Our visitors arrived in Western Australia and visited Tardun, Geraldton, and the North including historic Beagle Bay. 
John Nagle tells of their time at a gathering in Perth.  

The birthday of St. Vincent Pallotti is usually celebrated on the Sunday closest to the actual date (21st April), the venue alternating between the St. Vincent Pallotti Chapel, Rossmoyne, and the Queen of Apostles Church, Riverton.  The celebrations are jointly organised by the UAC and the Queen of Apostles Parish.  This year, however – in a departure from the norm – the celebrations took place on Sunday, 29th April, at the Queen of Apostles Parish Church and Parish Centre in Riverton, to coincide with the visit of the Pallottine Rector General, Fr. Fritz Kretz, SAC, and his consultor, Fr. Jacob Nambukadam, SAC, to our parish.  Frs. Fritz and Jacob were in Riverton on the Western Australian leg of their tour of Australia, visiting Pallottine houses.

Fr. Fritz, who was the main celebrant at the Feast Mass, made a huge impression on the congregation with his dynamic homily in which he exhorted those present, and indeed all Catholics, to respond to St. Vincent Pallotti’s call to apostolate.  The Mass was followed by a well-attended Morning Tea in the Fr. John Luemmen Hall. The parishioners presented Fr. Fritz with a didgeridoo which will be placed on display in the Pallottine Museum in Rome.

Then across the Nullabor.  Kath Curtain tells of two events in Kew on the 5th of May.

A small group gathered to meet and greet our visitors over an informal lunch.  It was a delight to be joined for lunch by Veronica Smith and Brunhilde Nissl in particular.    Brunhilde will this year celebrate her 90th birthday and is enjoying remarkably good health.  Father Joe Kearney SAC took some time from his studies and over lunch shared some wonderful stories of early days in the Kimberley.  He is reveling in his current status as the oldest student ever to attend YTU!   At eighty five years young he is a source of wonder (and wisdom) to the younger students.  Many stories, experiences and memories were shared with our visitors and an air of “Communio” prevailed.

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATION

On a soft autumn evening a lively group gathered at the Pallottine Centre, 85 Studley Park Road, Kew to celebrate the Eucharist with Fathers Fritz and Jacob.

During the Eucharist Father Fritz launched the celebrations of the Mariana Community 50th Anniversary.  At the conclusion of the Eucharist he launched the UAC Scholarship Trust.

The Mass chosen for this occasion by Father Fritz was the Mass of Our Lady Queen of Apostles.  A warm welcome was extended by Father Eugene San and the other presiding priests were: Ray Hevern, Regional Leader and Eugene.

Eugene had prepared a vibrant liturgy, the PowerPoint presentation was clearly displayed and the image of Mary and the apostles in the Cenacle awaiting the Spirit was central.

The homily was preached by Fr. Fritz who highlighted the role of Mary in the early Church, through the centuries and in the lives of all apostles today.  He spoke of Pallotti’s vision and his role as the bridge to revive faith in the Church and in her members throughout the world.   He emphasized that Pallotti profoundly believed in God’s infinite love and that all apostles were called to strive for their own salvation and the salvation of others.

Cheryl Sullivan responded for the Mariana:

“Tonight provides us – Mariana Community – to begin the celebrations of our 50th Anniversary.  A whole year event, so there will be many occasions to celebrate. 

It is certainly a fitting way for us to start our celebrations having Frs Fritz and Jacob here to celebrate at this time.  And of course to commence within our UAC family right here in Kew – the place where the community was brought into being. 

The fact that Fr Fritz is from Germany is also a wonderful reminder for us of the vision of Vincent brought to Australia in the fifties by some very spirit filled people from Germany – and of course the legacy we have of Walter Silvester.  The youth groups were already established in Kew by Fr Hennessy among others – Walter Silvester continued to bring the “charism of Vincent” that we as lay people have an equal role to play in our church – quite something for Melbourne in the 1950’s. 

It was out of this vision and belief that Mariana grew – that belief that they had a role as a Consecrated Secular Woman.  We have continued to live this life within the context of Vincent’s message and with the support of all associated with UAC – or as was known our Pallottine Family.  It is within family that life and love is fostered and we would not be celebrating tonight if it were not for the ongoing support of this family group.  Thank you to all here for assisting us to this point in our lives.

We will have many other celebrations during the year, we will continue to explore our history and role on those occasions – tonight is the first opportunity to declare WE ARE CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF JOYFUL LIVING, so let’s celebrate and give thanks to our God for those years – and for this moment in time.”

Following the Eucharist a delicious supper was served and many stayed to meet with our visitors and to share memories and varied aspects of ministry and the activities of the UAC in Melbourne.

Mary Whiting writes from Balgo - her home away from home.

I’ve just come back from my Sunday afternoon walk where once again I saw what a wonderful part of Australia I’m privileged to live in at the moment.  There were grey clouds in the sky and the sun was shining through, spreading its rays over the red earth.  Now as I look out my window, I can see a line of dancing orange flames, in stark contrast to the grey green bushes and blue horizon, as the people start to burn off the dry bush at the back of the community. The children are yelling to each other as they run from bush to bush and the birds are twittering as they catch the insects overhead.

In a small community such as Balgo any changes can have a significant effect. As I passed the oval on the way home I was pleased to see the men out practising football again. There is a sense of wellbeing in the community when each afternoon the training takes place.  The last couple of   weeks we have had a change over of police here.  Lindsay, the former officer, had the respect of the people and under him last year the community was fairly stable.  The new Officer has never worked in communities before and while he is finding his feet the grog runs have started up again with all the run on after effects.

I’m very aware of my Pallottine heritage here at Balgo. Fr Matt Digges the present parish Priest is also. Last night in his sermon he spoke about the early church in the Kimberley and how in some places the people were told to give up their aboriginal culture, as it was bad. But here in the Kutjungka the Pallottines built on the foundation of aboriginal spirituality of the people.  A couple of weekends ago I went with some new volunteers out at Old Balgo where the remains of the original buildings out here can still be seen.

As we prepare for Pentecost we are getting reading for a camping weekend out at Ringer Soak.   Last Pentecost we camped out at Tjalawan one of the early settlement places set up and abandoned because of water problems.

School is a changing mixture of joys, challenges, fights, surprises, learning and battles. It is a joy to see learning happening and children coming to school regularly and on time.  It is a challenge when there is no aboriginal teaching assistant in the room and the children are unsettled, teasing each other, and bringing the community fights into the classroom and taking the classroom disputes back into the community. It is a surprise and a delight when you see a child finally read or master writing his or her numbers. And I hope it is a learning always for everybody in the room.

PALLOTTINE PRAYER CIRCLE.

The Pallottine Prayer Circle began early last year. The practice of uniting in prayer twice daily for the 9 o’clock blessing  has been a great binding for Pallottine family members and continues to be so.  The Prayer Circle is another means of strengthening communion between those who pray.

The Prayer Circle consists of men and women, young and old, lay and Religious, who are willing to set aside a few minutes each day to pray for the needs of people, the Church and the world.

Over the course of a year, every three months, members receive a list of prayer intentions sent in to the Prayer Circle, and are requested to include these special petitions in their prayers. It is not necessary to pray for each person by name.  Nor is

it necessary to identify the person(s) for whom you ask prayers.  Use a first name only.

If you wish to enrol in the Circle, please fill in the membership slip included in this newsletter and return it to Pallottine Prayer Circle, UAC Secretariat, 85 Studley Park Road, Kew Vic 3101.  Further information will be sent directly to those who enrol.  The Prayer Circle will function separately from the Newsletter and anyone may join.  You are invited to append a list of names and addresses of others you know who want to join.

PALLOTTINE PRAYER CIRCLE
Please enrol me as a member of the Prayer Circle.

NAME:          -----------------------------------------------------------

ADDRESS:  -----------------------------------------------------------

                       -----------------------------------------------------------

Return to:                    UAC Secretariat,
                                    85 Studley Park Road,
                                    Kew,    Vic    3101

QUEEN OF APOSTLES---A SIMPLE CELEBRATION  

Simple, yet very significant.. How appropriate that a group (albeit a small group) gathered at  85 Studley Park Rd., Kew in the Cenacle, with Mary and the Apostles on the vigil of Pentecost, Our prayer time - Evening prayer - was reflective, generously shared. We were —truly of ‘one heart and one mind’.  This spirit was just as truly present when we adjourned for a happy supper ‘around the kitchen table!!  Thanks to all who prepared and to all who we know were with us in spirit.

Extraordinary General Assembly of the Union of Catholic Apostolate, Rome May 14-16 2007.

Cheryl Sullivan and Fr. Ray Hevern represented Australia at this important gathering. They joined with delegates from many parts of the world—Cameroon to Brazil, Uruguay to Tanzania, the Unites States, Poland, Ireland, South Africa and many other countries, with a diversity of cultures, languages and life experiences. All present tried to put this ‘treasure’ at the service of one another all so as to discover what the Holy Spirit wished to communicate.

The time together was dedicated to the revision of the General Statutes which were approved ‘ad experimentum’ for a five year period in 2003. Parts have been rewritten during this period, ready for presenting them again in 2008. It has been a demanding task but one made possible by reciprocal listening.

The time of intensive work had been lightened by occasions to nourish the spirit in communal prayer and liturgy and the knowledge that many people through out the world were offering support through prayer and their lives.

In the final Eucharistic celebration, Fr. Fritz Kretz , Rector general of the priests and brothers and spiritual guide and assistant to the Union, reminded all that while the statutes , like all laws, have the purpose of protecting the charism—a gift of God—and to indicate the way to be followed, what is most important is life and living. Life lived, day after day, gathered around Mary in the Cenacle. Life lived in the awareness of being family gathered in the name of Jesus, Apostle of the eternal father, to revive faith and rekindle charity, everywhere and by all means.

Amalgamation of the three German speaking Pallottine Provinces, North and South Germany and Austria.

Of special interest to us in Australia because of the German Priests and Brothers who have served in Australia.

“The future has begun” – thus begins the report on the two historical days in Friedberg on the occasion of the celebration of  the unification of the two German Provinces and the Austrian Region into the new Sacred Heart Province.  

On this occasion 170 confreres from the Provinces, Regions and Delegatures (Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Spain, South Africa) were present. The celebration started with a solemn Mass in the big church of St. James in Friedberg, packed to the full for this event. In his homily the Rector General, Fr. Friedrich Kretz, mentioned three essential points, valid for each community: the desire to have the traditions as a point of reference, the courage to walk together, and the will to construct together the “common cathedral”. 

In the afternoon more than 400 guests were gathered together in the great hall of the city; representatives of the Church and the State extended their greetings and the President of the Parliament of the Free State of Bavaria, Dr. Alois Glück, spoke on the theme “The task of Christians in the State and the Civil Society”, underlining the necessity to be value-oriented and to have the courage to accept and live responsibility in solidarity. The Dinner provided many opportunities to meet old friends and to know new members of the Pallottine family.

On 22 January, feast of our Founder, the “birth” of the new Province with 510 members, and the initiation of the three year mandate of the new Provincial Council with Fr. Hans-Peter Becker as the Provincial, were celebrated.  

In a prayer in preparation for these days the confreres had prayed: “God of all times, accompany us on the road ahead of us; help us to meet each other with joyful hearts, to listen reciprocally, and to build up our future as a community of brothers”.

Marian Dooley and Bill Henderson write about  - A Country Gathering

A chance remark about the hardship of getting to Melbourne from country Victoria for Pallottine celebrations set the ball rolling!! And it rolled until the day of celebration for Pallotti’s birthday: 21st April.  It saw a group of happy people gathering for Eucharist and lunch afterward in the Chancery in Bendigo.  We had “Pallottines” and friends from many places in the North, Central and West of the state, from Ballarat to Wangaratta and Swan Hill.  Word of mouth and snail mail helped to spread the news of the day; many sent apologies and wished to come next time and we hope those we inadvertently missed will be with us next time.   It was a great time for catching up, reminiscing, meeting new people and finding links. We hope it is just the first of many get-togethers around the state.   By the buzz of conversation and the smiles that abounded I think this will be so!!

“St. Vincent was a man who saw God in all things, and all things in God”  (Nancy Krebs)

The Story of Maurice Haddock Part III

This time we complete the story of Maurie’s generous practical service as a volunteer at Rossmoyne and Tardun.

The Saturday following this picnic day there was a bar-b-que and on Sunday 28 November a Christmas dinner was given for the students before they left the Centre for their holidays. Maurie also left and went on to help out at the Tardun Mission. He planned to return to Melbourne with Bob Doyle who was a lay missionary based at Tardun. Their plan was to drive home via Queensland but Bob first wanted to complete the electrical wiring for the new dormitory. Maurie volunteered to relieve Bob of truck driving which would leave Bob free to finish off the electrical work uninterrupted.

The need for the Mission to get supplies for the farm and school presented an opportunity for Maurie to drive into Geraldton where he also hoped to visit his relatives. The late Brother John Scammell was in charge of the building team at Tardun at the time and as no other driver was available he decided to accompany Maurie on the journey. 

This is how Brother John Scammel described that final journey with Maurie when I spoke with him some days after the terrible event. “We left in the morning and on arriving at Geraldton we loaded the truck and went together to visit Tom and Doreen. We spent about 2 hours there.  Our truck was carrying six and a half ton of supplies. It was six o’clock when we started the return journey to the Tardun Mission. Somewhere between the 45 and 46 mile post out from Geraldton I  could see the approaching truck swaying across the road and Maurie tried to get over as far as possible on our side of the road to give it a wide berth. Just as it was about to pass, it suddenly turned and came across into us on the drivers side. I don’t know whether I jumped from the cabin or whether I was thrown clear. Maurie did all he could to avoid the accident. Other than driving off into the bush there was nothing else he could have done. He moved as far over as he could to the left and he even took out one of the guide posts – that’s how far over he had got.  The amazing thing is that it was my turn to drive and we had decided we would change over when we got to Mullewa which was another fifteen miles further on”.

The Police Report stated that both drivers were killed instantly. It also stated that there was a lot of damning evidence against the other driver including the fact that he had a very high blood alcohol level. The other truck was loaded with concrete pipes and moulds standing above cabin height and it had a crash bar. The passengers in both vehicles survived uninjured. One of the two passengers with the other driver also happened to be a father of one of the boys at the Tardun Mission School.

The news of Maurie’s death when we received it the next morning had a devastating effect on my family. Instead of a joyous home-coming at Christmas that we had all been looking forward to we now had to prepare ourselves for a different home coming and a funeral.  A Solemn Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Gabriel’s Church, Reservoir on the 9 th December. As well as family and relatives there were many friends including those from Shepparton where he grew up.

News of Maurie’s death was received with a sense of sadness and shock by those with whom he had worked at the Mission Centre.  Father John Luemmen wrote, “Maurie was a just, honest man loved by all. He had won the hearts of our children, particularly of our boys. I have never seen our children more shocked than at this sad news. They were very fond of him, and he was very fond of them also.”

 Father Eddie Wehrmaker who was in charge at Tardun at the time paid tribute to Maurie when he wrote; “I have met Maurie on many occasions during the year and have learnt to appreciate him for his outstanding generosity in his work with our Native boys in Riverton. When the students returned from their holidays they approached Father Luemmen to have their Hostel named ‘Maurice Lodge’.

 Maurie’s experience at the Mission Centre added a new dimension to his life. He connected with the indigenous Australians and gave generously of his time and in return he gained personally. He enriched his faith through his close connection with the religious community at Rossmoyne. His life in the West was in stark contrast to his former work as a mechanic at Ruckers Hill Service Station. His death robbed him of his life’s potential at an early age and like all other road deaths attributable to the reckless and irresponsible actions of fellow human beings was a tragedy. It may be significant or some might think it ironic that the day on which he died was also the day that the Church celebrated the feast day of St Francis Xavier, the patron saint of the Missions.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SISTERS OF ST. JOHN
OF GOD.

ONE HUNDRED YEARS IN THE KIMBERLEY 1907—2007.

We are grateful to Kimberley Community Profile for details of the celebrations and commemorations ongoing through this year.  We are conscious of the many instances when these generous sisters worked in partnership with Pallottine priests, brothers and lay missionaries. These include: 

Relationships - Historical Exhibition  7th June –18th July Old Convent, Barker St.

Holy Child orphanage exhibition  9-29 June Lingiari Foundation  cnr Weld and Barker St. 

Youth Art Exhibition   18-30th June

Exhibition “Outstretched Arms”  Impressions of Broome, Derby, Beagle Bay in the 1940s and the 1950s  Elizabeth Durack.   2-17th July

Lingiari Foundation  Cnr Weld and Barker St.

Memorial Service   Friday 13th July early evening, at the Broome Cemetery where so many  of the sisters and the people whom they served  are laid to rest.

Grand Finale Concert  18th July Goolarri,  Blackman Street.   

True to the tradition of Kimberley, this will be a family concert and fun night, with input from Broome’s artistic community.

The following is the first hand account of the celebrations from Fr. Joe Kearney who had spent over 20 years working with the Sisters among our Indigenous people and other residents of the North West Kimberley.

I have just returned from celebrating or rather joining in the centenary celebrations of the St. John of God Sisters who first came to the Kimberley in 1907.  I am very pleased to record some of the happenings of the past few days when I had the privilege to be present at these celebrations.  I felt an obligation to share with the Sisters in this moment of happiness for them.  I have very fond memories of my work in the Broome Diocese and of the co-operation of the Sisters in many places and over so many years.  I have always felt that the Pallottines and the St. John of God Sisters have formed a true family together with our Aboriginal friends.

In vast contrast to the flight over to Melbourne in January when the large 747 was absolutely packed with over 400 passengers, my flight to Perth on Thursday 14th June had about 30 people spread over another huge aircraft, a 737.  Expecting to arrive in Perth and simply wait at the airport for the next plane to Broome, on the way walking out between the seats of the plane I saw along the next passageway Anita Ferguson who had been on the same flight.  In spite of the few numbers we had not spotted each other until that moment.  Waiting at the entrance was Ray together with Denise Wilson and Pat Heywood.  So there were many pleasant surprises.

Ray and I flew on to Broome, arriving early afternoon.  Meeting us at the airport was Ivan Davie the person who together with his wife was organizing the whole of the celebrations for the Sisters.  We stayed at their house for the few days of our visit.  His wife was Elizabeth Strake whose parents I married when I was in Broome many decades ago. Liz and Ivan are doing a marvelous job preparing and taking responsibility for the total range of celebration during the centenary year.

The highlight of the proceedings was the Mass on the Saturday evening in Broome.  It was celebrated in the open, on the lawn area between the cathedral and what was the school and convent.  Broome is now a very multicultural town, which we can honestly say is an example of how people from all different countries, languages and cultures can live and work together. To bring out this aspect of the town it was arranged, by Ivan and Liz, that the flags of the different countries of origin of these people be carried at the beginning of the Mass procession and during the Mass itself, formed a semi-circle  around the congregation. So we had the Australian, Aboriginal, Union Jack, Scottish, German, Indonesian, Japanese, Chinese and Philippine flags.

There was a welcome in the language of the local indigenous people, the blessing of water from all the different parishes and areas of the Broome Diocese, the smoking ceremony, and some beautiful liturgical dances by the senior girls of  St. Mary’s School.  They had an excellent choir accompanied by guitars, a flute, also a didgeridoo and clap sticks; with new and old hymns.  The priests wore a corresponding set of vestments made by one of the local women.

Present at the ceremonies were some of the relatives of these Sisters who arrived with the first group.  There was a priest from Wexford, Ireland, with another relative and an Irish priest from the Perth Archdiocese, together with his sister who had come from Ireland for this occasion. Also attending were close relatives of the Greene sisters, five natural sisters who all joined the St John of God order and all came to Australia in the early days

Joe Kearney

DATES TO REMEMBER.

Recollection Day at Kew.   Tuesday, 4th July.  The day will begin with Mass at 11.am, and there will be  a talk after lunch.

Taize prayer

Also at Kew.  On the first Friday of each month, 8-9 pm.  We resume on the 1st July.

We’d love to hear from YOU!!!! 

As you read this, has something come into your mind?
Perhaps you were a lay missionary in La Grange or at Tardun or elsewhere and would like to ‘remember’ or ‘make contact with someone’

Have you visited Taize—as many tourists now do?
Are there aspects of the life of the Pallottine family that you would like to know about? 

There are many ways of making the  connection. For example:

My phone:  (03) 9 497 1691   E mail: merle.gilbo@blaze.net.au
UAC Secretariat  (Pat Heywood)  
(03) 9855 0211

PALLOTTINE YOUTH ENCOUNTER

Pallottine Youth Encounter World Youth Day 2008 preparations are well on the way.  The PYE sub-committees met last Tuesday evening (12th June) in the Parish of Syndal to work on the areas of billeting, catering, finance, team formation, youth formation events and occupational health services.   Everyone was enthusiastic and we look forward to the next meeting on the 16th of July. 

As a build up to the World Youth Day 2008, we invite you to the following events:-

“Notes for Life” is held every Third Sunday of the month at Syndal parish hall.  Beginning at 4:30pm with games, music and munchies; then moving into Eucharist at 5:30pm.

29th of June is the closing date for the PYEWYD 08 logo competition for Avila and Emmaus College.

PYE Leadership Camp  July 2 — July 4
Getting Ready for WYD08…..   An Exhilarating Event…..
Meet New Friends…..  
Maximize Your Leadership Qualities…..  Challenging Activities….. 
At St. Paul’s Missionary College, Norton’s Lane, Wantirna South
Fully Catered $80.00

Mark these dates in your diary:
Pallottine community at Millgrove:    4th – 9th July 2008
St Christopher’s Parish Syndal:        9th – 13th July 2008
WYD in Sydney:                                 13th – 20th July 2008

It’s still not too late to get onboard with the Pallottine Youth Encounter World Youth Day 2008.  So if you wish to be actively involved in PYE please fill in the form below and return to Fr. Pat Jackson at St. Christopher’s Church, 5 Doon Ave, Syndal, 3150 OR fax him on 03 9886 1144.

We look forward to seeing you soon.
On behalf of the PYE Team,
Fr. Eugene San  sac

Name: _________________________ Email:    _________________

Address:________________________________________

Tel:  ____________________   Mobile: ___________________ 

Age on July 1, 2008 

o 16-17    o 18–25    o 26–35     o 36–45    o 46-55    o 56+

I am interested in: (please tick) o  Team Formation

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