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The Parish. The Nation. The World.
Thursday March ,
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REAL HEROES Anna Krohn compares official and real Oz virtues VISTA 4
WOMEN IN CHURCH AUTHORITY: Benedict XVI raises possibilities Page 9
PM opens UNDA Sydney “A dream clearly meant to be realised” ■ By Emma Logan
Lesmurdie Church sign vandalised
courtesy of The Catholic Weekly, Sydney
The University of Notre Dame Australia owes a debt of gratitude to both the Prime Minister, John Howard, and the Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal George Pell, for their “support and encouragement” in the university’s establishment in Sydney, says the university’s vicechancellor, Dr Peter Tannock. “Cardinal Pell’s vision for the rejuvenation of St Benedict’s and also Sacred Heart Parish at Darlinghurst has enabled Notre Dame to establish itself in Sydney,” he said at the official opening of the Broadway campus last Friday March 3. Prime Minister John Howard said at the opening that it was “a great day in the role of the Catholic Church in the education of Australia”. “Credit goes to the Catholic Church as for more than 100 years they had to maintain their education system without financial support,” he said. “I hope the university goes from strength to strength and I wish all who learn and teach here great success in their lives after university.” Cardinal Pell told guests that the opening of the Catholic university campus was a “true reason for celebration”. “We celebrate with human optimism and Christian hope,” he said. “It has been my privilege to be associated in some way or other with universities for over 40 years. “I therefore know something of the highs and the lows, the solid achievement and missed opportunities of university life.” Cardinal Pell said Notre Dame would “always be linked to Catholicism” because of “her constitution” and the location of the campus, on one of the oldest parish sites in Australia. “More than ever our society needs to hear cogent arguments for moral realism, truth claims, the uniqueness of the human person and the reality of the Transcendent,” he said. “Such is one task of a Catholic university.” He said he hoped the university would be “serious about the getting of wisdom”. Continued on Page 10 Photos of official opening: Vista 2-3
■ By Sylvia Defendi
Vandalism: Linda Murray and Sr Catherine O’Connor RSM in front of the destroyed parish sign on Wednesday.
Fire destroys Highgate hall
Burnt out: hymnals destroyed by last weekend’s fire in Highgate’s parish hall. Melted chairs are in the background. ■ By Sylvia Defendi
Highgate’s heritage listed Sacred Heart Office and Meeting Centre was almost destroyed by fire on Sunday March 5, taking with it many of the parish’s documents and religious resources.
Parishioners who were in the adjoining Church were the first to notice the blazing building at about 3.30pm, and alerted parish priest Fr Peter Bianchini. “By the time anyone noticed, it was too late. As I stood there and watched, I knew there was nothing I could do,” said Fr Bianchini. No one was
INDEX
DAWESVILLE CELEBRATES With the continuing growth of Mandurah a new parish has been formed, worshipping in a school and under the patronage of Blessed Damien of Molokai.
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inside the building when it burnt, however, Fr Bianchini said he was upset to find all office equipment, Catechetical material and St Vincent De Paul records, that were being stored there, destroyed.
Letters I say, I say The World Reviews Classifieds
The two metre high and four metre wide sign-post, located at the front of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in Lesmurdie, was destroyed by an explosion late on February 23. Parishioners, who lived over a kilometre away from the Church, were alarmed to hear the loud noise from the blast. “The bomb dislodged one of the four panels spraying metal all over the road. Everyone was really worried that someone may have been hurt,” commented Parish secretary, Mrs Leigh May. “I was devastated to realise that it was our parish sign that had been destroyed by the loud bang. The whole parish community was shocked, many were simply wondering why anyone would want to execute something so destructive on a parish such as ours,” said Mrs May. Mrs May said the sign, which had interchangeable letters, was often tampered with by roaming vandals, adding that “destroying the sign was another thing altogether.” While the parish community have voiced their concern, a spokesman for the Kalamunda District Police stated, “There was no evidence of a discriminatory motive behind the attack.” “Other signs have been attacked in the area, but no one is sure whether there are links between those and this recent attack on our Church,” said Mrs May. Reflecting on the recent attempt to burn down Continued on page 7
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FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT - Page 6 - VISTA 4 - Pages 8-9 - Page 10
With rising numbers of people concerned at TV’s continuing descent, there is a new label out in DVDs aimed at presenting childfriendly family entertainment.
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