Catholic Outlook September 2015

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NEWS & EVENTS Bicentenary of Don Bosco celebrations at St Marys Principal celebrant Fr Shane Reade SDB The bicentenary of the birth of St John Bosco, founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco, was celebrated at St Marys on the weekend of 15-16 August 2015. Our Lady of the Rosary Parish is in the pastoral care of the Salesians who also have an outreach to young people with the Don Bosco Youth Centre. Celebrations commenced on Saturday at Penrith local community centre where more than 280 people enjoyed a fantastic night. The young people from the parish and local schools preformed a program of dance, choirs, solo singing and gymnastic acts. Cutting the 200th birthday cake. On Sunday, the 10.30am Mass was celebrated in honour of Don Bosco with a Filipino youth choir. Fr Shane Reade SDB, rector, was the principal celebrant for the Mass, which was concelebrated by Fr Brendan Murphy, parish priest, Fr Guy Riolo SDB, assistant priest, Fr John Walenciej (youth centre co-director), Fr Chris Riley SDB (founder and director of Youth Off The Streets) with Br Thuy Nguyen SDB (youth centre assistant). A large number of Maltese, Filipino and South American past pupils of Our Lady of the Rosary Primary were present to share in this joyful occasion. After Mass, parishioners and young people continued the celebrations in the Don Bosco Youth Centre. The celebration commenced with prayer, acknowledgement of country led by Sr Louise Mc Keogh FMA and young people of the centre. Sr Jenny Doudle FMA gave a short talk on Don Bosco, which was followed by the cutting of the 200th birthday cake. Activities and entertainment included a dance by pupils from Our Lady of the Rosary Primary. Cultural dances were performed by the Samoan community, the Atafu Lotomau Tokelau and Kajo-Keji communities from South Sudan, and the Madi community. There were gymnastic and trampoline displays, circus and unicycle displays and face painting. There were pool and table tennis competitions. A live band was led by Br Jeff Miller SDB, Carlos Escobar and Malia. St John Bosco St John Bosco was born in 1815 in Becchi in northern Italy of a poor farming family. At the age of nine he had a dream where Our Lady appeared to him and told him that one day he would be a leader of boys if he remained humble, steadfast and strong. Overcoming tremendous obstacles and setbacks, Don Bosco was ordained a priest in 1841 and began his ministry among the street kids of Turin. Many of these boys had come from the countryside in search of work, and most of them had little or no family support. They were often the victims of unscrupulous employers and became involved in petty crime to survive. Don Bosco gathered these boys on Sundays for games, fun, education and evangelisation. In time, the numbers of boys grew and so did the need for Don Bosco to find more permanent places for them to gather. From the ‘Pinardi Shed’ in a rough area of Turin, an educational empire was born that has spread throughout the world and has ensured the continued holistic education of the young, especially those most in need. In 1856, Don Bosco founded the Salesian priests and brothers and in 1872, with St Mary Mazzarello, the Salesian Sisters to carry on his vital mission, using the spirituality of the Preventive System of Education, Reason, Religion and Loving Kindness. Don Bosco was often heard to say, “I would give my life for my boys”, and, “It is not enough to love the young, they must know that they are loved”. The Don Bosco Youth and Recreation Centre continues his legacy, providing the young with a place of fun and recreation where they feel loved and noticed. The loving gaze of Mary and Jesus the Good Shepherd reaches out to them and gives them hope and confidence for a bright future. May the Lord bless all who continue Don Bosco’s legacy of kindness and love to the young. Fr Shane Reade SDB and Sr Jenny Doudle FMA. Have you ever thought God might be calling you to the priesthood? ST PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL MASS TIMES AND REGULAR SERVICE Weekend Masses Saturday 8am, 9:30am (Mass in the Extraordinary Form – Latin), 6pm (Vigil) Sunday 8am, 9.30am (Family Mass), 11am (Solemn Mass), 6pm Weekday Masses Monday to Friday 6.45am,12.30pm Public Holidays 8am Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Monday to Friday 11.15am-12.20pm First Friday of the month 6pm-7pm Sacrament of Penance Weekdays 11.15am-12.20pm Saturdays 8.30am-9am, 5pm-5.30pm Vocation Discernment Afternoon Sunday 27 September 2015 All young men who feel God might be calling them to the priesthood are invited to the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta’s Vocation Discernment Afternoons. The afternoon starts at 2pm and concludes with a shared meal at 6pm. Venue: Holy Spirit Seminary, 31-33 Allen Street, Harris Park To find out more about priesthood in the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, contact: Fr Warren Edwards Director of Priestly Vocations tel 0409 172 700 email: vocations@parra.catholic.org.au visit: www.parra.catholic.org.au/vocations www.parra.catholic.org.au/holyspiritseminary Devotions Morning Prayer of the Church Monday to Friday 6.30am Saturday and Sunday 7.30am Angelus Monday to Friday noon Rosary Monday to Friday after Angelus at noon Canticle of Our Lady’s Marian Movement Friday 1pm Christian meditation Tuesday 9.30am-10.15am Baptism - Sunday 12.45pm by appointment Marriages - By appointment Contact the Parish Secretary tel (02) 8839 8400 or email 1 Marist Place, Parramatta 20 CatholicOutlook | SEPTEMBER 2015 www.parra.catholic.org.au @parracatholic facebook.com/parracatholic
Conference to focus on domestic violence and human trafficking By Elizabeth McFarlane NEWS & EVENTS Mark Gronow, with his academic supervisor Assoc Prof Joanne Mulligan and Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP at the presentation of the 2014 Br John Taylor Fellowship. Prize aims to lift numbers studying mathematics For Mark Gronow, the goal of having more students studying, and enjoying, mathematics is something of a personal mission. A teacher for more than 30 years, Mark said mathematics ‘has had a bad rap for too long’ - and he is determined to change that. “The number of students studying higher level maths at school and university has been falling. “As a nation, we are heading towards a shortage of skilled maths teachers in our schools, and that’s something that is troubling schools, government and business.” Mark said the problem was rote learning and the teaching procedures used to prepare students to pass exams. “The research is in and this is why most people hate mathematics.” In 2014, Mark applied to Macquarie University to begin a PhD in mathematics education, and thus began his journey to study how maths teaching and learning could be improved. It also motivated him to apply for the Brother John Taylor Fellowship, an annual prize offered by the Catholic Education Commission NSW (CECNSW), to support his research. “The fellowship has been a lifechanging experience,” he said. “It’s enabled me to attend national and international mathematics and teaching conferences in the US and the UK.” In April, Mark attended the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Annual Conference and Research Symposium in Boston. “It was incredible – 10,000 maths teachers in one arena, hearing about new research and insights into teaching mathematics. I visited Boston College, a Jesuit University, to meet with mathematics research academics.” Mark also attended the Mathematics Educational Research Group of Australia in Queensland and has travelled to the UK to attend two workshops – one at Oxford University. He is now working with a mentor to finalise his research and publish it for the teaching profession. “The opportunity to travel and attend conferences and workshops and to meet leaders in the field of my research has been an opportunity that could only have happened through this fellowship. “I encourage anybody involved in Catholic education who is passionate about teaching and how it can improve young lives to apply for the 2015 fellowship.” CECNSW’s Executive Director, Dr Brian Croke, said the fellowship provided up to $25,000 in travel and accommodation to an applicant involved in Catholic school education, as an employee in schools or associated bodies, to research a challenge or priority in Catholic school education. “We want to build a body of research that helps the teaching profession address current priorities or challenges in Catholic schools,” Dr Croke said. The award honours John Taylor, a Christian Brother, who made his mark on NSW education over three decades as a teacher, principal and Executive Director of CECNSW. Applications for the 2015 Bro John Taylor Fellowship must be submitted by 30 September using the electronic form at www.cecnsw.catholic.edu.au Domestic violence and human trafficking will be under the spotlight at a national gathering of Catholic women in Parramatta this month. About one in five Australian women has experienced violence at the hands of an intimate partner (ABS, 2013) and the global problem of human trafficking is also occurring in Australia. The Catholic Women’s League Australia Inc. will hold its 47th National Biennial Conference from 22-24 September at the Novotel Parramatta. The CWLA strives to be a ‘voice for the voiceless’ and at national, state and local levels, speaks out about issues such as violence against women and children, human trafficking, adoption, poverty, gambling, prostitution, and pornography. This month’s conference will focus on domestic violence and human trafficking and the need for greater education, strategies to overcome abuse and a renewal of hope around these issues. Gladys Meaney-Budd, a representative from the CWL in Parramatta, supports the belief that education is at the heart of positive change. “We are going to address this sad situation in our society by learning more of how we can support the victims of these crimes,” Gladys said. “Our education will be further enhanced. We will have more information and strategies to combat these evils in our society, remembering the words of the Holy Father, ‘Open our ears to hear God’s word.’” Domestic violence can have dire consequences on the family unit. The World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations (WUCWO) has launched a ‘campaign for the enhancement of the family’ to address these impacts. Gladys said domestic violence cannot be tolerated if a family is to live a normal life. “There has to be tolerance and understanding, and when this is not there, a family is always in disarray,” she said. “Domestic violence is not always physical. Many times, one member can be controlling and lack any understanding of Gladys Meaney-Budd, a member of the CWL Diocese of Parramatta. the damage being done.” Pru Goward MP, State Minister for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, will be a keynote speaker. “It is a great privilege to have Pru Goward with us on this occasion, and it is hoped in her address she will be able to give hope and perhaps some solace where that need exists,” Gladys said. Sr Hilda Scott OSB, a Benedictine Sister from the monastery at Jamberoo, will also speak at the conference. Other speakers include: Pat McDermott, Australian Women’s Weekly columnist of more than 30 years; Jennifer Burn from the Faculty of Law University of Technology; and Ken Smith OAM, historian from the Parramatta Historical Society. Jennifer Burn, director of Anti-Slavery Australia, will speak about human trafficking in Australia. The ‘Child not Bride’ campaign was launched in February this year and both Jennifer Burn and Pru Goward spoke, focusing on young women and community leaders from multicultural communities. This campaign has been supported by fact sheets translated into Arabic, Farsi, Urdu, Nepalese and Hindi. “This signifies the spread and range of growth in the community in general and the Parramatta area in particular in recent years,” Gladys said. Both women and men are welcome to attend the conference. “We would encourage anyone to attend, especially those interested in, and wanting to learn more about, the issues,” Gladys said. The Opening Mass of the Conference will be celebrated at 6pm in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Tuesday 22 September. Light refreshments will be served in the Cathedral Hall afterwards. For more information about the conference, please visit: www.cwla.org.au To register tel Pauline O’Malley (02) 4358 1801, treasurer@cwla.org.au Allan Drew OAM, JP Supporting families in a time of need is what Allan from Allan Drew Funerals has done best for more than 25 years. Tel (02) 9680 1344 allandrewfunerals.com.au www.parra.catholic.org.au @parracatholic facebook.com/parracatholic CatholicOutlook | SEPTEMBER 2015 21
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Catholic Outlook September 2015

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