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Pope bestows special awards on 11 Perth Priests
VISTA 2-3
PAPAL CROSSES
GETTING TO Wel THE CURE OF ARS - VISTA 1• SUNDAY SESH' FUN FOR YOUTH - P
• BOOKS - age 20
"Be indefatigable in your purpose and with undaunted spirit resist iniquity and try to conquer evil with good, having before your eyes the reward of those who combat for Christ."
THE PARISH. THE NATION. THE WORLD. www.therecord.comau
Western Australia's award-winning Catholic newspaper since 1874 - Wednesday June 24 2009
Perth, Western Australia $2 4
Chris Cypher: ordinary man, extraordinary Benedict XVI
GIFT
"Sound bursts through the dazzled mind awaken the senses, to the chirping of the winged guardians of the garden palace. The living bustle of the grey-cold new day. Mind-sad observer trudges off to the next duty troubled, by the thought ofangels in this age of scientific prooft only." - From Angel in the Park, by Chris Cypher
Leederville gardener-poet would have burned his manuscripts if it wasn't for education colleagues. • By Deb Warner
T
ALKING to Chris Cypher in the grounds of the Catholic Education Office in Leederville where he is a gardener I find myself in the presence of an ordinary man with an extraordinary gift. Early this year he self-published a book of his poetry, The Gardener's Prayer - A Journey into the mysteries of the Natural World. The collection of poems celebrates the beauty of nature whilst never forgetting the Creator. As Mr Cypher puts it, "Nature reflects God's presence in our lives." Born in England in 1944, Chris Cypher moved to America at the end of World War II with his parents. The family spent 18 months there. They then came to Australia where Mr Cypher has lived ever since. Part of Mr Cypher's secondary education was at the Christian Brothers College where his best subject was English. At the age of 15 he started working. He served in the Citizens Military Forces from 17 to 24 years of age. On completing an apprenticeship in Machine Composing, he worked in the graphic arts and newspaper industry for 28 years. After that he studied horticulture at a technical college. At the same time he ran his own gardening maintenance company until 1994. For the last 15 years he has been Please turn to Page 2
Catholic Education Office groundsman Chris Cypher pauses for a moment during the daily routine of maintaining and caring for the beautiful surroundings of the state's Catholic e ducation Centre. His poetry is heavily inspired by nature, and the rhythms and cadences of the natural world. The first book of his collected poetry is a selfpublished volume simply entitled The Gardener's Prayer. An initial print run of 100 copies was quickly sold out among colleagues at the CEO and he is now planning a second modest print run for a wider audience. While on assignment Record p hotographer Justine S tevens caught bees gathering nectar among the4 garden's flowers, at right. Such sights are the kind that inspire Mr Cypher to verse.
appoints Sale bishop
AFTER an 18-month wait, Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Auxiliary Bishop Christopher (pictured above) of Prowse Melbourne as the eighth Catholic Bishop of Sale. The news was announced by the Vatican last week and communicated in Australia by the Apostolic Nuncio (the Pope's personal representative to the Australian people) in Canberra, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto. Bishop Prowse succeeds Bishop Jeremiah Coffey who retired 18 months ago. Bishop Prowse, 55, was born in Melbourne. He is a former Vicar General of Melbourne and was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne in 2003. The Solemn Mass and Liturgical Reception of Bishop Prowse will take place at St Mary's Cathedral, Sale, at 2pm on Wednesday, July 15.
Knights seek collaborators in Crusade AS the Year for Priests called by Pope Benedict commences, the Pope has imparted an Apostolic Blessing to Australians who participate in the third Knights of the Southern Cross National Prayer Crusade for Vocations, which will take place from September 6 to November 28. In his blessing, the Holy Father acknowledges the commitment of the Australian national laymen's body "to the Church and the ministry of the priests." The Prayer Crusade aims to pray for an increase in all vocations, but especially more priests and deacons - and for muchneeded military chaplains for the Australian Defence Force, whose Catholic members and their fami Please turn to Page 4