photo by john casamento New priests are greeted by brother seminarians outside St Patrick s Cathedral This issue

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1 New priests are greeted by brother seminarians outside St Patrick s Cathedral This issue 2 From the Director 3 First Day, Week and Month as a Priest of Jesus Christ 4 Called to Holiness St Mary of the Cross 5 Penola college students in Rome 6 Mass of Admission to Candidacy Diocese Vocation Prayer 7 Farewell Mark O Shea Welcome Jonathon Zarb 8 Calendar for 2011 Archdiocese of Melbourne christmas 2010 VOL 5 NO 4

2 from the director First Day,Week and Month as a Priest of Jesus Christ raising the awareness of the vocation to the priesthood among the many parishes and people in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. At the end of another year, we give thanks and praise to God for the many blessings which he has bestowed upon us in the works of vocations, in particular, vocation to the priesthood. The Archdiocese of Melbourne, in September, was blessed with the ordination of four men to the priesthood Rev. Aurelio Fragapane, Rev. Nicholas Pearce, Rev. Richard Rosse and Rev. Jossy Kizhakkethalackal followed by the diaconal ordination of Rev. Kevin Williams. We also thank God for Rev. Greg Bellamy and Rev. Robert Galea, who were ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Bathurst and the Diocese of Sandhurst respectively. The Vocations Office, throughout 2010, continued the various tasks of supporting men in discerning their vocation to the diocesan priesthood. The monthly Fr Binh (far left) assisting at the vesting of new priests gathering known as Quo Vadis and the annual Vocations retreats continue with a growing interest from people around the Archdiocese. This was successful because of the support from priests and people in promoting these events in their parishes, communities, universities and schools. It is the intention of the Vocations Office to raise the awareness and plant the seed of vocation to the priesthood through the many visitations to primary and secondary schools. The response from the students and teachers has been fantastic and promising. Occasionally, I was accompanied by Archbishop Hart and various seminarians, who always received an enthusiastic reception. In conjunction with the school visits is the quarterly publication of Vocations News and the pilgrimage of the Vocations Monstrance. They aim at providing a regular update and The Vocations Office, in the latter part of 2010, also began visiting youth groups in the Archdiocese. It is wonderful to meet many young people who are serious about their faith and discerning God s call in their lives. Further, on the third Sunday of each month, the Vocations Director has been visiting and celebrating Masses at different parishes to promote the awareness of vocations among God s people. It is the intention of the Vocations Office to continue these works in At the end of my first year as the Vocations Director for the Archdiocese of Melbourne, I recognise the many challenges but also the many blessings from God through the support of the Archbishop, bishops, brother priests, the staff at the Vocations Office, and the many faithful people of God. I am always grateful for their support and prayers. Further, it has been a privilege to work with many talented men in their search to fulfil their life by responding to God s call to the priesthood. Let us continue to pray for them and the seminarians at Corpus Christi College seminary. As the Christmas season draws near, I want to thank the staff at the Vocations Office and all the people who have helped to make 2010 a blessing and graceful year. In particular, I want to thank Archbishop Hart for his trust and encouragement. I wish all our readers and supporters a safe, merry and peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Rev. Binh Le Director of Vocations The first day after my ordination started quietly. The rest of the seminary community were off at another First Mass so I had the place to myself. It was not long though before that quiet morning turned into a busy day, a busy week and a busy month and a half. It was so very important for me to celebrate in the beautiful St Dominic s Church East Camberwell. This church has always held a significant place in the life of my family, for it was from this font and this altar that generations of Pearces were baptised and fed with our Eucharistic Lord. Celebrating Mass (complete with beautiful music provided by the seminarians), surrounded by family and friends and priests from near and far was a remarkably moving experience, one which I will never forget. photo courtesy of fr Nicholas Pearce Fr Pearce is ordained by Archbishop Hart Fr Pearce offers the Mass of Thanksgiving Fr Pearce blesses Fr David Cartwright The first week following the ordination was filled to the brim. Each day of that week I visited places of significance in my vocational journey to celebrate Mass and impart first blessings. Some of these included the Carmelite Monastery Kew, the Missionaries of Charity, the St Vincent de Paul Society and Our Lady s Primary School and parish. In visiting my old school it was a great honour to celebrate Mass for the entire school, and then spend some time with each class individually, talking about my vocation. The first month and a half was filled with many new experiences: standing at the Altar, in the person of Christ and offering the great sacrifice of the Mass on behalf of the people; sitting in the confessional, forgiving in the person of Christ; and even having dinner interrupted by a call to the hospital, photo courtesy of fr Nicholas Pearce for it was then that I absolved, anointed and consoled in the person of Christ. The most precious memory of these past 6 weeks is the sheer joy on the face of countless parishioners, family members, friends and strangers when they realise that you are a newly ordained priest. (That look is often accompanied with a bending of the knee and a request for a blessing.) Why should I, Fr Nicholas Pearce elicit such a reaction? The answer is clear, I don t! It is Christ who does. When the faithful see their priest, they see Christ. Please continue to pray for me, and for all your priests, that we continue to be true signs of Christ to the world in which we live. Rev. Nicholas Pearce Assistant Priest St Kevin s Parish, Hampton Park 2 3

3 Called to Holiness St Mary of the Cross Penola students in rome As a Sister of St Joseph, I was blessed and honoured to be able to attend the canonisation of Mary MacKillop in Rome. The canonisation was a great event, not only for us as Sisters of St Joseph, but for the whole Australian Church. I keep marvelling at the 8,000 pilgrims who travelled to Rome for the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross. I think she would have been very humbled by this. It was the largest number of people to leave Australian shores at one time, since World War II. The event for me was awesome. Awesome not in the way that it s used so frequently these days to mean very impressive, but awesome inspiring awe meaning to gaze at the wonder of God. Will the canonisation bring more vocations to us as Sisters of St Joseph or to other religious congregations? I really don t know the answer to this question only God does! Of course, I d like to say yes. As baptised people, we are all called to holiness. St Mary of the Cross was called to holiness through her baptism and she responded to this call in her own life and this has now been acknowledged by the universal Church. Mary MacKillop s canonisation makes holiness possible for all of us. Holiness is not just for a few: all of us can be holy. St Mary of the Cross walked our Australian streets, she was one of us, we too can imitate her. She knew the crosses in her life the cross of physical suffering, the cross of lost friendships, the cross of being misunderstood, the heavy burden of family. I know that St Mary of the Cross has touched the hearts and lives of many people, even many far beyond the Catholic Church. photo courtesy of Sr Rita Malarisi SSJ Two of my favourite St Mary of the Cross quotes are Do the best with the means at your disposal and leave the rest calmly to God (1891) and Trust in God (1874). The words Trust in God are inscribed on her tomb in North Sydney. I guess these two quotes point to the same thing. In responding to her baptismal call to holiness, Mary MacKillop trusted in God in all things. As St Mary of the Cross she stands as a model for all of us as we, too, seek to respond to God s call in our lives. Sr Rita Malavisi RSJ Vocations Director Sisters of St Joseph Sr Rita in Rome for canonisation I keep marvelling at the 8,000 pilgrims who travelled to Rome for the canonisation of St Mary of the Cross. I think she would have been very humbled by this. photo courtesy of nicole allan I write this reflection sitting in the Mary MacKillop Memorial Chapel, North Sydney, just a few metres away from the tomb of the saint, the woman, who has taken me on pilgrimage around the world and back again over the last five weeks. Because of this and as a teacher and leader in a Josephite affiliated Catholic secondary college, my vocation has never been clearer. This clarity began to emerge during my trip to Rome for the canonisation of the woman who has become my own personal spiritual guide: St Mary of the Cross MacKillop. To be present in Rome, one of eight thousand Australians blessed to be present, was a most significant moment for me. Mary s Nicole Allan (third from right) with students of Penola College in St Peter s Square, Rome passionate dedication to the importance of Catholic Education for all inspires me every day and to see her face, in intricate tapestry, hanging from the facade of St Peter s Basilica, as Pope Benedict XVI read her story and pronounced Mary Helen MacKillop, born in Brunswick Street Fitzroy, an Australian, as St Mary of the Cross MacKillop for the Universal Church, touched me in ways that words cannot express. I have returned challenged to live the Josephite charism ever more strongly in my life and work. I experienced a profound sense of an affirming presence the loving, smiling face of our first saint as she looked upon and blessed all we do in Catholic education today, following in her footsteps. Sitting in St Peter s Square after the canonisation, I received a Facebook message from a student I had taught years earlier. He wrote Without you Miss, it (the canonisation) would not have meant anything. What better affirmation do any of us in Catholic education need to continue our work, our vocations? What we all do every day offers the young people in our care the opportunity to find real meaning and purpose in their lives to find God! How graced we are to now have an Australian saint to inspire and guide us along the way! Nicole Allan REC Penola College 4 5

4 Mass of Admission to Candidacy Farewell Mark o shea photo by michael kong Candidates Jerome Santamaria (left) & Andrew McCarter (centre) process into St Patrick s Cathedral When I first came to the seminary, I had no idea what candidacy was. As a concept, it belonged with acolyte and thurible in the to be researched file. But that file is quite large and grows quickly and so, before I knew it, I was in my fifth year at the seminary and not much the wiser. (I d limit that observation to this topic, but I don t think I d get away with it.) Although I had watched the rite each year, if you d asked me to explain it, I probably would have stared blankly, (blank faces being my specialty.) Fortunately, the formation staff were on top of it and we focused on the rite during a recollection weekend earlier this year as preparation. It was another case of realising the riches of the liturgy. One day I ll learn! There, spelled out in the rite, was a description of who the candidate was. And it was me. It went on to say what the Church hoped for, and of, the candidate. And it was a description of who I wanted to be. And the intercessions were exactly the type of prayers that I wanted people praying for me. The rite was my rite; except more beautiful and less clumsy. I saw that candidacy was a special opportunity for both the Church and me to express publicly the sense of my vocation. As such, it was a welcome confirmation of a growing sense of certainty that I am where I am supposed to be. It gave me a boost, with ordination to the diaconate possibly only a year away. Jerome Santamaria Seminarian In 2008 when the Vocations Office was insanely busy getting ready for World Youth Day in Sydney, with the office crowded with boxes and nobody with time to think, Fr Anthony Denton invited Mark O Shea to work with us part-time to be responsible for our website. Mark was at that time studying at Monash University to follow in his father s footsteps as a school teacher. For the next three years Mark quietly developed our website to the very professional standard that it is today, keeping it always updated and fresh with a wealth of information for anyone considering a vocation to the diocesan priesthood. Always a quiet and reliable presence in the office, it has been a joy to have Mark work with us for the past three years. Having now completed his studies, he leaves us at the end of 2010 to follow his heart wherever God leads him. We thank Mark for his dedication and expertise and wish him well in whatever the future holds for him, which may not be following in his father s footsteps! Catholic Vocations Office photo by mary ferlin Welcome jonathon zarb Heavenly Father, We ask you to bless our diocese with selfless hearts that are willing to serve you, by serving your Church. Lord Jesus raise up from our homes those called by the Father: courageous and humble men to the priesthood, generous servants to the permanent diaconate, faithful people to consecrated life, and holy men and women to the sacrament of marriage. Holy Spirit, help us to live our universal vocation to holiness by listening to the Father s voice and responding with a sacrificial love. Holy Mary, Model of Vocations, teach us to hear and follow your Son. Holy Mary Queen of Priests, sanctify our priests and obtain for us many more. Holy Mary, Mother of the Church, pray for our families and intercede for our children. Amen. sourced from Diocese vocation prayer photo from istockphoto.com photo provided by jonathan zarb Jonathon Zarb is a 23-year-old young man from Sault Ste. Marie, Canada with a passion for Youth Ministry. In 2005, after making the pilgrimage to Cologne, Germany for World Youth Day, he was inspired and challenged to begin his vocation as a youth leader. Upon arriving home from this life changing faith journey Jonathon responded to a need to provide a youth group to the young Catholics in his city for the first time in decades. He brought together youth from twelve parishes with the intention of providing an experience of World Youth Day for those that attended and more so for those that were unable to. In 2008 Jonathon left his career as a chef to follow a calling to serve on the Australian National Evangelization Teams. He was subsequently appointed team leader in Melbourne. In that year Jonathon had the joy of visiting many parishes and schools in the Archdiocese of Melbourne and worked closely with the Days in the Diocese office with his team of five. They spent their time ministering to youth through running retreats, giving talks, dramas and providing training. Upon finishing his year with NET he commenced working as a full time Youth Minister at the Catholic parishes of Laverton where he started a youth group for year 5-7 students and trained a large group of young adults in the parish to be youth leaders. For the last two years Jonathon has also been College Youth Minister at Penola Catholic College in Broadmeadows, leading a youth group and assisting with the retreat and classroom Religious Education programs as well as assisting students one-on-one to discern their own future vocation. We are pleased to welcome Jonathan to the Vocations Office for 1 day per week in 2011 as Special Projects Officer. Catholic Vocations Office 6 7

5 calendar for 2011 January 10 Vocations Office reopens February 2 Term 1 commences 5 Mass for Religious 20 New seminarians start at CCC 27 Quo Vadis March 9 Ash Wednesday 13 Mass of Institution of Lectors 27 Quo Vadis April 8 End Term 1 24 Easter Sunday 27 Term 2 commences May 15 Good Shepherd Sunday 29 Quo Vadis June 5 Mass of Institution of Acolytes 26 Quo Vadis July 1 End Term 2 18 Term 3 commences 31 Quo Vadis August 7 14 NVAW WYD Madrid September 23 Term 3 ends Vocations Retreat 30 Seminary Applications close for 2012 October 10 Term 4 commences 23 Mass of Admission to Candidacy 30 Quo Vadis November 27 Final Quo Vadis for 2011 December 2 Orientation at CCC for st years 16 Vocations Office closes Contact us Catholic Vocations Cardinal Knox Centre 383 Albert Street (PO BOX 146) East Melbourne VIC Australia vocations@cam.org.au DESIGN Jeremy Yuen Environmental Profile Vocations News is proudly printed in Australia on mill accredited ISO14001 Environmental Management System (EMS), Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF), Acid Free stock using soy-based inks (EcoMark Certified). 100% Environmentally Friendly. catholicvocation.org.au 8