For Father Neville Connell, a former Anglican, joining the priesthood of the Catholic Church was part of a long and winding journey of faith, which culminated in his ordination in August at Mt Lawley Parish, St Paul’s Church. Fr Connell is a member of the Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross, which encompasses people who have not completed the Catholic Sacraments of Initiation who seek to live the full Catholic faith. He said that the celebration of faith had been a strong feature of his life early on. “At the age of around nine, I began to tread the well-tried path of Anglican boys – I became a choir boy, complete with Eton collar, was confirmed at the age of 11, and in due course was an altar server, member and office bearer of parish youth groups,” Fr Connell said. By Caroline Smith and Jamie O’Brien.

A holiday treat suitable for all but the tiniest, The Star (Sony) is an animated version of the Christmas story told from the perspective of animals in the manger. By John Mulderig. The Record Magazine has 10 tickets to The Star to give away. Simply tell us why Christmas is special for you and your family. Please include your name, postal address and a contact number. Winners announced Monday 18 December.

When it comes to repetitiously threatening the world with annihilation, Hollywood is almost as persistent as North Korean state media. So the global danger looming over Justice League (Warner Bros.) feels all-too-familiar. Set to bring on the apocalypse this time is Steppenwolf (Ciaran Hinds), a giant alien who wants to reassemble a trio of energy-generating boxes collectively known as the Unity. By John Mulderig.

At last week’s liturgical launch of his 2017 Christmas Appeal for LifeLink, Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, reinforced the message of Pope Francis on poverty, caring for the marginalised, and the upcoming World Day of the Poor.
This year the appeal will focus on the works of some of LifeLink’s supported agencies including, Centrecare Inc, through their leading employee assistance program provider, Access Wellbeing Services launched a new, free app – ReSILnZ™, during Mental Health Week.
Executive Manager Rod West spoke to The eRecord about ReSILnZ™, the benefits of the app and how it is helping West Australians build their resilience, wellbeing and mental strength through exercise and activities. By Natashya Fernandez.

“God is much better than we think and people too are much better than we think.”

These were the words that retiring Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) National Director, Phillip Collignon reflected on, spoken by ACN founder, Father Fr Werenfried Van Straaten. Mr Collignon will next month on 31 December step down from his role as National Director of the international charity which is under papal jurisdiction, after more than three decades. In an interview with The eRecord, Mr Collignon talks about his time at ACN immediately after the collapse of Communism, some significant milestones during his tenure and why ACN has very much been a family affair. Mr Collignon said that he will never forget the day he became National Director. “The day will forever be etched in my memory because it was the day the Berlin Wall came down in 1989.” By Natashya Fernandez

A holiday treat suitable for all but the tiniest, The Star (Sony) is a delightful animated version of the Christmas story told from the perspective of some of the animals present in the manger. Director Timothy Reckart and screenwriter Carlos Kotkin skilfully balance religious themes such as the importance of prayer and the value of forgiveness with a more secular message about pursuing your dreams. By John Mulderig.

The hilarious romantic comedy revolves around a group of people from all walks of life whose lives collide when they all come together for an annual music festival held over three consecutive summers. Among the group of music lovers is the talented and headstrong Keevey (Rebecca Breeds), who performs alongside her father, Eamon (John Waters) in an Irish folk band. By Daniele Foti-Cuzzola.

The biography of the fifth Archbishop of Sydney, Cardinal Norman Thomas Gilroy, was launched last month on 26 October at the University of Notre Dame in Broadway by Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher OP. Authored by historian, John Luttrell FMS, this first extended biography of Cardinal Gilroy examines his life and his significance as a religious leader in twentieth century Australia and beyond.

Being bearers of God’s Word ‘into the concrete and specific world in which we live our daily lives’ was at the heart of Archbishop Timothy Costelloe’s message at the 25th anniversary celebrations of Bateman Parish’s St Thomas More Church, last weekend. Past and present clergy of the parish gathered to concelebrate Mass with Archbishop Costelloe SDB, including the Vicar General the Very Rev Fr Peter Whitely and St Mary’s Cathedral Dean Monsignor Michael Keating, together with Fr Brennan Sia, Fr Nelson Po, Fr Garner Vergara, Fr Daniel Boyd, Fr Thi Lam and current Parish Priest Fr Phong Nguyen, assisted by Deacon Bruce Talbot. By Josh Low.

Butchery accompanied by siren-wail screaming, franchise shock value that has long since played out and a rapid descent into self-parody, this is Jigsaw. The eighth, uh, film in the ‘Saw’ series, which is now about seven and a half movies too long – has nothing new to say and far too much about it that’s familiar, most prominently, scenes of intricately choreographed torture and murder. By Kurt Jensen