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THE PARISH. THE NATION. THE WORLD. wurw.therecord.com.au
Western Australia's award-winning Catholic newspaper since 1874 - Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Perth, Western Australia $2
Pope Benedict recognises four Perth Priests
Monsignor Sean O'Shea, one of the four priests honoured by Pope Benedict, holds his papal medal Pro Ectlesio et Pontifice. The other priests honoured were Monsignor James Nestor, Fr Dan Foley and Fr Pat Cunningham. PHOTO: ANTHONY BARICH
Family tradition: Members of the Starcevich family gather to pray the Rosary in the family home of Harold and Pam Kennett on November 6. John Starcevich and his cousin Des Hardingham, below, gather with the travelling statue of Mary before the prayer begins. John's mother, Mary, helped begin the tradition praying the Rosary with extended family. This was the 21st year the family has prayed the Rosary together. PHOTOS: ROBERT HIINI
Trusting it to Mary... BY ROBERT HIINI Parish Reporter
Pope Benedict XVI has awarded the papal medal Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice ("For Church and Pope") to Perth priests Fathers Pat Cunningham and Dan Foley, and Monsignors James Nestor and Sean O'Shea. The presentations were made during the annual clergy Mass for the feast of St Charles Borromeo, patron saint of seminarians, at St Charles Seminary, Guildford on November 8. The papal medal, a high honour for clergy, recognises individuals for their outstanding contributions to the Church and the Pontiff - in the case of the four Perth clergy, over decades. Archbishop Hickey told The Record Please turn to Page 4
T
he legacy of a woman who was dedicated to the Mass and the Rosary lives on with the Starcevich family celebrating their 21st year of praying the Rosary together. Begun in honour of matriarch, Mary Starcevich, over 25 members of the family gathered in Cottesloe on Friday, November 6, to pray for the needs and special intentions of all and for the souls of those who have gone before. Coordinator John Starcevich says that the memory and
example of his mother have been forces of unity for his large extended family. Mary Agnes Starcevich was one of 11 children, seven girls and four boys, growing up on a Korbel homestead halfway between Bruce Rock anI Merredin. She and her husband Jack had three children, moving from Merredin to Perth in 1955. She became a stalwart of St Dominic's Parish in Innaloo, starting a common Rosary initiative, where a statue of Our Lady would tour the homes of Parish families. Shortly after her death in 1988, Please turn to Page 2
Italians thumb noses at EU over crucifixes in schools Rome, Italy, November 12, (CNA) - A number of Italian
A crucifix is seen on a wall in a school classroom in Rome on November 3 PHOTO. CNS/REUTERS
officials have responded to the ruling by the European Human Rights Court that ordered schools in Italy to remove crucifixes from classrooms by talking unprecedented measures to preserve the Christian symbol. According to the Italian daily
Avvenire, the mayor of Sezzadio, Pier Luigi Arnera, has levelled a fine of 500 euros against anyone who removes a crucifix from a public place. Arnera explained that the playing of the crucifix in "places other than churches does not affect the dignity of anyone, because it is one of our cultural
references." Likewise in the cities of Sassuolo and Trapani, officials have acquired dozens more crucifixes to display them in public schools. In Montegrotto Terme, ital billboards that normally are used to inform the public are now displaying the crucifix with the phrase, "We will not take it
down." The mayor of Assisi has ordered that Nativity scenes be displayed in addition to the crucifix in public offices. In Varesotto a local contractor placed a 16 foot cross on his farm in order to express his indignation over the court ruling. Muslim girl defends crudfixes - Page 17