THURSDAY JANUARY 6, 2005
THE PARISH. THE NATION. THE WORLD. soon to be on the Web
Western Australia’s Award-winning Catholic newspaper
Perth, Western Australia ● $1
Not evil: Guy Crouchback reflects on the meaning of pain Page 10
For their Lord: 17 missionaries were killed in 2004 Page 12
Miracles: are still needed for official sainthood Page 13
Vailankanni "Miracle" Tsunami appeal
2000 people attending Mass in Indian shrine on beach were not killed by tsunami waves
Parishes pitch in for victims
■ By Anto Akkara
In a December 29 statement, officials of India's most popular Marian shrine noted that about 2,000 pilgrims attending Mass were "miraculously saved" when the surging waves created by the Boxing Day Asian earthquake stopped at the gates of the shrine compound. However some other pilgrims not in the Church were swept away. The waves - which rose as high as 40 feet - hit hotels and houses on the same elevation just 330 feet from the Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health of Vailankanni. The seaside shrine in southern India, which draws 20 million pilgrims annually, remained untouched. More than 1,000 people, including hundreds of pilgrims, perished within a one-kilometre radius of the basilica on December 26 when the Asian tsunamis hit the coast. Continued on page 2
■ By Jamie O’Brien
A statue of Our Lady of Good Health is seen on December 28 inside the Basilica named for her in Vailankanni, India, following the December 26 tsunami on the beach in front of the Basilica. Photo: CNS
Perth Archdiocesan Caritas Director Ann Fairhead said she is delighted with the generosity of Perth parishes that raised money for the victims of the Caritas tsunami appeal. Bateman parish led the way, with a total of $23,336 collected last weekend, according to assistant parish priest Fr Dat Vuong. Other parishes such as Subiaco, have collected $6000, Ballajura $3000 and Embleton $2000. On Tuesday, the day before The Record went to press, the Perth Archdiocesan figure stood at a total of $102,000, and the Caritas national figure at $2 million. Mrs Fairhead also said there are parish funds yet to be processed. “We understand most parishes have had some form of collection,” Mrs Fairhead said. Continued on page 5
Let us thank God for the goodness of all who responded Archbishop's Perspective The response from the Parishes to the Caritas Appeal for the tsunami tragedy was truly marvelous. One parish reported a collection of over $20,000. Even the smallest parishes gave what for them was an extraordinarily generous amount. I would
like to congratulate all the parishes that responded so well to the emergency. Our Catholic Agency is, as we know, Caritas Australia. The Church can be very proud of Caritas. All through the year Caritas Australia funds projects for the poor in many countries of the Third World. With local people involved its administrative costs are kept to a minimum. When a crisis occurs as with the tsunami, Caritas makes funds immediately available and invites the people of the Church to contribute generously so that the
money reaches its target quickly with the minimum of delay. A non-Catholic woman gave me a large cheque for Caritas precisely because very little is kept back for administration. I commend Fr Brian Morrison too for his personal involvement in sending food and other supplies so quickly to those affected by the tragedy. The media was interested to know that numbers at last Sunday's Masses in Parishes were generally higher than usual. Priests often expect fewer numbers just after Christmas because many parishioners are away on holidays. This year was an exception. The
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Cathedral saw its numbers up by 10% last week, and other parishes have reported a similar phenomenon. Why should this be? It is usually true that in times of tragedy and anxiety people turn to God and want to pray with others. They feel a solidarity with others, and take comfort from their common belief in the love of God. Occasionally one hears the taunt that a God of love would not permit such tragedies. God does not interfere with the laws of nature, unless it is to work a miracle, but is present in the joys and sorrows of the people as a loving Father. I am sure that in many parishes
people would have exchanged personal experiences of the tsunami disaster. Last Sunday a woman asked me to mention at Mass the need to thank God for the extraordinary survival of two of her close relatives who were caught up in the tidal wave. Let us then commend to God the souls of those thousands of people who lost their lives in this tragedy, pray for their grieving relatives and friends and give thanks to God for the almost miraculous tales of survival that we read about. Let us also thank God for the goodness of our people as they respond to the calls for help with great generosity and love.
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