Mini WYD13

Mini WYD13 in the neighbouring parishes and schools of Diamond Valley Deanery:
Encountering Christ and celebrating Faith with young people
 
World Youth Day Rio13 brought together parishes and schools from the Diamond Valley Deanery last 26-28 July for a weekend of activities highlighted by the pilgrimage by train and bus plus sleep out and Vigil in Loyola College, Watsonia. Since not everybody had the resources to attend the WYDRio 13, the event allowed Youth and friends to celebrate faith and solidarity with WYDRio13 pilgrims. The participation of parishes and three schools was great and very much appreciated. A collaborative Church event thoughtfully organized by Sr Nelia Llanto who is College-Home-Parish Liaison Person at Loyola College, Watsonia, and with the help of Sr Ignacia Coching who Pastoral Associate at St Francis of Assisi Parish, Mill Park. Sr Stefanina, Sister Disciple of the Divine Master also took part in the pilgrimage. 
 
 
The WYD Local began on Friday evening, 26 July, with the Youth Group of Our Lady of the Way Kingsbury Parish organizing a movie night for the young people who had registered for the event. In the  movie, The Unspeakable” the message of love, simplicity, openness and choosing always the best option in life were portrayed.
Early the following day, Saturday 27 July, the participants gathered at Sacred Heart Parish, Diamond Creek to embark on the pilgrimage by train and then by bus. The pilgrims were presented with WYD name tags, booklets with complete local events, prayer and liturgy, and a little cross as a souvenir. The participants were then welcomed by Raymond Isla and Vivein Zuosola who were MCs and facilitators of the entire program, and all was set for the Pilgrim Prayer Blessing imparted by Fr. Terry Bergin, PP Our Lady of the Way Parish.
 
Then embarking the Hurstbridge Train Stations, the event continued listening to the Catechesis in Our Lady Help of Christians, Eltham, delivered by Fr. Michael O’Connell, PP of St. Martin of Tours Parish, and  Catechesis at St. Francis Xavier Parish, Montmorency,  delivered Fr. Steven Rigo, PP of St. Mary’s Parish. The reflections on the theme “Go and make disciples of all nations” was enriched by the life testimony of Emily Geordadis and other participants.
 
The Catechesis was followed by Adoration and Rosary at St Francis of Assisi parish, Mill Park, facilitated by Fr. Anthony Girolami PP and Fr. Varghese and joined by Life Teens from the parish.
From Mill Park the group caught the bus to visit Villa Maria Aged Care Residence in Bundoora where a musical performance was organized by some of the young pilgrims, Joseph Kanniah, Evangeline and Rosalie Santos Furtado and local artist Genevieve Bryant. The experience of being with the elderly was very powerful and so moving that made each one reflect on how God is very close to us especially in moments of difficulties. It was also a challenge to continue adhering to the Pope’s invitation to “be disciples” to each other.
 
From Villa Maria the youth walked to Parade College, Bundoora, where they stopped for an hour’s fun and games led by Rachel Roche. From Villa Maria the pilgrims walked to St. Damian’s Church for Mass celebrated by Fr. Vincent Le, PP of St Damian’s, Bundoora. The Eucharistic celebration was followed by the WYD Dinner prepared by the Couples for Christ. After dinner, the group processed to Loyola College, Watsonia for a Vigil carrying the Youth Deanery Cross. The experience of standing around the Cross glittered by lighted candles in the solemnity and quietude of the night was very moving. Thanks to the NET Team (National Evangelization Team) who facilitated the evening through activities and reflection using the Word of God, the young people were encouraged to respond in any form of prayer highlighting for themselves the relevance of the WYD theme “Go, make disciples”. The Vigil concluded with a night sleep out at the College.
 
It was a restful and peaceful night that prepared everybody for the Sunday morning praise and breakfast after which everyone proceeded to the Old Loyola Chapel for Mass and Commissioning with Fr. Joseph Chua, OCSO as celebrant (read homily). The liturgy was animated by the fantastic singing and commitment of Life Teens from Mill Park.
 
Thanks be to God all went well smoothly and graced by God’s presence. Abundant blessings as well for the provisions provided by Sacred Heart Parish, Diamond Creek; St. Thomas the Apostles Parish, North Greensborough; Loyola College, Watsonia; Bakers Delight Bundoora and many friends who in one way or another contributed much in the realization of the event. The contributions of the Pastorelle Sisters, Couple for Christ, the Youth for Christ and St. Damian’s Youth Group were so enormous. The promotion of the event by CLC Catholic Ladies College, Eltham and the Parish of Mernda, Whitlesea and Kinglake Parishes added to the wider community’s awareness that the Church cares for our young people. Above all, the encompassing generosity and pastoral heart of Loyola College to reach out the neighbouring parishes and schools spearheaded the event celebrated. God bless them all.
 
 

Sr Nelia Llanto

Cardinal Tagle

Visit of Cardinal Luis Antonio to Loyola College

Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, Archbishop of Manila, visited the Archdiocese of Melbourne in August 2014 as part of the Archbishop’s Office for Evangelization International Speakers Program. He led an inspirational Lectio Divina and celebrated Mass for about 2,000 people at St Patrick's Cathedral. The music was provided by the Filipino Grand Chorus of Melbourne.  The event was a powerful witness of the people of God gathered around the Word and the Eucharist, nourished for mission. 

Due to the brevity of the Cardinals’ time in Melbourne, Loyola College (Watsonia) was one of few places chosen for a visit. The blessing of the International House of Studies provided
the happy occasion on 8th August, feast of St Mary Mackillop of the Cross. The visit was
 especially significant for us since Sr Nelia Llanto sjbp is the College-Family-Parish Liaison Person at Loyola College and Cardinal Tagle has been a good friend of the Pastorelle Sisters in the Philippines from when he was a young priest.

It was indeed a privilege for the Loyola College community to welcome Cardinal Tagle as their honoured Pastor guest, and for us Pastorelle to be part of the occasion.

After the blessing of the International House, the Cardinal shared the story of his vocation and made a big impression on everyone present, especially the students who asked him many questions.

Mr Joe Favrin, Principal of Loyola College, together with his dedicated Staff and the participation of the school captains and students from Mackillop House made the day an unforgettable event in the history of the College. The gift that the College amiably gave Cardinal Tagle will be for him a reminder of his very welcome visit to Loyola College.
We give thanks!

                                                                                              Sr Mary La Bruna sjbp

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remembering Bl James Alberione

Melbourne:  St Joseph the Worker parish, North Reservoir

It is an annual tradition for us to gather as a Pauline Family to commemorate the anniversary of death of Blessed James Alberione and to do so in the different parishes where we work in Melbourne.

This year we celebrated the event on 22nd November in the parish of St Joseph the Worker, North Reservoir, where Sr Estelita Manabo is involved in pastoral care ministry alongside Fr Manny Bonello, parish priest.

Mass was attended by a large number of our Pauline Cooperators -Friends of Jesus Good Shepherd -  together with the usual Saturday evening  congregation. Fr Manny kindly agreed for Sr Estelita to talk during Mass about Fr Alberione, his life, inspiration and foundation of the Pauline Family. This fitted in beautifully with the feast of Christ the King and the mission of the Pauline Family to live and to give Jesus Christ, way truth and life to the world using the most modern means of social communication. Many parishioners expressed their gratitude after Mass for the opportunity of a deeper knowledge of Alberione and the 10 branches making up the Pauline Family including our own Congregation.  

We were most grateful to Fr Manny for his exquisite hospitality and support of the event in his parish. The Tuesday Italian Group that works closely with Sr Estelita, very generously provided and helped serve the refreshments after Mass and for this we are very much indebted do them.

May Blessed James Alberione intercede for us that we may grow in our love for Jesus and his Gospel and share the gift with all we meet.

The Pauline Family in Melbourne

The celebration of 100 years of foundation of the Pauline Family is for us a time to rejoice, to remember, to give thanks and to renew our trust that the work that God has begun will be brought to completion in his time.

On Saturday 30th August 2014, members of the Pauline Family in Melbourne gathered with a group of Cooperators and Friends for a day of reflection on the origins of the Pauline Family focusing mainly on our founder, Blessed James Alberione, Venerable Mother Thecla Merlo, Venerable Mother Scholastica Rivataand and Blessed Timothy Giaccardo. The day was facilitated by Sr Doreen sjbp and it included input from members of the Pauline Family, time for quiet prayer and a shared lunch.

At the Start of the day Sr Doreen gave a brief presentation of Fr Alberione. She quoted the words that Paul VI used to describe him at the audience of 1969 when Alberione was 85 years old. He is a marvel of our time. “Here he is: humble, silent, tireless, always vigilant, ever recollected in his thoughts that run from prayer to work, ever attentive to the ‘signs of the times, ‘ that is, the most ingenious forms of reaching souls, our Fr. Alberione has given the church new instruments to express herself, new means to add vigor and breadth to her apostolate, a new capability and new awareness of the validity of the possibilities of her mission in the modern world and with modern means”… Doreen also made reference to the title Pope John Paul II attributed to him as “prophet of the new evangelization”.

Sr Doreen also reminded us of the great love Fr. Alberione had for his sons and daughters in 6 continents and how, we are told, he stood each night before an open window in his small bedroom, to bless them all.

Sr Estelita sjbp presented the ten branches that make up the Pauline Family, giving a brief description of each literature and highlighting the reality of the world into witch Alberione felt called to do something for the people of the 20th century.

Sr Mildred fsp shared a lovely PPT presentation on Venerable mother Thecla Merlo, co-foundress of the Daughters of St. Paul. She portrayed her as a woman of great faith and passion for the mission entrusted to her and companions. One quote from Sr Mildred’s presentation captures something of her spirit: “I am extremely happy with my vocation. I wish I had a thousand lives so as to dedicate them all to this noble apostolate, evening the midst of many troubles and problems.”

Sr Paolina pddm felt privileged to speak of Venerable Mother M. Scholastica Rivita, the first sister disciples of the Divine Master and first Mother General who distinguished herself for her trust in God and whose motto throughout her life had been: “Lord, you alone are enough”. A disciple imbued with a wisdom drawn daily from Eucharist and the Word of God. Sr Paolina also made reference to Mother Scholastica’s unwavering obedience to the directives of the Founder and her love for her sisters.

Sr. Doreen sjbp also spoke of Blessed Timothy Giaccardo who was the first priest in the Society of St Paul and who served as the Vicar General of the society which Fr Alberione had founded in 1914. He became alberione’s “right hand man” and closest friend and was called him the “most faithful of the faithful”.

At the conclusion of the day, our co-operators were invited to contribute their impressions and ask questions, such as: “you all have different works, do you have something in common?” We answered: “We have the one father and our main devotion is to Jesus, The Way, The Truth and The Life.

We all then finished with Prayer and the invitation to come together again for the Eucharistic celebration in commemoration of the 43rd anniversary of the death of Fr. Alberione, which will be celebrated at St Joseph the Worker Parish, North Reservoir  on 22nd November 2014.