Catholic Education responds to Budget May 13 2015

The National Catholic Education Office has responded to the Budget:  The Government's continuing assumption that school funding per student will increase at CPI beyond 2017 is a concern to school leaders, who have seen school costs increase at almost twice the rate of CPI over the past decade. The NCEC has welcomed funding for 2015-16, but is calling on the government to continue to work with educational leaders to ensure that school funding keeps pace with real costs beyond 2017.​

Meet Australia's new Nuncio May 13 2015

Meet Australia's new Nuncio, Archbishop Adolfo Yllana, who arrived in Australia on 30 April.  This is his first interview on Australian soil, courtesy of the Archdiocese of Canberra-Goulburn.

Meet a pioneer of Jesuit mission to China May 11 2015

404 years ago today - 11 May -  Jesuit priest Matteo Ricci died in Beijing. One of the pioneers of the Jesuit mission to China, he remains a greatly respected figure for the Church and for the Chinese people.

Four years ago, as Thinking Faith marked the 400th anniversary of his death, Yves Camus SJ posted an article that introduces us to the man who has been called ‘the most outstanding cultural mediator between China and the West of all time’.

ARTICLE (click on ARTICLE)

Report from the Australian bishops delegation to Lebanon and Iraq to support displaced persons during December 2014 May 11 2015

presented by Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay, 8 May, 2015

As part of an Australian delegation of seven bishops, I visited the region and the country of my origin in the Middle East, to meet with refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Lebanon and Iraq.

The delegation was formed as a result of an initiative of the Council of Bishops and Representatives of the Middle Eastern Apostolic Churches in Australia and New Zealand and generously supported by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
 
Between 15-19 December 2014, the delegation of Australian bishops visited Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Lebanon, and internally displaced people in Erbil, Kurdistan which is a region of Northern Iraq.

On 15-16 December while in Lebanon, we met the Maronite Patriarch His Beatitude and Eminence Mar Bechara Boutros Cardinal Raï, and other Patriarchs and spiritual leaders. We had the chance to meet with refugees who were in the care of Caritas Lebanon. The situation there is difficult not only for the refugees, but also for the Lebanese aid agencies who are stretched beyond their capacity to assist the people in need.
 
From 17-19 December, the delegation visited Erbil which is the main city in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. There we were received by Chaldaean Archbishop Bashar Warda and the Kurdistan Regional Government, which provided us with security and cars. We visited the IDPs in various locations, where they reside in tents, demountables and rented houses. We witnessed their plight, met with the people, and listened to their stories.
 
Upon returning to Australia, I am able to make seven observations concerning the mission and its outcome. Firstly, it was previously unheard of that a delegation of bishops including Catholic (both Western and Eastern), and Orthodox (Coptic and Assyrian) from Australia had united for a mission of this kind to alleviate the suffering of persecuted Christians, both Catholic and Orthodox and Assyrians, in the Middle East. This cooperation and mutual concern is noteworthy and we should devoutly pray that it will be the first step in a long journey together.
 
Secondly, I am struck by the huge difference that I experienced between simply following the news about the persecution of Christians, and actually going there witnessing their plight, listening to them and hearing their stories. I hope that conveying my experience will help to bring the reality of this tragedy home to others.
 
Thirdly, these first-person narratives which brought tears to our eyes, moving us beyond what we thought possible, taught us that the situation is absolutely critical. We must take action, both spiritual and temporal.
 
Fourth point, it is difficult for us to realise that having been subject to horrors, and driven out of their homes to save their own lives and those of their children, the displaced people now struggle with radical uncertainty about their future; they simply do not know whether they have any possibility of returning, or if they will be able to stay where they are, or even emigrate.
 
My fifth point is that it is impossible to express the heartbreak we felt, especially that thousands of children have been without hygienic living conditions and even without school for lengthy periods of seven months and more.
 
The sixth observation is that we felt their pain when these refugees and displaced persons expressed their feelings that they had been forgotten, even abandoned by their brothers and sisters in the Western world.
 
However, and this is the important seventh remark, our visit was very warmly welcomed by the refugees and the IDPs. The fact that we had come in person told them that their brothers and sisters in Australia had not forgotten them. Our very presence was a pledge of our sincerity and compassion.
 
Today, some five months later, the humanitarian tragedy is ongoing and we don’t know when it will end. However, I know that our support, compassion and charity is still very much needed for the suffering Church in the Middle East .

Letter from the Melkite Catholic Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand
Report from Bishop Tarabay about Australian bishops delegation

Following discussion at the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference plenary meeting today, 8 May, the bishops voted to form an ecumenical committee consisting of representatives of the churches of the Middle East.
Images: ž
Bishop Rabbat distributing chocolates and gifts to the children in the St Elijah centre, 18 December 2014
žArchbishop Prowse with a refugee who had given birth to her first baby in the refugee camp the previous day, 18 December 2014

Book, Parish Kit and prayer card | Resources developed for World Communications Day May 11 2015

Next Sunday 17 May parishes across Australia will celebrate World Communications Day, an annual celebration promoted by the Holy See.

This year, the theme is Communicating the Family: A privileged place of encounter with the gift of love, and a letter from the Holy Father Pope Francis focuses on communication within families and the work of the extraordinary Synod.

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference communications office has developed four new resources for use in parishes, including a new book about social media and its use.

Tweet others as you would wish to be tweeted: a Scripture-based guide to social media for the Church is written by Catholic journalist Beth Doherty.

It takes the command from Luke’s Gospel 6:31 to ‘do unto others as you would have them do unto you’. Throughout the 80 pages, the book describes the most commonly used social media platforms and provides advice about how they can be used in the promotion of Gospel values.

Included on a new website developed for World Communications Day are downloadable prayer cards that can also be used as bookmarks featuring the reworked seven deadly sins and heavenly virtues applied to social media. These can be ordered as packs of ten from the website www.worldcommunicationsday.org.au.

There is also a Parish Kit that can be downloaded and printed out for parishes, that includes suggested homily ideas and prayers of the faithful.

An updated social networking policy for the Church in Australia is available, to assist agencies and parishes in their engagement on social media.

All of these resources are available at www.worldcommunicationsday.org.au and can be used throughout the year in schools, parishes and agencies.

New membership of bishops' commissions announced May 11 2015

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has appointed new membership to each of its commissions. 

Gathered for their plenary meeting at Mary MacKillop Place, North Sydney, the bishops today elected a new chairman of each commission.

The ARchbishop of Hobart, the Most Rev. Julian Porteous, is on the Commission for Administration and Information and also the Commission for Evangelisation.

Over the coming days, the bishops will elect delegates for each of the advisory councils to the commissions. 

Membership of the permanent committee has also changed. 

Prayer for the World Meeting of Families May 11 2015

God and Father of us all, in Jesus, your Son and our Saviour, you have made us your sons and daughters in the family of the Church.
May your grace and love help our families in every part of the world be united to one another in fidelity to the Gospel. 
May the example of the Holy Family, with the aid of your Holy Spirit, guide all families, especially those most troubled, to be homes of communion and prayer and to always seek your truth and live in your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us!

Bourke family will represent ACBC at World Meeting of Families May 11 2015

Hailing from the Diocese of Darwin in the Northern Territory, Matt and Cathy Bourke have been named as the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference official delegate couple at the 8^th World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia from 22-27 September 2015.
 
From St Martin de Porres Catholic Aboriginal Community, the Bourke family with their four children, three boys and one girl, will travel to Philadelphia as part of an Australian pilgrimage. Matt and Cathy Bourke have been active members of the Community for a number of years.
 
Nominated on behalf of the Bishop of Darwin, Bishop Eugene Hurley, the Director of Youth in the Diocese, Benita De Vincentiis, and MGL Priest at St Martin de Porres Community, Fr Dan Benedetti, described the Bourke family as ‘a joyful, down to earth family that seeks to do God’s will in the midst of everyday life’.
 
‘Not only do Matt and Cathy have a sound understanding of the Church’s teaching, they also have the courage to defend it and compassionately reach out to others, especially those on the fringes or outside the Church.’
 
Matt is the Assistant Principal of Religious Education at O’Loughlin Catholic College, a leading Catholic Secondary College in Darwin. He is responsible for bringing the Catholic Schools Youth Ministry Australia (CSYMA) program to the Northern Territory.
 
The couple are strong advocates for Catholic Education and encourage pilgrimage and opportunities for faith formation with students and young teachers. Matt and Cathy have led discussion groups on the Theology of the Body and its practical application in modern day life.
 
Bishop of Darwin, Eugene Hurley, described them as ‘servants of the diocese in so many ways. Their most precious contribution is the way they model family life in every aspect.
 
‘Recently, I enlisted their help in preparing for the Synod on the Family. They responded immediately, although it meant cutting into their holiday and the need to bring their older boy with them, as he has a medical condition. Their contribution is very rich and inspiring,’ Bishop Hurley added.
 
The Bourke's will travel with the Australian Bishops Delegation to the World Meeting of Families which will be led by the Bishops Delegate for Families, Bishop Michael Kennedy of Armidale.
 
Australian families can be in solidarity with the Gathering through their prayers and by reading and reflecting, privately or in parish groups on the preparatory catechesis ‘Love Is Our Mission, The Family Fully Alive’. This has been developed by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and the Pontifical Council for the Family and can be purchased through the website www.worldmeeting2015.org.au.
 
Pope Francis will be attending the event for the Festival of Families on Saturday 26 September and the Papal Mass on Sunday 27 September 2015.

The World Meeting of Families is a triennial global event that seeks to strengthen the sacred bonds of family across the globe and highlight its intrinsic value to the good of society. This is the first time the event is being held in the United States.

SFX moves into the future February 17 2015

After months of waiting, St Francis Xavier is on the eve of a new existence.

Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, SFX “reverts” to being a parish in its own right, with Fr Samuel Fancsali as the Administrator.

Come the 7pm Ash Wednesday Mass tomorrow, Fr Samuel and his wife, Catia, will not be exactly strangers in a new land. They arrived from Romania in November 2014 and have been living in a unit in South Hobart. On Christmas Eve, at the invitation of Fr Peter Addicoat CP PP, Fr Samuel was concelebrant at the Christmas Mass and Cartia was in the congregation.

For the past three Sundays, they have been a part of the community; with Fr Samuel concelebrating with Fr Peter on Sunday 1 February and with Fr Gerald on Sunday 8 February.  Then, on Sunday 15 February, Fr Samuel was the presider, with Fr Peter, the concelebrant.  This  brief time of transition seems to have gone smoothly.

While the sadness of losing the Passionists and our friends at St Joseph’s is mixed with many unanswered practical questions, the hiatus of uncertainty that has dominated recent months is now at and end and the future can unfold.

SFX farewells Passionists February 17 2015

Parishioners of the St Francis Xavier Church community farewelled and thanked the Passionsts for their 17 years of faithful and generous ministry, at both the Sunday morning Mass and a function in the hall on Sunday evening, 15 February.

Although the community was still officially under the ministry of the Passionists, the soon-to-be-new-parish administrator Fr Samuel Fancsali presided at the Mass while Fr Peter Addicoat CP PP concelebrated.  Fr Peter proclaimed the gospel and Fr Samuel preached and then at the end of Mass Fr Samuel invited Fr Peter of give the final blessing.

Minutes before that, Mr Martin Stone, on behalf of the Mass community, presented Fr Peter, on behalf of the Passionist community, with a hamper. 

It was a symbolic gesture:  the Passionists had fed the parishioners with the Word and Eucharist for 17 years; the parishioners, in turn, could feed the Passionists.

That evening, about 60 people  - present and past SFX parishioners as well as a large number of  St Joseph’s parishioners - gathered in the SFX hall for celebration - prayers, abundant food and excellent fellowship.

The prayer was based around the Passionist charism of the Passion and Cross of Jesus and at the reading of the gospel, a Passionst Cross of Profession (given to each Passionist at profession) was passed around the gathering for personal prayer and reflection.  The service also contained the speech of thanks and farewell delivered by Mr Chris Smith, to which Fr Peter responded.  A prayer of blessing for the four Passionists - Fr Peter Addicoat CP PP, Fr Gerald Quinn CP, Fr Xavier Swamy CP and Br Edward Braden CP - was followed by a rousing version of the Celtic Alleluia:  Sending Forth to bring the prayer and formalities to a close.

Most people stayed for supper which featured, as well as a huge range of delightful food, lots of talk, laughter and high spirits or gratitude.

May the light of your soul bless your work / with love and warmth of heart.
May you see in what you do the beauty of your soul.
May the sacredness of your work bring light and renewal / to those who work with you / and to those who see and receive your work.
May your work never exhaust you.  May it release wellsprings of refreshment, inspiration and excitement.
May you never become lost in bland absences.  May the day never burden.
May dawn find hope in your heart / approaching your new day with dreams / possibilities and promises.
May evening find you gracious and fulfilled.  May you go into the night blessed / sheltered and protected. May your soul calm, console and renew you.    

For Work, from Benedictus: a book of blessings  by John O’Donohue  (Bantam Press; 2007) p 160

The charism, like life itself, is a gift for which we are eternally grateful; and one that we may not dispose of as though it were our personal property. Those who wish to stand with us at the foot of the cross, to contemplate the love of God and then proclaim its saving power, can rightly be called “Passionists”, whether they be men, women or children.      (Passionists General Chapter 2000)

(see also next post, SFX moves into the future)

Plaque recognises Sisters of Charity ministry in South Hobart January 31 2015

On Sunday 25 January 2015, Hobart parish priest Fr Peter Addicoat CP blessed a plaque at the 8:30am Mass at St Francis Xavier's Church which recognises the Sisters of Charity ministry in South Hobart.

It reads:  The Trustees of Mary Aikenhead Ministries honour this place as significant in the Sisters' story.

The plaque has been placed on an adjacent building which was part of the the Sisters' educational history in Hobart.

According to information provided by Fr Peter that accompanied the blessing, St Luke's School was established by Bishop Willson in 1863 and taken over by the Sisters of Charity in 1873.  St Luke's School provided a Mass centre 1925-1933, prior to the building of St Francis Xavier's Church. When St Francis Xavier's School was later established near the site of St Luke's, the Sisters of Charity staffed it until its closure in1973. 

The St Francis Xavier's Golden Jubilee booklet recorded:  Deep in the hearts of many of our 1983 members of St Francis Xavier parish are memories of the personal kindness rendered by the various sisters over the years.  One parishioner recalled that in the illness following the birth of her daughter, Mother Philippa called in daily to attend her needs.

On the occasion of our Golden Jubilee the people of St Francis Xavier's Church record their debt of gratitude to the Sisters of Charity.

The Sisters of Charity came to Australia in 1838 and came to Hobart only a few years later. Among their lasting legacy to the State are Mount Carmel College, Sandy Bay, St Aloysius Catholic College, Kingston and St Vincent's Hospital, Launceston.

Congratulations, Fr Terry! January 26 2015

Congratulations to Fr Terry Rush on being named in the Australia Day Honours for 2015.

Fr Terry, a senior priest in the Archdiocese of Hobart and parish priest based at Richmond, has been awarded a Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division for services to the Catholic Church in Tasmania.

The following information is from the 2015 Honours List on the Governor General's website.

MEDAL (OAM) OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA IN THE GENERAL DIVISION
The Reverend Father Terence John RUSH RFD,
PO Box 42, RichmondTas 7025
For service to the Catholic Church in Tasmania.

Catholic Archdiocese of Hobart:
Dean, Southern Tasmania, since 2003.
Chancellor, since 1998.
Deputy Senior Chaplain of Tasmania, current.
Chair, Killard Foundation Working Party, current.
Chair and Convenor, Diocesan Emergency Response and Recovery Team, since 1998.
Consult to Archbishop, since 1998.
Member, Council of Priests, since 1998.
Member, Finance Committee, Centacare, since 1998.
Senior Chaplain of Tasmania, 1985-1993.
Parish Priest, St John the Evangelist Richmond Parish, since 1998.
Administrator, St Mary's Cathedral Hobart, 1988-1998.
Secretary, Salaries and Equity Fund, 1986-1994.
Chaplain, Calvary Hospital Hobart, 1988-1998.
Chaplain, Launceston General Hospital, 1973-1978.
Archdiocese Member, since 1973.
Ordained Priest, since 1971.
Member, Critical Incident Support Team, Royal Australian Army, since 2002;
Chaplain, Australian Army Reserve, since 1977.
Board Member, Guildford Young College, Hobart, 1995-1998.
Board Member, Adult Education Tasmania, 1977-1982.