Catholic Life - October 2012 by Catholic Diocese of Sale

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Catholic Life

Publication of the Diocese of Sale

Deacon is ordained at Cranbourne - Page 3

ISSUE 166

October 2012

Celebrating 60 years of marriage - Page 6

Maffra link to cricketing legend - Page 7

Mandatory reporting THE Catholic Church in Victoria backs mandatory reporting for clergy and reporting to police The Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne, Denis Hart, has announced that the Church in Victoria supported extending mandatory reporting under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 to ministers of religion and other religious personnel, and the reporting of child abuse to police. Archbishop Hart was speaking on behalf of the leaders of the Catholic Church in Victoria, following the publication by the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and other Non-Government Organisations of the Church submission, Facing the Truth. “In Facing the Truth the Church supports the extension of mandatory reporting of cases of suspected child abuse to ministers of religion and other religious personnel, with an exemption for information received during the rite of confession. It also proposes a mechanism for reporting child abuse to police while protecting the victim’s right to privacy,” he said. Mandatory reporters include doctors, nurses, teachers and police. No additional professions have been added since 1993. “The Church also supports the recommendation of the Protecting Victoria’s Vulnerable Children Inquiry that mandatory reporting should operate prospectively, so that it covers reasonably suspected instances of physical and sexual abuse of a person who is under the age of 18 at the time the reporter forms the suspicion of such abuse.

“Extending mandatory reporting in this way would mean that all of those mandated are doing so under the same system and to the same authorities. “In relation to the police, our submission discusses the issue – a sensitive one for victims – that many want their experiences to remain private and do not want their complaint reported to the police. A tension exists between respecting the wishes of these victims and the calls for all allegations of abuse to be

the confessional. “This difficult matter requires a balance to be struck between the responsibility of the community to prosecute criminal conduct and protect the vulnerable, and the right of victims to privacy. “This balance could be achieved by implementing a system in which details of an allegation (other than those that could identify the complainant) are reported to the police on the basis that the police’s powers of compulsion cannot be used

Facing the Truth reported to the police. “The Church acknowledges that Victoria Police has the primary role and expertise in investigating criminal allegations. “We recommend that all allegations of serious crimes be reported to the police in a way that does not infringe the confidentiality and privacy of victims who have come forward on that basis, or the sanctity of

to discover the identity of the complainant from the source of the report. “The Church would support reforms to implement this,” Archbishop Hart said. The Introduction and Executive Summary of Facing the Truth is available on the Sale Diocese website www.sale. catholic.org.au and detailed information on the response to the inquiry is available at www. facingthetruth.org.au • More Page 4

Saint’s relic whistle-stop tour of diocese

BISHOP Christopher Prowse (left) and Fr Richard Shortall SJ pause as the relic is carried by parishioners at St Patrick’s Church, Pakenham, after it was received into the diocese by Bishop Prowse, who left for Rome immediately after the Mass. See Page 5.

Your generous gift will go on giving A donation to the Bishop’s Family Foundation will aid needy families in the Diocese of Sale by funding much needed counselling and other programs. Send tax deductible donations to: Bishop’s Family Foundation, PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820 Phone 5622 6600 for more information

Page 2 - Catholic Life, October 2012

I ask you all to be a dwelling place for Jesus D

ear Friends in Christ Jesus,

To God’s People in the Catholic Diocese of Sale

Opening of Sion House SION House was blessed and opened last month. The Diocese of Sale was honored to welcome the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Lazzarotto, for this historic occasion. It was the third time he has visited us. It was his last official visit in Australia before taking up his new appointment in the Holy Land. In his homily, the Nuncio declared that he was not simply blessing the new administrative centre of the diocese. Sion House, he stated, was to be a dwelling place of the Lord. It was a place where people can come to encounter the Lord. It is a place where the love of Jesus is experienced and shared throughout the diocese. Surely such wonderful reflections ought to be extended to all our churches, presbyteries,

schools, home and hearts. We are God’s dwelling places! We are not efficient machines or robotic dispensers of the Sacred Mysteries. We are the places where the Holy Trinity lives. “We are God’s building” (1Cor 3:9) as St Paul says. We have a human dignity beyond compare. Such profound foundations express themselves in the way we trust each other. Love – the love emanating from the Divine Mercy of Jesus is the way we go out to others in missionary charity. As St Augustine expresses it, “Let there be unity in what is necessary, freedom in what is doubtful, and charity in everything”.

Synod in Rome DURING most of this month of October, I will have the honor of experiencing the Holy Spirit dwelling in the Universal Church in a particular way. I will be participating in the Synod in Rome on the new evangelisation and the transmission of the faith. It will be presided over by the Holy Father, His Holiness, Benedict XVI. On October 11 in Rome the Synod Fathers joined the Holy Father in the opening Mass inaugurating the Year of Faith. The Year of Faith will recall the 50th Anniversary of the opening

of the Second Vatican Council and the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Be assured I prayed for the diocese in a special way during this Papal Mass at St Peter’s Basilica, Rome. Please pray for me during October and all the Synod Fathers. Everyone knows we are in challenging times in the Catholic Church today. But, throughout our long history, we have witnessed the Holy Spirit coming to help the Church in its historic needs. This is clearly happening now. The Holy Spirit is alive amongst us. There is much hope. The Church will always be God’s dwelling place on earth. May we always grow as witnesses to His presence in our world today. God bless you and your families always. + Bishop Christopher Prowse Catholic Bishop of Sale

Loch stalls buy Mass kit for a Nigerian priest A MASS box has been provided for a church in an impoverished area of Nigeria thanks to the generosity of Loch, Korumburra and Leongatha parishioners. Fr Dennis Ujah from St Michael’s Church, Ochobo in Southern Nigeria has been presented with a Mass Box to be used in his church. St Michael’s is the former parish church of Fr Joseph Abutu, who arrived in the Diocese of Sale from Ochobo late last year. Parishioners from Loch, Korumburra and Leongatha formed a “Project Ochobo” team earlier this year after they heard of the difficulties and hardships endured by the people in Fr Abutu’s village and church. DIOCESE OF SALE

The village does not enjoy running water or reliable electricity. St Michael’s church does not have vestments, hymnals or a chalice and other altar items necessary to say a Mass. Instead, each ordained priest is expected to buy their own. The Project Ochobo team promised Fr Ujah that they would raise enough money (about $600) to buy a Mass box to be used in the church. Following two stalls at the monthly markets at Loch, the team were overwhelmed by the support given to their cause. The two markets raised over $3000 and so $600 was sent to Ochobo through Bishop of Otukpo, Michael Ekwoyi.

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FR Dennis Ujah displays the Mass kit bought with funds from South Gippsland.

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Siju Xavier ordained as deacon for Sale Diocese SALE Diocese seminarian Siju Xavier has completed the last major step on his journey to the priesthood by being ordained a deacon. Bishop Christopher Prowse ordained him at St Agatha’s Church, Cranbourne, on September 22. The church was filled mainly with locals but there was a strong contingent from elsewhere in the diocese, particularly Traralgon where Siju did his pastoral year. Twenty-five fellow seminarians from Corpus Christi College were part of the ceremony. The Samoan Choir were outstanding and while Siju was prostrate before the Altar and the People of God were praying the Litany of Saints for him. Bishop Prowse said Siju’s journey towards the priesthood was an interesting one as he was one of 13 children in Kerala. He had been led towards the Franciscan Order for some time and began seminary studies with them. Contact with Traralgon parish priest Fr Mathew Joseph, finally led him, through the Grace of the Lord to come to Sale Diocese. “Siju, may you be a dwelling place of the Lord Jesus abiding in you. May you always be in communion with Him especially in the Catholic Church and guided by the teaching of the Church transmitted through the Church’s Magisterium. May

your time as a deacon be a time of great joy for you and for others that you serve.” At celebrations afterwards speeches included one by Siju’s father. He said he and his wife were privileged to come to Australia and witness this great gathering of Holy People. “Siju is the 10th born of 13 children and we are so privileged to give one of our children in the service of God and His Church. The youngest of my children is also a religious.” He said that in India everyone was deliberately having fewer children, but they decided to bow their heads to God’s will and have a large family. “Today we are so pleased that one among these is going to be a priest of God. We can’t be thankful enough for all of you gathered here today and the privilege of seeing you all.” He said they extremely grateful to Bishop Prowse and the diocese for organising for them to attend. He also gave thanks to Fr Matthew for his work. BISHOP Christopher Prowse ordains Deacon Suji Xavier at St Agatha’s Church, Cranbourne. “May God bless you all abundantly and as we keep you all in our prayers, please keep us and Siju in your daily prayers. Our humble thanks to Fr Denis, Fr Darek and the people of St Agatha’s Parish for your loving hospitality and the seamless organisation of this event.”

SIJU Xavier with his parents, who travelled from India to be part of his ordination to the diaconate.

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Page 4 - Catholic Life, October 2012

Be entertained with Facing the Truth submission story of St Francis By Fr Shane Mackinlay

LAKES ENTRANCE - A Sunday afternoon concert featuring a reflection of St Francis of Assisi by talented entertainer Peter Kearney will be held at St Brendan’s school hall on November 25 at 2pm. Kearney will perform Good Morning Good People in which he weaves narration, music and songs to reflect deeply on the life of St Francis of Assisi. This presentation can be described as a moving and prayerful journey, a pilgrimage of the heart through the life of St Francis and marvellous feat of song and story on the life of the saint. The telling of St Francis’ life is beautifully wrought. It is time for meditation and reflection. All the way through the program the gentle spirituality of Francis shines through. Kearney sings, narrates and plays guitar while more than 100 images, paintings and drawings from the life of St Francis are screened as the story unfolds. Good Morning Good People is mainly for adults and students of upper primary age and older and runs for about 90 minutes. There is a natural point in the sequence where there is an in-

terval, with St Brendan’s usual scrumptious afternoon tea being supplied. Listeners are led through St Francis’ youth, the turning points of his imprisonment, the encounter with a leper, his dedication to the Lady Poverty, his discovery of mission and ascent to the mountain. Then the listener hears of St Francis’ compassion for the people of the valley, his encounter with the wolf and the experience of the stigmata on the mountain of La Verna. Settings of the famous Peace Prayer (Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace) and the Canticle of the Creatures are woven through the story of Francis’ last days. This concert will certainly assist with your faith formation and if you have not heard Kearney in concert before then you can be assured that it is an afternoon well spent. Cost of the concert is $5. Kearney’s CDs will be available on the day. EFTPOS available. Contact Joan Micah from St Brendan’s Parish liturgy team on 5155 5479 or joanemicah@ bigpond.com for more details.

“Let us take things as we find them: let us not attempt to distort them into what they are not … We cannot make facts. All our wishing cannot change them. We must use them.”

WITH these words from Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman, the Bishops of Victoria and the Leaders of Catholic Religious Australia and Catholic Religious Victoria begin their submission, Facing the Truth, to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and Other Non-Government Organisations. The Victorian Government announced the inquiry in April 2012 and requested the Family and Community Development Committee to report by April 30, 2013 on the processes, practices, policies and protocols by which religious and other nongovernment organisations prevent and respond to the criminal abuse of children by people within their organisations. In their pastoral letter of August 21, 2012, the bishops and religious leaders stated that they would fully cooperate with the inquiry. The submission is an expression of the Church’s commitment to Facing the Truth with humility, acknowledging its

Of all the decisions we make in our lifetime, making a valid will is among the most important.

This final testament speaks loudly of the values, causes and possessions we hold most dear. We bequest personal treasures and mementos to special friends and loved ones and ask them to care for them after our passing. If you hold the Church dear, you may consider leaving a percentage of your estate or a specific amount to the Diocese of Sale. The Diocese is grateful for the support of its benefactors, who have enabled the Church to grow in its service of its people, and invite you to share in this rich heritage.

failures, and learning from the past. The inquiry also provides an opportunity for those victims who wish to do so to come forward and speak about how the abuse inflicted on them has affected their lives. The Church recognises and respects the right of all victims to speak publicly about their abuse. The Church has confirmed that it will not use confidentiality obligations which may exist to prevent those who have suffered abuse from speaking to the inquiry or elsewhere. The Church’s submission describes how the extent of sexual abuse and its terrible consequences first came to be understood by society and the Church in the late 1970s. While the early response was too slow, the Church has improved its response in light of the growing understanding of the dynamics and impact of child sexual abuse. In Facing the Truth, the bishops and religious leaders highlight that the wellbeing of children is of paramount concern and that the sexual abuse of a child was, is and always will be a crime and a profound contradiction of all we believe in. The submission shows how the Church of today is committed to facing up to the truth and to not disguising, diminishing or avoiding the actions of those who have betrayed a sacred trust. In the 16 years since the introduction of the Melbourne Response and Towards Healing, about 620 cases of criminal child abuse have been upheld by the Church in Victoria. Most claims relate to incidents from 30 and up to 80 years ago. Facing the Truth also includes statistics that show that the incidence of abuse has fallen dramatically since the 1960s and 1970s, with very few incidents in the past 20 years. While any abuse is to be deplored, it is encouraging that the steps taken by the Church to prevent abuse seem to be having a positive impact. Of course, more work needs to be done, and we need to remain vigilant. In Facing the Truth, the Church provides detailed information about the Melbourne

Fr Shane Mackinlay Response and Towards Healing and how they have been refined as the Church has learned more about the support needed by victims. We now await the response of the inquiry to the measures which the Church has introduced. In Facing the Truth, the Church renews its apology to victims and their families and promises to continue to take decisive action to foster healing and to guard against future harm. Our prayers are with the victims and their families and those entrusted with the conduct of the inquiry. In the words of the prayer for the Year of Grace, we pray that God will attune our hearts and minds to the presence of the Holy Spirit, that our Church may be transformed, our relationships be healed and our nation grow in compassion and justice. Information about the inquiry, the response of the Church and the support available to victims is available at www.facing thetruth.org.au • Fr Shane Mackinlay, is spokesperson for the Catholic Church in Victoria in relation to the Parliamentary Inquiry

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Catholic Life, October 2012 - Page 5

Saint’s relic draws many to devotion By Sophy Morley LARGE crowds of people gathered for the journey of the Relic of St Francis Xavier around the Diocese of Sale on October 5-7. The relic, which is normally housed in the Gesu in Rome was brought to Australia by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference as an initiative of the Year of Grace. For the next the months the relic will be taken to dioceses around Australia in a national Pilgrimage of Grace. The relic, which is the right forearm of St Francis Xavier, is the arm with which he baptised and blessed thousands of people and with which he cared for and held so many of the sick and dying in the places he visited around India, Sri Lanka, Malacca and Japan. St Francis Xavier, together with St Ignatius Loyola and Blessed Peter Favre, founded

the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits. St Francis Xavier was a pioneer of the missionary movement, with his travels to and work amongst communities in India, Sri Lanka, Malacca and Japan being well documented. Whilst Australia’s national patron saint is Our Lady Help of Christians, St Francis Xavier and St Therese of Lisieux are our missionary patrons. The relic was welcomed to the diocese at St Patrick’s Church Pakenham, by Bishop Prowse, Fr Bernie Mahony and parishioners with a liturgy of reception followed by Mass and veneration. Fr Richard Shortall SJ, the priest custodian for the relic’s pilgrimage around Australia, spoke about the significance of St Francis Xavier and his life and the meaning of the pilgrimage of the relic. Following Pakenham, the relic departed for

A FAMILY spends a few moment kneeling before the relic at Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren.

Australians fortunate to view relic up close THE faithful in Australia were fortunate to be able to see the relic of St Francis Xavier up close according to custodian Fr Richard Shortall who is accompanying it on its Australian tour. He said that at the Jesuit headquarters at Gesu the relic was normally located up high and people could normally only see it from four metres away. Added to that was the problem that European churches were always dimly lit. It was a joy to travel with the relic which was 460 years old as St Francis Xavier had died on December 3, 1552. Fr Shortsall said there was a great devotion to St Francis Xavier in Asia and particularly India where over two million people filed past the rest of his body when it was brought down for display at Goa five years ago. He said the forearm had been

St Mary’s Cathedral Sale where it was welcomed by Fr John Speekman and a large gathering of people from the parish and beyond. From Sale, the relic journeyed to Beaconsfield to the excited school community of St Francis Xavier College, where 500 students, parents and staff joined in an evening of youth celebrations including music, prayers and short addresses from young people. Later in the evening the relic was carried from the school hall to the newly refurbished chapel through a candlelit guard of honor. Mass was celebrated by Fr Peter Slater VG and veneration and vigil followed until the dawn Mass on Saturday morning and the farewelling of the relic as it departed for Our Lady Help of Christians Parish in Narre Warren. Several hundred pilgrims came to pray, sing and venerate the relic. A guard of honor was formed with Fr Brendan Hogan leading the procession as the relic departed the parish for St Agatha’s Parish, Cranbourne, where it was welcomed by Fr Darek Jablonski and the parish community. St Agatha’s hosted an overnight vigil and the relic was farewelled during the morning prayer of the Church on Sunday before if departed for the Melbourne Archdiocese and St Francis Xavier Parish in Frankston. In this day and age, the notion of venerating relics may seem an antiquated practice and not relevant to us. Just as we may treasure personal mementoes of a person that we have loved deeply and who continues to inspire us, so the Church treasures relics as a physical reminder of some of the truly inspiration saints who have graced her with their faithfulness and example. In honoring the relic, we are honoring the person of St Francis Xavier, who, through all his life, with its disappointments, joys and struggles can be a

VENERATING the relic in St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale. powerful inspiration to us on cis Xavier and how we might our Christian journey. ponder aspects of his life as an Fr Shortall was able to assist example for us, so that we too pilgrims in leading prayerful re- can become aflame with God’s flections on the life of St Fran- love.

Personal Prayer to St Francis Xavier You were sent to set the world on fire with God’s love: To share the hope you had discovered, And to give freely what you had freely received. Accompany me in this Year of Grace May I open my heart to the God of grace, Keep my eyes on Chris, his Son, And open myself more deeply to the Holy Spirit, my Life. ©Society of Jesus 2012

removed in 1611 when the Jesuits were preparing for his beatification and they wanted a significant relic to be housed in Rome.

FR Richard Shortall, SJ

SPECIAL care is taken in transporting and carrying the relic. On its trip through our diocese it was carried in hearses supplied by either Le Pine Funerals or Barry and Annette Lett Funeral Directors of Sale.

Page 6 - Catholic Life, October 2012

Broeren diamond wedding celebrations at Lorne A FAMILY weekend in Lorne was the highlight of Matt and Nelly Broeren’s 60th wedding anniversary celebrations. The festivities began with Mass on Thursday September 13, the day of the anniversary, celebrated by Fr Hengel at St Ita’s Church in Drouin. On the following day, Mr and Mrs Broeren’s nine children and their spouses, and 25 of their 31 grandchildren, and their partners, gathered with them for a joyful weekend of sharing and reminiscing. At a special dinner on Saturday night, Mr and Mrs Broeren were entertained by their family with accounts of their courtship and migration to Australia from Holland and the subsequent years of raising a young family

and growing their very successful photographic business. Presentations of a DVD made by the grandchildren and a humorous musical skit presented by the whole family resulted in much laughter and merriment. Mr and Mrs Broeren received congratulatory messages from the Premier, Prime Minister, Governor General, the Dutch Consul and the Queen. They were also pleased to receive a Papal Blessing from Pope Benedict XVI. On the following weekend the couple received a blessing from Fr Stephen Onuoha at their home parish of St Mary’s Newborough and then concluded the celebrations with a luncheon with their own brothers and sisters. THE gathering of the Broeren clan for the Newborough couple’s diamond wedding anniversary.

Lakes celebrating the Year of Grace LAKES ENTRANCE – St Brendan’s Parish will hold a weekend seminar to celebrate the Year of Grace. Entitled ‘New Life, Life in the Spirit’ it will be held in the Hobby Room at the Lakes Entrance Parish Centre on November 10-11. The seminar will give participants an opportunity to deepen their relationship with God and a desire to share that with others, It will be an opportunity to come to know the love of God the Father, to have a personal encounter with the risen Jesus and to experience the power of the Holy Spirit. The weekend will include music, prayer, reflection, sharing and various dynamics, in-

cluding scripture-based teachings. Saturday sessions begin at 10am and conclude at 5pm. Those attending are asked to bring something to share for lunch. Morning and afternoon teas will be provided. The Sunday program begins with 9am Mass, followed by morning tea and concludes at 1pm. The cost of the weekend is through donation and it may be possible to billet people attending from afar. More information is available from the co-ordinator Joan Micah 5155 5479, 0431 438 034 or joanemicah@bigpond.com, or Fr Bernard Buckley on 5155 1292.

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The lesson of two sparrows VENICE is not famous for its food – it has other attractions. There are some Venetian dishes, however, that could only rate as spectacular and are not found anywhere else in the world. One such dish uses a particular type of fish that has few appealing qualities. It is found at the bottom of the muddy canals, it is very bony and even fatty and is quite difficult to cook. But put it in the hands of the expert, when it is cooked slowly and gently so as not to disturb the bones, it produces a spectacular stock which is used to flavor a unique and memorable risotto. In some kitchens, even the least appealing part of an animal is the foundation of a great meal. The discarded fabric can become, in the hands of someone with imagination, a beautiful garment. Today many people scour antique and second hand shops in search of the discarded which to them are hidden treasures. So often we overlook the seemingly worthless, the insignificant yet each has its value, its dignity. I know of someone who always buys clothes at Op Shops, not only because of price or a commitment to environmental recycling but because “they all have a story. That makes them precious”. Not everyone thinks that way but often the overlooked, the discarded are hidden treasures. So often, the value of the seemingly worthless lies not in monetary value but in memories, in ideas, in ways that they may speak to us or remind us of things we hold dear, things that make us who we are and why we act as we do. We live in an age where winners are supreme. Second place is the first loser. Being first, being the most famous or the richest or the most powerful is so often held to be what we must aspire to. Having the latest, the most up-to-date is promoted as being

Reflections by Jim Quillinan important, essential even for success. Look at the ads on TV. It must be confusing to our children, to our young people to discern what is important, what will bring them happiness and fulfilment. So often TV, our sports heroes, the magazines of today promote ideas and values that are so different from those of the Gospel. Jesus spoke about the value placed upon sparrows in his day. Sparrows, which could be easily bought in the marketplace, were the cheapest meal a person could buy. Sparrows were so common that they were practically worthless. They were even used in the ceremony of purification from leprosy (Leviticus 14:4954). “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny?” Jesus said. A half-a-cent per sparrow. That was the monetary value placed upon sparrows. “Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows (Matt 10:29)?”. Of all the things He could have chosen, Jesus chose the very common sparrow to illustrate how important all things are to God, how intrinsically valuable and beautiful. All things have their purpose in God’s creation, no matter how seemingly worthless. Jesus’ lesson is also a vivid reminder of how important each person is, not just the rich and famous. There are so many lives that are go unnoticed and even unappreciated, so many acts of kindness that go unnoticed. There are times when we should stop to recall what may

appear to be insignificant in our lives, the things we so often take for granted. As we prepare to celebrate the Communion of Saints throughout the month of November, we are reminded of those people who have gone before and those in our lives today, our companions on the journey. We are reminded of the messengers of God – people, events, written or spoken words – that came to us at just the right time and helped us to grow. We are reminded of the gift of loved ones who have encouraged us throughout our lives, for their faithful presence, for being sources of encouragement as they stood by us when we felt inadequate or insignificant. The following prayer may help us in our preparation:

O God, when I have food, help me to remember the hungry; When I have work, help me to remember the jobless; When I have a home, help me to remember those who have no home at all; When I am without pain, help me to remember those who suffer, And remembering, help me to destroy my complacency; Stir with in me my compassion, So that I may be concerned enough to help; By word and deed, those who cry out for what I take for granted. Amen.

Catholic Life, October 2012 - Page 7

Priest’s link to Sri Lankan cricketing legend MAFFRA – The new priest-inresidence at St Mary’s Parish, Maffra, can lay claim to having been part of the formative years of world record test wicket taker Muttiah Muralitharan. Fr Hilarion Fernando OSB was teaching at St Anthony’s College, Kandy, when the youngster with the distinctive bowling action started at grade one at the school. However, Muralitharan’s bowling action was his own and the school just watched as his skills developed on the cricket field. Fr Fernando said that Muralitharan was always destined to play test cricket and for the last few years at the college took over 100 wickets each year in the 12 match series against other colleges. The rest is history with Muralitharan going on to take 800 test wickets and more than 500 one day international wickets for Sri Lanka in a stellar career, at times rocked by controversy of him being no-balled for throwing. Fr Fernando said former Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara could easily have been another St Anthony’s student, as his father has attended the college, but the family chose instead to send Sangakkara to a neighboring elite private school. St Joseph’s had around 2800 boys enrolled and while it was

a Catholic school run by the Benedictines, the Catholics represented less than 30 percent of students. He said that there were about 1000 Buddhists, 800 Catholics, 400 Muslims and 400 Tamils who were mainly Hindu. Fr Fernando spent 25 years at the school, the last 12 as principal. He has been in Maffra for a couple of months and has

quickly fitted into parish life. Adjusting to living on his own took a few weeks as he had always lived in Benedictine Monasteries since being ordained in Columbo in 1973. He was one of three men ordained at the same time and he smiles proudly to recount that one had become a bishop, one the prior of a monastery and he had been a school principal. He studied in Rome where he

obtained his Licentiate in Theology, then went on to England where he obtained a Degree in Social Anthropology, followed by a Masters of Sociology from the University of Sri Lanka. Fr Fernando said he never had any real desire to come to Australia but he was invited by a group of 200 St Anthony’s old boys living in Australia to come here and talk to them as part of the 150th anniversary celebrations of the school in 2004. Last year he came back to visit his niece who migrated to Cranbourne about four years ago and while here he helped out saying Masses at a few parishes. “I met Bishop Prowse several times and suggested that if he liked I could come here and assist for a year.”

However, the bishop said that with all the paperwork which needed to be done, it would be better for him to come for three years. Fr Fernando said that as he was retired and had no real ties at the monastery, he and the bishop organised with the superior to let him come for the three years. He said that the people of Maffra and Heyfield parishes had been very kind to him and he was glad that he had been able to resume occasional Masses at Dargo. He said Mass there at the end of September and planned to say Mass at Dargo at noon on months where there was a fifth Sunday, which made the next Mass December 30.

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Page 8 - Catholic Life, October 2012

Real challenges: Strong foundations for the future AFTER five years as Director of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Sale, this will be my last column written for Catholic Life. For me it has been a great period in my life. I have met and worked with wonderful people in a beautiful part of Australia. Of course, there have been challenges, but, with some hard work and much good will, they have been met and I believe we have all grown through them. That, after all, is the essence of the Passover message of Jesus. It is through those negative experiences, those little deaths, that we rise to new, more fully rounded lives. Catholic schools in the Diocese of Sale are wonderful places, where great effort is being made to provide families with a truly Catholic education for their children. Our schools take that responsibility very seriously – and it is not always easy. But they continue to work hard at it with significant success. In line with our Diocesan Directions, articulated in Towards Courageous Renewal, each of our schools focuses strongly on the development of faith in each and every child, on maximising the learning outcomes of each and every child and on ensuring that each and every one grows into a health human being. One of the most positive aspects I have found in our school communities, beyond

what I have experienced in other places, is the strength of the relationship that exists between principals and their parish priests. It is abundantly clear that our priests value their schools and that schools value their priests. That provides an extraordinarily strong foundation on which to build. We thank God for that. Our school leaders continue to grow in strength, too. The major initiative we have undertaken recently, of providing opportunity for every principal to travel overseas to study high performing school systems, has already begun to bear much fruit. When we combine that with the depth of appreciation of our Catholic heritage through the Rome pilgrimage with Bishop Prowse, it is clear that the capacity of our leaders is growing every day. Principals are now ever more aware of the need to be challenging themselves, their staff and their students to better performance in all aspects of school life. There is a growing understanding among all, I believe, that low expectations produce very ordinary outcomes. We need, all of us, to expect great things of ourselves and of those with whom we work. I see that happening more and more. However, there are challenges ahead – some new, some that

with Talking Peter Catholic Ryan Education have been always with us. The funding question is a major one. After 2013 we do not know how our schools will be funded by governments. This is a real worry, as I have expressed before, but it is not an issue that is new to Catholic education in this country. It will require great effort in coming months – and years – to ensure that we receive justice. Maintaining and developing of the Catholic identity of our schools also remains a challenge, though a healthy one. Enrolments are strong across the diocese but finding the right balance between seeing our schools as agents of evangelisation and providing a strong Catholic education for strong Catholic families requires care and vigilance. This is all the more so when we realise that, indeed, most families in our schools, if sacramental participation is any guide, can hardly be described as “strong Catholic families.” We have a mission, though, to the whole world – not just to Catholics. That represents a challenge of balance.

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A third major issue is the pressure placed on our priests by the growing demands of administration of schools as they remain in the role of Canonical Administrator. The journey on the search for ways to legitimately relieve them of this increasingly onerous burden has begun. It will need to be furthered pursued and developed in the very near future. Another challenge, or, rather, an opportunity, is to continue the development of what we call “system thinking”. Each of our schools, primary and secondary, was established by a parish or be a particular religious congregation – or by a combination. Historically, then, each school has developed its own culture, its own autonomy, and this is a gift to be valued and nurtured. At the same time, more and more are we realising that schools are not islands. They all belong to something bigger – and by utilising and contributing to the strengths of that system, all will benefit. That may mean a bit of “let-

• Catholic Life thanks Peter Ryan for his monthly column which has helped to keep our readers abreast of the many complicated issues involving Catholic education in this state. We appreciate his ability to succinctly summarise the main points in a way which is easily understood. - Ed.

Walkathon bonus aids Nigeria project LEONGATHA – Students battled through terrible weather conditions during the annual Mary MacKillop College walkathon in August but managed to raise more money than expected from the effort. Back in July, the school had promised $3000 towards Project Ochobo in Nigeria but were successful in raising $5000. Project Ochobo was established earlier in 2012 and following Fr Joseph Atubu’s arrival as assistant priest in Leongatha people became aware of the hardships of collecting water endured by the people of his home village of Ochobo. Project Ochobo team became committed to supplying a sustainable water supply for the villagers and since then has been fundraising towards that aim.

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ting go,” which can be difficult, but the development of bigger picture thinking if fundamental to our continuing to grow into ever better schools, doing ever better for children and their families. As I come to a close, there are many I need to thank and acknowledge. Among those are our wonderful staff at the Catholic Education Office, our principals and school staffs who make our schools the great places they are. Our priests – and especially Bishops Coffey and Prowse for the opportunity they have given me and the support they have unfailingly given. And to the future. I believe that in Maria Kirkwood, the diocese has a new director in whom all can have great confidence. I pray God’s blessing on her as she takes up the reins in what will prove to be challenging times. I pray God’s blessing, too, on this wonderful diocese and on all who live and love within it.

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The students from Mary MacKillop were similarly touched by the plight of villagers and elected to contribute part of the funds from the walkathon to the cause. The walkathon was conducted on August 8 in what was probably the worst weather in the history of the schools walkathons. Fr Abutu and Project Ochobo representatives president Ken Loughnan and secretary Dianne Stewart were invited to return to Mary MacKillop’s annual walkathon presentation assembly last month. Fr Abutu was overwhelmed when he was presented with a cheque for $5000, much larger than he expected. In accepting the cheque he congratulated the students for their inner strength of enduring the weather conditions and remarked at the effort that lead them to achieve a greater total than previous years.

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Catholic Life, October 2012 - Page 9

Narre Warren hosts retreat

Cuddle Cot helps grieving families three cuddle cots at a cost of $3400 each. St John of God Berwick Hospital will hold the only cuddle cot in Victoria and the other cot will be donated to the Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital in Adelaide. Mums Like Me will keep the remaining cot so that they can offer a mobile service to families. Samantha said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope other hospitals one day consider purchasing this equipment and make it a central component of their infant bereavement assistance. There is now an official Australian distributer for ParMed Flexmort which will make importation more straightforwardâ&#x20AC;?. Elaine Grant, midwife at St John of God Berwick Hospital said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are so grateful to Mums Like Me. This equipment will make a huge difference to families. Normally, there is only a limited period of time families can stay with their baby, this equipment changes that completely.â&#x20AC;? The Mums Like Me organisation started two years ago in NSW and opened its first Victorian branch in January 2012. Samantha, who coordinates the Victorian branch said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mums Like Me connects and supports mums who have lost babies. The group meets the second Monday of every month in Berwick. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also make memory boxes and sibling packs which we donate to hospitals including

WITH the new Cuddle Cot at St John of God Hospital Berwick, are (from left) Maternity Care Manager Joyce Coyle, Mums Like Me representatives Amy Gunther and Samantha Cox, and midwife Elaine Grant. St John of God Berwick. Fundraising is very important to us to ensure we can continue to make a difference to bereaved families.â&#x20AC;? Samantha explains that the grieving process can be very complex when faced with the loss of a newborn. In recognition of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day on Monday, Mums Like Me held a candle-lighting ceremony in memory of all children lost to families. If you would like to donate to Mums Like Me â&#x20AC;&#x201C; visit www. mumslikeme.org or facebook. com/mumslikeme

NARRE Warren branch held the Catholic Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s League West Gippsland - Latrobe Valley regional retreat on September 15, attended by about 30 members. Bernadette Egan led the Grace in Springtime retreat. The seeker asked God speak to me let me see you. We needed to be attentive during the retreat and listen as God will touch each one of us. Grace is Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s free gift to us his beloved. For 30 minutes in quiet time we contemplated the Gospel of Mary weeping at the tomb of Jesus. We need awareness of God at all times as the grace of God presents itself in every day life. Monastic prayer, especially meditation and contemplative prayer is not so much a way to find God as a way of resting in Him whom we have found, who loves us.

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BERWICK - Mums Like Me, a support group for families who have experienced stillbirth has donated a Cuddle Cot to St John of God Berwick Hospital â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the first cot of its kind in Australia. Mums Like Me representatives, Samantha Cox from Berwick and Amy Gunther from Emerald, delivered the cot to St John of God Berwick Hospital last month. Often families wish to remain close to their baby for a few days before feeling able to say goodbye - the cuddle cot enables families to do this. For many families, spending time with the baby is an important part of the grieving process, it is comforting to families and can help them slowly come to terms with their loss. Amy Gunther, founding member of Mums Like Me said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I lost my baby Zac in January 2012. My mum and I wanted to do something in memory of my son Zac. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We decided we wanted to raise funds to purchase the cuddle cot so that other local families who experience the tragedy of stillbirth can benefit from this technology.â&#x20AC;? The cot donated to SJOG Berwick was largely financed by ANZ Emerald and Maroondah District customers and staff, Hillsborough Excavations Pty Ltd and also donations from Amy and her mumâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fundraising appeals. The Mums Like Me organisation has purchased a total of

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Page 10 - Catholic Life, October 2012

Open air Mass celebrates Vatican 2 and synod THE 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council was celebrated last week. It was a Council that changed the face of Catholicism and now the Synod currently under way in Rome is trying to recapture the religious fervor of the time. About 400 bishops from around the world including Bishop of Sale Christopher Prowse held a solemn procession through St Peter’s Square. Pope Benedict XVI opened the Year of Faith at an open air Mass attended by 14 surviving Fathers of Vatican 2. The papal Mass was concelebrated by bishops and theologians who, like the Pope, served as Council Fathers or experts at Vatican 2. He told gathered crowds “If today the Church proposes a new Year of Faith and a new evangelisation, it is not to honor an anniversary, but because there is more need of it, even more than there was 50 years ago.” Recent decades have seen the advance of a spiritual “desertification”. “We see it every day around us. This void has spread,” he added. A torchlit procession along the main avenue leading to the steps of St Peter’s Basilica was held and then there was an unusual evening greeting from the Pope from his apartment window. Vatican 2 ended in 1965 after adopting key reforms including the chance to celebrate Mass in local vernacular rather than Latin and the idea of opening dialogue with other faiths. Pope Benedict who was a 35-year-old German priest at the time, attended the Council

and was a leading voice for reform. Pope Benedict published his reminiscence of the Council in the Vatican newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano. The pope recalled his presence at the opening of Vatican 2, which he attended as a theological adviser. He both praises and criticises some of the council’s most consequential documents, regarding religious liberty and the Church’s relationship with non-Christian religions and the modern world. “It was a moment of extraordinary expectation,” the Pope writes of the procession of more than 2000 bishops into St Peter’s Basilica on October 11, 1962. “Great things were about to happen.” “Christianity, which had built and formed the Western world,

seemed more and more to be losing its power to shape society. “So that it might once again be a force to shape the future, John XXIII had convoked the Council without indicating to it any specific problems or programs. This was the greatness and at the same time the difficulty of that task that was set before the ecclesial assembly. A crucial question for the council fathers, Pope Benedict writes, was the “relationship between the Church and the modern world.” From the 19th Century onward, the Church had visibly entered into a negative relationship with the modern era. Pope Benedict concludes that one of the Council’s bestknown documents, Gaudium et Spes, the Pastoral Constitution

Sleeping out for the homeless SALE - About 50 staff and students from Catholic College Sale together braved the cold and wet weather at the St Patrick’s campus for the Homelessness Awareness Sleep out. They were joined by members of Lavalla Catholic College and guest speakers from the local Salvation Army and St Vincent De Paul Society. The event was organised by a small group of Year 11 Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia students as part of their religious education program. Organisers were Alyce Stephenson, Bianca Durrant, Jade O’Connor, Ashley Biancon and Sharee Munn.

On the night, staff and students participated in a shared dinner of simple foods, in keeping with the aim of the experience, as well as sleeping on cardboard which was kindly donated by local businesses. A liturgy was held to reflect on those who endure the daily struggle of being homeless, and the guest speakers provided an insight into their work, and what can be done to help resolve the issue. During this time, participants were pleased to be joined by some of the local Marist Brothers and other school leaders. As well as raising awareness, participants were asked to bring

blankets and non-perishable foods which were donated to the local charities mentioned. This was a practical way to help those who do not have the privilege of owning these everyday supplies. After the sleep out, many of the students said it was an experience they would never forget. Even though the participants would never really know what it is like to be homeless, this event gave them an opportunity to experience a fraction of how some people live. They gained a deeper understanding of the cause and effects of homelessness in our local community.

Inspirational teachers nominate TWO teachers from St Mary’s School, Newborough have been nominated for excellence awards. Communities Australia-wide were invited to nominate inspirational and excellent teachers for the 2012 National Excellence in Teaching Awards program. Chairman Terry O’Connell said the teaching awards program acknowledges the profound impact outstanding

teachers had on students, the community, education system and ultimately the country. NEiTA recognises that outside the family home, a teacher has the greatest influence on a student’s learning and performance. St Mary’s School community have nominated Trish Mulqueen and Megan Tomasetti for the 2012 awards. “It is one way we can formally thank our hard-working

and inspirational teachers,’ a spokesperson from the school community said. Mrs Mulqueen presently teaches and Mrs Tomasetti teaches Grade 6. Both teachers demonstrate a genuine love for teaching and aspire to make a real difference in each student’s life. 60 recipients of Inspirational Teaching State Awards will be announced in a few weeks.

on the Church in the Modern World, failed to offer an adequate definition of the “essential features that constitute the modern era.” Instead, he writes, the “encounter with the great themes of the modern epoch” happened in “two minor documents, whose importance has only gradually come to light.” The Declaration on Religious Liberty, “urgently requested, and also drafted, by the American bishops in particular,” clarified the Church’s affirmation of the “freedom to choose and practice religion and the freedom to change it, as fundamental human rights and freedoms,” he writes. That declaration lent itself to troubling interpretations since it might seem to imply the “inaccessibility of the truth to man,” which would make religion a merely subjective matter. But he writes that the 1978 election of Blessed John Paul II, from a country where the state denied religious freedom, revealed the “inner orientation of the faith toward the theme of

freedom, and especially freedom of religion and worship.” The Pope also praises Nostra Aetate, the Council’s declaration that the “spiritual, moral, and socio-cultural values (of non-Christian religions) were to be respected, protected and encouraged.” But the Pope writes that a “weakness of this otherwise extraordinary text has gradually emerged: It speaks of religion solely in a positive way, and it disregards the sick and distorted forms of religion.” In conclusion, Pope Benedict reiterates one of his most prominent teachings about Vatican 2: that it must be interpreted in continuity with the Church’s millennial traditions, not as a radical break with the past. “The Council fathers neither could nor wished to create a new or different Church. They had neither the authority nor the mandate to do so,” he writes. “That is why a hermeneutic of rupture is so absurd and is contrary to the spirit and the will of the Council fathers.”

Pope declares two new Drs of Church POPE Benedict XVI has named two mystics as new Doctors of the Church. They are the 16th Century Spanish priest St John of Avila and the 12th Century German nun St Hildegard of Bingen who join 33 other saints known as Doctors of the Church. St John of Avila was “a profound expert on the sacred scriptures, he was gifted with an ardent missionary spirit,” said the Pope. “He knew how to penetrate in a uniquely profound way the mysteries of the redemption worked by Christ for humanity.”

St John of Avila St John of Avila was a priest, mystic, preacher and scholar. Pope Benedict announced his intention to name him a Doctor of the Church at World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid last August, much to the delight of Spanish Catholics. Last week’s declaration took place in a brief ceremony prior to Mass in St Peter’s Square on October 7. “He dedicated himself to preaching and to the more frequent practice of the sacraments, concentrating his commitment on improving the formation of candidates for the priesthood, of religious and of lay people, with a view to a fruitful reform of the Church.” Pope Benedict said St Hildegard of Bingen was an impor-

St Hildegard of Bingen tant female figure of the 12th Century” who offered her precious contribution to the growth of the Church of her time by employing the gifts received from God and showing herself to be a woman of brilliant intelligence, deep sensitivity and recognised spiritual authority. Among her vast array of talents, St Hildegard was a writer, composer, philosopher and mystic, as well as an abbess and founder of several Benedictine monasteries. The Pope indicated in 2011 that St Hildegard would be made a Doctor of the Church, even though at that stage she was not canonised. In May this year Pope Benedict formally added her to the Church’s roster of saints, extending her liturgical feast throughout the world. Attempts to have her recognised as a saint extended back to the 13th Century. The title of Doctor of the Church is bestowed upon a saint whose writings are deemed to be of universal importance to the Church. The Pope must also declare the individual to be of “eminent learning” and “great sanctity.” Other Doctors of the Church include St Augustine, St John Chrysostom, St Francis de Sales, St Therese of Lisieux, St Thomas Aquinas, St John of the Cross and St Catherine of Siena.

Catholic Life, October 2012 - Page 11

Planning your financial future for those in the 30s I WAS going to write more about shares, but discussion with some of my younger clients changed my mind. There has been some discussion regarding superannuation changes in the press of late, but there’s nothing concrete known at the time of writing. What I do know is that some people are concerned as to the possible effects. Given that we don’t know what may or may not be changed I can only talk about what is, not what might be. The next three articles are planned to cover the ages from 30 to pre-retirement from a financial perspective, starting with the 30-somethings. Thirty is just more than half my life ago, but looking at my children I’m definitely reminded of the constraints at the time.

The usual situation at this age is either married with young children, a mortgage, debts and genuine emphasis on managing the “here and now”, or a single, footloose travelling career person where tomorrow is somewhere else. At age 30 it is difficult to appreciate just how close is the need to prepare for the future, even more so given the current economic situation. At that age you’re halfway to retirement and our superannuation still hasn’t reached critical mass. So how do you prepare? Getting ready for the future is always a case of “poor now– rich later versus rich now- poor later”. When you’ve got so many commitments it’s hard to realise that “poorer now’ is still probably the best option.

Quick calendar

What’s on & when October 8-28 – Bishop Prowse representing Australian bishops at Synod of Bishops in Rome 17 – International Day for the Eradication of Poverty 17 – Catholic Life published 18 – Valley region meeting, Lumen Christi eco-centre, Churchill, noon 21 – Mission Sunday 22 – Blessed Pope John Paul II 28 – Annual St Sofia Festival, St John’s Koo Wee Rup, Italian Mass 9.30am, procession 10.45, fireworks, Viva Italia shows and performance by Bellini Band. 28-30 – Bishop Prowse attends meeting in Rome on Jewish-Catholic relations 31 – Diocesan Mission Sunday launch, Our Lady Help of Christians Church, Narre Warren, 11am Mass.

November 1 – All Saints Day 2 – All Souls Day 5 – Deadline for November Catholic Life 6 – Melbourne Cup Day 7 – South region meeting, Leongatha, 11.15am 10-11 – New Life: Life in the Spirit seminar, Lakes Entrance 12-18 – National Recycling Week 13 – East region meeting, Orbost, 10.30am 14 – Catholic Life published 17 – Teaching day by Bishop Prowse for those in parish leadership positions, Marist Sion College, Warragul, 9.30am - 3.30pm. 17-18 – Heart Region youth beach retreat, Lakes Entrance 18 – Diocesan pilgrimage to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, St Mary’s Cathedral, Sale, 2pm 20 - Diocesan Pastoral Council meeting, Sion House, Warragul, 10am 21 – Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary 21 – World Fisheries Day 25 – Solemnity of Christ the

King 26-30 – Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference plenary meeting, Sydney 27 – Central region meeting, St Joseph’s, Warragul, 7.30pm

December 2 – First Sunday of Advent 3 – St Francis Xavier 3 – Deadline for Catholic Life 5 – International Volunteer Day 6 – Valley region Christmas lunch, Morwell Club, noon 6 – St Nicholas Day 8 – Immaculate Conception 12 – Catholic Life published 21 – Summer holidays begin (primary schools) 25 – Christmas Day 26 – Boxing Day 30 – Feast of the Holy Family 31 – New Year’s Eve

2013

January 1 - New Year’s Day 1- World Day of Peace 1 – Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God 6 – Epiphany 13 – Baptism of the Lord 17 – St Anthony 25 - Start of mission-retreat with Br Lalith Perera, St Francis Xavier College, Berwick campus. 26 – Australia Day 28 – St Thomas Aquinas 28 - Australia Day public holiday 31 - St John Bosco

February 2 – Presentation of the Lord 5 – St Agatha 10 – Chinese New Year 11 – Our Lady of Lourdes 13 – Ash Wednesday

March 11 – Labor Day Holiday 18 – St Patrick’s Day 24 – Palm Sunday 28 - Holy Thursday 29 – Good Friday 30 – Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil 31 – Easter Sunday

Before you have a family and buy a house it’s a good idea to increase the contributions into superannuation, without exceeding the limit. An extra two percent over a working life will make a huge difference – maybe even doubling the value of the contributions. If these can be accepted as normal then there’s a chance that they’ll be able to be continued throughout the lean years. Sort of on the basis if you can’t see it you can’t spend it. If you have a family, there should be a family benefit. Many people invest this in a growth fund on behalf of their children. Investing in the child’s name has its own problems but investing it is a good idea. I don’t recommend an education trust but just a normal investment fund that will allow regular contributions. There are some that allow you to start with $1000 and then $100 per month. Then there’s the house. A home mortgage can be the most uneconomic debt you’ll ever take on. Interest costs can be higher than the growth in the asset value and all the other costs render owning a home a very expensive project. Given that the interest paid and the other expenses aren’t tax deductible then it’s very, very costly to

Br Lalith returns for mission

THE scriptural theme for the annual retreat with Br Lalith Perera will be “I know Him in whom I have believed” (2 Tim 1:12) The mission–retreat will run from Friday January 25 to Sunday February 3. Bishop Christopher Prowse and Br Lalith Perera and the Community of the Risen Lord will teach through the first weekend. Br Lalith will teach the following days. We are all called to share our faith, this will be a great time to mature as Catholic evangelisers. St Francis Xavier, Berwick campus will be the venue for each weekend and Our Lady Help of Christians, Narre Warren and St Michael’s Berwick will be the weekday evening locations. A brochure with all information will be released early next month. Information is available from Michael Power 5678 2271, Peter Schreurs 0419 328 211, Lal Gunatilake 8786 7509 or Fernando De Lazerabel 0431 315 129.

DOLLAR$ & SENSE with David Wells

own a house. Unlike some economists, I still think owning your own home is a good thing, it just needs to be paid out as quickly as possible. Increasing repayments by 10 percent will reduce the time taken to repay a 25 year mortgage by more than 25 percent to say nothing about the large amount of interest saved. Over a 25 year mortgage, interest can add up to more than twice the value of the home originally. When your home is paid for, you can then use “good debt” and borrow against it to invest and increase your assets – with the interest being tax deductible. And you need insurance for all this, of which the most important is income protection, followed by life cover with linked permanent disability cover. You may not be able to afford as much as you need but a 30 year old male has a 50 percent chance of being disabled and unable to work for at least a

three month period by the time they reach age 55. The sooner these are started the easier it will be – for the rest of your life. Good economic habits are wonderful aids to a happy retirement. These are all things to be done now to prepare for tomorrow and I know they all have a cost. But they have a benefit as well. If you can arrange your affairs so that you can afford these things you will have a fallback position for the rest of your life. Financial disasters won’t be so huge disasters, and you’ll be able to afford what you need. What is needed is a “little bit poorer now – a lot more comfortable later” approach. • This report is intended to provide general advice. In preparing this advice, David Wells and EL and C Baillieu Ltd did not take into account the investment objective, the financial situation and particular needs of any particular person. Before making an investment decision on the basis of this advice, you need to consider, with or without the assistance of an adviser, whether the advice is appropriate in light of your particular investment needs, objectives and financial circumstances.

A Share Market Evening Dollars and Sense columnist David Wells will be talking about the sharemarket. An informal evening of advice, anecdotes, prophecies and possibilities. Woorayl Golf Club, Roughead St., Leongatha October 25, 7pm for 7.30pm Bookings essential. Call 1800 339 521 or email cgirgis@baillieu.com.au.

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Page 12 - Catholic Life, October 2012

The appointment of Bishop Phelan to Sale Diocese THIS October is the centenary of Archbishop Daniel Mannix’s consecration as Melbourne Coadjutor Archbishop, and next March will be the centenary of his arrival in Australia. The Melbourne Archdiocese will be having celebrations for this event in March. For the centenary I have written a book showing what Archbishop Mannix inherited from the Archdiocese under his predecessor, Archbishop Carr, and also what he changed. The following is an extract from the book, Melbourne Before Mannix: Catholics in Public Life 1880-1920, which will be launched in Gippsland in November. Four interconnected events in 1912 were significant for the leadership of the Catholic Church in Victoria. In March Dean Phelan was promoted to the high rank of Monsignor and Prothonotary Apostolic; in June Bishop James Corbett of Sale died; in August the appointment was announced of Dr Mannix, President of Maynooth College, as Coadjutor Archbishop of Melbourne to succeed Archbishop Carr; and in December Monsignor Phelan was appointed the new Bishop of Sale. Dean Phelan had been, after Archbishop Carr, the outstanding cleric in Melbourne for decades. Carr and Phelan had been very close – The Age journalist and convert Benjamin Hoare wrote of them: ‘I never before knew a man so carefully watched over by another as was Archbishop Carr by his dear friend, Dean Phelan … On the other hand, the Archbishop was no less careful about the comforts of his faithful colleague.’ Phelan had looked after the archdiocese during Carr’s extensive ad limina absence in 1908-9. The Advocate wrote of Phelan then: ‘He seemed to do the work of several men. He appeared to need no rest.’ His central role as the one who, after Carr, carried the Melbourne archdiocese’s great expansion and success was acknowledged at the time. Carr had sounded out the question of his successor during his ad limina visit of 1908-9. The Melbourne clergy had voted for Carr’s choice, Mannix, in late 1911, and the Australian bishops ratified this decision in early 1912. By early 1912 Carr would have known that Mannix would be appointed, so the pro-

Gippsland Gistory H with Patrick Morgan motion of Phelan to monsignor may have been in the nature of a consolation prize. Mannix’s new position blocked off Phelan from further promotion in Melbourne, so when Bishop Corbett died in June, the Sale vacancy was the obvious position for him. Phelan was consecrated a bishop in December and installed at Sale in early 1913. Phelan acknowledged some people thought he had been exiled from Melbourne to the wilds of Gippsland, quoting the words of the Irish poet and songwriter Thomas Moore from Oft in the Stilly Night: I seem like one who treads alone Some banquet hall deserted, Whose lights are fled, whose garlands dead, And all but he departed. But Phelan’s public view was that his was only a superficial separation from Melbourne. When Carr was seriously ill in December 1916, he chose Phelan to accompany him on a recuperative trip to New Zealand. When Mannix spoke at Phelan’s memorial service in 1925, his speech was curiously centred on a letter Phelan had written just before his death to a friend saying he [Phelan] had never suffered any serious disappointment or failure in his life. By highlighting the letter Mannix could have been absolving himself of having caused Phelan any hurt. In April 1919 Bishop Phelan invited Mannix to visit Sale. A spontaneous procession of local parishioners accompanied Mannix on his short journey from the railway station to the Sale Cathedral presbytery. The Sale Borough Council promptly decided to prosecute Mannix for participating in an illegal procession. The council had a narrow Protestant majority, with the mayor distinguishing himself by insisting that the War Precautions Act required a Union Jack be carried at the head of the St Patrick’s Day procession through Sale a few

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weeks earlier, even though the war was over. When the vote to prosecute Mannix was carried, the four Catholic councillors walked out. At the next council meeting commonsense prevailed, and the prosecution motion was rescinded. Strong anti-Catholic feeling was noticeable in Sale, which had voted solidly in favor of conscription in both referenda. Six months before the Mannix visit, the Anglican Bishop of Gippsland, Bishop Cranswick, had launched an extraordinary attack on the Catholic Church during an address to his synod. He claimed that during the conscription debates Catholic leaders had used ‘unchristian utterances’ and ‘personal and uncultural vituperation’, that Catholics had not pulled their weight during the war, that Ireland was ‘priest-ridden’, and that the Catholic Church was ‘craving and grasping after civil and political power.’ At a large indignation meeting in Sale, Bishop Phelan produced a lengthy rebuttal of these claims. The 1920 St Patrick’s Day march featured Victoria Cross winners with John Wren and

Mannix, and the flying of Sinn Fein and Union Jack flags. At the St Patrick’s Day march the next year Bishop Phelan was standing in for Dr Mannix. The Melbourne City Council had demanded the Union Jack be carried at the front of the procession. Before the march began, participants rolled up the Union Jack and covered it with an umbrella. Bishop Phelan defended this action, saying he was proud no Irishman nor

Irish Australian would carry the Union Jack. I am indebted to the Sale historian Peter Synan for details of Archbishop Mannix’s visit to Sale. • Melbourne Before Mannix: Catholics in Public Life 18801920 can be ordered from November onwards from Connor Court Publications, PO Box 1, Ballan, Vic, (Ph: 9005 9167) for $29.95.

Meditations for Advent season THE LITTLE WAY OF ADVENT, Meditations in the Spirit of St Therese of Lisieux, by Fr Gary Caster, published by Servant Books, distributed by Rainbow Books, paperback, 145 pages, rrp $19.95. WITH the season of Advent drawing closer, many readers looking for some spiritual input in the lead up to Christmas will be interested in this book. The author shows he is deeply in touch with the spirit of the famous saint and her Little Way. He draws readers into the understanding that Christmas is not only the celebration of the birth of Jesus but the beginning of His journey to the Cross. Christmas is not the remembrance of something that happened in the past, but the celebration of the way to life to which each one of us is called. In the introduction the author says that if we can bring ourselves before the child to discover the hidden God humbling Himself before the human family, then we will see the face of God in the man whose death has set us free. The book covers the Sunday readings for each of the three yearly cycles, a daily meditation for each day of Advent and then a bonus meditation for each day of the Christmas season up to celebration of the Lord’s Baptism in January. Taking part in these short

Talking about Books meditations during Advent could help to turn the reader’s attention towards God’s coming as a man because, as St Therese discovered, it opens the way for us to walk life’s paths through Him, with Him and in Him. AUSTRALIAN RELIGIOUS DIARY 2013, published by David Lovell Publishing, ringbound, with protective plastic cover, rrp $32. THIS handy religious diary is a must have for many priests, religious and faithful who want a diary to provide them with all the relevant information they need without having to resort to purchasing an Ordo. David Lovell has been producing it for many years now and it is really the only religious diary which is relevant to Australia. This year the diary features art works from last year’s prestigious Blake Prize. The front cover has the stunning Bush Easter, Top End by talented Aboriginal artists Cair Wait whose choice of saturated color is reminiscent of Paul

Gauguin. Wait is well known for painting the murals in the church at Santa Theresa Mission in Central Australia in collaboration with 10 Arrernte artists. But back to the diary itself, which covers the 13 month period from the start of Advent in December through to early January 2014. Each double page spread covers one week and all the solemnities and feasts are listed, along with weekly gospel verse and the response to the psalm for each day. The Sunday lectionary details the various readings, which Sunday of the liturgical year it is and what colored vestments should be worn. In recent years the diary has been expanded and on the right hand side is a list of Anglican, Uniting Church, Lutheran, Eastern Rite Catholic, Orthodox, Jewish and Muslim feast days. Throw in all the public holidays for good measure and you have the ideal diary to help you keep track of your appointments and religious observances.

Catholic Life, October 2012 - Page 13

Youth Matters ‘Always be joyful in the Lord’

(Phil 4:4)

Diocese youth answering the call of Micah THE beautiful Forest Edge at Neerim East played host to over 30 young people who gathered during the school holidays for Camp Micah 6:8. Justice Jenga, a card game called Peace, rides on the flying fox and “Finding Nemo” were all on the menu as the teenage participants considered what the call “To act justly and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God” meant in their lives. Participants discussed issues such as supporting fair trade, welcoming asylum seekers, challenging systems that entrench poverty and the neces-

sity of environmental responsibility in light of Catholic social teaching. Susan Grout from Caritas and Catholic Mission, and Jacinta McKinlay and Susan Serey from the St Vincent De Paul Society kindly joined us to share some of the issues that these Catholic organisations work to address. We can’t thank these guest presenters enough for taking the time to travel quite big distances to share their expertise with us. A highlight of Camp Micah 6:8 was gathering around the campfire one evening to pray, reflect and have the opportu-

nity for Reconciliation with Fr Darek Jablonski who travelled daily from Cranbourne to participate in the camp. A great, big, huge thank you to all the volunteers who made this camp possible; Danelle Dias, Clarissa Lane, Alex Delaney, Dave Daley and Kelly Lucas, as well as our youth ministry chaplain Fr Darek Jablonski. Mostly though, thank you so much to all the Camp Micah 6:8 participants who made this camp a joyful, fun, reflective and hilarious adventure for all of us! Looking forward to seeing you all again at our next camp.

Catholic youth convention By Katherine Galea MORE than 350 inspired bishops, priests and youth ministers gathered in Campbelltown, NSW, for the Australian Catholic Youth Ministry Convention. Participants heard some amazing keynote speakers, celebrated Mass together and participated in a wide range of different workshops. Several participants from the Diocese of Sale travelled to Campbelltown to participate and enjoy the conference, which is one of only a few of its kind that aims to supports Youth Ministry. One of our first keynote speakers, Sr Hilda Scott OSB, reminded us that “It’s God we’re on about!” and that “God is going to love you if you like it or not.” With her words of wisdom, one would have thought she would have been a difficult speaker to follow, but Bishop Anthony Fisher OP challenged us as the youth of today and urged us not to, ‘let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.’ The following day, Fr Christian Fini OMI, used an analogy to explain our roles as youth ministers of the Church by using the example of mobile phones and the networks they run on. He highlighted that Youth Ministry is about providing or improving the quality of the connection between the youth and the Catholic Church saying, “You are not central to Youth Ministry, you are essential to it.” On the final day, Shayne Bennett, from the Emmanuel Community empowered young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. “God would never insult us by giving us a vision so small that we could achieve it on our own,” he said. The three day convention included the national launch of the first ever Australian Catholic Youth Festival 2013 as well as a celebratory Rio-themed

CLARISSA Lane, Jim Dwyer, Noah De Graaff, Gabi Velten, Rebecca Jayawardena, Lauren Delany, Ruby Jenkinson, Abi Van Der Linden, Justin Delaney, and Issac Daley gathered at the Forest Edge camp.

Owned and operated by Ray and Maree Anderson With care & dignity we serve South Gippsland and Phillip Island

DIOCESE of Sale representatives (from left) Sebastian Munbode, Jess Denehy, Catherine Gunn, Emily Haesler and Fr Francis Otobo at the conference. dinner and party to warm us up Ministry, we all felt blessed for World Youth Day in July to be part of such an amazing convention. With renewed 2013. With so many quality speak- and refreshed vision, we were ers and a room filled with a anointed and sent out to spread wealth of experience in Youth the good news.

Youth join pilgrimage

Compliments of Gus SALE - The annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Perpetual Help at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sale has long been an important moment in our diocesan calendar. This year the pilgrimage will be embraced as the annual youth gathering for the Diocese of Sale and will feature a pilgrimage walk and one of Australian’s leading Christian rock bands Compliments of Gus. Beginning at the Our Lady of Perpetual Help shrine at the Cathedral at 1pm Sunday No-

vember 18, parishioners from around the diocese will complete of walk of prayer around Sale before returning to the Cathedral. Entertainment and refreshments will complete the afternoon together with special guests Compliments of Gus on hand to provide the tunes. The Catholic Diocese of Sale’s Youth Ministry Office invites everyone to gather for the pilgrimage to the Shrine at St Mary’s Cathedral at 1pm Sunday, November 18.

Main office: WONTHAGGI/INVERLOCH 5672 1074 176-178 Graham St., Wonthaggi 3995 Fax 5672 1747 PHILLIP ISLAND 5952 5171 15 Warley Av., Cowes 3933 (by appointment only) Email: randm33@bigpond.net.au Pre-paid & pre-arranged funeral plans available CARING & PERSONAL 24 HOUR SERVICE Member of Australian Funeral Directors Association

Page 14 - Catholic Life, October 2012

For the Young and Young at Heart Color in your dromedary

In Biblical times there were no motor cars to get around in and you had to be very rich to own a cart which was pulled by oxen or ponies. Most people just walked all the way and so small villages and resting places sprang up anywhere there was fresh water. Some people were lucky enough to have dromedaries (what we call single humped camels) to carry their loads and they travelled in huge groups called caravans for protection against robbers. Send your entry to Catholic Life, PO Box 1410, Warragul 3820 for a chance to win a prize.

Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Age . . . . . Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Quirky trivia facts • When intoxicated, ants always fall over to their right side. • Famous composer Beethoven dipped his head in cold water before he composed. • Albert Einstein never knew how to drive a car. • Astronauts cannot burp in space. There is no gravity to separate liquid from gas in their stomachs. • Bullet proof vests, fire escapes, windshield wipers and laser printers were all

invented by women. • Thomas Edison, light bulb inventor, was afraid of the dark. • More than 2500 lefthanded people are killed each year from using products that are made for right-handed people. • Country singer Dolly Parton once lost a Dolly Parton Look-Alike contest. • Each year, more people are killed by teddy bears than by grizzly bears.

Our lucky winner WOW! What talent we have among our young readers. So many did a fantastic job with their own interpretation of the Mona Lisa that even Leonardo da Vinci would have been jealous. It was hard deciding who to give the prize to and after much thought it has been awarded to Skye Wilson,11, who attends Lumen Christi, Churchill. We will do another famous painting in a few months.

Time for a Laugh AFTER 35 years of marriage, a husband and wife came for counselling. When asked what the problem was, the wife went into a tirade listing every problem they had ever had in the years they had been married. On and on and on: neglect, lack of intimacy, emptiness, loneliness, feeling unloved and unlovable; an entire laundry list of unmet needs she had endured. Finally, after allowing this for a sufficient length of time, the therapist got up, walked around the desk and after asking the wife to stand, he embraced and kissed her long and passionately as her husband watched - with a raised eyebrow. The woman shut up and quietly sat down as though in a daze. The therapist turned to the husband and said, “This is what your wife needs at least three times a week. Can you do this?” “Well, I can drop her off here on Mondays and Wednesdays, but on Fridays, I fish.”

you. And it won’t help you relax. But it will help you get used to being covered in dirt.” DID you hear the story from the London Olympics? A Scot, Englishman and an Australia turned up at the stadium but none of them had been able to obtain a ticket. Final the Scot says “I will show you how to get in”. He picked up a manhole cover and strolled up to the turnstile with it under his arm and announced “McTavish, Scotland, discus” and they let him walk in. The Pom saw a pile of scaffolding left over from building the stadium and tucked a pipe under his arm as walked up to the gate. “Waddington-Smythe, England, polevault” he announced and he was allowed through. Not to be outdone the Australia, grabbed a roll of wire and strolled confidently to the gate. “Roberts, Australia, fencing”.

I WAS visiting my daughter and son-in-law last ALBERT walks in to his night and asked if they had a doctor’s office for his yearly newspaper. physical exam as he has done the same time every “This is the 21st century,” year that the can remember. she said. “Newspapers are The doctor takes him so old hat. We don’t waste through all of the motions, money on them. Here use does the normal tests and my iPhone” I can tell you, that fly never then leaves to get the results. knew what hit it. After about 15 minutes the doctor returns with a very THERE was a five-yearsad look on his face. old boy who found it hard to “Well Doc, what kind of sit still and be quiet in Mass, shape am I in this time?” so his mother said to him Albert asks. “Johnny, you have to be quiet “Albert, I don’t know what in Church.” to say. The news is bad. Really bad,” says the doctor. “Yes, Mummy,” he replied. Just to make sure that he “What is it Doc?” asks understood the need to be Albert. quiet his mother asked, “Do “I hate to have to give you you know why you have to such bad news. I can’t find be quiet?” the words to tell you. I really The boy looked around, don’t know what to say.” nodded his head and said Albert, being a strong man “It’s because people are who appreciates straight sleeping.” talk, tells the doctor: “Ok, don’t beat around the bush. A KIWI was hoping to Tell me what you know. I migrate to Australia and can take it”. was questioned on arrival by “Well”, says the doctor, “let me put it this way. I customs officials. think that you should go to “What is your business in New Zealand and visit the Australia?” hot springs at Rotorua for “I want to emigrate,” was a nice relaxing mud bath. the Kiwi’s reply. Spend some time soaking in “Do you have a criminal record?” the mud.” Confused, the Kiwi “Oh, so I need to relax a little bit, eh? Will that cure thought for a moment and replied “I didn’t think you me Doc?” asks Albert. “No Albert, it won’t cure still needed one!”

Catholic Life, October 2012 - Page 15

Leongatha retreat attracts 50 people

Classifieds wanted known

bingo

public notices

Let’s leave something for those in need

Sacred Heart School

VOCATIONS

BINGO Every Friday

By Michael Power

Priests & Deacons

Morwell RSL Club, Elgin St., Morwell

Are you considering a vocation as a priest or deacon for the Diocese of Sale? If so please contact Diocesan Vocations Director Eyes down 11am. Ticket sales 10.30am Now 55 games at 20 cents per game.

The Bishop’s Family Foundation helps families by funding charitable projects throughout the Diocese of Sale. You can help by making a bequest in your will. If you need more information contact

5622 6600 for some guidelines. Do it today and sleep easy knowing you have done your part

Fr Darek Jablonski 5996 1985

Further details phone 5134 8484 or 5133 7221 (AH)

vocations@sale.catholic.org.au

accommodation STORMANSTON HOUSE NORTH SYDNEY Quiet and charming accommodation in Federation Guest House, close to the city. Walking distance to Mary MacKillop Place. Ensuite double room $110 per night. Tea/coffee provided. Kitchen facilities. Off-street parking. PH: 0407 666 936 E: nsstorm@tpg.com.au

IT'S ONLY TWO MONTHS TO CHRISTMAS

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CATHOLIC LIFE CLASSIFIEDS and earn a few extra dollars for Christmas. Use the form below to reach 45,000 readers in our diocese.

LEONGATHA - Fifty people from Narre Warren, Traralgon, Frankston, San Remo, Yarram and many places in between, gathered in the Leongatha church and parish centre of St Laurence O’Toole, to worship

prayer HOLY SPIRIT You who makes me see everything and shows me the way to reach my ideals, you who gives me a divine gift to forgive and forget the wrong that is done to me; in this short dialogue I want to thank you for everything and affirm once more that I never want to be separated from you, no matter how great the material desire may be. I want to be with you and my loved ones in Your perpetual Glory. (Mention your request). Thank you Holy Spirit for your love towards me and my loved one. Amen This prayer should be said for 3 consecutive days. After the 3rd day the request will be granted, no matter how difficult it may be. While making the request one must either promise to publish on granting the favour or promise to circulate copies of it to as many people as possible. This is to spread the wonder of the Holy Spirit.

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share and encourage each other on September 15. Fr Kooloos welcomed us to the beautiful parish centre and church, as we were led into a vibrant and reflective time of worship and praise of God, by Dr Assuntha Mariajoseph. Fr Sabu Adimakiyil in his two talks and homily, emphasised that we can begin afresh in this year of grace, by doing the basic things of our faith, more worthily. Our gifts, natural and charismatic, are to make us holy; to be nurtured for God’s purposes, leading us out of our natural selfishness. The gifts of the Spirit should lead us to the fruits of the spirit. He challenged us all! How many people have experienced God through you? Foreshadowing the beautiful words of Jesus to his disciples, in the Sunday’s gospel, “Who do you say I am?” Another encouraging talk was given by Fr Joseph Abutu. The happiness of his Nigerian homeland shone as he reminded us that, as we receive our lord in the Eucharist, we are ‘mobile tabernacles’. During the day we were also privileged to here Dr George Mariajoseph speak about the visit of his family, with a Christian medical mission visit, to a remote Pacific island. He spoke of his own experience of an amazing healing, through prayer of a severe compound fracture of his arm, after a fall. George was relieved of pain, bones realigned and full use of the hand was restored and he was able to attend to over 300 people in the week. Most had not been able to visit a doctor for many years. Truly God’s blessing for many people and for his own need. To complete our day of retreat and renewal, we celebrated the Eucharist with great joy.

St Sofia Festival at KWR

KOO WEE RUP – The 40th annual St Sofia Festival will be held on Koo Wee Rup on October 28. As usual the festival begins with Mass in St John’s Church at 9.30am, concelebrated by Fr Benedict La Volpe and parish $10.00 min priest Fr John Allen. This will be followed by the $11.20 annual procession with the crowned statue of St Sofia, re$12.60 lease of balloons, fireworks and the cutting of the cake. $13.80 Lunch will be held from $15.00 11.30am and then there will be the first of two Viva Italia Shows at 12.30pm. Name: ........................................................................................................... The Bellini Band will perform at 1pm, the second Viva Address: ....................................................................................................... Italia Show at 2pm and then there will be auction of donated ........................................................... Phone: ............................................... goods, drawing of the raffle of a calf and other prizes. The day rounds off at 4.30pm with a barbecue (byo drinks).

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Page 16 - Catholic Life, October 2012

Endangered animals are in good hands TRARALGON - Grade 3 and 4 students from St Michael’s Primary School grades’ 3 and 4 students have been learning about endangered animals as part of their inquiry unit. The children have been able to research this topic in a variety of ways – using technology and text books to make posters, data charts, write reports and make dioramas with family and friends at their middle school learning assembly. A visit to Werribee Open Range Zoo reinforced the children’s learning and answered some of their many wonderings.

On the day there were two definite highlights, one being a tour in an open safari bus around the savannah amongst rhinos, giraffes, ostriches, zebras and hippos just to name a few and the chance to touch some of Australia’s endangered animals which included a green tree frog, a sugar glider and a snake. When asked about their trip to the zoo, Emily said, “I liked that the enclosures were open and I learnt that you always have to have wet hands when to you touch a frog,” Flynn replied, “I liked that the rhinos didn’t charge at us on the

CHLOE, Aaron, Sarah and Emily uncovering a "fossil".

safari bus and I learnt that the sugar glider is endangered.” Sarah answered, “I enjoyed the safari bus and how there was space on the safari for the animals to run around.” Through their individual learning and their hands on lesson at the zoo, the students have

discovered some of our unique Australian animals are being pushed to the brink of extinction by habitat loss, introduced species, infectious diseases, fire and climate change and unless people act to save them, they could be lost forever.

CLAUDIA touches a tree frog as Ella and Jade wait their turn with one of Australia's endangered animals.

Family fun night for everyone at Sale SALE - St Mary’s Primary School Sale will host its annual family fun night Carnivale this Friday, October 19 from 5pm. A barbecue, hot dogs, curries, hot potatoes as well as cakes, coffee and a wine bar will be available and there will be pony rides, petting zoo, showbags, lucky bottles and other amusements for the children. This year there will also be a white elephant stall and a small craft and produce market. The evening is the school’s major fundraiser for the year and has proved in years gone by to be a great night out for the entire family. Everyone is welcome. The school located at 11 Pearson St, Sale, next to St Mary’s Cathedral, and will be open from 5pm until 8pm. For further information contact the school on 5144 1780.

Email your articles and photos to catholiclife@sale. catholic.org.au

Students learning about life of a farm Seminarians studying in Nigeria

Catholic Life Sale

The Eucharistic rosary designed by the Vatican rosary makers will be sent out to all those who give a donation of $15 or more and tick this box. Aid to the Church in Need …. a Catholic charity dependent on the Holy See, providing pastoral relief to needy and oppressed Churches

FARMER Leah Maslen (centre back) and teacher Natalie Kratz (right) exploring the farm with Grade 6 student Hannah (front left) and Prep student Mya NEWBOROUGH - Recently calves proved very popular. the Grade 6 and Prep students The students asked questions at St Mary’s Catholic Primary about the farm and Mr Maslen School visited a dairy farm at presented the students with Westbury. a free sample of Gippy Milk Farmer Gary Maslen ex- and the students were excited plained to the students how the to take the milk home to share cows were looked after and he with their families. demonstrated how the cows School organiser Natalie were milked. Kratz said “It was a tremendous The students even got to sam- learning experience for the stuple real cow’s milk straight dents and everyone had a wonfrom the vat and the young derful day.”