Reconciliation Action Plan

Sanctity of Life Sunday

Cyling Without Aging, Yeppoon

Seeing trishaws ferrying the elderly and those with mobility issues around their home city of Copenhagen inspired Mary O’Donnell of Yeppoon to bring this amazing service to Yeppoon. This world-wide organisation, Cycling Without Age, is in 42 countries and provides the opportunity for seniors and the mobility challenged to connect with volunteer riders and others while they enjoy a free trishaw ride in their local area.  Through this unique program volunteers give of their time to connect meaningfully with seniors in the community and listen to their unique, and often untold, life stories.  It also provides the opportunity to reach out to others, help counteract loneliness and isolation and make new friendships. These connections can bring great joy to the volunteers as well as to the passengers, taking time to slow down, enjoy intergenerational company, and share in the beauty of the outdoors together.  

This is now about to happen in Yeppoon.  In early October, Cycling Without Age Yeppoon will be launched.  Volunteers have been trained, safe routes along our beautiful foreshore have been accessed and trialed, procedures for the COVID safe ride are now in place. 

The response from the wider community to this venture has been amazing.  Requests for help have been met with so much enthusiasm.  The generous help from the people of the coast are so numerous and some special mentions must be made.  Vinnies and the Iwasaki Foundation helped get this venture on wheels and rolling.  Vinnies, Yeppoon, supported by the Regional and Diocesan Councils loved this unique approach to spreading kindness and provided backing for a grant application to the Iwasaki Foundation.  The grant was successful with the Iwasaki Foundation generously financing two bikes. Members of the local Vinnies conference have continued to support the project wherever needed, along with the dedicated foundation committee, CWA Yeppoon.  Special mention must also be made of the PCYC which has provided, free of charge, safe storage for the bikes on their facility near Lammermoor Beach.  

The opportunity to contribute to ‘pay it forward’ coffee for seniors at coffee shops along the way, is planned, with plenty of support from local businesses and from the Livingstone Shire Council.

We look forward to the ‘Covid compliant’ launch of our first trishaw on October 11^th, with a second arriving before the end of the year.

Two Ways your Cathedral is Changing

Works are being undertaken both inside and outside of the Cathedral to improve and restore aspects of this grand building and its surrounds. 

The Cathedral Parish of St Joseph has partnered with The Cathedral College and The Catholic Diocese of Rockhampton to begin major refurbishment works on the Cathedral Close. These works aim to improve the safety and accessibility of this area as over time the pavers have become very run down and, in some areas, unsafe. Plans show that the work is anticipated to be completed by December. Unfortunately, this means for the next few months the absence of the Cathedral Close may lead to congestion and fewer parking spaces. However, these works are absolutely necessary to ensure parishioner safety.

Meanwhile on the inside of the Cathedral, local experts in statue and painting refurbishment are receiving invaluable knowledge about how to maintain and repair the beautiful Stations of the Cross that line the walls of the Cathedral. The Stations of the Cross were procured from Europe toward the end of 1903 by Bishop Higgins, during his visit there. They were introduced to the Cathedral in September, 1904. With the knowledge provided by the course, The Cathedral Parish of St Joseph can be self-sufficient in caring for these century-old examples of fantastic craftsmanship.

The routine of coming to mass at the Cathedral each weekend has begun to reemerge after a lengthy hiatus due to COVID-19. However, what you may be missing each time you visit the Cathedral is the incredible blooming gardens right next door...

Grounds Staff Cliff and Debbie Broom are always working hard to maintain the pristine surrounds of the Cathedral and this year have gone one step further with their work on the Cathedral Office Garden. Teeming with a beautiful and diverse range of flowering plants, the gardens are a sight to behold at this time of year.

With positive comments on the beautiful display flowing in, we encourage parishioners not to miss this opportunity to experience these gardens personally.

COVID 19 - what it has meant to us

COVID 19… 

The basic need to care and be cared for became centre stage in our daily lives, due to COVID 19. We became caring people in a way never seen before. Prayer brigades were organised to give hope and instil faith. The ‘New Normal’ became our goal. As places of worship reopened, though in limited attendance for now, we have returned with renewed confidence and stronger faith; we found solace in praying for a cure and hoping that the ‘new normal’ is close at hand.

Gary and Gaby Nagel

COVID 19 has a great effect on me, on how precious life is. It has enhanced my ability to be more considerate, forgiving and last but not least, prayerful through our lives.

Doris Sonntag 

I have grown spiritually and it made me appreciate the gift and value of life. I find myself listening more to what the other person has to say, making our conversation more meaningful and fruitful. I admit I had previously taken for granted my involvement in religious devotion, but now that I am participating in community Rosary, my faith has grown and I have developed a sense of belonging with this people.

COVID 19 has also brought my family closer and we become aware of each other’s perception about spirituality.

Loreen Kaseke

COVID 19 has awakened and strengthened our love for our family.  We are now taking the time to reach out to one another in every opportunity we have, and as parents, there is nothing in our minds but to protect our children from the effects of COVID 19. Praying the Rosary as a group has brought a new spirit of solidarity among friends and members of our families. Faith sharing is indeed a source of assurance of hope, of mercy and blessings.

Joey Mora

Our devotion to the Lord has not faltered in the face of the challenges brought by COVID 19. We continue to pray to keep us safe. We also pray for our families who are not with us in Australia, and we thank God that we are totally looked after here by the authorities.

John Franco

Mercy Associates Raffle a huge success!

Last week, after months of frantic ticket sales, seven lucky winners were drawn and walked away with prizes ranging from a patchwork quilt to food and wine vouchers. However, every ticket holder can feel like a winner now that the total money raised by the raffle has been revealed. 

To the amazement of raffle organisers, the Mercy Associates Raffle raised a whopping $3,020.00 for Mercy Works, a development arm of the Sisters of Mercy who work with challenged communities in Papua New Guinea, Timor-Leste and Australia to promote justice and self-reliance. 

The Mercy Associates Executive passed on their sincere thanks to everyone involved in donating and fundraising for the 2020 edition of this raffle and look forward to similar fundraising efforts in the future.

Children's Choir in Rolleston

Amongst all the Catholic communities served in the Central Highlands, Rolleston is considered a small community. Located 120kms from Emerald, Frs Truc and Yon really enjoy driving and visiting Rolleston every month. Despite the small number who attend mass, they are grateful for the spirit of the community, who faithfully come and participate in Eucharistic celebrations. They are also grateful to have many children attending, with their parents. Amazingly, not only attending, the children take on the readings, prayers of the faithful and the offertory at every single mass. Lately, Fr Yon has been encouraging the children to sing and form a choir and the children just love it.  It’s great to see the young children very involved during mass.  

St Brigid’s School Fundraiser

Recently St Brigid’s held a Crazy Hair Day fundraiser. This is the second time this year St Brigid’s have donated monies raised to St Patrick’s Church.

Fr Yon, School Leaders, Ella and Eliza, with APRE Meaghan

Art Show by OLSH Catholic Primary School, Emerald

Kindness, bushfires, the environment and beach holidays were just some of the depictions featured in this year’s Art Show by students and teachers at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School exhibited at the Springsure Art Gallery during August.

The week-long exhibition drew great interest from the community comprising over 100 artworks with every student at the school from Kindergarten to Year 6 submitting several pieces.

OLSH Kindergarten students created The Kindness Quilt after reading a book of the same name by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace.

The quilt featured hand-drawn pictures on calico squares depicting students carrying out acts of kindness. The squares were then incorporated into a quilt.

“The quilt was a great centrepiece for the exhibition, and we plan to auction it along with the other whole class works as a school fundraiser by way of a silent auction later in the term,” OLSH Principal, Peter Smith, said.

“Usually we would have the auction as part of our Gala Opening Evening where we celebrate with families and the local community, but due to COVID restrictions this year, we were unable to stage that event,” Mr Smith said.

“The works include structural art pieces, drawings, paintings, collages and encompass many facets of artistic style,” Mr Smith said.

“We place a great emphasis on cultural activities and the Arts and this annual exhibition showcases the enormous amount of talent we have in our students as well as the professionalism and dedication of our teachers in assisting our students to produce such marvellous works,” he said.

Life in the parish continues to move at a steady pace. The limitations brought about by Covid-19 are being managed and as the saying goes, “there’s always a way around things”. We’ve adapted to online Mass reservations, phone bookings, signing in, sanitising and keeping our distance.

Two of our priests have really been keeping their distances! Fr Gasper has returned from his driving holiday to the tropical north of the state. His presence was missed but he earned a well-deserved, belated, rest from parish responsibilities. Fr Peter, sadly, is in Perth to celebrate with his family the life of his beloved mother, Coralie, who died just short of her 100^th birthday. He comes out of isolation to offer the Requiem Mass for Coralie then begins his annual leave, some of which will be spent in isolation at the end.

The Summit

On Saturday, 29^th August, the Parish Planning Group hosted the first of possibly four Summits on the revitalisation of our parish. For over 12 months the group has met to discuss the question: where do we want our parish to be in 5 years’ time? Who will lead us? What will it look like? They outsourced the assistance of a trained facilitator, Mr Craig Farmer (Sydney), who led them through information-gathering sessions, questionnaires, discussions with key stake-holders to the first Summit to which all parishioners were invited to attend. Their input was needed.

• What is our Biblical Purpose Statement for the future? Following the assistance of our parishioners who attended, this was agreed to by the PPG, as a starting point, for WHO WE ARE as a parish: “To live and love as a community of disciples of Christ, joyfully bringing the kingdom of God to all.”
• What are the Key Values for our Church in the Future? Five key values were noted: Christ-centred; a welcoming community of love; Serving our community through Stewardship; Growing in Faith, Prayer and Eucharist; Innovatively inclusive and outward focused.
• Where to from here? Our Parish Planning Group members will meet with small groups of both connected and disconnected people in our parish to listen to their responses to our proposals. All parishioners will be invited to THE SUMMIT 2, tentatively scheduled for Saturday, 7th November, only if our borders are opened to allow Craig Farmer to lead this summit in person.

New Look for St Patrick's Church

Beautification of the grounds of St Patrick’s Church are continuing. After a thorough external and internal cleaning of the church before its reopening in August, the front entrance has been given a face-lift. New garden beds, seating, and shade cover now make for a welcoming gathering place to the church.

Anne Sheehan

Covid Plus+

Covid Plus+ is the new term. Everything seems to be on hold or changed significantly due to Covid so rather than focussing on what we cannot be doing, we decided to focus on what we can, thus Covid plus (+) was born. The most rewarding outcomes of Covid for our parish has been a time to think about things and a chance to pray more. As we reflect, we recognise what we have been doing well as a parish and what we could also be doing. Being led by the spirit, this “down time” has provided an opportunity to open our hearts to what God is calling our parish to maintain and also become.

One of our continued ministries – children’s liturgy via YouTube

Star of the Sea Feast Day – 12^th September 2020

Our parish celebrated our Feast day with a special mass on Saturday 12^th. Fr Simeon organised a cake to be celebrated with representatives who highlighted the differing parts of our parish: the young, the old, and the various ministries. Whilst the year hasn’t allowed for a bigger celebration, Our Lady, Star of the Sea still holds a special place in our hearts.

APRE Thoughts 

We have been blessed to hear the thoughts of our local Assistant Principal – Religious Education in our three Catholic primary schools. Each month on our parish Facebook page we have shared brief stories of our APREs’ thoughts on faith and life.

CCRDFV – by Annette Rowe

Every year the Coordinated Community Response to Domestic and Family Violence [CCRDFV] in Gladstone, invite the community to attend a gathering to acknowledge those who have lost their lives through Domestic and Family Violence, and to show their support to family and friends.

This year, they were not able to gather as they usually did due to COVID-19, so instead they invited us to show our support by having our photo taken at the Avenue of Peace [Friend Park, Barney Point] on Tuesday 5^th May.  The photos were then combined into a video that was shared via the CCRDFV’s social and electronic media on 6^th May, when the Gladstone Community would usually have gathered together. The link below shows that video:

Women helping women grow

A steering committee has been appointed to facilitate the beginning of a Gladstone Catholic women’s group. Its aim is as the heading says, women helping women grow. After the next few weekends of informing parishioners and obtaining interested contacts, the steering committee will meet to set up the first event for the women’s group. It is open to single women, married mothers and grandmothers alike. Watch this space!!

Holy Spirit College Mackay – Backpacks for the Homeless

Students at Holy Spirit College, Mackay, have been fundraising to support their ‘Backpacks for the Homeless’ Initiative. The Christian Leadership Group have been busy fundraising in order to purchase backpacks filled with useful items for the homeless in Mackay.

Lesley Fraser, Assistant Principal (Mission) said “After attending the St Vincent de Paul Virtual Sleepout recently, the Christian Leadership Group were inspired to do something for the homeless in the Mackay community. Students organised a Sausage Sizzle / Free Dress Day at the college and the Student Representative Council members joined with them to make this fundraising effort a success.”

Men's Dinner Return!

Kevin Casey, Terry Doolan (Guest Speaker), Barry Sheedy

The Mackay Catholic Mens Dinner Club had a most enjoyable night on Monday 31^st August, our first dinner since Covid restrictions. 30 men caught up with one another, and also enjoyed the talk by guest speaker Terry Doolan, Board Chairman Harrup Park Country Club. After the talk Terry donated two books about Harrup Park. These books were auctioned off, Mike Newbury the auctioneer was able to sell them for a good return, which will eventually go to a worthy cause.

At our September dinner the guest speaker will be Father William Busuttin (Retired) and for October when ladies are invited, the guest speaker will be Anne Crowley, Facility Manager Oz Care, West Mackay. The dinner club meets on the last Monday of the month. Guests and new members are always welcome.

Below is a condensed version of Terry Doolan's speech:-

“HARRUP PARK COUNTRY CLUB – its beginning and where it is today."

In 1940 Harrup Park land was purchased by the Mackay Cricket Association Committee under the guidance of Toss Harrup and Ray Mitchell. Today the club is still owned and operated by Mackay Cricket Association with around 56 affiliated sporting clubs using Harrup Park as their home base.

2020 has been a very challenging year in many ways, still in other ways it is very much a successful year than others. For the first time in the history of the club we were forced to shut our doors due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Although this was an extremely trying time for our staff, sporting partners, 20,000+ members and the community at large, we were thankful for all the support we received from our volunteers, members, and guests. Whilst closed for almost three months, we strived to stay in contact with many of our members via social media, phone calls and care packages delivered direct to the doorsteps of our most at risk and in need members, delivering over 450 complimentary dinners and care packages in this period.

The next project being progressed is THE GREAT BARRIER REEF ARENA and EVENTS PRECINCT which focuses on player spectator and broadcast facilities.  This project has received $10 million from the Federal Government and are looking for more support from the State Government. Our support of community groups, sport, local services and charities remains at the very core of our business, and I am delighted to report that we provided support to the value of $1,653,990.

The success we continue to achieve is made possible by the foresight and passion of our Board, our executive team and our staff. We continue to boast a highly motivated workforce and together, with the direction of our management team, we are ready to take Great Barrier Reef Arena, Harrup Park and Mackay Cricket into the next year.”

Builder announced for the new Catholic College Mackay

Pictured from left Catholic education Director, Leesa Jeffcoat AM; Berenice and Peter Wright; the Hon Grace Grace, Minister for Education and Minister for Industrial Relations In and Stewart Bagley, Architect / Director Bold Architects Mackay.

Woollam Construction have successfully tendered to complete Stage 1 building works at Mackay’s new Catholic Secondary school on Nebo Road, Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton announced today. 

The company took possession of Mackay’s iconic Sugar Research Institute site on Monday 21 September with Stage 1 of the college due for completion in readiness for the first cohort of students to commence the 2022 school year. 

The extensive project includes refurbishment and repurposing of existing buildings and surrounds, including heritage listed areas, as well as construction of new classrooms, science block, covered areas and amenities, canteen, carparks and associated access and road works. 

Catholic Education Diocesan Director Leesa Jeffcoat said after months of research, planning and preparation it was exciting to see the project start to be realised. 

“In this year of such upheaval and uncertainty, it is very pleasing to have building commence on the new college, signifying Catholic Education’s ongoing commitment to serving families in the Mackay region,” Miss Jeffcoat said. 

“We are excited to partner with Woollam Construction, a highly respected family owned Queensland company who have been operating in Mackay since 1958,” Miss Jeffcoat said. 

“We are supremely confident in Woollam’s expertise and capability particularly in regard to working with buildings and surrounds of such historical significance,” Miss Jeffcoat said. 

Local architect Stewart Bagley (Architect / Director, Bold Architects Mackay) provided designs for the new school which incorporate links to the historical use of the site. 

“In Stewart’s designs, so creatively and sensitively produced, it is clear to see the links to the Sugar Research Institute Building being reflected and maintained. 

“The people who worked here for so many years with such commitment and dedication and the community that benefited from their work deserve for that link to the past to be captured and enshrined in the college that will stand here into the future,” Miss Jeffcoat said. 

The designs include upgrading one of the original first floor laboratories in the iconic Karl Langer building to be retained for continued use as a science lab at the new college. 

The proposed masterplan for the college will see construction over four stages as enrolment demand is realised with the college catering for Year 7 in 2022 and progressively increasing year levels to cater for Years 7 to 12 in 2027. 

“The new secondary school will significantly complement the existing options for families who choose a Catholic Education for their children and its construction is a positive response to the growing demand for Catholic schooling and the ongoing development of the Mackay region,” Miss Jeffcoat said.

Father’s Day in September brought the North Rockhampton Catholic Community together as we remembered Dad’s, Grandad’s, Pop’s, Pa’s & father figures in our lives.  We love and thank them, we prayed for them and the school children provided a small gift as a thank you for all they have done for us over the years and in our daily lives.

All parishioners are now used to the new normal of COVID contact tracing, booking for Mass and cleaning after Mass.   A special thanks to our Parishioners who happily grab a mask, gloves, and spray bottle to ensure the churches provide a healthy environment for everyone to return to Mass.

Baptisms are also making a return to our churches.  Multiple Baptisms are a regular feature on the church calendar as families catch up after a number of postponements during the church closures.  At this stage, the Baptisms have been conducted at Holy Family due to the larger church size, which allows more family and friends to attend, while still maintaining social distancing and number restrictions.

The school children are currently on holidays.  The school Masses at Holy Family on Tuesdays, St Mary’s on Wednesday and Our Lady Help of Christians on Friday have recommenced, we invite all parishioners to join with the children to celebrate Mass.  To ensure we maintain our numbers please register with our Parish Office .

Whilst numbers returning to our churches is still restricted, Mass attendance is steadily building.  We encourage everyone to either book online or contact our church office to make a booking for Mass at any of our Parish churches.

Trish Jones

Seeing God throught the Lens by Sr Cecilia Prest, mfic.

I suppose I’ve dabbled in photography since I was a teenager but didn’t get serious about it until I was missioned to PNG and needed to do some fundraising to keep our rural health service going. I took dozens of slides while going out on patrol to the villages up and down our mountain parish to immunize the children and do antenatal checks and also around our little hospital where we treated so many conditions you would rarely come across in Australia. Severely malnourished babies; leprosy; TB; large tropical ulcers; patients with epilepsy who had fallen into their cooking fires and been badly burnt and infected; little children covered in scabies from head to toe… I would show the slides to our benefactors and give talks on our ministries anytime I was on home leave. I quickly learnt that a good picture is more effective than a thousand words!

Many years later I was given a little video camera and shot some videos instead which was much easier than slotting individual slides into a projector cassette and getting them either up-side-down or back-to-front!

I used to use auto settings all the time as I didn’t really understand the workings of the camera. PNG was a photographer’s paradise but as film rolls and their development were quite expensive we didn’t have the luxury of taking as many photos as we can today.

When I came to Woorabinda in 2003 I was given a second-hand digital camera just days before a busload of us went on pilgrimage to Alice Springs. I was ecstatic! I spent hours on the three-day bus journey getting acquainted with the camera and “shot” everything in sight. I was fascinated by this wonderful digital technology and the images the little camera could produce. Today I wonder how I was able to see anything on the tiny LCD screen on that early digital camera!

I became very interested in the birdlife all around me at about the same time and used to photograph the birds and then identify them in my bird books when I got home. I joined Birdlife Aust. and Birdlife Capricornia so I could learn more about our birds and take part in monthly bird counts.

I did a few photography classes in Rocky but didn’t find what I needed. However, they did make me start using manual settings on my camera and I haven’t moved off them since! I wanted to be able to create images that would make viewers think about the environment around them and to see the beauty that is often hidden in plain sight. Some of the tiniest wildflowers and even the flowering “weeds” are simply magnificent when seen up close, but unless we stop and look we walk past and miss the moment.

I would rarely take a photo which turned out just the way I wanted it – not a “snapshot” but a creation; an image to take the viewer into the world I see where we are all related in the web of life. I wanted to be able to capture images which showed the beauty of God reflected all around us and in the very heart of creation; images which would raise awareness of the many “God moments” in our lives.

I love this quote from Teilhard de Chardin who had such a profound sense of the interconnectedness and scaredness of life:

“To live the cosmic life is to live dominated by the consciousness that one is an atom in the body of the mystical and cosmic Christ.” (From “Writings in the Time of War,” 70.)

I started reading articles online to learn more about the art of photography and took thousands of photos, deleting most of them, but learning from them and finding what it was I wanted to capture and gradually began to take photos which I was happy with. There is such a joy in taking a really good photo where everything comes together - the right light, most effective camera settings, a lovely subject and some plain auld good luck!

I find bird photography very rewarding. When I need some “R & R” I like to sit or stand quietly in the garden or the bush and let the birds feel safe with my presence. I set up the camera beforehand so I am ready for any quick shot. Sometimes the smaller ones fly right up to my face to check me out which always makes me laugh. They are cute and cheeky at the same time. I live in the moment at those times which are almost contemplative and sacred. I find I learn so much by observing the birds and other creatures and notice them more in my environment.

Since taking up photography more seriously I “see” photos everywhere. I like to paint, but photography is quicker for me, so now I “paint with my camera.”

For more photos see https://www.flickr.com/photos/156079728@N08/

I leave you with a lovely poem by Sr. Nellie Mclaughlin RSM  (“Out of Wonder” 233) which expresses so beautifully our oneness with creation.          

“…and as I listened I could faintly hear
the heart beat of millions of creatures, echoes of the divine,
over billions of years in tune with mine
drawing closer, closer, like violin music straining in crescendo
    edging higher and higher’
My heart quickened in awe, overwhelmed
Where have I been until now?
Shall I miss this moment too, all billions of years of it?
Perchance, I’ll wake outright to witness
solid rock masses extend soft, wide arms
in communion invitation to our multi-specied neighbourhood
and behold with ever-widening eyes, blinking in disbelief,
all manner of creature emerge
from tombs of alienation-silenced and solidified-in human hearts
slowly, reverently, embracing and joyfully proclaiming WE ARE ONE!
Hereafter, shall I nestle more securely in the lap of Mother Earth, as of
old intuitively,
now with the universe intimate way of knowing, heart beat to heart beat.”

The highs of August have carried into the month of September here at the Seminary. One major highlight from last month was of course Fr John Grace’s 50^th Anniversary celebration. Several feast days of personal importance also fell in the month – Mary MacKillop, the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Clare of Assisi, and Bernard of Clairvaux, to name just a few. September is the month of Our Lady’s Sorrows, which I am taking time to meditate on every Tuesday.

The seminary community is reading Saint Bernard’s On Loving God this semester, as the most recent instalment in Fr Paul’s Spiritual Classics course. Each semester, Fr Paul, our Seminary Spiritual Director, chooses a text for us to read and discuss. These texts usually alternate between ancient and modern. In previous years, we have read Julian of Norwich, Dorothy Day, Gregory of Nyssa, Annie Dillard, Athanasius’ life of St Antony, Ralph Martin, and others. In becoming accustomed to the thought of these saintly figures, we hope to stand on the shoulders of giants with those we will one day serve as Presbyters, as we think on the mysteries of life and love and God and why.

Another highlight was an intensive for some students taught by Fr Andrew Chase. I was not part of this class, but it is always a pleasure to catch up with Fr Andrew, and it was good to see Mick Otto as well who was among the students over the weekend.

Ashwin interviewing Fr Paul Chandler O'Carm for Episode 3 of Co-Constructing Theology

My own cohort are busy writing our masters theses. I have decided to write on the development of the theologies of the Cross. What inspired this? Several things, Saints Clare of Assisi and Thomas Aquinas had a lot to do with it. Here are two short excerpts from their writings:

Jesus “is the brightness of eternal glory, the splendour of eternal light, the mirror without spot. Look into that mirror daily… and ever study therein your countenance, that within and without you may adorn yourself with all manner of virtues; in that mirror are reflected poverty, holy humility and ineffable charity, as, with the grace of God, you may perceive. Gaze… consider… look… contemplate… this mirror, Christ himself, fixed upon the wood of the cross…” (A letter of Saint Clare to Blessed Agnes of Prague)

“Why did the Son of God have to suffer…? As a remedy for sin, [but also] as an example of how to act; if you seek the example of love; if you seek patience; if you seek an example of humility; of obedience; of despising earthly things… Whoever wishes to live perfectly should do nothing but disdain what Christ disdained on the cross and desire what Christ desired, for the cross exemplifies ever virtue.” (From a conference by Thomas Aquinas, on the Cross).

Both of these writings in particular inspired me to undertake the question, why glory in the Cross? This assertion is the motto which Bishop Michael took when he was consecrated the tenth Bishop of Rockhampton Diocese – Gloriari in Cruces (Glory in the Cross). I will spend of the rest of the year trying to answer this question. Pray for me!

Ashwin Archaya

Major capital works completed at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Wandal were officially opened on the 14th September during a special ceremony to celebrate the significant occasion.

Member for Capricornia Hon Michelle Landry together with Director of Catholic Education, Diocese of Rockhampton, Leesa Jeffcoat AM officially opened the $2.44 million project consisting of new administration areas, classrooms and associated works.

Miss Jeffcoat said Catholic Education was very pleased to be able to deliver the upgrades to the St Joseph’s school community, with works designed and built by local companies Tony Madden Architects and Interiors and BT Builders respectively.

“I am delighted that Catholic Education in partnership with the Federal and State Governments have been able to provide these new facilities for the vibrant and dynamic learning community at St Joseph’s,” Miss Jeffcoat said.

Miss Jeffcoat said Catholic Education was very appreciative of government-funded assistance, including federal funding of $2.1 million and a state government grant of $38,000.

St Joseph’s Principal Mrs Kellie Jenkinson said the whole school community had been thrilled with the final project and facilities were being fully utilised.

“All of us at St Joseph’s feel very fortunate to have the use of the new classrooms and facilities and we are utilising all spaces to their fullest potential, which has certainly enhanced and complemented the learning environment here,” Mrs Jenkinson said.

Opened in 1912 by the Sisters of St Joseph, the school has continued to thrive and grow, according to Mrs Jenkinson.

“Our enrolments have doubled in recent years and our new facilities very much demonstrate our continued commitment to serving the Wandal community and offering families a quality choice for their children’s faith-based education,” Mrs Jenkinson said.

A highlight of Catholic Education Week each year is the presentation of The Spirit of Catholic Education Awards.

These Awards were initiated by the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) in 2006 to recognise staff members, parents and carers or volunteers making outstanding contributions to the life of a Catholic school community or other Catholic education authority.

A record number of 215 nominations were received for this year’s Awards from across Queensland representing all Catholic Education communities.

Regretfully due to COVID-19 restrictions, there was no official launch event to mark Catholic Education Week 2020 and consequently local arrangements have been made with Diocesan Catholic Education Offices and schools to make these presentations at a suitable time in the future.

The Award recipients and Award nominees very much embody the spirit of all the dedicated and caring people who work in the Ministry of Catholic Education and who are committed to supporting the students in our schools grow in faith and knowledge and to develop the skills that will stand them in good stead on their life’s journey. 

Rockhampton Diocesan Director of Catholic Education, Leesa Jeffcoat said the COVID-19 Pandemic had caused disruption and dislocation for our school communities in 2020 and this had created some anxiety, difficulty and challenge for students, parents, principals, teachers, support staff and all in our Catholic Education family.

“However, I was proud to witness the collegiality, professionalism, commitment and extraordinary skills of so many gifted educators who worked magnificently, in partnership with parents and students, to plan and prepare the resources for the shift to online teaching and learning and then back again to school based learning. The spirit of Catholic Education in the Diocese of Rockhampton was very much on display for all to see during some very trying and challenging times” Miss Jeffcoat said.     

This year Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton is very pleased to announce that our Diocesan Spirit of Catholic Education Award State Recipient is Pauline Merefield from St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School Bundaberg.   

Pauline has been a very active member of St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Bundaberg and the Holy Rosary Parish Communities for more than 30 years. Pauline has been an active member of St Joseph's School community since her children started Preschool in 1991 and has been a Volunteer Catechist teaching Religion in State Schools for 33 years with 25 years as Chairperson of the local Catechist group. 

As a Specialist Science Teacher at Catholic schools in Bundaberg, Pauline has facilitated enrichment days for all year levels and organised regular intensive days for Science investigation. She has been Coordinator of OPTIMINDS teams to local, state and national titles for over 25years. 

Pauline is very much the champion of the school’s environmental projects and established a corridor of endangered Woongarra Scrub that Year 4 and 5 students contribute to and maintain every year. This project has been operating for 12 years. Pauline coordinates and takes students on regular Science excursions to learn about the rock pools and endangered Loggerhead turtles at Mon Repos; coastal habitats at Elliott Heads; and wetland ecosystems at Baldwin Swamp. 

Pauline demonstrates the very essence of the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards, not only through her educational achievements but also through her active and highly valued involvement in both the Bundaberg Parish and the wider community. 

When asked about her award, Pauline said, “it came as quite a surprise and is very humbling, but this is a team effort, as St Joseph’s school is very supportive enabling me to do the things I do, particularly around the environment. Church and faith are a big part of my life and have certainly influenced the way I look at life and my ministry across both school and parish. Service and Mission are the foundations of this faith that I live by.”  

Catholic Education – Diocese of Rockhampton is also very pleased to announce that Brad Jarro, Indigenous Education Coordinator; Phillippa Johnson, Indigenous Education Support Officer and Shelley Major, Indigenous Career and Transition Pathways Officer, who combine to form the Indigenous Education Team at the Catholic Education Office, Rockhampton are one of two State Recipients of this year’s Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Award. 

The Aunty Joan Hendriks Reconciliation Award commenced in 2012 and is named in honour of Aunty Joan Hendriks. Aunty Joan was a revered Ngugi woman from Moreton Island, an Aboriginal elder and educator who had a deep commitment to her culture, to promoting reconciliation and who was very much a guiding light in understanding Aboriginal Creation spirituality and Christian faith.  Aunty Joan passed away in January 2020. 

The Indigenous Education Team at the Catholic Education Office - Diocese of Rockhampton, is committed to ensuring strong educational outcomes for every Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student and to fostering a widespread appreciation and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and spiritualities. Brad Jarro, Phillippa Johnson and Shelley Major work together tirelessly to achieve these goals and several initiatives stand out as examples of their impact.

They have developed the Indigenous Education Growth and Development Tool which schools use to promote insightful and honest reflection about ways of working toward true reconciliation and deep respect. The team also works in supporting senior students to complete their education and recent graduates to move successfully into training, full-time employment or further study. Their commitment, in collaboration with students, families and school staff, is a key part of ensuring success for students. They also provide close support for the broader Indigenous Education Support Team, which includes Regional Liaison Officers, School-based Liaison Officers and Teacher Assistants who have been specifically engaged to support and extend Indigenous students. 

Speaking on behalf of the team, Phillippa Johnson said that, “we were very humbled by this Award and we have a fantastic team that make us look good! We love what we do, and we never forget where we come from and why we do what we do.” 

Phillippa added “We receive this honour in Aunty Joan’s name who we remember as a dedicated, educated, dynamic woman whose love for person and her people was second to none and we hope we live up to her spirit.”   

The model that Brad, Phillippa and Shelley set for all colleagues fosters hope and deep respect. They build knowledge and understanding with integrity and love and help all become the best versions of themselves.

Rockhampton Diocesan Director, Leesa Jeffcoat said that Catholic Education congratulates all who were nominated for a Spirit of Catholic Education Award this year.

 “I extend to them and to all who partner with them in the Ministry of Catholic Education, my heartfelt thanks for all they do nurture in the students entrusted to our care a love of God, a love of neighbour, a love of the natural environment and a love of learning that will last a lifetime” Miss Jeffcoat said.    

Thursday 24 September is the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy and is celebrated the world over as Mercy Day.

On 24 September 1827, some 193 years ago, Catherine McAuley opened the “House of Mercy” in Baggot Street, Dublin to provide compassionate care to those in desperate need of help. 

Once again this year Mercy Day was celebrated here in our Diocese by the staff of our Mater Hospitals, Mercy Aged Care Facilities, Mercy Linen Service and Mercy Food Service.   

Mercy Day is a very special day for the Sisters of Mercy and for all who partner with them today to carry forward their Health and Aged Care ministries. 

Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton Staff attend Mercy Day Liturgy  

The ministry of Mercy that Catherine started 193 years ago by opening the “House of Mercy” spread around the globe and people working for Mater and Mercy Ministries here in CQ celebrated Mercy Day with their Ministry colleagues here in Queensland, Australia and all over the world.       

As we look around our Mater Hospitals and Mercy Aged Care facilities today, it is amazing to think that the compassionate and merciful care delivered each and every day to the sick and the aged started with the courage and vision of one woman, Catherine McAuley.

Mater Private Hospital Bundaberg Staff enjoy Mercy Day Celebration.

At the heart of Mercy Day is the value of Compassion and Catherine’s own words on the importance of compassionate care of others speak to us as clearly today as when she spoke them almost 200 years ago.

“There are things the poor prize more highly than gold, tho’ they cost the donor nothing; among these are the kind word, the gentle compassionate look and the patient hearing of their sorrows”.

Last month in the Diocesan Newsletter, we were encouraged to read the papers that had been prepared by the National Writing groups in preparation for the Plenary Council. All of these papers were sent to the delegates and are open for our review also. 

National Writing Group Papers

The writing papers that emerged from all the discernment across the country were on the six National themes for Discernment which invited people to consider how God is calling the People of God to be a Christ-centred Church in Australia that is: -

• Missionary and Evangelising;
• Inclusive, Participatory and Synodal;
• Prayerful and Eucharistic;
• Humble, Healing and Merciful;
• A Joyful, Hope-Filled and Servant Community;
• Open to conversion, Renewal and Reform.

Plenary Council president Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB said the bishops and Council facilitation team had a challenging task to choose the 58 people – lay, religious and clerical – who sat on the Discernment and Writing Groups from a pool of more than 400 applications.

“The exercise of inviting people to offer their talents to this historic opportunity has been a humbling one and has demonstrated the high calibre of expertise, knowledge and commitment of the People of God across the country to their Church,” he said.

The Discernment and Writing Groups relied on a number of sources, including Scripture, Church teaching and canon law, as well as writings of popes and bishops such as the Vatican II documents, Evangelii Gaudium, The Call to Holiness and pastoral letters written by the bishops of Australia.

Another important source for the discernment process was the sensus fideilum expressed in the voices of the Australian people through the Plenary Council process during the “Listening and Dialogue” phase, which concluded earlier this year.

Easy English and Simplified Versions of the Thematic Discernment Papers

To assist us in absorbing the writings on these themes, there has been an effort to have the Thematic Discernment papers in both an easy English version and a Simplified version.

Unfortunately, these are not available at the time of this Diocesan Newsletter being sent out. However, they should be available on the Plenary Council Website by the first week of October.

Please keep checking the Plenary Council website.

They are reader-friendly for those of us who are interested but are constrained by time, language, or faith education.

New Logo

It has been necessary to rework the Plenary Council logo which at present incorporates the numbers 2020… a year which has turned the planning for the Plenary Council upside down. The new logo will be very similar to the present logo but adjusted for the time. 

Like the simplified versions of the papers from the writing groups, the new logo will be out in the first week of October. This, of course, is too late for this edition of the Diocesan Newsletter.

Please keep checking the Plenary Council website.

How can we as a Parish Be Part of the Actual Council Event

As the planning continues for the Plenary Council, there is an often-asked question - What is planned so that the parishes can engage with the actual event of the Plenary Council?

Answer:

• Live streaming of major liturgical events
• Live streaming of plenary sessions of delegates.
• Private 10 min input from various delegates.
• Streaming of small groups (no audio just an idea of how it is working)
• Night time plenary sessions so parishes can gather and be part of the proceedings.
• The prayer experiences will be distributed to parishes so they can pray with the participants.

So as a parish community we will be able to gather and prayerfully “be there” without actually “being there”. However, in these recent times of Zoom meetings and house parties we are all getting used to such realities.

Rockhampton Delegates to the Plenary Council

Within the next few weeks each parish in the Diocese will receive an updated introduction to our two delegates, Catherine Simmonds and Loretta McKeering.  Please keep them and all the delegates in your prayer as they keep on with their own preparation and personal education for the Council.