CAVHOL ICIFE - Lismore Diocese · 2015. 12. 12. · Catholic Life, December, 2015. Editor and Publisher of “Catholic Life”: Father Peter M Karam. Email: [email protected]

CAVHO ICLIFEDiocese of Lismore

Tweed Coast to Camden Haven December 2015 Vol.13 No.4www.lismorediocese.org

Catholic Life, December, 2015 3

TheBishop Writes

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Nobody can deny that we are living in disturbing times. The daily news and current affairs programmes are chronicles of financial and social crises, scandals, and the confusion and suffering brought about by the tragedy of war and mass migration. We live with the fear that it is only a matter of time before terrorists strike again somewhere. The ruthless and unsparing attacks on Christians worldwide are unprecedented in living memory.

What is it about the Christian faith, and especially its Catholic expression, that periodically across the centuries attracts such bitter opprobrium? The

secret service agents of Roman emperors, Tudor monarchs, French revolutionaries, Prussia’s regime of blood and iron, Soviet dictators, Mexican anticlericals, and Hitler’s Reich are now joined by the watch-dogs of local Anti-Discrimination Commissions for whom it is an indictable offence – when someone claims to be “offended” by it - to publicly maintain the view that marriage is uniquely between a man and a woman.

As I write these lines I celebrate the day fifty years ago when by the grace of God I happily summoned up the courage to make my profession of faith in the full communion of the Catholic Church. It was exactly twenty-nine days before the solemn closing of the Second Vatican Council. I remember that decade of my youth as a time of euphoric glorying in modernity, of throwing off the shackles of doctrinal and moral truth.

It was the turbulent Age of Aquarius, of the Beatles, flower power and free love. That zeitgeist soaked through into the Church and sent tremors in many directions. Even into our liturgy and church architecture. Attributed to the Council, the people found that their beautiful church interiors, with fine marble altars where generations had focussed their worship, their love and their prayer, were pulled down for mean substitutes; they found the priest turned away from the Lord to face them, which worked well enough when it was the handsome young curate, but not so good when faced with the old monsignor who could now keep a sharper eye on latecomers; and timeless sacred chant was replaced with ever-changing songs to the beat of the current pop culture. Those were the days of ‘liturgical dance’ when the sanctuary could become a stage for entertainers in leotards.

Three years later the since beatified Pope Paul VI cast this happy scene into shock by upholding the Church’s constant teaching on artificial contraception. The rush for the doors, through which I had but newly entered, became an exit stampede of protest. The conflict and disorder of the times brought about the papal lament that the acrid smoke of Satan was indeed rising up within the Church.

The two October Synods just concluded were called to give a new impetus to the Church’s efforts on behalf of

marriage and the family in the contemporary world. In the West particularly we struggle with all of the indicators of a crisis of chastity, marriage and the family that Blessed Paul VI had foreseen in 1968. In the churches of our own diocese at that time, for instance, there were nearly a thousand weddings a year. Despite an increase in population, by the year 2000 that number had fallen to 278, and in 2014 to just 126.

I hope that one particular outcome of the Synods - and we yet await the concluding document of Pope Francis - will be a strong emphasis on the provision of robust marriage preparation courses that will offer engaged couples the chance to encounter the beautiful truth about Christian marriage and help them to embrace it. In the midst of the moral chaos of a secular view of sex as simply an entertaining pastime, many young people already sense that there must be something better, a truth about life more challenging and leading to genuine happiness. Many of our schools are making a start - marriage preparation has to begin in adolescence and before - with positive teaching about the beautiful ideal and practice of chastity.

It certainly needs courage, straight thinking and determination to turn the tide. It’s not easy to resist the pressure of ideologies based on the ‘gender theory’ of secular intellectuals and their promotion of so-called ‘marriage equality.’ These ideas mislead young people towards promiscuity, and risk damaging not only their present happiness but also their prospects and readiness for lasting and happy marriage.

Recent experience shows that when it comes to the prospect of marriage, young couples do respond to the offer of a period of serious marriage preparation, that is, preparation which is unashamedly Christian because it is truly human: think Pope St John Paul’s ‘theology of the body.’ They are willing to make challenging decisions, such as abstaining from sexual activity before marriage, and to begin to pray together as a couple, whether they are both Catholics or not. In the past there has been a reluctance to face such matters, when all along we have such great treasures to offer. First we must really believe in them ourselves.

Catholic Life, December, 20154

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The Bishop Writes Continued from previous page

CONTENTSRegular Features3-4 The Bishop Writes 5 Editorial6-7 CSO Director’s Article7 Vocations15 World View20 Churches of the World21 Sacred Art21 Question Box

Features8-10 Around Our Parishes – Coraki11 Cathedral Update12-13 Stefan Matuszek Overwhelmed by Ordination14 Liturgy14 The Corporal Works Of Mercy 16-17 Centre feature – The Year of Mercy18-19 Wasting Time and Learning to Love20 Brisbane 2015 Ignite Youth Conference

School News23 St Finbarr’s Catholic Primary School, Byron Bay St Brigid’s Primary School, Kyogle St Brigid’s Primary School, Senior Schools24 MacKillop College, Port Macquarie St Joseph’s Regional College, Port Macquarie St Paul’s College, Kempsey St Augustine’s Primary School, Coffs Harbour25 Mt St Patrick and St Joseph’s, Murwillumbah Trinity Catholic College, Lismore Holy Family Primary School, Skennars Head26 St Joseph’s Primary School, Laurieton Our Lady Help of Christians Primary, Sth Lismore27 St John Paul College, Coffs Harbour Mount St Patrick Primary, Murwillumbah St Joseph’s Primary School, South Grafton28 St Joseph’s Primary School, Woodburn St John’s College, Woodlawn St Mary’s Primary School, Bellingen29 St Carthage’s Primary School, Lismore St Mary’s Primary School, Grafton

While priests will always have an integral part in the preparation process, the great need is for the involvement and example of married couples who themselves believe that what the Church teaches about marriage and family is true, and live it as their own response to the covenant they have with Christ.

We have still a long way to go in our diocese to build up a resource of married couples who are accredited teachers of Natural Family Planning, and of professional support for them. Enthusiastic and experienced instructing couples, with families of their own, are themselves convincing rôle models of generosity and trust in God. The few presently working in the diocese should as a matter of

urgency be built up into a team, which has local teachers available in each deanery. Natural Family Planning, because it is good in itself and brings positive benefits to a couple, is sought after not only by Catholics but also by couples of other religions and none.

Yes, in this area as in every other, things can change for the better. As the prayer of St Francis popularly reminds us, all of us in the Church have a work to do in dispelling darkness with light, sadness with joy, despair with hope, error with truth, sin with forgiveness, hardness with mercy, and all beginning with our own hearts.

There are many signs of hope and better things, in the Church at least, since those heady days of the 1960’s when nothing seemed to be safe from being turned upside down or trodden underfoot. Fifty years on, the real blessings of the Second Vatican

Council have germinated and matured to shape our future in continuity with our tradition. The Church remains strong by absorbing all that is good into her life, winning new converts again, and weathering the storms and the attempts to stop or silence her in her witness to her Head and Founder, Jesus Christ.

Thank God every day for the grace of being a Catholic, a member of this great, beautiful and wonderful company of sinners and saints on its journey to the Kingdom. And every day ask Mary, the Mother of the Church, for the grace to serve her better.

From end to end of the Diocese I wish God’s blessing and His joy in your heart and home, and a truly happy Christmas.

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


Each of the four major Basilicas in Rome has a holy door that is opened only during Holy Years. Those at St. John Lateran, St. Paul outside the Walls, St. Mary Major and St. Peter’s.

The opening of the doors symbolises the idea that during the Jubilee Year, the faithful are offered an extraordinary help and pathway to salvation.

From his first day in office, Pope Francis has been proclaiming a message of hope that comes from mercy…. God’s capacity for love and forgiveness: “I believe that this is the Season of Mercy. The Church is a Mother: She has to go out and heal with mercy those who are hurting, and find a form of mercy for all.”

2015 has been a compelling experience for the whole of humanity. Terrorism has dramatically changed our world. So much change in so short a time.

People lost or killed, disenfranchised by regimes of terror, wandering from country to country. In once settled communities there is increasing political aggression, racism, vicious anger and hatred being heaped on religious beliefs of any kind. Pope Francis has set a tall task in calling for a Year of Mercy in this environment. Yet the need for healing is urgent, because “nobody should be excluded from life’s hope.”

The challenge in these ‘Months of Mercy’ will be to convince believers and non-believers alike that extending mercy is the better way, that revenge, anger or violent behaviour offers no hope. Negative reactions to distress, inflicted pain, tragedy and the aftermath of terrorist activity lessen humanity.

Our Western world is going through ‘religious fatigue.’ Survey after survey tells us that while belief in God is still in the majority percentage, many will not buy the complete package.

A funeral or baptism or Catholic education but the commitment to parish involvement, or regular Mass attendance is not taken up. Many choose as from a menu, taking up what fits their lifestyle and passing over other options that require more time and commitment. What positive initiatives need to be introduced to promote a humble and merciful attention that leads to understanding and tolerance?

Gone are the days of thronging congregations, political influence and being part of the privileged set. Now it is no longer a question of whether the prodigals will return. Rather it is about what they will find if and when they return. It is no longer a question of increasing

numbers of adherents, but humbly welcoming the poor in spirit with a sense of repentance and an open door to mercy.

The motto of the Year of Mercy, ‘Be merciful like the Father,’ is an invitation for each one of us to love as God the Father does, not with judgement, not with condemnation, but to offer love and offer forgiveness without measure, to the extent that we are able.

Mercy teaches us that it is within humble and welcoming communities that we are empowered and sustained. May we join with Pope Francis in creating a culture of welcome where the poor are fed, the lost are found, the refugees are welcomed and the despairing find hope in the Year of Mercy.

Father Peter M. Karam – Editor

Editorial

Opening the Door

I would like to take this opportunity to wish the readers of “Catholic Life” every blessing and my personal best

wishes at Christmas and in the New Year. I thank the advertisers who have supported our

magazine, enabling us to provide this publication at no cost to our readers. My special thanks to our

marketing and advertising manager, Mr John Howard and our graphic designer, Johanna Evans for their

dedication to the task and editorial support.


Catholic Schools have an important role in partnership with parents and clergy in promoting and nurturing every opportunity for each student to enjoy a full and meaningful life.

have never met a parent yet who has not first enquired as to ‘how is my child doing at school’. When parents ask this they are not as concerned about the academic as they are of the

personal side of their child’s life. Catholic schools are at places of evangelisation and of complete formation for our young people. But the school cannot achieve this alone, parents and parish communities also play vital parts in creating this life giving environment for students.

“The person of each individual being, in his or her material needs, is at the heart of Christ’s teaching: this is why the promotion of the human person is the goal of the Catholic school” (The Catholic school on the threshold of the Third Millennium no 9). In enacting such a mission, our schools therefore focus

on a holistic education of the whole child –academically, socially, emotionally, spiritually, physically and culturally. The ‘holistic’ development of our young people has always been a hallmark of Catholic schools as pastoral caring environments. Pastoral care is central to the ethos and identity of a Catholic school and is based on a deep respect for the individual person made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27). The term itself traces its origins back to Jesus Christ’s description of himself as the Good Shepherd (John 10:1-21). Catholic educators provide pastoral care for each student so that they can enjoy personal wellbeing. Central to wellbeing for Christians is friendship with Jesus Christ.

Increasingly, the positive health and well-being of our students is without question seen as one of the central student outcomes for all Catholic schools. Schools in particular, have been identified as appropriate sites for supporting and promoting student social and emotional wellbeing in line with an increasing recognition of the link between wellbeing, academic success and many other indicators that contribute to a healthy and fulfilling life.

This is further supported by Australian Secondary Principals Association which stated that, ‘locating ‘wellbeing’ in schools makes sense since schools are one of the first places children learn about personal and social relationships outside of their family and local community. In fact, schools are now widely considered to be the ‘logical’ – if not the only common, assured delivery point for wellbeing initiatives’.

Over recent years there have been significant National policy initiatives such as the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA, 2008); the National Safe Schools Framework (DEEWR, 2010); the National Framework in Values Education and various National Mental Health initiatives such as Mindmatters (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010b) and Kidsmatter (Commonwealth of Australia, 2010a); as well as a myriad of smaller-scale programs, which at various points are aimed at

improving classroom, school and system responses to student wellbeing. This alone indicates a growing national consensus of the importance of this work.

The urgency of ensuring that school systems have in place well developed policies and frameworks to support pastoral care and well-being initiatives throughout systems and in schools has been further highlighted by recent studies that reveal a worrying trend of increasing emotional and mental health problems in young people. A three year study by Mater Research published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry in 2015, indicates that teenagers, particularly girls, are experiencing significantly higher rates of depression and anxiety this century compared to last.

This study carried out an assessment of 19 critical population studies from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Europe and China found that changes in the rate of mental health problems had not changed significantly for preschool and primary aged school children. In adolescent boys and girls however, the research indicated a distinct increase as the report cites, ‘in older adolescent boys and girls there was a clear increase, particularly in the rate of anxiety and depression among girls from Year 10 upwards’. A further study published in the Journal of Adolescent Health in England in 2014 also found that in particular girls experiencing emotional problems increased by 55% since 2009.

The causes of such an alarming increase in emotional problems particularly among adolescent girls is that they are facing pressures never before encountered by young people. Whilst social researchers have not narrowed this phenomenon to specific causal factors, various studies have nominated things such as increasing academic pressures, early sexualisation, body image, bullying, high cultural expectations, objectification of women and a ceaseless online environment as cumulative factors that are impacting on our young people.

Children’s mental health is an issue of immense social and political significance. The World Health Organisation (2001) defines mental health as ‘a state of emotional and social wellbeing in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively or fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community’. The implications of this unchecked, will have quite far reaching effects for many communities around the world.

It is well accepted that proactive and preventative programs within our schools are a step in the right direction and we are continuing to examine ways of enhancing such approaches. Some schools are implementing or examining the benefits of a pastoral care system that imbues a ‘positive education’ approach to school life which aims to provide students with the tools and mindset to be cognisant of the state of their mental health and ways to look after it. Such an approach inculcates aspects of performance psychology, growth mindset and Christian mediation into the daily life of their school communities and routines. Such whole school approaches have the potential to assist our students to set challenging but realistic goals for themselves, to better understand their potential as learners and provide knowledge and techniques to nurture a healthy mental health approach to life.

Subsequently, the promotion of the social and emotional wellbeing of our students has taken on a more inclusive function. Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Schools, 1989 as cited by the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER), is one ‘that is inextricably linked with teaching and learning and the structural organisation of the school – promoting students’ personal and social development and fostering

Partners in Education

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

continued over page


As part of their pastoral formation, three of our seminarians, Anselm Okeke, Emmanuel Okparanaku and Roger Delmonte, are presently undertaking a Clinical Pastoral Education program (otherwise known as a CPE). They are living in Brisbane and working in Princess Alexandra Hospital and Prince Charles Hospital.What is a CPE? CPE is a program to help seminarians and others learn to truly listen to the pastoral and spiritual needs of people struggling or in distress. The program is commonly offered in hospitals but can sometimes be found in other places such as nursing homes, prisons and counselling centres etc.

Many people may think that being a good listener is a relatively easy skill that any compassionate person can do. However, real listening with a silent, understanding, reflective mind and empathy for the other person is more difficult than you might think.

Our seminarians will find the experience challenging but ultimately of great benefit for their own faith journey and self-awareness. While the CPE gives seminarians practical

experience in being with hospital patients, the listening skills they learn will help them in the wider pastoral situations they will encounter in the future as priests.

Please keep Anselm, Emmanuel, Roger and all our seminarians in your prayers as they continue with their journey towards priesthood.Merry Christmas! As we approach the beautiful celebration of the Incarnation of Christ, let us pause and reflect on how beautiful and precious each of us must be, that out of love and care for us the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

The Solemnity of Christmas reminds us that each of us has a divine purpose – to be in communion/relationship with God and each other for eternity. Within that great divine vocation that we each possess is a particular vocation that we are invited to live/incarnate in our earthly life.

To those of us who are some way along on the journey of our vocation, whether in marriage, single life, as clergy or religious, let us this Christmas spend some time reflecting on our relationship with Christ and his Church and the ways in which Christ might be inviting us to more deeply and faithfully live our vocation.

To those young men and women still discerning what Christ is inviting them to be: do not be afraid to let Christ be born in your hearts. Listen carefully, silently and with courage to what he calls you to be, and respond. You will not regret trusting in Christ.

For those of you wishing to explore further the possibility of priesthood, permanent diaconate or the religious life, please contact:

Director of Vocations, PO Box 2450 Coffs Harbour NSW 2450, Email: [email protected]

by Fr Paul WinterVocations Director

Pastoral Placement

positive attitudes. This is done through the quality of teaching and learning; through the nature of relationships amongst students, teachers and adults other than teachers; through arrangements for monitoring students’ overall progress (academic, personal and social); through specific pastoral and support systems; and through extra-curricular activities.

The work of Professor Martin Westwell from Flinders University Adelaide has also shown how good pedagogical practice can also assist in the development of a student’s ‘executive thinking’ skills to optimise student’s social and emotional outcomes. He argues that to prepare young people for an uncertain future requires an understanding and development of ‘executive thinking functions’. These according to Westwell are ‘self-regulation’ and ‘stop and think’ skills required to be a purposeful learner but essential later in life to assist a person to make healthy life decisions. His work has also shown the adverse impact that under developed executive thinking skills can have on a person’s mental health.

Currently the Catholic Schools Office is working to revise our policy settings with the view to developing a framework to promote a whole system and whole school approach to enhance the social and emotional outcomes for our students.

I wrote earlier in the year about the importance of the principle of ‘student voice’ and ‘agency’ which has been established in international law for 30 years. Hearing the views of children and young people is instrumental in ensuring that any meaningful policy initiatives outcomes are well targeted and appropriately framed. Further, continuing to engage our parent body is also important to better understand the challenges that are facing our students and how best to optimise the support we can offer to our families.

Catholic Life, September, 2015 7Catholic Life, September, 2015 7

Laudato Si' – ‘Praise be to You’ – On the Care for our Common Home

by Fr Paul WinterVocations Director

St. John Vianney Seminary

If – after prayer – you feel God has chosen you for a vocation then please contact: Most Rev’d Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett

Bishop’s Office, P.O. Box 1, Lismore NSW 2480Fr. Paul Winter, PO Box 2450, Coffs Harbour NSW 2450,

Phone: 6651 0000 [email protected]

continued on page 29

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Such a paradigm shift requires a different way of thinking and living which can only be achieved through education and training. Laudato Si' offers pragmatic ways for people to act such as reducing their own carbon footprint at home through greater austerity in their own energy use. Living within our means can also liberate many people as materialistic pursuits alone will not necessarily bring happiness and fulfilment. With a contemplative outlook grounded in our faith, Francis challenges that ‘we must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world and that being good and decent are worth it’.

Having spent considerable time in rural and regional parts of Australia, I have experienced first-hand the vagaries of life on the land for our farmers dependent on

Early in August, I was able to spend some time with our seminarians at St. John Vianney Seminary, Wagga Wagga. It was wonderful to catch up with our young men who are preparing to be the future priests of our diocese.

I was also lucky to be with them as they celebrated the feast day of the patron saint of the seminary, St. John Vianney. St. John Vianney (otherwise known as the Curé

of Ars) is a very apt Patron Saint for the seminary as he is also the Patron Saint for all Priests.

St. John Vianney was a French Diocesan Priest who lived from 1786-1859. St. John found study difficult. He found Latin very difficult to learn and his studies were interrupted by military service. After much perseverance, he was finally ordained in 1815 and was an Assistant Priest for three years in Écully. He was then appointed Parish Priest in 1818 at Ars.

In Ars, a remote village, he became famous throughout the world, not that he sought fame. He came to be known for his pastoral care, catechesis and deep prayerfulness, holiness and the ability to read people’s hearts. People began to seek him out for advice and confession, first from neighbouring parishes, then from all over the nation and ultimately from all around the world. By 1855, he was receiving an average of 20,000 visitors a year and spending 12-13 hours a day in the confessional. He was beatified in 1905, canonised in 1925 and made the Patron of all Priests in 1929.

His deep life of prayer, his pastoral practice of speaking the truth in love to his parishioners and all who sought him out; his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady and the Sacrament of Confession are a great example and inspiration to our Seminarians and to Priests. St. John’s life and ministry is a living invitation to all of us to respond to the grace of God and seek a life of holiness and wholeness.

Our seminarians (pictured above L-R) Roger Delmonte, Anselm Okeke, Deacon Stefan Matuzsek, Solomon Okovido, Emmanuel Okparanaku and Wilber Tobe. Please keep them in your prayers as they continue their studies.

There are young men in our diocese who Christ is calling to enter his Priesthood, to proclaim the Gospel and to serve the people. Let us all keep our young people in prayer and let us seek to cultivate a culture in our homes and parishes that encourages our young people to listen to what the Lord is inviting them to be. To our young people I simply say, do not be afraid to seek the Lord’s will in your life. If you are a young man wondering about priesthood or religious life, or a young woman wondering about religious life, I encourage you to contact me, or your local parish priest. Explore the possibilities! You will never regret saying ‘yes’ to Christ!

continued from previous page

Catholic Life, December, 2015Catholic Life, September, 20158

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In the green and lush rainforest area of the Bellinger Valley lies the heart of the Bellingen Catholic faith community. This Parish comprises three very diverse communities linked by their common faith: St Mary Immaculate Mother Of God Church in Bellingen which adjoins the presbytery and Parish office, Holy Name Church in the seaside village of Urunga and Sacred Heart Church in the mountaintop township of Dorrigo. Between these three centres there are around 150 parishioners regularly participating in the weekend Masses.

Our Parish Priest Fr Amila Rajasekara has a busy schedule serving these three communities as he not only celebrates the Holy Eucharist with weekend Masses in each of the three churches but also conducts a regular program of weekday Masses. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered once a week in each community and Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction are celebrated in all three churches once a month.

St Mary Immaculate Mother of God, Bellingen

Gabrielle Waterworth and Michael Casey – High Distinctions in Religious Education

8

Coraki was one of the earliest parishes in the Lismore Diocese. In the 1890’s the early churches of the Richmond River and what is now the Parish of Coraki, were all accessible by waterways. Churches were built at Swan Bay, Coraki, New Italy, Woodburn and Evans Head. Furthermore there were churches at Tatham and Dungarubba that also catered for the spiritual needs of worshippers residing in fringe areas of the Coraki Parish.

OUR CHURCHESNowadays there is a church in the townships of Coraki,

Evans Head and Woodburn. The current St Joseph’s Church in Coraki is a Gothic Style, red brick structure. It was built in 1922 and has a seating capacity of 700 persons. Two significant stained glass windows were donated and installed in the 1940’s, one of the Sacred Heart the other of Virgin and Child. An impressive Bell Tower has been constructed as a result of a very generous donation.

In 1941 Evans Head was a small seaside village and Mass was celebrated in Rosolen’s Hall, which was also the Picture Theatre. However, due to the large number of Catholic servicemen stationed at the Royal Australian Air Force training base, St. John’s Church was built to accommodate the larger numbers. On occasions the Church was filled to capacity, as it still is often during the school holidays. It is a wooden structure, Gothic in style with a pitched gabled roof. The altar at St John’s was originally in the Carmelite Monastery, Lismore.

In 1945 a fearsome cyclone destroyed the original All Saints Church at Woodburn. The school was used for services until the present church was built in 1953. It features silky oak pews and a finely carved and modelled corpus.

Our Parish Priest, Fr. Richard Foley, has a

busy program serving these three communities with weekend Masses in each of the churches as well as a regular program of weekday masses, school masses and a fortnightly mass at the Baptist Community Services Mid Richmond Village. We are very fortunate to have a dedicated group of parishioners to assist Father by serving as ministers of the Eucharist, visiting and distributing Holy Communion to the sick and visiting the BCS Mid Richmond Village.

PARISH GROUPSOur Parish outreach to the disadvantaged through the St

Vincent de Paul at Evans Head, the St Joseph’s Carers Op Shop in Coraki and outreach to the indigenous community in Coraki who often ask if their funerals can take place at St Joseph’s Church in Coraki.

St Vincent De Paul Conferences began in each of the Parish centres in 1974. Evans Head still has an active conference that provides advice, support and financial assistance to those in need and runs a very well kept shop that supplies a service to residents and visitors. Both Parish Schools have Minnie Vinnies groups and this year a team shared in a Mass with the elderly at the BCS Village Coraki and organised a craft activity for the students at the Woodburn Pre School.

The Carers Op-Shop is situated in Queen Elizabeth Drive, Coraki and is open Monday to Friday 9am to 12 noon. The shop has good quality second hand goods and clothes at very reasonable prices. The profits from the shop provide items such as a new organ, fans for the church and upgrading church sound system. This shop is run on a fully voluntary basis.

The Coraki Parish has a very active Pastoral Advisory Team, incorporating Parish members and our 2 School Principals, to assist with pastoral planning, developing and improving pastoral programs liturgies etc. Our Parish had become accustomed to having the support of a Sister, Jenny Hartley rsm, as our Parish Pastoral Associate for about 6 years until her congregation in 2012 required her to return to Grafton for a different role. We have since been desperately seeking another Parish Pastoral Associate to reside in Evans Head, but so far have been unsuccessful in procuring one. So anyone interested in this role is invited to apply to our Parish!

In lieu of a Pastoral Associate, we have recently begun forming a small group of community members with a view to their being involved in Parish Outreach. This is currently a work in progress. During Lent, the Parish hosts three groups that participate in the Lenten Programme and some years we have facilitated the RCIA programme. Our Coraki & Evans Head Churches also often host the World Day of Prayer in February

The Parish also has an active Parish Finance Council, which among other things, manages our Parish Aged Care Units in Coraki & Evans Head.

Fr R Foley & St Joseph’s Woodburn Principal Ms Jeannette Wilkins at last year’s Centenary celebrations

YOU WHERE ASKING ABOUT CORAKI PARISH


St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, CorakiInset: Interior of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church

9

AGED CAREThe Parish has a

long history of caring for the aged in our community. Many of our parishioners were heavily involved in

planning and raising money to build the Mid Richmond Retirement Village which was opened in 1981 and is now known as BCS Mid Richmond Village. Visitations to the sick and elderly occur regularly and Mass is conducted there twice a month. In addition, the Parish’s Aged Care Units in Coraki and Evans Head are a self-funding venture where residents buy their unit from the Parish, with the right to a high percentage refund when occupancy ceases. These units provide quality accommodation, at affordable prices, for residents. The Parish presently has one beautifully appointed Unit in the Coraki complex at a very reasonable price. Please contact the Parish Office on 66832051 for further information.

OUR FUTUREThe young heart of the Parish is in its two outstanding

schools, St Joseph’s Coraki and St Joseph’s Woodburn. Both have state of the art digital educational facilities and most importantly, 1st class Principals and Staff! On St Joseph’s Feast Day each year, the two schools alternatively hold the day in their own town, which involves a Mass in the Church by the Host of the town, followed by a social day together. Every term the families from each school are actively involved in the weekend Mass at Woodburn and Coraki a couple of times each school term.

St Joseph Primary Schools at Coraki and Woodburn recently joined together to celebrate Student Proclaim. The day began with all students being inspired and empowered by Roby Curtis and his team from Emmanuel Worship Brisbane by gathering in Woodburn’s Church for a very vibrant sing along that orientated students to the purpose of the day to “Go Forth and Set the World on Fire”.

The students broke up into groups to experience different activities that focused on revealing ways in which we can be a Disciple of Jesus in our homes, schools, community and nationwide.

The day culminated in a beautiful mass that was alive with the Spirit. There was energy, passion and reflection. Children were challenged to go forth and proclaim the Good news of Jesus Christ and strengthen their faith so as to become a joyful messenger of God’s word.

SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM The Sacramental Program took on a new format in 2015

to further involve families in the faith formation of their child. The Family based Sacramental Program was introduced to the families in partnership by the Schools and the Parish. Families worked in small groups meeting weekly leading up to the Sacrament. Families were able to access support from a nominated Parish Support Person.

YOUTH MINISTRYAn additional activity currently based in Coraki is this: As

Diocesan Youth Coordinator, Fr Richard annually facilitates the holding of the OASIS Diocesan Young Adult Weekend, usually


Insurance that gives back to the Catholic communityWhen you choose CCI Personal Insurance, you not only get great insurance at a great price, you’re also supporting the Catholic community.

Each year we give back via a range of Catholic community programs.

We also support worthy initiatives and causes, all with the objective of making a positive contribution to the Catholic community.

So when you choose CCI Personal Insurance, you’re not the only one who benefits.

Visit our website or call us to learn more about CCI’s dedication to the Catholic community.

Catholic Church Insurance Limited (CCI) ABN 76 000 005 210, AFS Licence No. 235415 is the promoter of the insurer Allianz Australia Insurance Limited (Allianz) ABN 15 000 122 850 AFS, Licence No. 234708. Travel Insurance is issued and managed by AGA Assistance Australia Pty Ltd ABN 52 097 227 177 AFS License No. 245631 trading as Allianz Global Assistance as agent of Allianz. Policy terms, conditions, limits and exclusions apply. Before deciding please refer to the Financial Services Guide and relevant Product Disclosure Statement for more information available by calling 1300 655 003; or online from www.catholicinsurance.org.au

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at Camp Koinonia in Evans Head. The organising team of young adults come to the Coraki Presbytery at midday on Sundays at least once a month to work toward the next OASIS Weekend, which is planned for late August 2016.

Each year is different and in August this year an extraordinary weekend took place, facilitated by Roby Curtis and helpers from Emmanuel Worship, a young person’s music band. Roby is a singer and composer and integral part of the band and is the founder of “Blind Eye Ministries” a group that reach out to support men recently released from prison. They also run a drop in centre in Brisbane for the lonely and disadvantaged.

At our weekend Roby and others targeted the call of Jesus, to all who follow him, to offer justice and compassion to those on the fringes and spoke of the need for all who desire to put Jesus’ teachings into practice, to develop a personal relationship with him through prayer and the sacraments of the Church, particularly the Eucharist.

ST JOSEPH’S CHURCH Cnr Adams & Union St CorakiOffice Hours: Mon, Tues, Thurs & Friday 8.30am – 3pmPh 6683 2051Sunday Mass 9.15am

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH Coraki Rd, WoodburnSaturday Vigil Mass 5pm6pm during daylight saving time

ST JOHN’S CHURCH Cnr Wattle & Cypress Sts, Evans HeadSunday Mass7.30am


AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED...a Catholic charity dependent on the Holy See, providing pastoral relief to needy and oppressed Churches

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Broken Bay News

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

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

LIS

As of this writing we still await the date when the workers vacate the site and we can plan the re-opening, and the solemn dedication of the new and

permanent altar. The entrance area, baptistry and nave have all been completed, the altar has been constructed and the rest of the sanctuary paving is at present being laid. Then will begin the huge task of cleaning up, every nook and cranny, and re-arranging the seating.

But it’s very much the same Cathedral, built and loved over generations, retaining all its familiar features inherited from the faith of our forbears. In particular, Bishop Doyle’s vision and energy, which gave us this magnificent building in the first place, and the later adornments of Bishop Carroll, are being honoured and completed in this present work.

The beautification of these past months will likewise endure to the glory of God and be a constant inspiration to all who enter and make it their spiritual home - truly ‘the House of God and Gate of Heaven’ – the model as it is meant to be for our whole Diocese and each of its churches of the heavenly Jerusalem right in our midst, and a noble and beautiful setting for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.

by Bishop Geoffrey Jarrett

St. Carthage’s Cathedral, Lismore – Update


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Seven years of preparation, much soul-searching and then the conscious decision to follow the call to Priesthood led Stefan to St. Francis Xavier Parish Church in Ballina on Monday September 14. There, in the presence of his family, friends, fellow students, clergy and parishioners he was ordained Priest by Most Reverend Geoffrey Jarrett, Bishop of Lismore.

is journey started in Tasmania where his parents still live. At the end of 2015 his priestly ministry will commence in the Diocese of Lismore.

In his homily Bishop Jarrett addressed his words to Stefan: “Tonight the Lord establishes another link in His great work which stretches through time to eternity, a bond as human as His own. His name is Stefan Matuszek. By words of power and sacred anointing Stefan will be embraced by the Lord into that one body which in its precise work here on earth is that of the alter Christus, the other Christ, not another Christ, as if there could more than one, but rather a human image as on the other side of the same coin, a reflection in human flesh of the one eternal High Priest.”

“Stefan,” the bishop will ask on behalf of the Church, “Do you resolve to be united more closely every day to Christ, the High Priest, who offered himself for us to the Father as a pure sacrifice, and with him to consecrate yourself to God for the salvation of all?”

St John Chrysostom says that while the work of the priesthood is established in eternity, it is ordained to take place in time. The meaning is that it takes place in the very human world of people and events, of imperfection and limitation, of outright sin tinged often as much by malice as by ignorance. Outcomes will be unclear, simply to be left in the Lord’s hands. That is the reality of priestly ministry. After the years of your preparation, Stefan, you will be aware I am sure that as wonderful and beautiful a thing as it is to be a priest, it takes place in a world of repetitive actions, routine timetables and places, of tiredness, dull responses and let-downs, and the temptation to wonder if any progress is being made.

But keep in mind that these are the ordinary circumstances that the Lord has chosen for your life from this moment onwards, as He has chosen for the rest of us, as indeed, when you think of it, for the countless mothers and fathers in the midst of their marriage and family life and the upbringing of their children. Our fatherhood shares so much with what it is to nurture and shape a family.

Stefan Matuszek Overwhelmed by Ordination

Imposition of hands

The sign of peace


Keep also in mind the inspiration and example of those priests who have influenced your life and have given you confidence by their example to follow in their footsteps, the men who would say a resounding “Yes!” — I would live this priestly life over and over again, for I could never tell the half of the works of goodness and grace I have seen in people’s lives, which no one else perhaps might even be aware of, just because the Lord chose to use me as His instrument in their relations with him, and as best I could I let myself be used by Him.

I imagine that you will often return in moments of prayer and reflection to this Feast of 14th September, not simply because of its appropriateness as the day on which you pledge “to conform your life to the mystery of the Lord’s

Cross,” but because so often you will surely be drawing on its abiding power, on this “sweet wood, and sweet iron,” and the sweetest weight of Him, the kingly priest who made the Cross the Tree of Life, of unconquerable love. I have no doubt also that the Mother who kept vigil with Him then on Calvary will as frequently be present sustaining you now in that royal, prophetic and priestly office He shares with you.

So, in the words in which the Bishop’s ordination homily concludes, you will thus “Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd who came not to be served but to serve, and who came to seek out and to save what was lost.”

Father Stefan takes up his appointment as Assistant Priest in Ballina Parish on the 2nd January 2016.

The sign of peace

Family photo taken with Bishop Jarrett after the ceremony


With the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy begun on December 8, 2015 and continuing to November 20, 2016, Pope Francis has invited the Church to rediscover and to celebrate the centrality of God’s mercy in our world and our lives. In his announcement of the Holy Year of Mercy the Holy Father declared, “I am confident that the whole Church, which is in such need of mercy for we are sinners, will be able to find in this Jubilee the joy of rediscovering and rendering fruitful God’s mercy, with which we are all called to give comfort to every man and every woman of our time.... Let us henceforth entrust this Year to the Mother of Mercy, that she turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey” (Homily at the Celebration of Penance, March 13, 2015).

In the celebration of the Mass, the critical role of God’s mercy frequently comes to the fore. As imperfect human beings, we encounter in the Mass God’s merciful offer to raise us up and to give us hope and strength despite our weaknesses. In order to prepare for the upcoming Jubilee of Mercy, as well as to assist delving deeper into the content

of the Mass itself, there follows a concise list of moments in the Order of Mass when the mercy of God is explicitly acknowledged or sought. Those who preach on the theme of mercy might wish to draw their hearers’ attention to some of these passages, both to help strengthen their appreciation for God’s mercy and to help them pray the Mass with greater devotion.

In addition to the texts from the Order of Mass, there are innumerable references to God’s mercy which are encountered both in the proper prayer texts for the various Masses, as well as in the Scripture passages proclaimed in the Liturgy of the Word. Furthermore, there are numerous other moments in the Mass when mercy is sought, even if not mentioned explicitly by name. For example, the silent prayer of the deacon or priest who has just read the Gospel is clearly reliant on God’s mercy: “Through the words of the Gospel, may our sins be wiped away”. Whether or not the very word is used, God’s mercy is truly never far from the many liturgical elements of the Mass.

The Corporal Works Of Mercy

Show Us, O Lord, Your Mercy: Invoking the Mercy of God in the Order of Mass

THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model of how we should treat others as if they were Christ in disguise. They respond to the basic needs of humanity as we journey together through this life.

FEED THE HUNGRY There are many people in this world who go without food. When so much of our food goes to waste, consider how good stewardship practices of your own food habits can benefit others who do not have those same resources.

GIVE DRINK TO THE THIRSTY Many of our brothers and sisters in Christ do not have access to clean water and suffer from the lack of this basic necessity. We should support the efforts of those working towards greater accessibility of this essential resource.

SHELTER THE HOMELESS There are many circumstances that could lead to someone becoming a person without a home. Christ encourages us to go out and meet those without homes, affirming their worth and helping them seek a resolution to the challenges they face.

VISIT THE S ICK Those who are sick are often forgotten or avoided. In spite of their

illness, these individuals still have much to offer to those who take the time to visit and comfort them.

VISIT THE PRISONERS People in prison are still people, made in the image and likeness of God. No matter what someone has done, they deserve the opportunity to hear the Word of God and find the Truth of the message of Christ.

BURY THE DEAD Funerals give us the opportunity to grieve and show others support during difficult times. Through our prayers and actions during these times we show our respect for life, which is always a gift from God, and comfort to those who mourn.

GIVE ALMS TO THE POOR Donate money to organisations that have the ability to provide support and services for those in need. Do research and find organisations that put people in need first, rather than profit.


World ViewOffering prayers at a graveyard during All Souls’ Day in Calcutta India on 2 November 2015. All Souls’ Day is marked to following All Saints’ Day, and is an opportunity for Roman Catholics and Anglo-Catholic churches to commemorate the faithful departed. PA/PIYAL ADHIKARY

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The Year of MercyThe logo and the motto together provide a fitting summary of what the Jubilee Year is all about. The motto Merciful Like the Father (taken from the Gospel of Luke, 6:36) serves as an invitation to follow the merciful example of the Father who asks us not to judge or condemn but to forgive and to give love and forgiveness without measure (cfr. Lk 6:37-38). The logo – the work of Jesuit Father Marko I. Rupnik – presents a small summa theologiae of the theme of mercy. In fact, it represents an image quite important to the early Church: that of the Son having taken upon his shoulders the lost soul demonstrating that it is the love of Christ that brings to completion the mystery of his incarnation culminating in redemption. The logo has been designed in such a way so as to express the profound way in which the Good Shepherd touches the flesh of humanity and does so with a love with the power to change one’s life. One particular feature worthy of note is that while the Good Shepherd, in his great mercy, takes humanity upon himself, his eyes are merged with those of man. Christ sees with the eyes of Adam and Adam with the eyes of Christ. Every person discovers in Christ, the new Adam, one’s own humanity and the future that lies ahead, contemplating, in his gaze, the love of the Father.

Announcing the JubileeDear brothers and sisters, I have often thought of how the Church may render more clear her mission to be a witness to mercy; and we have to make this journey. It is a journey which begins with spiritual conversion. Therefore, I have decided to announce an Extraordinary Jubilee which has at its centre the mercy of God. It will be a Holy Year of Mercy. We want to live in the light of the word of the Lord: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (cf. Lk 6:36). And this especially applies to confessors! So much mercy!

This Holy Year will commence on the next Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and will conclude on Sunday, 20 November 2016, the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe and living face of the Father’s mercy. I entrust the organisation of this Jubilee to the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelisation, in order that it may come to life as a new step on the Church’s journey in her mission to

bring the Gospel of mercy to each person.

I am confident that the whole Church, which is in such need of mercy for we are sinners, will be able to find in this Jubilee the joy of rediscovering and rendering fruitful God’s mercy, with which we are all called to give comfort to every man and every woman of our time. Do not forget that God forgives all and God forgives always. Let us never tire of asking forgiveness. Let us henceforth entrust this Year to the Mother of Mercy,

that she turn her gaze upon us and watch over our journey: our penitential journey, our year-long journey with an open heart, to receive the indulgence of God, to receive the mercy of God

I have asked the Church in this Jubilee Year to rediscover the richness encompassed by the spiritual and corporal works of mercy. The experience of mercy, indeed, becomes visible in the witness of concrete signs as Jesus himself taught us. Each time that one of the faithful personally performs one or more of these actions, he or she shall surely obtain the Jubilee Indulgence. Hence the commitment to live by mercy so as to obtain the grace of complete and exhaustive forgiveness by the power of the love of the Father who excludes no one. The Jubilee Indulgence is thus full, the fruit of the very event which is to be celebrated and experienced with faith, hope and charity.

Furthermore, the Jubilee Indulgence can also be obtained for the deceased. We are bound to them by the witness of faith and charity that they have left us. Thus, as we remember them in the Eucharistic celebration, thus we can, in the great mystery of the Communion of Saints, pray for them, that the merciful Face of the Father free them of every remnant of fault and strongly embrace them in the unending beatitude.

One of the serious problems of our time is clearly the changed relationship with respect to life. A widespread and insensitive mentality has led to the loss of the proper personal and social sensitivity to welcome new life. The tragedy of abortion is experienced by some with a superficial awareness, as if not realising the extreme harm that such an act entails. Many others, on the other hand, although experiencing this moment as a defeat, believe that they have no other option. I think in particular of all the women who have resorted to abortion. I am well aware of the pressure that has led them to this decision. I know that it is an existential and moral ordeal. I have met so many women who bear in their heart the scar of this agonising and painful decision. What has happened is profoundly unjust; yet only understanding the truth of it can enable one not to lose hope. The forgiveness of God cannot be denied to one who has repented, especially when that person approaches the Sacrament of Confession with a sincere heart in order to obtain reconciliation with the Father. For this reason too, I have decided, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, to concede to all priests for the Jubilee Year the discretion to absolve of the sin of abortion those who have procured it and who, with contrite heart, seek forgiveness for it. May priests fulfil this great task by expressing words of genuine welcome combined with a reflection that explains the gravity of the sin committed, besides indicating a path of authentic conversion by which to obtain the true and generous forgiveness of the Father who renews all with his presence.

Proclaiming the Year of Mercy

The Resurrection of Christ

In September, the Holy Father wrote:

“It is indeed my wish that the Jubilee be a living experience of the closeness of the Father, whose tenderness is almost tangible, so that the faith of every believer may be strengthened and thus testimony to it be ever more effective.

“My thought first of all goes to all the faithful who, whether in individual dioceses or as pilgrims to Rome, will experience the grace of the Jubilee. I wish that the Jubilee Indulgence may reach each one as a genuine experience of God’s mercy, which comes to meet each person in the Face of the Father who welcomes and forgives, forgetting completely the sin committed.

“To experience and obtain the Indulgence, the faithful are called to make a brief pilgrimage to the Holy Door, open in every Cathedral or in the churches designated by the Diocesan Bishop and in the four Papal Basilicas in Rome, as a sign of the deep desire for true conversion. Likewise, I dispose that the Indulgence may be obtained in the Shrines in which the Door of Mercy is open and in the churches which traditionally are identified as Jubilee Churches.

“It is important that this moment be linked, first and foremost, to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and to the celebration of the Holy Eucharist with a reflection on mercy. It will be necessary to accompany these celebrations with the profession of faith and with prayer for me and for the intentions that I bear in my heart for the good of the Church and of the entire world.”

Prayer of Pope Francis for the JubileeLord Jesus Christ,You have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him.Show us your face and we will be saved.Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal and assured Paradise to the repentant thief.Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God!”You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified.You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved and forgiven by God.Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed and restore sight to the blind. We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy; you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever, Amen.

17


“Waste time with families” was the fatherly advice Pope Francis gave to bishops and by extension to all priests, on the final day of the World Meeting of Families held recently in Philadelphia.

For many years “wasting time with God” has been my own approach to God and time with him in prayer so I was delighted to hear the Holy Father say we must approach families and the time we spend with them in the same way.

When in the presence of those we love we are happy just to be with them; we don’t have to be doing anything in particular, we simply ‘hang out’ and spend time with each other. From this “quantity time” as opposed to “quality time” there emerges a deepening of relationships, mutual understanding and appreciation and growth in love. It also provides the opportunity to accompany and support each other through difficulties. We know from experience that simply “being there” for somebody is often all that’s needed. “Wasting time with families” is not just good advice for bishops and priests; it’s good advice for everybody.

For me one of the highlights of the Australian pilgrimage to the World Meeting of Families was being with and wasting time with the nine couples and families who made up the Australian delegation. It was wonderful to see how the parents and children quickly became friends and supported each other in faith and love. I certainly benefited greatly from being with them and hopefully they benefited from my presence too.

As well as hearing Pope Francis’ inspirational messages the World Meeting of Families provided the participants the opportunity to hear many world-renowned speakers: cardinals, bishops, married couples and single people. A theme which emerged in a number of the talks was “love”, no surprise given that the theme of the week was “Love is our Mission”. We were encouraged to grow in the knowledge that we are loved unconditionally by God the Father, no matter what our circumstances. Only when we are open to the Father’s love for us can we sufficiently love those around us beginning with our own family members. As one speaker put it: “If God’s going to teach you to love he’s going to put you with some unlovely people”! It’s in our families that we receive love and learn to love.

Wasting Time and Learning to Love REPORT ON THE WORLD MEETING OF FAMILIESBy Bishop Michael Kennedy, Australian Catholic Bishop Delegate for Marriage

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

Dinner: Monday – Saturday 6pm – LateBreakfast: Monday – Saturday 7am – 9.30am Sunday 8am – 10.30am

Dinner: Monday – Saturday 6pm – Late


One comment made early in the week that resonated with me throughout the whole conference and remains with me still now was that “every family is broken”. Sure, some may be more broken than others but every family has its trials, divisions, sufferings and need for mutual forgiveness. Being broken and wounded does not stop my family from being a family and does not stop my family from fulfilling its God-given mission in the Church and in the world which is to love: “Love is our mission”.

So the message I bring home with me from the World Meeting of Families is that wasting time with our own families and wasting time with those families who may be more wounded or broken than our own is the only way we will learn to love and fulfil our mission as families.

The Australian pilgrims with Bishop Kennedy

20

Churches of the World

SaintQuentin

France

IN SAINT QUENTIN, the town of painter Quentin de la Tour, the Somme River feeds into the fifty hectares of the Marais d’Isle Natural Reserve. In the city dominated by a cathedral-sized Basilica, houses dating from the Middle Ages are mixed in with a Gothic City Hall and the most extravagant of art deco buildings. The City of Saint Quentin’s eventful history is related to its geographic location and to the crossing of major commercial roads, which were long used for invasions.

During World War I, the church fared badly. In 1916, a plane, either English or French they say, dropped a bomb on a wagon loaded with explosives nearby. The impact blew out many of the church’s stained glass windows. A fire in 1917 burned the roof beams and when French forces took the building back from the Germans in 1918, they saw that the big pillars and some of the walls inside had holes drilled and carved into them to hold explosive charges. Only an unplanned

and hasty retreat had prevented the Germans from bringing the whole church down.

Saint Quentin’s Church has a history that goes back to the early days of Christianity in this region of France. According to history (or legend), a very pious blind Roman woman named Eusebia (Eusébie) received a divine calling to come to the region and through prayer, she was able to locate the body of St. Quentin. It had been dumped in the Somme River 55 years earlier.

Quentin was the son of a Roman senator who had come to the area to preach the gospel two thousand years ago. He was seen as something of a rabble-rouser by the Roman authorities. Their soldiers tortured him in an effort to get him to renounce his faith. He refused. To silence him, they tortured him some more and then cut off his head and threw it and the body into the river.

Clean-up effort: The East end of the Nave in the Basilica

at Saint-Quentin in Northern France photographed soon after the end of World War

One, circa March 1919

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Q: What is the Catholic Church’s position on drugs? What about tobacco and alcohol?

A: According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church “The use of drugs inflicts very grave damage on human health and life. Their use, except on strictly therapeutic grounds, is a grave offense. Clandestine production of and trafficking in drugs are scandalous practices. They constitute direct co-operation in evil, since they encourage people to practices gravely contrary to the moral law.” (CCC,

2291)

Tobacco and alcohol may be seen as pleasure-giving drugs which have little nutritive value but which are used by human beings because they excite the nervous system and because they give some kind of pleasure to the senses. The use of pleasure-giving drugs is not in itself immoral.

However, under some aspects, their use can be sinful: (a) If taken simply for pleasure and sensual satisfaction to the positive exclusion of any usefulness. They can be useful if taken to relieve tiredness or to provide the body with some necessary recreation to the end that it may be a fit instrument of the soul; (b) If taken in a measure that would be harmful to the body, either because of nicotine intoxication which the drug might cause or because of its tendency to be habit-forming; (c) When an unreasonable amount of money is spent to provide such drugs, that is, when one spends for the purchase of such drugs the money one would use for the maintenance of one’s family or for other necessary or more noble uses.

The only reference made to these drugs in the Catholic Catechism is with reference to the virtue of temperance which “disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine.” (CCC, 2290)

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22 CATHOLIC LIFE DECEMBER 2015

The annual Ignite Youth Conference took place during the first week of the September school holidays, in Rothwell, Brisbane. Attracting more than 1200 young people Australia wide, this included a noteworthy contingent of 300 from the Catholic High Schools across the Lismore Diocese.

It was a joyful and meaningful spiritual, social and musical experience that those who participated will never forget! Each year this annual conference provides all who attend with an opportunity to experience several engaging speakers from all over Australia as well as from overseas. Throughout the weekend over a hundred workshops were available for participants to choose to attend. Other aspects to this

weekend include meeting new people and making friends, great audio visual presentations, the experience of the Emmanuel Worship band leading amazing and uplifting prayer and worship sessions – with ‘mosh-pit’ included and the opportunity to experience the sacrament of reconciliation – an opportunity that hundreds of young people accessed. In addition, celebration of Masses in the main auditorium of the conference complex, were lead each day by Bishops and Priests from all parts of Australia, supported by contemporary liturgical music lead by the Emmanuel Worship Band. Throughout the whole of the weekend, there was an extraordinary atmosphere of joy coupled with a real sense that everyone is in this together and enjoying it! Everyone was appreciative of the excellent meals and the opportunity of seeing people who participated sharing their musical abilities and other talents in outdoor concerts during free time.

Fr Richard Foley, Youth Coordinator

The following is the testimony and experience of one of our Diocesan participants, REBECCA MACKNEY, of St Mary’s Parish Casino.

My Experiences of Ignite 2015“I approached the Ignite conference weekend with

excitement as well as not knowing what to expect. What still surprises me with these sorts of conferences is seeing the amount of young people who come to these conferences with open minds and hearts. To me it heart-warming to see these young people open to growing within their own faith journey as well as learning about the Catholic faith as a whole cements the idea that our church is not dying, it’s very much alive within these young people. On a personal level, I was able take a step back from various things that were happening within my life as a whole and look at it with a new perspective and live my life in a way that would allow me to grow within my faith. The workshops that I went to were helpful in giving me tools to take away with me to use in everyday life to help in growing within my faith. Other workshops were useful in providing tools in helping others within their faith journeys and supporting them through their journeys.” Rebecca Mackney, Casino NSW.

The next Ignite Conference is already being planned for September 22-25 2016 and its theme is: “REVELATION”. This awesome weekend will appeal to youth, young adults, those who work with young people and everyone who is young at heart! For further details keep watching the IGNITE website http://new.igniteyouth.com/conference-2/ic2016/ over the coming months leading up to the 2016 Conference.

Brisbane 2015 Ignite Youth Conference ONE LIFE. ONE TRUTH. ONE WAY.

Group photo of the approx 300 students from the Lismore Diocese who attended IGNITE 2015

CATHOLIC LIFE DECEMBER 2015 23

SCHOOLSACROSSTHEDIOCESE

Celebrations and Festa Christi Kindie OrientationThe Mini Fins and their families along with Year 6 buddies and their families recently attended the Kindergarten Orientation Information and Welcome BBQ evening. The Principal, John Wilson, along with our Parish Priest, Father David Gilbey and staff shared with parents’ tips to set their child up for success in readiness for learning and gained an insight into the day in a life of a Kindergarten student at St Finbarr’s school family. Following this celebration the Mini Fins stepped up and had a wonderful day of learning with their 2016 teachers. Meanwhile, parents were welcomed by our current Kindergarten parents at a beautiful morning tea. This culminated in a wonderful prayer and share circle with the Mini Fins, their parents and Year 6 buddies and teachers. Anyone interested in having their child participate in our Mini Fins pre-kindy program one morning per week in 2016 should contact the school for enrolment details.

St Finbarr’s Catholic Primary School Byron Bay

Twilight Dinner & Cinema Under the StarsWe joined with the Parish community for a fabulous evening dining outdoors and enjoying a movie on a huge screen in the playground. The children were treated to a sausage sizzle, ice-block and popcorn as they stretched out on picnic rugs to eat and be entertained under the stars. The adults were invited to a smorgasbord of delicious food as they mingled and ate and enjoyed each other’s company. This was a wonderful opportunity to build community and was a response to the Proclaim work done within schools and parishes throughout the diocese.

School Sacramental Retreats – This year we have also introduced Sacramental Retreats for our Confirmation and Eucharist candidates. These retreats involved reflections, prayer services and opportunities for service within the community. The retreats gave the students the chance to Proclaim their Flame!

St Brigid’s Primary School Kyogle

Live Theatre & Performance ArtsOn Tuesday August 25th at Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA) in Lismore the Catholic Schools Office and representatives from NORPA celebrated the launch of an exciting arts partnership. This initiative focuses on Year 10 Drama students in three secondary colleges, St Mary’s Catholic College Casino, Xavier Catholic College Ballina and St John’s College Woodlawn.

The partnership will involve students from these schools working closely with actors, producers, backstage crew and publicists over a number of different performances. The students will have firsthand access to those responsible for creating, directing, producing, delivering and promoting those performances that delight the public with high quality professional entertainment.

The NORPA partnership will be explored in other regions across the diocese and includes activity with primary students next year as part of Book Week.

NORPA Senior Schools


caption

MacKillop College and St Joseph’s Regional College Port Macquarie with St Paul’s College Kempsey students together at the Hastings-

Macleay Year 8 Writer’s Retreat held at Yarrahapinni

Enrichment Writer’s RetreatThe Hastings-Macleay schools held their annual Enrichment Writer’s Retreat on the 19th and 20th October at Yarrahapinni Adventist Youth Centre, Grassy Head as part of the Lismore Diocesan Literacy Strategy. 45 students and 5 teachers from MacKillop College Port Macquarie,St Joseph’s Regional College Port Macquarie and St Paul’s College Kempsey combined to enjoy beautiful weather and a productive two-day experience. The experience led

to the enrichment of Year 8 students in writing and the

bringing together of students from different parts of the

diocese to work together and to grow as writers.

The location was fantastic, with a sparkling beach and

a secluded rainforest which inspired the students to

engage their senses and develop poetry, drama scripts

and descriptive writing of high quality. The students also

developed their team work and friendships, engaging in

fun activities such as poetry slams as well as quiet reflective

moments and prayer. The students were thankful for the

opportunities provided to them by the teachers who

developed the retreat and they were impeccable in their

attitudes to the work demanded of them making it a great

experience for all involved. This was most evident in the

mature relationships that formed with the teachers from

three different schools and the staff of the retreat centre

over the two days.

Thanks should go to Mr Darren Smith and Ms Nikki Gray

(MacKillop College Port Macquarie), Ms Catriona Martin

and Mrs Jennifer Igerl (St Paul’s College Kempsey) and

Mrs Genine Howard (St Joseph’s Regional College Port

Macquarie) for their planning, teamwork and support and

guidance of the students in developing writing skills that

will be used to great effect in the classroom.

Mr Darren Smith – MacKillop College Port Macquarie

Year 6 had a special idea in showing their gratefulness to their parish community in helping to clean the pews in the Church.

In our week of service, our children have shown what Love really looks like. To end this beautiful week of service we celebrated a special St Augustine’s Mass, where the children of Mini Vinnies brought to the altar a symbol of all the goods our students had been collecting for the poor in our community.

It is through all of these traditions that we continue to become better people and to spread our Faith and the love of Jesus Christ to all who walk through our gates.

A Week of Service‘What Does Love Look Like?It Has The Hands To Help Others.’ – St Augustine

St Augustine’s Day was celebrated this year with a Week of Service to the local community. Each cohort came up with their own wish as to how they may fulfil this.

Kindergarten took it in their stride to look after God’s creation by having a “Clean up St Augustine’s Day”.

Year 1 delivered scrumptious cakes and biscuits for morning tea to our firemen at the Fire Station and the nurses and carers at St Augustine’s Nursing Home.

Year 2 brought joy to the St Augustine’s Nursing Home residents and staff with a beautiful rendition of songs to take them away from the business and routines of their day.

Year 3 also graced The St Augustine’s Nursing Home with a wonderful repertoire of songs they had been learning for this special occasion.

The parishioners at St Augustine’s were able to join in the singing of the Taize session which Year 4 provided and which finished with a cup of tea and making time for conversation between the young and the old.

Year 5 also loved meeting with parishioners and providing for them a beautiful morning tea at the Curran Centre.

MacKillop College

St Joseph’s Regional College

St Paul’s College

St Augustine’s Primary School

Port Macquarie

Port Macquarie

Kempsey

Coffs Harbour

The St Augustine’s Minnie Vinnie’s crew with a sample of the goodies they collected throughout our week of service.



ProclaimAs part of Proclaim Lismore Students, on Thursday 12th November, Mt St Patrick College, Murwillumbah’s Year 10 CSYMA class facilitated a one hour Retreat experience for Year 4 students at St Joseph’s Primary,

South Murwillumbah. The theme of ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Matthew 22:39) was explored through prayer, scripture, games, group activities and discussion. This enabled the students to come to a deeper understanding of exactly ‘who is my neighbour?’ and how love might be expressed at school, home and in their communities.

Mt St Patrick and St Joseph’s Murwillumbah

Campout With DadsOn Saturday the 7th November, over 190 dads and nearly 300 Holy Family students took part in a ‘Campout With Dads’ on the oval of our school at Skennars Head. A key focus of the campout was to provide a special experience for both dads or father figures and their children to come together and ultimately build and strengthen their relationships.

The day began at noon with dads and children arriving to pick their sites and pitch their tents. A variety of fun activities ran throughout the afternoon including Dad’s Dungeons, Dodging Dads and the Dizzy Dad Challenge Cup. Great fun was had by all. One notable experience of the camp was the personal reflection time for Dad’s and their children. The aim of this reflection activity was to simply provide an opportunity for dads and their children to find some time together and then share and discuss their personal relationships with each other.

Holy Family Primary School Skennars Head

Students with Art Teacher Mrs Michelle King and local artists, Gilbert Laurie and Justin Livingstone.

New Look UnderpassDuring Ministry Week held in October, Year 11 students at Trinity participate in voluntary community service activities and 16 students volunteered to work on beautifying the third stage of the Dawson Street underpass. The mural pays homage to what has come before. This includes the dual charisms of Trinity Catholic College, Nano Nagle and Marcellin Champagnat as well as significant others in our world and the original custodians of this land. One side was designed by art teacher Mrs Michelle King in collaboration with the students and sprayed and stencilled by all, under the tutelage and great skill of local street artist, Justin Livingston. The other side depicts the story of country of the Lismore area and was designed by well known local Bundjalung Artist, Gilbert Laurie. The result is a vibrant passage way that communicates a message of respect to those that have come before us, as well as brightening up the day as you pass through.

Trinity Catholic College Lismore



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St Joseph’s Primary School Laurieton

Year 5 students at the Leadership Day

Leadership Development DayEach year as part of the Leadership Program at Our Lady Help of Christians, our Yr 5 students take part in a Leadership Development Day while our Yr 6 leaders are in Canberra. The aim of the day is to build a cohesive leadership team and investigate the characteristics and qualities of good leaders using Jesus as our role model.

This year, we explored the leadership example given to us by both Jesus and Pope Francis and the many similarities they share. The children embraced the day, entering wholeheartedly into the large and small group discussions and team building activities, learning about themselves and the special talents and gifts that each of them can bring to the leadership role.

Our Lady Help of Christians Primary Sth Lismore

Celebrating Social JusticeWe have a strong number of enthusiastic Year 5 and 6 children who are passionate about social justice issues and are regular members of our Mini Vinnies club. The latest initiative these children embarked upon was organising a Crazy Sock Day to fundraise for the children living in poverty in Madagascar, Africa. The day was a huge success, not only for raising money but for raising the awareness of poverty issues around our world.

The Year 6 students from St Joseph’s Laurieton and a Year 10 CSYMA class from St Joseph’s Regional College have been meeting fortnightly at our school. It is a student discipleship and faith formation initiative that has made a powerful connection and companionship between the primary and high school students. The overarching theme of all visits was that of ‘journey.’ This covered the faith journey of the children and the journey to high school that the Year 6 students are about to embark upon.

Merry Christmas

May the miracle of the birth of the Child Jesus fill your heart and

homes with Peace and Joy.

Wishing you and your families a safe and blessed Christmas.

From Brother John,Staff and Students

Trinity Catholic College Lismore1 Dawson Street LISMORE NSW 2480

P: (02) 6627 6600 E: [email protected]: www.trinitylismore.nsw.edu.au



Grandparents’ Day 2015 Grandparents’ Day has become a very special day in our school calendar. Fr Anthony Lemon led Mass in the Sacred Heart Church where we celebrated the important role that grandparents play in our lives. Grandparents were invited to visit student classrooms and enjoy sharing learning experiences with their grandchildren. There was positive feedback from our special visitors about our beautifully presented classrooms, use of technology and modern facilities. The students really appreciated and enjoyed having their grandparents in the school. It is wonderful to see the students take much ‘Heart & Pride’ in walking their families around the school and into their classroom. Some grandparents journeyed from places far and wide including: Broken Hill, Sydney, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Grafton & Coffs Harbour to share in this annual event.

Celebrating Feast DayThe college held a full school assembly on Thursday 22nd October, to celebrate the Feast Day of St. John Paul II. Our College Leader of Evangelisation, Mr Tim Davis focused his presentation on the words “Do not be afraid”. These were the first words spoken by Pope John Paul II to the faithful of the world when elected Pope in 1978.

St. John Paul II will be remembered as The People’s Pope. He was loved around the world by both Christians and non-Christians alike. His papacy will be remembered for his tireless ecumenical approach to welcoming other Christian sects, as well as forging a better understanding with other religious traditions.

“We reflect on the way that this inspiring man never faulted from trying to follow Christ – The way, The Truth and The Life” (John 14:6)

Greg Felits – Assistant Principal

St John Paul College Coffs Harbour

2016 Student Leaders, Brodie Cowling and Eleanor Hewitt

Oscar Bakunowich (Kindergarten) enjoys sharing Grandparent’s Day

Bead strings in action

New Maths Program Hands OnThis semester we implemented the EMU Program – Extending Mathematical Understanding. Two teachers have been trained and they have selected six students to receive the accelerated individualised instruction. As part of this program, some great new ‘hands on’ resources are being used such as bead kebabs, bead strings and empty number lines as well old faithfuls such as counters, dominoes, dice and blocks. These students and their parents have been thrilled with their progress and greatly improved attitude towards mathematics. They are thoroughly enjoying the lessons and it is wonderful to see.

Earlier this term all teachers were given the opportunity, during a Staff Development day, to access the resources used in this program and were trained in how to initiate the Mathematical Assessment Interview.

St Joseph’s Primary School South Grafton

Mount St Patrick Primary Murwillumbah


SCHOOLSACROSSTHEDIOCESESt Joseph’s Primary School Woodburn

CSYMA DayAs a part of the Religious Education curriculum in Year 9 at St John’s College Woodlawn, students are asked for expressions of interest to participate in a CSYMA class. As a part of this elective group’s assessment, the students organise and then run a CSYMA day at a diocesan Primary school. Keenly attended, the Woodlawn Students presented the 2015 workshop on Monday 9th November at St Carthages Primary School in Lismore. The Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia is a wonderful format for fun and relevant way for the youth of today to spread the word of the Gospels and this was no more evident than Monday’s workshop. Congratulations go to all students involved from both schools.

Mini Vinnies Regional GatheringOn Friday 13th November, we played host to 150 students from schools in the Orara region participating in the annual St Vincent de Paul Mini Vinnies Gathering. The day began with a gathering Mass and Mini Vinnies members from regional schools then participated in three social justice workshops organised by Sarah Mason, our Lismore Diocesan Southern Youth Coordinator. The workshops focused on social justice issues in their schools, wider community and internationally.

The workshops were run by a number of volunteers from St John Paul College along with three young adult volunteers who were past High School Vinnies members who still help with the Vinnies programs.

St John’s College

St Mary’s Primary School

Woodlawn

Bellingen

Ella, Jenna and Alec Robinson enjoying breakfast with their Dad

Let Your Light Shine!The beginning School Mass of 2015 was “Let Your Light Shine! At that Mass, Father Richard Foley spoke about the need for everyone to take responsibility in our Catholic school family and be Jesus’ light unto the World in all we do and say. Throughout the year students and families have had the opportunity to show the love of Jesus in so many ways.

Our Mini Vinnies team have visited and shared in a Mass with the elderly at the Coraki Community Care facility and organised a craft activity for the students at the Woodburn Preschool. Our students have enjoyed breakfast with their fathers for Father’s Day, sang at the Woodburn River Festival, marched at the Evans Head Dawn ceremony and morning Ceremony at Woodburn on ANZAC Day.


Mikayla Simpson, Taylah Excell, Natasha Strickland, Abi Davidson, Tahlia Piper, Mikayla Mayes

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St Carthage’s Primary School Lismore

Watch us Set the World on FireSt Mary’s Primary sets the world on fire! The Stage 3 students suggested a Proclaim theme for our annual Grafton Jacaranda Festival float this year. Student voice proved to be so powerful that most of our senior students were present. They led all the students, parents and staff in singing the many songs enjoyed on the discipleship days, Incitaré and Exuro. The children have reclaimed their flame! They designed and produced all the artworks and helped decorate the float. Connecting our school with the local community is important to all at St Mary’s. We showed that we are Making Jesus Real in everything we do!

St Mary’s Primary School Grafton

‘Tournament of Minds’ State Champs!Two teams from St Carthage’s Primary School Lismore this week each won 1st place at the NSW state finals for ‘Tournament of Minds’.

After winning their regional challenges at Woodlawn in their team disciplines, St Carthage’s Primary School sent a ‘Language/Literature’ team and a ‘Social Sciences’ team consisting of seven team members each to the State Finals held at the University of New South Wales, Sydney last weekend.

Each team was placed in a ‘lock-up’ situation for three hours where they were presented with a challenge to solve according to their discipline without any outside support.

Also, within this ‘lock-up’ time, teams were presented with a ‘Spontaneous Challenge’, where they are presented with a challenge and have four minutes to creatively develop a response to the posed question and then present their response according to a scoring criteria. The scores for both challenges are then totalled.

Team presentations are scored on originality, creativity, effectiveness of presentation and the overall quality of the presentation.

The Language Literature Team consisted of Evie Barnes, Marina and Mena P, Natalie Fennamore, Jackson Ware, Nino Giardier and Sophie George.

The Social Sciences Team consisted of Emma Dunn, Katie Hunter, Luca Venerables, Hannah Van Arendonk, Pheobe Waters, Isabella Wilson and Ali Donaldson.

Facilitators: Jenifer Thomson, Tanya Buchanan and Lynne Bermingham.

Both teams will now represent their families, school and region at the Australasian Championships at the University of NSW in October. Teams from Hong Kong, New Zealand and Malaysia will be also represented. We know these teams from St Carthage’s will be worthy representatives of our region.

Catholic Life, December, 201530 Catholic Life, September, 201530

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CAVHOL ICIFE - Lismore Diocese · 2015. 12. 12. · Catholic Life, December, 2015. Editor and Publisher of “Catholic Life”: Father Peter M Karam. Email: [email protected]