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race Tells C.W.L. hP t Need Of Vocations I,- UT gent Among Girls is
He was convinced that many vocations were lost because of the positive opposition
1111C No. 2,654
CCOT
Ott:tg, gn agyttg.tG.P. 2 'N:,grapefAr Perth, Thursday, May 27, 1954
of parents, His Grace the Archbishop told members of the Catholic Women's League, when he attended their annual general meeting on May 24.
Archbishop's Pastoral Letter To the Priests, Religious and People of the Archdiocese on the subject of Vocations. To be read at all Masses on Sunday, May 30. Dearly Beloved in Christ,Our Holy Father has approved the plan of the Marian Year Committee, setting aside the last Sunday in May as a day of special prayer for an increase in priestly and religious vocations throughout the world. We have therefore considered it opportune to address this Pastoral Letter to you, beloved children in Christ. to arouse your interest in this praiseworthy cause and to tell you of our intense interest in the progress and growth of the religious communities in our Archdiocese: We depend on the Holy Ghost for this development, and the approach of Pentecost will remind us how the grace of the Holy Spirit was obtained for the first Bishops of the Church through the intercession of -Record Photo Service the Immaculate Mother of God and the Powerful Help of Christians. The Bishops need to -day the same strong aid, and we seek it through the intercession of Mary in this year dedicated to Her. A large pro- His Grace Addresses C.W.L. Conference Delegates. portion of this aid is given to the Bishops by the religious communities found in all the dioceses of the His Grace congratulated ter in praise of virginity, league members and thank- pointing out its advantages, world. To the Apostles, and through them to their lawful successors, the Bishops of the Catholic Church, ed them for the work they even against marriage, in doing. He was par- both the natural and the Christ gave power and a commission to "go into the whole world and to preach the Gospel to every crea- were ticularly grateful to them supernatural orders. ture." Clearly, the Bishops cannot do this work alone; they need the help of an army of generous men for the help they were giv- Speaking to parents, the and women to assist them. It is essential in God's plan of Redemption that there be "other Christs," ing the Seminary. Pope urged "mothers and bearing His authority and clothed in His priesthood, to bring the light of Faith to those "who sit in darkThe Archbishop reminded fathers to willingly offer to ness and in the shadow of death." It is essential that there be "ministers of Christ and dispensers of the them of their obligation, as the service of God those of women imbued with Chris- their children who are callmysteries of God," to apply to souls the life-giving grace of God. "Let parents to it." It is necessary, too, that there be devout and generous souls, men and women, who have dedicated tian principles, to be a ed influence among consider," he wrote, "what their lives to God as religious Brothers and Sisters to assist the Bishop in his pastoral work of caring for leavening an honour it is to see women's organisaother To manifest the fulness of Catholic life and charity there must be, in a diocese, houses of contem- tions with which they were their daughter consecrate souls. the that In order levels. tertiary and colleges at secondary hospitals, orphanages, to schools, her virginity her Divine nuns, plative associated. Insofar as others reject- Spouse." Kingdom of God may be established and extended in the world, there is an urgent need to -day for a vast said His Consequently, ed moral principles, he said, army of souls willing to dedicate their whole lives to God, "for the harvest indeed is great, but the to that extent were Catholic Grace, parents had a grave There is such a need in the world there is such a need in Australia; there is a women labourers are few." He the matter. in obligation obliged to preserve great need in this Archdiocese of Perth, where there has been a big increase in the Catholic population and defend those principles was convinced that many not must State. We growth of the natural the through and Australians new of many because were lost coming vocations in every the and through at all times of the positive opposition lose sight, either, of the host of non-Catholic souls who are entrusted to the prudent apostolate of the place. They were engaged in of parents. Parents should of the Church. one fold the into brought must be sheep" who other "the who are and Church realise, he said, that Alconactivities, The religious life is one of many social We wish to turn now to the religious life and to the religious vocation. tinued His Grace, and they mighty God had given them bring will, faithfully lived, which if life," perfect "more the It is Church. Catholic of the the glories should regard those as an their children, and someTheir motive times He asked them to give those, who embrace it, infallibly to holiness. Those who become religious, both men and women, aim to apostolate. especially which are obedience, chastity and should be charity as distinct back the children to the reof poverty, in particular, the practice, by Christ imitate ligious life. If they refusphilanthropy. manifested in His life. They aim to do the work of Christ, teaching, caring for the sick and orphan, from The Archbishop said that ed Almighty God might above all, praying for the Church of God and its members. They strive to be "the salt of the earth" and an urgent problem facing take the children in a less the light of the world," spreading an influence for good to counteract the influence for evil that is so mani- the Church in Australia to- pleasant way. His Grace appealed to the day was the question of vofest on every side. One of the consolations of our Catholic life is that this high aim has been, and is being, achieved in the cations to the religious life. members of the Cathowas a grave short- lic Women's League, and religious institutes of the Archdiocese. God has blessed them, extended their apostolate, given them more There among through them to all CathoGod's blessing would be still more evident were there more age, particularly schools, more hospitals, more orphanages. women, of dedicated lic women, reminding them young of number The left undone. to be has and this in part large to done much be still is there for vocations, souls to staff our schools, of their obligations in the religious houses has increased. The self-sacrificing life of those in them has brought great happiness to our hospitals, our Homes for matter of vocations. He people. Catholic faithful clergy, and Bishops, the aged, the orphan, and felt that there were many the aid to and great comfort and individual souls vocations among their penitent. We may say, then, that life in the religious state is a sensible life, a safe life, a useful life, a meri- theThe Holy Father, just daughters who, given a littorious life, a holy life, and, for those who are called to it, a supremely happy life. Happiness ultimately risen from his sick bed, had tle encouragement, would comes from knowing those things that satisfy our minds and from possessing those things that satisfy our penned a magnifipent let- enter the religious life. But there is nothing that can so satisfy our minds and wills as can God. Living a life of close wills. union with God, knowing Him particularly in prayer, and loving Him "with the labour of their hands and the sweat of their brows," as, says St. Vincent de Paul, they obtain a happiness that is not of this world, a Redemporists Plan Pilgrimage For joy that no man can take away. A religious vocation is not ordinarily manifested by some extraordinary sign that God wants a soul Succour to dedicate itself to His service. Rather, it is manifested in a desire to give oneself more completely to Feast of BYM of Perpetual Any young man or woman, living the good life of a norGod than is possible while living in the world. To mark the feast of Our Lady of Permal Catholic, who enjoys, in addition, ordinary good health, and who is willing to make sacrifices for Our petual Succour, a Marian Year procession Lord, can, by God's grace, become a good religious. at the shrine in the church of Sometimes parents raise obstacles to the true religious vocation of a son or daughter. They should will be held a monastery, North Perth, at it back in less pleawished, take the Redemptorist He could, He so that if and child, the who gave recall that it is God sant way. Young people even in their "teens" have a strict natural right to choose their own state of life. 3 p.m. on June 20. For over 50 years the To stand in the way of a genuine religious vocation of a son or daughter could bring great sorrow to the in Church parents who so try to thwart it. Where parents may have good reason to doubt the genuineness of a Redemptorist North Perth has been a child's vocation they have the right to insist on a limited delay to test it. However, parents have no right centre of devotion to Our Hungarians Pray at all to dominate a child's settled conscience. Lady under the title of Obeying the express wish of Our Holy Father, the Pope. we are devoting Sunday, May 30, to special Mother of Perpetual Suc- For Their Heroes the and cour, more especially since throughout world, especireligious vocations of the and quality number prayer for an increase in On Sunday, May 30, the perpetual novena in her ally in this Archdiocese. We shall pray that God may help us to understand better the nobility and honour has been established. the Hungarian communof favbeg Him the inestimable to parents inspire may that He greatness of the religious vocation; commemorate hundreds of grateful clients ity will our of religious vocations amongst their own children: that He may put into generous young hearts the of, Our Lady, who attend Heroes' Day-their equivall things. leaving delent of Anzac Day. High the Saturday evening desire and the courage to follow Christ, In order to obtain God's blessing on this our need and prayer, we rededicate our Catholic people, votions, have found at this Mass will be offered at shrine a source of enlight- Sacred Heart Church, parents and children, to the Immaculate Queen of Heaven, conceived without original sin. ment, courage and uni- Highgate, at 11 a.m. We direct that in all Parish Churches there be Exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament throughout the versal help. Representatives of the day (or for part of the day in those places where a full day is not possible), and trust that our devoted R.S.L. will attend the funcFrom All Perth in the hall of St. Antion people will take the opportunity of visiting Our Divine Lord and pleading with Him that He send more It is hoped that all those Cathedral, corner and more labourers into His Vineyard. lovers of Our Lady and drew's and St. George's Pier -street The week before Pentecost will be kept as one of special prayer In all religious houses for our inten- many more from all over 3 p.m. terrace, at to the will respond Perth ComMasses, remember intentions their to these in asked are the faithful and Priests, religious tions. At 4.30 p.m wreaths will Holy Father's call for pubprayer vocation grace. We direct, moreover, that the special of this time War Memorduring be laid at the munions and devotions lic veneration of Mary Imhonour be recited each day after Mass and each day in each school during this week of special prayer. maculate, the channel of ial, King's Park, inHungarAustralian and May the Help of Christians, in hearing and granting our earnest prayers, bless, in a special way, all all Graces, and take part in the war ian dead. Year procession of you, our zealous priests, our Brothers and Sisters, and our Catholic people who are ever our care and the Marian The ceremony will include on June 20 at 3 p.m. our consolation. Special prayers will be the playing of the National of both nations, a Anthems offered for the Pope's MaYours devotedly, in the love of Our Lord and His Immaculate Mother, .
Aerult;itte, Archbishop.
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and speech by a Hungarian vetfor God's blessing on the eran, and national prayers, The works of the Archdiocese, poems, and songs. as well as for the needs of Rev. F. Forro, S.J., will officiate. all who are present.
rian Year intentions,
Feast of Our Lady, Help of Christians, 1954.
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