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February 2001 |
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February 2001 |
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Dear Volunteers in Action I hope this Newsletter finds you well as you begin another year at work, school or university. Our Pallottine centenary is in full swing, celebrating one hundred years of dedicated work and service to God, and people and spanning not only the years but many parts of the continent. Pallottines have been at work from Beagle Bay to Bunbury, right out to Balgo on the border of N.T. and S.A., and to mission stations and parishes along the N.W. coast, to Melbourne and Sydney and as far as Tamworth. We began with a day of prayer on January 12 in all our places to thank God for pioneers and times past. Our Regional Assembly, January 14 - 21 at Pallotti College, Millgrove, was a gathering of Pallottines from East and West to share our stories, plan ahead and face the future with hope and realism. The Assembly concluded with the Final Consecration of Br Lindsay Rust, a joyful celebration in the company of confreres and many friends and collaborators. January 22nd was an open day at Pallotti College with an aboriginal Mass and the launching of 'Nothing is Wasted in the Household of God," a book by Sr Brigida Nailon, outlining the vision of Pallotti in action. Gerry Hand, former Labour senator for Aboriginal Affairs, who introduced it, called it "a good read." He was impressed by the heroism of the early Pallottines in the remote region of the Kimberleys.
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Our German Visitors Our Region, from its inception, has received personnel (priests, brothers and lay helpers) and financial backing from the North German Pallottine Province. It was fitting that the present Provincial, Fr Norbert Hannappel, and Fr Alexander Holzbach, editor of one of the Pallottine magazines "At Home and Abroad,' be invited to our celebrations. They have enjoyed their stay in Melbourne and, with Fr Michael McMahon, have flown to Broome, to visit all the missions in the Kimberleys.
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2001 Pallottine Lay Volunteers
This year Kaye Lieidtke from Sandringham, Victoria, Chrystabel Suares from Glen Waverley North have gone to Tardun, joining Bill Boyer, Desmond Heaton-Harris, Naomi Martin and Dawn Jackson. We thank these generous people and all the rest of the staff at Wandalgu and the farm who do a magnificent job in caring for our Aboriginal students. Three German volunteers, Christine Scholz, Susen Spenger, and Wolfgang Schüssler have also come as volunteers for one year's service. Christian Weisshaupt will spend some time at Tardun before returning to Germany. Gerry Duck, Maurice and Colleen and many other Aboriginal staff continue to make a great contribution to Wandalgu. We are still needing the services of an experienced bus driver for a 49 seater bus. Our other lay volunteers are Teresa van Lieshout from Perth and Edgar and Zoila Trajo who have volunteered their services at Pallotti College. Please pray for our volunteers for strength and creative energy.
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UAC CONGRESS On Sunday, February 18 at 9.30 a.m. we are meeting at Pallottine Community; Kew, to get ready for the UAC Congress. The day begins with Eucharist and then it's into an interesting day of planning, song, working together and cutting out. It should be good fun. Bring your creativity with you, your scissors, textas, musical gifts and your ideas. BYO sandwiches which we will share with tea, coffee or drinks.
March 09-12 will be our first family camp for the year at Casa Pallotti. "The Originals," the first family camp group, have already booked the camp. For camps, November 23-25 and November 30 - December 02 contact Jane and Richard Gooden on 9434 3772. Other camps in between have still to be finalised. We don't know what camps or activities will emerge from the passions shared and actions to be implemented at the UAC Congress. We will certainly keep you posted. yesterday is history
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Fr Kelvin Kenny's 25th Anniversary of Priesthood will be celebrated on Tuesday, May 29 at 7.30 p.m. at Pallottine Community, 85 Studley Park Rd, Kew. All are very welcome. Fr Kelvin is from Kingsbury, Melbourne, and after retreat work at Pallotti College, has ministered at Tardun mission, at Riverton and Rossmoyne parishes, and now in Aboriginal ministry located at 85 Gregory St Geraldton. |
HAPPENINGS AT KEW Men's Breakfasts have been going very well under the leadership of Denis
Podbury and John McGuire. The bonds of friendship have grown and so have all
who take part.
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Syndal Celebrations Thinking of anniversaries reminds me that St Christopher's parish, Syndal is celebrating its 40th anniversary on Sunday May 06. There's room for all and a programme for all age groups. Why not give Patrick Lambert a ring on 03 9803 2379 or Joan Verbolle on 03 9560 9335 and join the celebration.
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Lay Volunteer Training Our Assembly concluded with Pallotti's Feastday on the January 22, so the training was shortened and became a retreat of five days. Five people took part who are engaged in mission to the city in different ways. Jan is from Brisbane, Sandra from Warrnambool, Mary from Syndal, Michael from Preston and Paul from Ringwood. The retreat was rich in sharing and input. We wait to see what will develop in terms of networking.
Gippsland Outreach Sr Joy and the Family of God community connect with Ken and Lorrie Rowlinson (lay Volunteers from last year) who gather Pallotti people from around the Warragul area. Pallottine spirituality, music and God's Word, invites deep sharing, creates support and apostolic outreach. The first monthly meeting is at Mary Hansen's place in Bunyip on Saturday, March 03. The Family of God also meet monthly on the second Friday at 7.00 p.m., beginning on the February 09. Other Pallottine spirituality groups are starting up. The leaders are gathering new members. The Forest Hill Community at Claire's house begins weekly on Friday, February 09 at 1.00 p.m. The Sacro Ritiro Community begins weekly on Wednesday, Friday 14 at 11.00 a.m. The Mt Waverley Community also on Wednesday, February 14 at 2.00 p.m. The East Burwood Community meets at Willard and April's house on Thursday, February 15 at 7.30 p.m. The Pallottine Animation Community meets on the 3d Monday of the month, beginning Monday, February 19 at Syndal. Sharon Meagher leads "a Family Occasion with the Pallottines" on the first Sunday of the month from 12.00 - 1.00 at Syndal. |
"To Ev'rything There We are into the season of reconciliation. During and after the Olympic Games, thousands took part in the "Walk for Reconciliation." They walked over bridges in all major cities to symbolise the desire of the whole community to acknowledge and accept the rights and just demands of the Aboriginal people. The fields of white and brown hands after the marches were profound and powerful visual statements of concern. February 28 is Ash Wednesday. The ashes on our foreheads and the words in our ears "Repent and believe the Gospel" is also a visual statement of our desire to carry reconciliation forward. Not merely to do good, but to love our enemies and those who hate and hurt us. Lent is a new spring, a new start. It's possible only through Jesus who has removed the barriers between us, and whose arms stretched on the cross still embrace us. It saddens me how Christians can discard Jesus as past his use-by-date, when he is the heart and soul of our life and love. In this Lenten time, seize the opportunity to be reconciled, in order to experience the joy of the risen Jesus this Easter.
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reconciled to one another, says St Paul. May the Easter song, Alleluia, ring
loud in your life. God Bless You, Fr. Pat
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