Praying with the Pope
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MARCH General: For the ecclesiastical organisa-
tions and groups engaged in social action that in their testimony they may proclaim strongly and consistently the Gospel of love. Missionary: That the peoples of the Afncan continent, receiving with a generous heart the Gospel's message of truth and liberation, may dedicate themselves actively to promoting reconciliation and solidarity.
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WA's only Catholic weekly newspaper Perth: March 7 2002 Price: Si
Vocations come Will John Paul II in answer to new be the yardstick for future popes? group's prayers - Pages 8&9 - Page 16
Responding to the abuse controversy - Pages IO&II
Pope in cyberspace By Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) Although pain caused him to cancel another parish visit and ecumenical tensions keep him from visiting Moscow, Pope John Paul II gathered young people from Spain to Russia to pray the rosary with him via satellite. The pope's brief remarks in Russian to students gathered on March 2 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Moscow were followed by four full minutes of applause. Pope John Paul thanked the Russians for their participation and told them. "We remain always united in faith and in service to the Gospel." Archbishop Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz. head of the new Archdiocese of the Mother of God in Moscow. almost shouted over the applause. "Holy Father, we are waiting for you in Moscow." The recitation of the rosary, which the pope led from the Vatican's Paul VI Audience Hall. marked the first European University Day sponsored by the European university chaplains committee and the Diocese of Rome. In addition to some 8.000 university students and professors at the Vatican and hundreds in Moscow, the satellite hookup included gatherings in Valencia. Spain: Vienna. Austria: Athens.
ed. "Giovanni Paolo" ("John Paul"), he jokingly chastised them for their alternative to prayer, saying, "This is not found in any litany." But in a clear sign that his knee still was hurting, the pope did not use the kneeler in front of his chair for the recitation of the rosary. Speaking at the end of the prayer. the pope said the bond of faith in Jesus, which unites students of different cultures across the continent, is a source of hope for the church and the world. "The Gospel and cultures have journeyed together" ever since the earliest days of Christianity in Europe. he said. "I ask you. dear young people. to promote in your universities a dialogue between faith and culture so that the Gospel leaven will stimulate and support the spiritual and moral quality of university studies and research," he said. The pope told them that, through baptism. "the Holy Spirit has made us witnesses of the love of God, artisans of communion. brotherhood and peace." The new life that flows from the baptismal waters, he said. includes new ways of thinking, of making choices and of interacting with others. Guatemalan Catholics burn incense as they process through the city of Antigua on March 3. The residents of JocoteWith that new life and new way nago went to Antigua as pad of a Lenten pilgrimage to the site. of acting, the pope said. Christian Greece: Budapest. Hungary: and announced the pope would post- in his knee, the pope seemed in young people can renew their cultures and history itself. Strasbourg. France. Although the pone his March 3 visit to a Rome good humour with the students. Continued - Page 2 As the Italians repeatedly chantVatican press office already had parish because of continuing pain
Lent around the world
Monsignor O'Shea's not retiring, just shifting HQ By Bronwen Clone
Monsignor Sean O'Shea, inset, will be permanently based on Rottnest Island and minister from Holy Trinity Church.
After 40 years of racing between churches to celebrate Mass on Rottnest Island Monsignor John O'Shea will now be permanently based there from this weekend. "A good job for an old priest like me," Mgr O'Shea said. But he doesn't plan on taking a holiday with the intention of celebrating Mass daily and making his services available to schools and visitors that come to the island all year round. With 400,000 visitors to the island annually Mgr O'Shea said there was now a need for a permanent priest on the island. One of the first changes will be the Sunday Mass times. Mgr O'Shea will now celebrate Mass at 9am instead of 1lam and will possibly introduce a vigil Mass. "That just gives people on holiday more of an option." Mgr O'Shea said. Mgr O'Shea said the original time of Mass at 11am was always a bit contentious because it used to coincide with the drinking session at the Rottnest Hotel. "I'd always get requests from the men
to give a quick sermon, so they could head on down to the pub and catch the end of the drinking session" he said. The Catholics were affectionately known for their dusty knees from kneeling down in the island's old picture theatre, before the church was built. "Apparently the cry used to go out at the hotel to hold on to your drinks fellas because the Micks. with their dusty knees, were coming and they would grab any drink they could get their hands on," he said. Mgr O'Shea's first appointment was with the Seafarer's Centre in Fremantle, a role that included celebrating Mass every Sunday at Rottnest Island. When he was moved to Mosman Park he continued his trips to the island. He was also responsible for building the Holy Trinity Church on Rottnest, which was built to blend in with the other buildings already there. So after 40 years of hopping on and off ferries he now takes up the permanent Rottnest chaplaincy. Visitors to the island can contact Mgr O'Shea on 9292 5052.