Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has spoken about the role which the Virgin Mary plays at the heart of the Church and in our own personal journeys in life on the Feast Day of Our Lady of Sorrows. Archbishop Costelloe last month celebrated Mass with the Servite Sisters, whose devotion to the Blessed Mother involves a special reference to her sorrows. The Mass was concelebrated by Riverton Parish Priest Father Paul Manickathan SAC and fellow priests from across Perth and the Servite Order. In his homily, the Archbishop described the Blessed Mother as ‘a living and powerful reminder to us of what it really means to be disciples of Jesus’. “In God’s mysterious plan, Mary has been drawn by the Lord into such an intimate relationship with her Son, Jesus.” By Josh Low.
Music and song play a key role in the Catholic celebration of liturgy and can help us deepen our faith and become closer to Jesus, Perth Auxiliary Bishop Donald Sproxton told attendees at a recent conference for pastoral musicians. Speaking at the Mass on the second day of the Australian Pastoral Musicians Network 2017 Conference, titled Sing With Joy! United in Diversity, held from 5 to 7 October, Bishop Sproxton described two encounters which had shown him the power of music in the liturgy, beginning with a trip to Paris in 1989, when he stayed with a Redemptorist community. Bishop Sproxton was joined at the Mass by concelebrants Father Wayne Bendotti from the Diocese of Bunbury, the Very Rev Fr Robert Borg, Dean of Hornsby Cathedral Parish, from the Diocese of Broken Bay and Deacon Gary Stokes from the Diocese of Port Pirie. “The Chapel of the community was on a lower floor of the building and it was open to the people of the neighbourhood, and 20 or so would come to the Mass each morning,” Bishop Sproxton said. By Caroline Smith.
The Gospel of Matthew 20, verses 1-16 is one that highlights the importance of work, and describes an optimal environment where people can make a living and be respected for their efforts, said Perth Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton, speaking on the occasion of the Perth launch of the 2017-2018 Social Justice Statement. “An environment where people are trusted and respected, and are allowed to work for their livelihood, but also to enable them to care for those in their responsibility,” Bishop Sproxton said. The Justice, Ecology and Development Office (JEDO) last week coordinated the launch of the 2017-2018 Social Justice Statement, Everyone’s Business: Developing an Inclusive and Sustainable Economy on 21 September, the International Day of Peace, in the presence of Archdiocesan agency Directors and staff. The statement was officially launched by Bishop Sproxton, who is Vicar for Adult Faith Formation and Parish Renewal. By Natashya Fernandez.
It was with great enthusiasm that the Centre for Faith Enrichment (CFE) recently announced the opening of applications for scholarships from the BJ Hickey Biblical Foundation, which intends to help lay people in the Archdiocese of Perth, further their biblical studies. By Marco Ceccarelli.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB has met with directors and leaders of various Church agencies to discuss the historic proposed 2020 Plenary Council. His presentation on the council came ahead of the first of a series of consultation seminars held last month. By Josh Low.
When Morley Parish’s Infant Jesus Church marked its Silver Jubilee on the weekend of the 19 and 20 August, there was so much interest in the celebrations that four Masses were needed, together with special meals and a musical concert. By Caroline Smith.
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB issues a Pastoral Letter ahead of 2017 Mental Health Week
Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe has this week encouraged all Catholics to remember that it is important to welcome, support and pray for those experiencing mental health issues, their families and people who provide support. Speaking ahead of 2017 Mental Health Week Western Australia, which commences Saturday 7 October and includes World Mental Health Day on Sunday 8 October, Archbishop Costelloe said whatever the cause, our call, as followers of Jesus, is to care about people with mental health issues. “The question for each one of us becomes, when we meet someone with a developing mental health issue, will they see in us the face of Jesus, or will they see someone in fear?” Archbishop Costelloe said. “I am sure Jesus met many people experiencing mental health issues, whom he treated with dignity and respect,” he said. By Jamie O’Brien.
It has been an extraordinary 60 years for Father Don Hughes OMI who recently celebrated his sixtieth anniversary of ordination on 15 September 2017. And, at 85 years of age, he is still proving to be a great witness to Christ and the priesthood. The Mass was celebrated by Provincial of the Oblates from Melbourne, Fr Peter Daly OMI and concelebrated with Fr Don Hughes OMI together with his friend and priest, Fr Kevin Davine OMI and Frs Asad Gill, Michael McMahon, Dave Shelton, Tony Colbert and John Sherman. Fr Hughes was born in Fremantle in 1932 and baptised at then St Patrick’s Church in Fremantle, now St Patrick’s Basilica. Growing up near the church and coming from a staunch Catholic family played an integral part in him joining the priesthood. “We took part in everything that happened in our Parish. The Church was run by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), a religious congregation of priests and brothers in the Catholic Church under the patronage of Our Lady,” he said. By Natashya Fernandez.
An ‘inclusive’ Mass held each month in Morley is helping people with disabilities to take a more active role in the liturgy. By Caroline Smith.
In addition to being the ‘father’ of three monotheistic faiths – Judaism, Christianity and Islam – Abraham is also a model of the welcoming behaviour that we should show to others, including strangers and outsiders. This message was the focal point of Abraham Day, celebrated last week at the University of Notre Dame Australia (UNDA), with keynote speakers from each of the three communities: Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, Rabbi Dovid Freilich from Perth Hebrew Congregation, and Sheikh Muhammad Agherdien, Teacher at Langford Islamic College. The event, held on Thursday 14 September, carried the theme ‘Abraham: Welcoming and Standing Up for the Other’, and was the second Abraham Day hosted at UNDA, following its launch last year. Addressing attendees in the Drill Hall in Fremantle, Archbishop Costelloe said people of faith should challenge themselves to welcome others in a genuine and caring fashion. By Caroline Smith.