Does faith beget violence? It’s a perception, to be sure, and a widespread one too. But Perth Priest Fr Sean Fernandez says historical myths have obscured the wider, truer, picture. - VISTA 1
THE RECORD
“Be indefatigable in your purpose and with undaunted spirit resist iniquity and try to conquer evil with good, having before your eyes the reward of those who combat for Christ.” -Bishop Matthew Gibney 1874
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Archbishop urges Minister to investigate kidnap fears
Western Australia’s award-winning Catholic newspaper since 1874 - Wednesday, 17 February 2010
Perth, Western Australia $2
The Bikie who found God For 10 years Michael Sandrini was a bikie who got caught up in drugs charges, a firearms offence, owned an assault rifle and went to jail. But since 2003 he’s been teaching Perth youth about God and the Catholic Church. Here’s the conversion story he gave Debbie Warrier.
ARCHBISHOP Barry Hickey has written to Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith asking him to urgently investigate the apparent kidnapping of approximately 50 Karen children from an orphanage near the Thai-Burma border for trafficking purposes. “I understand that Mrs Adelia Bernard of the One Heart Association has alerted your office to the abduction of 50 Karen children from an orphanage near the Myanmar border in Thailand during the night of 28 December 2009,” the Archbishop said in his letter, dated Tuesday, 18 February. “The Thai authorities have been informed but to date they have not located the missing children. “The fear is that they have been abducted for child trafficking. Their ages range from 11 to 14, male and female. “The supporters of the orphanage here in Perth include the One Heart Association and the Presentation Sisters, Sr Cecilia and Sr Consuela in particular. “I respectfully ask you to take whatever steps you can to discover the fate of these children and the people responsible for their disappearance. The matter is urgent.”
Archbishop Hickey issues Fr Abourjaily clarification Archbishop Barry Hickey issued the following statement last weekend regarding Fr Richard Abourjaily: “Fr Richard Abourjaily is a priest of the Sydney Diocese currently without priestly faculties. “On the recommendation of Fr John Flader of Sydney, I met Fr Abourjaily some weeks ago regarding the possibility of him taking up priestly ministry in Perth. “I allowed him to reside in a Perth parish and gave him permission to help out if needed while I contacted Cardinal Pell. “Following my conversation with the Cardinal, I thought it best to recall Fr Richard Fr Abourjaily shortly from the parish and before ordination in arranged for him to live privately with 2007. two other priests. Fr Richard does not have Perth faculties and therefore cannot do any public ministry until further notice. “Fr Abourjaily will use this time to take stock and discern his future. I do not feel I can comment in any way on events that occurred in the Sydney Archdiocese.
Michael Sandrini has come full circle in life, as his personal story told to Record writer Debbie Warrier, below, indicates. Debbie’s ‘How I Pray Now’ and ‘Why I Became a Catholic’ columns appear on alternate weeks in The Record. PHOTO: DEBBIE WARRIER
AS TOLD TO DEBBIE WARRIER Record Writer
P
rayer is lifting our hearts up to God. It is something I never stop doing. As a family we do the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, Chaplet of St Michael and Grace. My wife and I do the daily readings from the Missal and watch EWTN. Our children are young but it’s about creating a Catholic culture. I see the day as an opportunity to be united with Jesus. I go to daily Mass and Adoration. One of the blessings about working in the Disciples of Jesus Covenant Community Youth Ministry is that we have a Chapel on site. At night I do spiritual reading and fall asleep saying Our Fathers, Hail Marys and Glory
How I Pray Now with Debbie Warrier bes. I aim to have weekly confession and monthly spiritual direction. I am very blessed to be guided and inspired by Fr Doug Harris and Fr Brian Morgan. My role as 24:7 Youth Minister allows me to introduce teenagers to God’s love. They have self worth, dignity, a reason for being and are special. We pray to the Lord to help us build faith relationships
and friendships between those young people. We offer them love, acceptance and hope. Otherwise they might drift into a life of pain like mine was. I was an associate of a motor cycle gang when there was a gang war going on between two rival clubs. I was lucky not to end up dead or to do something that would lead to a long jail sentence, but I got caught up with some drug charges and a firearms offence. I had my own assault rifle. I had hatred, bitterness, jealousy and worldly competition within me. Deep down I was a good person but just went AWOL. Whilst in jail I received letters from my best mate at school, Romano Sala Tenna which read: “Mick, you’re a better man than that.” He wasn’t afraid to speak the Please turn to Page 9
Northern Exposure
Project Compassion
Marco Ceccarelli reports on life in a Northern Territory parish
It’s here. It starts now. You can make a difference in the lives of others around the world. Get behind it. Page 9
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