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VOL 24 - NO. 1
AUTUMN 2015
DIOCESE OF ARMIDALE
Blessings
Father Francis
AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 1
Walking
with Jesus
For almost forty days now, Christian people the world
over have been Walking with Jesus, accompanying
him on his joyrney toward Jerusalem; toward the
cross, the tomb, and the resurrection. Let us cast our
minds back to the beginning of this pilgrimage of
grace, to Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.
We received the ashes and were exhorted “Repent
and believe in the Gospel”, the very words with which
Jesus began his public preaching as he emerged
from his forty days of being tested and tempted in
the wilderness. The prayer, fasting, and good works
that the Ash Wednesday Gospel encouraged us to
take up were not ends in themselves, but the tried
and true method for cultivating that sense of genuine
repentance that flames our faith in Jesus Christ and
his Gospel.
In the early days of Lent, in fact on the First Sunday
of Lent, we heard in the Gospel that immediately
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The
Bishop
Speaks
after his baptism, “the spirit drove Jesus out into
the wilderness” (Mark 1:12). This word “drove” is
a very strong word. A drover “droves” sheep and
cattle to make them go where they would not go
themselves. But the original Greek verb used by
Mark in the Gospel is even stronger. It is the word
we would use for tossing a stone. So the phrase
could be more accurately translated into English as
“the spirit hurled Jesus out into the wilderness.”
Jesus didn’t just go for an extended walk after
his baptism for a bit of quiet contemplation or to
undertake a quiet, restful retreat. No, he felt driven
and was hurled by the Spirit into the desert to
undergo what today we commonly call a wilderness
experience: to be stripped of all worldy comforts
and supports; to be tested in himslef; to be tempted
by Satan; and to be alone with God his Father.
Lent is a wilderness experience into which I
imagine very few of us run willingly at full speed.
If we have approached this Lent with the full
seriousness that the Church proposes in her call
for prayer, fasting, and good works, we should
have felt driven or hurled into it, almost against our
will. For Lent is not merely the time for forty days
of “feel-good” rest and reflection;
it is the time for honest, even
brutal, self-examination
and for invaluable,
even
punishing,
purification.
complete his mission; and he did so with the full
force of his free will.
We who have been hurled by the spirit into the
wilderness with Jesus, will we now “set our face”
toward Holy Week and complete the journey with
him? Will I, in essence, take up my cross and walk
with Jesus? Lest anybody draw the wrong
conclusion from these words of
mine, I should now clarify
that the path we walk with
Jesus is not the path of
pain and suffering.
It is the path of
love. Suffering on
its own is useless;
suffering with love is
transformative.
“Jesus
set his face resolutely
toward Jerusalem”
For Lent is our annual
forty day wilderness
experience into which,
like Jesus, we are driven
or hurled by the Spirit. It is
the time in which we go without
some of our usual comforts and conveniences; in
which we learn to live without those things that
we think we can’t live without, but actually can; in
which we battle with demons both from within and
without; and in which we spend considerable time
alone with God, as Jesus spent time alone with his
Father in the desert.
As our Lenten journey now draws towards its
conclusion, we are about to enter “Holy Week”
which begins with Passion Sunday when we
commemorate Jesus’ triumphant entry into the Holy
City of Jerusalem, and when we read the Passion
Narrative which presents us with the climax of
Jesus’ mission: his passion and death, awaiting his
resurrection. It recounts the Last Supper and the
institution of the Eucharist, the betrayal, the trials
before Caiphas and Pilate, and the crucifixion.
But in between Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness
and his passion, at the mid-point of his public
life, when the time came for him to start heading
toward Jerusalem, we find this simple yet profound
statement in the Gospel of Luke: “Jesus set his face
resolutely toward Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51). Jesus
was resolute; he knew difficulty and suffering lay
ahead yet he was determined to walk that path and
Whilst the suffering of Jesus
might be the most prominent or obvious
feature of the Passion Narrative we hear on Palm
Sunday, it is not really about suffering: it is about
loving. It was Jesus’ love for God and for us that
brought him to his passion and death, and it was
this love that opened the way for our transformation
and redemption. His suffering was a consequence
of his loving. There are many kinds of suffering,
but only one kind of suffering is redemptive, and
that is the suffering that is born from love or that
is borne with love. And this suffering is not only
painful – it is joyful too, because it has a purpose.
Life drives and hurls us into plenty of suffering
situations into which we would rather not go, but
let us find in these situations opportunities to set
our face resolutely with Jesus toward the cross.
There, in him, love transforms our suffering into
opportunities for new life for ourselves and for
those we love.
Most Reverend Michael Kennedy
Bishop of Armidale
“Do not abandon yourselves to despair
We are the Easter People
and hallelujah is our song” St. John Paul II
AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 3
A good old fashioned
country priest
On the evening of Sunday 22nd February 2015 the church
bell tolled in a pattern indicating that the parish priest had
died. Thus the community of Uralla were alerted to the
loss of their priest Monsignor Wayne Peters.
The following Friday Monsignor Peters’ families gathered
for his funeral Mass – his blood family; the clergy of the
Diocese and beyond; the Uralla parish; the Diocese; his
friends from near and far. For Monsignor Peters these
were his extended family. All loved, cherished and cared
for by him over many years.
First among these were his beloved sister Kristine and
brother Shaun. They were joined by the wider Peters
and Knight families. Kristine and Shaun spoke lovingly
and at times with humour of the life of their brother.
They painted a picture of a happy and stable family who
enjoyed life and family time. Monsignor Peters’ family
dedication was illustrated in one family story told by
Kristine. She said “Wayne was already in the seminary
at St Columba’s College Springwood when Shaun was
born. I remember taking Shaun to meet his big brother
on Open day at the Seminary, there are photos of Wayne
in his black Soutane, pushing Shaun around in the pram.
I always smile at how funny this must have looked to
4 - AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT
other visitors. However the pram did prove useful. Back
in those days life in the seminary was very strict. You
were not allowed to have food or tea and coffee in your
rooms. The pram proved a great hiding place to transport
Mum’s fruit cake and Wayne’s favourite, packets of Iced
Vo Vo biscuits.”
Shaun spoke of Monsignor Peters’ ill health over the
past few years. “We know in recent years Wayne has
suffered with ill health. He survived two long illnesses
at St Vincent’s Hospital in Sydney. The last time in 2011
we were told by his Specialist he was a trouble maker. I
think that at the hospital, there was very large file with a
black mark that read “Never to be readmitted.”
“He has had a couple of good goes at this dying business
and last Sunday when he knocked on the gates of Heaven,
they opened. We pray St Peter that you welcome him
with open arms.”
Bishop Michael Kennedy in his homily reflected on
Monsignor Peters’ vocation and health.
“Wayne was a good old fashioned country Parish Priest
who knew and loved his people and accompanied them
through life. As Pope Francis now puts it: he was a
shepherd with the smell of his sheep. A real connection
was made between shepherd and flock, and the people
appreciated it.”
“In his final years, illness and suffering were prominent
features of Wayne’s life, so today’s words from the Book
of Wisdom are particularly poignant: “slight was their
affliction, great will their blessing be. God has put them
to the test like gold in a furnace.” God is like the master
silversmith taking us in his hands. When purifying silver
the silversmith sits close by the fire and watches carefully
because he knows that too much heat damages the silver
and he knows the purifying process is complete when he
sees his own image reflected in the silver.
Wayne, like all of us, was created in the image and
likeness of God. This image is somewhat obscured by
our sinfulness, but God purifies and restores its splendour
with his forgiveness and through our prayers, works of
charity, and offering up of our sufferings and difficulties.
In the ordination rite the man being ordained priest is
asked “Are you resolved to consecrate your life to God
for the salvation of his people, and to unite yourself more
closely every day to Christ the High Priest, who offered
himself for us to the Father as a perfect sacrifice?” The
man answers “I am with the help of God”. This was
Wayne’s answer every day of his life. Monsignor Wayne
Peters was faithful to this promise to the end.”
Monsignor Peters was interred at the Tamworth Lawn
Cemetery next to his parents Aileen and Griff Peters.
May he rest in peace.
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
May he rest in peace. Amen.
AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 5
I love sales! Selling computers
was real fun. I put in so much
passion into negotiating and
closing deals. Risk taking was
the best part of it all. But I guess
God was having fun seeing me
so passionate with sales. At His
time, I had to quit! No, I just
had to change the commodity:
computer to the Gospel.
But when did all this start, an
O’Connor student asked. O
dear! A long time ago, I said. In
the theatre room of Sacred Heart
Hospital Obudu – Nigeria, where
I was born in 1980. Sr. Maureen
Francis who gave me the name
Francis prayed that I should
become a priest. Mum did not
find this funny, but her prayers
helped to guide me in making
this decision.
A Salesman
becomes
a Catholic
Priest
Looking back, I can say for
sure Saints Theresa of Lisieux
and Pope John Paul II had a
big influence in me becoming
a priest. Prior to my ordination,
I spent time reading their
biographies. I asked for their
intercession and guidance.
I was very happy my mum,
Josephine Afu, my benefactors
Prof. Maurice Ebong and his
wife Margaret and many friends
could make it to my ordination.
Memories of the ordination are
fresh. But the laying on of hands
is an experience that words can’t
describe. And the singing at
the Mass of Thanksgiving was
just a foretaste of the Heavenly
Liturgy.
Could words express my
gratitude and joy of being a
priest? To say the least, yes! For
I am grateful to the bishop and
the presbyterate of Armidale
diocese. And with sense of
gratitude I carry out my duties
as an assistant priest of the
Armidale Cathedral.
I also extend appreciation to
my friends and all the faithful
of Armidale diocese. I pray we
all find joy and fulfilment in our
respective vocations. For the joy
of the Lord is our strength.
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All ordinaition photos are
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AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 7
Our Heritage Cathedral
The magnificent Cathedral of Saints Mary & Joseph
along with associated buildings in the Cathedral Precinct
have recently been listed on the NSW State Heritage
Register.
Minister for Environment the Honourable Rob Stokes,
Armidale Mayor Laurie Bishop, Aunty Hazel Green,
Adam Marshall Member for Northern Tablelands,
Father Richard Gleeson and other distinguished guests
joined with Bishop Michael Kennedy for the official
announcement.
Bishop Kennedy spoke of the Cathedral as “our precious
and beloved Cathedral” and remarked that the day would
be marked as an important day in both the history and
the future of our remarkable Cathedral. He stated “It
is a history that began over a century ago, with the
construction of the Cathedral being completed in 1912,
and, God willing, it will be a future that stretches forward
many centuries yet. With both the past and the future in
mind, this heritage listing today is not only appropriate
but necessary.”
He went on to say “For Catholics, the Cathedral is the
epicentre of the diocese, from where the bishop presides
over the faith life of the diocese and where we come for
our faith to be nourished and strengthened by the Lord
through prayer, worship, and sacrament.
And for the wider community the Cathedral and
associated buildings are an important part of the Armidale
landscape. So much so that our bell tower, together with
that of Saint Peter’s Anglican Cathedral, are an integral
part of the Armidale City Logo.
The listing is the beginning of the next chapter in the
Cathedral Precinct’s glorious history.
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AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 9
Photo courtesy Armidale Express
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AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 10
A New Direction for the Catholic Schools Office
The New Director of Catholic Schools, Diocese of
Armidale, Mr Chris Smyth, commenced his new position
in January. Chris brings with him a wealth of knowledge
and experience from the Diocese of Wagga Wagga where
he was Director (System and School Improvement).
Chris is passionate about contemporary learning and
teaching in a Catholic school context. He has significant
experience with assisting school staff and communities
in action learning and research that promotes the features
of a Catholic professional learning community.
Chris has secondary school teaching experience in
both State and Catholic secondary schools. Chris has
experience as a school principal in two secondary schools
and a large independent K-12 Co-educational school.
Chris is looking forward to working with colleagues to
enhance the Catholic professional learning community
across the Diocese of Armidale by further developing the
relationships between schools and the Catholic Schools
Office. Chris highlights the importance of a team based
approach to sharing the vision to improve student learning
and school services.
He has held senior leadership positions at system level
with the Dioceses of Sydney, Broken Bay and Wagga
Wagga.
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A race against the clock
The Christian refugees in Iraq are gripped by fear
following recent advances of the Islamic terrorist
organisation ISIS, Fr Andrzej Halemba, of Aid to the
Church in Need (ACN), reported upon his return from
Iraq.
The priest visited aid projects in Kurdistan, an autonomous
region in northern Iraq where over 120,000 Christians
have sought shelter from ISIS in the past year. “At the end
of January, ISIS attacked Kirkuk, a city known for its rich
oil deposits. The people were in a panic. Many refugee
families fled Kirkuk that same night, leaving everything
behind. All of them are still extremely traumatised by
the circumstances under which they had to flee in the
summer,” Fr Halemba said. “Even families in the Kurdish
provincial capital of Erbil are asking themselves whether
they will be safe in the long run.”
Fr Halemba reported that Christian families were
leaving Iraq every day, heading for Turkey, Lebanon or
Jordan because they no longer feel safe and have lost
all confidence in the future. “Six or more families leave
every day. It is really a race against the clock in terms of
ensuring a Christian presence in Iraq. Many people have
simply run out of patience.”
Aid to the Church in Need supports Christians in Iraq
with numerous aid projects. More than $6.9 million were
allocated to these projects in 2014 alone.
by Oliver Maksan
Catholic Viewpoint
AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED...a Catholic charity dependent on the Holy See, providing pastoral relief to needy and oppressed Churches
12 - AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT
Dutch Experts were ‘terribly wrong’ about a patient-killing
A Dutch ethics professor who once supported euthanasia
has had a dramatic change of heart and now warns that
if patient-killing by doctors is legalised in any country it
cannot be controlled.
In 2001 the Netherlands was the first country in the world
to legalise both euthanasia (patient-killing) and doctorassisted suicide.
He notes that for five years after the law came into effect
there was no significant rise in the number of doctorinduced deaths.
Given this result, the Professor wrote, in 2007, “there
doesn’t need to be a slippery slope when it comes to
euthanasia.” A good law with proper monitoring would
keep the number of killings relatively low. “Most of my
collegues drew the same conclusion,” he wrote. “But we
were wrong, terribly wrong.”
as a cure for loneliness or sadness.
Moreover public opinion is shifting in Holland, with more
Dutch people now seeing assisted suicide or euthanasia
as “a right” with doctors having a duty to kill those who
demand the “service”.
The mere existence of such a law, he suggested, “is an
invitation to see assisted suicide and euthanasia as a
normality. Once the genie is out of the bottle, it is not
likely to ever go back in again.”
(the full, unedited, version of this article can be found in
Alive! No. 204)
Beginning in 2008, the numbers of these deaths began to
increase by 15% annually, year after year, and by 2012 it
stood at 4,188 for the year. He expects it to reach close to
6,000 for 2014. “Euthanasia is on the way to becoming
a ‘default’ mode of dying for cancer patients,” he said.
There has been a shift in the kind of person who is being
terminated. Few people with psychiatric illnesses or
dementia appeared in the early reports. But these numbers
are now rising sharply. Increasingly death is being seen
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Papal Honours to 3 distinguished parishioners
Pope Francis has awarded “Benemerenti” medals to
Eileen Cain, Molly Hefferan (both of Moree) and Snow
Wratten (Inverell) for their outstanding and longstanding
service to the Church and community. This relatively
rare honour originating in the 18th century with Pope
Pius VI, and was revised by Pope Paul VI after the 2nd
Vatican Council. It is given to people who embody the
Council’s spirit of renewal, particularly as outlined in the
Constitution on The Church in the Modern World.
Eileen Cain
Eileen Cain was the fifth of Thomas and Valmai Cain’s
twelve children, and attended the Aboriginal Reserve
School until she was 13. She then did domestic work
with the Bob Picone family, moving to Sydney for 5
years. Returning to Moree, she made her debut and
worked for many years with Peter & Adrienne Meppem.
She then began work at St Pius X. With her sister in law,
Pauline Cain, she attended Nungalinya Training College
in Darwin for three weeks each year from 1994 to 1996.
She has been the Chairperson of St Pius X Chapel
Committee since its inception, and has prepared
14 - AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT
countless families for Baptism and other Sacraments,
has organized Liturgies and led them in the absence of
the priest. More recently she has hosted and lectured
participants in the cultural immersion programme run by
the Armidale Catholic Education Office.
Eileen lists as three of her most memorable activities:
• Chairing the first meeting of the Armidale
Diocesan Aboriginal and Islander Catholic
Council.
• Coordinating World Youth Day activities in
2008, and hosting Canadian visitors.
• Leading Liturgies almost every week in St Pius
X Chapel, and preparing Baptisms.
Molly Heffernan
Like Eileen, Molly left school at 13 to work as a
cleaner and nanny. At 18 she married the local barber,
Arthur Heffernan, in St John & Henry Church, East
Moree. For 60 years, before the closing of that church,
she was considered its ‘backbone’, and was involved
in every aspect of its life. She enthusiastically adopted
the spirit of Vatican II, and became a special minister of
Holy Communion, serving people in Fairview and the
housebound.
Snow Wratten
shape of the church and presbytery. Snow, together
with a few parishioners, was the spirit and force behind
the introduction of the Planned-Giving Program in
Inverell and he counted and recorded contributions to
the Planned-Giving Program manually for many years.
In addition to his dedicated service and involvement in
the Sacred Heart Church and Presbytery, he was also
involved with Holy Trinity School as a volunteer in the
countless school actvities that needed voluntary work
force: school canteen; Race Day; Easter Fair; Working
Bees; etc.
Snow’s name is recorded in the Minutes of Meeting of
different Parish Groups through the years showing his
extensive involvement in the life of the parish: Mass
Reader; Communion Minister; Mass Collector; Money
Counter; Coordinator of the Parish Garden Teams;
Working Bees to maintain the cleanliness and good
Snow, as a father and a husband, takes care of Tim, eldest
of four, and of his wife in a very loving and tender way.
His dedication in serving both is exemplary and truly
edifying. They do not miss their weekend Masses as a
family; they always come, rain or shine, to the Sunday
Morning Mass.
She has been a member of the Catholic Women’s League
for 50 years, often serving as President, and taking up
issues of moral and social importance. She received a
citation from the Diocesan Council for her dedication.
For years she has run a ‘Piety Stall’, supplying holy
goods and raising funds for various projects.
AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 15
Around and About
Blessing Mass & Induction of School
Leaders
St Mary of the Angels Guyra recently held
our “Beginning Year Mass”. We were joined
by teachers and students from other schools
to celebrate the beginning of the school year.
During the Mass our School Leaders, Samuel
Graham, Cyan McLauchlin, Joseph Stanley
and Matthew Williams, were inducted. We
wish them the very best for the year and pray
for God’s blessing on this important job and
time of their lives. Mass was followed by a
BBQ in our School Hall to celebrate the start
of the school year and to also farewell Father
Anthony who will be sadly missed by our
whole school community.
Australian woman on Vatican Commission
Kathleen McCormack from the Wollongong
Diocese was recently appointed to the Pontifical
Commission for the Protection of Minors. The
establishment of this commission by Pope Francis
shows his commitment to fight against clerical
sexual abuse. The Commission is headed by Boston’s
Cardinal Archbishop, Sean P. O’Malley, O.F.M.
Cap.. It has a full-time Secretary at the Vatican,
U.S. Father Robert W. Oliver and other members
Peter Saunders, the chief executive officer of the
UK-based National Association for People Abused
in Childhood (NAPAC); Krysten Winter-Green;
Bill Kilgallon; Precious Blood Sister Hermenegild
Makoro; Religious Sisters of Charity Sister Kayula
Lesa; Gabriel Dy-Liacco; Baroness Sheila Hollins and
the Reverend Father Luis Manuel Ali Herrera as well
as Kathleen McCormack.
Exciting new look at St Joseph’s Uralla
A major contributing factor to student engagement in
learning is the creation of colourful innovative learning
spaces. A significant amount of work has been undertaken
to create vibrant learning studios at St Joseph’s. The studios
along with well-designed and thoroughly planned learning
experiences will enable the children to grow as curious and
capable learners at their own rate. Enabling children to set
goals for themselves is another key to encouraging strong
levels of engagement and indeed building self-esteem.
Photo: (L – R) Bailey Redmond and Alex Baker with Director Chris Smyth
16 - AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT
Around and About
New students and Captains are a blessing
St Joseph’s Glen Innes is delighted to welcome 41
kindergarten students to the school this year. All
have settled in well, and are a wonderful addition to
the school. The class consists of a set of twins and
triplets. Year 6 have been fantastic Buddies to these
Kindergarten students. The school will be ably lead by
the new captains Bridgitte Beatty and Riley Martin,
and we look forward to them leading us throughout a
successful 2015.
Photo courtesy Glen Innes Examiner
Australia’s New Nuncio
The Vatican announced the appointment of
Archbishop Tito Yllana as Apostolic Nuncio to
Australia. Archbishop Yllana, until now, has served
as the Apostolic Nuncio to the Democratic Republic
of Congo. Archbishop Yllana replaced Archbishop
Paul Gallagher, who now serves at the Vatican’s
Secretary for Relations with States.
The Filipino Prelate studied international diplomacy
at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy in Rome
and was named to his first post in 2001, as the
Nuncio to Papua New Guinea. He has also served
as the diplomatic representative to the Holy See in
the Solomon Islands, Pakistan and the Congo.
The Australian Church has welcomed Archbishop
Yllana’s appointment.
Students Sing for Sr Pat
St Joseph’s Tamworth students helped Sr Pat
celebrate her Diamond Jubilee. A small concert by
school children -past and present- entertained Sr Pat
at a morning tea held in her honour after Mass. We
are indeed fortunate to still have a representative
of St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop (founder of the
Sisters of St Joseph) in our Parish and school.
AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 17
Around and About
Gathering at Moree
The combined meeting of priests and religious
in the Western Deanery was attended by Srs
Coral Fleming, Christine Belling, Kathleen
Price, Anita Vagg, Yvonne McGettigan,
Laraine Crowe, Margaret Cusack, Maria
Harrex, Gabrielle Foley and Jan Baker., Frs
Bernie Frize, Paul Aguilar, Joseph Armah, Max
Davis, James Poovathinkal, John McHugh,
and Paul McCabe
Sr Coral Fleming from Mungindi was
farewelled and Sr Laraine Crowe welcomed
to Walgett. Also farewelled were Frs Bernie
Frize and Max Davis who are retiring, and Fr
James Poovathinkal was congratulated on his
appointment as Parish Priest of Narrabri.
Geoff McManus at McCarthy Catholic
College
Geoff McManus has come to the Armidale Diocese
from Queensland where he was the Deputy Principal
of St Edmund’s College Ipswich. Geoff’s wife, Judith
is an Early Years teacher who has worked in Catholic
schools for 11 years and they have one son, Jake
who is studying Physiotherapy in Townsville.
Geoff is already enjoying the vibrant and authentic
community at McCarthy Catholic College and is
relishing the opportunity to collaborate with the
dedicated and caring staff to grow the excellent
academic culture and faith life of the wonderful
students.
Shrove Tuesday-Pancake Day
Students at St Nicholas Tamworth
were very excited to celebrate Shrove
Tuesday with- Pancake Day! This was
a huge success. Thanks to a band
of mums, dads, and grandmas who
helped make batter, cook, spread,
mix, dollop, squeeze, sprinkle and
serve a multitude of pancakes to the
masses of children who were very
keen and eager to purchase their
oversized pancakes to help raise funds
for CARITAS. A big thank you to Patrice
McMullen and the Minnie Vinnies
students, who coordinated the whole
experience.
18 - AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT
Around and About
Surprise! Surprise! – Father John’s Birthday
Celebration
An element of surprise always makes a birthday extra
special, and at St Josephs Parish Gunnedah this is
certainly what Father John McHugh received. Under
the secret guise of ‘a parish get together before
Christmas’, there was a large attendance at Mass.
The word had passed around that Father John was
celebrating a special birthday, and the congregation
surprised him by singing “Happy Birthday”. At this
point he realised the large gathering was here to
celebrate more than just Mass and the secret was out!
Surprise guests were his Aunt and cousin who travelled
in from Tamworth.
Compassion in Action
Project Compassion is one of Australia’s largest
humanitarian campaigns. Last year the appeal raised
nearly $11 million for Caritas Australia, the Catholic
Church’s international aid and development agency.
Supporters in the New South Wales Dioceses of
Sydney, Parramatta and Broken Bay contributed
more than $2.6 million towards this total.
The theme for this year’s Project Compassion
is “Food for Life,” this is part of the Caritas
Internationalis global initiative “One human family,
food for all,” aimed at ending hunger by 2025. Pope
Francis has said: “It is a well-known fact that current
levels of production are sufficient yet, millions of
people are still suffering and dying of starvation.
This is truly scandalous.”
Baptisms in Mary Help of Christians
Parish
The end of 2014 was a special time for two
of our staff members at St Edward’s School,
Mr Luke Kelly & Miss Sallie Pilgrim were
baptised into the Mary Help of Christian’s
community. Luke and Sallie along with their
sponsors, Maureen Ayton and Deb Rafferty,
had been preparing for months with Deacon
Paul Manvell. We congratulate them both and
bless them on their continued journey with our
school and parish community.
AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 19
Sixty Years of Consecrated Life
Those present all agreed that Sr. Pat is the epitome of this
very special order, established by our great Australian
Saint, St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop. All those years
of service in so many roles have changed the lives of so
many. Like St Mary MacKillop herself there is no doubt
that Sr. Pat’s life has met with significant successes, and
very demanding challenges. How lucky we are that, like
St Mary MacKillop, Sr. Pat’s tenacity won through. She
attributed her tenacity simply to the Grace of God in her
life and her calling.
A papal blessing – the nicest he had ever seen, according
to Fr Ross O’Brien, was awarded to Sr. Pat at the 9am
mass on Sunday 8 February. An uplifting celebration
followed in St Patrick’s Hall where the many guests
were entertained by children from St Joseph’s School
and McCarthy Catholic College.
Catholic Women Connecting West Tamworth organised
an inspirational photo display. As well, everyone enjoyed
the morning tea organised by the group. Our congratulations go to Sr. Pat. A huge offering of
In this special year which Pope Francis has asked our gratitude to God for enabling her to serve in St Patrick’s
focus to be on the consecrated life, St Patrick’s Parish West Parish with such humanity, humility and effectiveness. Tamworth came together to celebrate with Sister Patricia Thank You Lord.
Duffy her sixty years of vowed life as a Sister of St Joseph.
Photo courtesy of Lou Farina Vatican to Offer Haircuts for Homeless
Last November, the Holy See
announced that they would be opening
three showers under the colonnades of
St. Peter’s Basilica for the homeless.
Now they will also open a barber shop
and offer haircuts and shaves free of
charge for homeless people.
According to the Italian news agency
haircuts and shaves will be available
to those less fortunate on Mondays.
In Italy, barbershops are traditionally
closed on Mondays, allowing for
volunteer barbers to donate their
time. The initiative, which is run by
the Office of Papal Charities, has
also received a number of donations
from barbers across Rome who have
donated, razors, brushes, scissors, a
mirror and a barber’s chair.
The idea for the showers and bathrooms came from
the Papal Almoner, Archbishop Konrad Krajewski. The
Archbishop had dinner with a homeless man on his
birthday despite the man’s embarrassment because of his
appearance. During the meal, the man explained to him
that although homeless people in Rome could manage
20 - AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT
to find something to eat, what they really needed was a
place to wash. Upon hearing this, Archbishop Krajewski
suggested the idea to the Pope, who immediately
approved the idea.
The barber shop for the homeless, located in the same
area where the showers and toilets are, was officially
opened in February.
About our Faith
Palm Sunday
Preparation for Easter began on Ash Wednesday and
has continued throughout Lent. On the Sunday before
Easter, the last Sunday of Lent, the Church begins Holy
Week. The feast commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry
into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical
Gospels. Palm Sunday Mass includes the blessing and
distribution of palms to the assembled people. In some
parishes a Palm Sunday procession is a feature. The
Gospel of the Day is the Passion – the first time it is read
over Holy Week.
Chrism Mass
The Bishop, joined by the priests of the diocese, gather
at the Cathedral to celebrate the Chrism Mass during
Holy Week. This Mass manifests the unity of the priests
with their bishop. The Bishop blesses three oils —
the oil of catechumens, the oil of the infirm and holy
chrism which will be used in the administration of the
sacraments in the parishes for the coming year. During
the liturgy, the entire assembly is called to renew its
baptismal promises; deacons and priests also renew
their vow of obedience to the local Bishop and their
commitment to serve God’s people.
Easter Triduum
The Easter Triduum begins with the evening Mass of the
Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, reaches its high point
in the Easter Vigil, and closes with Evening Prayer on
Easter Sunday.
Mass of the Lord’s Supper
The Mass on Holy Thursday is celebrated after sundown.
It commemorates the institution of the Sacrament of
Holy Week
the Eucharist and it ends with the removal of the Body
of Christ from the tabernacle in the main body of the
church. The Eucharist is carried in procession to another
place where it is kept overnight, to be distributed during
the commemoration of the Lord’s Passion on Good
Friday. After the procession, the altar is stripped bare,
and all the bells in the church are silent until the Gloria
at the Easter Vigil. Some parishes also re-enact Jesus’
washing of the Apostles feet at this Mass in a ritual
called the Mandatum.
Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion
Good Friday is a day of penance where abstinence
and fasting are observed. The faithful usually gather
at 3.00 pm to commemorate the Lord’s Passion – the
focus is the crucifixion of Jesus. This is not Mass as
the sacraments are not celebrated on Good Friday. The
order of service includes the Liturgy of the Word where
the Passion is again read in full; Veneration of the
Cross and the reception of Holy Communion. Silence,
reverence and a church stripped of decorations are key
images of Good Friday.
Easter Vigil
The Church reawakens at the Easter Vigil Mass where
the people remember, celebrate and believe the dying
and rising of Jesus. The celebration begins outside
the church in darkness where from the Easter fire the
paschal candle is lit. A procession into the church of
light and song is a stark contrast to Good Friday. The
renewal of baptismal promises and the initiation of
new members into the community the Easter Vigil are
celebrations of the paschal mystery – in which we share
through baptism and the Eucharist.
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OLIC VIEWP
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AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 21
How can we help you?
Follow the Rainbow
Have you opened a Rainbow account for your
children yet? Rainbow clubs are operated throughout
all the Catholic Schools in the Diocese. These are a
great way to get your child or children to learn about
saving. There is also the added incentive of a prize
each term for making 8 deposits into your Rainbow
account. These accounts, like all of ADIG’s accounts,
are completely fee free and accessible through our
online service as well.
ADIG congratulate all of our Super Savers for 2014 for
their superb effort in making the most deposits during
the year. Each Super Saver received a personalised
certificate commemorating their achievement and a
prize as well. These special end-of-year prizes are up
for grabs again this year and there is one available for
each school throughout the diocese.
So, if you haven’t got a Rainbow Club account for
your child yet, please call into your school or call
ADIG to arrange a form so you can start saving today.
Armidale Diocesan Investment Group
Personal service – Have you ever been to a bank and
Armidale
:- 1800
903there or
Tamworth
felt like
they didn’t care
whether040
you were
not? Our professional and friendly staff are always
www.adig.com.au
ready to help you find the right account for your
needs. With online access making transactions even
easier, what are you waiting for? Call the Armidale
Diocesan Investment Group today.
22 - AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT
:- 1800 803 194
CWL & CWC HAPPENINGS
Armidale branch held its AGM and elected
the committee for 2015. Robyn Judge was
elected President and Maureen Armatage,
Claire Keoghan and Marie Lawlor as joint Vice
presidents. Thank you and congratulations to
past and incoming committees.
Tamworth branch are planning a fund raising
function in the form of a quilting exhibition .
Marie Dean’s sister-in-law has beautiful quilts
and she is going to show them in her home and
we will provide afternoon tea.
Moree branch member Molly Hefferen
has been a member of Moree CWLA for
over 50 years and she was awarded a Papal
Blessing just before Christmas. Molly has
been a wonderful member and has worked
hard for the Parish and other organisations.
Congratulations Molly.
Gunnedah branch luncheon in March is always
well attended by many of our senior parishioners who
enjoy the chance to socialise with friends while also
having a lovely meal.
Pat Duffy’s 60th anniversary. Pictured are Di Bolitho
and Margaret Tarbert Catholic Women Connecting West
Tamworth members with children who provided some
of the entertainment. The group helped organise the day. Quirindi branch held an evening with Fr. Ronnie, a
visiting Priest from the Philippines. Fr. Ronnie talked of
his work in the Philippines. Following his talk there was
musical items, finger food and drinks.
Diocesan President Deirdre Andren, Diocesan Secretary
Elaine Smyth and Diocesan Vice President attended the
State Council Meeting in Sydney during February.
CWC members were part of the celebrations for Sister
National Conference of CWLA will be held in Parramatta
22nd-24th September 2015.
Las Vegas Churches accept
gambling chips
This may come as a surprise to those of you not living in Las
Vegas, but there are more Catholic churches than casinos.
Not surprisingly, some worshippers at Sunday Mass will give
casino chips rather than cash when the basket is passed.
Since they get chips from many different casinos, the churches
have devised a method to collect the offerings.
The churches send all their collected chips to a nearby Franciscan
friary for sorting and then the chips are taken to the casinos of
origin and cashed in.
This is done by the chip monks!
Gotcha! You didn’t even see it coming did you?
AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 23
New Religious Education Coordinators
The newly appointed Religious Education Coordinators in Diocesan Catholic Schools gathered for a professional
development day at the beginning of Term 1. Pictured are Lee Herden (CSO Assistant Director: Mission &
Evangelisation), Nerida Finalyson, Jo Dimech, Sarah-Jane Canham, Peter Holmes, Jacquelene Cronin (CSO Religious
Education Officer K-10) Nick Baird
The Gunnedah Combined Catholic Schools Reunion
All past pupils of St Mary’s
College & St Xavier’s
School are invited to
attend.
Ex-students contact your
former classmates
and hold class reunions
within the overall
celebration.
Weekend 3rd & 4th October
2015
The cost is $50 per head
More details and
registration form, contact
John Campbell 130 Barber
Street, Gunnedah 2380,
email: robyn.john@
westnet.com.au or phone
6742 1066.
St Mary’s College 5th Form 1970
24 - AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT
A Parent Perspective
On the 2015 State Election
School Enrolments are growing........in all sectors.
•
By 2031, enrolments in all NSW schools will grow by an
additional 267,000 students. All school sectors will need to
create new places to accommodate this growth. Our Catholic
schools need to prepare for an additional 61,000 students. This
will require the construction of more than 2,400 classrooms.
Catholic education is one of the largest non-government
employers in NSW with 27,000 staff, including more than
19,000 teachers.
•
Catholic schools are open to all students – Catholic, nonCatholic, poor, wealthy, indigenous and those with a
disability – and are therefore representative of the wider
Australian society.
•
Enrolments of students with a disability and indigenous
students have been the fastest growing components in
NSW Catholic schools for the past 15years.
•
Catholic schools represent excellent value for money,
educating at a lower cost per student than government
schools and other non-government schools.
•
Catholic schools are funded by the Commonwealth
(57.5%) and State Governments (19.7%), parental
fees and other private fundraising (22.8%). Catholic
schools therefore receive much less public funding than
government schools.
•
NSW Catholic school parents paid more than $1.1 billion
in school fees and capital funding in 2012. This is money
invested in our State’s education system in just one year.
Despite this extraordinary support, Catholic schools still
rely on Federal and State Governments for more than
75% of our funding needs each year.
•
Catholic schools strive to keep fees low so that schools
remain accessible.
•
Non – government schools educate more than one-third
of all NSW students, yet receive just 12% of the capital
funding provided to schools by the NSW Government.
•
Catholic schools support increased funding for ALL
schools – government and non-government – because
each school is an integral part of NSW’s economic and
social infrastructure. Every student is entitled to receive
the best education possible, regardless of the school they
attend.
As has been the case for decades, most of this expansion will
be met by Catholic school parents. However, the next NSW
Government must lift its capital funding support to Catholic
schools; otherwise it will be forced to build and staff more new
government schools than it has currently planned for.
It is financially more prudent for the NSW Government to help
Catholic schools maintain our share of enrolment growth as
Catholic schools ease the pressure on state taxpayers in two
ways:
•
The NSW Government provides only 20% of annual
recurrent costs
• Parents meet most of the capital costs.
It is vitally important that local State members know and
understand their local school communities and it is up to us
to assist them build that knowledge and understanding. The
Council of Catholic School Parents (CCSP) works closely with
the NSW Catholic Education Commission to develop materials
and strategies around political advocacy. Engaging with
our local members of parliament is more about relationship
building than being overtly political. It is about situating our
schools within the context of the community they serve and
being active, informed citizens. The way in which our schools
choose to engage with their MP is a local decision. Some
schools host their local member at P&F meetings, school
events and also publish facts about school funding regularly.
And for others this is all very new. The CCSP has prepared
an Election Toolkit 2015 to assist school communities with
this engagement process. These toolkits were sent to every
Catholic school in NSW in Term 4 last year. If your P&F has
not seen this Toolkit ask at your school office or contact me on
0422 048 399 for a replacement.
Sometimes messages about Catholic schools can be confused
and misunderstood in the media. Here are the facts about
Catholic schools and how they are funded.
•
•
Catholic schools have provided quality education for
Australian children since 1806.
There are 583 Catholic schools in NSW, educating
more than 251,000 students (or one in five NSW school
students).
This is why funding support from Federal and State
Governments must keep pace with rising education costs – to
maintain education quality and to ensure a Catholic education
remains affordable for all families.
Stay informed of the issues in the lead-up to the election and
help others at your school and parish to do so. If you would like
further information or assistance do not hesitate to contact the
secretariat of the CCSP or myself. We will be happy to help.
Catherine Ible
AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 25
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Open Letter from Bishop Kennedy
to all who contributed to the Family Synod Consultation
With this brief note I wish to express my sincere thanks
to all those who responded to the Lineamenta and its
associated questions as part of the Church’s listening
process in preparation for the October 2015 Synod on the
Family. This Synod will treat the topic The Vocation and
Mission of the Family in the Church and Contemporary
World.
It was a valuable experience for me to read all the
submissions sent in by parish groups, married couples,
and individuals. It greatly assisted me in formulating my
own submission.
I was heartened by the fact that I received submissions
from a broad cross-section of people: clergy, religious,
and laity.
The various submissions have been collated together to
form one diocesan submission which has now been sent
to the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference. In order
to facilitate the process of collating even more responses
from around the nation, and ultimately from around the
world, some of the more lengthy responses to particular
questions have been summarised.
Understandably, a number of respondents expressed
their frustration with both the number of questions and
timing of the consultation process. For better or worse,
these were the questions which were included in the
Lineamenta. I notice, however, that the majority of
respondents answered only certain questions and that
some simply made more general comments without
answering specific questions. These approaches were
fine; it all provided invaluable input.
As to the tight time-frame for the consultation, this
was indeed a shame and was the result of practical
considerations driven primarily by the need for the Synod
Secretariat in Rome to receive responses from around the
world in a timely fashion.
The Synod Secretariat will need many months to process
and consider mountains of material. It is a shame that the
time provided to make responses was during the Summer
Vacation period, but this timing was not of my choosing.
Given these limitations I am even more heartened by the
number of responses I received, and I again thank you
for your contributions which are highly valued. May they
contribute to a fruitful Synod.
AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 27
Stop at three? Rabbits? What did the Pope say?
Did the Pope really say that good Catholics shouldn’t
breed like rabbits and responsible parenthood entails no
more than three children?
Actually he said that population experts believe that
three is the minimum amount of children recommended
for families if Europe wishes to avoid a forthcoming
demographic crisis.
The Pope actually restated traditional Catholic teaching
regarding contraception and indeed family size. Church
teaching in many documents has always referred to
responsible parenthood and talk about the considerations
that need to be taken into account by families.
Whilst the press like to jump on what the Pope says as
revolutionary or a new direction for the Church this is not
the case – it is not new information.
Kristina Keneally, the former Premier of NSW was one
commentator who looked at the headlines and reacted in
an article printed in The Guardian. She commented:
Pope Francis’s recent comment that
Catholics need not “breed like rabbits,”
while insisting that artificial contraception
is still banned, left many shaking their
heads. Here was yet another example
of the all-male Catholic hierarchy
28 - AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT
completely failing to understand what it is
like to be a woman, or to live in a family,
or to exercise control over fertility.
Mrs Keneally’s remarks prompted Caitlin Byrne a
Sydney based Catholic FertilityCare Practitioner to
write an open letter to Mrs Keneally. Caitlin Byrne has
a Master’s Degree in Reproductive Health Science and
Human Genetics from the University of Sydney, and is
passionate about women’s health and natural fertility.
She teaches the Creighton Model System of natural
family planning.
Dear Kristina Keneally,
I am writing in response to your article titled “I’m
a Catholic feminist, and my church needs me more
than ever”, published online in The Guardian on 29
January 2015, in response to recent comments made by
Pope Francis. Well I am also Catholic, I teach fertility
awareness to women, and I must strongly disagree with
the comments you made about women and contraception.
You infer that the only way in which women can stop
“breeding like rabbits” and have control over their bodies
is with the use of artificial contraception. I feel that this
shows a lack of knowledge regarding modern advances
into understanding reproductive biology and women’s
fertility, as well as an outdated attitude. Perhaps you
haven’t heard of natural family planning (NFP), and
the fact that it is as effective as birth control? Straight
after his comment that some Catholics think they must
be like rabbits, Pope Francis said “No. Responsible
parenthood.” How can this responsible parenthood be
achieved without artificial contraception? With the use of
natural family planning. It is promoted
by the Church because it is morally
acceptable for Catholics, and allows
women that control over their bodies
that you so lament.
It is a shame, that as a Catholic, you
seem to have never discovered NFP and
that in this ignorance you feel the need
to ‘agitate’ within your own Church
and write damaging and misleading
articles. They are damaging to the
very women you claim to be fighting
for. The Church is all for responsible
family planning and always has been.
This, of course, must be balanced with
a generosity and openness to God’s
gift of children. Let’s be clear: this does not mean every
woman must have 15 children. Every couple is called to
exercise good judgement about how many children they
have and for some, this may mean one or two children,
for others more.
The key point is this: family planning can be done just as
(if not more) effectively with a method that is in line with
the Catholic faith, as it can be done with methods that are
not. The Creighton Model FertilityCare System, Billings
Ovulation Method and SymptoThermal Method (to name
a few) are all more than 99% effective at preventing
pregnancy. To suggest that there is no option for Catholic
women other than artificial contraception is outrageously
untrue and entirely un-feminist. But I will give you the
benefit of the doubt here, assuming that you were not
aware of NFP, and that if you were, you wouldn’t have
written what you did.
Increasingly, there is a turn away from hormonal
contraception among young educated women (and
not just Catholics either). These women do not want
to suppress their fertility any longer, they recognise
the risks of ingesting artificial hormones, and are not
satisfied with how the medical profession deals with
female reproductive issues. It now seems old-fashioned
that our mothers took a pill to ‘free themselves’ to be
more like men and achieve their goals in life. What about
the freedom to be the women we are, while still achieving
those goals? Why did fertility become a woman’s disease
that needs to be medicated?
Every woman deserves to be empowered with the
knowledge of how her body works. Women who chart
their cycles to know their times of fertility and infertility
are the only ones who are truly free to choose when they
want to become pregnant. Not someone who has put their
faith in a prescription from a (most likely male) doctor
and hopes that it does what they’ve been told it will do
- namely, prevent pregnancy. Let’s not kid ourselves that
every woman is fully informed about how the pill actually
achieves this. Without full knowledge and consent, there
can be no freedom. The pill is so last century: there are
even smartphone apps these days to help you track the
biological signs of your fertility. No
drugs, no side effects and compatible
with faith.
So, Kristina, I realise that you think
you’re doing Catholic women a favour
by proudly ‘agitating’ for them but
don’t be fooled: you do not speak for
the majority of Catholic women. I know
I am not alone in being embarrassed that
you have a mouthpiece in the public
arena that claims to speak for me. I am
terribly sorry that you feel oppressed by
your faith but I’m confused, because it’s
not my Catholic faith. Are we talking
about the same one?
St. Mary MacKillop would be rolling in
her grave after being compared to a ‘feminist agitator’
like yourself. St. Mary MacKillop struggled with a bishop
who wanted to control her order -- hardly the same as
trying to undermine a beautiful part of our Catholic faith
which says that women should not deny and suppress the
part of themselves that gives life. In fact I’m sure that as
a teacher, St Mary MacKillop would have been a strong
advocate for women to make responsible choices about
family size, and probably would have taught naturally
family planning herself.
Sincerely, Caitlin Byrne
Caitlin’s letter was originally published in MercatorNet and
is reproduced here with her permission
CLERGY APPOINTMENTS
• Monsignor Edward Wilkes – Vicar
General and Parish Priest St Joseph’s
Parish Uralla
• Father Anthony Castelli – Administrator,
St Mary of the Angels Parish, Guyra
• Father John Curran – Administrator,
St Thomas More Parish Werris Creek
• Father John Macdonald – Director
Tribunal Office, Chaplain St Albert’s
College and University of New England
AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT - 29
Kids Kapers
30 - AUTUMN 2015 - CATHOLIC VIEWPOINT
G UNNEDAH
FOCUS ON
Monica Ducrow, Nolene Thomas, Trish Ducrow and Pat Mooney
Happy Birthday Dear Jesus
Outdoor Christmas Eve Mass
The ladies of the Mercy Associates
George Paul and Sr Regina McInerny enjoying a chat
School leaders
receiving2015
their badges
and blessings
AUTUMN
- CATHOLIC
VIEWPOINT - 31
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