Vol 17 Issue 66 Summer 2017 14,400 distributed to Find Sister Flora ‘Fr J Says’ P 14 The Oldest Shopping Centre in the Area Serving You THE MARKET PLACE BALLA URA J 8am - 8pm every day Stillitano’s 500 Alexander Dr MALAGA 9249 2333 For Before & After School Care at MacKillop Ring 0447 019 567 Cr. John McNamara 9249 5039 Serving Ballajura since 1997 Authorised by J McNamara 6 Lorikeet Ht Ballajura (08) 9409 4517 9248 3822 [email protected]Rita Saffioti MLA YOUR LOCAL LABOR MP Saffioti Rita Fighting for You Authorised by Rita Saffioti, 1/23 Exhibition Dr, Malaga. Advertisement Mary MacKillop Primary School Principal Art Lombardi believes St. Mary MacKillop is always looking over his shoulder. Art is pictured in front of a statue of Mary outside the church at Ballajura. See page 25 Mary MacKillop Xmas Mass Times See Back Page
Transcript
Vol 17 Issue 66 Summer 201714,400 distributed to
Find Sister Flora ‘Fr J Says’ P 14
The Oldest Shopping Centre in the Area
ServingYou
THE MARKET PLACE
BALLA URA J
8am - 8pm every day
Stillitano’s
500 Alexander DrMALAGA
9249 2333
ForBefore &
After SchoolCare
at MacKillop
Ring0447 019
567
Cr. John McNamara
9249 5039Serving Ballajura since 1997Authorised by J McNamara 6 Lorikeet Ht Ballajura
Fighting for YouAuthorised by Rita Saffioti, 1/23 Exhibition Dr, Malaga.
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Mary MacKillop Primary School Principal Art Lombardi believes St. Mary MacKillop is always looking overhis shoulder. Art is pictured in front of a statue of Mary outside the church at Ballajura.See page 25
MaryMacKillopXmas Mass
Times See
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2 CrossRoads News - Building Local Bridges Between Local People
The CrossRoads Where Locals Make News
www.vbp.com.au500 Alexander Dr Malaga 9249 2333
Alex & Flora Club
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& After
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Mary MacKillop
Our Australian political scene seems to be in a state of utter chaos.
There is a whirlwind of debate and comment over what everyone acknowledges is a non issue altogether - the dual citizen fiasco. It is bizarre when 25% of Australians have been born overseas.
Is this what security of a nation is about? A witch hunt based on a clause in the 100 year old Constitution. Checking the birthplaces of parents of our politicians to ascertain their allegiance to a “foreign power”, in case they should commit high treason.
Meanwhile the really big issues that influence how Australians live or die - the euthanasia campaign, is swept to the margins and just a few interested parties on either side are having their say.
Euthanasia is illegal in Australia on a federal level but states and territories have legislated on the issue. It was legal for a period in the Northern Territory and as of October 2017 legislation to allow assisted suicide has passed the legislative assembly of the Parliament of the state of Victoria (47 to 37 votes). It is now in the Upper House of Victoria for debate. But does anyone care?
One time Prime Minister Paul Keating hopes it will fail - “the passage of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill through the Victorian lower house is truly a sad moment for the whole country.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, said he was not a supporter of euthanasia.
New South Wales is the next cab off the rank after the failures of Tasmania (2013) and South Australia (2016) in recent years.
It is worrying to have such an important life and death issue decided by a relatively small margin of votes. In the recent Victorian parliament there was a less than 7% swing. If six of the 84 had voted ‘no’ it would have failed.
It is now the thin edge of the wedge. It will be more than interesting if Victoria becomes the first State which Australians can flock to in order to be euthanased. Hopefully after attending a match at the MCG, footy in the winter and cricket in the summer!
Surely the life and death issues legislated by our parliamentarians should be judged on a significant majority and not a slender margin.
Our politicians need to hear more public debate and voices of genuine wisdom to guide the deliberations.
Mercy College is one of the ‘Top 10 Schools’ in WA for getting it’s graduating students into their first choice of university courses. 79% of Mercy College’s Year Twelve ATAR graduates were offered their preferred university course.
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Residents in Meadowview Drive Ballajura were subjected to the unwanted attention of riot clad police breaking up an out of control teenage party at around 10pm on November 10.
With an original guest list of around 40 according to Rachel Dweh mother of the host, reports claim some 200 turned up.
These days it is down to the mobile phone that can rally hundreds of youths in a matter of minutes all looking for a good time or trouble.
The same device that gathers the crowd - the mobile phone - also records the police operation and is posted on the web.
The Canine Section and Mounted Police units were in attendance to break up the party. Fights broke out among the revellers and some turned on police. Two teenagers were issued with infringement notices.
MacKillopXmas Mass
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Diamond Jubilee
Alex and Flora Club Vacation Care
Limited Places Don’t Miss OutBookings EssentialBook Nowat Youth Dungeon at MacKillop
RIGHT: Diamond Jubillarians Phyllis and Mervyn Woulfe were married back in 1957. They recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Pictured with a special blessing from Pope Francis, presented by Fr. John Jegorow
Just Married
LEFT: Adrian Versace of Woodvale and Leisa Quick of Ballajura recently exchanged their marriage vows before their family and friends at St Michael the Archangel Chapel in West Leederville.
Birthdays Baptism
Mother and daughter Rose and Divvya Doss recently celebrated their birthdays at a local restaurant with family and friends.
Helen and Mel Imlay are all smiles and proud of their grand children Georgia and Joseph Madison who was recently baptised.
RIGHT: Good things can sometimes come in pairs. Like the twins Alkan and Nathan who were recently baptised. Pictured with parents Liza and Christopher.
Each year, Australia Post releases Christmas stamps that celebrate the Christmas holiday as
we know it in Australia today, spanning both traditional and secular themes. The release date was November 1.
The two traditional designs from the Christmas 2017 stamp issue each feature a painting of the Madonna and Child projected onto the façade of St Mary’s Cathedral, Sydney. Every Christmas since 2010, the cathedral has been host to the Lights of Christmas, a digital animated light and sound display that illuminates the church with themes of peace, joy and goodwill. This public event, by AGB Events, has proved very popular, and in 2016 attracted a crowd of around 300,000 people. The stamps were designed by Andrew Hogg Design.
The three secular-themed stamps were designed by Jo Muré of the Australia Post Design Studio. The bright and graphic imagery also presents the themes of joy and goodwill, via carefully wrapped gifts, cheerful chiming bells and a star-spangled Christmas tree.
65c Madonna and ChildThe 65c Christmas-card-rate stamp shows a projection from the 2013 Lights of Christmas display. The painting is a copy of a now lost work by Italian artist Roberto Ferruzzi (1853–1934). The much loved original painting, known as the Madonnina or the Madonna of the Streets, was awarded a major prize at the
1897 Venice Biennale. Often reproduced as a devotional image, it survives in countless copies.
$2.30 Small Cowper MadonnaThe $2.30 international-rate stamp shows the Small Cowper Madonna by Renaissance artist Raphael
(1483–1520). This work, projected onto the cathedral in 2014, was painted in oil on panel around 1505. The painting is in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, USA. Another Renaissance artist, Carlo Crivelli (ca. 1430–1495), painted the Madonna and Child on the minisheet. Painted in tempera on panel ca. 1482–3, this work is now in the Accademia Carrara in Bergamo, Italy.
65c Christmas treeThis Christmas-card-rate stamp features a graphic illustration of a shiny star-spangled Christmas tree.
65c GiftsThis Christmas-card-rate stamp features a graphic illustration of bow-topped Christmas gifts.
$2 BellsThis international-Christmas-card-rate stamp features chiming festive bells.
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Ballajura Liquor Barons Store may have been in the doldrums over the last few months but now it has wind in its sails and it is full speed ahead with brand new owners at the helm, in Paul and Luciana Baran.
The store is stocked from top to bottom with beer, wine, champagne, sparkling wine, reds, whites, pinots, malbecs and anything and everything in between, to a value of some quarter of a million dollars.
The new proprietors are young, friendly and vivacious. Proud parents of a 7 year old boy. They are keen to serve their customers with the best drinks available to make everyone’s party a resounding success. They not only believe but act like customer service is everything.
Both have a retail and managerial background and hope to make the business a winner.
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They took over on October 25th and are determined to woo back any lost customers on account of several weeks of depleted shelves in the store that was the result of the final negotiations with previous owners and management.
The store is back to its crisp, bright displays and awaiting final additions of a few bottles from select wineries.
Paul and Luciana Baran, new managers at Ballajura Liquor Barons
MaryMacKillopXmas Mass
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BCC Student Off on a Queensland AdventureBallajura Community College student Liban Rind has been offered an amazing opportunity to take part in a nine-day residential programme in Queensland in December.
The Year 10 student has been granted a scholarship to travel to Townsville for the Aboriginal Summer School for Excellence in Technology and Science (ASSETS), a programme for high-achieving Indigenous Year 10 students with an interest in science.
ASSETS is held in Adelaide, Newcastle and Townsville each year. Liban applied for the Townsville school as it has a marine science focus and said he couldn’t wait to go.
“There will be students there from all over Australia,” he said. “I am looking forward to meeting them and learning more about Aboriginal culture and the land.
“This will also be a good opportunity to gain knowledge I can use for the future. I chose the marine science stream as I am interested in studying the ocean and the animals in it. It could be a
career path I would like to follow.”
Students attending the programme will have an opportunity to connect with their culture and be involved in a variety of cultural experiences, learning about traditional medicine, bush tucker, art, music, dance and cooking.
There will also be immersive scientific activities with two academic providers from the local area. In Townsville these will be James Cook University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
Workshops on leadership and personal development will also allow students to explore career options and help with planning for senior schooling and beyond. One of the benefits of the ASSETS programme is that it also offers ongoing leadership and support to help nurture students through Years 11 and 12.
The scholarship includes return airfares, meals and accommodation. ASSETS is managed by CSIRO and funded by the BHP Billiton Foundation.
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Since 1986Authorised by Adam Kovalevs 119 Jacaranda Dr Ballajura WA 6066
It is a privilege to be running as your candidate in the upcoming local election. I want to help make our community stronger, safer and better for all. If you would like to know more about my vision for Ballajura or would just like to have a chat please contact me.
Email: [email protected] Phone:0449669575 Facebook: Adam Kovalevs for Ballajura Ward
It is a privilege to be your Councillor in Ballajura. I want to help make our community stronger, safer and better for all. If you would like to know more about my vision for Ballajura or would just like to have a chat please contact me.
Councillor for Ballajura Ward
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Shop 1/746 Marshall Rd Malaga Next Door to the Medical Centre
Tung Vu was originally sent to Perth by his Bishop to learn English and return home to Vietnam. After some time, Tung asked his Bishop Joseph to allow him to stay in Australia and join the Archdiocese of Perth. Vietnam’s loss was Perth’s gain.
At the recent ordination in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Bishop Joseph vested Tung in his priestly stole and chasuable that were presented by Tung’s mother, Mrs Nguyen Vu and his sister Sr. Mary Frances.
Fr. Tung celebrated his Mass of thanksgiving at MacKillop Catholic Community and the Perth Vietnamese community on the weekend of November 18-19.
Fr. Tung is currently enjoying time with his family in Vietnam. At a special celebration on Saturday December 2, in his home parish of Tan Do (near Hanoi) some 1,200 people are expected to attend.
On his return to Australia before Christmas Fr. Tung is expecting to be appointed, as assistant priest to one of the 108 parishes in the archdiocese.
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Outings planned for every other dayto various children’s entertainment centres as well as fun activities on
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Before and After School Care follows once school starts
You’ve all heard that well-known saying, “All the world’s a stage.” When it comes to residential sales and increasing the value in a property, every house is a stage as well.
While it’s true, you can’t control the Australian real estate market or buyer demand, you can add value to a property and control how potential buyers see a house through smart renovations that don’t necessarily have to be complicated or expensive. With a little cash and sweat equity, you can boost your property’s value without breaking the bank. The following ideas give you a lot of bang for your buck:
Make a Good First Impression
Spiff up the entrance of a residence and you’ll send the message that the property is up-to-date and well-maintained. Paint the front door, put up new stylish street numbers, power wash the driveway, and replace the mailbox if needed. Tidy the garden, trim shrubs, fix fences, remove debris, and plant some flowers. Potted plants by the front door or along the walkway add a nice touch.
Open Up Spaces
By eliminating a non-structural wall and opening up the living space, you can create a sense of flow and transform the look and feel of a house. Today’s buyers want big spaces and an open floor plan with the living room or great room directly off the kitchen. Sometimes this change can be made for under a $1000 resulting in huge benefits.
Don't Overlook Repairs and Maintenance
Okay, maybe fixing the roof, repairing plumbing leaks, or replacing windows isn’t very glamorous or exciting, but these kinds of repairs can substantially increase the value of a residence. Spending a couple of hundred dollars could easily increase the value of your house by a few thousand dollars. Repairing a property is not only a smart
investment but can also be essential to making a sale. Houses that get attention in this market are in pristine condition.
Replace or Restore Flooring
A whopping 94% of real estate pros recommend spending some money on flooring. If you need to replace the entire floor, try calling carpet and flooring retailers and ask whether they are selling any discount or end-of-the-line inventory to save money. However, sometimes you can simply make inexpensive repairs to flooring and substantially increase the value of a property. Replacing broken tiles, cleaning dirty carpets, or buffing and polishing hardwood floors can make a big impact. Or, if a vinyl floor is a horrific color or damaged, replace it with some vinyl stick-on squares in a light color.
Upgrade Lighting
You don't have to go wild here, agents say. Just replace anything damaged, dated, or distracting. Unless your house is priced in the upper end of the market, spending $100 or less should do the job. Another inexpensive trick: replace light bulbs in darker rooms with a higher wattage to better show a property.
Easy Bath Upgrading
Modernising a bathroom is a sure way to add value to a property. Although major renovations are expensive, some improvements won’t cost a lot. Replacing a toilet, sink, tap ware, doorknobs, and cabinet pulls can instantly update a bathroom. Even simply cleaning the grout, removing rust stains, replacing the toilet seat, or applying fresh caulk can make a tired bathroom feel revitalized. Try spray-on tile paint on ugly existing tiles and a grout pen to paint over discolored grout. If nothing else, replace an old musty shower curtain with a new fabric one and buy an attractive set of decorative towels.
Tung Vu’s ordination on November 17 was the occasion of a happy family reunion.
His mother Nu Nguyen (74) took her first ever airplane journey from Vietnam to Perth via Singapore to attend her son’s ordination at St Mary’s Cathedral by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe.
She was accompanied by her daughter Sr. Mary Frances a religious sister who teaches English at the University in Ho Chi Minh city. She is Fr. Tung’s older sister and a Daughter of the Holy Rosary, a South Vietnamese diocesan religious order.
Also in the party were his priest brother, Fr. Joseph An Vu and two
Enrolments are being taken now for Years 7 - 12 at Ballajura Community College, the only College in the Ballajura area with a Department of Education accredited specialist academic program.
For more information come in to our friendly office, call 9262 7777 or visit our website at www.bcc.wa.edu.au
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An Independent Public School
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CouncillorsCr. John McNamara
9249 5039Cr. Adam Kovalevs
0449 669 575
Cr. Maria Haynes JP9249 1344
Second Left Mrs Nu Nguyen, Fr Tung’s mother is full of smiles but they are all treasured in her heart. She would only smile in between the shutter clicks! Pictured with Fr. Tung his sister Sr. Mary Frances, brother Fr. Joseph An Vu and Uncles Frs. Thomas Thuy Nguyen and Joseph Vien Vu.
uncles Fr Joseph Vien Vu and Fr. Thomas Thuy Nguyen. Both work in Hanoi as diocesan priests. An unexpected sudden illness prevented Fr. Tung’s dad from travelling to Perth.
Eighteen Mary MacKillop parishioners, combined a visit to Vietnam with Fr. Tung’s thanksgiving Mass in his home parish in the village of Tan Do, 35 ks out of Hanoi on Saturday December 2.
Tung has spent some 9 years as a seminarian, 4 years in Vietnam and five and half years at St. Charles Seminary. He has been working as a deacon & gaining pastoral experience at MacKillop since October 2016.
Mark Rucci is as happy as a lark to have been ordained a deacon on Friday October 20th, at St Benedict’s Church, Ardross. He spent time at Mary MacKillop gaining pastoral experience in 2014 and making many friends here during a relatively short stay.Diaconate is the first step towards ordained ministerial work in the traditional Christian Churches - Anglican, Roman Catholic and Orthodox. Then follows priesthood and episcopacy.
Mark Ordained Deacon
12 CrossRoads News - Building Local Bridges Between Local People
Want to Know More About the Catholic Faith?Ring Fr Stephen or Fr John
9249 1247
A fair in the grounds of the Ballajura City Shopping centre Car Park on Saturday November 4th was originally the idea of Ballajura & Malaga Place manager Linda Soteriou.
Her idea was to raise the local profile of the shopping Centre.
It was also about promoting the community services like the Ballajura library and the aquatic centre.
“Some people don’t even know we have a swimming
ABOVE: Enjoying the fair Paul, Danielle and Connor McCrae LEFT: John Samuels with Isaiah and Jazmin.
pool and library” she said.
The fair increased the number of people coming to the Ballajura Shopping Centre that Saturday by 50%. The businesses were all pleased about that.
The City of Swan paid the bill of some $20,000 for a variety of things at the fair. These included traffic management, five different rides that ran free of charge for kids, a
generator and tents for the shopping centre businesses. The Centre shops were given the opportunity of selling their produce in the car park.
The fair was three months in the planning pipe line. Linda hopes that a monthly ‘car boot sale’ with entertainment from the local school children may take off in the months ahead.
Kids rides provided free of charge by the City of Swan.
John Crompton (holding his certificate) of Ballajura recently received a WA Local Government Association award for his efforts in ongoing promotion of the Driver fatigue message to all and sundry.PICTURED: From left to right is Margaret Ryan, Tom Nagy, Richard Passmore, Colin Pumphrey, John and Krystyna Crompton. Owen Rees and Karen White.
Councillor John McNamara told CrossRoads that he was grateful for the great support he received in the recent City of Swan election for the new Whiteman ward. John won by a relatively narrow margin of 8.58% votes ahead of his nearest rival Bruce Parry.John McNamara polled 2391 votes, (49.42%). Bryce Parry polled 1976 votes (40.84%) and Michelle Rosenburg, 471 votes (9.74%)
Of the total possible voters (16,299) only 4,838 returned a valid vote representing 29.88%.
Since his first election in 1997, John has polled as much as 64% of the total votes cast in 2005 but he has also had a few battle royals. In 2009 he won by only 79 votes when there was only one other candidate.
The playing field has changed
since the last 2013 election. In that election John more than doubled the votes of his nearest rival. Now the boundaries have significantly changed and the ward now called Whiteman includes areas that would have hardly known John McNamara.
“My hope is that the misleading information disseminated by my rival will have the light of truth shed on it in the months ahead.” said John MacNamara.
“I am committed to working for the common good of all in the ward and am looking forward to the next four years” he added.
“If I can help people I will and if I cannot I will tell people that I cannot.” “Happy and Holy Christmas to all.”
Phone 9231 5199
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Authorised by J. McNamara 6 Lorikeet Heights Ballajura WA 6066
John Continues to Serve in Whiteman
The Mary MacKillop Catholic Community celebrates Corpus Christi day with a public procession.
Christmas EveSunday Dec. 24th
1. 6.00pm Children’s Mass Little people are invited to come dressed as angels, shepherds, kings ...
2. 8pm Evening Mass
3. 11.30pm Carols followed by Midnight Mass
Christmas DayMonday Dec. 25th
4. 8am Early Mass
5. 9.30am
Come,Let Us Adore
Christ the Lord!Five Christmas Masses at
St Mary of the Cross MacKillop Catholic CommunityCorner Cassowary Dr. and Pelican Pde. Ballajura
Christmas is a time for children to dress up and have fun. The characters in the Christmas story are a good start. At Mary MacKillop Pre Primary BACK: Olivia Kelly, Sascha Loncar & Sarina Singh MIDDLE: Aloysius Faliu, Alessia Sangiacomo & Jaydon Prior FRONT: Ivan Biletskyy & Oran O’Hare
1414 CrossRoads News - Building Local Bridges Between Local People
Computers, Commuters or Companions
ABOVE: Statue and fountain at the entrance to the Hindu Temple in Marshall Road
under the direct control of the Pope rather than the local bishop of each diocese, this part of the constitution was changed and enabled the Sisters to own some property. In this way they would always have somewhere to go, should the local bishop no longer need them. Fr. Woods was not happy.
Remember to be generous to the Archbishop’s Life Link appeal that helps 34,000 WA families.
Find Sr. Flora and her sisters pictured throughout this magazine.
Sister Flora told CrossRoads that in the early days of the Sisters’ story they would beg for everything. Their daily food came from the scraps that people were prepared to offer them. Their co founder Fr. Julian Woods wanted their constitutions to read “members of the institute shall own nothing whatsoever”. They were expected to practise radical poverty.
However, when Mary MacKillop went to Rome to have the constitution approved and placed
Can You Find Sister Flora and Friends ?
Air travel today is about dozens of commuters crammed into a very small space for up to 14 hours at a time.
While there are the few casual greetings and short conversations, between people, most spend the entire journey glued to their personal or flight computer screens. Either working, messaging people back on ground or enjoying the in-flight entertainment.
Everyone is totally disinterested in their fellow passengers around them. All are disengaged from each other. Everyone is really close physically but worlds apart in reality, although they are all travelling to the same destination.
Sometimes everyday life is like that, even in the most caring families or communities. While the tyranny of distance is constantly diminished people can be worlds apart even in
Of course, believing all this is a matter of faith. The birth of Jesus is an undisputed historic event, but accepting it as God’s greatest moment in human history requires faith.
One in three people on earth are believing Christians yet Christians struggle to remember that they are called to be companions and not just commuters.Christians are called to be genuinely interested in the people around them, especially those in trouble.
The word ‘companion’ comes from two Latin words, ‘com-’ meaning together with and panis meaning bread so it translates as ‘one who breaks bread with another’.
Now we do not normally share a meal with those we do not care about. Or to put it another way - if we are meant to be companions - people who break bread together, then we should also take a real interest in each other.
Christ tells us that first on our list should be all those in trouble and needing special attention. Sounds so simple, but so hard to carry out in practise.
Feeding the hungry and clothing the naked is OK for most of us. Most can at least assist the charity groups that do it for us.
World Belief Stats2.4 billion Christians make up 33.51% of the world population.
Muslims number 1.6 billion and represent 22.32%.
Third on the list are the non religious, agnostic and atheist 1.1 billion (15.35%)
Followers of Hinduism number 1.15 billion (16.06%)
Followers of Chinese traditional religion number 394 million(5.50%). There are 376 million Buddhists (5.25%) . That leaves 2% making up all the rest, including 14 million Jews - (0.20%)
the same household.
Christmas comes around every year to remind us that while human beings are crammed into an ever increasingly small space - Mother Earth, we are in fact companions on a journey to God and not disinterested commuters.
We all come from different nations, cultures, languages and belief systems but we are all meant to be companions on a pilgrimage to the one and same God.
Christmas is about reminding us that it is possible to become companions on life’s journey.
Christmas tells us that Christ became one of us, so that God could personally deliver an important message to humanity. Christ told us about the great love that God has for each person.
Christ also told us that each person has an eternal destiny. A destiny to be with God forever. That heaven is our true home and final destination.
Christ also tells us how each person is to achieve their eternal destiny - by becoming companions and loving one another.
But when it comes to inviting the stranger into ones home (or nation) that becomes a challenge as we have seen with the recent troubles for the people on Manus Island.
Visiting the sick in hospital and the prisoner in prison is likewise a bigger challenge.
Whether you are Christian or not, may Christmas 2017 bring joy into your life.
May you be surprised to find among the commuters of life a true companion.
15CrossRoads News - Building Local Bridges Between Local People 15
Need an ATM? One is now available at The Market Place IGA
cnr Alexander Dr &Illawarra Cres North
2018 Columban Art CalendarCatholic Calendar featuring 12 world famous religious art treasures. A must for anyone keeping up with the saints and seasons and sensational celebrations! Great Christmas Gift.
For quite a few years now Fr. John Jegorow has hosted a Melbourne Cup luncheon at the Mary MacKillop Parish House.
Some years it has been a fund raiser and at other times just a fun luncheon. There are usually some 35 people in attendance. 2017 was no different.
A 9 course banquet was served. Each course was less than entree size so as not to over eat and yet taste a variety of delicious food from various parts of the world.
A Best Hat competition and sweep were par for the course.Rumour has it that the food, fun and drinks were much better than venues that charged upwards of $100 and didn’t even provide chairs to sit down on.
“Charis House” is the name Fr. John has given to the Parish House. Australian Catholics know it better as a ‘presbytery’ and the Americans call it the ‘Rectory’.
Mary MacKillopCatholicCommunity
Primary SchoolCassowary Drive Ballajura
At Mary MacKillop Catholic Community Primary School, we believe that your child/children and your family will find the school environment
and the educational programme welcoming and enriching.
The staff endeavours to work closely with the community to ensure that all children receive an
education that provides for their spiritual, emotional, social, academic and physical needs and to give them a
variety of experiences within a Catholic environment.
Applications are now invited for Kindergarten for 2019/20. Limited places are also
available in other years for 2018, 2019 & 2020.Please contact the School Office on
9241 7500for an Enrolment Form
Alex and Flora Club Vacation Care
Limited Places Don’t Miss OutBookings EssentialBook Nowat Youth Dungeon at MacKillop
Pictured at the Luncheon: TOP: Eddie Rzepczynski, Luke Rzepczynski, Mira Seroka, Aleksandra Michalczyk, John Orzanski and Terry Flanagan. BOTTOM: Rose Cottone, Christine Paranawitang, Carmelita Williams and Esme Barker.
Donning a Melbourne Cup hat. TOP: Christine D’Vauz and Bernice O’Connor. ABOVE: Claudine Miranda and Gaye Ayensberg.
Melbourne Cupat Charis House
16 CrossRoads News - Building Local Bridges Between Local People16
Following in the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop in
Irish Hospitality
Baggot Street
Taking a holiday is a great way to get away from the humdrum of everyday life. Making a pilgrimage can be much more than just a holiday. It can be a life changing experience that brings joy and delight and a new way of seeing the humdrum. At least that is what 39 members of the Ballajura Catholic parish found after returning from a 23 day European pilgrimage in the footsteps of their patron Saint Mary MacKillop.
Mary MacKillop, Australia’s first saint and patron of the Ballajura Catholic Parish was born in Melbourne of Scottish parents. She travelled extensively throughout Australia and spent 20 months travelling through Europe. It was her traces in France, Ireland and the United Kingdom that the Ballajura Pilgrims explored.
“Words cannot describe my feelings of being transported to a spiritual place” said one of the pilgrims. For another it was the “warmth and hospitality of the Irish people” and yet another found “a simple open air Mass in a field in the middle of nowhere on a cold morning” an unforgettable experience.
The Pilgrimage began in Paris at the chapel of the Miraculous Medal and continued through Lisieux, the tombs of St. Therese and her parents Ziele and Louis Martin. Then onto Rouen and the stake at which St Joan of Arc was martyred. The futility of war struck home at the Villiers Bretonneux, the cemetery and monument where the group paid a prayerful tribute to thousands of young Australians who died in WWI.
Just as Mary MacKillop wrote in her diary about the beautiful white cliffs of Dover so were the pilgrims delighted to see the cliffs during the channel crossing from France. The magnificent Cathedral of Canterbury was the next stop, followed by the city with endless places to see - London.
The West End is always a must. In addition the pilgrims found the pier on the Thames River from which Mary MacKillop sailed on the St Osyth (It’s maiden voyage) for 73 days all the way to Melbourne in 1874. Other places of interest were the gallows of the English Martyrs at Tyburn and the cell of Thomas More at the Tower and the oldest Catholic Church still operating as such at Ely Place London.
On the way to Ireland it was a rather speedy journey across southern England and Wales. Nevertheless there was enough time to visit the Mary Rose, the departure point of the first convict fleet in Portsmouth, Salisbury Cathedral, the Circle and Crescent in Bath and the beautiful Welsh country side.
The pilgrims arrived at Waterford ahead of an impending cyclone Ophelia (a very rare occurrence in Ireland). Three hours in the hotel was in fact a welcomed respite as the wind howled outside reminiscent of the first Pentecost Day.
A stop for Mass at an 18th century manor house (now a rural community centre) helped fill in more
about the Mary MacKillop story. The manageress Maura Walsh was most welcoming. Some 17 years after Mary died (1909) the sisters set up a recruiting headquarters in New Market Ireland. It was an exclusive secondary school for young Irish girls living in the rural areas to test their vocation and resolve to become religious in far off Australia. Some 700 teenagers passed through the House that is still today called locally, “the convent” and many of these ended up in Australia.
In Rathkeale the pilgrims enjoyed a Celtic evening of music, song, dance and poetry presented by the O’Sullivan family. A top night. In Waterford Ophelia interrupted the visit to the Edmund Rice centre. They prayed at the chapel of St Joseph in the Limerick Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. In Mackillop’s time it was a brand new Cathedral. In Dublin they visited the Mercy Headquarters in Baggot Street where Mary MacKillop once received generous hospitality.
While the group sought out places connected to Mary MacKillop, they also found many sights and experiences totally unrelated to the MacKillop story. This added a great richness to the whole experience.
In Scotland the coach followed roads which skirted the canals and lochs that Mary sailed on. In Spean Bridge Scotland the pilgrims wandered through the Cille Choirill cemetery where there are numerous graves of the MacKillop and MacDonald family members. The cairns along the path leading up to the cemetery are markers where mourners rested and placed a stone.
In Fort William Scotland some pilgrims enjoyed a Guinness at the Ben Nevis Pub and restaurant and were surprised that while the manageress did not know much about Mary MacKillop, one of the young bar tenders had recently ‘googled’ MacKillop after a visit of several Australian Josephite Sisters.
It was at the same pub that Mary’s mother Flora McDonald was born in 1816. Flora’s father Donald MacDonald was the proprietor of the Ben Nevis Hotel at the time of Flora’s birth. As the name suggests the hotel stands in the high street in the shadow of UK’s highest mountain Ben Nevis.
“This pilgrimage has been uplifting, inspiring and informative” said one pilgrim. “It was an opportunity of making new friends while sharing big and small treasured moments along the way and at meal times.”
Unlike the pilgrims of old who walked thousands of kilometres to their sacred destination and back again, these modern day pilgrims took a luxury coach - the same one all the way.
Anyone interested in joining the next pilgrimage in the ‘Footsteps of Mary MacKillop in Europe’ should ring Fr. John Jegorow on 9249 1247 or email him [email protected].
ABOVE: Perhaps the number one highlight for the pilgrims was at Limerick where they were treated to a marvellous night of music, dance, song and poetry by the O’Sullivan clan and friends.
PICTURED L-R: Katie O’Sullivan, Joe O’Sullivan, Ciaran O’Sullivan, Aoife O’Sullivan, Donie Nolan, John Sheehy, John O’Sullivan, Daisy Kearney, Siobhan O’Keeffe, Mike Kiely, Mike Ahern. Dancers FRONT: Ava King, Hannah O’Sullivan and Ellie O’Sullivan.
