationship between school and parents absolutely right. The history of parent partnership and engagement with schools has not always been smooth and both parents and teachers have from time to time been unable to strike the correct balance needed to ensure that parent engagement and partnership in the education of their children is real and relevant.

From this situation can come a feeling of powerlessness and a sense of uncertainty and anxiety.

This range of feelings and thoughts I bet, were also experienced by the first Christians. Just think of the Apostles before they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The Apostles went from hiding to publicly proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ – they were full of the Spirit.

Throughout our lives we meet people who are “full of spirit”. They are normally people who are not afraid to say or do what is needed, even if that does not come easily to them. They are passionate people with deep inner strength. They put in time and energy for what they believe in. They are ‘can do’ people. Well, that is what the Holy Spirit did for the Apostles at Pentecost.

Such ‘spirited’ and ‘can do’ people are needed again if education across Australia and especially Catholic education are to co-design this enhanced territory of parental partnership and engagement. Let each of our spirits be filled with God’s Spirit of love. God’s love drives out fear and builds compassion, unity, peace and inner strength.

Catholic education is in a time of great adventure as it fine tunes its designs for a stronger future. Why not consider registering an Expression of Interest to participate in the Proclaim Lismore Parents and be part of this journey? Are you willing to join in building a fresh spirit of partnership and unity in Catholic education? Be part of the team the Holy Spirit has put on the field here in Catholic education to achieve maximum success for each student.

How should the ‘Catholic Village’, namely, the clergy, parishioners, parents and schools staffs work together in raising its children to be well educated and live meaningful lives?

hy did we do this? The fundamental reason is that children do best in a united adult world. Further, the Church teaches that the future of

both the Church and society passes by way of the family in giving children full and meaningful Christian lives. The Commonwealth Government states that parent partnership and engagement in schooling is one of its four top priorities. Educational research also reveals that parental partnership maximises student achievement and that effective schools have ‘high levels of parental and community involvement’.

Proclaim Lismore Parents 2014

by David Condon, Director of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Lismore

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‘The parent feedback discussion gets under way at the Lismore meeting

“It takes a village to raise a child”.

continued on page 19

Catholic Life, December, 2014 7

Thomas of Celano, the early 13th Century biographer of St. Francis of Assisi, wrote about how St. Francis finally came to know the vocation the Lord was calling him to live.

elano relates that St. Francis was listening to the Gospel at Mass one day. The Gospel was about Jesus sending the disciples out to preach the Kingdom of

God (cf. Luke 10:10ff; Matt. 10:5ff).Afterwards, St. Francis asked for an explanation from

the priest and when he heard “that the disciples should not possess gold or silver or money; nor carry along the way scrip, or wallet, or bread, or a staff; that they should not have shoes, or two tunics; but that they should preach the Kingdom of God and penance, [he] immediately cried out exultingly: ‘This is what I wish, this is what I seek, this is what I long to do with all my heart.’” (1 Celano 22)

The story of St. Francis’ calling reminds us that no human being is an accident. God has known us from before we were formed in our mother’s womb (cf. Jeremiah 1:5) and called us into communion with Him for eternity. We each have a divine purpose, a divine meaning – this is our vocation; and whether we know it or not, it is the one thing that we long for, hunger for, desire with all our heart.

It is in the longing for God, the longing to be more, that the Lord whispers his call to each of us. Within the Christian vocation of every baptised person this divine call will be incarnated in a particular way: it may be to priesthood, religious life, marriage and family or the single life. The one thing certain is that each of us is called to follow the Lord in the way that He calls us. And in answering that call we

find our fulfilment, our eternity, the one thing our hearts long for. As St. Augustine so eloquently said centuries ago, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in You… For in my wounded heart I saw your splendour and it dazzled me” (Confessions, I:1; X:41)

We are blessed in our diocese with eight fine seminarians preparing for the priesthood but all of us, clergy and lay, need to do more to support and encourage our young people to take seriously the call of God planted deep within their hearts; the call that will lead to their blessedness. A call that is all too easily drowned out by the clamour of false happiness and false fulfilment in our society.

Let us all work towards a culture of vocation within our homes, within our parishes, within the whole diocese. Down through the centuries the Lord has always called young men to priesthood and young men and women to religious life – for their sake and for the sake of the mission of Christ. I have no doubt that the Lord is calling our young people today; perhaps your son or daughter, perhaps you. Let us all have to the courage to answer Him.

St. Francis said to his brothers and sisters as he neared death: “I have done what is mine to do. May Christ teach you what is yours.” (Celano, Remembrance of the Desire of a Soul, 214) Amen.

by Fr Paul WinterVocations Director

Pastoral Placement

If – after prayer – you feel God has chosen you for a vocation then please contact:

Most Rev’d Bishop Geoffrey JarrettBishop’s Office, P.O. Box 1, Lismore NSW 2480

Fr. Paul Winter, PO Box 2450, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, Phone: 6651 0000

vocations@lismore.catholic.org.au

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The first Mass in Maclean, the central township of the lower part of the Clarence River, was celebrated by Fr W X Johnson 150 years ago, in November 1864. Fr Johnson had been resident priest in Grafton from the previous year, looking after all of the northern rivers region.

In 1866 the Catholic residents of Maclean and district met to consider building their own church and an acre of land was donated in Wharf Street near Short Street by Mr Da Silva, a local publican who had hosted the first Mass in his hotel. The little timber structure was functional by the beginning of 1867, with Fr Johnson rowing a boat down the river to say Mass quarterly. Private homes at Palmers Island and Shark Creek also served as Mass centres on these rowing tours. Brushgrove, further up river towards Grafton, received visits a little more frequently for Mass and lower river residents would row their boats from as far as Yamba and Iluka up the river to attend there.

In 1876, the lower Clarence received its first resident priest Fr J H Doyle and was established as its own parish. In 1882 the islands and heads, chiefly the centres of Palmers Island, Chatsworth Island, Yamba and Iluka, separated off as their own parish under Fr Schurr with church and presbytery at Palmers Island on land given by Mr Barry. It is a reminder that colonial Australia was more multicultural than we sometimes think that the Italian Bishop of Armidale, Bishop Torreggiani, blessed and opened these new buildings, to be first occupied by French Fr Schurr.

The islands and heads remained a separate parish until 1905 when they were reunited with Maclean as the lower Clarence parish. However during this time there were churches built at Iluka (replacing an earlier slab structure) and Chatsworth and a convent and school at Yamba in 1900, with the school also serving as church until 1931 when a church was erected in part using materials from the Palmers Island church. The current St James’ was built in 1975, with a new convent in 1970 now closed and the community hall Ted Howe Room built in 1995. A new St John’s Iluka was built in 1976. St James’ Primary School has operated at Yamba since 1997.

...You were asking about Maclean Parish ... James Moloney

Catholic Life, December, 2014 9

The first St Dominic’s was erected at Harwood in 1908, replaced by a brick church in 1966, which was closed and sold in 2011. A convent and school operated at Harwood 1928 to 1957.

St Mary’s, Maclean was opened on a new site in 1893 replacing the old timber church in Wharf St which was heavily white ant infested from the late 1880s. The presbytery was built in 1901 and the Cranney Room community hall in 1998. St Mary’s is recognised as one of the finest heritage buildings in the Clarence Valley, being the first stone church built in the Lismore Diocese. At its opening in 1893, Bishop Doyle declared it was “the finest Church in the diocese” and “the most beautiful edifice of its kind in the North Coast districts”. A fitting presbytery was erected in 1901 replacing an earlier hut on the site.

The Sisters of Mercy came to Maclean in 1898 establishing St Joseph’s school. In 1961 the new brick St Joseph’s School was built. In 2003 the old convent buildings became the parish office.

In an environment sometimes difficult to traverse and bring together isolated populations, the prodigious efforts of building and organisation and indeed rebuilding and reorganisation, reflect the enthusiasm and commitment of lower Clarence Catholics over a century and a half.

Maclean has had an extraordinary dedicated list of priestly service too, including Fr J D Walsh (1899-1919), Fr J J Durkin (1920-1948) and Fr G Cranney (1948-1975). Today, the lower Clarence parish is served by Fr Peter Padsungay.

Many colourful and interesting anecdotes about the parish are recorded in the centenary history of St Mary’s, “A Century Set in Stone: St Mary’s Church Maclean 1893-1993” by T N Edey.

Parish Masses:St Mary’s, MacleanThursday: 5.30pm (9.30am during Winter)Friday: 12 noon Sunday: 8.30amSt James YambaWednesday: 9.30am Saturday Vigil: 5.30pmSt Johns IlukaTuesday: 9.00am Sunday: 5.00pmConfessions:St Marys Maclean: 11.30am FridaySt James: 5.00pm SaturdaySt Johns: 4.45pm Sunday

Contact Details:St Mary’s (Parish established 1893) Fr Peter Padsungay, Parish Priest27 Woodford St (PO Box 19) Maclean NSW 2463Ph: 02 6645 1188 Fax: 02 6645 1188Email: macleanparish@bigpond.comParish Office Hours:Monday, Wednesday Friday 9.00am – 4.00pm

St Joseph’s Primary School, MacleanStanley Street, Maclean NSW 2463Ph: 02 6645 2340Email: sjpmacln@lism.catholic.edu.au

St James Primary School, YambaLot 1, Carrs Drive, Yamba NSW 2464Ph: 02 6646 3266Email: sjpyamba@lism.catholic.edu.au

Interior of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Kingscliff

9

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Catholic Life, December, 201410

The Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) is a worldwide organisation concerned with faith education. It began with the work of lay people in Milan, Italy in 1556.

This ministry was taken on by different orders of sisters in the Diocese of Lismore in the 1960s and became known as the Motor Mission, as the sisters travelled to

small communities and gave Religious Education lessons to Catholic students attending state schools.

The Motor Mission grew and parishioners became involved and gradually took over the work of the sisters in continuing to spread God’s word to the children in government schools. At the present time there are 115 catechists in the Diocese who teach SRE (Special Religious Education) to over 1500 students in government schools in the Diocese of Lismore. The Catholic Church sees the education of Catholic children in the faith as integral and key to its mission. The NSW Department of Education and Communities describes SRE as “an integral part of school activities”.

The Most Reverend Peter Comensoli, Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney has responsibility for the apostolate of the CCD in NSW and the ACT, describes the role of catechists:

“Catholic SRE teachers cooperate with God’s grace to engage young people in hearing the Good News about Jesus Christ and learning the key elements of our Christian life

and culture. They tell young people about the depth of God’s love. They share with children the richness of our Catholic faith and how God calls us to a full and vibrant life as members of His church.

From them, our kids learn to pray, worship God and serve our neighbour. It is an amazing ministry, serving both our Church and public education and giving parents admirable assistance in passing on the faith to the next generation.”

Catholic SRE teachers in the Diocese – also referred to as catechists – are volunteers who are approved, authorised and trained by the diocese. They follow an approved curriculum – Christ Our Light and Life, which has teacher notes and student books as well as other resources to complement the program. Catechists are dedicated and committed to sharing their faith with students and teach a 30 minute lesson each week. We are always hopeful of new people wanting to join this very worthy ministry. Your Parish Priest will be able to give you further information.

Sister Shirley Dallas rsm (pictured above) is the only remaining nun involved in SRE. Sister has a team of four volunteers who teach the students at Lawrence Primary School.

Julia Kelly, CCD CoordinatorDiocese of Lismore

CCD in the Diocese of Lismore

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Broken Bay News

Moved by the desperate plight of Christians throughout the Middle East, the Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) calls on your support to help the region’s beleaguered Christian population.A mass exodus of Christians from the Middle East is now taking place. For some, like the Christians of Iraq and Syria, it is a question of their very survival as they flee the bloody persecution of the militants of the Islamic State (formerly ISIS).For others, in parts of the Holy Land that Our Lord Jesus Christ knew so well, the proportion of Christians has plummeted from 20% to as little as 1.4% in the last forty years. The faithful now live in

fear as increasing poverty and growing extremism threaten the survival of these ancient communities.ACN is helping to keep faith and hope alive throughout the region by providing urgent aid to priests, religious and lay people, offering subsistence help to refugees and building and repairing Churches and convents. Please help us strengthen and rebuild the Church in the land of Christ’s birth.A beautiful, olive wood crucifix, handcrafted in Bethlehem, will be sent to all those who give a donation of $20.00 or more to help this campaign.Please tick the box below if you would like to receive the little olive wood crucifix*.

LIS

Catholic Life, December, 2014 11

Members from Armidale, Bathurst, Broken Bay, Lismore, Maitland-Newcastle, Parramatta, Sydney Archdiocese and Wollongong Dioceses converged at the Novotel Pacific Bay Resort Coffs Harbour for the Catholic Women’s League Australia – New South Wales Inc State Conference on 9th & 10th September 2014.

B ishop Geoffrey Jarrett DD officially opened the Conference following the Opening Mass where he was main celebrant in Mary Help of Christians

Church Sawtell. Bishop Jarrett was assisted by Fathers John Casey PP of Sawtell and Lismore Diocesan Chaplain, Don Richardson – State Chaplain, Paul Winter PP Coffs Harbour, Frederick Basco, Shelwin Fernandez and Frank O’Gorman.

As the Bishops, Priests, Presidents from all dioceses processed into the church the beautiful voices of Sawtell Parish Choir led the singing with the hymn ‘Mary, Help of Christians’ which was apt for this special occasion with the venue being in Mary Help of Christians Church and also, Catholic Women’s League is under the patronage of Mary Help of Christians. Both Bishop Jarrett and Father Casey spoke highly of the members of Catholic Women’s League, referring to the valuable work being done not only in the Church but in the community also.

Following the celebration of Mass, dinner and fellowship was enjoyed by all at the Sawtell RSL Club.

State Vice President Sue Freestone was the ‘perfect choice’ as MC for the Conference, Sue kept things moving

in a relaxed and jovial manner. Following the Welcome to Country, the morning Liturgy took place. President Moya Potts then had the pleasure of welcoming Bishop Jarrett, Fathers Don and John, special guests, students and their teacher from John Paul College and members to the Conference.

The choice of Guest Speakers were excellent. The Hon John Hannaford, former New South Wales Attorney General was thought provoking in his address as he spoke to the theme ‘Peace and Justice’.

Sister Giovanni Farquer rsj is the Director for Ecumenism and Inter-religious Relations in the Archdiocese of Sydney and Sister Anne Henson a professed member of the Lismore Congregation of Presentation for 63 years held our attention throughout their addresses.

Catherine McGrath WUCWO (World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations) Board Member Australia gave an update of the happenings in WUCWO, Catherine will attend the General Assembly in Fatima in October.

National President, Carolyn Metcalfe was warmly welcomed on her arrival from North Queensland where she attended the Qld. State Conference.

NSW State Secretary Denise McCaffery gave a beautiful presentation on ‘Life is a Journey we are but Travellers here... Mary MacKillop 1867.’

As Lismore Diocese celebrated 40 years since Catholic Women’s League was formed in our diocese, President Teresa McKinnon and Ann Pereira were invited to present a power point presentation of old photos from days gone by, there were many “oohs & aahs” during the course of this presentation!

A lovely surprise followed for our President Teresa when, with great pleasure State President Moya announced that Teresa had been granted life membership of Catholic Women’s League Australia – New South Wales Inc.

Lynne Higham – editor ‘The Anchor’ – Lismore Diocese

‘Peace and Justice’

Catholic Women’s League Australia – New South Wales Inc State Conference

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Catholic Life, December, 201412

LiturgyGreat Sign Of Hope Bishop Peter J. Elliott

Chapter 7 of the Book of Revelation presents the same image: the pregnant woman is a “great sign in heaven”. She is clothed in the sun, crowned with stars the moon beneath her feet, details later added the Mexican image. But there is a paradox here. How can we combine the celestial queen of the Book of Revelation and the obscure village maiden of the Gospel infancy narratives?

We turn to one of those narratives for the key. Luke tells us that this maiden, perhaps only sixteen years old, was hailed by her older cousin as “The mother of my Lord” (Luke 1:43). That is a royal title reserved for the “queen mother”, the king’s mother who ranked first after the king in the royal families of the Middle East in the time of Christ.

The Eastern royal title affirms that this maiden is the human being on whom all history is poised. Through her, the Messiah King will come to save his people. His reign depends on the consent of this young Jewish woman, in an obscure village in a remote province of the Roman Empire, a virgin chosen to be the mother of the Messiah, an honour for which all Jewish women would long.

Hope And Justice ReignThe royal responsibility of Mary brings joy: “Blessed

are you among woman and blessed is the fruit of your womb.” cries her cousin. But it also brings pain: “and a sword will pierce your heart.” predicts the Temple prophet. If John the Baptist must offer his life to “prepare the way” for Jesus the Messiah, the chosen Mother must endure another martyrdom to complete his journey.

At the cross, Mary, the second Eve will take her stand with the second Adam, Jesus her Son. Together they will be united in a healing work of obedience at the new tree of life. This mystical theology is a strong theme in the writings of the Fathers of the Church.

The fruit of the new order of Jesus and Mary is justice. Mary’s song is the cry of the hope of poor women: “…the almighty has done great things for me.” She sings a song of justice for the poor: the rich and powerful humbled, the poor and hungry fed, the just reign of the true Messiah is coming! Tremble as the Kingdom of Heaven breaks in!

Oppressed by Spanish conquest and impoverished under colonial rule, the indigenous people of Mexico

recognised the pregnant Virgin of Guadalupe as their sister. She raised them up, called them to faith and brought about a new spirit of reconciliation in a turbulent colonial era, as people of all races and classes came together at her shrine. May we find reconciliation in the Immaculate Virgin. May she bring the hope of the new life in her womb to our sterile society and reconciliation and justice to wipe away indifference and complacency in Australia.

The One Who WaitsMary Immaculate is the

last Advent reminder of how God prepared the way for his coming among us. All the saving events in Israel, the sufferings of God’s chosen people, the prophecies and

dreams led up to one perfect point, to the Woman, the new Eve. Mary immaculate is God’s new creation, a new beginning. Free from original sin from the first instant she existed, conceived in Ann’s womb, Mary is free to love, free to give, unimpeded by human failings. But she is no mere “instrument” and yet her innocence brings her deeper suffering. She is a person whose consent to a divine plan is a “yes” to greater risk and pain. So the Mother of the Lord waits expectantly to travel South with Joseph, from Nazareth to Bethlehem.

This is why mothers best understand Advent. They know how to wait and hope, as they sense their time drawing nearer. So we catch the breathless anticipation of Mother Church crying out with godly impatience: “COME, LORD JESUS! DO NOT DELAY!”

Our Lady of Guadalupe

Catholic Life, December, 2014 13

Coventry Cathedral, also known as St Michael’s Cathedral, is the seat of the Bishop of Coventry and the Diocese of Coventry, in Coventry, West Midlands, England. The current (9th) bishop is the Right Revd Christopher Cocksworth and the current Dean is The Very Revd John Witcombe.The city has had three cathedrals. The first was St. Mary’s,

a monastic building, only a few ruins of which remain. The second was St Michael’s, a 14th-century Gothic church later designated Cathedral, that remains a ruined shell after its bombing during the Second World War. The third is the new St Michael’s Cathedral, built after the destruction of the former and a celebration of 20th-century architecture.

Coventry CathedralUnited Kingdom

Churches of the World

Catholic Life, December, 201414

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference welcomes the concluding message released by the Synod Fathers at the III Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops in Rome on 18 October 2014.

e support the Synod Fathers in their acknowledgement that as priests and bishops we have lived alongside families who have spoken to

us and shown us the saga of their joys and their difficulties. Their example of generous faithfulness in marriage stands as an example for every society.Following his contributions during the extraordinary Synod, President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference Archbishop Denis Hart said: “The Australian Bishops will continue to pray for families everywhere, in particular reflecting on how we can accompany and lead those in difficult situations, such as single women bringing up children and those who have divorced and remarried, towards participation in Church life.”Archbishop Hart said that Pope Francis’ concluding address to the Synod Fathers was encouraging and inclusive: “The Holy Father described our Church as one

that has the doors wide open to receive the needy, the penitent, and not only the just or those who believe they are perfect!”“Pope Francis has reminded us that we still have one year to mature, with true spiritual discernment, the proposed ideas and to find concrete solutions to so many challenges that families must confront, and to give answers to the many discouragements that surround families,” Archbishop Hart added.Over the coming months, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference will review the ‘lineamenta’ (guidelines), presented to each episcopal conference following the conclusion of the extraordinary Synod.“As Pope Francis has explained, the Church now has one year to work on the ‘Synodal Relatio’, which is the faithful and clear summary of everything that has been said and discussed during this extraordinary Synod,” Archbishop Hart said.

Australian Bishops Conference Welcomes Family Synod Concluding Message

Bishops from around the world gather for the inaugural Mass of the 2014 Synod on the Family. Credit: Petrik Bohumil/CNA

Catholic Life, December, 2014 15

Open for Breakfast & DinnerBreakfast: Monday – Saturday 7am – 9am Sunday 8am – 10am (Room Service Only)

Dinner: Monday – Saturday 6pm – Late

The Australian Catholic Bishops have asked all to focus on the message of Jesus Christ and his relationship with women, always one of dignity and respect.

eferring to the ‘Woman and Man: One in Christ Jesus Report’ (1999) on the Participation of Women in the Catholic Church in Australia, the Australian

Catholic Bishops quote Pope St John Paul II who wrote: “Transcending the established norms of this own culture, Jesus treated women with openness, respect, acceptance and tenderness.”Violence against women has no place in our society, the Australian Catholic Bishops stress.“Our belief in the sanctity of human life and the inherent dignity of the human person is the foundation of all the principles of our social teaching.”The United Nations’ Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women defines violence against women as any act of “gender-based violence” that results in “harm to women”.According to the UN, globally, up to 70 per cent of women experience violence in their lifetime.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (2006) reports that in a 12-month period, between five and ten per cent of Australian women experienced at least one incident of abusive violence.The reasons for violence are complex and we all have a part to play in reducing violence against women. Some practical ways that you can show your support for this issue include:• Listeningtowomenandlearningfromwomen• Learningabouttheissueofdomesticviolence• Challenginglanguagethatdegradeswomen• Learning to identify and oppose gender harassment

and violence in your community• Supportinglocalwomen’sprograms• Examining how your own attitudes and behaviour

might contribute to the problemAs Pope Francis notes and the Australian Catholic Bishops reiterate: “Doubly poor are those women who endure situations of exclusion, mistreatment and violence, since they are frequently less able to defend their rights. Even so, we constantly witness among them impressive examples of daily heroism in defending and protecting their vulnerable families.” (Evangelii Gaudium, 212)

Rising Incidence of Violence against Women Condemned

Bishop Jarrett preaches his homily

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The Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP was installed as the ninth Archbishop of Sydney during a solemn Mass of Installation at St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney on 12 November 2014.

President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart concelebrated the Mass with archbishops and bishops from overseas, priests of the Archdiocese of Sydney and of other dioceses and religious congregations.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Australia, Archbishop Paul Gallagher DD, read out in latin the Papal Bull appointing the Most Reverend Anthony Fisher OP DD Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney. Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Mgr John Usher, read out the EnglishtranslationofthePapalBull.

President of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Denis Hart congratulated the new Archbishop and said that becoming an Archbishop is always a quantum leap in service and responsibility. “Archbishop Fisher will teach, lead people to God in worship and give generous service. Knowledge of the people, being one with them and walking with them where they are is so important. We wish him many years of dedicated and compassionate service.”

Arriving at Cathedral Square, the new Archbishop was welcomed by the Dean of the Cathedral, Very Reverend Paul Hilder, Auxiliary Bishops of Sydney Terry Brady and Peter Comensoli, Indigenous ElderAuntyElsieHeissandanhonourguardofpapalandequestrian-hospitaller knights, as children of the Catholic Schools Performing Arts Choir sang a song of welcome. Amongst the full Cathedral congregation gathered for the Mass, a number of federal and state politicians attended including representatives of other churches and major faiths.

Music was lead by the Choir of St Mary’s Cathedral, while Melbourne-basedsingerJamesEdwardsperformed‘Lord I Need You’, as representatives of the clergy, religious and laity of the Archdiocese and its agencies, civic and religious leaders, congratulated the Archbishop on his new role as shepherd of the people of Sydney.

In his homily, Archbishop Fisher said: “Pope Francis said pastors should smell of their sheep. This is not a comment on clerical hygiene: it is an insistence that we are from and for our flocks. Pray, therefore, that I will always be a shepherd for Sydney after the heart of Jesus Christ.”

Ninth Archbishop of Sydney Installed

z z

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Left: Archbishop Fisher Right: Entrance procession.Photos this page by Steve Turner. Used with permission, Catholic Communications Archdiocese of Sydney.

Anointing of hands

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Pictured at the conclusion of the ceremony (from left) Father Shelwin Fernandez, newly-ordained Father Bing Monteagudo, Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett

“What will this Archdiocese look like when, God willing I retire in 2035?” he asked. “My hope is for a Church in which the gospel is preached with joy, the wisdom of our tradition mined with fidelity, the sacraments celebrated with dignity and welcome and the seminaries, convents and youth groups are teeming with new life.” “That will depend hugely on three factors: our clergy and religious; our families; and our young people,” the Archbishop added.Archbishop Hart said that “Archbishop Fisher is a gifted teacher who’s gifts and vision will bring people to a vibrant appreciation of catholic life and will help our young people and families to move forward together in our modern society”.Sr Mary Rachel Capets OP and Michael Diggs recited the readings. Prayers of the faithful were lead in diverse languages by members of various communities in the Archdiocese. Archbishop Fisher’s parents, Colin and Gloria and his siblings Christopher, Angela, LouiseandGregorybroughttheEucharisticgiftstothealtar.After Communion, the Archbishop moved through the aisles of the Cathedral and crypt blessing those in attendance. Returning to the altar, Archbishop Fisher thanked Archbishop Hart for concelebrating the Mass and Bishop Comensoli for his work as Archdiocesan Administrator in recent months. The new Archbishop

thanked all his family, friends, diocesan clergy and said that he “missed the people of Parramatta already”.Archbishop Fisher also congratulated the Apostolic Nuncio on his new appointment as Secretary for Relations with States, “On behalf of the Church of Sydney, I congratulate Archbishop Gallagher, the first Anglophone Foreign Minister of the Church, on his new appointment.”The Archbishop’s Coat of Arms and motto records Archbishop Anthony’s personal motto: ‘Veritatem facientas in caritate’ from St Paul’sEpistletotheEphesians,whichtranslatesas ‘Speaking the truth in love’.

The Metropolitan: “Metropolitan” Is taken from a Greek word used to describe a “mother state” or “city”, viz., a city or state from which other states and cities grew and spread. It is the name given to the Archbishop of the principal diocese of a province (ecclesiastical region). In addition to his responsibilities as the Bishop of the Diocese, the Archbishop has responsibilities in regard to the other diocese of the province. These relate, primarily, to supervision. The Metropolitan receive and wears a “pallium” over his vestments. The pallium is an inch wide white wool circular band ornamented with six small crosses. It is made of wool from lambs blessed in the Church of St Agnes in Rome. An outward sign of union with the Holy See it is blessed by the Pope and presented in a special ceremony in Rome.

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Photos this page by Giovanni Portelli.

Used with permission, Catholic Communications

Archdiocese of Sydney

Dominican Sisters welcome Archbishop Fisher

A student representative of Catholic Schools congratulates

the Archbishop

The parents of Archbishop Fisher offer their congratulations

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“Tonight, I’ve looked back to the origins of this cathedral, diocese and national church. Looking forward, we have much to build on... With St. Mary Help of Christians let our souls magnify the Lord and our spirits rejoice in God our Saviour. For the Almighty works marvels for us: Holy is His name!” Archbishop Fisher at his installation as the Ninth Metropolitan Archbishop of Sydney

St. Mary’s Cathedral, SydneyImage: Rob Potter

Catholic Life, December, 2014 19

Although there have been many wonderful refurbishments of existing buildings, the state of the art Performing Arts Centre called ‘The Pidcock Centre for Performing Arts’ is the first new building on the beautiful St John’s College Woodlawn site since 1991.

roudly designed by Pat Twohill and built by Alan Marsh, the centre’s brickwork and architecture are sympathetic to the school’s original buildings whilst

providing modern architecture of distinction. Not only does it pay homage to the old bakery site on which it stands, but fittingly pays tribute to its name-sake Fr Paul Pidcock S.M., Woodlawn’s current and long-serving chaplain. Fr Paul’s lifelong dedication to the college is a well-known story and equally his enormous contribution to the arts at the College is legendary. The Pidcock Centre for Performing Arts celebrated its official opening on Friday 10th of October; 130 guests came from far and wide to catch the first glimpse of the theatre and to be treated to spectacular performances by Woodlawn students. Special guests included those who were instrumental in the financial planning, the designing and building of the centre, as well as Fr Paul’s extended family. The naming of the building could not have been more appropriate, since Fr Paul Pidcock has only spent a short few years away from Woodlawn whilst studying to be a priest. He attended the College as a young student and went on to serve as a chaplain and teacher, bursar, sports

mentor, director of the arts and later a Chaplin. Involved in every aspect of the school Fr Paul fondly remembers being involved in the schools first ‘Gilbert and Sullivan’ musicals when the students had to practice in their spare time. When Father was asked about having the performing arts centre named after him he said “It’s a great privilege” and “I hope it encourages performing arts at the school”. The centre itself is complete with a large foyer, 180-seat theatre, dance studio/performance room, work shop area, multiple purpose-built facility rooms and amenities, a grand piano and advanced sound and lighting equipment. The project could never have been completed without the ten years of intensive and careful planning. The Pidcock Centre for Performing Arts thus becomes the new pride of the school and provides a learning space full of new possibilities which will undoubtedly encourage excellence in creativity and performance for future generations of Woodlawn students.

In this light, theCatholicSchoolsOffice, Lismore, hasfacilitated a two-stage process of listening to parents and caregivers regarding these understandings.

In the first stage of the listening process the Centre for Children and Young People, Southern Cross University, facilitated a research project with parents, caregivers, clergy and principals. This parent partnership project identified strengths present in parish schools, yet also identified significant areas where partnership needs strengthening.

The second stage involved an invitation to all parents and caregivers to meet with the Director and ExecutiveTeam of the Catholic Schools Office. In the six venues of PortMacquarie, CoffsHarbour, Grafton, Lismore, Ballinaand Kingscliff, over 400 parents attended.

At each venue Mr David Condon, Director of Schools in theDioceseofLismore,gaveaninformativeandpassionateaddress regarding the many changes in technology, social and cultural shifts and communication of the past 50 years. He stated these have placed great pressure on school parent partnership. As such he saw it as time to work together in response to the many changing realities outlined in educational research, government directions, family

situations, society and religious adherence. Consequently, Proclaim Lismore Parents is seen as part

of a process to co-design a stronger future for Catholic education. “Each of us is now privileged to be part of the response to these realities by taking part in the co-designing of a re-imagined approach to parent partnership” he said. This revitalised Catholic educational village would be built around the person of Jesus Christ and the purposes, values and goals of Catholic mission. Future opportunities for better communication and agreed membership would be encouraged.

Parents then heard from members of the Catholic Schools Office, notably Dr John Graham, Assistant Director, School Evangelisation andCatechetical Services;DrPaulThornton,AssistantDirector,EducationServices;andMrsHayley Youngberry, Consultant, Human Services. They invited parents to join them in co-designing better ways to work together in providing the best environments for young people to grow into full and meaningful Christian lives, to build mutuality in educational matters and build more effective systems for decision sharing.

Overall, the meetings were expressions of great hope for the future. Parents, clergy and Catholic educators are firmly as one with Bishop Jarrett, who has acknowledged his awareness of the ‘fresh green shoots’ of a revitalised Catholic school system emerging in our time.

New Performing Arts Centre for Woodlawn

“It takes a village to raise a child”.

continued from page 6

Father Paul Pidcock (centre of the group) and relatives at the opening of the Performing Arts Centre named in his honour)