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04 MAY 2023

www.therecord.com.au

Edition #431

NEW ICONS SPEAK OF THE FACE OF THE FATHER’S MERCY

Archbishop Costelloe with Redemptoris Mater Seminary formators, Spiritual Director, Fr Noe NavarreteApaez, Rector Fr Michael Moore SM and Vice-Rector Fr Luis Tijerino on the occasion of the blessing of the new icons, Sunday 30 April 2023. PHOTO: JAMIE O'BRIEN/ARCHDIOCESE OF PERTH.

By Jamie O'Brien

Jesus is the one who comes to reveal to us the truth about who God really is, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has said, in blessing the new icons in the Chapel and classroom of Redemptoris Mater Seminary, Morley. Speaking Sunday evening 30 April, Archbishop Costelloe reflected on the Gospel reading of Matthew 25: 31-46, which speaks about The Last Judgement. He was joined for Sunday Vespers by Redemptoris Mater Seminary Spiritual Director, Fr Noe NavarreteApaez and Deacon Felipe Fernandez. “In tonight's gospel, we find presented to us, perhaps the clearest statement in the whole of the New Testament about what the final judgment will be all about,” Archbishop Costelloe explained.

“And the final judgement will be all about whether or not we reflected the face of the Father's mercy to everybody we meet. “I was hungry, and out of mercy and love and compassionate care. You gave me something to eat. I was thirsty, and out of mercy and compassion and love and care, you gave me something to drink. I was sick and you visited me. I was naked and you clothed me,” he said, repeating the words of the Gospel. “We could go through each one of these and each one of them is a st atement about what a compassionate merciful response looks like. “And that's what the church is called to be - that is what we're all called to be,” Archbishop Costelloe explained. The icon of the Deësis, which is located in the Chapel and the icon of the Appearance of Christ, which is located in the downstairs classroom

of Redemptoris Mater Seminary, are replicas of those painted by initiator of the Neocatechumenal Way, Kiko Arguello. The new icons at Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Morley have been painted by husband and wife, Jose-Manuel and Maria Jesus Canete and their son Miguel. Mr and Mrs Canete, who hail originally from Spain, were sent to Australia as a mission family by Pope Benedict XVI and live in Canberra. Speaking about the icons at the evening liturgy on Sunday 30 April, Seminary Rector, Fr Michael Moore SM highlighted how the eyes of Christ are a particular feature. “If you look at the face of Jesus Christ, and you see the eyes, if you're on this side, it's like he's looking at you, but if you're on the other side, it's like he's looking at you again also, or if you're sitting directly in front, it’s like he’s looking at you again,” Fr Michael explained. “It’s a particular technique of the icon writers. No matter where you sit, it’s a sign that Christ wants to communicate to you the love of the Father,” he said. Some other features of the icon in the Chapel, Fr Michael explained, include • The dark blue circle represents Christ on the earth and the world; • The black circle represents death; that we all experience; • The light blue represents heaven and the eternal life; emphasising that Jesus Christ crosses the thread because he lived on earth, experienced death, rose again and is now seated at the right hand of the father in heaven interceding for us. Full Text available at