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CANONISATION OF PADRE PIO
On Monday our time in St Peter's Square Pope John Paul II will canonise Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (Francesco Forgione 1887-1968).
Padre Pio was born in southern Italy. He was ordained a priest of the Capuchin Franciscan Order in 1910 and from 1916 lived most of the rest of his life at San Giovanni Rotondo. In 1918 the stigmata (the wounds of crucifixion) appeared on his hands and feet. He became famous throughout the Catholic world and brought about many conversions through the combination of his profound spirituality and his astonishing supernatural gifts.
You can make the acquaintance of Padre Pio in words and pictures here: http://www.ewtn.com/padrepio/
There's also a fine photograph on the current EWTN home page: http://www.ewtn.com
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SEXUAL ABUSE SCANDAL
In the past few days the United States Catholic bishops have been meeting to work out a 'Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, and guidelines fo dealing with allegations of abuse by clergy and other Church personnel.
Statements and documents from the bishops' meeting are linked on the US bishops' Website: http://www.usccb.org
An article in the UK newspaper The Tablet, "Bishops in the crossfire", covers the background to the present scandals and summarises the various opinions on what should be done differently in future: http://www.thetablet.co.uk/cgi-bin/archive_db.cgi?tablet-00637
In his opening address to the meeting, the President of the US Bishops' Conference covers similar ground to The Tablet article and specifically acknowledges the bishops' responsibility for what happened: http://www.ewtn.com/vnews/getstory.asp?number=27425
Reports from the secular press on the bishops' meeting and on the continuing investigation of complaints of abuse are linked here: http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc/us/catholic_church_abuse_scandal
***************************** "Church must not be silent on abusive priests " (Letter to the Editor, and response by Catholic Communications NZ) Otago Daily Times 15 June 2002 [Full text follows]
I am disturbed to read ( ODT , 20.5.02) that a senior source in the Roman Catholic Church believes that the church has "no legal or moral responsibility" to expose abusive priests, provided that they believe the priest will not abuse again. Does this simply mean that they have no morals? The Rev Gianfranco Ghirlanda is quoted as saying that bishops must protect the "good name" of their priests, apparently in fear that if exposed the priest would not be able to carry on his work. That is the point! These obnoxious beasts must, on release from prison, never be allowed within a mile of another church choir.
May we have a clear and unequivocal assurance from the heads of the church in New Zealand that each and every allegation of a transgression of this type will immediately be referred to the police for investigation and possible prosecution? It is not enough to remain silent on these matters as to do so is to assume equal guilt. I urge all members of the Catholic Church to tell their hierarchy, in total unambiguous terms, exactly what is expected of them in this area. R.E. Mawson, Mosgiel
[Lyndsay Freer, National Communications Director for the Catholic Church, replies:
"The healing of those who have been offended against, and the protection of all vulnerable people in our community from such abuse, is the primary consideration of the Catholic Church in New Zealand. Our procedures for dealing with complaints of sexual abuse are contained in a public document called A Path to Healing. This can be viewed on our website - http://www.catholic.org.nz.
"In past times, the church, like other professions and groups in society, did not fully realise the recidivistic nature of paedophilia. This is now clearly understood, and offenders today are promptly removed from public ministry. All complaints of sexual abuse are taken seriously and fully investigated by the church. Complainants who wish to take their complaint to the police are given every assistance by the church to do so. However, some do not wish to go to the police and request confidentiality before they will proceed with a complaint. We have to respect their wishes in this regard, even though reporting to the police might be a preferred option. I can assure your correspondent that there is no question of protection' for sexual offenders in the Catholic Church in New Zealand today."]
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BISHOP POMPALLIER
This weekend, in its Spectrum documentary series, Radio New Zealand will broadcast "Bishop Pompallier and the Martins" in which David Steemson visits 'Pompallier' on the Russell sea front in the Bay of Islands, site of Bishop Pompallier's Catholic Mission for Maori established in 1839. This year Bishop Pompallier's remains were returned to New Zealand to the delight of many, particularly Kate Martin, Manager of Pompallier at Russell and her namesake Father Chris Martin, Marist Priest in the Bay of Islands.... First broadcast: Sunday 16 June 2002 12:33 pm; re-broadcast Tuesday 18 June at 9:06 pm.
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FROM THE SECULAR PRESS
"Parcel bombing remains a puzzle " Otago Daily Times 15-June 2002 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=15Jun2002&obje\ ct=I5H25I3676ER&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial A respected Dunedin solicitor, James Ward, was killed when he opened a mystery box at his offices 40 years ago. He was a devout Roman Catholic and remembered by his good friend, the Bishop of Dunedin as, "honest and straight and loyal, He was a fine upstanding Christian who knew what he believed in and believed in what he knew". Who did it and why? ...
"Conflict Leads to Collaboration" A joint media statement by the Jewish, Palestinian, Islamic and Christian communities of New Zealand. Friday, 14 June 2002 http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PO0206/S00079.htm Ongoing Middle Eastern conflict has led to representatives from the Jewish, Palestinian, Islamic and Christian communities working together to promote respect and harmony among all New Zealanders - regardless of faith. A joint statement released by the group today expressed their sorrow over all the innocent lives lost in the conflict and also their hope of seeing a peaceful end to the conflict....
"Relaunched book celebrates Reefton's Catholic heritage" (photo) The Press (Chch) 12 June 2002 http://www.stuff.co.nz/inl/index/0,1008,1231837a1919,FF.html [The Full text of the report follows. However the linked page includes a photo of the interior of Sacred Heart Church] The Sacred Heart parish in Reefton marked its centenary in 1974, and historian Tony Fortune, a parishioner, has updated the centennial record to cover the following 28 years. Incidents during that time included the presbytery fire of 1979, the departure of the Sisters of Mercy after 90 years of ministry, parish school integration in 1982, and the losing and regaining of Murchison. The book was launched, fittingly, on the Feast of the Sacred Heart with a Holy Hour, Mass, and dinner. The Reefton parish extends to Ikamatua, Murchison, and the Maruia Valley. Mr Fortune said the updated history also included full lists of the nuns and priests who served at Sacred Heart from its opening in May 1874 to the present day.
"Ceremony initiates new era at college" Otago Daily Times 11-June 2002 http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/search-display-story-online-new?date=11Jun2002&obje\ ct=0610911111&type=html&WORDS=catholic&DB=Editorial At 90 years of age, one of North Otago's "grand old ladies" is getting a major face-lift. A simple ceremony at the gates of Teschemakers College, the former Catholic girls' boarding school just inland from Kakanui, marked the start of a redevelopment with an estimated cost of between $5 million and $8 million, to turn it into an international postgraduate school of health and science....
"Learning experience " The Press (Chch) 10/6/2002 [Summary. Full text not available on-line] Catholic Cathedral College's First XV trip to Queensland provides the 19 students with more than just a chance to play competitive rugby. Fundraising for the trip has been a learning experience for the students, and the trip will be an opportunity to mix with people from other countries, says the coach and Cathedral College teacher Daniel Dungey. "This is the first time the school rugby has done anything like this in its 16-year- history. It's been a huge undertaking that has involved the boys, their parents, and their extended families."
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VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD
"Married priests welcome: Celibacy rules don't apply to all in Catholic priesthood " Seattle Times/The Dallas Morning News 15 June 2002 http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134475142_marriedpriest15m.html
[In this article about former Episcopalian (American Anglican) married clergy who have become Catholic priests, Fr John Gremmels, his family and his parishioners speak about the problems and prospects of married clergy in the Catholic Church with special reference to the importance of the Mass in Catholic life and the increasing shortage of priests to celebrate it.]
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CATHOLIC WEB TV http://catholictv.net (Wellington Archdiocesan Media Office)
Theme of the month: Adversity This week's interviewee: Therese O'Sullivan has a daughter with a rare medical condition that has had a major impact on her and her family...
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EVENTS
**************************** Workshops for youth leaders lead by Bob and Maggie McCarty of the US Catholic bishops' National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry
Wellington: Connolly Hall, Guilford Terrace, Wellington, 17 June 2002, 7pm to 10 pm Entrance fee: $10 (includes a catered supper). Further information from the National Council for Young Catholics: ncyc@clear.net.nz
Auckland : St Columba Centre, Friday 5 July, 7-9 pm Further seminars on 6 and 9 July Details in 'NZ Catholic' 2 June 2002 p. 21 and on http://www.youthministry.org.nz/McCarty.htm *****************************
June - September 2002 Essay and Art Competition: "God's greatest treasure - Life " For entrants 12 years and over. Sponsored by Family Life International * Visual art category * Essay category Prizes in each category for each of three age groups: 1st: $500; 2nd: $200; 3rd: $100 Full details, entry form and information pack from Family Life International, PO Box 56423 Dominion Rd. Auckland 1030. tel. 0800 367 5433 / (09) 623 4026; e-mail: life@fli.org.nz
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EMPLOYMENT
(Teaching vacancies in New Zealand Catholic schools are advertised in the Education Gazette: http://www.edgazette.govt.nz/vacancies )
(Vacancies in Catholic Youth Ministry are advertised on the Job Bank page of the National Council for Young Catholics: http://ncyc.org.nz )
Bishop's Assistant for Pastoral, Liturgical and Catechetical Formation, Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North To assist parishes with liturgy and sacramental catechesis. Knowledge of Te Reo Maori and Tikanga Maori required. Details from: Bishops' Secretary, Private Bag 11012, Palmerston North. Tel.: 06 357 1980. Applications close 28 June 2002
