No. 3672. PERTH. THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 1974
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Confirmation by a priest mooted The Diocesan Pastoral Council has discussed the possibility of the Sacrament of Confirmation being administered by priests generally, in place of the present administration exclusively by a bishop, on a canonical parish visit, as a solution to many of the problems associated with the ceremony. He said that he did priest should, not could, At its meeting of St. on not know to what extent be the normal recipient Charles Seminary Saturday, it looked at the standing of the con- of general faculties to the question of whether firmer was important to give confirmation to his parishioners when and there is a need for an- people. nual ceremonies in each He agreed with one of how he desires." parish, and at the prac- the councillors, Mr. J. His Grace said that tical difficulties involved Stokes, who suggested there had been a gradual being conducted these in that most people would broadening of the attiby the Archbishop or the probably adapt them- tude to non-bishops givAuxiliary Bishop. selves to the idea of a ing confirmation. It had Father J. O'Brien said small number of dis- always been admitted practical were that there tinguished and well- that they could do this, difficulties involved in known priests of the dio- but for a long time it had trying to prepare a big cese also administering been admitted that they number of children and the Sacrament. should not. contact their parents, His Grace said that it Father N. McSweeney when confirmation was given every three years. was not good if the cere- said that the visit of the monies of confirmation bishop was an important It might help to be were too big. occasion for the local able to work with a church. group more THE LAW smaller often. His Grace told thp VISITING meeting though that EVERY YEAR "Everyone says that we Confirmation had always don't know our bishops, Mr. V. Hille said that been considered to be an it appeared that the cere- episcopal sarcament, to they are too distant," he mony might be losing be administered by a said. Perhaps the bishops significance because of bishop, it was always • Pictured about to launch the opening session at Mary's Mount Centre last Tuesthe big number of people known that it could be see confirmation as a clear-cut way of meeting day night are, from left., Father Michael Keane, 0.M.I., parish priest of Lesmurdie, and involved. given by a priest espe- the people or visiting the His Grace said that cially delegated. team members Miss Linda King, Brisbane; Sister Patricia Ryan, R.S.M., Bathurst, and parish." when a bishop of a coun The present law was Father John Conley, S.J. of U.S.A. try diocese, he had held ( • Continued Page 2 ) confirmation in each that most priests could give confirmation in a parish every year. case of necessity, for However, this was not example, when a person possible in the city, was dying and had not where the number of been confirmed. schools made it physic"As far as general conally impossible. firmations are concerned, Three or four bishops, the bishop is entitled to or a big number of appoint a few well-known priests, specially com- priests in the diocese to The Movement for missioned to administer assist him with the cona Better World reconfirmation, would be firmations of the dioThere has been a disappointing lack of initial turned to Perth this needed to provide con- cese," he said. Catholic interest in the availability of govern- week to start the first firmation in every area 'Nowhere is it suggestparish renewal proeach year. ed that every parish ment funds for Catholic bodies to give hostel gramme to be under-
Help goes begging
aid to the elderly.
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This was pointed out person's pension, he to "The Record" this added. week. Mr. Horgan explained Mr. Kevin Horgan, that hostel accommodachairman of the W.A. tion for the elderly was Catholic Committee for one of the three phases the Care of the Ageing, of care being offered the drew atAention to the elderly at present. The details that had been other two were selfparish contained homes for the forwarded to priests, parish councils aged and full conand various other bodies valescent care. in the Archdiocese, as He cited the Southern well as the other Bishops Cross Homes in North January in in W.A., late Perth and the Villa Pellethis year. tier Home in West both of He was commenting on Leederville, a letter in "The Record" which had been establast week urging Catho- lished by the Knights of lics to be more interested the Southern Cross, as of self-conin care for the elderly. examples tained housing and hostel Mr. Horgan said that accommodation respectthere were still 436 beds ively. available to be taken up "We hear Catholics out of a total of 740 saying so often that we that had been allocated ought to be doing someby the government for thing for people and Catholic agencies. here is the ideal oppor tunity," he said. Three phases A "bed" in this context ( • Continued Page 2 ) meant a sum of $7,800 (plus other sums for furON INSIDE PAGES nishings) for the capital cost of accommodating 4 each elderly person in a Calendar hostel; it was likely that Classified Advertising 10 this sum would rise to 2 $9,000 in the future, Mr. Education File Letters 11 Horgan said. 6 Running costs could be News In Pars 12 met by a combination of Sport 9 funds from P personal Theatre care subsidy and an aged TV, Radio 9
M.B.W. back in Perth for retreats
taken by the movement locally.
Further parish retreats are to take place at Cottesloe, Bedford and Northam. Each retreat lasts seven days, with a full programme each evening and two longer sessions on Saturday and Sunday, following the M.B.W. aim of a real growth in corn, munitarian life and attitude among the participants during the retreat. So far the Better World retreats have concentrated more on clergy and Religious. with some laity participating. This was to be expected, says Father John . Comey. Now, ne says, the M.B.W. needs lay people who will donate two or three years to this service to the Church as well as more priests and Sisters and Brothers being reelased by their superiors. Father Comey himself has spent eight years with the movement and is on his second visit to Australia from the United States.
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