Pallottine Spirituality :

To bring faith to life in community.
           To reignite love among brothers and sisters.
To experience Christ’s love as a driving force.
           To proclaim the Gospel to all, if need be with words.
To plead for the Holy Spirit together with Mary and the apostles.
           To kindle in ourselves a passion for God and for human beings.
To recognise the call of God in the signs of the times.
           To encounter our fellow human beings as images of God.
To keep alive the yearning for God and the coming of his kingdom.
           To be people of hope.

Author Fr. Karl Heinen, SAC

It’s so commonplace for people of all ages to travel nowadays, by plane for two weeks or even less. Then it was by ship, the voyage itself was 4-5 weeks. On the 8th February , Barb, Margaret and Judith met for lunch to celebrate the 50th anniversary of that evening when they sailed out of Port Melbourne on the Strathmore.

It was an adventurous, even pioneering enterprise, requiring a long time off work, a long time away from family and friends-they returned just before Christmas 1956. It was a long time at sea to start with, though punctuated with interesting ports. At first they were in England with a familiar language. There they purchased their future transport, a (nearly) retired London taxi that they named ‘Regina’. The challenge accelerated when they crossed the English Channel and had to find their way, their accommodation, all the necessities of life –first in French, then in German and in Italian. The visit to Germany and Italy was to visit Pallottine places and meet Pallottine people. This was an interesting reversal of what had been happening since 1901 when the first Pallottine fathers and brothers came from Europe to serve the needs of our indigenous people. The pilgrimage that began on 8th February 1956 was the response by these young women to their understanding of the vision of St. Vincent Pallotti, the vision which proclaimed that all the baptized are called to be apostles: lay, religious, clerical, young, old, married, single, whatever their way of life.

Thank you, Barb, Margaret, and Judith for following your call and responding to that opportunity to make that human link with the Pallottine Family on the other side of the world.

FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE UAC

At Grottaferratta, about 20 kilometres southeast of Rome, 33 members of the First General Assembly of the Union of the Catholic Apostolate gathered from around the world on the 27th December 2005. I was privileged to be one of them. Also present were moderators, translators and secretaries. It was an historic event held in a Pallottine Retreat Centre that was built in the 1990’s.

Outside it was freezing cold and it snowed for a day and night which added extra charm to the setting and was a real novelty for myself and those from Cameroon and Brasil. Inside we were warmly welcomed and enjoyed great accommodation and food and gradually began to discover something of the story of each person.

On the first morning piped music awoke us in plenty of time to shower, have something to eat and catch the bus at 6.30 a.m. (!!!) that took us to San Salvadore in Onda for the opening Mass. The principal celebrant was Fr Fritz Kretz, Rector General SAC. It was very significant to begin our Assembly at the resting place of St Vincent Pallotti. Visiting Pallotti’s rooms and seeing the Pallotti Institute at the Generalate strengthened my sense of connection to this visionary man and to all those who have continued to keep his vision alive.

When we returned we got down to the business of the Assembly. The main task was to elect ten members of the General Co-ordination Council. It felt a bit like being at a mini United Nations. We had headphones for instantaneous translation. The languages used were Italian and English.

There was time for discernment to establish the criteria to ensure that as far as possible all of the language groups, youth lay people and the continents were represented. Oceania was linked with Asia. I think it would be very difficult, if not impossible, for any Australian to adequately represent Asia and also for the reverse to happen. Cheryl Sullivan from the Mariana community was elected. It is very affirming of the UAC in Australia to have a member on the GCC.

Also on the Agenda were talks by Fr Seamus Freeman SAC, President of the GCC and by Mons Delgado from the Pontifical Council for the Laity. Discussion papers were circulated on the topics of Communication and on Youth. Small group work was done on these and reports given to the whole group.

Of interest in Australia is the holding of World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008. Prior to WYD last year in Cologne, Pallottine Youth from various parts of the world had met together which enabled networking and allowed them to see something of the bigger picture in which all the readers of this newsletter play a part.

The General Assembly was very much a time of personal renewal and also of learning. I learnt a lot more about the UAC in other parts of the world. I learnt that people in other parts of the world were highly interested in the UAC in Australia. I also discovered that there are prayers and Mass for the UAC every Wednesday evening at San Salvatore. We may choose to link our prayers with those.

I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to participate in the General Assembly. I also pray for the new GCC that is preparing to meet in Rome in May. They have many difficult questions to tackle. I am sure God’s Spirit will guide them and ask that you pray for them.

Anne Dowling

A friendship formed with Fr Balaji Boyala from India during the UAC Congress in Poland led to an invitation for me to visit him in India. At the time it did not look possible but an opportunity arose for the first week in February and as this suited Balaji I was away.

The visit lasted eight days and I was made most welcome by the parishioners and particularly the boys in the orphanage. I arrived in Chennai to be met by Balaji and was quickly introduced to Indian traffic where there are no regulations or laws. We took 2 hours to travel 20k to the railway station to travel to Guntur. We travelled in sleeper class. There were six people in our cabin and we sat for a while until someone decided they wanted to sleep which meant we all had to sleep as the bunks folded down making it impossible to sit. Luckily I had the middle bunk and did not have to climb to the top. Leaving at 4.30pm we arrived in Guntur at 2am.

We were met by Father Gregory (assistant priest) and travelled to Amaravathi parish about 2 hours away. Sunday Mass was at 8.30am and lasted two hours. It was a deeply spiritual experience for me. Follwing Mass I was given a formal reception complete with garlands of flowers and a huge welcome from the parishoners and the boys. Later in the afternoon I was coerced into playing cricket and I was given a runner. The next three days were extremely busy as I visited homes for children rescued from bondage, girls who were in shelter from physical and sexual abuse and marvelled at the work of these priests and sisters who give completely of themselves to this task. The children are beautiful, so obviously happy and well cared for but the priests and sisters are very concerned for their future when they leave the protection of the shelters.

We traveled then to the Palotti Youth centre where I was asked to talk to the young men present about employment and seeking work. Then on to the the minor seminary at Vijajawada where I was welcomed by the young seminarians and asked to talk to them about the UAC. Back on the train again to Nagpur and visited the Major Seminary and talked with 14 young men who will be ordained this year. Balaji decided that I had to see the Taj Mahal. After a flight to Delhi and a 6 hour car drive to Agra I was taken to see this wonder of the world. It is truly magnificent, photos do not do it justice. A flight back to Chennai where we spent some time in the parish of St Joseph before leaving for home. It was a most amazing experience to be with these people and share their life for such a short time. Balaji has insisted that I visit again and this I am planning to do.

Fr. Henry was born in Germany on August 9th , 1924. Already, as a young boy, he felt he was called to the priesthood. The upheaval of the World War stood in his way. He was conscripted into the German Army as a wireless operator. Still, in these difficult times, he managed to be received into the novitiate of the South German Pallottines in Bruchsal (November 1944)

Unscathed, he survived the war and a short time as a prisoner of war. . Nothing could now prevent him continuing his way into the Pallottine community. He was ordained in 1952 in Eichstaett (South Germany). He had achieved his goal. He worked in a variety of places and apostolates in Schoenstatt and Friedberg until 1954 but had long ago realized that his hopes and dreams would not be fulfilled in Germany. The call to be a missionary was very strong indeed.

In order to be eligible to work in India, he had to become a citizen of Australia and, till the end of his life, he retained Australian citizenship. During his time in Australia (June 1956—July 1963), he gained experience in the German migrant Chaplaincy and at Tardun in W.A. Fr. Henry loved Australia and never grew tired of talking about his time in this sun-blest country.

On July 26th, 1963, he finally reached his much longed for destination—Raipur, India .He took up many challenges and adapted to the country and its people. He became a loved confrere of the Indian Pallottines and a pastor to the people. In September 2002, old age and a severe illness forced him to return to Germany. At first, he wanted nothing but to return to India. However, his illness was such that, with a heavy heart, he accepted that this was not possible. Fr. Henry was a good priest. His piety and his missionary charism, his friendliness and willingness to help everyone showed that he was a genuine Christian and a fine priest.

May he rest in peace.

Fr. Chandy reached Australia a few weeks ago and is settling into Kew and our way of life. He was born in Teekoy, in the diocese of Kerala, joined the Pallottine community after high school and was ordained October 1979. His life as a priest has meant work in parishes, established and newly formed. It has extended to responsibility for youth, vocations, retreats, teaching theology and catechetics, leading to the licentiate in pastoral theology at the Salesian pontifical university in Rome.

Along the way, his work became more and more involved with the formation of the laity. From 1995-1999, he was responsible for a range of commissions in the Archdiocese of Trivandrum (Kerala). Fr. Chandy returned to Rome in 1999 for doctoral studies, specializing in family ministry and counseling and until his departure for Australia, his role was programme director of the SAC pastoral centre in Trivandrum.

We hope and pray, Fr. Chandy, that you will find your ministry here fulfilling and enriching.

Approximately 10 people attended a gathering at the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry, 434 St. George’s Road, Thornbury and the Aboriginal Heritage Trust King Street, Melbourne on the 12th of November 2005.

Vicki Walker from the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry told us the story of how the ACM developed and how it has operated up to the present time. She also gave us handouts and suggested reading which included activities we could follow up around the city of Melbourne and other parts of Victoria. We were able to obtain some of her suggested reading from the Aboriginal Heritage Trust in the afternoon. It was a very interesting and educational day and although the number attending was small it was a fantastic day which everyone enjoyed immensely.

The group is happy to meet in Melbourne and do a tour of parts of the city with Aboriginal significance in the near future - a date to be selected for this – probably April/May ’06. I will get in touch with a few people to see what an appropriate date is.

Recently we received material in support of the Gathering at Alice Springs Oct. 2nd – 7th 2006. We also received a letter from Nola Goodwin, Chairperson of the Josephite Aboriginal Planning Committee, a forum that provides information and advice to the Josephite Congregation. One of their priorities is that Aboriginal Reconciliation is kept on the Agenda. It also suggests that there are other groups, like our own, with which we may be able to be affiliated. I will get more information on this before the Group meets.

All this needs to be addressed with the Group in the near future. I will send out “Dreaming from the Heart” Alice Springs registration of interest cards to the 25 people who met at Kew in July, with an invitation to the next event on our journey.

Mary Saunders On behalf of the Pallotti Aboriginal Interest Group

On St. Vincent’s feast day, 22nd January, eighteen hardy souls met in the Pallotti room at Kew, on a day of extreme temperatures with raging bushfires around our State, to praise God for the gift of our great Founder and to enjoy celebrating the feast day together.

Many members of our Pallottine Family who wanted to come, could not because of the heat and their own family obligations in that heat environment. We’re not all so young any more and as well, some few of the younger folk were involved in the battle against the bushfires, so those of us who were able to gather, prayed in petition as well as praise.

Fr. Eugene led our evening prayer and afterwards we drank Pallotti’s health, more or less, with various beverages, tea, coffee, soft drinks and champagne. We welcomed two newcomers and hope that next year, we’ll see many more new faces as the Union so heartily desired by Pallotti grows and extends further.

We want to continue making this feast day celebration an annual fixture but are posing the question whether we should gather on the 22nd each year, no matter what day of the week it falls on, or whether it might be better to celebrate on the Sunday evening nearest to the 22nd. January. If you’d like to let us know your opinion on this question, let’s hear from you. You have until roughly next October to consider

Last year we celebrated this event with Fr. John Hennessy.

 This year, we offer our congratulation to two other veteran Pallottines, Fr Roger McGinley and Fr. Joe Kearney as they reach the same milestone For Fr. Roger, the actual day will be 20th July. For Fr. Joe it will be 28th July.

The exact details of the when and where the celebrations will take place are still being worked out... Look for them in the June issue of this newsletter.

Hello everyone from lovely Perth and sensational Geraldton!

Father Kelvin, our apostolic delegate (note the small lettering!!) from Geraldton has returned from his home state of Victoria after holidaying with his family and catching up with confreres and friends in the Pallottine family.

Our bi-monthly Local Coordination Council meetings have continued in December and February, with lots of inspiration from shared news and events.

At the end of 2005 we drew up a calendar program for this year, for ongoing spiritual events like recollection day, retreat, UAC workshop, feast day celebrations etc. We planned these functions for both ourselves as an L.C.C. and for other Pallottine family members who might be able to join us.

The first event planned was the celebration of St. Vincent’s feast day on Sunday 22nd January and about 32 UAC members joined in a special Mass followed by a B.B.Q. At this function we welcomed Fr. Ray home from the General Assembly and Pallottine visits overseas.

At our February meeting, Fr. Ray spoke about the General Assembly and John Nagle, our President, described his visit to India.

We are looking forward to celebrating Pallotti’s birthday on Sunday 23rd April. This celebration, held at Rossmoyne last year, was such a success that it has become a parish event this year and many more people will join us in thanking God for St. Vincent and the invitation to share his mission here in the West.

Early in February a new group, the Spirituality Team, was established at the Pallottine Community House in Kew.

The members are Fr. Eugene, Mark Brolly, Janet Farrow, Sue O’Connell and Pat Heywood. The work of the Team is to act as an advisory body for both the induction of new people in the Pallottine Family and for the continued ongoing spirituality of the rest of us.

At the moment, the Team is concerned with Pallottine spirituality and is centred at Kew. It aims to meet three times a year, in February, July and November, so that it can assist in the planning, monitoring and reviewing of the spiritual events and activities planned for the year, e.g. Recollection Days, Feast Day celebrations, initiation of the Pallottine Prayer Circle and any one-off functions such as a seminar or workshop on a particular theme.

Team members possess very high qualifications in Theology, Education and Social Welfare, and are keen to share our task of building the UAC, for the growth of Pallotti’s charism and mission in our family, work, parish and professions.

QUEEN OF APOSTLES FEAST DAY

The feast day of Mary, Queen of Apostles, falls this year on Saturday June 3rd. and all Pallottine Family members are invited to share the celebration at Kew, commencing at 2.00 pm.

It may seem a good way off yet, but put it in your diary NOW and come ready for prayer and praise, plus a terrific afternoon tea, in honour of our Patroness.

This is the only notice and reminder we can give you, since the next Newsletter won’t be published until June. So mark it on your calendar now, and join us on the 3rd June at 2 o’clock.

 See you there. Mark in your diary!

Some years ago, Maryanne Dooley arranged the binding (in two volumes) of early issues of the Pallottine Family Newsletter, Volume 1 covering the issues from May 1966 to December1978, Volume 2 from March 1979 to May 1993. Both volumes had lived in the community room at Pallotti College for ‘ages and ages’. Recently, I went to pick them up, wanting to look back as we approach the 40th anniversary of the first issue. Alas, volume 2 was where I expected it to be but where is volume 1? Volume 2 makes interesting reading which makes me even more desperate to find volume 1.

The newsletter was smaller then, pages were about 20cm x 17cm. The binding is black, with gold lettering. Maybe, at some stage, you picked it up to look at the history it contains. Maybe you could suggest someone else who might have mentioned his or her interest to you.  

merle.gilbo@blaze.net.au 

ANNIVERSARY MASS FOR FR. WALTER SILVESTER

A memorial Eucharist will be held on Friday 24th March at the Pallottine Community House, 85 Studley Park Road, Kew, at 8.00 pm on the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of Fr.Walter.

PALLOTTINE PRAYER CIRCLE

Early last year, Fr. Walter Silvester conceived the idea of a Pallottine Prayer Circle among members of the UAC and beyond. Unfortunately the idea had not come to fruition before Walter’s untimely death. Over many years 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 will consist 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, each member will receive 12 prayer cards with a different intention to pray for each month. Members will also 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 identify the person(s) for whom you ask prayers. Use a Christian name only, if you wish. A list of special intentions will be sent outwith prayer cards every three months.

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. We expect to begin in April so we would appreciate your enrolling as soon as possible, although we hope membership will continue to increase.

Please enrol me as a member of the Prayer Circle.
NAME: --------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDRESS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return to: UAC Secretariat, 85 Studley Park Road, Kew Vic 3101

FATHER NICHOLAS EMO a Kimberley pioneer

The story of Emo and San Salvador has been compiled from Church archives in Broome, from the New Norcia Benedictine Monastery, and from Sept Fons Cistercian Monastery, France. Emo’s own letters add an autobiographical component. The story of Emo and his boat is a golden thread sewing together a series of events in Western Australia from 1895 - 1915, one of which is the foundation of the Kalumburu Mission. Always a controversial character, in his last years, Emo found solace in the inclusive ministry of the German Pallottine Missionaries and the company of the Irish and the Australian Sisters of St. John of God.

A valuable element of the book is the testimony of Billy Hughes’ secretary, HV Howe, who, in his youth, met Emo and wrote about him to Mary Durack. Emo’s story is in two books, selling as a set for $80. GST $8, Postage $10. It is available from the Brigidine Sisters, 1 Charlotte St. Echuca Vic. 3564

Phone: 03 5482 1944. Fax 03 5480 6835m An invoice will be sent if that is what you prefer.

YOU ARE INVITED

to join us for Taize prayer, 8.00 – 9.00pm, first Friday each month at Kew, followed by a cuppa.

These nights have been running now for about 12 months, and we warmly welcome anyone who would like to join our little group.

Based on the meditative singing and prayer of the Taize community in France, where three times a day all work stops and the bells call the community to “common prayer” the Taize chants are very simple, with a calming repetition which can penetrate the whole being. We hear the word, and there are times of silence, where the prayer continues in our hearts, in peaceful communion with God.

It’s a chance to step aside from the busyness and worries of our day, and to quiet the soul.

WHAT A FEAST!

Members of the Pallottine family ie UAC, Epiphany Retreat Centre Committee (ERCC) and SAC (Riverton and Rossmoyne parishes) celebrated St Vincent Pallotti’s feast day on Sunday 22 January 2006 in the Pallottine Community House, Rossmoyne. The celebration started at 6 pm until late.

What a Celebration! Fr Joe Butscher organized the evening prayer which we duly participated in around 6 pm in the Rossmoyne chapel. For sure, St Vincent Pallotti’s spirit was with us and his and God’s blessings were upon us. After the evening prayer we adjourned to the lawn adjacent to the Pallottine Community House and had our barbeque/shared meal fellowship.

What an Evening! Denise Wilson, a member of UAC, organized the barbeque with plenty of drinks to go around especially since it was a warm evening but a beautiful one. Fr Ray made himself useful by offering can drinks to everyone. Good on you Fr Ray! Everyone present brought a dish to share – lots of salad, pasta and sweets. The atmosphere was relaxed and everyone had an enjoyable time.

What a Success! We hope not only to have many more of St Vincent Pallotti's Feast Day celebrations but that an invitation will be extended to everyone in the parishes as well as friends of the Pallottine family in the future. We must continue to pray for greater commitment in serving the Catholic community through our participation in the Pallottine family groups.

From Lyna Ho, Secretary, L.C.C. West Australia.

MARIANA DAY OF REFLECTION

The Mariana Community will host a day of reflection on Saturday 1st July, at the Pallottine community house at Kew and wish to invite all UAC members to join them.

RECOLLECTION DAYS AT KEW

In the past the Kew community has gathered for recollection days at regular intervals during the year as part of their ongoing spirituality.

This year the Fathers and Brothers are inviting all members of the Pallottine Family to join them on these days of prayer and quiet time for reflection and discernment.

Recollection days for 2006 will be held at Kew on the first Tuesday of every second month, commencing on 7th March. The day begins with Mass at 11 am followed by BYO lunch, then input of some kind, e.g. a talk or seminar style reflection, with time available for personal prayer. In keeping with Pallotti’s dictum of “Binding as much as necessary, freedom as much as possible”, participants manage their own time, and if you can only come for the morning, that’s fine, you’re very welcome.

Here are the dates of the recollection days for the year: March 7th May 2nd July 4th Sept. 5th Nov. 14th . ( The 14th November is not the first Tuesday, but we’re making room for the Melbourne Cup!)

OUR FETE - FULL DAY  -  OCTOBER 28

We need all the help we can get!! What can you do to assist? Can you cook, sew, make wooden toys/implements etc.

Are you crafty? Can you do face-painting or nail- decorating?

If you have Christmas gifts which you don’t want or can’t use, we might be able to take them off your hands.

All donations of whatever kind are welcome, your trash could be someone else’s treasure… we can pick up any materials or goods, as long as they’re not too big.

The fete planning committee thanks you in advance and can be reached c/- the UAC secretariat, 85 Studley park road Kew 3101

Phone (03) 9459 1798 any time or (03) 9855 0211 Monday, Wednesday, Friday am.