V
Member of the Australasian
Catholic press association
issn 1446-0041
circulation 6,200
Catholic
iewpoin
Vol 21 - No. 4
Summer 2012
Diocese of Armidale
Deacon
Tuan Tran
A journey to Priesthood
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 1
A note from the Editor:
Dear Reader,
This year is drawing to a close and it has brought us many blessings, especially that of a new Bishop. Bishop
Kennedy is getting used to travelling around our vast diocese – and beyond!
On a sadder note we bid farewell to Gabi Kelly who has been coordinating Viewpoint as well as working as
Bishop Matthys’ personal assistant. We wish her every success in her future endeavours as she completes her
University degree.
Thank you to everyone who has contributed articles and photos, please continue to do so. We always need
interesting items which showcase the wonderful things happening in our Diocese – in parishes and in schools.
I ask that you take notice of the deadlines for the issues in 2013. Please send your contributions in when they are
ready – there is no need to wait for the deadline!
Thank you to our advertisers who so faithfully support us. If you would like to advertise in any of our issues
please contact me for details.
Happy, safe and holy Christmas to you all.
Cheers, Julie
Bishop’s Major Events
Contents
January
13th January
Infant Jesus Feast Mass
21st January
Annual Leave
Inverell
Page 3The Bishop
Speaks
Page 4
Clergy News
Page 6WYD Rio 2013
February
17th February
Wedding
18th February
Return from Annual Leave
26th February
Council of Priests & Consultors
27th – 28th February Bishop’s Commission for Pastoral Life
Wagga Wagga
Armidale
Sydney
Page 8Advent
Page 11
year of Faith
Page 12
Sesquicentenary
Page 14 – 16 Cathedral
Centenary
Page 19 -22 Around and
About
March
1st – 3rd March
Australian Council for Marriage and Families
Commission Conference
Sydney
Page 23
9th March
Bishop’s Commission for Catholic Schools
Armidale
Page 24News for Women
12th March
Mass and Spirit of Education Awards
Armidale
15th March
Debutante Ball
Gunnedah
Page 26Why do Catholics Venerate Relics
20th March
Catholic Education Commission
Sydney
23rd March
ADIG Board Meeting
Armidale
24th March
Palm Sunday Mass Cathedral
Armidale
26th March
Chrism Mass Cathedral
Armidale
26th March
St Alberts College Board Meeting
Armidale
28th MarchHoly Thursday Mass Cathedral
Armidale
29th March
Good Friday
Armidale
30th March
Easter Vigil Mass Cathedral
Armidale
31th March
Easter Sunday
Armidale
2 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
Synod for New
Evangelisation
Page 28Relic Visit
V
Catholic
iewpoin
Autumn Issue
out April 2013
deadline
Wed 20th March
The
Bishop
Speaks
A
s we continue our journey through this Year of Grace
I pray that we are all becoming more aware of the
Grace of God and more thankful to God for filling our
souls with his grace, with his divine life. Recently I heard
somebody comment “Having a Year of Grace is like having a Year of breathing”. How true this is! For just as our
physical life depends upon our lungs being filled with
oxygen ever new, so our spiritual life depends upon our
soul being filled with God’s grace ever new. May this
Year of Grace remind us that every year and every moment is in fact a ‘kairos’, a moment of grace.
In October the Universal Church, and the Church in Australia with it, also began living a ‘Year of Faith’ to coincide with the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the
Second Vatican Council. May we all be renewed in our
understanding and living of that faith which we profess
in the Creed at Mass every Sunday. This is the faith of
the Church; the faith that Jesus taught to the Apostles,
the faith that they and their successors have passed on
faithfully to each new generation. May all of us: priests,
parents, and teachers, pass on this faith to a new generation so that it may be a light for their path leading to
eternal life.
Locally, the Diocese of Armidale has had much to celebrate recently: the cathedral centenary in October, and
the sesquicentenary (one hundred and fiftieth anniversary) of the diocese on the 28th of November. Your local
parish will keep you informed as we continue to observe
and celebrate the Year of Grace, the Year of Faith, and
the Diocesan Sesquicentenary throughout the coming
months.
In September I had the privilege of attending what is
often referred to as “Baby Bishops’ School” which is an
annual pilgrimage and conference of newly appointed
bishops held in Rome.
This year it was attended by 93 bishops who came from
every continent on earth. It was a true expression of the
universality or ‘Catholicity’ of the Church, especially
when we celebrated Mass together in Saint Peter’s Basilica which is built over the tomb of Saint Peter, and
when we met Pope Benedict XVI, the successor of Saint
Peter.
In his words to us the Holy Father
said “Your primary concern must
be to promote and support a more
determined commitment of the
Church in favour of the new evangelization, in order to rediscover the
joy in believing and find the enthusiasm to communicate the faith.”
He went on to say that this evangelization “is not the work of some
specialists, but of the entire People
of God under the guidance of the
Pastors. Each believer, in and with
the ecclesial community, should
feel responsible for announcing and
witnessing to the Gospel.”
May these be words that we all take
to heart during the ‘Year of Faith’.
May God bless you all.
Yours in Christ the Lord,
Most Reverend Michael Kennedy
Bishop of Armidale
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 3
Tuan Tran - A refugee blessed by Jesus
On 8th December 2008 Tran Tuan was ordained as a Deacon for the Diocese of Armidale. In 2013 he
will be ordained as a Priest. Here is some of his story so far
D
uring the Tết’s offensive, in Vietnam when I was
about to complete primary school, my mother took
us to the military hospital to visit my father who was
injured in the battlefield. Daddy was smiling at us with
bandages all over his body. I loved and admired my father. He tried his best to smile, comfort, cheer us up.
Looking around, I saw so many people wounded during
the war. I felt I understood what would be the suffering,
the pain, the sadness in life... I asked my uncle who was
a Priest, Fr Nguyễn Đức Phú, to help me learn the best
way to pray for my father, family and country torn apart
by war. He taught me to read the Gospel of St Mark, the
simplest document about Jesus. I read it every night with
my mother and sometimes with my father whenever he
returned home. I began to love Jesus, the One who declared
Himself to be God, the One who has always
loved us all! I told my parents and my uncle
that I wanted to live a life like Jesus’ life! At
my parents’ suggestion, I began to ask Jesus
to give me the gift of Priesthood. With the parish priest suggestion and support, I entered the Diocesan Minor Seminary at the age of 11. When I was about to
leave the Minor Seminary to enter the Major
Seminary, the South Vietnam Government
collapsed.
First of all the Seminary Staff was attacked
by the new Government: the French Missionary Professors were expelled then the Rector most Rev. Fr. Ho van
Qut was arrested. Absolutely there was not any Holy Order admission. Seminarians were dispersed all over the
country.
I had tried my best to keep in touch with the Rector of the
Seminary who was in jail for 13 years. The first visit to
him after he was released, occurred in the bishop’s house.
He asked me a lot about the Priests in the Diocese. He
knew each one by name. He told me that when he was
sent to the Phú Khánh prison, he was kept in solitary confinement for a year: Totally isolated in a dark cell, each
morning and evening, he heard the Angelus bell from
afar and he gladly recognized the sound of his own Cathedral’s bell. The more he heard the bell rang, the deeper
was his desperate yearning to see Catholics from his own
diocese!
Miraculously, after a few months, through the slit of
the cell door, the Bishop identified some of his diocesan Priests from the prisoners who moved around the
4 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
prison yard, unaware that they were passing the cell of
their Bishop! Elated, the Bishop assiduously studied the
way to catch the attention of his Priests. Whenever any
of his Priests approached his cell, the Bishop very softly
intoned the litany of the Saints calling out the Christian
name of each Priest in Latin, the language known only to
Catholic clergy. “Sancte Michael, ora pro nobis! Sancte
Leonarde, ora pro nobis!” The Priests, with tear-swollen
eyes, carefully turned their head towards the most familiar, fatherly voice of their Bishop naming each of them
by name. Secretly, they raised their hand and made a tiny
Sign of the Cross to respond to their Bishop who was
there sharing their uncountable days of sufferings! The
Bishop was one with his own clergy! And they recognised each other. He was the one who most
influenced/shaped my life. With the support of Bishop, my uncle helped
me to escape out of Việt Nam by boat and I
came to Australia as a refugee. I always considered myself not as “The Happiest Refugee” but “A Refugee blessed by Jesus”: I
have Australian citizenship; I have received
the protection from our Government. I travelled to Vietnam to visit my family with an
Australian passport. I have had the chance
to live out humbly, the witness to the Lord
with Australians! I have felt being loved by
God, the clergy, the people of the Diocese.
Having experienced love, I also have experienced expectation from people around me. People expected me to be
a man of prayer, a man of the Eucharist. I have experienced doing pastoral work first in Tamworth, Kootingal, Moonbi, Dungowan, Woolomin,
Nundle, and then Moree. This fortified my conviction
that being a Priest was being a fellow worker with other Priests around their Bishop. It also strengthened the
certainty that being a Priest was being a man who journeyed with local people, sharing their joys as well as sorrows. Therefore, I can sincerely say that the Providence
of God has blessed me with positive experiences. After the announcement of my diaconate ordination,
people asked me why I still wanted to be a Priest in this
turbulent time. I have chosen the Lord Jesus since very
early in my life. The Ordination now comes as a crowning of that choice. May I say now to our Risen Lord in the words of St Peter:
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I do love you!”
An interview with Fr Abmar
they always greet one another, even strangers. I also enjoy the food.
We have seen you out walking of a morning, what
other sporting interests’ do you have?
My interest is to keep healthy so I go to the gym regularly. But when I was a student I play table tennis. At
present photography is my interest and I really wanted to
send some of my best shots for competition. Apart from
priesthood I got involve in pistol practical shooting in the
Philippines. I am a member of the prestigious gun club.
This kind of sports developed more my self- control, discipline and good to release some stress. This is also my
way to evangelize those people who are involved in these
sports. My dream was to become a military chaplain but
in this manner I believed that I am doing more than I can
do in the armed forces. I was also involved in full contact
karate lesson a when I was in college and brought me to
different competition and won some awards as well.
Fr Abmar recently arrived from the Phillipines. He is a
member of the Missionaries of La Salette Order and is
Fr Ros Soriano’s replacement. Currently he is based at
the Cathedral Parish in Armidale.
Tell us about your family?
My family has 8 children and I am the last. 6 boys and
2 girls, but at present we are only 5 left and my father
died when I was 12 and my mother too before entering
the seminary. I belong to a very religious family we go
to Mass and pray the Rosary together. I look at my father
as the priest of the house because he always lead us in
prayer and disciplined us to be home by 6 pm to pray
the angelus. My mother went to Mass everyday and a
member of one of the church organizations. I believed
that my family moulded my vocation to the priesthood.
Unfortunately my two older brothers entered the seminary but they did not persevere but instead they became
a good catholic like my father in their own family. I am
proud to have a family like this who let me experience the
presence of God in the very start of my life.
How different is parish life between Australia and the
Philippines?
In Australia parish work is administrative in the sense
that much work is done in the office. There is so much
attention on aged members of the society which is very
important for me. It awakens my understanding of giving
care for the sick who need the most Church presence.
In the Philippines is more on sacraments and sacramentals which boils down to pastoral work because we do
so much work outside the parish office. Basic Ecclesial Community is the primary thrust in the Philippine
Church. In this manner we need to cater to the needs of
the people far beyond our office work, anyway we have
people in the office who do the work. Forming church
groups to become active in church activities. We promote
church from the centre to the periphery and bring them
to the centre after. This is our way because of the great
population of Catholics in our country.
Thank you Fr Abmar, we hope you enjoy your time with
the Diocese
What do you miss most about the Philippines?
I really miss the tropical weather like the sun is always
there shining every morning. That is why, I am not aware
of its presence everyday unlike here in Armidale. I will
also miss Christmas because this is really a long holiday
in the Philippines which starts in September. Eating is the
primary way of gathering people, so I definitely miss our
local food. Most of all my family who gives me strength
through the years.
What do you like about Australia and Armidale?
I really enjoy the traffic condition and the discipline of
drivers, they always give way! The air is not polluted and
is clean and fresh. The people here are very warm and
Father Abmar photographer
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 5
World youth day Rio 2013
WORLD YOUTH DAY
“GO AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF
ALL PEOPLE”
(Mathew 28:19)
An invitation to all
young pilgrims
It doesn’t seem all that long
ago that many young people
from the Diocese travelled to
Madrid for WYD 2011. Now it
is time for us to become pilgrims again and journey to the
distant and beautiful city of Rio
de Janeiro in Brazil for a unique
encounter with our loving God.
We will also join his holiness
Pope Benedict XVI and hundreds and thousands, if not
millions, of young Catholics
from all over the world at the
2013 World Youth Day. Bishop
Kennedy will be accompanying the Armidale group on this
privileged journey.
The Diocese of Armidale
has a tradition of combining with other Diocese for
World Youth Day pilgrimages.
For World Youth Day Rio 2013
the Diocese will travel with
youth from the Parramatta Diocese. Our team is well on the
way with plans for Rio 2013.
The Bishop wishes to invite
young people aged 18 and over
to join us on our combined pilgrimage for a memorable experience of Christ among us in
the great WYD celebrations.
For further information contact Lee Herden: lherden@
arm.catholic.edu.au
or 0409220612 or to view more
go to the Diocesan website:
armidale.catholic.org.au link
WYD RIO 2013
Sydney to Iguazu
& World Youth Day Rio
with Bishop Kennedy
17th July to 31st July
2013
J
ourney to amazing Argentina
and along the missionary trail
to the awe-inspired Iguazu
Falls, one of the seven natural
wonders of the world. Here we
will gather and prepare together
before joining the youth of the
world in Rio de Janeiro in the
company of Pope Benedict
TO REGISTER FOR
WYD RIO 2013
GO TO HARVEST PILGRIMAGES
LINK
FOR THE
ARMIDALE DIOCESE
http://www.wydtours.com/wyd-pilgrimages/nsw/armidale/
6 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
YOUCAT
– a great resource
YOUCAT is short for Youth Catechism of the Catholic
Church, which is the official catechism for World
Youth Day. Written for high-school age people and
young adults, YOUCAT is an accessible, contemporary
expression of the Catholic Faith. The popular format
includes questions and answers, highly-readable
commentary, margin pictures and illustrations,
summary definitions of key terms, Bible citations
and quotes from the Saints and other great teachers.
What’s more, YOUCAT is keyed to the Catechism of
the Catholic Church, so people can go deeper. It explains:
• What Catholics believe (doctrine).
• How they celebrate the mysteries of the Faith (sacraments).
• How Catholics are to live (moral life).
• How they should pray (prayer and spirituality).
The questions are direct and honest, even at times tough; the
answers straightforward, relevant, and compelling. After the
Bible, YOUCAT will likely become the “go-to” place for young
people to learn the truth about the Catholic faith. Pope Benedict
XVI wrote the foreword; Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn, the
editor of YOUCAT and the Archbishop of Vienna,
Austria, wrote the afterword.
Youcat is an initiative of “Aid to the Church in
Need” and for World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid
over 700,000 copies were placed in pilgrims
backpacks attending the event.
Already more than half a million
copies have been distributed in Brazil
were people are enthusiastically
anticipating World Youth Day 2013.
Order your YOUCAT copies at:
www.freedompublishing.com.au
PO Box 7246 Baulkham Hills NSW 2153
Moved by the desperate plight of Christians in the Holy Land
and throughout the Middle East, the Catholic charity Aid to
the Church in Need (ACN) has been supporting the country’s
beleaguered Christian population.
Sadly, due to ongoing violence and oppression, the proportion of
Christians in the Holy Land has plummeted from 20 percent to as
little as 1.4 percent in the last 40 years.
Please help us to sustain the ‘living stones’ - the faithful themselves
- who walk the lands Christ knew so well, otherwise Christianity
worldwide runs the risk of losing this first-hand witness and the Holy
Places simply becoming museums for tourists to visit.
(Size: 10 cm x 8 cm)
Please tick this box if you would like to receive
the crib o
Viewpoints
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.
Made of olive wood from the Holy
Land, this delightful little crib scene
is powerfully evocative of Christ’s
birthplace.
The cribs are lovingly, handcrafted
by poverty stricken families in
Bethlehem and your donation helps them survive.
A beautiful, handcrafted crib,
made of olive wood 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 on the
right if you would like to
receive the little olive wood
crib.
Aid to the Church in Need …. a Catholic charity dependent on the Holy See, providing pastoral relief to needy and oppressed Churches
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 7
A Parent’s Perspective...On Christmas
I
have always loved Christmas, a time for the traditions
that are a part of the story of our lives, and I lament the
very few days between the finish of the school year and
Christmas Day. I would love time to relax, get out of the
home, school rush and prepare for the happiest time of
the year. As I thought about this article and Christmas my
thoughts turned to the rituals that we observe and value
in our families. For the first time my own family will be
one short this year.
My second daughter will be spending the Christmas season in Sydney, and when she told me as I was reassuring
her that I understood, that as families expand we all have
to share ourselves around a little more, and that the holidays are too short, I was really crying inside.
I thought of the Christmas tree ritual, the Christmas tree
that goes up on the first day of the school holidays, the
lights on first then the decorations with the precious
handmade decorations from Kindergarten given pride of
place at the front. I thought of how we waited until everyone was home before the star went on the top. This
meant that in the last few years that star has had to wait
until the Sydneysiders came home.
I remember the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass, when the girls
would be shepherds, or angels, or kings and Gary and I
would sit in amazement at the patience of Father up on
the Altar sweltering in his vestments, the adults fanning
ourselves with the hymn sheets while the children were
laughing with joy, the community singing all the old carols. To me though it was not the same, not the ritual of
8 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
my childhood, that always meant Midnight Mass, so now
that my family have grown I am happy to return to Midnight Mass.
I thought of that first magical turning on of the lights on
Christmas Eve as we toasted each other, eventually the
sparkling apple juice made way for the sparkling pinot,
but it was still the same as it always had been.
Christmas Eve is always the lights, the candles, my
Christmas carol collection playing and Gary reading
the same two bedtime stories: The Night before Christmas and the Nutcracker Story. As the girls grew older of
course they were indulging me in my Christmas traditions, they probably could do without the stories and the
carols but they know that it is what we do as a family.
And so we are lucky that now we can connect in other
ways: we can skype, we can send each other photos and
updates all day and will find a way to still share the Ible
family Christmas Day.
Even though we won’t all be in the same place this year I
know that the family traditions will still happen, we will
be celebrating birth of the Christ Child and we will be
together in our hearts. And the rituals that mark the milestones of our lives, the rituals that give structure to our
family life and give our children golden memories will
still be happening.
Gary and I and our three girls wish everyone a blessed
and joyous Christmas, and a safe a happy New Year.
Catherine Ible
REFLECTING ON ADVENT
A
dvent, this powerful liturgical season that we
are beginning, invites us to pause in silence to
understand a presence. It is an invitation to understand
that the individual events of the day are hints that God is
giving us signs of the attention he has for each one of us.
How often does God give us a glimpse of his love!
Advent is particularly suited to being a season lived in
communion with all those who—and thanks be to God they
are numerous—hope for a more just and a more fraternal
world. In this commitment to justice, people of every
nationality and culture, believers and non-believers, can to
a certain extent meet. Indeed, they are all inspired by a
common desire, even if their motivations are different, for
a future of justice and peace.
Christian joy thus springs from this certainty: God is
close, he is with me, he is with us, in joy and in sorrow,
in sickness and in health, as a friend and faithful
spouse.
The world needs God—not just any god but the God
of Jesus Christ, the God who made himself flesh
and blood, who loved us to the point of dying for
us, who rose and created within himself room for
man.
Joy is the true gift of Christmas, not expensive
presents that demand time and money. We
can transmit this joy simply: with a smile, with
a kind gesture, with some small help, with
forgiveness. Let us give this joy and the joy
given will be returned to us.
In being born among us, may the Child
Jesus not find us distracted or merely busy,
beautifying our houses with decorative
lights? Rather, let us deck our soul and make
our families a worthy dwelling place where
he feels welcomed with faith and love.
In the Child of Bethlehem, the smallness
of God-made-man shows us the greatness
of man and the beauty of our dignity as
children of God and brothers and sisters of
Jesus.
Extracts from Advent & Christmas with
Pope Benedict XVI (published by United
States Conference of Catholic Bishops)
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 9
Catholic Mission
Fundraising Month
O
ctober has been a busy month for Catholic Mission
activities in the Armidale Diocese.
Parishioners have supported Catholic Mission’s appeal
to help in the recovery of the town of Siti Ronggot in
the Philippines which was ravaged by typhoon “Ondoy”
in 2009 and is still re- building. Thank you parishioners
for your generous support. The Catholic Schools of the
Armidale Diocese have been busy with running events
to raise funds for street children and homeless families
in the Philippines. There has been great enthusiasm
and tremendous fundraising in the schools with most
schools at least doubling if not quadrupling their 2011
amounts!!! Walk-a-thons and crazy sock days were
some of the events that took place. Thank you to the
students, staff and parents!
Thank you to all the parishes and schools for your generous support to Catholic Mission in 2012 !!
Linda Hanrahan
Diocesan Director
Traditional or contemporary funeral
services to suit your family’s individual
requirements
Pre-arranged and prepaid funeral bonds
available
Not associated with or connected to any other
funeral company bearing the name Hamilton
10 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
Why the Year of Faith?
In his homily opening the Year of
Faith on the 11th October , Pope
Benedict XVI connected the Year
of Faith to the Fiftieth anniversary
of the Second Vatican Council.
Here are some extracts:
Dear brothers and sisters!
Today, fifty years from the opening
of the Second Vatican Ecumenical
Council, we begin with great joy
the Year of Faith. We are invited to
enter more deeply into the spiritual movement which characterized Vatican II, to make it ours and
to develop it according to its true
meaning. And its true meaning was
and remains faith in Christ, the apostolic faith, animated by the inner desire to communicate Christ
to individuals and all people, in
the Church’s pilgrimage along the
pathways of history.
Jesus is the centre of the Christian
faith. The Christian believes in God
whose face was revealed by Jesus
Christ. He is the fulfilment of the
Scriptures and their definitive interpreter.
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to
preach the good news to the poor”
(Lk 4:18). This mission of Christ,
this movement of his continues in
space and time, over centuries and
continents. The Church is the first
and necessary instrument of this
work of Christ because it is united
to him as a body to its head. “As the
Father has sent me, even so I send
you” (Jn 20:21), says the Risen One
to his disciples, and breathing upon
them, adds, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (v.22).
We now turn to the one who convoked the Second Vatican Council
and inaugurated it: Blessed John
XXIII. In his opening speech, he
presented the principal purpose
of the Council in this way: “What
above all concerns the Ecumenical
Council is this: that the sacred deposit of Christian doctrine be safeguarded and taught more effectively […] Therefore, the principal
purpose of this Council is not the
discussion of this or that doctrinal
theme… a Council is not required
for that… [but] this certain and immutable doctrine, which is to be
faithfully respected, needs to be
explored and presented in a way
which responds to the needs of our
time” (AAS 54 [1962], 790,791-792).
The Council did not formulate anything new in matters of faith, nor
did it wish to replace what was
ancient. Rather, it concerned itself
with seeing that the same faith
might continue to be lived in the
present day, that it might remain a
living faith in a world of change.
If today the Church proposes a new
Year of Faith and a new evangelization, it is not to honor an anniversary, but because there is more
need of it, even more than there
was fifty years ago! In the Council’s
time it was already possible from a
few tragic pages of history to know
what a life or a world without God
looked like, but now we see it every day around us. This void has
spread. But it is in starting from the
experience of this desert, from this
void, that we can again discover
the joy of believing, its vital importance for us, men and women. In
the desert we rediscover the value
of what is essential for living; thus
in today’s world there are innumerable signs, often expressed implicitly or negatively, of the thirst
for God, for the ultimate meaning
of life. And in the desert people of
faith are needed who, with their
own lives, point out the way to
the Promised Land and keep hope
alive. Living faith opens the heart
to the grace of God which frees us
from pessimism. Today, more than
ever, evangelizing means witnessing to the new life, transformed by
God, and thus showing the path.
‘My Year of Faith’ app
The Year of Faith has kicked off and now
there’s an app for that!
This app is titled “My Year of Faith” and
can be a daily, customizable resource.
It includes many features that lead to a
deeper understanding of their faith, an
increased prayer life, and reflections and
thoughts from nationally known bloggers
and writers - all with daily content updates.
Those who do not have smartphones can
follow the blog at:
www.myyearoffaith.com
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 11
2012 - marking 150 years of our Diocese
Having recently celebrated the centenary of Saints Mary and Joseph’s Catherdral, 2012 also marks one hundred and
fifty years since the establishment of the Armidale Diocese. The more relevant dates are the following.
30th September 1862The Cardinals of Propaganda Fide decide on the establishment of two
new dioceses in Australia: Armidale and Goulburn.
5th October 1862
Pope Pius lX confirmed the decision.
28th November 1862
Formal publication of the decision.
30th November 1869Most Rev. Timothy O’Mahony First Bishop of Armidale consecrated
bishop in Cork, Ireland.
26th March 1871
Bishop O’Mahony’s Formal installation in the diocese.
So whilst we were in a certain sense ‘orphans’ without
a bishop for some years, we have existed as a diocese
since 1862.
Parishes around the Diocese celebrated the anniversary
of the formal publication date in November. These celebrations included Masses, Recitation of the Rosary (recognising Our Lady of the Rosary who is the Diocesan
patron) and many social gatherings.
In the coming year there will be ongoing events to mark
the “Sesquicentenary Year”. Viewpoint will be including
a historical section on each parish throughout the year.
Contributions of photos and stories of the establishment
of your parish are welcome! Please send to:
[email protected]
From our history...the Bishops of Armidale
Over the coming year we will be featuring various aspects of our diocese. We start in this issue with information on
the most recent three Bishops of the Diocese.
10th Bishop Michael Kennedy
9th Bishop Luc Matthys
8th Bishop Kevin Manning
Born: Wagga Wagga, Australia
Born: Drongen, Belgium
Born: Bathurst, Australia
Studied: Rome
Studied: South Africa
Studied: Rome
Ordained Priest: 1999 for Wagga Wagga
Ordained Priest: 1961 for Johannesburg
Ordained Priest: 1961 for Bathurst
Our Bishop: 2012 - Present
Our Bishop: 1999 - 2012
Our Bishop: 1992 - 1997
Motto: Go forth and teach
Motto: It is God who gives the increase
Motto: Christ the Bread of Life
12 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
Cathedral
centenary
celebrations
deemed a great
success
C
elebrations to mark the centenary of the opening of the Cathedral of Saints Mary and Joseph
were held over the ’long’ week-end
of 19th - 22nd October 2012.
On Friday a Mass of Thanksgiving
to recognise the association of members of various Congregations of religious with the Cathedral and their
contribution to the spread of the faith
across the Diocese was celebrated
by more than 750 present including schoolchildren from more than a
dozen schools and over 50 representatives of religious orders.
That evening, a Centenary Dinner
was held at the Armidale Ex-Services Club attended by almost 250
people. The highlights of the evening
included an address by long-standing and active parishioner, Mr Noel
Brennan who recalled his childhood
days as an altar boy at the Cathedral,
and the recitation of the Fr Patrick
Joseph Hartigan’s poem ‘Said She’
by Mrs Lisa Quast
Saturday’s events, a special prayer
service for the deceased benefactors
of the Cathedral led by Bishop Kennedy, and a Garden party held in the
grounds of St Mary’s School, were
well-supported.
The special Mass of Thanksgiving at
10.00 am on Sunday was also very
well-attended with the Cathedral at
near-capacity. Following the Mass a
time capsule was buried in front of
the Cathedral by Bishop Kennedy,
with assistance from his two imme-
diate predecessors, Bishop Kevin
Manning, Bishop Luc Matthys and
former Armidale priest Bishop Gerard Hanna. These ceremonies were
followed by a barbecue luncheon
for parishioners and visitors in the
grounds of the Cathedral.
The final events of the week-end were
a special Mass of Thanksgiving for
the Clergy of the Diocese at which
the Metropolitan Archbishop of Brisbane, Archbishop Mark Coleridge
was the homilist and a special celebratory luncheon prior to the commencement of the usual Clergy Conference. The theme of the Centenary
celebrations continued during the
first part of the Conference with addresses by Mr Tom Campbell on the
history of the Armidale Diocese, and
Mr Chris Cunningham on the design
and construction of the Cathedral.
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 13
Splendid celebrations fo
14 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
or Cathedral Centenary
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 15
Cathedral – beating heart in Church’s mission
This is an edited version of Bishop Kennedy’s homily at
Cathedral Centenary Thanksgiving Mass
This lofty Cathedral combines both power and beauty in an
extraordinary testimony of our faith, and particularly the faith
of Bishop O’Connor, of our parents, grandparents, and great
grandparents, and of the many craftsmen and artists whose vision, sacrifices, offerings, skills, and labour, built our treasured
Cathedral. Mass this morning, and our other celebrations over
these few days, encourage us all to rediscover and deepen our
faith; the faith to which every corner and niche, every tile and
brick, every window and statue, every column and beam of our
splendid cathedral testifies. Our cathedral silently speaks to us
of God, of the One God who is good, true, and beautiful.
What distinguishes a cathedral from all other churches is not
its size or beauty, but the bishop’s chair, or cathedra. The bishop’s chair is not akin to a throne; it is more akin to a pulpit.
For the cathedra is a symbol of teaching, of that authoritative
teaching that belongs to the bishops as successors of the Apostles. It is the continuation of that
authority spoken of by Jesus in the
Gospel we have just heard. All the
authority of heaven and earth that
is his as the Son of God, he gives to
his Apostles and their successors,
so that the Church might make
disciples of all the nations through
baptism and right teaching right up
until the end of time.
When Jesus says, “know that I am
with you always; yes, to the end
of time.” One such mode of Jesus’ presence, which perhaps we
seldom recall, is his authoritative
presence in the Church. Jesus gave
his authority to the Apostles and
their successors so that until the
end of time, whatever Peter and
the Apostles taught, whatever their
successors the bishops, in union
with the successor of Peter, taught
in regard to faith and morals, we
would know to be true.
Our faith needs a sure foundation.
Christ does not want us to be deceived; he wants us to be sure in faith. Sound faith and right
morals can only be proposed to our hearts and minds authoritatively if they are true. Truth and authority go together. Christ
is the possessor of both and he has given both to the Church.
The Bishop’s chair is the seat of this authoritative teaching. Let
this chair then be a sign and reminder to us that the faith we
profess is not just wishful thinking; the faith we profess is true.
Whilst the cathedra is essential to the Cathedral, it is the altar
that stands at its centre. Every Catholic Church has an altar, but
it is in front of this altar that Bishops are ordained and consecrated; that the bishop ordains and lays hands on the men sent
into the parishes as priests; that the sacred oils – of Chrism,
of Catechumens, and of the sick, - are consecrated, and with
these oils the sacraments are then celebrated and administered
throughout the diocese.
16 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
On the sacred altar itself the Eucharistic sacrifice is offered;
the passion, death and resurrection of Christ is made present anew every day. On the altar our Lord’s words come true:
“I am with you always; yes, to the end of time”. And as we
make our prayerful procession up the nave, our feet walking
the same journey as our forebears in faith, stepping on the
very tiles they walked upon, we arrive at the communion rails
and receive Holy Communion. Here we are reminded that the
Church of Jesus Christ is not a mere human society made up of
competing group interests. Rather, the Church is the Body of
Christ; it is Christ himself who unites us with himself and with
one another in a unity that is full of life, in a unity that is both
human and divine.
Every Catholic church has an ambo or pulpit from where the
Word of God is proclaimed. In our Cathedral the Gospel has
been proclaimed from the original and elegant timber pulpit;
from this solid and dependable marble pulpit; and from the
wings of the brass eagle. This serves as a reminder that God
does not want his Gospel proclaimed in just one place. It is as
an appeal to us to proclaim and
make known the Good News of
Jesus Christ in many and varied
places: in our homes and families,
in the workplace, in society, in the
economy, and in culture. And just
as our cathedral often and eloquently proclaims its message of
faith, hope, and love, in silence,
so too at times, we can proclaim
the Gospel without a single word,
allowing the goodness of our actions and the beauty of our lives
to speak instead.
One thing I notice every time I enter the cathedral are the fresh and
beautiful flowers that constantly
adorn Our Lady’s altar. They are a
tangible sign of the heartfelt love
that the children of God have for
his mother. They express the reality about Mary that was highlighted by the Second Vatican Council
which began fifty years ago, at the
midpoint of our cathedral’s history.
The Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, Lumen Gentium,
noted that Mary “does not hinder in any way the immediate
union of the faithful with Christ but on the contrary fosters
it.” (60)
For a hundred years this cathedral has been as a beating heart
in the Church’s mission: the faithful streaming into Sunday
Mass to be filled and empowered by the love and grace of God,
only to be sent forth an hour later, to carry the Gospel to the
surrounding world, just as blood is sent forth from the heart
to carry oxygen to the entire body. This has been the way in
Armidale in this great cathedral, Sunday after Sunday, for one
hundred and fifity years. Long may it continue.
The full text of this and other homilies from this weekend
can be found at armidale.catholic.org.au
Roff Family Abroad
The Roff Family will complete their 12 month exchange to Canada at the end of December. Jenny has been teaching physical education and social studies at St Elizabeth Seton School in Calgary. Here she talks about the return of the snow and sad farewells.
tenacity…these are the benefits of living in a city of 1million
people, lots of services and facilities.
Cal (16) played soccer which is very popular in Calgary, with
most of the team also playing indoor soccer over winter.
Amy (15) has loved her first semester of senior high school,
taking subjects such as musical theatre and drama, and she will
perform in the school musical “Disco Fever” just before we
leave.
October 31 Halloween was just like you see it on the television. Children and teenagers in amazing costumes with overflowing bags full of candy from their “trick or treating”. We
carved pumpkins to make jack ‘o’ lanterns and bought ridiculous amounts of candy to hand out, it was great fun and the
kids had a ball.
T
he new school year began in September, and I was surprised to find that I was teaching grade 1 and 2 physical
education as well as grade 7 Canadian social studies. Even
though I was well out of my comfort zone I took up the challenge and have quite enjoyed the little ones and learned a lot
about Canadian history and the fur trade.
I will be very sad to leave my school St Elizabeth Seton. The
staff have been so welcoming and supportive, and the students
are polite, friendly and hard working. I have learnt (and relearnt) many teaching skills in the gym and classroom, and I
will be a better teacher for the exchange. I will not, however,
miss playground duty at minus 18 and arriving and departing
school in the dark.
It didn’t take long for the cold weather to return. There was no
gentle easing into it, just a sharp drop in temperature as soon
as fall (autumn) arrived, followed by a dump of snow. The ski
resorts are opening up much to the delight of Cal and Luke, and
we have begun snowboarding and skiing already in minus 17!
We are planning to do as much as we can before we fly back to
Australia in late December.
We have made many friends, some of whom hope to visit
us, and some of whom are teachers who may try for an exchange themselves. I cannot recommend the program highly
enough…a chance to take your family overseas and actually
live in another town. A house to base yourself in whilst you
work and then travel around the country. It has been a dream
come true for us and I would encourage anyone who has the
opportunity available to them to take it as you will not regret it.
A surprise visit in late September from the Hawthorne family
was awesome, and we travelled to many beautiful locations in
the Rocky Mountains. The children were so excited to see their
close friends and to hear Australian accents again.
I hope you have enjoyed reading about our experiences and
travels. We look forward to seeing you when we return, and
like all travellers would love any opportunity to bore you with
stories about our amazing adventure.
Damian has enjoyed casual teaching in different Catholic
schools around Calgary, and he has had time to keep fit and
exercise regularly. He is looking forward to getting back into
the classroom at O’Connor Catholic College in Armidale. The
12 month break has revitalised him.
May hope, peace, joy and love fill your heart and home over
advent.
Our four children will return to O’Connor and St Mary’s, and
they are very keen to see their friends, although they have enjoyed the experience of living and studying overseas in a big
city. Our hope was that they would learn new life skills and
foster a desire to travel themselves in the years to come. We
are very proud of how well they have coped as it hasn’t always
been easy, however they will leave Canada with many wonderful memories. I also believe that we have grown closer as a
family, having had to rely on each other more often and to look
out for each other.
Luke (10) played defence in a real Canadian football team
wearing the big helmet and pads, enduring training and games
in the snow. He loved the whole experience and the camaraderie of the squad, except for the frozen toes!
Lily (9) has joined a group of young climbers at the local indoor recreation centre, where she has developed strength and
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 17
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Around and About
Crazy sock day
The St Joseph’s Glen Innes Mini Vinnies
Committee had an overwhelming
response to their recent sock-a-thon
where they collected socks, gloves
and beanies that were then donated
to Vinnies to be distributed to those in
need during winter. Specially decorated
laundry baskets were set up in each class
room for students to donate the winter
accessories and the end of the appeal
was marked with a crazy sock day where
students wore odd and colourful socks.
St Philomena’s Singing Big
St
Philomena’s
Primary
School
Choir competed in a competition at
Goondiwindi. It competed in four
separate categories and achieved first
place in all sections. As a result of its
fabulous and skilful performances, the
choir was awarded Champion Primary
School Choir, symbolised by the Fay
Duffield Shield. The choir has won the
shield each time it has performed at
the eisteddfod, beginning in 1997. This
year the choir was also fortunate to
participate in a full day choral workshop,
“The Big Sing”, in Goondiwindi.
Healthy Chef’s Partnership
McCarthy College Year 9 Food Technology
students were given the opportunity to
join with St Nicholas’ School to explore
healthy lunch boxes as part of their
Science and Technology program. Each
student worked with a K-1-2 buddy to
prepare a selection of nutritious lunch
box selections buds. The junior chefs
looked magnificent in their lime green
‘uniforms’ and worked to prepare
vegemite scrolls, sandwich shapes and
skewers of fruit flowers.
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 19
Around and About
Fun in the Pilliga Forest
St Michaels Manilla Year 3/4 students headed to the Pilliga Forrest as part of their work on National Parks.
The students visited the Crystal Kingdom in Coonabarabran, Siding Springs Observatory and Pilliga Forest Discovery Centre where they learnt amazing facts including that the Pilliga forest area is equivalent to
double the area of Sydney.
The night at Camp Cypress
was a fun night full of games
and laughs. Rumours have
it that the girls had a Girls
night in sharing biscuits and
cups of tea and by the end of
the night the principal had a
brand new hair style courtesy of a few students. The
next day saw them off to the
Sculptures in the Scrub walk
a 3km walk with amazing
art and views. Afterwards
we headed to the Sandstone caves to view Aboriginal carvings dated at 12000
years old. The children arrived home tired but had a
wonderful time.
Grandparents Day
St Joseph’s School Warialda celebrated Grandparent’s Day with over 50 Grandparents, family members and friends joining the school for a liturgy, assembly and morning tea. The children presented
handmade cards to their grandparents telling them
lots of special things, thanking them for being their
Grandparent and for coming. It was lovely watching the expressions on people’s faces when they received their cards.
Icy snap in Guyra
On the morning of Friday 12th October 2012, students from St Mary of the Angels school in Guyra
awoke to find their town transformed into a winter
wonderland. With more than around 8cm of snow
covering the ground, it was no doubt one of the
best snowfalls that the town had seen in years. At
the School the children had fun playing in the snow,
creating memories that will no doubt last a lifetime. The playground was littered with snowmen of
all sizes as well as igloo’s and forts. Students were
treated to hot chocolates after their busy morning.
20 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
Around and About
Walk for Uganda
On Friday 2nd November a walkathon entitled KUTUMBEA KWA….(WALK FOR UGANDA) was held
for all students as part of Mission Week. It was a
crazy socks mufti day and we set out from school
along the bicycle tracks through the Pine Forest to
Charleston Willows where all partook of a great
BBQ lunch. It was a 7.5km walk on a hot dusty day
but students all arrived at their destination in good
spirits. $5,300 was raised and this money is destined for a Youth Project in Uganda in the Kasese Diocese where many young people are marginalised
as they take on adult responsibilities due to their
parents having died or become unable to support
them through past AIDS epidemics.
Fundraising for India
St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Armidale raised
funds that will equip a classroom in India with furniture. The Parish of St Matthew’s Church, Rimrangpara in the West Garo Hills District in the Diocese
of Tura has started a Primary School with 6 classrooms. All 318 children currently sit on the cold
ground. To outfit a classroom, $3000 needed to be
raised.
The children were given the challenge to organise
the fundraising events. They came up with a coin
line, side show, Lap-a-thon, talent quest and movie
night. After a successful week of fundraising they
raised $4335.10! Reaching the goal plus more!
Brain Olympia
The final of Brain Olympia was held at St Francis
Xavier’s School Narrabri with 8 teams in the competition. There were 6 schools in the large schools section which included St Mary’s Armidale, Holy Trinity
Inverell, St Joseph’s Glen Innes, St Edward’s Tamworth, St Philomena’s Moree and St Francis Xavier’s. The small school section was for schools with a
student population under 100 had St Joseph’s Quirindi and St Joseph’s Barraba in this competition. The
day’s activities included General Knowledge, Maths
problems, Public Speaking and Drama. At the end
of the day St Mary’s and St Philomena’s achieved
the same score and were declared joint winners. St
Francis Xavier’s was only 4 points behind. This year
over 200 students from our Diocese were involved
in Brain Olympia and all enjoyed the experience.
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 21
Focus on:
Raising money a community affair
St Mary of the Angels Parish, Guyra had a busy spring
holding their annual Parish/School Fete. The fete was
another great success with the Guyra community getting
together and joining in with the fun of the carnival. The
parish held an Auction Sale and a number of catering
events helping to raise much needed funds for the parish.
Church renovations
The parish has been busy completing the painting and
restoration of the exterior and interior of the Church. Our
community of Guyra can see our 103 year old church
restored to its former glory. New energy efficient heating
and fans have been installed in the Church, bringing
smiles to the faces of church goers during the bitterly
cold mornings.
Statues restored
A local artist is restoring the very old Statues to their
original beauty and these have been placed on new timber
wall pedestals in the front and back of the church. Much
other restoration work is also underway including O H
& S requirements
Holy Smoke does Christmas
Fr. Anthony and his team have already commenced
the task of preparing Religious Christmas Decorations
for the Church and Church grounds again this year.
Last year the parish was rewarded for our efforts by
winning 1st Prize in the Country Energy Christmas lights
competition. However, Fr. Anthony’s main focus is to
bring the real religious spirit and joy of Christmas to the
Parishioners and the wider community.
22 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
A Busy Spring in Guyra
Synod of New Evangelisation
I
n a beautiful “message to the People of God,” the Synod of Bishops challenged all Catholics to take up the
task of the New Evangelization.
New Evangelization “is not a question of finding new
strategies as if the Gospel was to be spread like a market
product, but rediscovering the ways in which individuals
come close to Jesus.”
The final message begins by evoking the image of Jesus
speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well. This
woman, looking to quench her thirst, is “the image of
contemporary man with an empty vessel, who is thirsting
and is nostalgic for God,” the official summary says. The
Synod’s message adds: “Today, many wells offer themselves to quench humanity’s thirst, but we must discern
in order to avoid polluted waters.”
nessing to it in the New Evangelization”—contemplative
prayer and work on behalf of the poor.
Finally, the Synod concludes by entrusting the work of
reviving the faith to the care of the Virgin Mary, under the
title of the “Star of the New Evangelization.”
Australia was represented at the Synod by Cardinal
George Pell, Archbishop Timothy Costelloe and Bishop
Christopher Prowse. (L’Osservatore Romano)
“Everywhere indeed we feel the need to revive a faith
that risks eclipse in cultural contexts that hinders its taking root in persons and its presence in society, the clarity
of its content and its coherent fruits,” the Final Message
proclaims.
The purpose of the New Evangelization, as of any evangelization, is to bring people to Christ, the Synod teaches.
And this entails bringing people to the Catholic Church.
“We are confident in the inspiration and strength of the
Spirit, who will teach us what we are to say and what we
are to do even in the most difficult moments…
There is no room for pessimism in the minds and hearts
of those who know that their Lord has conquered death
and that his Spirit works with might in history. We approach this world with humility, but also with determination. This comes from the certainty that the truth triumphs in the end.”
The Synod’s message says that evangelization should begin within the family, and speaks with concern about the
problems facing family life in modern society:
We do not ignore the fact that today the family, established in the marriage of a man and of a woman which
makes them “one flesh” (Matthew 19:6) open to life, is
assaulted by crises everywhere. It is surrounded by models of life that penalize it and neglected by the politics of
society of which it is also the fundamental cell.
The parish is the natural focus for the work of evangelization, the Final Message says. The document encourages
parishes to take up the challenge of the Year of Faith, and
offers particular encouragement to Catholics of all states
in life—priests, religious, laity, and young people—to
answer that challenge.
The Synod singles out “two expressions of the life of
faith which seem particularly important to us for wit-
Holy Father’s Prayer Intentions
January
General: That during this “Year of Faith” Christians may
deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and
joyfully bear witness to the gift of faith in Him.
Missionary: That the Christian communities of the Middle
East, which frequently suffer discrimination, may receive
the strength of fidelity and perseverance of the Holy Spirit.
February
General: That migrant families, in particular mothers, may
be sustained and accompanied in their difficulties.
Missionary: That peoples experiencing war and conflicts
may be the protagonists in the building of a future of
peace.
March
General: That respect for nature will grow, with the
awareness that all creation is the work of God entrusted to
human responsibility.
Missionary: That bishops, priests and deacons may be
tireless proclaimers of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 23
News for
Women
World Congress of Families
In May 2013 the World Congress of Families will be held in Sydney and will explore how business, government,
education, law, healthcare and the media can strengthen families. Catholic Women’s League is offering financial and
physical support to the organising committee and we hope that it will, as it has been in other countries, a resounding
success. For further information you can access the website http://wcfsydney2013.org.au/
Free2Believe Campaign
The Australian Family Association
in Victoria is asking us to be aware of
what is, or could be happening, under the Victorian Charter of Human
Rights and Responsibilities Act and
the Abortion Law Reform Act if the
same laws are suggested in our own
State. They suggest that our freedom
is under attack, particularly freedom
of conscience of doctors and health
professionals in providing good
medical care. Also of concern is the
freedom of belief and conscience
for parents not to have their children
taught radical anti-life, gay and lesbian sex education. We must always
be vigilant.
New Group Gets Busy
Tamworth Catholic Women Con-
necting ladies were very involved
in a moving multimedia presentation of PowerPoint graphics, readings, prayers, hymns and devotion
to the Icon of Christ Pantacrator (Almighty) at St Patrick’s Church. This
event was organised by the group as
part of the national tour.
They also gave great support at the
Nazareth House Nursing Home Fete
on 6 October, helping in the week
leading up to the fete and assisting in
the cleanup activities after the event,
as well as during the Fete. And
members attended the second rosary
procession by candlelight conducted
by the Young Adults of the Frassati
Society, this time held at Nazareth
House.
Good news is that a second CWC
group may be establishing at St
Nicholas after expressions of interest
from some of the women parishioners.
State Conference of Catholic
Women’s League
Members travelled to the Novotel at
Manly Beach to attend the three day
biennial State Conference and all returned, from what could almost be
called a holiday, refreshed and full of
enthusiasm. Our Diocesan President
Robyn Judge was pleased to report
that other dioceses in the State are
very interested in promoting Catholic Women Connecting after seeing
the interest shown by our younger
women in a new way of promoting
Faith, Fun and Friendship.
Local Author launches Leadership book
D
r Christine Cameron of Armidale recently travelled to Canberra
for the national launch of her book
Leadership as a call to service. The
lives and works of Teresa of Ávila,
Catherine of Siena and Thérèse of
Lisieux. Professor Michael Gaff-
ney, Chair and
Head of School
of Educational
Leadership at
the Australian
Catholic University hosted
the
launch.
Guests
who
travelled
to
Canberra for the
launch included family and
friends and former colleagues
of Christine.
Christine’s book is generating great
interest. It has been sent to English speaking Catholic Dioceses
and Catholic universities around the
world and received favourable re-
24 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
plies from cardinals, bishops, priests,
religious, professors and other academics. Christine has served in administrative positions in Catholic primary
schools in the Armidale Diocese as
Principal, Assistant Principal and as
Religious Education Co-Ordinator.
The book is based on Christine’s recent successful PhD research: Women Doctors of the Catholic Church: A
Study in Servant Leadership. Christine graduated from the University of
New England Armidale in 2010. The
Forword was written by Suzanne
Noffke, OP, an American Dominican
nun, who is an international authority on St Catherine of Siena. The
book is published by Connor Court
Publishing www.connorcourt.com
and is also available on Amazon.
CSO Update
Major awards to Paul & Joan
O
n Friday the 26th October at the Armidale
Bowling Club, the local education community
gathered to celebrate World Teachers’ Day and recognise the achievements of outstanding educators in
New England in a Joint Memorial Awards Dinner
sponsored by the New England Regional Group of
the Australian College of Educators (ACE) and the
New England Association of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL). The Annual
ACE/ACEL Memorial Awards are named in honour
of four local leaders in education: William Walker,
Alan Kerr, Alan Sutherland, and Harry Harris.
CSO staff members Joan Shanahan (Student Support Consultant) and Paul Holman (Assistant Director: School Services) were recipients of ACE/ACEL
awards on the night. Joan was presented with The
ACE J.A. Sutherland Memorial Award for a significant contribution to education in the region and Paul
received The ACEL William Walker Award for outstanding leadership.
New principals for 2013
T
he CSO recently inducted 3
new Principals into the Diocese.
They have been appointed by Bishop
Michael Kennedy and will commence
their duties in 2013.
Mrs Meghan Donovan will take the
role as Principal of St Joseph’s School
Warialda. She is currently the Assistant
Principal/REC at St Ignatius’ Parish
School in Bourke Diocese
Mr Max Quirk will commence his
role as Principal of St Mary’s College
Gunnedah. Max has had 31 years’
experience in Catholic education,
working in six schools in NSW and
Queensland. Most recently, Max was
Principal of St Mary’s Catholic College
Cairns from 2004 to 2010.
Mr Gary Hall has been appointed
as Principal of St Joseph’s School
Mungindi. Gary has had over 20 years’
experience as an educator in both
primary and secondary schools and
is currently the Principal at St Mary’s
Primary School in Bowen Queensland.
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 25
Why do
Catholics …
Venerate relics?
A
relic is a part of a saint’s deceased body or clothing. The recent visit of the relic of Saint Francis
Xavier to the Armidale Diocese has
reignited interest in this ancient practice of the Church. It began during
the Roman persecutions when the
early Christians were meticulous in
their collection and veneration of the
remains of the martyrs.
The human body, alive or dead, is
something good. It is an essential
part of our human nature created by
God. We venerate relics because the
bodies of saints while alive on earth
were living members of Christ and
temples of the Holy Spirit, and after the general resurrection will be
raised to eternal life and be glorified. Even now, their souls that were
united to their body on earth are in
the presence of God in heaven.
Sacred Scripture itself testifies
to the prodigies God has worked
through the use and veneration of
relics. For example, “as soon as the
man touched the bones of Elisha,
he revived, and stood to his feet.” (2
Kings 13:21). And, “so that when
the handkerchiefs or aprons that had
touched his (St Paul’s) skin were
brought to the sick, their diseases left
them, and the evil spirits came out of
them.” (Acts 19:12). The Bible also
tells us of people who sought miracles through objects of Jesus Christ
himself: “And wherever he came, in
26 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint
villages, cities, or country, they laid
the sick in the market places, and
besought him that they might touch
even the fringe of his garment.; and
as many as touched it were made
well.” (Mark6:56)
In the writings of Church Fathers
and Saints down through the ages we
find many cases of miracles worked
through relics. In modern times too,
often the miracle required by the
Church before a beatification or canonization is one that occurred when a
relic of the deceased was physically
applied to an afflicted portion of the
favoured person’s body. Such miracles are on public record and have
been thoroughly investigated by doctors and scientists.
The Church does not promote the
belief that there exists any magical power dwelling in the relic itself.
What is important is the faith of the
person, and the mercy and omnipotence of God who at times chooses to
work through the instrumentality of
relics. (More photos on back page)
Europe here we come!
A
fter completion of studies for 2012 Jayne Heagney,
Kim Spooner and Jaimie Martin headed for a European adventure. All three have been students at UNE
with Jayne the outgoing Senior Resident Advisor at St
Albert’s College.
Starting Finland they have travelled across to Tallin arriving in St Petersburgh. Here they were greeted with
snow and temperatures of minus 15 making cold winters
in Armidale look positively tropical! They then to went
to Moscow making sure they took in all of Red Square.
A highlight of the trip was arriving in Rome and being
able to tour the Vatican. In typical backpacker fashion
Jayne,Kim, Jaimie in front of Summer Palace
they took the opportunity to eat pasta at Trevi Fountain.
Venice was flooded – really flooded! But that did not stop
a cruise around the Greek Islands and Croatia. Various
stopovers gave a chance to get into local culture including a donkey ride!
As the European leg comes to an end they will be also
skiing in Switzerland, dropping in on Paris before finishing off with Ireland, Scotland and England.
Then home to Australia for Christmas and the New Year
with a return to university and looking for jobs. With
plenty of photos, memories and stories for many years
to come!
Jayne on donkey
Kids
Kapers
Look at the
picture of the
shepherds hearing
the good news of
Jesus’ birth.
Find and draw a
O
around the numbers
1 to 15 hidden in the
picture.
Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint - 27
28 - Summer 2012 - Catholic Viewpoint