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If undeliverable return toEmmanuel CentreA SELF HELP CENTRE For People with Disabilities25 Windsor St Perth WA 6000Tel: (08) 9328 8113 (Voice)(08) 9328 9571 (TTY)

SMS 0401 016 399 Fax: (08) 9227 9720Email: [email protected] (Deaf): www.facebook.com/auslan.live

EMMANUEL NEWS – APRIL 2017COMING EVENTS AS WE GO TO PRESS(Check before coming, could be changed. Look inside for more info.)

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WED THU FRI SAT23 Apr

9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier Church (Interpreter & Ppt)

24 Apr9.45-10.45am: Challenges-

ANZAC Day activity11am-12.30pm: Cooking (Les)1-2pm: Crafts/ games

25 AprANZAC DAY

PUBLIC HOLIDAY

26 Apr 27 Apr 28 Apr 29 Apr

30 Apr9.30am: Mass at St Francis

Xavier Church (Interpreter & PowerPoint)

1 May9.45-10.45am: Challenges-

Science11am-12.30pm: Cooking (Les)1-2pm: Crafts/ games

2 May9.30-10.30am: Painting

(Geoff)11am-12.30pm: Scrapbooking1-2pm: Bible Study

3 May 4 May 5 May 6 MayCatholic

MentalHealth

Network7 May

9.30am: Mass at St Francis Xavier Church (Interpreter & Ppt), followed by morning tea


Science11am-12.30pm: Cooking (Les)1-2pm: Crafts/ games


(Geoff)11-12.30: Mother’s Day craft1-2pm: Bible Study

10 MayCatholicMentalHealth

Network

11 May 12May 13 May

14 May9.30am: Mass at St Francis



Bulbs in jar11am-12.30pm: Cooking (Les)1-2pm: Crafts/ games


(Geoff)11am-12.30pm: Mosaic/ Craft1-2pm: Bible Study

17 May 18 May 19May 20MayChildren’s AUSLAN


Xavier Church (Interpreter & Ppt)

10.30-12pm: Auslan Café


World turtle day11am-12.30pm: Cooking (Les)1-2pm: Crafts/ games


(Geoff)11am-12.30pm: Paper flowers1-2pm: Bible Study

24May 25May 26May 27May



29 May9.45-10.45am: Challenges-All

things WA-Flag11am-12.30pm: Cooking (Les)1-2pm: Crafts/ games


(Geoff)11am-12.30pm: WA Day Craft1-2pm: Bible Study

31May 1Jun 2 Jun 3Jun

4 Jun9.30am: Mass at St Francis

Xavier Church (Interpreter & Ppt) , followed by morning tea

5 JunWA DAY

PUBLIC HOLIDAY

6 Jun9.30-10.30am: Painting

(Geoff)11am-12.30pm: Scrapbooking1-2pm: Bible Study

7Jun 8Jun 9 Jun 10Jun



12 Jun9.45-10.45am: Challenges-

Drama11am-12.30pm: Cooking (Les)1-2pm: Crafts/ games


(Geoff)11am-12.30pm: Mosaic/ Craft1-2pm: Bible Study

14Jun 15Jun 16 Jun 17JunChildren’s AUSLAN


Xavier Church (Interpreter & Ppt)

10.30-12pm: Auslan Café


Drama11am-12.30pm: Cooking (Les)1-2pm: Crafts/ games


(Geoff)11am-12.30pm: Paper puppets1-2pm: Bible Study

21Jun 22Jun 23 Jun 24Jun




Music11am-12.30pm: Cooking (Les)1-2pm: Crafts/ games


(Geoff)11am-12.30pm: Games1-2pm: Bible Study

28Jun 29Jun 30 Jun 1Jul

NO PROGRAMS DURING THE TERM HOLIDAY. ACTIVITIES WILL START AGAIN ON 17TH JULY 2017.

Most people hate or dread conflict. They experience it as uncomfortable and stressful, something to fear. Many of us have learnt to avoid, suppress or withdraw from conflict or even act as though it doesn’t exist. Do you ever choose to see the existence of conflict as positive and see that it presents an opportunity for you to move forward? Are we willing to face conflict and deal with it effectively?Most of us as we grow older, come to realise that conflict is inevitable, both within ourselves and in our relationships with others–at work, at home, everywhere.

Dealing with conflict is essential, if we are to live up to our capabilities. Conflict causes us to examine issues more carefully and challenges us to develop creative responses and solutions. In fact, conflict is the root of change–be it personal, relational or social.

Usually, when we think of being in conflict, it’s between people–between us and our boss or co-worker or spouse or child. But even more often, we experience personal, inner conflict within ourselves. Inner conflict is when you’re battling with yourself. These are the frequent daily inner contradictions that we all experience whether or not we are conscious of them. This kind of conflict arises every time we’re faced with making a decision and generally involves a struggle between doing what you think you “ought” to do but not wanting to do it. Sometimes we see these conflicts as insignificant.

WHAT ARE THE SIGNS THAT LET YOU KNOW YOU’RE IN CONFLICT?

Usually, you experience a vague awareness that something is wrong, a feeling of discomfort, stress or agitation. Often, you feel this discomfort in your body–in your stomach or chest. The problem is that many times, we don’t pay attention to this discomfort and in other cases, we consciously suppress it. As we know all too well, ignoring, avoiding, suppressing or denying inner conflict when it occurs does not mean that it goes away. In fact, we use a great deal of energy to suppress it–to not deal with it–energy which then cannot be put to constructive use. Not only that, but failure to face conflict when it arises and deal with it effectively means that we stay stuck and mired in the problem–“powerless”–there’s no improvement or expansion or true relief or resolution.

And too often, we resolve the inner conflict by making a decision to do what we “ought” to do instead of what we truly want to do. When we consistently ignore or suppress our true values or needs and opt to make a “safe” or “politically correct” decision, we get increasingly disconnected from our authentic selves. As a result, it becomes more difficult to know what our real needs are.

If you do nothing else after reading this, take notice of any vague feelings of discomfort or agitation that you experience today and consciously trace them to their source. Don’t discount them, however insignificant they may seem. Pay careful attention to them. Try to zero in on what’s causing you to feel uncomfortable. The cause could be a decision you’ve been putting off or a risk you’re trying to talk yourself out of taking. Whatever the content of these inner conflicts, acknowledge their existence. It’s in these moments–which occur often–that you have the opportunity to get in touch with what your core values and needs are.

When we can summon the courage to allow ourselves to acknowledge and experience these inner conflicts and then have the courage to act in alignment with what we truly believe, the more enriched and fulfilling our lives will become–both at work and at home.

INNER CONFLICT

A TRIBUTE TO ALL MOTHERS

ON MOTHER’S DAYMAY 14TH 2017

What do you think of when you think of Mary, the Mother of Jesus? A lovely woman in blue and white clothing, radiant face, halo positioned abover her head, somehow empty, without feelings, concernsand fears. In some way this can suspend, obsure and hide the reality of what actually happened to Mary. What about thinking of Mary in her humanness?“You know that in spite of being born without sin,’I was never immune from life.When the Angel visited me and said “Hail Mary, highly favoured, I was really troubled by that greeting.The Angel was talking about me, a young tennager, becoming pregnant with a child from God himself. I might be “highly favouored” but I can tell you that being highly favoured did not spare me from being human. I certainly was not aware then, what that meant. The Angel said something about me being pregnant with a baby. How on earth would I ever explain that to Joseph? Our wedding plans would be off.Joseph would take me before the open Court and denounce me for being unfaithful to him and we would be divorced. I remember thinking, “Lord, you have to be here in all this somehow.”I felt that God was giving me, a simple village girl, the freedom,just as God had given Adam and Eve, the freedomto choose or refuse His sacred trust.As the baby grew within me, I wondered what he would be like. I tried to think about all I had ever heard about the “Messiah”. The Angel said my Son would be king. As I looked around at my circum-stances, I just couldn’t macth “king” with what I saw. “Son of God” the Angel said my Son would be. What would that mean? I remember saying to the Angel, “I am the handmaid of the Lord.”I said “Yes”to a request from God without knowing all the whys and wherefores.I just knew it was right to say, “Yes”. I knew I had to do more than just surrender to God’s messenger. I was entering into the very mystery of God. I can tell you that carrying Jesus in my womb was not easy. I might be “highly favour-ed” but that didn’t save me from the morning sickness or sleepless nights and then, just when

with Joseph to Bethlehem to register for the census. Of all times to be pregnant and

giving birth,,, in a town where we knew no-one and where every nook and cranny was filled with people. I remember stopping at so many places to ask for somewhere to stay to have my baby and the time was near. There were no nurses with sterile gloved hands, no monitors and reassuring doctors, no hospital bed with clean sheets and nothing to dull the pain. Just my husband Joseph and a few farm animals. When Jesus was born, I wasn’t sitting by a cradle as I had imagined. But I found myself storing up all these things and again ponndering them in my heart.When I looked at Jesus, I was kissing the face of God? You yourself know that there are some moments in our lives, especially the most powerful moments of loving, when no words are adequate”.Mary our Mother understands pain and she will

help us get through

Thank you very much to the VOLUNTEERS WHO CAN

TEACH READINGWe are trying to match

volunteers with learners. We will be in touch soon.

+++++++++++++++++We are still looking for

ANYONE INTERESTED

IN HELPING TO SET UP THE EMMANUEL’S MEN’S SHED?

+++++++++++++++++++AND V OLUNTEERS WHO

UNDERSTAND SPINNING AND WEAVING.

This year we would like to re-introduce “SPINNING and WEAVING” to our Tuesday

program,

(We have spinning wheels and looms).

MARY OUR MOTHER KNOWS

my time of pregnancy was complete, I had to go

For many of us Catholics we know that the Mass has some connection with the Passover meal celebrated by our Jewish brothers and sisters but beyond that most of us have little understanding of the connection.Jesus from his earliest days would have celebrated the Passover every year with his family and later on with his disciples. It is no wonder that Jesus chose just such a celebration to give us his Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Participants shared how having celebrated the meal together they now could see how God’s revelation was a gradual process and while the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) gives us an insight into the nature of God, we learn more and more through the Christian Scriptures (New Testament). One young participant said, “The next time I hear the story of the Last Supper I will be able to more easily picture what was happening.” When Jesus talked about someone dipping into the same bowl as him, I can see it clearly”.The Passover meal takes a lot of preparation. We remember that Jesus sent two disciples ahead of him to prepare for the celebration. Here at Emmanuel Centre it took more than two people. The task of preparing and bringing the various elements of the Passover together was a shared one. Lamb Roast, Bitter herbs, haroseth , eggs, wine, candles, serviettes, matzoh (bread), cutlery, plates, glasses, carafes, finger bowl were just some of the ingredients and along with the food preparation others provided decorations for the room. Live plants formed a type of alcove as a reminder that after the Passover Jesus and his disciples went into the garden. Before the meal, participants examined two illuminated books written in Hebrew and English, which give instructions for the Passover. One was an edition for teenagers. Saint Francis Xavier parishioners, Ken and Ann Brown took the part of the mother and father. Katrina Wirawan, as the youngest child present, asked the usual questions, “Why of all nights do we …..” Fr Paul provided commentary along the way drawing out our Catholic identity and the close connection of what happened at the Passover meal with what happens in the early part of our Eucharist. When Jesus took the bread and gave thanks, he was well within the Passover theme because the Passover meal was one act of thanksgiving for God saving the people from slavery and death. Jesus is the Lamb of God and “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” (Revelations/Apocalypse 5:12)Within a half hour of the celebration, with everyone doing something, the floor was swept, the dishes were washed, dried and put away and the room returned to its usual self.We have walked through Lent and this experience has led to a preparation for the reality and hope of Easter in Jesus’ Resurrection.

**************************************************************************Children’s Auslan: once a month – Saturday 20th May and 18th June at 9:30AM with morning tea. Bring a plate to share at Emma’s house. Ask us for the address.

Auslan Café: – once a month - on Sunday 21st May and 18th June at 10:30AM –12 .30 with light lunch provided at Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor St, Perth 6000

.

On Thursday night April 6 at Emmanuel Centre, we had an experience of what church can be about. Bringing together people from many different nations and the continents, we celebrated the Passover meal as Jesus might have celebrated it in his time.

UNLOCKING THE KEY TO STUTTERING(text & photo from link disability magazine linkonline.com.au, February 2017)

Curtin University researchers are on the hunt for the genes which may be responsible for stuttering, believing genetics, rather than environmental or behavioural factors, may trigger the disorder which affects approximately 11 per cent of Australia’s population. Associate Professor Janet Beilby (pictured right), from Curtin’s School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, is trying to identify the genes which may be responsible for the condition by examining saliva samples from 4,000 participants over the next two years.

“Stuttering is a problem in the ongoing rhythm of speech where a person knows exactly what they want to say but involuntarily loses control of their speech muscle patterns just as they are about to speak,” Associate Professor Beilby said.

“It manifests itself as either repetitive speech or a dragging or cessation of speech, but individuals are perfectly eloquent if they are singing, whispering or talking in time to a beat.

“We still don’t know what causes stuttering but the overall consensus is that it is a complex interplay between a multitude of factors. What we are doing now is hunting for the genetic markers for stuttering – we haven’t found them yet but the hunt is proving very interesting because it is uncovering a lot of unique findings, one of which is a strong penetrance in Western Australian families.”

Researchers are especially keen to collect samples from multiple generations of people who stutter in the same family.

The ultimate aim of the study is to identify which genes are responsible for stuttering so it can be screened for and children at risk can be monitored and offered early intervention as needed. This would prevent the ‘watch and wait’ approach currently utilised and which often results in the disorder being strengthened over time until it is too intractable to treat.

“People who stutter start to do so between two and three years of age when they are beginning to master adult speech development,” Associate Professor Beilby said.

“This is the ideal age to nip it in the bud so if we can stop the child practising it, then we can set them up successfully for life.”

The research, which is funded by a AUD$391,000 grant from America’s National Institute of Health, is being conducted at Curtin University Stuttering Treatment Clinic in collaboration with Dr Shelly Jo Kraft from Wayne State University, Detroit.

Millions have read the book, “Man’s Search for Meaning” and have been inspired by Frankl’s understanding of the human person.Frankl went beyond the somatic and psychological dimensions of the human person and believed that:1. There is a “de-ant power” within us, the human spirit, that has the capacity to say “yes” or “no” to any drive.2. Even despite the tragedy of brain damage or severe mental illness, the person, the human spirit is still there.

http://linkonline.com.au/

Location: St Catherine’s House of Hospitality 113 Tyler St Tuart Hill, Perth

Dates: September 25th to 27th (Monday to Wednesday)

Cost: $275 (This is the Concession price for the 3-day intensive only)

Course Facilitator: Dr Paul McQuillan, Diplomate, Viktor Frankl Institute, PsyD (Franklian Psychology)

Course Overview: Unit 1 – OverviewUnit 2 – Basic ConceptsUnit 3 – The Human SpiritUnit 4 – Finding Meaning in Unavoidable SufferingUnit 5 – Introduction to Techniques

Welcome June Oscar, Australia’s new Social Justice CommissionerWelcome June Oscar, Australia’s new Social Justice Commissioner

(Story & photo from the Australian Human Rights Commission humanrights.gov.au)Aboriginal leader and advocate, June Oscar AO (pictured left), is a proud Bunuba woman from Fitzroy Valley in Western Australia. She is also the first woman to be appointed as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.Commissioner Oscar starts her new role at the Australian Human Rights Commission on 3RD April 2017.She is widely recognised for her contribution to enhancing Indigenous Australian languages, advocating for social justice, women’s issues, and the reduction of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).“Indigenous women have a great contribution to make to this country,” Commissioner Oscar said.

In her previous position as CEO at the Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre, Commissioner Oscar led a successful, community-wide response to the alcohol crisis in the Fitzroy Valley, withstanding “a lot of push-back and vilification of those of us who stood up and spearheaded this action in the community”.

Commissioner Oscar said the Fitzroy Valley response to its alcohol crisis recognised the futility of a total ban on alcohol and instead focussed on restricting product type and availability.

“There’s no ‘one size fits all’,” Commissioner Oscar said. “We must understand the communities we are dealing with in order to make something successful”.

As Social Justice Commissioner, Ms Oscar wants to address the gaps experienced by Indigenous Australians in relation to human rights, access to services, health and justice.

She said children and old people are particularly vulnerable. “In some Aboriginal communities, elderly people are surviving in conditions that are just depressing. Our seniors are living in tin shacks, and there is no running water. I would have thought, that way of living was something in our past”.

We can move forward, Commissioner Oscar said, when we listen to and include Indigenous people in “conversations on issues that matter”.

“If we are open-minded and encourage everyone’s voice on these issues, and if we allow decisions to be informed by those voices, by lived experiences, I think we stand a good chance of finding some great outcomes and solutions”.

If you would like to receive Emmanuel Centre’s Newsletter; give us your name and address and in what format you want it:

*Mail, *Email, *Braille, *Large Print, *Audio CD or *Other format.Email: [email protected]: www.emmanuelcentre.com.auFacebook: www.facebook.com/auslan.liveSMS: 0401 016 399TTY: 08 9328 9571FAX: 08 9227 9720 VOICE: 08 9328 8113

RAMP IT UP

Enrolment: Enrol online www.lifechange.net.au. Lifechange Therapies is the teaching arm of the Viktor Frankl Institute Australia, an Institute endorsed by the International Association of Logotherapy and Existential Analysis, Vienna.

http://humanrights.gov.au/

http://www.lifechange.net.au/

(text & photo from link disability magazine linkonline.com.au, February 2017)

Raven Threshold Access Ramps are ideal for users of wheelchairs, walking frames and electric scooters in the home, at work, shops, professional practices and more.Made from slip-resistant recycled rubber, the Raven Threshold Access Ramp can be simply laid in place or permanently fixed with builder’s adhesive. Raven Threshold Access Ramps are durable, meet access gradient 1:8 and require no maintenance. Surprisingly affordable, and much cheaper than cement or custom-made metal plates, the Raven Threshold Access Ramp is available in two heights (25mm and 50mm) and can be trimmed to size if needed. More information at www.doorseal.com.au

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Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.

Hearing’s 50th Sweet for Couple(Edited from an article from the Community News Group; text by Giovanni Torre; photo by Andrew Ritchie)

Telethon Speech and Hearing in Wembley celebrate its 50th anniversary this month. It is an especially happy occasion for Michael and Jenny Pittaway, who met at the centre as children not long after it was founded.

Michael said he met his future wife at the centre in 1969, when it was in West Perth. “In 1975 I moved to the same school as her—at Wembley. In 1978 I went to Servite College from Speech and Hearing Centre,” he said.

In 1992, the childhood sweethearts married. “We have two boys—both hearing,” said Michael. “In October we will celebrate our 25th anniversary.”

Michael’s father, Graham Pittaway, is a life member of Telethon Speech and Hearing and the family has a long and revered association with the centre.

Telethon Speech and Hearing has spent the past 50 years helping enrich the lives of children and families with hearing, speech and language impairments. On 28th March 2017, new chief executive Mark Fitzpatrick welcomed people to a 50th Anniversary breakfast to honour the centre’s history and celebrate its achievement.

Remembering Father Jim Petry(23rd July 1923-29th March 2017)

We’d like to remember Fr. Jim Petry (left), through the following two items:

A news article from 1981 (below) announcing Fr. Petry’s parish as the first to install an audio electronic loop to help parishioners

with hearing aids; and a ramp for people to be able to get into St Peter’s Church, Bedford.

A poem from his funeral Mass (right)

What is Dying?

I am standing on the seashore.Suddenly a ship at my sidespreads her white sails tothe morning breeze,and starts out for the blue ocean.she is an object of beautyand strength,and I stand and watch her untilat length she is onlya ribbon of white cloud just abovewhere the sea andsky mingle with each other.Then someone at my side says:“There! She’s gone!”

Gone where?Gone from my sight – that is all.She is just as large in the mastand hull and spar as she was

http://www.doorseal.com.au/

http://linkonline.com.au/

=================================================================================================

CATHOLIC MENTAL HEALTH NETWORK IN PARISHESBecause of the size of the

group there has been a suggestion that two

opportunities for meetingsshould be offered

What is Dying?

I am standing on the seashore.Suddenly a ship at my sidespreads her white sails tothe morning breeze,and starts out for the blue ocean.she is an object of beautyand strength,and I stand and watch her untilat length she is onlya ribbon of white cloud just abovewhere the sea andsky mingle with each other.Then someone at my side says:“There! She’s gone!”

Gone where?Gone from my sight – that is all.She is just as large in the mastand hull and spar as she was

Cake Decorating at Emmanuel Centre

Mental Health Parish Representatives are invited to attend a meeting on

Saturday,6th May or Wednesday 10th May 2017from 9.30 am to 11.30am

At Emmanuel Centre, 25 Windsor St, Perth

Please R.S.V.P. to Judith by Thursday 4th May on Email: [email protected]: 0401 016 399TTY: 08 9328 9571 FAX: 08 9227 9720 VOICE: 08 9328 8113

GOLDEN JUBILEE FATHER PAUL PITZENOur beloved chaplain for the Catholic Deaf and Hard of Hearing is celebrating his golden jubilee this year. Yes, 50 years of priesthood! Wow indeed. However, I am jumping the gun here. As the movie Sound of Music suggested, “Let’s start at the very beginning. A very good place to start…”For Father Paul, the beginning was 22 November 1939 in the town of Fort Wayne in the state of Indiana, United States of America. He was born the 11th child of 12 children (7 girls and 5 boys). In addition, what did the experience of being one of the youngest from such a big family teach him? Well, in the most practical terms, it taught him various skills that his elder brothers had. One brother was a plumber, another was a motor mechanic, another was into electronics, and still another was a jack-of-all-trades. This last mentioned was not bookish and not very good with his schooling, but he built an analogue computer from scratch (this was before Bill Gates and Steve Jobs), built a telescope including the mirror by hand, and later built a machine to make telescope mirrors so he would not have to do it by hand! Young Paul was roped in to help with some of their projects and therefore learnt all sorts of things in his childhood.Young Paul was good with his schooling. He finished secondary school and worked for a year in a factory that made toilet seats and laundry baskets before going to study at Purdue University. This was followed by a year working for the State Highway (equivalent to our Main Roads) doing preliminary bridge surveys. How did he jump from doing bridge survey to being a priest? Well, growing up, 99% of the time they lived just across from the Church and Paul served as an altar server, so the religious connection was always there. What tipped him over to join the seminary in his early twenties though, was a common enough question from a relative. The story went like this: It was May 30th, Memorial Day in the USA, and the family always gathered round on this day to listen to the car race, the Indianapolis 500. One of the sisters who had married and lived in Georgia came to visit with her husband and it was this brother-in-law that asked the question about his job and career. This got Paul thinking: he started as a member of the bridge survey team, and he could progress to become the leader of the team, then manager of multiple teams, and so on, but then what? Earlier in 1959, Paul’s

mother went on a pilgrimage to the Servite Church in Chicago and brought home some literature. Paul started reading the Servite literature and wrote to them for more information. They responded by sending him an application form to join. One brother actually commented that they must have been hard up for candidates as they invited him to apply even though they know nothing about him.Notwithstanding that comment, Paul was interested. He drove 4 hours across to Chicago and stayed for a few days in their seminary to find out more; and he really liked what he saw there. He found the atmosphere to be hospitable, open, and available, with a sense of humour just like regular people. Father Paul remembered an incident as an example of their hospitality: they only had one egg left on the day he was leaving and they let him have it as he was about to have a long drive home. Paul applied and joined the Servite seminary in California. Father Paul remembered that day well: It was January 23rd 1960, the dead of winter and freezing cold in Fort Wayne with snow on the runway that they had to clear before taking off, but when they landed in LA, it was sunny and warm. It felt good and not counting anything else, it felt like it was a good decision already.

Paul stayed for 3 years there before being transferred to Benburb, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland in 1962. This was followed by a stint studying in Rome from 1963-1967. It was the time of the 2nd Vatican Council and Paul met lots of bishops, priests and “experts” from around the world and attended as many public sessions as he could., His stay in Rome taught Paul a lot about the Church, in all its glory and some of its dark sides too. Father Paul graduated with Licentiate of Sacred Theology (S.T.L.), an equivalent to a Master degree, as well as a diploma in Mariology. His thesis was about the 2nd Vatican Council’s declaration of religious freedom and defended it in Latin, the common language of the seminary. Our Father Paul is quite a whizz when it comes to learning languages. He learnt Latin and Italian while studying in Rome (the latter of which he still successfully used to call a hotel in Italy to sort out some accommodation issues as recently as 2001), and later he’d pick up another language too, Auslan.Father Paul graduated and was ordained in March of 1967, 50 years ago, hence the golden jubilee now. His sister Therese and her husband, who lived in Germany at that time, came over to Rome and she stood in for their mother at his ordination. In June, they drove down again to pick him up and Father Paul stayed with them for a while and traveled to Scotland before returning to the USA. Back in his home country, he was sent to teach at the Servite high school in Anaheim, California, the home of Disneyland. In fact, Father Paul remembered he could see Disneyland from the window of the top floor of the school. This was followed by summer school at the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit school. So when and how did Father Paul come to be among us here ? The ‘when’ is easy: It was on October 27th, 1970. Why Australia, though is a long story: It started when Young Paul was studying about Australia in Grade 7. He said for seemingly no reason at that time, “That’s where I’m going.” That is why even though it was the

first time ever Father Paul came to Australia in 1970, it felt like he was coming home. The rule at that time was that you had to live at least 7 years in Australia before being granted citizenship, but 4 years after he arrived, the 7-years rule changed to 3 years so he immediately changed his citizenship. There was no double citizenship agreement between the two countries either so Father Paul had his US citizenship taken from him that day. (It was later returned in 1995.) Barbara, with whom Father Paul has known since the 70s says that he is a “paper Aussie”. Another defining part of Father Paul is his stewardship of the people with disability in general and the deaf in particular. His involvement in this area started when growing up with a brother who had grand mal epilepsy and was reignited when he was doing his sabbatical studying at the University of San Francisco in 1976-1977. One day, an older priest who was also doing his sabbatical and was involved in some work with people with disability asked him if he would join him in a demonstration that Saturday. The history behind the demonstration was as follow: A few years prior in 1973, the US Government passed the “Rehabilitation Act of 1973” saying in principle thou shall not discriminate against people with disabilities but there’s no regulations on the ground to put this into practice. In reality, as time went along, the Act kept being watered down, with various exceptions granted where discrimination was allowed.

Father Paul was on liturgy duty that Saturday, which included taking care of Mass Liturgy and dishwashing for the day. But he decided to go to the demonstration anyway, after first arranging for someone else to do the lunch duty, thinking he’ll be back to do Mass and dinner duty himself. Little did he know that he‘d end up staying for the next two weeks at the protest. Having no access to shower nor shaving facilities put a certain aroma throughout the building. That incidentally is when Father Paul for the first time grew his beard.So that Saturday morning, Father Paul was one of the group listening to the speakers in front of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) office building, he sat right at the back, with the office building behind him to allow people with disabilities to be up close. At the end of many speeches, the group were invited to go into the building to speak to the Director or his Deputy. So everybody turned around to enter the building and Father Paul who was at the very back became one of the first to enter. The Director nor his Deputy had not read the materials about the Act, so the effort to talk to him about it was not very fruitful. The group stayed on to do a sit in and during the sit-in, Father Paul had a first-hand experience caring for a couple of people with disabilities. One of the them was a student from the University of Berkeley. He used a wheelchair with very limited movement of his fingers to control it. His muscles were so weak that he could not even lift up his own head if it happened to flop forward, so you could imagine that someone had to help him with almost everything: feeding him, cleaning him, and of course pushing his head back again when it fell forward.As if the situation was not complicated enough, the authority tried to starve out a simultaneous sit-in at the HEW office elsewhere. In protest of this treatment, Father Paul and seven others decided to do a hunger strike, so he did not eat for two weeks while he was there. He remembered having a dream about roast chicken the first night, but for the rest of the 2 weeks, praise God, he did not feel hungry.It was definitely an eventful two weeks of Father Paul’s life. He learnt a lot about oppression and power. Father Paul also noted an interesting observation about who came forward to help the sit-in group (with food, blankets, etc): The Black Panthers (a revolutionary black nationalist and socialist organization, seen as a terrorist group by society at that time), Glide Memorial Church, the Salvation Army, the Gay Men’s Butterfly Brigade, Delancey Street,and the United Farm Workers, among others. Whereas The National Catholic Education Conference were meeting right next door did not get involved.

The sit-in went on for 3 weeks but Father Paul left after 2-weeks as he felt that the demonstration was concluding and that he had missed quite a lot of his classes. By that time, the media has got hold of the news, so they had enough publicity and a big nob came all the way from Washington DC to deal with it. In the end, the sit-in brought about desired changes to Section 504 of the Act. It established the principles that became the basis for legal compliance with the Act. Non-discrimination is the fundamental right established by 504. Discrimination can occur through exclusion as well as an inaccessible environment. Affirmative conduct may be required to remove barriers or to provide reasonable accommodations. So for example, before this time if someone in wheelchair could not attend a lecture it’s because s/he couldn’t manage the stairs, now it becomes the responsibility of the university to make sure s/he has sufficient access.At the end of that year of the Lord of 1977, Father Paul completed his study and received his certificate from the Institute of Spirituality and Worship, University of San Francisco. He came back to Australia and the following year, the Auxiliary Bishop of Perth Bishop Peter Quinn asked him if he’d become a part-time chaplain for the Catholic Deaf. Bishop Quinn thought that would involve Mass once a month. Father Paul agreed but after the first meeting with the Deaf, he realised that Mass once a month is not enough as they missed a lot already.

The life-long collaboration with Barbara Harris, a teacher continued, as she was able to prepare and deliver learning materials in various activities such as camps for the deaf and their families. Two of our current pastoral assistants, Jenny and Emma were also involved already at this early stage, along with Jenny’s to be husband Michael.In 1980, Barbara was talking about 1981 being the International Year of Disabled Persons and she asked “What is the church going to do about it?” It was a good question and Father Barry Hickey who was in charge of welfare at that time didn’t know either, so a meeting was called to talk about it. Groups that sent representatives to this meeting included St. Vincent de Paul Society, Assumption Society for the Sick, Catholic Care for the Intellectually Handicapped, and the Deaf and Hard of Hearing group. The meeting decided to make a statement titled “Breaking Down the Barrier.” Archbishop Goody made the statement his own by changing one word in the document—a common practice apparently. The committee also wanted to make a booklet to go with the statement to answer the question: How do we put the statement into practice in our daily life, in our families, communities, etc.A survey was conducted asking people with disability what they wanted from the Church. They could respond either by fax, phone, post, or personal visit. The overwhelming answer was they wanted a place where people with disability, their family, and carers could go and be welcomed, where they wouldn’t be sent away to ask someone else. They wanted help not only in spirit but also in dealing with life problems. They also had gifts to share with the community.So the Committee decided to establish the place they asked for. Archbishop Goody agreed to fund $5000, - to run the place and another $5000, - to pay for a coordinator. With this limited fund, the committee obviously needed to raise some extra money and an interesting episode happened to fulfill this task: A year before this time, Father Paul went to a quiz night at the UWA Baseball Night and won an air ticket to Esperance. He had not used this ticket and so he had an idea to go to the airline and ask them to change the ticket to two tickets to Albany. Amazingly, they agreed, just like that. Father Paul also managed to get a free weekend accommodation and car rental by asking around and in the end, Best Western Albany provided a room while Avis a rental car for the weekend. So they’ve got a holiday package ready and they used it as the grand prize for a naming competition. It cost 20 cents per entry to name the new Centre and one of the entrants proposed the name,

“Emmanuel” which stood out as it means “God is with us.’’ Mrs. Sutton went on her holiday with a grandchild and we believed they enjoyed the trip. With a name confirmed, the Emmanuel Centre opened its doors for the first time in 1981 and now 36 years later, we are still learning and growing.The job of Ministry with people who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing became a fulltime job for Father Paul. In 1978, there was a national conference in Canberra for Catholic Deaf and Father Paul went. As a result, he was appointed the first chair of Catholic Association for Deaf and Hearing Impaired People of Australia (CADHIPA). Among other activities, Western Australia for four year edited and published the “Veritas,” a newsletter for the Deaf community. Currently Father Paul is the only full time chaplain for Catholic Deaf and Hard of Hearing in Australia.Father Paul has no immediate retirement plans. He equates what he’s doing to being a parent. You do not retire as parents, do you? We have to agree with him on that. (Judith Wirawan)

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