|
|
|
HEARTS ON FIRE Hearts on Fire is the title given by the Archdiocese of Melbourne to the VOCATION CONGRESS held from October 16-18, with the call, from the Pope’s letter — Novo Millennio Ineunte — ‘At the beginning of the New Millenium’ to take an "active responsibility in the Church’s life." Parishes, Religious Congregations, University Chaplaincies, Colleges, have taken part, encouraged to share their ways of life, and to learn from each other. We , as Pallottine Family , saw this as a great opportunity to make known the vision of St. Vincent Pallotti whose charism so strongly promotes the reality that ‘we are all church’, and who wanted to see a ‘Church without spectators’. In his wisdom, St. Vincent, recognized that ALL are called, regardless of age, gender, way of life.
Reclaiming the Dream With these words, Fr. Ray Hevern and the SAC Council (Fr. Michael McMahon and Fr. Dean Bradbury), ‘proclaimed’ their hopes for the 2003 SAC Assembly to be held at Rossmoyne, Perth from September 28 till the October 03. They gave these words real substance and a new dimension by inviting some lay members of the Pallottine Family to participate. There is not often the opportunity, or the reason to mention by name all the Pallottine priests and brothers. This seems to be a suitable time to do that as most were able to gather in Perth. The SAC members from W.A.: Fr. Joe Butscher, Fr. Gerhard Christoph, Fr. John Flynn, Fr. Michael Gitner, Br. Ludwig Gunther, Br. Barry Hall, Fr. Ray Hevern, Fr. Joe Kearney, Fr. Kelvin Kenny, Fr. Wendelin Lorenz, Fr. John Luemmen, Fr. Paul Manickathan, Fr. Kevin McKelson, Fr. Michael McMahon, Br. John Phillis, Fr. Bryan Tiernan, Br. Wim van Veen. Fr. Jude D’Rozario, had newly arrived from India, Fr. Moroslaw Mejzner, was a visitor from Poland and, always present with us in prayer, 90 year old Br. William Schreiber. From Victoria: Fr. Dean Bradbury, Fr. Pat Jackson, Fr. Roger McGinley, Fr. Benno Rausch, Br. Lindsay Rust, Fr. Eugene San, Fr. John Winson, and back in Victoria, but very much with us in spirit, Br. Pat Bicknell, Br. Kevin Clark, Fr. John Hennessy, Fr. Walter Silvester, Fr. Eddy Wehrmaker. Who were we who represented that wider Pallottine family? From W.A.: Lyna and Michael Ho, John Nagle, Rose Narkle, Dallas Phillips, Maria Rohr, Ben Taylor, Patricia Wisoleth. From Victoria: Mary Anne Dooley, Merle Gilbo, Richard Gooden, Bill Henderson, Maureen Rath, Mary Saunders, and Veronica Smith. It’s quite impossible to reflect, in any faithful way, the atmosphere of shared prayer, open discussion, deep consideration, enjoyable friendship, which were the atmosphere of this very significant week. We were all enriched by hearing about how the Sisters of Mercy and the Christian Brothers have ‘revisited’ their roots and the vision of their founders in order to carry on their work. We realized that St. Vincent Pallotti had seen a family in which there would be collaboration from the beginning. It’s our challenge now to find the ways and means to live his vision.
Click on picture to enlarge Maureen Rath offers her own reflection: She says: "Jesus said, "where two or three are gathered in my name, I will be in their midst". As a participant in the SAC Assembly, I do believe that Jesus’ spirit was with us in a special way. We gathered to search for new ways to reclaim the dream of Vincent Pallotti in this 21st century - that all Christians are called to unite in an active response to God’s call to love. In our search there was a great balance of prayer, conversation, good food, fun, sharing our stories, our struggle, and our journeys of faith. We lived as a Pallottine Family. My thanks to all those back home who prayed ‘behind the scenes’ for this unique time in the history of the Pallottine Family. At the moment, I feel a little like Mary, pondering all these things in my heart.
We acknowledge, with gratitude, permission to reprint news from Kimberley Community Profile. The June issue told of a recent documentary "Sisters, Pearls and Mission Girls" Produced by Rebel Films. Executive Producer: Brian McKenzie, Producer: Jeni McMahon, Director: David Batty. In 1995, David Batty was approached to film the centenary celebrations of the arrival of the Sisters of St. John of God in W.A and their 95 years in the Kimberley. He completed that assignment but knew there was a story still to be told. Hence this documentary which is the epic story of Irish and Australian nuns, set against the rich and tragic history of Kimberley region. David Batty says: "I was constantly amazed by the their selfless acts of kindness and their determination in caring for the sick, the uneducated, distressed and downtrodden people. They seem to have earned a deep love and respect from the Aboriginal community as a whole and had been party to the rapidly changing world of the aboriginal people". Nor just of interest to the Kimberley!! Congratulations to Father Kevin McKelson who has been
awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame,
Australia for his service to Bishop Saunders said of him: "The community is much in debt to Fr. McKelson. His early work put him way ahead of his time. He toiled tirelessly to help preserve local language and culture. His dedication has been intense, focused and of inestimable value. The awarding of the Doctorate is some overdue acknowledgement of his life’s work." For those of our readers who don’t know Fr. McKelson, he was originally a ‘Melbourne (Brunswick) Boy’ but has spent all of his more than 50 years of life as a Pallottine priest in the Kimberly.
Have you read "From Patrons to Partners" ? It is a history of the Catholic Church in the Kimberley (1884 -1984). It was written by Margaret Zucker and published in 1994. It has been out of print but the August issue of Kimberley Community Profile reports that Margaret was in Broome during July to prepare a revised edition. During the years Margaret was teaching humanities at Loreto College, Normanhurst, Sydney, she developed a keen interest in social justice issues. She provided editorial guidance for several social justice publications, including the Bishops’ statement "Common Wealth for the Common Good." "From Patrons to Partners" was her first full-scale work of history. Her proven talents will ensure that the revised edition will be in big demand when it hits the bookshops later this year.
Transforming Violence - Brendan McKeague visits Broome.. Another interesting article from Kimberley Community Profile. This time because it tells of another aspect of the work of Brendan McKeague who led us to the experience of Open Space Technology in our centenary Congress. Brendan has been working in the area of non-violence for many years and recently led a dozen or so people in a workshop sponsored by the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and the Diocese of Broome and held on the Broome Campus of the Notre Dame University. Brendan belongs to a group called the People of the Way Movement which is committed to promoting a growing awareness of our own rich, deep spirituality and the potent power of active non-violence as a vehicle for peace and reconciliation in a troubled world. All present were grateful for this opportunity to look at a new way of approaching conflict and to learn new skills for everyday life.
TAIZE PRAYER at 85 STUDLEY PARK RD. KEW…. This beautiful, simple prayer seems, so easily, to engage all of us, mind, heart, voice, spirit. You are invited to join in for 1 hour, 8-9 pm. Friday, 7th November, Friday, 5th December..
Mariana Community
Please bring something to share for lunch. Date: 22 November 03 Contact Person: Cheryl Sullivan Cost of day is by donation.
EDITOR PALLOTTINE FAMILY UAC NEWSLETTER 85 Studley Park Rd Kew Vic 3101 Email: merle.gilbo@blaze.net.au past editions
December 2007 June 2007
March 2007 [ Top of Page ] |
A representative group of the Pallottine Family met
to gather the resources to ‘tell our story’. This was done in a number
of ways. For example, Herman Hulsen (St Christopher’s Syndal)
interviewed young people from the ‘target group’ (Year 10) asking them
about their idea of the church, of how they saw their own future life.
This has been presented on video — to be played ‘ongoing’ through the
day. Barrie Carson and Fr. John Winson, with help from Br. Wim, made a
display of ‘life’ photographs, with the most appropriate centre piece,
the picture of Mary, Queen of Apostles. Those who came were able to take
a little card with the same picture and the expressive prayer to Mary,
under this title. In this technological age, CDs of the Pallottine web
site were also available as ‘takeaways’. Other printed material was
available too: from Casa Pallotti, the Ashram at Montserrat, Pallotti
College, a simple leaflet which sets out what we believe it means to be
a member of the Pallottine family. Above all, we prayed that the Spirit
would guide our efforts and open the minds of all who came, including
the young people, that the mission of the church to the world is just as
real and just as vital in this 21st century as it has been in
all the 2000 years since Jesus lived on earth. 
Aboriginal language and culture in Western
Australia, with particular reference to La Grange — Bidyadanga. His
contribution has included a written text of a number of languages, the
translation stories and the construct of Liturgies for Indigenous
people.
Invite you to a day of soul food and body renewal.
Sandy Harrison will lead us in a day of relaxation, revitalisation and
rejuvenation.