Pope Benedict XVI signs his first encyclical in his private office at Vatican Palace. Photo: AAP Image.

In his first encyclical, Pope Benedict XVI called for a deeper understanding of love as a gift from God to be shared in a self-sacrificial way, both at a personal and social level.

The Holy Father said love between couples, often reduced today to selfish sexual pleasure, needs to be purified to include "concern and care for the other".

Love is also charity, he said, and the Church has an obligation to help the needy wherever they are found - but its primary motives must always be spiritual, never political or ideological.

The nearly 16,000-word encyclical, entitled Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love), was issued on 25 January 2006 in seven languages. Addressed to all Catholics, it was divided into two sections, one on the meaning of love in salvation history, the other on the practice of love by the Church.

Benedict said his aim was to "speak of the love which God lavishes upon us and which we in return must share with others". The two aspects, personal love and the practice of charity, are profoundly interconnected, he said.

The encyclical begins with a phrase from the First Letter of John: "God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."

Benedict said the line expresses the heart of the Christian faith, which understands the creator as a loving God and which sees Christ's death as the ultimate sign of God's love for man.

In today's world, however, the term "love" is frequently used and misused, he said. Most commonly, it is understood as representing "eros", the erotic love between a man and a woman. The Church, from its earliest days, proposed a new vision of self-sacrificial love expressed in the word "agape", he said.

At times, he said, the Church, with all its commandments and prohibitions, has been accused of poisoning eros or of being ready to "blow the whistle" just when the joy of erotic love presented itself.

But in modern society, he said, it has become clear that eros itself has been exalted and the human body debased.

"Eros, reduced to pure 'sex', has become a commodity, a mere 'thing' to be bought and sold, or rather, man himself becomes a commodity," he said. "This is hardly man's great 'yes' to the body. On the contrary, he now considers his body and his sexuality as the purely material part of himself, to be used and exploited at will."

Properly understood, he said, eros leads a man and woman to marriage, a bond that is exclusive, and therefore monogamous, as well as permanent.

While it is true that the happiness of eros can give people a "foretaste of the divine", eros needs to be disciplined and purified if it is to provide more than fleeting pleasure.

Balance
The solution is to rediscover a balance between the ecstasy of eros and the unselfish love of agape, he said.

The key to regaining this balance, he said, lies in a personal relationship with God and an understanding of the sacrificial love of Jesus Christ. He said Christ gives the ultimate lesson in "love of neighbor", which means: "I love even the person whom I do not like or even know."

Essential interplay
Benedict said there was an essential interplay between love of God and love of neighbor.

"If I have no contact whatsoever with God in my life, then I cannot see in the other anything more than the other, and I am incapable of seeing in him the image of God," he said.

"But if in my life I fail completely to heed others, solely out of a desire to be 'devout' and to perform my 'religious duties', then my relationship with God will also grow arid," he said.

The second half of the encyclical makes two main points:

1. As a community, the Church must practice love through works of charity and attend to people's sufferings and needs, including material needs.
2. The Church's action stems from its spiritual mission and must never be undertaken as part of a political or ideological agenda.

Important distinctions
Benedict said there was a connection between the commitment to justice and the ministry of charity, but also important distinctions. Building a just social and civil order is an essential political task to which the Church contributes through its social doctrine, but it "cannot be the Church's immediate responsibility", he said.

"A just society must be the achievement of politics, not of the Church," he added.

"The Church cannot and must not take upon herself the political battle to bring about the most just society possible. She cannot and must not replace the state.

"Yet at the same time she cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice." The Church's role is to make the rational arguments for justice and awaken the spiritual energy needed for the sacrifices that justice requires, he said.

"Christian charitable activity must be independent of parties and ideologies. It is not a means of changing the world ideologically, and it is not at the service of worldly stratagems, but it is a way of making present here and now the love which man always needs."

Need for justice
Benedict examined and rejected the Marxist arguments that the poor "do not need charity but justice" and that charity is merely a means of preserving a status quo of economic injustice. He said the Church must help the needy wherever they are found, and he cited Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta as an example of love in action.

"One does not make the world more human by refusing to act humanely here and now," he said. And charity will always be necessary, even in the most just society, he said.

In any case, he said, it is an illusion to think that the state can provide for all needs and fully resolve every problem.

"We do not need a state which regulates and controls everything" but a state that supports initiatives arising from different social forces, he said. The Church is one of those forces, he said.

Be witnesses
Benedict said that those working for Catholic charitable organisations need to be witnesses of the faith as well as professionally competent in humanitarian affairs.

The Church's charitable activities, he said, should not be seen as opportunities for proselytism, in the sense of imposing the Church's faith on others.

"But this does not mean that charitable activity must somehow leave God and Christ aside," he said. Without proposing specific guidelines, he added: "A Christian knows when it is time to speak of God and when it is better to say nothing and to let love speak alone."

Benedict said that prayer should not be forgotten as the Church tries to alleviate the immense needs around the world.

"People who pray are not wasting their time, even though the situation appears desperate and seems to call for action alone. Piety does not undermine the struggle against the poverty of our neighbors, however extreme," he said.

- CNS

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Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

New Executive Director, Greg Whitby.

Bishop Kevin Manning has appointed Mr Gregory Whitby to the position of Executive Director of the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Parramatta. Mr Whitby comes to Parramatta from the Diocese of Wollongong where he has been the Director of Schools since 1999.

In welcoming Mr Whitby to his new role, Bishop Manning said he was pleased with the result of the wide consultation to appoint the new Executive Director.

"I have appointed a man with good solid experience in education management, and especially in religious education, which must be the primary focus of our Catholic education system," the Bishop said.

Mr Whitby has had nearly 30 years' experience in education, including with the Catholic Education Office, Parramatta where he held several positions, including Head of Curriculum and Special Purpose Programs for the Diocese.

He began teaching in a Catholic primary school but joined the government sector for five years as a secondary English/History teacher.

He has held all promotion positions in Catholic schools and been involved in teacher professional development for nearly two decades.

For 10 years in the 1990s Mr Whitby was a part-time lecturer and tutor at the University of Western Sydney in the Faculty of Business. He holds postgraduate qualifications in education, management and religious education.

Mr Whitby has a special expertise in leadership development, the challenges for providing learning and teaching in a digital age, and how we might reframe schooling in a digital age.

He speaks regularly at conferences and holds workshops across Australia and internationally. He has travelled extensively overseas working with schools and systems in these interest areas.

He is a Commissioner of the Catholic Commission for Employment Relations and the Catholic Education Commission. He Chairs the Conference of Diocesan Directors Information and Communication Technology Committee as well as the Systemic Schools Employment Relations Committee.

He is an Apple Distinguished Educator, a Fellow of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, a Member of the Australian College of Educators and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.

Mr Whitby is also involved in the development of an Information Communication Technology infrastructure to link Catholic schools and to provide a virtual learning environment known as CEnet (Catholic Education Network). He is the Chairman of Directors of CEnet.

Mr Whitby is married and has three adult children.

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Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

The first weekend in December was a busy one for inter-faith dialogue in the Diocese of Parramatta with two events exploring the relationship between Christianity and Islam.

Inter-faith dialogue
"Celebrating the Life and Achievements of Christ and Muhammad", which was held in St Patrick's Cathedral Hall on 3 December, was a follow-up on two major events of previous years held in Greystanes and Castle Hill.

The organisers, Bishop Kevin Manning, Rev David Mills and Mr Keysar Trad, chose a different structure for this gathering because they wanted to initiate a forum for deepening the discussion on Christianity and Islam.

Two academics were invited to give a paper of 15 minutes' duration, to be followed by questions from an invited audience. The Christian speaker, Prof Neil Ormerod, concentrated on the life and achievements of Jesus. The Muslim academic, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohammad, prepared a paper entitled "Rays of light from the life of Prophet Muhammad", which was translated and read by Mr Trad. The proceedings were chaired by Mr Noel Debien, producer of ABC Radio religious affairs programs.

Predictably, given the nature of the papers, the questions from the Muslims in the audience centred on Jesus and his divinity. Muslims recognise Jesus as a prophet, and esteem the Virgin Mary as his mother, but they wanted to know where Jesus had claimed to be divine in the Bible.

Very quickly the questions and observations moved on to the nature of future dialogues: should we focus on what we have in common and leave aside what is different or should we explore our differences too?

There was general agreement that we share many values in common and that we could co-operate more in shaping public policy and working for pro-life matters and for peace.

More intense dialogue took place around the magnificent buffet prepared by Mrs Melva Malkoun, who was assisted on the evening by her husband, Frank, and Mrs Helen Howard from the Chancery Office.

Young adult group
The second event had an entirely different ambience: it was for young adults. The Catholic young adult group, which meets regularly with Bishop Manning on Sunday nights, was joined by a group from the Chinese Catholic Community and a group of young adult Muslims, most of whom were from Affinity, an Islamic organisation connected with the Gallipoli Mosque at Auburn.

Enjoying a wonderful evening meal of halal food prepared by Melva, the dialogue was spirited and honest, with laughter resounding through the room. The young adults, Christians and Muslims, shared their difficulties of living according to their beliefs in the contemporary world. It is all very well to be a counter-witness, but it is not always easy.

No one shied away from the hard questions, but the questions were asked and received in a spirit of genuine inquiry, mutual respect, and fun. As in all human relationships, a willingness to laugh at oneself is quite disarming. It was an enriching experience and one which all agreed must be repeated soon.

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By Sr Libby Rogerson IBVM, Diocesan Director of Social Justice.
Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

To celebrate the message of hope and reconciliation Pope John Paul II gave to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people when he visited Alice Springs in 1986, Message Sticks are travelling through all the Dioceses of Australia.

From earliest times in Aboriginal culture Message Sticks have been used to share information about gatherings or as a welcoming gift when entering new territories.

In May last year Message Sticks were launched from St Mary's Cathedral in Sydney to bring messages of peace and reconciliation, and to announce the celebration, in Alice Springs on 1 October 2006, of the 20th anniversary of the Pope's visit.

The Diocese of Parramatta will welcome the Message Stick from the Diocese of Wollongong on Sunday 2 April.

During the month of April Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, parishes, schools and groups will organise meetings and activities around the Message Stick.

The Message Stick is a reminder of the continuing need to work together for reconciliation and justice. During his visit in 1986 Pope John Paul IL said to indigenous Australians and to all of us: the Church herself in Australia will not be fully the Church that Jesus wants her to be until you (Indigenous Australians) have made your contribution to her life and until that contribution has been joyfully received.

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By Dan McAloon, Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

There has always been an expectation in the Catholic school system that exposure to the Church's teachings will produce wholesome young people, who are well educated and morally equipped to stand up to life's many challenges.

That is to say, young people who are not simply fit for the workplace, but who are ready to play their part in transforming society.

One has only to look at the many Catholics who take up leadership roles in Australian public life to see the truth in this statement.

The idea that the ethos of Catholic schooling could be more fully extended into higher education saw a group of Catholic intellectuals in the 1970s found the Campion Society expressly for the purpose of founding a Catholic liberal arts college.

First intake in 2006
This dream of a Catholic college has become a reality with Campion College Australia opening its doors for its first student intake in 2006.

With 20 per cent of all school students nationally enrolled in Catholic schools, Campion College is a timely addition to Western Sydney's higher education providers.

Located on the 10-acre site of the former Marist seminary at Old Toongabbie, leased from the Diocese of Parramatta, the campus has undergone a major transformation in the months leading up to next month's official opening on 24 March.

The imposing heritage building that forms the centre of academic and social life has been through a major refit so that it now includes a refurbished lecture theatre, chapel, and air-conditioned offices and accommodation for up to 24 live-in students.

Although the initial student intake is small, the college sees its "boutique" size as a virtue. Small classes are designed to keep the teaching and learning personalised. As it reaches capacity in coming years, the intention is to keep the sense of intimacy, with total numbers of full-time students not exceeding 900.

A new concept
Campion College is styled after the strong traditions of similar Catholic liberal arts colleges in the US and Europe. But in Australia's secularised public higher education field the private arts college is still a new concept.

At Campion the focus is on delivering an integrated liberal arts and sciences curriculum that is informed by the philosophy and teachings of the Catholic Church, as it pervades Western history and thinking.

Subjects taught in its three-year Bachelor of Arts degree include literature, philosophy, theology, history and science.

Campion is unique among other education providers in combining the studies of the arts and sciences into a single degree.

The intention is that future graduates will be both intellectually balanced and articulate; as the brochure says, people who are "well prepared for life as well as for the workplace".

Timely arrival
Campion's arrival in the competitive higher education sector coincides with the big changes to the system being flagged by the Federal Government.

Foremr Education Minister, Dr Brendan Nelson, went so far as to predict that the Government may yet adopt a US-style "graduate school" model for future tertiary funding, shifting its subsidies away from the large research-intensive universities and towards undergraduate places in teaching-only campuses.

Responding to the debate late last year, the inaugural President of Campion College Australia, Rev Dr John Fleming, told The Australian newspaper that the new college would not only work within any planned changes to the system, but it would embrace them.

"We are in the business of offering a liberal arts degree from which students can then build a vocational postgraduate degree in either business, education, media, medicine or law at Notre Dame or one of the other universities," he said.

Rich tradition
Fr John is secure in his belief that Campion College will find its own niche in the competitive higher education sector. A Catholic college that is committed to the teaching of the Magisterium of the Church and is dedicated to one of the great English martyrs, St Edmund Campion SJ, by its nature draws on the intellectual and spiritual traditions of the Benedictines, the Dominicans, the Franciscans and the Jesuits.

"The history of the West is informed by the history of the Church," he said definitively. "In today's universities this is often overlooked for fashionable post-modern theories that reduce everything to simple relativism, yet all of the cornerstones of our life - arts, science, medicine, law - came up through the historical Church and its true teachings."

Of Campion's vital place in educating tomorrow's leaders today, Fr John has no doubt. As he told an education forum last year: "Catholic identity involves not only the promotion of an active participation in the world and care for the poor and marginalised, but also the promotion of a dialogue between Catholics and the local culture, with young Catholics being encouraged to be the leaven in the development of local culture."

Profile of Fr John Fleming,
President of Campion College Australia

By Dan McAloon.

My first visual impression on meeting Fr John Fleming for the first time is that here is a priest who still wears the black clerical shirt and white Roman collar of my childhood.

As the President and key spokesperson for Campion College Australia, Fr John knows the power of the Church's traditional symbols to convey messages. He is a skilled media practitioner, having worked for years as a newspaper columnist, author and talkback radio host in his home town of Adelaide.

If the popular culture of film and TV still depicts a Catholic priest as a figure in black, he doesn't see why he shouldn't use that iconography in his ministry. "I'm a priest witnessing Christ to a disbelieving world," he said, "so, naturally, I want people to recognise me as a priest.

"Before the 1980s one could identify the priest in any crowd - at the football, on the train station, anywhere in public life. Now you can't tell the priest from anyone else. For me, presence is everything in living out my priestly vocation."

With impressive credentials in philosophy, bioethics and communications, Fr John is well placed to put Campion College on the higher education map.

For eight years he was a member of the national debating team, and is a persuasive public speaker ready to engage in current debates on social issues, including higher education.

He also is a former Dean and Vice-Master of St Mark's College in the University of Adelaide, and has a doctorate from Griffith University in philosophy and bioethics.

In his chosen field of bioethics he has been an influential voice in UNESCO's International Bioethics Committee and, most recently, the Vatican's Pontifical Academy for Life.

He sees the wholly Catholic perspective presented at Campion College as crucial "both for higher education in this country and for the future of the Church".

"We are inspired by a high ideal - to make a distinctive contribution to education and public discourse in Australia. We are offering students a broad classical learning in the liberal arts and the blending of faith and reason as an essential pathway to the truth."

The college's undergraduate curriculum, he promises, will enrich the students' views of Catholicism in the 21st Century by underlining the deep moral and intellectual heritage that resonates through such figures as Benedict, Aquinas, John Henry Newman and John Paul II.

As a former Anglican minister who converted to Catholicism, Fr John is the first married Catholic priest I have met. He and his wife, Alison, and daughter Jessica live in a house in Old Toongabbie near the college.

Their second daughter, Jane, lives in Adelaide. His oldest daughter, Rebecca, now lives in Canada.

He said that as the son of an Anglican minister in Adelaide the reality of the married priest "was something I grew up with in the Anglican tradition".

After his conversion to Catholicism in 1987, a papal dispensation permitted his ordination as a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Adelaide in 1995.

Surprisingly, he doesn't believe that the vow of celibacy for Catholic priests should be rescinded. "Being the father of three daughters has kept me well grounded," he said, "but supporting my family through my working life has been a constant theme in my life."

Given the heavy demands of the priesthood to be with people in their spiritual and social needs, and the equally serious obligations a man has to his wife and children, he believes the Church has got it right in instituting a celibate priesthood to carry out its earthly mission.

"It is the priest's vocation to proclaim the word of God. It is something he joyously takes into the world. On the other hand, children shouldn't suffer because of his calling to do God's work."

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By Julie Kelly, Diocesan Co-ordinator for Sacraments of Initiation
for Children and Adults (RCIA).

Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

Towards the end of the Year of Eucharist, Pope Benedict XVI invited children receiving their first Communion to St Peter's Square. Below are some of the responses he gave to their questions on the Eucharist. These simple answers, which give clarity to the truths that guide us, are good for us all to hear.

Andrea: "In preparing me for my First Communion day, my catechist told me that Jesus is present in the Eucharist. But how?"

Pope Benedict: "No, we cannot see him, but there are many things that we do not see but they exist. … We can see and feel their effects. … We do not see the electric current but we see the light.

"So it is with the Risen Lord: We do not see him with our eyes but we see that wherever Jesus is, people change, they improve. A greater capacity for peace, for reconciliation, is created. Therefore, we do not see the Lord himself but we see the effects of the Lord. So we can understand that Jesus is present."

Livia: "Holy Father, before the day of my first Communion I went to confession. I have also been to confession on other occasions. Do I have to go to confession every time I receive Communion, even when I have committed the same sins?"

Pope Benedict: "I will tell you two things. The first, of course, is that you do not always have to go to confession before you receive Communion unless you have committed such serious sins that they need to be confessed.

"Therefore, it is not necessary to make one's confession before every Eucharistic communion. It is only necessary when you have committed a really serious sin, when you have deeply offended Jesus, so that your friendship is destroyed and you have to start again. Only in that case, when you are in a state of 'mortal' sin, in other words, grave sin, is it necessary to do to confession before Communion.

"My second point - Even if it is not necessary to go to confession before each Communion, it is very helpful to confess with a certain regularity. It is true that our sins are always the same, but we clean our homes, our rooms at least once a week, even if the dirt is always the same. In order to live, I clean in order to start again. Otherwise, the dirt might not be seen but it builds up.

"Something similar can be said about the soul. For me, myself, if I never go to confession, my soul is neglected and in the end I am always pleased with myself and no longer understand that I must always work hard to improve, that I must make progress.

"And this cleaning of the soul, which Jesus gives us in the Sacrament of Confession, helps us to make our consciences more alert, more open, and, hence, it also helps us to mature spiritually and as human persons."

Alessandro: "What good does it do for our everyday life to go to holy Mass and receive Communion?"

Pope Benedict: "It centers life. We live amid so many things. And the people who do not do to church, do not know that it is precisely Jesus they lack. But they feel that something is missing in their lives.

"If God is absent from my life, if Jesus is absent from my life, a guide, an essential friend, is missing, even an important joy for life, the strength to grow as a man, to overcome my vices and mature as a human being. In this way, we can see that it is important to be nourished by Jesus in Communion."

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By Julie Kelly, Diocesan Field Officer for Liturgical Formation.

Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

Many of us own a copy of "the Roman Missal". Given that it is one of the biggest influences on the face of the Western Church and is therefore, dare I say, a profound influence on all peoples in the Western world, it is ironic that it is probably the least understood of the great "classics".

The Roman Missal is, in fact, not one book but a library of books. During its long history various sections have been joined together into one volume or several, while at other times each section has been produced depending on by whom it was to be used.

Writing materials being scarce, and the lack of scribes in the early Church right through to the Middle Ages, meant that books were divided according to what each needed.

The book used by the priest at the altar for the prayers of the Mass usually contained no more than those that belonged to him to say, and is known as the Sacramentary (Sacramentarium) because all its contents centred around the great act of the consecration of the sacrifice.

On the other hand those portions of the service which, like the Introit and the Gradual, the Offertory and the Communion, were sung by the choir, were inscribed in a separate book, the Antiphonarium Missae (Graduale).

The passages to be read by the deacon or celebrant - Old Testament readings, Epistles and Gospel - after being separated from the Bible and collected together became the Lectionary.

The very importance of the calendar dictates the need for an Ordo to determine the proper service. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (commonly known as GIRM) is the document that precedes the Order of Mass and describes the celebration and its meaning, both as a whole and in its several parts. The treatment is at once doctrinal, pastoral and rubrical.

Only by a long, slow process of development did we finally come to one volume that contains all that is needed for the celebration of the Mass. Nothing authoritative appeared until after the Council of Trent when Pope Pius V revised the Catechism, Breviary and Missal and implored all for the sake of uniformity and the authority and relative purity of the Roman Rite to use the new revision published in 1570.

The Roman Missal today is again available according to its various "books" for ease of use by all in fully celebrating the Mass. The history of the Roman Missal as well as the Roman Rite is fascinating and the world wide web, which I encourage you to use if available, is an excellent source of information on the topic. Given this opportunity the Roman Missal is a treasure trove to be mined.

The liturgy has the power to teach in its very expression but we must bring ourselves up to the plate so that we can appreciate the treasure we have and both learn our faith and practice it.

Many workshops, courses and sessions are available throughout the year to delve further into our rich heritage. I encourage you to take advantage of this unique opportunity to make the link between liturgy and life.

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By Julie Kelly, Diocesan Co-ordinator for the
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA).

Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

School is back, and those of us with school-age children can again clean our homes knowing they will stay clean for at least a couple of hours.

But because school has been out it does not mean that learning has not been happening. Many RCIA groups are only just coming together again after a well-earned break, but catching up with family and friends over the Christmas period can be challenging and provides us all with many opportunities to be confronted by the Word each week over the Christmas season.

This short period before Lent is also an opportunity of conversion - a time for us to recognise our Baptism and to put what we have learned into practice daily.

The Second Vatican Council called for greater use of the Bible in the liturgy and recognised the Word as one expression of the real presence of Christ in the liturgy. (CSL7)

Through the Lectionary readings, particularly, those seeking faith are able to learn of Jesus Christ. They learn to be confronted by his teachings and in this way come to know the love of God.

Lent will soon be upon us with Ash Wednesday on 1 March. Lent is the perfect time to take the journey within, along with those preparing for Baptism. We help them and ourselves best by a transforming pilgrimage into our innermost spirit.

Take advantage of Lenten programs being offered in your parish. They are only for a short period and this preparation will help to make the Easter experience one of resurrection for you too.

In addition to the Lenten programs, why not come to St Patrick's Cathedral, Parramatta at 2pm on Sunday 5 March for the Rite of Election. This is one way to witness your faith to those who come from all across the Diocese and add your "we do" to the sponsors and godparents as those who have walked the journey with these Elect.

You, as the Baptised, are the community that continues to support them on their journey to initiation and beyond.

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By Veronica Vuletic, Diocesan Youth Ministry Co-ordinator.
Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

It is such a privilege to finally be here in Parramatta, serving as the Diocesan Youth Co-ordinator for the Youth and Young Adult Apostolate.

Having been in Parramatta for just a little more than two months, I am overwhelmingly encouraged at the commitment and life present in this Diocese, especially in the area of Youth Ministry.

Since 2002 I worked as Campus Minister for Mt Maria Senior College, in Mitchelton, Brisbane, in areas of pastoral care, faith development, social justice and action, retreat facilitation and community development.

A highlight was having the opportunity to facilitate alternative "schoolies" immersion programs to East Timor, and voluntary retreat programs for Year 12 students.

Prior to working as a Campus Minister I completed a Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Queensland, where I had the opportunity to work in child protection, as well as in community development settings.

These experiences fuelled my desire to make a difference in the wider community, and gave me a deeper understanding of the many issues facing young people and their families today.

I have also had the privilege of being part of two wonderful parish communities in Brisbane, who have supported and nurtured my own faith journey, and have allowed me to be part of their youth ministry leadership teams in various forms.

I am passionate about seeing young people connect with parish communities and Church movements in a way that is life-giving and meaningful, both to the young person, and the wider community.

I am passionate about seeing youth ministry done effectively and strategically across parishes, deaneries and the Diocese.

Ultimately, I am passionate to see young people come to be in relationship with God, embracing the universal Church and becoming authentic and dynamic followers of Christ, sent to be light for the entire world.

We have many great initiatives in the pipeline here at the Youth Apostolate, but our first step is to go out and meet with parish priests, youth co-ordinators and movements.

Feel free to contact us if you would like to meet with us, as we would love to connect with you: tel Veronica Vuletic (02) 8838 3419, vvuletic@parra.catholic.org.au and Luke Hackett (02) 8838 3418, lhackett@parra.catholic.org.au

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By Rev Paul Roberts, Vocation Director.
Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

'Vocation' is relevant to every one of us as the whole range of special commitments and lifestyles together make up the great mission of the Gospel in the world today.

God's presence is beautifully communicated through so many married and single people, religious brothers and sisters, priests and deacons, and all who have a passion to live to the full and make a difference.

In 2006-2007, however, we are encouraging an extra emphasis on and awareness about the vocation of priesthood for our Diocese.

Along with the vocation committee - consisting of Fr Peter Blayney, Fr Warren Edwards and Fr Paul Marshall - I believe that many more people than we'd guess have actually considered priesthood.

I suggest though, that as families and as the family of the Church we've tended to shy away from talking about it, leaving those who've thought about this vocation thinking they're alone. And let's face it, "alone" is a pretty discouraging way to consider your passion for life!

Surely in this growing and active region of Sydney that is covered by our Diocese it's time for us to stand up and say that we want some great new priests coming on board.

It's time for us to tell some people that we think they'd make great priests!

It's time for guys who are considering priesthood not to feel that they're alone, but to be actively encouraged by our united enthusiasm and to be part of a band of brothers on a vibrant journey!

And so it's this thinking that is behind the concept of calling 12 in 12 months to begin together on this special journey towards priesthood.

The priesthood is pretty lifeless if it's seen as a commitment by isolated individuals. But as a deep belonging and brotherhood together, marked with purpose, joy and radical trust in God's power and presence, it becomes a vocation full of life and full of great significance for the world.

Parishes are being invited to include information about the vocation of priesthood very regularly in their newsletters. The idea is to put it out there on the table for regular, normal conversation, not just if we have a yearly vocations weekend or the like.

I really want to encourage those who've thought about priesthood to have a yarn with their priests or with me and not to feel like the slightest mention of it means they've made a promise!

For us priests it's always a privilege to listen and share as people consider their options and we want to support people to find their truth, whatever vocation they finally pursue.

Part of the work of the priestly vocations focus will be to make discussion of this a more normal part of conversation. Regarding the suggested idea of telling some people that we think they'd make great priests, I have the following thought that I'll be sharing among other reflections during visits to parishes this year.

I believe we need to find a way of telling people they'd make great priests so that it affirms and encourages them rather than making them feel like there's a priest only spotlight on them.

For example, if we said something like "I really think priesthood is the only way for you" or "people will be disappointed if you don't become a priest" or "it's obvious that you're the priest from your family" our comment is like a trap with no way out.

We could expect the person to stay clear of us in the future. But if our comment is more open, I suspect it can be received well, even if that's not what the person is considering.

For example, to someone who we know well it might be appropriate to say "You know, you've got a really special presence and spirit about you. I don't know if it's what you've thought about, but among other things, I reckon you'd make a fantastic priest."

It would be good to think that every single member of the Church in our Diocese could do just one thing each this year towards the encouragement of great vocations to the priesthood.

Maybe it could be via talking about it in the family or amongst friends, by writing a card of encouragement to a current seminarian we may have met, or by affirming someone who has priestly qualities.

Maybe it could be via printing and somewhere displaying the interesting information and visual about Parramatta priesthood found at the website quoted at the end of this article.

Maybe it could be via a commitment to a brief prayer every time we attend Mass. We could pick the specific time of the Mass for such a prayer so that we don't forget.

For example, while walking up for Communion a regular prayer could be added to other personal thoughts and prayers something like "and Lord, touch the hearts of some men of love and faith to be your priests among us".

Each of us priests could also pick a specific time of each Mass for such a prayer. For example, just as we receive the gifts at the altar we could pray quietly "Lord touch the hearts of some men of love and faith to become our brothers in your gift of priesthood".

These are some opening thoughts for 2006 with regard to the encouragement of vocations to the priesthood for our Diocese. And I wish all who read these thoughts some creative inspiration to be part of our collective calling over the next 12 months of "12 enthusiastic men of love and faith who want to make a big difference".

For an overview of many expressions of priesthood and religious life, visit www.catholicozvocations.org.au

For priesthood in our Diocese, follow the prompts to priesthood, diocesan, NSW, Parramatta.

For more information about priesthood in the Diocese of Parramatta contact Rev Paul Roberts, Vocation Director, Diocese of Parramatta, Tel (02) 4730 1249, PO Box 21, Cranebrook, NSW, 2749, pr@corpuschristi.org.au

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Joust about with Virginia Knight

Boxing Day Blues

Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

Illustration: Kevin SooKee.

I remember one Boxing Day when the children were small, and blue skies were beckoning us outside to try out the pace of shiny new bicycles. In a marathon effort all three had been painstakingly assembled on Christmas Eve; completed long after Santa had sailed past and just as the clatter of tiny footsteps could be heard charging down the stairs to greet the dawn.

After a round of lengthy discussions re destination, one was chosen that would offer both challenging twists and rises for the more athletic, and flat, extremely short, circular pathways for those of us less inclined for a case of the "day after decrepit blues".

Fortunately, it was only 20kms away so while Hubby Dearest wrestled with the bike rack I threw together a picnic lunch featuring Christmas leftovers ("Not turkey and ham again"), road-tested safety helmets, knee-guards and shin-pads, and slathered sunscreen on anything that stood still long enough.

Minutes before exhaustion set in, and only two hours later than planned, we set off to drive to the selected bike track location, picturesquely situated amid low-lying bush land along the banks of a lazily meandering river.

No time to stop and admire the view though. Within minutes of unloading, the boys (aged seven and 10) set off, HD scrambling frantically upon his bike in hot pursuit.

Cracking a more leisurely pace four-year-old Bec and I ambled along; breaking our journey to feed a family of ducks camped in the shallows.

Much like their brethren the seagull, the ducks, sensing prey, began to close in, and after a token tussle to retain the slices I threw same to the wind and retreated to the gazebo lookout perched on the hill where I had thoughtfully pre-deposited our lunch.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned blue skies were smudged with grey, which could have been construed by the less-optimistic as thunderclouds.

Just as concern was setting in and I was reaching for the binoculars, a cycling party appeared in the distance, comprised of the Olympic Sprint Team escorting HD & the boys.

Pausing only to gasp for breath the boys excitedly related the tale of an apparent bike rage incident whereby HD, attempting to keep pace with OST, misjudged (or rather overlooked) and then failed to negotiate an unnecessarily sharp bend in the pathway and, consequently, shot off into an inconsiderately placed bush.

Contrary to HD's mumbled comments about ownership of the road (read pathway), they were a cheerful bunch signing autographs and promising largesse in the form of Olympic memorabilia, while the team medic patched up HD's sprained wrist and more accessible cuts and abrasions.

The blue sky now a distant memory an invitation was issued and accepted to share our picnic lunch, amid expressions of regret as all gazed upon the twisted wreck lying nearby that it was a shame the team mechanic had not been at hand to resurrect HD's bike.

As the first heavy drops of rain finally began to fall, the Olympic team jumped on their bikes and clutching several chunks of fruitcake sped off towards the horizon.

With the weather now taking a decidedly nasty turn with the light breeze whipping itself into a frenzied gale and sheets of rain accompanied by deafening thunderclaps; we made haste back to the car.

Children and injured HD watching safely from inside the dry, warm and inviting car I battled the breaking drought, struggling to reattach the bikes in the driving wind and rain.

Muttering comments about malingerers intent on avoiding unpleasant tasks, I tightened bolts with frozen fingers as ominous pools of water began gathering across the exit track.

Not to be deterred, and now sodden behind the wheel, I pressed home heavily on the accelerator to make our escape, showering the OST (who had chosen that moment to make their own exit) in a mini tidal wave. According to the Child Contingent, this was the highlight of an unexpectedly eventful day.

Bitter and twisted as HD's bike, wet, cold and windswept, squinting futilely to see the road ahead through the now torrential rain, and determined to nip all future such expeditions in the bud before they were even proposed, I spat out an old chestnut.

"Just goes to show", I hypothesised, "if God had meant us to ride bikes he would have given us wheels."

But before self-congratulation could set in, a child quipped helpfully from the back seat: "Well that could be a problem and you better pull over now Mum because a car has four wheels and you're driving one."

Rats! Foiled again.

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Rail disaster victims remembered

Twenty-nine years on and the Granville train disaster still musters a solemn gathering and contemplative silence.

On 18 January 1977 an express train from Mount Victoria bound for Central Station derailed and crashed into steel pylons, bringing down the Bold Street bridge at Granville.

The accident killed 83 people and 213 others were seriously injured.

At this year's memorial service the crowd of mourners came with roses representing the victims of the disaster.

Fr Les Campion, Parish Priest at Holy Trinity Parish, Granville, blessed the roses and remembered again how he went down into the carriages to help the survivors.

During the service, family and friends of the victims cast the roses from the bridge.

Granville Memorial Trust President, John Hennessey, called on the State Government to proclaim 18 January the Day of the Unsung Heroes.

Mr Hennessey asked for the day to become a memorial to the police, fire brigade, ambulance and State Emergency Service workers and other volunteer workers.

"These days we hear a lot of sad things about our society," he said. "We hear about the bad people and we rarely hear about the good people."

This article is republished with permission of the Parramatta Advertiser.

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Papal Award for Patrician Brother

Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

In December 2005 the last principal of Patrician Brothers' College, Blacktown, Br Patrick Lovegrove FSP, was presented with a Papal Award, Croce pro Ecclesia et Pontifice.

With the withdrawal of the Congregation from Catholic school leadership in NSW, Br Patrick was the last in a line of five Patrician Brothers principals who served the College community since it was established in 1952.

Br Patrick received the Papal Award at the College on 20 December. Speaking on the occasion, Bishop Kevin Manning described Br Patrick's enormous contribution to Catholic education.

"Br Patrick made his First Profession as a Patrician Brother on 15 May 1950. Since that time he has had an exceptional career as an educator who has risen to the very top of his profession. His outstanding educational qualities, as well as his leadership, resulted in his being appointed as an inaugural member of the NSW Catholic Education Commission in 1973.

"However, he had already made a substantial mark as an educator long before 1973. Having taught at numerous schools run by the Patrician Brothers between 1952 and 1962, he assumed his first role as principal at Patrician Brothers School in Blacktown in 1963.

"At this stage Blacktown was growing at a very rapid rate, having been proclaimed a municipality in 1961. These were hectic times, when the rapidly expanding population of Blacktown was being mirrored by the rapidly expanding school of which Br Patrick was the young principal.

"Resources were scarce and much improvisation was required in order to ensure that the young and mostly migrant population of the newly emerging Blacktown received a good education.

"Children of non-English-speaking background, particularly from Italian, Maltese and Croatian families, existed in large numbers complementing the many children of Catholic/Irish heritage who attended the school.

"Although still very young to be a principal, Br Patrick's academic and administrative skills were recognised by his being promoted to take over the role as principal of the Patrician Brothers flagship school, Holy Cross College, Ryde, from 1966 to 1968. This was the school to which all the elite performers from Patrician Brothers schools around Sydney were sent in order to complete the Higher School Certificate, which was introduced in 1967.

"Once again, Br Patrick excelled. At the end of his term as principal of Holy Cross College he was appointed Provincial Superior of the Patrician Brothers in the Province of Australia and Papua New Guinea. Most persons only assumed this role for one or, at the most, two terms. Br Patrick, however, was re-elected on three subsequent occasions by his peers, giving him a total record of 12 years as Provincial.

"It was during this period that he was appointed as an inaugural member of the NSW Catholic Education Commission in 1973.

"It was a challenging period in many ways, particularly as the Catholic school system in NSW faced the daunting prospect of the need to rapidly expand while the number of young men joining the Brothers was diminishing dramatically. It was also a challenging period from a policy perspective, as state and national political debates around the issue of state aid to non-government schools abounded at the time.

"Still a young man, Br Patrick, however, was irrepressible. After a record period as Provincial, he oversaw the dramatic development and expansion of Patrician Brothers schools in Australia and Papua New Guinea. He was elected in 1980 by the Patrician Brothers around the world to become their Superior General.

"At the age of 47 Br Patrick was one of the youngest, if not the youngest, Patrician Brother to assume this role. As the international congregational leader of the Patrician Brothers he moved to Ireland so as to oversee the administration of all Patrician Brothers schools based in Ireland, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Africa, California and India.

"He maintained this leadership role until 1986 following which he went on a year-long sabbatical to undertake postgraduate studies in California.

"Having reached the pinnacle of his academic and administrative career as a Patrician Brother, Br Patrick, at the age of 55, decided to change direction and to return to where he started, back in the classroom.

"In 1988 he began teaching at Holy Cross College, Ryde, before, once again, assuming the role of Principal at Patrician Brothers, Blacktown, the following year. This is a posting, which he held until the end of Term II this year.

"For the thousands of young men who have grown up in and around Blacktown, Br Patrick is nothing short of a living legend. Despite the important positions he has held at international level, as well as educational leadership at a national and state level, he is in every sense a humble man who is seen daily in the playground and around the local community chatting to, and supporting, young men of all ages.

"Each generation of young men that has passed through Patrician Brothers, Blacktown has looked upon him as their hero. He has always responded by championing their causes, whether it is on an individual basis or as a collegiate group.

"Br Patrick's humility and educational leadership were recognised in 2002 when he was awarded the Br John Taylor Award, presented annually by the NSW Catholic Education Commission for excellence in Catholic education.

"In February 2005 Br Patrick announced his retirement after 55 years since taking his First Profession of Vows and 53 years since entering the classroom as a teacher.

"His retirement will be a sad loss to Australian education, but his work over many years is an outstanding legacy, which will continue to provide inspiration to others for many decades to come.

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Education News

HSC merit list
Congratulations to the following students from schools in the Diocese of Parramatta who gained first place in the state in one or more HSC courses:

• Carine El Zind, Our Lady of Lebanon College, Harris Park, Arabic Continuers, Arabic Extension.
• Dannielle Ryan, Terra Sancta College, Quakers Hill, Entertainment Examination.
• Anh Vu Nguyen, Cerdon College, Merrylands, Geography.
• Francesca Sidoti, St Columba's High School, Society and Culture.

Starting 'big school'
This year the Diocese of Parramatta welcomed about 3,400 Kindergarten students who took the exciting step into "big school" for the very first time.

Each of the 54 primary schools in the Diocese greeted a new cohort of young students ready to begin their journey of discovery and learning in a Catholic school.

First-day nerves and tears were inevitable, although most were reserved for the parents and not the eager students, who were too busy getting to know their new friends and teachers.

Dr Michael Bezzina, Interim Executive Director of Schools, said the first few weeks of Kindergarten marked the beginning of a rewarding and enriching experience for students, families and teachers alike.

"It is an exciting and challenging time for the young students and, in partnership with their families, our schools will help them grow into happy, confident and faith-filled people who will always strive to be the best they can be."

$20,000 scholarship
Miki Sherry, a former student of St Columba's High School, Springwood, has received a University of Western Sydney Academic Excellence Scholarship Award valued at $20,000 for her outstanding HSC results in 2005.

Miki, who completed Year 12 last year, plans to study an international business/arts degree at the University of Western Sydney this year,

The annual scholarship recognises academic excellence by students in greater western Sydney.

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Community supports ministry

Catholic Outlook, February 2006.

In December 2005 single mums and their children at Catherine Villa received a special Christmas gift from the staff at WorkDirections Blacktown.

WorkDirections Manager Maree Patten said staff donated a coin each week to wear casual clothes on Fridays, and had raised $525 which they unanimously agreed should be donated to a local charity.

Through the diocesan Ministry to Solo Parents and Their Families, Catherine Villa provides support and accommodation for homeless pregnant young women and homeless young mothers with children.

"We work with a lot of young single mothers at WorkDirections, and wanted to extend our ability to help them beyond helping them back to work or assisting them to access other community support," Ms Patten said.

"When we contacted Catherine Villa, they suggested that the money would best be provided in the form of accurate electronic scales to weigh the newborns and infants of women in their care. We are delighted to be able to assist local single mums and their children with such a practical donation."

Catherine Villa is funded by the Diocese of Parramatta. It also receives funding from the NSW and Federal Governments.

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