Derived from the Greek ‘diakonos’ meaning ‘servant’, a deacon’s ministry is one of service to the community and the proclamation of the Word of God. Since the time of the apostles and the early Church, deacons have played an important role in the life and ministry of the Church.

Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has now commenced inviting expressions of interest for men who are who are willing to discern whether the Permanent Diaconate may be God’s will for them.

In his homily for the 2022 Volunteers Week Mass, Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton reflected on St John’s Gospel of The Last Supper, highlighting that Jesus is teaching us that God loves us first and that in order for us to live as disciples of that love, we are given the Spirit that enables us to give ourselves totally in the way that he has given.

Welcome to Issue 36 of The Record Magazine.
Our thanks to our sponsors Australian Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund for their ongoing support. This issue features a special report on Monsignor John Hawes, whose cause for canonisation is being put forward by the Diocese of Geraldton. Exclusive to this issue is our report that the Archdiocese of Perth is set to build a program of discernment for the formation of Permanent Deacons.

Vinnies WA has launched its Annual Winter Appeal, urging the community to support women and children escaping family and domestic violence.

Catholic school students have celebrated LifeLink Day in virtual space, this year, asking Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB what he sees as the trends needing the Church’s social action.

Catholics have been challenged at a special Mass at the dawn of National Volunteer Week to embrace the fullness of the faith by loving others in concrete ways. The Mass, celebrated by Bishop Don Sproxton, also celebrated the good works of countless volunteers throughout the Archdiocese of Perth.

Refugee Nader Hosseini, a tiler from the Hazara ethnic minority in Afghanistan has last month spoken of his anguish at being stuck on an endless loop of temporary visas.

Mr Hosseini gathered with leaders from the Archdiocese of Perth, other Christian faiths and people of good will on the lawn of St George’s Anglican Cathedral on Palm Sunday 10 April to call for a reset of Australia’s refugee policies.

The ClerecWest Multi-Sports Day, which has been held for some 25 years, was this year held on Monday 2 May, and enabled clergy from across the Archdiocese the opportunity to choose between participating in one or two recreational games, including tennis, soccer, golf, badminton or ten-pin bowling.

In celebration of Good Shepherd Sunday on 8 May, also known as Vocations Sunday, Archdiocesan Vocations Director, Fr Israel Quirit, says it doesn’t matter how many times we have missed intersections or made some wrong turns, God adapts to our mistakes, changing our routes and encouraging us to “make a U-turn if necessary and when safe to do so” in order to get back on track again.

Just like his human owners, Ocean Reef canine, Bob, has discovered the joys of volunteering, forging lasting bonds with people in his local community. In the lead-up to a Mass for National Volunteering Week, The Record speaks to a family forever changed by the giving of themselves.