How I pray: Debbie Warrier speaks with Bill Ward, Temperance Advocate.
The Temperance group has been around for over 100 years and began in Ireland. Members pledge to completely abstain from alcohol intake. I am now aged 82 years and have been proudly wearing the Temperance badge of the Sacred Heart of Jesus for 70 years.
Most weekends there are terrible car accidents caused by drunken drivers. Young people are getting killed or injured unnecessarily when they are just starting out in life. It causes great cost and suffering to our community.
These tragic events can be avoided by keeping your self-respect. When you drink too much you look terrible. You stagger all over the place. You often throw up, use bad language, fight, insult your friends and take drugs. By not drinking too much alcohol you keep your self-respect. You look good and you are pleasant company. Over all, you have a better life. When I was growing up in Ireland one of my brothers worked in the Guinness brewery and he never drank a pint. My parents were strict Catholics and brought up their four sons and four daughters to be teetotallers. They were good examples to us. We never missed Mass and said the family Rosary every night.
In 1950 I came to Australia. My mother was heartbroken. I did go back to Ireland but only to visit and have been back 12 times. My first marriage didn’t work out and I brought up the four of my nine children who were still living at home alone. I have remarried happily. Our marriage is recognised and validated by the Church which is very important to me. I am close to my family.
My wife and I are parishioners at St Lawrence’s Church in Clarkson. I am well known in my parish and always greet everybody. They go into Mass with smiles on their faces. When I return from a holiday I always get a warm welcome.
I begin the day with a list of prayers that I say from the blue Pieta book. I attend the Mass daily and on the weekend I go to five Masses! I also say the Rosary every day. Anyone who says the Hail Mary is well on their way to being a member of Temperance. It protects you from the Devil who causes distractions. One of my favourite prayers is the Memorare of St Bernard which is: Remember, O most Gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to Thy protection, implored Thy help or sought Thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly onto Thee O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother: to Thee do I come, before Thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate! Despise not my petitions but in Thy Mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
During my career I had various jobs including that of barman and drinks waiter. I saw the trouble that alcohol abuse can cause. Many young people are obviously drinking too much and I think that peer pressure has a lot to do with it. I am happy to go to schools and talk to young people to encourage them to respect themselves. Those interested in joining Temperance can contact me on 9305 9628. Drinking alcohol is not a bad thing; excessive drinking is.