The. Witness JUNE Journal of the Diocese of Port Pirie. Volume 63 Number 3 - June Rev Hau Le's Ordination to the Diaconate

Transcription

1 The th e WITNESS Witness JUNE 2017 Journal of the Diocese of Port Pirie Volume 63 Number 3 - June Rev Hau Le's Ordination to the Diaconate

2 2 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 May you excel in every virtue in love that is sincere In concern for the sick and the poor In unassuming authority In self-discipline And in humbleness of life Deacon Hau Le. Prostates during the Litany of the Saints CONTACT Phone Bishop s Message 15 40th Anniversary thewitness@pp.catholic.org.au 4 Mass of Chrism Sr Cheryle Thomson Producer 5 Fr John Watherston 16 CWL Annual Report Pirie Signs and Designs 6 Monsignor Frank Cresp 17 CWL Honours 7 Pt Germein Rd, Port Pirie Building Bridges of Peace Diocesan Religious Gathering Advertising 10 Global Ecumenical 18 Palm Sunday Mr Neil Davidson Prayer Week Celebrations Roxby Downs O Reily House 105 Gertrude St, Money Matters 70 Years Woomera Port Pirie Easter at Radium Hill 19 Feast of St Rita of Casia s Phone St Joseph s School Port 20 Philippine Ambassador The Witness is a Bi-Monthly Lincoln to Australia Publication of the Catholic Diocese of New Boarding School MenAlive Port Pirie. Issued every February, April, June, August, October and December. 13 New Australian Citizen 21 Silver Jubilee Fr Khalid Fr Francis Montero Anzac Celebrations 22 Media Release St Vincent de Paul Subscriptions $30 per annum posted 14 Golden Jubilee 23 Feast Day Celebrations Circulation Readership Srs of St Joseph in Barmera 3,600 Readers

3 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 The Bishop's Message Count our 3 Blessings The image where St Teresa of Avila sees Jesus as saying I have no hands but yours, no voice but yours is so wellknown to most of us. So are the words of our Lord in the Gospel of recent days, I commission you to go out and bear fruit. There are times when we should haul off and count our blessings, not in a spirit of self-pride, but as an acknowledgement of the blessings we have been given or as an acknowledgement of the graces we have been able to live. This is an age when the Church is in disrepute in the eyes of many. I wince when journalists use such phrases as crimes perpetrated by the Catholic Church. This bundles the whole Church together in accusation including all the good people we know working in the schools, hospitals, Homes for the Aged, Vinnies, refugee and asylum seekers work, care for the homeless, the charities of Project Compassion and Caritas etc. As if all these are committing those crimes. What an unjust travesty. It may be a refreshing reflection to think of the graces being lived in the Church, despite the crimes, while not turning a blind eye to the crimes. This issue of Witness turns out to be something of a record worth noting in our diocese, how we try to do the work of God. This issue talks of Hau Le s ordination as a deacon, the generosity of a young man committing himself to ministry. There is the account of Building Bridges which was something of a scene changer for us in ecumenism, endorsed so well by the other Churches. There is the witness of the Mass of Chrism, symbolising our whole Church gathered together. There are stories of graces of the past, like at Radium Hill, and stories of our present parishes, like Port Lincoln. There are the tributes to two of our very worthy men who placed their stamp on many of our parishes, and who formed our traditions, good priests like Fr John Watherston and Mgr Frank Cresp. There is a story of our diocese reaching out to others. Our priests from overseas are applauded and there are a whole number of jubilees of our Religious, women who have consecrated their lives to the service of God s people and there are the jubilees of all those lay people who have sustained and furthered the work of the Church in the schooling of our young people. So let us pray that the Church continues to be purified and continues to learn to care for victims, but also thank God for the encouragement given us in our diocese by the lived Gospel example of so many of our brothers and sisters. Bishop Greg O Kelly SJ Mass of Chrism

4 4 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Mass of Chrism Saint Mark s Cathedral, Port Pirie Wednesday April 5, 2017 Extract of Homily of Bishop Greg O'Kelly SJ Towards the end of his life Moses called out to his younger brother Aaron to ordain him as High Priest and to make him the leader of Israel. The Scripture says that Moses poured the anointing oil on Aaron s head, thus consecrating him. For the people of the ancient times oil was very much a part of their ordinary experience. This makes sense, as God speaks to us through ordinary human experience. Everything shows forth the presence of God. The world is charged with the glory of God. Even ordinary human things can be indications of God s presence amongst us, and His blessings of us. So we use something as simple as water, and that is the means by which we are baptised and become the Body of Christ. And then there is an ordinary thing like bread, and wine, and these are the signs of the Eucharist, and become the presence of Christ. Then there is something as simple as the hand gesture as the priest makes the sign of the cross in the air, a sign of blessing and absolution, and at today s Mass we think of the oil, which is used as it was in ancient times, for consecration and dedication and healing. The Oil of Chrism (and that word means anointed) is used to consecrate an altar, and also to consecrate people. We have the other two oils being blessed today, the Oil of the Sick, and the Oil of the Catechumens. Oil was used for sick people, being poured into the wounds to prevent infection, and oil was used as we still use it with athletes and footballers, as a form of massage for the muscles. That one is called the Oil of Catechumens, and is used as people prepare for baptism, as a symbol of making them strong and growing towards something new. And then there is the Chrism, which is oil with perfume poured into it. That is consecrated by the Bishop. We use it for baptism and confirmation where it is put on our heads. For priesthood it is put on the hands of the priest. For the Bishop, oil is poured on his head. It is all a sign of consecration and dedication, reaching right back to the earliest days of Scripture. The Church uses these symbols as signs of the presence of Christ coming to us through ordinary created things. So you should think of yourselves after this Mass, that like David, like Aaron, you too have been consecrated, and the oil placed on your head at baptism and confirmation was a sign of that, just as the priests have the sign of their hands being consecrated. This is a Mass where the whole Church is present, the Chrism Mass. There is the Bishop and the priests, the laity, the deacon, the consecrated Religious and the whole People of God. The consecration of the Oil of Chrism reminds us that we are the anointed of God in Christ. After we are baptised we are anointed with Chrism on the crown of the head, symbolising our baptism into the priestly ministry of Christ Jesus. The same Chrism anoints our foreheads in confirmation so that we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit to live as faithful disciples of Christ. Courage is demanded of us to live as good Catholics in today s world. As a priestly people we seek to live all that we do as worship of God. The Oil of Chrism is used to anoint the altar table around which we gather to celebrate the Eucharist. It is around this holy table that the Church s activity finds its highest expression of praise and thanks, and is the source of all the rest of the good that the Church does. It is the Oil of Chrism that flows over the head of the Bishop and anoints the hands of the priest: anointed to serve the People of God in the name of Christ. The Mass of Chrism becomes the occasion of giving expression to the unity of the priesthood around the Bishop of the diocese. We priests recognise our human limitations and weaknesses, yet for some reason known only to God, Christ has chosen us to be His priests in ministry to His people. In this Mass we dedicate ourselves once again to serve God faithfully for you, our people. All of us, through baptism, have been called to be the Body of Christ in the world. Today we celebrate the way we have been anointed to live that vocation. Bishop Greg O Kelly SJ Diocese of Port Pirie

5 th e WITNESS JUNE Fr John Watherston April 14, April 7, 2017 Extract of Homily of Mons Paul Quirk John Watherston was my mate. We entered St Francis Xavier Seminary together in 1972 along with ten others. Along with me, four of us are here today. In that year in Perth ten entered St Charles Seminary. In our fourth year we all came together in Adelaide for Theology and in 1978/79 ten of us were ordained from that class. You don t think about it, but the expectation you have is that the journey you began together you will finish together. That of course is clearly not going to be. I have been in touch with our interstate classmates once John s condition worsened. Some of their replies have been: Sad news but he has gone to where we all hope to be one day and no doubt has brought a new level of cheekiness and mirth to the heavenly realm. If you visit him you might let him know the very fond memories we have of him and his great kindness to us all. Happy coincidence I saw Kevin Davis yesterday and Colin Keogh today and both appreciated knowing the news. We shared some of the stuff that only Hen could get up to. [No-one ever called him John. It was either Henry or Hen]. End of an era with Henry gone. He was one of a kind and very generous to us West Aussies. My present appointment is the Parish of Cleve. John was there in the late 1980 s and early 90 s. When I told people he was so ill the common comment has been that he was a caring and compassionate priest. John spent thirty-eight years as a priest in this Diocese in various pastoral appointments. He has been an influence and a guide for many people over that time. Whether it be in his spiritual life, his preaching, administering the sacraments, helping people move house, or just being present and pleasant to people, he lived the commandment of love. The Irish dramatist, Oscar Wilde once said, "Some people cause happiness WHERE-ever they go; others WHENever they go." I'm reasonably certain most of us have known both of those personalities -- the friend we can't wait to see -- and the one we can't wait to see leave! John Watherston was not the latter. That great American philosopher Charlie Brown offers a more Biblical view. In a classic Peanuts comic strip, Lucy asks her old friend, "Charlie, why do you think we're put here on earth?" With great conviction Charlie says, "To make others happy!" Lucy ponders his thoughtful reply for a moment and then screams, "Somebody's not doing their job!" And once again, we are left feeling that good old Charlie Brown has hit on something -- something big. In the words of St. John, "as long as we love one another God will live in us and His Love will be complete in us" (I Jn. 4:12). This awareness of God's action in the Resurrection spilled over from those first disciples into the next generation, and the next, and the next, until here we are today, celebrating the Resurrection Power of God with the belief that our brother John is now rejoicing with the Father in heaven - which is the place of our final calling. The author of the Book of Revelation in the First Reading describes this creation - the New Jerusalem - in poetic language: Then I saw new heavens and a new earth. The former heavens and the former earth had passed away, and the sea was no longer. I also saw a New Jerusalem, the holy city... beautiful as a bride prepared to meet her husband. I heard a loud voice: "This is God's dwelling among men. We shall dwell with them and they shall be His people and He shall be their God who is always with them. He shall wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, crying out or pain, for the former world has passed away" (Rev.21:1-4). How to achieve this new world? The solution is simple, as given us by Jesus:...Feed the hungry...give drink to the thirsty...love one another as I have loved you and you will become the uniquely beautiful and fulfilled person God made you to be. John believed this and lived according to this rule of life. He based his life on these gospel principles. May he now receive his eternal reward. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen. Monsignor Paul Quirk Smith s Appliances Audio Visual Computers Betta Deals Betta Service Betta Advice 84 Ellen St, Port Pirie Ph:

6 6 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Mgr Frank March 5, May 15, Extract of Homily of Bishop Greg O'Kelly Monsignor Cresp had an aversion to plastic flowers. In the hand-written instructions that he left for his funeral arrangements, he has written fresh flowers only on the coffin, with the note flowers are prayers they give praise to God and make people happy. In a way this instruction reflects Frank Cresp, always genuine, very little of the artificial about him, an eye that could be critical and a life that gave praise to God, and made people happy. Ph (08) Fax: (08) Main Rd, Port Pirie SA 5540 He was a leader amongst us who caught up the history of the diocese in so many ways and lived so well the strong and proud priestly traditions of our priests of the Outback and the Bush. The spirituality of the diocesan priest reflects the Incarnation itself, that God became a human being and dwelt amongst us, that His presence is there in all our human details. The ministry of the diocesan priest among his people is one of discovery, and revealing that Presence - to take back the cover, to take back the veil, to show Christ present in ordinary human activity. Like seeing how fresh flowers give praise to God, and the Sturt Pea is a special creation for people who work in arid areas. When Christ was baptised and immersed in the Jordan, He was immersed in the river of humanity, washed fully by humanity. It is the vocation of the REDDEN BROTHERS T/A SHED BOSS MID NORTH P: Fax: PO Box 49 JAMESTOWN SA 5491 B/L G9148 Crash Repairs Caravan Repairs Mechanical Repairs Spray Painting CONTRACTOR ROAD SERVICE diocesan priest to enter God's world fully, to manifest the Christ present in plain human circumstances, be that any one in a territory assigned to a priest, either a small parish or one like the Inland Mission, as large as France. He is a priest for all people - those in the mining towns, the railway workers, the farmers, the shopkeepers, the families and hands on the cattle station, those in the medical centres and police stations and even the publicans and bookmakers! As Pope Francis said, it is a mission to the outskirts, and we are a diocese of outskirts, and Frank Cresp lived that ministry to the full. Frank used to describe himself, referring to the archives that he had set up, as the self-appointed keeper of old stuff. In a beautiful tribute, one of his priestly contemporaries said that he was a keeper of old stuff, and certainly a keeper of old friends. He inspired friendship and devotion, as many here would attest. It went across all the gullies of differences, and not being a Catholic was no obstacle. In St Joseph s House he looked forward to the annual visit of two of his Coober Pedy mates, Daryl Wake and David Jenot, often referring to them in my visits to him in St Joseph s. He was flattered by their annual fidelity, neither of them Catholic. He lived that spirituality of the diocesan priesthood in a world away from the big cities smoking a pipe with the fettlers and the road gangs, mixing with the miners, living in an unair-conditioned tin caravan, imagine it in the temperature range of Coober Pedy, while his church and presbytery were being dug out in Coober Pedy. His dry humour delighted in the foibles of humanity. The famous story of when two flat tyres made him late for a funeral at Andamooka and when he eventually got there the crowd reassembled and he performed the burial ceremony, noticing that the young policeman was rather embarrassed. After the ceremony the policeman told him that the deceased

7 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Cresp had been out in the open for some days and the decomposition was such that they had to bury him straight away, Andamooka having no refrigeration. So what Frank had unknowingly blessed and commended in the coffin was in fact a bag of cement. I came all that way, said Frank, and it was not even a Catholic. The Council men at Peterborough were lopping trees, and Frank asked whether they might do the same for some trees in the presbytery grounds, to be told there was no possibility, as the men were only permitted to lop trees on public property. Would a slab of beer make a difference?, asked Fr Frank, and his trees were lopped immediately. In an effort to connect the townspeople with the Station people, he and his friend Ian Rankin of Mable Creek Station established the Coober Pedy Races, using a Grader to mark out the track which is still used and brings outlying people into the town and raises valuable help for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. I know of no other example in Church history where the construction of a racetrack has been justified as an apostolic instrument. But it worked! It opened him up for more friends of all denominations, and just happened also to feed his own lifelong delight with the races, and every day in St Joseph s, up till the very end, saw him studying and following them avidly, making occasional small but shrewd investments. They were not enough, however, I can assure you, with some disappointment, to contradict the saying that there is no such thing as a retired punter. His devotion to Mary MacKillop was profound. When building the Redhill Church, he made sure that the stain glass window had a space in it under the image of Mary MacKillop where the word Saint could be inserted when the time came, as it did, and so it happened. He is being buried in the chasuble which features the Sturt Pea, for our diocese, and the cross of Mary MacKillop. Frank s passion for the history of the diocese and its priests was part of his own priesthood. Often accompanied by Greg Slattery he visited the graves of our priests in the remote areas of their burials, in the diocese, restoring their graves when necessary. He compiled a book of the biographies of our priests, going back to the earliest days of the pioneer Jesuits, and this was a labour of love on which he was still working when he died. It must also be said that he found enough in the lives of our priests to feed his wry sense of humour and provide him with dry comments about their foibles. As we thank God so fully for the gift that Frank Cresp was amongst us, a builder and story-teller of the diocese, a guardian of its history we thank God for his royal priesthood from baptism and ordination, and in the words of the First Reading thank God for Frank called out of darkness into God s wonderful light. The reading of Colossians speaks of us as God s chosen ones, that surely Frank was, and Frank received the grace of the prayer in that reading Let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body and be thankful. Frank as a priest did let the Word of Christ dwell in him richly. In the Gospel Jesus tells us that He is the way, the truth and the life, and he was for Fr Frank. As he worked so strongly to be a builder of our diocese, may Fr Frank now hear the words Well done, good and faithful servant. May he join his great friends of yesteryear, like Fathers Nick Canny and Bill Wauchope, and rejoice forever in the company of the Saints. Northern Agencies MANUFACTURER'S AGENTS, WHOLESALE DISTRIBUTORS, STOCKISTS & PROCUREMENT SERVICES YOU WANT IT, WE'LL GET IT Ph: Fax: Ayliffe Street, WHYALLA, SA, 5600 northernagencies@oz .com.au

8 8 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Building Bridges of Ecumenical Celebration of the Word Building Bridges of Peace Saint Mark s Cathedral, Port Pirie Tuesday April 4, 2017 Extract of Homily of Bishop Greg O'Kelly Officiating Clergy: Reverend Mary Lewis, Anglican Church Pastor Brian Keller, Lutheran Church Pastor Roger Kleinig, Baptist Church Pastor Jenny Pryor, Baptist Church Pastor Mark Broadbridge, New Life Christian Community Church Reverend Ernest Sorensen, Uniting Church Father Francis Montero, Catholic Church Bishop Greg O Kelly SJ, Bishop of the Diocese of Port Pirie My brothers and sisters, we gather to celebrate our faith as the People of God in praise and worship in this year of the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing the 95 theses to the door of the church at Wittenberg, the symbolic commencement of the Reformation. pirie 114 Main Road, Port Pirie Ph all the best Tiles & Sanityware On February 26, this year, Pope Francis visited the Anglican Church in Rome, the first Pope to do so. In his address to that congregation he said "You have invited me to bless the new icon of Christ the Saviour. Christ looks at us, and His gaze upon us is one of salvation, of love and compassion. It is the same merciful gaze which pierced the hearts of the apostles, who had left the past behind and began the journey of new life, in order to follow and proclaim the Lord. In this sacred image, as Jesus looks upon us, He seems also to call out to us, to make an appeal to us: Are you ready to leave everything from your past for me? Do you want to make my love known, my mercy? His gaze of divine mercy is a source of the whole Christian ministry." What Christ gave was the gaze of forgiveness. Then after the resurrection Jesus calls Peter out and looks at him steadily and tells him to feed His lambs and to feed His sheep. It is a gaze conferring mission. Ministry, forgiveness and mercy, mission. Pope Francis said that Jesus gave the same merciful gaze which pierced the hearts of the apostles, who left the past behind This is crucial for us as Churches. We must not deny that there remain significant differences between our Churches, but in truth we must leave, and largely have left, the disgraceful practices of division that marked us. The source of practice I have just described occasioned great hurt and division, and that is why our litany has spoken about the stones that were built into a wall of division. We refer to a lack of love, the stone of discrimination, the stone of persecution, the stone of pride, the stone of broken communion. All these divided us, often bitterly. Despite this the Spirit stayed alive in a fragmented Church. There were always people of good will. Mention has been made several times that ecumenism has been easier to practice in the country than in the cities, as the smaller communities know each other, and can see the good in each other. Even in the darkest of days there are so many examples of good will the first Catholic priest in Tasmania going most nights to smoke his pipe in the company of the Anglican vicar. More recently, I think ecumenism has acquired a new energy as people realise that ecumenism is not about one Church succumbing to another, of one Church collapsing to be absorbed by another, but of doing together whatever we can, and of growing in the strength of the realisation that it is the person of Jesus who unites us. Our proclamation of Christ and His message is something we all endorse, and that is something that transcends any divisions. Certainly, thank God, gone is the hate. We are at an amazing point in this five hundred year pilgrimage since the Reformation. One cannot help but think wryly of how appliances Pavers & Retaining Wall Bllocks Kitchen Appliances Come in and see our stylish showroom and friendly staff today. For all sales enquiries please sales@pirietiles.com.au Delivery available to your local area. Guest speaker Geraldine Hawkes, Rev Ernest Sorensen, Fr Francis Montero, Pastor Mark Broadbridge, Pastor Roger Kleinig.

9 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Peace 9 far we have come. From the Catholic point of view, there was enormous opposition at the time of the Reformation to the idea of the liturgy in the vernacular, of Scripture being made readily available to all the faithful and that the laity should not participate in the chalice at the Eucharist. All of these have changed. Of more significance is the common acknowledgement of the validity of our baptisms, and how one looks at the notion of the priesthood of all believers. When Martin Luther preached that doctrine it was described as a recipe for chaos and anarchy. The understanding among Catholics at that time was the status of the clergy and religious was a higher one than that of the laity, and the idea of a priesthood going beneath them was anathema. Then in 1964, Vatican II decreed in Lumen Gentium that the clergy and laity are equal partners as the People of God, equals rooted through baptism in a shared priesthood, lived out in different ways. Remarkable growth. I believe our Assembly on Building Bridges of Reconciliation has been a scene changer for us. We cannot go back after this event, but must progress forward together. Pope Francis has been a scene changer for us. He visited the Anglican Church in Rome, and now has accepted an invitation from the Sudanese people that was extended both to him and to the Archbishop of Canterbury to go together to Sudan. And he went on October 31, 2016 to Stockholm, Sweden, to celebrate the anniversary of the Reformation in the Lutheran Cathedral there. This was particularly significant, as at the time of the Reformation every one of the Scandinavian Bishops became Lutheran, so a visit from the Bishop of Rome to pray there on such an occasion had much symbolism. After these events, as this pilgrimage of unity goes forward, the whole scene has been changed for the better. May we take to heart what the Pope said when he visited the Anglican Church of All Saints in Rome. Pastor Roger Kleinig, Pastor Mark Broadbridge, Bishop Greg O Kelly, Rev Ernest Sorensen, Rev Dr Mary Lewis, Rev Peter Linn of Pt Lincoln, Pastor Brian Keller, Fr Francis Montero absent Rev Jenny Prior ALEX S MEAT SERVICE Pan Ready Meats Bulk & BBQ Packs Club Supplies Senate Rd, Port Pirie Group ACCOUNTING & BUSINESS ADVICE 19 Norman Street, Port Pirie Phone Fax info@pisanigroup.com.au

10 10 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Thy Kingdom Come: An Ecumenical Prayer Initiative Let us join the global wave of prayer: May 25 - June 4. This is another chance for us Christians to work and worship together. The Diocesan Assembly last March 2017 focused on Ecumenism. And I am so grateful for the ministers from the different churches who find time to share their church s mission and identity. Then there was the Ecumenical Worship. Sharing together a worship space was very awesome and many would agree that is what Christ wills for his disciples. Thy Kingdom Come is an ecumenical opportunity for Christians in Port Pirie. This is an event to pray expecting the Holy Spirit to empower us in new ways; to wait for a renewing experience of God s strengthening to us and our Christian communities. If you are interested or your Christian community wanted to be part of this worldwide event, go to thykingdomcome.global/ Let us pray for the coming of God s Kingdom: Almighty God, your ascended Son has sent us into the world to preach the good news of your kingdom: inspire us with your Spirit and fill our hearts with the fire of your love, that all who hear your word may be drawn to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Claire Conaghty Catholic Church, Dr Richard MacKinnon Anglican Church, Beryl Skewes Uniting Church, Myra Matters Lutheran Church Structural, Mechanical & Civil Contractors Coded Welding Steel Fabrication Steel Construction Crane & Access Hire Rigging / Scaffolding Port Pirie Ph: Whyalla Ph: Money Matters To assist with the Mission of the Church, the people of the Diocese have responded, and continue to respond, with their generous support of local parishes. A particular need now is the financing of pastoral works and ministries at a diocesan level. The diocese undertakes a number of pastoral works and ministries in response to the spiritual and material needs of the people. These include caring for the aged, youth ministry and Christian formation, educating deacons and seminarians, prison ministry, Aboriginal ministry, outback ministry and care of our priests and deacon, including pastoral supervision and providing in-services. In addition, there are significant costs in administering the diocese. As the diocese looks to the future, would you consider making a bequest in your will. Bequests in the past have benefitted the diocese greatly. As people have done in the past, you may like to nominate a particular work in the diocese to benefit from your bequest, or simply leave it for Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie Wills and Bequests the Bishop Catholic Diocese of Port Pirie to decide. A full or partial bequest would be gratefully received. For further details, Wills and Bequests brochures are available in your local church, or you could phone Cosimo De Cianni at the Chancery on With confidence in the Lord s providence, in gratitude for His goodness, as a Diocese, we commit ourselves to His Mission. Fr Paul Crotty

11 th e WITNESS JUNE Easter at Radium Hill In February three feeble fossils, namely Rod Lawrence, Ian Husband and Kevin Kakoschke journeyed up to Radium Hill to prepare the Catholic Church area for the installation of two historic plaques. The temperature on three of the days that they were there was over 40 C. Holes were dug at the appropriate sites for the plaques which were then concreted into place. Clearing the area of saltbush and bindii was a more daunting task. We were lucky in that Mark Francis of Maldorky Station came along and offered to use his big front end loader to help clear the Catholic Church and School area of saltbush and bindii. Naturally we jumped at the offer. It certainly saved us a lot of sweat and sore backs. A big thank you to Mark for his efforts. At the Eastern side of the school site there still remains steel drill rods which were driven into the ground to form a bike rack for those students who had ridden their bikes to school. Bricks were placed at the four corners of what was the school building to help identify the physical size of the school. Ex Radium Hill residents, families and friends from all states of Australia travelled back to Radium Hill for the Easter 2017 reunion. Night time gem fossicking, heritage tours, Anzac Commemoration Service, interment of a former resident s ashes in the Radium Hill Pioneer Cemetery, Saturday night Ghost Town Cabaret, Drive in Movies, and talkfests were all included in the Easter 2017 Reunion program. Sunday morning and it was up to the Catholic Church ruins at 9 o clock for an Easter thanks giving service conducted by Pam Barratt. The service was followed by the unveiling of a historic plaque donated by Kay Geer as a tribute to the Saint Josephine s Sisters, Uriel McQuire and Mercedes Schocher who had taught her and other children up to grade seven in the school. The group then moved to where the school plaque was to be unveiled. Gino Scopel, a strong supporter of our efforts to preserve the history and heritage of Radium Hill had provided the funds to have this plaque made and installed. The photo and wordage was YAG lasered into a stainless steel plate. A big thank you to Gino. These two plaques are in addition to the previous plaques that we have installed at the site to help preserve the historic and cultural heritage of the Catholic community who once lived in Radium Hill, the former uranium mining town located in the North East of South Australia, 460km from Adelaide. After the unveiling ceremonies, it was Mark clearing the school site of saltbush. (Note the School front step in the foreground) Kevin unveiling the Catholic School plaque in front of the former school site. The plaque contains the school children photo and its historic details. back to the camp site at the former public school grounds where Margot Binkowski, dressed as Easter Bunny, handed out Easter eggs. A cup of tea and talkfest before lunch and then all aboard for a 4WD tag-a-long to view the wildlife and rugged Maldorky hills scenery. Kevin R Kakoschke OAM Seventy plus school children on the front porch of the Catholic School c.1958 (Possibly the only photo in existence of the school Kay unveiling the plaque containing photos of the Sisters and Father Sheils in front of the convent section of the church.

12 12 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 St Joseph's Students of Port Lincoln As part of the St Joseph s School Stage 2 Child Studies, Year 12 students had to study an area of Economic and Environmental Influences where they assisted in creating and maintaining a safe environment for children. The task consisted of designing, making and evaluating a care package for a child entering the foster care system. This task allowed students to integrate the school curriculum as well as supporting a local charity that provides comfort for local foster care children. These care packages were carefully created ensuring they met the criteria needed, and were presented to Catherine Higgins on behalf of a local charity in Port Lincoln, called Little Bags of Hope, who provides comfort for foster care children in our local community. Catherine said, the care packages put together Commissioning of a New Boarding School On April 7, 2017, Bishop Greg O Kelly blessed and commissioned the new boarding facility at St Joseph s School, Port Lincoln. Fr Steve Ardill, Fr Adrian Head, Fr Matthew Newman and Fr Kevin Matthews, who are all priests from around Eyre Peninsula, including the regions many of the boarders come from, joined Bishop Greg and Fr Ramel Morales. Sr Catherine Clark, Sr Joan Barry and Sr Ann Leesue from the Order of St Joseph also attended the opening and celebrated a long tradition of boarding at St Joseph s School. When the Sisters of St Joseph returned to Port Lincoln to re-open the school in 1926, quarters were first built to accommodate by the students were so thoughtful and generous. They will certainly make what can be such a traumatic time for children entering foster care a little easier The packages needed to include at least five items, ensuring that there was an item that makes a child smile/laugh, gives them something to do, clothing, essential daily needs (ie. toothbrush, drink bottle etc) and an item which provides comfort to the child. Each care package also needed to include at least one hand made item and a recycled/ preloved item ensuring it was neat, tidy and in safe working order. Year 12 student Kiara Baillie said, 'I feel honoured and privileged to be able to help this local charity and the children in need. It was an inspiring experience and I would happily donate my time again.' Jodie Howard boarders as a wing to the Presbytery. The Boarding House that many old scholars and boarders will remember commenced in 1961 and was in service for fifty-five years until it was de-commissioned and demolished early last year to make way for a contemporary new facility. The new Boarding House represents a significant investment in students and families across Eyre Peninsula. Single rooms provide privacy and comfort for up to thirty-eight boarders, and students contributed to the design of the grounds, with a basketball court and grassed area for volleyball complemented by a large recreational room. In honour of the Sisters of St Joseph, the facility includes the Mary MacKillop Memorial Garden. Federal Member for Grey, Rowan Ramsay, who unveiled the plaque to commemorate the Boarding House Vice Captains, Liam King- Burwell and Ruby Guidera, with Frs Matthew Newman, Steve Ardill, Kevin Matthews, Adrian Head, Ramel Morales, and Bishop Greg O Kelly L - R Kiara Baille, Mikayla Montgomerie, Jodie Howard, Catherine Higgins. Opening, highlighted that St Joseph s School Boarding House enables access to quality education without leaving the region. Bishop Greg emphasised the importance of family and that students are close enough to visit families, and stay connected to their friends and communities. Beginning this year with thirty-three boarders, the new accommodation is appreciated by students and has been very well received by their families. Prayers of gratitude were read at the Opening by Boarding House Leaders Ruby Guidera and Liam King-Burwell, new Year 8 boarder Jade Davis and Elliston parent Peter Reeves. Sr Ann, who spent many hours visiting families of boarders in her time in Pt Lincoln, and Therese Pedler, an ex- St Joseph s boarder herself and current School Board Chair, also read prayers. Principal Sandra Hewson commended the work of previous Principals Richard Ralston and Bernadette Lacey in their vision and planning for the new development. It really provides something very special and continues a long tradition of boarding that was fostered by the Sisters of St Joseph, she said. Karen Browne, Deputy Principal

13 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Citizenship by Choice "Vision is a picture of the future that produces passion." This is a statement by Bill Hybels on Courageous Leadership. I have a vision of the future as a great adventure. There is some sense of mystery and uncertainty in this vision but still it is pretty full-on and exciting. Life is full of choices and the outcomes may not be very clear when we make one. Coming to the Port Pirie Diocese in 2011 was actually a choice I made that I have no idea where this journey will lead me. That was six years ago and now I took the Pledge of Citizenship before Mayor John Rohde at the Council Chambers of Port Pirie. There were more than fifty guests that graced the occasion. I was grateful for Bishop Greg O'Kelly without whom I would not have the chance to serve in this Diocese. Monsignor Paul Quirk the former Vicar General made a total of a seven hour trip just to attend my citizenship ceremony. Other priests were Fathers Jimmy Pantin and Ramel Morales. I am really thankful to God that he has led me to this Diocese with so much beauty in terms of landscape but most especially the people. I am Australian by citizenship but deep in my heart I am Filipino whose values and faith are the gifts I am bringing into my Australian ministry. May I continually be passionate in my work as a priest. Fr Francis Montero 13 above - Mons Paul Quirk, Fr Ramel Morales, Mayor John Rhode, Fr Francis Montero, Bishop Greg O Kelly and Fr Jimmy Pantin below - Captain Daniel Solomon, Fr Francis Montero and Malcolm Bond of the RSL Port Pirie After the ANZAC MASS at the Cathedral with Fr Ramel Morales

14 14 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Sisters of St Joseph - 50 Years of Gold In 1967 a group of women from all over Australia, New Zealand and Ireland completed three years of preparation for life as Religious Sisters. On January 6, these women were professed as Sisters of St Joseph and took vows for three years and later for life. They then spent two years training as teachers at the Catholic Teachers College in North Sydney where Mary MacKillop Place now stands. These Sisters were a familiar sight as they travelled on trains and buses to various schools for teaching experience. It was hard to mistake who the Sisters were then in their brown habits. Teacher experience completed, the Sisters returned to different states where they taught in city and country schools. This included the Irish Sisters so far from family and home. Those were the days of large classes and very few teaching resources. They were the days before Catholic schools received Government funding. They were the days when huge numbers of children from non- English speaking countries came to live in Australia. Our class rooms were overflowing. We saw the resourcefulness of the Sisters who paved the way and who faced so many challenges. They showed us the way. They showed us dedication and commitment, how to do much with little and how to be caring, creative and resilient. In the seventies Catholic schools began to receive Government support and the many Sisters moved from being directly involved in schools to other works like motor missions, Peruvian mission, social works, working with indigenous people, the homeless and in pastoral care. Throughout these past fifty years we have seen and experienced so many incredible changes. These years have been packed with opportunity and unbelievable challenges. It has been a privilege to be alive in these times. It has been fifty years of golden gifts shown through the people we have encountered and with whom we have worked on the journey. There has been the support and friendship of so many in rural and city places. We have been so enriched by their lives. It is with gratitude that we celebrated the Golden Jubilee as Sisters of St Joseph. When we reflect on the joys, the experiences even the heartaches, the tragedies we are filled with gratitude for being able to walk the journey beside people who have inspired, encouraged and challenged us. So many have been there for the Sisters in so many situations and allowed us to become part of their lives. It is at times like Jubilees that we can count all the golden blessings we have been given, too much to be measured. Sr Christine Schwerdt rsj Celebrating the Fatima Centenary "In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph." These were the words of Our Lady to the three young shepherds Lucia, Jacinta and Francisco in 1917, starting May 13 until October 13. The apparition of an angel and Our Lady to the poor children in Fatima, Portugal in the early 20th century is one of the most famous miracles in the Catholic world. The children received many messages, mostly calling for personal conversion and prayer. Marian devotees gathered last May 13, 2017 at Mary Knoll Retreat Centre in Beetaloo Valley to celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima with Prayers, Rosary, Releasing of Balloons, celebration of the Mass and shared lunch. It was a perfect day for prayer and fellowship said the devotees. May this year be filled with graces of peace and conversion for our parishioners and for the world. A Marian Pilgrimage is planned during September 11-26, 2017 which will conclude in Fatima. If interested gigik@philippinetours.com.au Fr Francis Montero

15 th e WITNESS JUNE Sr Cheryle Celebrates 40 Years I am deeply grateful for all your support and friendship that has sustained me in the great mission along the highways and byways of my life On Sunday May 21, Sr Cheryle Thomson, Missionary Sister of Service, celebrated her 40th Anniversary of Profession at the 8.30am Mass at St. Teresa s Church at Whyalla. In Fr Jim s homily, he spoke of the importance of gathering around the table for Sunday Eucharist. But as he said, Mass is not the only table we gather around. He referred to the MSS sisters many years of visits around the kitchen table for families in remote and isolated parts of Australia, including the Port Pirie Diocese. Sr Cheryle ministered across the vast dioceses of Toowoomba and Wilcannia- Forbes, between them covering south west Queensland and western New South Wales before returning to South Australia in 1989, travelling throughout the Eyre Peninsula and inland as far as Coober Pedy and Uluru. Sr Cheryle said: They were wonderful years on the road, visiting people. I will always remember the kindness and hospitality of the many families who welcomed us into their homes, sharing their lives and their faith. After some time for study in 2001 Sr Cheryle returned to Whyalla and started working in St. Teresa s Parish, which is now the Catholic parish of Whyalla, where she has ministered for the last fourteen years. During her response to the congregation, Sr Cheryle gave thanks that she has been able to share in the lives of so many people in so many places over the years. I am deeply grateful for all your support and friendship that has sustained me in the great mission along the highways and byways of my life. Sr Cheryle said. Sr Cheryle s brother Neville and wife Jenny, Sr Stancea Vichie Congregational Leader of the Missionary Sisters of Service, Liz McAloon of the John Wallis Foundation and friends from Cleve Carmel and Kevin Baxter attended Sr Cheryle s celebration. The spirit of the MSS continues through Cheryle s ministry and the John Wallis Foundation which the MSS established seven years ago. The Foundation currently supports community initiatives across Australia including The Good Sam Inn in Whyalla. Elizabeth McAloon John Wallis Foundation Megan Abelmalek, Sr Cheryle, Rosemary Collinson and Liz McAloon Kevin Baxter, Sr Cheryle Thomson, Carmel Baxter and Sr Stancea Vichie Six Children of the Fennell family Baptised at Wintinna Station A Bush Baptism by Fr Brian Mathews, parish priest of Coober Pedy and the Inland Mission.

16 16 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Annual CWL Diocesan Retreat The annual Diocesan Retreat was held at the scenic, serene Mary Knoll Centre at Beetaloo Valley on May 11. Twenty six members and friends were welcomed by volunteer Will, who had the urn on the boil when we arrived. Sister Kerry Keenan led us in Travelling Prayerfully from Easter to Pentecost. The first session finished with the quote The Ascension of the Lord is not about looking up into the sky, but rather looking around and inside us for signs of the transcendent Christ at work in our lives After a Eucharistic service in the chapel we enjoyed a shared lunch. Session two completed our journey to Pentecost. We all benefitted from the opportunities for quiet reflection and optional sharing in peaceful surroundings. We were joined on the day by state president, Cecilia Quigley, state treasurer Joan Young and Sister Marie O Shea. Sincere thanks to Sister Kerry for leading our journey, refreshing us to cope with our busy lives. We also enjoyed renewing friendships with other members. CWL Diocesan President, Anne Redden Diocesan President Anne Redden, State President Cecilia Quigley and Sr Kerry Keenan Diocesan Retreat held at Mary Knoll house, Beetaloo Valley Voices from our Visitors on Easter Sunday Lenten Pilgrimage to seven Churches on April 8, Fr Francis, Claudine Gregor, Leonie & Teddy Coffey, Beatriz Sturgess, Suzy Amos and Enrico Azurin at the Pekina Church. Thank you for a beautiful mass this morning we love our hamper, winners are grinners!

17 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Diocesan Religious Gathering On April 3, the Religious Sisters from around the Diocese met with Leaders of their Congregations and the Bishop. Sr. Marie O Shea led us in prayerful reflection. Mass was then celebrated in the Cathedral before we all gathered at the Travelway Hotel for Dinner. 17 back - Sr Pat Hogan, Sr Gail Leslie, Sr Gabrielle Kelly, Sr Kerry Keenan middle - Sr Pam Wood, Sr Stancia Vichie, Sr Anne Higgins, Sr Cheryle Thomson front - Sr Marie O Shea, Sr Kaspar Chinnappan, Sr Christine McArthur, Sr Delma Gnanaprakasam, Sr Mary Howard, Most Rev Gregory O Kelly Honours for Peterborough CWL Three ladies from the Peterborough branch of Catholic Women s League celebrate fifty years membership this year. They are Denise O Dea, Myrtle Ayliffe and Patricia Symonds. Sadly, Patricia passed away recently, aged 97 years. Denise and Myrtle are current members. All three ladies started as school welfare members at St Joseph s School, then in 1967 these ladies, among others, became inaugural members of CWL and have continued their membership right up to this year. 50 year membership certificates were presented by the CWL Diocesan President, Anne Redden, at the Eastern Cathedral Vicariate meeting held at Jamestown on April 27. Father Leon Quinn, Diocesan CWL chaplain, celebrated Mass for these long serving members at Peterborough on Mother s Day. Congratulations ladies. Anne Redden presenting the certificate to Denise O Dea Mrs Heather Kelly celebrated her 90th Birthday on April 11. Heather enjoyed several celebrations with family and friends. She is pictured cutting her cake at the April meeting of the Crystal Brook Catholic Women s Group. Congratulations and best wishes, Heather, on this special occasion. Metal Fabrication & Construction Engineering Phone: Fax: Mobile: George Street, Port Pirie

18 18 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Roxby Downs Celebrates Palm Sunday St Barbara s Parish Roxby Downs involved both students from the school and the parish in celebrating Palm Sunday this year. Olive branches were blessed in the school car park and the students led the procession for the few hundred metres to the church. The students carried the Cross, huge olive branches and placards announcing We welcome all, We are all God s children and Hosanna, accompanied by music on a blue-tooth speaker playing Sing Hosanna as the people processed along the street. The Passion from St Matthew was shown on Powerpoint and divided into three sections. Jesus, read by Fr John Folkman, a narrator and the people who read approximately a third of the narrator s part. The participation was focused and reverent. Our parish thanks St Barbara s school for their assistance in celebrating our Palm Sunday Liturgy. Sr Patricia Hogan Woomera Celebrates 70 Years After WWII the Australian and British governments negotiated to have an area for the development of a weapons testing aerospace. Arcoona Station (owned by Kidman & Co. at the time) leased land to the Defence Department. Len Beadell surveyed the area for the construction of the town which began in 1947 and named Woomera after the Aboriginal word for spear thrower. At first the workers lived in tents, then in 1949 the first corrugated iron homes were constructed. In 1955, churches were opened for the people and the Sisters of St Joseph commenced schooling for the Catholic community. The population peaked at around 6,000 in Many priests from the diocese, the Sisters of St Joseph and teachers at the school have given inspiring witness to their care and love of the people who lived in such an isolated area. During these early years, Woomera was noted for its great community spirit which continued with great flair when USAF personnel and their families came to the town to work at Nurrungar. The Americans left Woomera in 1999, and people living in the town have gradually become less in number. In this same year, refugees were housed in the disused army barracks, not far out of town. Fr Jim Monaghan and Sr Anne Higgins OLSH were untiring in their care of these people who endured so much. There is a future for Woomera with defence personnel working on various projects. But, as with most isolated areas in modern times it will be a fly in fly out work-force. The original St Michael s Church burnt down in the 70 s due to an electrical fault, and last year the school needed to be demolished due to the amount of asbestos in the building. Even though there have been many changes in Woomera during the last 70 years, its spirit still lives in the hearts of all who shared in its history and in the lives of those whom it has touched. On Easter Sunday, we gathered at St Michael s Church to remember with gratitude and to honour, all who had contributed to the Woomera community in the last 70 years. Fr Jim Monaghan and Fr John Folkman concelebrated the joyful Easter Sunday Mass. We remember all who have been part of Saint Michael s Parish. Sr Patricia Hogan OLSH

19 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 St Rita of Casia's Feast Celebrated A group of Italian ladies faithfully celebrated the Feast of St Rita of Casia with Triduum Prayers which concluded with a Mass on Monday 22nd May at St Anthony's Church in Port Pirie. Marie Capurso has done this devotion as long as she remembers. Fr Francis Montero celebrated the Mass at 2:30pm with Fr Jimmy Pantin whose facility of the Italian language is impressive. The celebration concluded with a cuppa prepared by the Italian ladies consisting of delicious Italian sweets. St Rita is so close to the hearts of many Italian women because in her life, she showed such deep faith and love of and due diligence in her responsibilities as a wife and mother to her two sons. She joined the Augustinians later in life after the death of her husband and sons. She can be compared to St Monica, the mother of St Augustine, who prayed really hard for the conversion of her son and husband. And Monica's prayer was heard. St Rita is the patron saint for hopeless causes. Fr Francis Montero 19 Subscribe Now! For more information thewitness@pp.catholic.org.au 29 Units 3 Bedroom Cottage Fully Licensed Restaurant Swimming Pool and BBQ Area Corporate Package Rates Guest Laundry Senior Discounts back - Vittoria Tattoli, Maria Capurso, Rosa Pappagallo, Mary Mezzino, Rose Rafanelli, Matilda Corrieri, Troy Condon. front - Fr Pantin, Julia Germinario, Nick Capurso, Nancy Pisani, Maria Introna, Vera Tizio, Beatriz Sturgess, Rosa DeGioia Fr Ramel of Port Pirie Parish Celebrates 30th Birthday P & J PISANI KERB & GUTTER SPECIALISTS AND ALL CONCRETE WORK Driveways & Paths Raft Foundations & Floors Continuous Garden Edging Concrete Boom Pump Available for All Concrete Pours PORT PIRIE & SURROUNDING AREAS Mobile (from left) Fr Chris O'Neil, Bishop Greg O'Kelly, Fr Ramel, Fr Arno Vermeeren EST. SINCE 1983 Lic No. RL 22473

20 20 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Philippine Ambassador to Australia On March 28, a Civic Reception for the Philippine Ambassador to Australia, Minda Calaguian-Cruz, Filipino Priests from the Diocese of Port Pirie, together with Filipinos from Port Pirie, Whyalla and Port Augusta attended the said occasion. The event was held at the Sienna Hall (St Augustine s Parish Hall), 23 Commercial Road, Salisbury SA. standing (L-R) Nenen Demarchi, Fr Ramel Morales, Fr Francis Montero, Suzy Amos, Fr Jimmy Pantin, Jhing Thomas, Fely Joyce, Beatriz Sturgess & Fr Harold Camonias sitting (L-R) Salisbury Mayor Gillian Aldridge, Philippine Ambassador Minda Calaguian-Cruz & SA Philippine Consul General Mark McBriarty menalive Weekend With participants from Port Lincoln, Whyalla, Port Augusta and Quorn, the MenALIVE weekend was held in Port Augusta on the weekend of March 18 and 19. The menalive Team from Adelaide comprising of Peter Benn, Greg Schar, Paul Ridings, Chris Ryan and Glyn Ashman, guided the participants through the weekend. They presented talks about the Father s love, the Father s dream, the Father s Son, What then must we do? and To be Man of God. The Team presented the talks very well and they were strengthened by their personal testimonies. The participants then had an opportunity to speak with others about their response to the talks. There OPEN 7 DAYS Main Road, Port Pirie Ph was also time for prayer, silence, singing, music and Reconciliation as well as many opportunities for the men to get to know each other, share some laughs and support one another in their faith journeys and life stories. The men were well catered for with assistance from the Catholic Women s League and the French Hot Bread Shop Port Augusta. Having seen the men interact and hearing their conversation about faith, family, friends, amid laughs and mateship was inspiring, a joy, and a cause for hope I am grateful to the menalive team who generously gave of themselves to provide a time and space for the Lord to work among these men. Feel free to phone Peter Benn on or visit if you would like further information. Fr Paul Crotty

21 th e WITNESS JUNE Fr Khalid Celebrates his Silver Jubilee Normally, when a priest celebrates his Silver Jubilee of Ordination, the parish organises a special Mass and celebration. When the priest is a prison chaplain and all his parishioners are in gaol, celebrations tend to be limited. On his recent visit to Port Lincoln to visit the gaol, local priests organised a lunch treat for Father Khalid. Seen at the luncheon is jubilarian Fr Khalid Marogi, with Fathers Steve Ardill, Kevin Matthews and Adrian Head. Kevin Matthews Leo and Trish Case of Hammond were visited by their children, in-laws and grandchildren who travelled from as far as Jamestown, Ceduna and Murray Bridge to attend Easter celebrations. Robert and Carmel Smulders renewed their wedding vows on April 9, 2017 at Sts Philip and James Church, Hawker. Happy Golden Anniversary and congratulations! Over 150 members of the family of (twins) Gay and Mary Williams who married two brothers, helped celebrate their 90th Birthday at Carrieton in April.

22 22 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 New St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) State President Media Release The election for the new State President of the St Vincent de Paul Society (SA) Inc. was held on April 5, 2017 with Cathy Beaton being appointed as President Elect. Cathy Beaton s work with the St Vincent de Paul Society to date has been focused mainly in the Riverland area and in 2016 she was elected as Regional President for the Riverland/Yorke Peninsula region. Cathy s strong business background and vast professional experience in business development will see her continue to provide leadership, direction and a shared vision to the Society. Ms Beaton said I m looking forward to continuing to improve our business practices and sound governance for the St Vincent de Paul Society in South Australia and importantly to provide ongoing love, support, companionship and practical assistance to the companions we serve in our work. The new President Elect will work with the current President, Brian Spencer, during a one-month handover period at which point, on May 3, 2017 she will take up the role and its responsibilities as State President. RCIA in SA BIENNIAL STATE CONFERENCE 2017 Take Heart : New Evangelisation Retiring State President Brian Spencer said As I step down after serving as State President for four years, I would like to thank the Society staff, volunteers and community for their support during my term. I look forward to seeing how the Society will continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of the community we serve. With a clear strategic direction, the organisation is following a path, which will help to ensure it continues to provide emergency assistance, food, shelter, comfort and friendship for those we assist. Legion of Honour Award Guest Speakers Bishop Paul Bird CSsR Sharon Brewer ALPHA Team Mount Lofty House, 74 Mt Lofty Summit Road, Crafers 6 8 October 2017n Guest Speakers Rob Cosgrove, Chair CIAN Margaret Speechley, Director MFP Rev Dr Michael Trainor, Senior Lecturer ACU Includes Conference Dinner and a choice of activities on Saturday afternoon For enquiries please contact Lyn Howland - Office for Worship (08) lhowland@ow.adelaide.catholic.org.au Long time Loxton parishioner Howard Hendrick, along with three other SA Veterans, was recently awarded the French military s highest service medal The Legion of Honour. Howard was a RAAF pilot during the second World War and conducted many missions over Europe. He has remained a faithful Loxton RSL member ever since whilst raising his family in the Riverland. The French Ambassador to Australia presented Howard with his medal in Adelaide during a ceremony on April 20 this year. Aged 93, Howard still manages to fly a plane each month when he visits the Aero Club in Renmark and is an active member of the Loxton Catholic and wider community.

23 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 Feast Day Celebrations in Barmera 23 St Joseph's School in Barmera celebrated on Monday May 22, with Twilight Carnival, and on the Tuesday we had a Guernsey Day. On Wednesday we celebrated mass with all the Catholic Schools in the Riverland. On Thursday we had a switch off Day and on Friday we had Walk to School Day together with a Grandparent and Special People Morning Tea Insurance Brokers For all your general insurance needs Farm Crop Business Home & Contents Motor Vehicle Boat Personal Accident & Illness mga.com 25 Norman St, Port Pirie AFSL S.D.CAPUTO AND SONS Fresh Seafood South Australian Seafood Retailer of the Year Award Winner Delivering all your Fresh & Frozen Seafood to WHYALLA - PT AUGUSTA - CLARE - THE COPPER COAST - PT BROUGHTON Phone our Friendly Staff for Further Details Find us on facebook Ph Fisherman's Wharf, Port Pirie Specialising in Financial Advice Wealth Creation Asset Protection Retirement Planning Debt Management H HUNTER FINANCIAL SERVICES H HUNTER FINANCIAL SERVICES Phone our qualified, friendly staff on , or visit us at Level 1, Flinders Arcade, 82 Ellen St, Port Pirie

24 th e WITNESS JUNE 2017 DIOCESAN INFORMATION Parish Contacts and Mass Times Around the Diocese Our Lady of the River Parish Berri Fr Paul Bourke PP Phone olor@bigpond.com Sunday Mass 1st, 3rd, 5th 9.00am 2nd, 4th Saturday 6.30pm Barmera Fr John Stuart-James Phone Sunday Mass 1st, 3rd & 5th 6.00pm 2nd, 4th 11.00am Waikerie 1st, 3rd & 5th Sunday 11.00am 2nd & 4th Saturday 6.00pm Morgan 1st, 3rd, 5th Saturday 6.00pm Sunday Mass 2nd, 4th 9.00am Loxton Phone Fax Sunday Mass 1st, 3rd & 5th 11.00am 2nd & 4th 6.00pm Renmark Fr Paul Bourke PP Phone Fax olor@bigpond.com 1st, 3rd & 5th Saturday 6.30pm Sunday Mass 2nd & 4th 9.00am Booleroo Centre Fr Benjamin Mkuchu PP Phone/Fax booleroocentre@bigpond.com Sunday Mass 8.30am 5th Sunday 10.00am Laura 1st Sunday 10.00am Pekina 2nd Sunday 10.00am Wirrabara 3rd Sunday 10.00am Orroroo 4th Sunday 10.00am Burra Fr Jack Otto SJ PP Phone Fax Cleve Mgr Paul Quirk Phone stvincentcleve@bigpond.com Cleve 1st & 5th Sunday Vigil 6.00pm Saturday 2nd Sunday 9.00am (LWHC) 3rd Sunday 11.00am 4th Sunday 8.30am Wudinna 1st & 5th Sunday 8.30am 2nd Sunday Vigil 6.00pm Saturday 3rd Sunday 9.00am (LWHC) 4th Sunday 11.00am Kimba 1st & 5th Sunday 11.00am 2nd Sunday 8.30am 3rd Sunday Vigil 6.00pm Saturday 4th Sunday 9.00am (LWHC) Cowell 1st Sunday 9.00am (LWHC) 2nd Sunday 11.00am 3rd Sunday 8.30am 4th Sunday Vigil 6.00pm Saturday 5th Sunday 5.00pm Coober Pedy Fr Brian Mathews PP Phone Fax inlandmission.cp@bigpond.com Sunday Mass [Vigil] 6.30pm 10.00am Cummins Fr Kevin Matthews PP Phone Mob cumminsparish@pp.catholic.org.au Cummins 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays 10.30am 2nd & 4th Sunday 8.00am Tumby Bay 1st & 3rd Sunday 8.00am 2nd & 4th Sunday 10.30am 5th Sunday 5.00pm Elliston 1st to 4th Sunday 5.00pm 5th 8.00am Lock 3rd & 5th Saturday 9.00am Port Neill Phone for more information Gladstone Mgr Arthur Hackett PP Phone ajbhackett@bigpond.com 1st, 3rd & 5th Sunday 9.30am Georgetown 2nd & 4th Sunday 9.30am Jamestown Fr Leon Quinn PP Phone stjacobi@bigpond.com Sunday Mass [Vigil] 7.00pm & 9.00am Kadina Fr Adrian Noonan PP Phone stvincentcleve@bigpond.com Kadina 10.30am Moonta 8.30am Wallaroo [Vigil] 6.00pm (winter) 7.00pm (Summer) Peterborough Fr Leon Quinn PP Phone Sunday Mass 11.00am Pt Augusta Fr Paul Crotty PP Phone Fax allsaints.pt.a@bigpond.com Sunday Mass [Vigil] 6.30pm & 10.30am Wilmington Sunday 8.30am Pt Lincoln Fr Steve Ardill PP Phone smoa@bigpond.net.au Sunday Mass [Vigil] 6.00pm 9.00am Youth Mass monthly Sunday 6pm Check with Parish for dates Coffin Bay 1st Sunday 6.00pm Pt Pirie Fr Francis Montero Phone Fax cathedralpirie@bigpond.com Sunday Mass Cathedral [Vigil] 6.00pm 10.30am Solomontown 5.00pm Crystal Brook 8.30am Quorn Fr Jimmy Pantin PP Phone flinderscath04@yahoo.com.au Sunday Mass 8.30 am Carrieton Saturday 6.00pm (Winter) Saturday 6.30pm (Summer) Hawker Sunday am Leigh Creek 1st Sunday 5.00 pm Roxby Downs Fr John Folkman PP Phone Office Fax Roxby Downs Saturday 6.00pm Lutheran Church Pioneer Drv Sundays by arrangement with Parish Priest Woomera by arrangement with Parish Priest Snowtown Phone/Fax Streaky Bay Fr Matthew Newman PP fr.mnewman@gmail.com Sunday Mass 11.00am 5th Sunday 5.00pm Ceduna [Vigil] Saturday 6.00pm Chandada 1st, 3rd & 5th Sunday 9.00am Minnipa 2nd Sunday 9.00am Wirrula 3rd Sunday 5.00pm Whyalla Fr Jim Monaghan PP Phone Fax jgmon7@hotmail.com St Teresa s Our Lady s whysaint@internode.on.net Saturday 6.00pm Sunday 8.30am 10.30am & 5.30pm (except January)