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THE RECORD
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Humans, animals, ethics...
Muzzled CathAre we really that different?
If the Church operates Catholic media, what’s A Notre Dame Philosopher asks the question 10 the point if the PAGE media isn’t
Eco-friendly fertility way a lifeline for girls, women
Vatican’s newspaper marks St Mary’s great day g 1 Autore: Fabb i
L'OSSERVATORE ROM ANO WEEKLY EDITION
r 42 (2166), Wednesday,
A Notre Dame Behavioural Science student had no idea of the hidden effects of the Pill and the benefits and science behind natural approaches to fertility until she found herself working as an intern with Archdiocesan agency, Natural Fertility Services ... BY BRIDGET SPINKS AMANDA Wilson, 23, a fifth year Behavioural Science and Science student at Notre Dame, Fremantle had never heard of Natural Family Services until she ‘found it on the net’ when researching for an internship placement. Natural Fertility Services is an organisation that helps couples achieve or avoid pregnancy for natural family planning by using the natural changes and symptoms of the woman’s body to recognise times of fertility. She said the “natural part of it” deterred her. But after completing 230 hours of placement, 80 hours more than required, Amanda prefers to describe NFS as an “eco-friendly fertility service” because “it’s good for you and for the environment”. While the internship involved a lot of administrative tasks, it gave Amanda the opportunity to do the Natural Family Planning Teacher Training Programme. This involved weekly seminars on the various aspects of natural fertility including the Please turn to Page 2
20 October 2010
Non praevalebunt Vatican City Price ; 1.00. Back issues
Letter to Seminarians
; 2.00
The world needs priests Men will always need God and God will always need speak about him on earth; men to this is why today it still makes sense to enter into the priesthood. his Letter to Seminarians Benedict XVI elaborates this idea in in celebration of the Feast of St
God's presence
Luke the Evangelist, 18 Octobe suffering of the abuse victims r. The Pope reminds them of the these acts are reprehensible , and reiterates that even though , discredit the priestly mission nevertheless, they should not , which remains “great and pure”.
GIOVANNI MARIA VIAN swered that I wanted to Catholic priest. The lieuten become a and to prepare for priestly minist Do we still need Saints ry in ant replied: the Catho “Then you ought to lic Church in spite of It was Benedict XVI whoand priests? look asked this thing else. In the new Germafor some- opinions and objections. You such question in the contex have t ny priests done a good thing. are no longer needed”. onizations at which he of the CanBecau se people will presided in St this “new Germany” was I knew that always have need of God, even Peter's Square and in in an already com- age marked his Letter to ing to an end, and Seminarians. by technical mastery that, enormous devastation which after the the world and globalization: they of And it is a radical question will that mad- always need the it concerns God's presen because ness had brought upon God who has revealed ce in the world. The six Saints procla priests would be needed the country, himself in Jesus Christ, the God who more than ev- gathers us togeth the Pope – among them imed by er. Today the situation er in the universal four is womcompl Churc etely h in order to en, including the first Dear Seminarians, changed. In different ways, though, through him life's learn with him and Mary MacKillop, a truly Australian, many people nowadays When in December also think that order to uphold true meaning and in and courageous leader exceptional and apply the standrafted for military service1944 I was the Catholic priesthood is not – a “job” dards of true humanity. it, letting this presence understood Where people ny commander asked each, the compa- for the future, but one that shine out in belongs no longer perceive God, all its splendour. we planned to do in the of us what more to the past. You, dear friends, empty; nothing is ever enouglife grows future. I an- have decide In the darkness of the d to enter the semina then seek escape in eupho h. People people were convinced Nazi fury, ry lence; these are the very ria and vionew Germany priests that in the things that inwould no creasingly threaten young longer be needed, as Pope welcomes new mem Bened people. God bers into the Communion is alive. He has created reminded the seminarians. ict XVI every one of us of Saints and he knows us all. so in a direct and impor He said He is so great tant text that he has time for the that is not addressed exclusively to little things in those preparing for the our lives: “Every hair of because it speaks of faith priesthood numbered”. God is alive, your head is as in the verse of Luke's Gospe people to serve him and and he needs l bring him to which the Pope comm (18:8), on others. It does makes sense ented Mass for the canonization in the a priest: the world needs to become s: “When the Son of Man comes tors, today, tomorrow and priests, pas, will he find always, unfaith on earth?”. til the end of time. The tone of Benedict XVI The seminary is a comm 's Letter unity jouris once again almost confid neying towards priestl ential y and minist ry. I lets a profound person have said something al experience very shine out. In the face here: one does not becom important of the conviction that priests belong one's own. The “comm e a priest on unity of discithe Pope answers that, to the past, ples” is essent on ial, the conthe trary, today too there those who desire to servefellowship of is the greater them, that is, as people a need for Church. In this letter I “to serve him and bring who exist point out – thinking backwould like to him to othto my ers”. In fact, “life grows time in the seminary – severa own empty”if l eleGod is no longer percei ments which I consider why becoming priests is ved. This is these years of your journeimportant for worthwhile, ying. on a journey that one does 1. Anyone who wishes not make to becom alone – this is the wisdom e a priest must be first and Seminary – but in a comm of the “man of God”, to use the foremost a Benedict XVI describes unity. St Paul (1 Tim 6:11). expression of For us God is as essentially “a man of the priest not some abstract hypot God”. Howhesis; he is not ever, he is a man who some stranger who left is not some the scene after stranger who left the scene the “big bang”. God has “big bang” but rather after the self in Jesus Christ. In therevealed him, one who face of Jesus showed himself in Jesus, Christ we see the face of God. In his who is close to us. And the God words we hear God himsel who is not just any kind the priest, to us. It follows that the f speaking trator, is his messenger. of adminismost important For thing in our path towards priestson the priest must “neve this reahood and during the inner closeness to God”: r lose [his] whole of our priestly lives is our person so it is in this sense, the Pope explai ship with God in Jesus al relationns, that the Lord's exhortation Christ. The to priest is not the leader stantly” should be under “pray conof a sort of asstood. sociation whose membership On 17 October, 80,000 he tries to faithful gathered in St maintain and expand. Fathe Peter' r s to Squar He joyfull is God's e y celebrate the Canonization with the Holy CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 messenger to his people of six Saints, including the Cross MacKillop, Austra . Mary of lia's first Saint. See pages lead them to God and He wants to 10-13 in this way to foster authentic comm union between all men and women. That Benedict XVI's General Audien so important, dear friend is why it is ce Catechesis learn to live in constant s, that you Holy Father's ‘Motu Propri o’ God. When the Lord tellsintimacy with Knowing and loving God constantly”, he is obviou us to “pray At the General Audience Ubicumque et semper sly us to recite endless prayer not asking ther commented on the on Wednesday, 13 October, the Holy Famedie Apostolic Letter establi us never to lose our inners, but urging A carefree wife and mothe val mystic Blessed Angela of Foligno. shing the Pontifical closeness to Counc r, il for Promoting the New God. Praying means growin was lead to a decisive mome who after tragic events and suffering, Evang g in this elizati on was nt of conversion. released 12 October, which intimacy. So it is impor tant that our demands the renewal of the spirit to day should begin and end spread the Gospel. with prayer; that we listen to God as the Scriptures PAGE 3
THE establishment of an Archdiocesan evangelisation centre is one step closer with the appointment of Monica Podestà as the coordinator who will oversee its creation. Ms Podestà has been charged with establishing the infrastructure required for the evangelisation centre to operate at 450 Hay Street, Perth; a site currently occupied by the Catholic Marriage Education Services and the Cathedral parish hall.
à
A celebration of Sainthood
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CONTINUED ON PAGE 24
Col CIANO C 75º C l MAG
Celebrating Australia’s first saint: The 20 October edition of L’Osservatore Romano, which reports on Mary MacKillop’s canonisation and can be found inside this week’s edition of The Record.
T
Amanda Wilson in the grounds of St Mary’s Cathedral near her NFS office in Victoria Square, Perth. She found the experience of teaching students in Catholic schools, most of whom seemed to assume that the contraceptive Pill is ‘healthy,’ challenging but rewarding, especially the opportunity to communicate the physical, emotional and relational benefits of natural approaches. PHOTO: BRIDGET SPINKS
IN ENGLISH
Unicuique suum
Forty-third year, numbe
New Perth Faith Centre edges closer to opening
HIS week’s Record fulfills the promise we made in last week’s MacKillop souvenir edition of The Record to continue the celebrations of the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross. Inside this edition, all readers and subscribers of The Record will find the English Edition of L’Osservatore Romano (Roman Observer), the official newspaper of the Vatican. L’Osservatore Romano gave special permission to The Record to publish its 20 October edition in which St Mary of the Cross and matters Australian feature prominently in the paper’s
coverage of the canonisation of six saints by Pope Benedict XVI on 17 October. Also included in this special liftout edition of L’Osservatore Romano is an article by Record journalist Anthony Barich, who was in Rome for the canonisation with Ballajura Parish Priest Fr John Jegorow and fellow parish pilgrims from Perth’s only parish named for St Mary MacKillop. The paper also carries the full text of Cardinal George Pell’s homily at the special Mass of Thanksgiving, which saw thousands of Australians converge on St Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome the day after Mary MacKillop’s canonisation. Readers who want to stay
in touch with news of the Church from the unique standpoint of the Vatican’s official newspaper will also find a special subscription offer for L’Osservatore Romano. Record Editor Peter Rosengren said this edition of L’Osservatore Romano makes a unique memento of the historic canonisation of Australia’s first official saint which can be kept for many years for future reference. He urged readers to consider taking advantage of the special subscription offer to L’Osservatore Romano, which provides the view from Rome on the Church and so many events in the news, which rarely get a hearing in today’s mediashaped world.
Monica Podestà in her office in the main Archdiocesan offices at Victoria Square opposite St Mary’s Cathedral. She has been given the job of establishing the new Archdiocesan Evangelisation Centre. PHOTO: PETER ROSENGREN
It is envisaged that the evangelisation centre will reach out primarily to unchurched people as well as those who have fallen away Please turn to Page 4
Family Spring Fair SPRING is here and those looking for a great family day out can take advantage of the Schoenstatt Spring Fair to be held on Sunday, 7 November. All are invited to come and grab a bargain at the silent auction, knick knack or book stalls and to enjoy the tasty international food available all day. Lots of fun and activities are available for children. The fair will be held at the Schoenstatt Shrine at 9 Talus Drive, Armadale, running from 9.30am till 2.00pm. Ten-dollar vouchers are available now or on the day. For further information contact Mary on 0400 553 140 or Sr M Gerogina on 9399 2349 or email shrine@elink.net.au.