1

JOHN XXIII COLLEGE in Claremont has begun the new school year with the commis-sioning of its new principal, Robert Henderson.

The seventh principal to take the helm at John XXIII, Mr Henderson was com-missioned by Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB on Thursday, 4 February 2016 at the opening college Mass concelebrated with Fathers Vincent Glynn and Wilson Donizetti-Martins.

Educated at Aquinas College and UWA, Murdoch University and The University of Notre Dame, Mr Henderson has 27 years’ teaching expe-rience in Catholic schools and joins the John XXIII College community from his latest role as Headmaster of Ipswich Grammar School, Queensland, where he spent the last five years.

Prior to that, Mr Henderson was Headmaster of Christian Brothers College (CBC) Fremantle.

In his homily for the Mass, Archbishop Costelloe laid emphasis on the importance of the Jubilee Year of Mercy in which we find ourselves, and encouraged the students of John XXIII to take inspira-tion from a statement writ-ten by Pope Francis as he announced the Holy Year of Mercy: “Jesus Christ is the face of the Father’s Mercy.”

Archbishop Costelloe reminded the congregation

that the person of Jesus stands at the heart of our faith as Catholics. He then explained to the students that finding Jesus at the heart of their faith also meant fully appreciating what lay at the heart of their school.

Referring to the gospel of Zacchaeus read on the day, a gospel which he said “puts flesh on the bones of the idea that God is merciful,” the Archbishop went on to say that mercy gives people an extraordinary power to do good.

“It [mercy] is generous, and gentle, and forgiving, and encouraging and courageous. It is ready to believe that peo-ple can change, that they can be better. It is ready to let go of angry judgments, and a desire for payback and a determina-tion to make people suffer

for their mistakes. If I had to sum it up in one word I would say that mercy is about being large-hearted.”

To conclude, the Archbishop invited the students to be a living example of what a real Catholic school looks like.

“You are called to be a school where mercy reigns supreme: where generosity and gentleness and forgive-ness and encouragement always win out over stingi-ness, and aggressiveness, and resentment and negativity.

“Can you be, in other words, a large-hearted school full of large-hearted people? If you can then, just like Jesus himself, you together will also be the face of the Father’s mercy,” he said.

Following the Eucharist, Mr Henderson was invited up to the altar by the Archbishop

to receive a blessing. He was also gifted a new copy of The Jerusalem Bible.

In an interview for The eRecord, Mr Henderson stated that he is very much looking forward to leading the col-lege through a new year and is keen to learn about the col-lege’s Jesuit and Loreto char-ism and the spirit of John XXIII.

“I am also keen to assist students to make a meaning-ful contribution to society in the home and in the work-place. In an educational sense, I learned much in my time in Queensland, particularly with respect to teaching and learn-ing processes and assessment. I look forward to sharing some of these ideas.”

www.therecord.com.au

Your news from across the Archdiocese of Perth

Edition #6918 February 2016

Full Text available at www.therecord.com.au

7th Principal of John XXIII College commissioned by Archbishop CostelloeBy Marco Cccarelli

The new Principal of John XXIII College in Claremont, Mr Robert Henderson, receives the New Jerusalem Bible as a gift from Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB at the opening college Mass on Thursday 4 February 2016. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

2

THE OPENING PRAYER of the Mass for the First Sunday of Lent sets out for us a chal-lenge as we commence our Lenten journey this year:

Grant, Almighty God, through the yearly observanc-es of Holy Lent, that we may grow in our understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects in our lives.

If we were to make this prayer our own, as we are, of course, invited to do at every Mass we celebrate, we would be asking the Lord first of all for the gift of understanding and then for the courage and the wisdom to translate what we are coming to understand into the reality of our daily lives.

What the prayer asks of God is that He helps us to understand the depths of the mystery of Christ and the riches hidden in this mystery. In our tradition, this mystery refers more than anything else to the meaning of the death and Resurrection of Jesus. That Jesus had to die, and just why He had to die, has been a question which has trou-bled Christians from the very beginning.

Certainly, when I was a young boy in primary school, we learnt that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. It was true when I learnt

it all those years ago and it is still true today. But just why, or how the death of Jesus might save us from our sins, was never really explained very well. I do remember being taught that the sins of humanity were so serious, because they offended God so much, that no ordinary human being could ever hope to make up for them. For this reason, God had to send His Son, who became a human being like us and then died in our place, accepting the punishment which was really due to us. And, because He was God as well as a man, His death, unlike anything we could do, was enough to satisfy God’s anger and make up for every human sin that would ever be committed.

I have always had some problems with this explana-tion. It is not so much that it is not true but rather that it expresses only part of the truth. On the one hand, it cer-tainly shows us how serious sin is and warns us never to take our sinfulness for grant-ed, as if our sins did not really matter. After all, they caused the death of Jesus. But, on the other hand, the whole expla-nation depends on the idea that God is angry about our sins and will not be satisfied until someone has paid the price. This image of an angry

God demanding punishment for people’s sins does not fit in very well, especially in this jubilee Year of Mercy, with the image which Jesus Himself gives us of His Father. Think, for example, of the story of the prodigal son. Even though the son treated his father shame-fully and, so we would say, deserved to be punished, in the story, the father is just so glad to have his son back that not only does he not punish him – he throws a party to celebrate the son’s return. Or think of the woman caught in adultery: according to the Law of Moses, she certainly deserved to be punished, but what does Jesus do? He simply says to her, “I do not condemn you – go now and do not sin anymore”.

The Gospels, then, do not encourage us to think of God primarily as an angry and punishing God. Rather, we are invited by Jesus Himself to understand that God looks at us with mercy and compas-sion, not anger. How could He not look at His Son in the same way? Why would He punish His Son in place of us?

If it is hard to accept that Jesus died to satisfy God’s anger, what other reason could there be? There used to be an alternative opening prayer for the Mass of the First Sunday of Lent which is no longer in

use. This prayer talked about the fact that, when God creat-ed us, He breathed into us the breath of life, but we turned away from His face and fell into sin. It is Jesus who brings us back to the Father by help-ing us to live as God intended us to live. All of us, because of our sin, live lives that are much less than God would like them to be – we are much less than God would like us to be. But there is one person who was everything that God wanted Him to be – and that person is Jesus. His life was a life of total fidelity to God and total self-giving to us. And because Jesus refused to turn away from His Father, because He refused to take the easy way out, because He remained faithful even in the face of vio-lent opposition, He ended up losing His life, cruelly mur-dered by those whose own lives were so ruled by fear and selfishness, so ruled by sin, that they had to destroy Him. Jesus did not die because His Father was angrily demanding satisfaction for our sins: Jesus died because He lived the life of faith and fidelity that we are all called to live, but find it so hard to do. And we human beings, in our fear and anger, sought to destroy Him.

Archbishop Timothy Costelloe has this week released his 2016 Pastoral Letter for Lent. The Archbishop said Christ does not just win a victory over evil for Himself through his death and resurrection, but that He wins that same victory for every person who is willing to be drawn into the beauty and the mystery of Christ’s love for us. PHOTO: RON TAN

Full Text available at www.therecord.com.au

2016 Pastoral Letter for Lent (Year C)By the Most Rev Timothy Costelloe SDB, Archbishop of Perth

3

50 YEARS of tireless service to the Catholic Church within Australia, the UK and Kenya seem to have hardly worn down St Pius X Parish Priest, Fr Blasco Fonseca.

Judging by the energetic and enthusiastic way in which he runs the Manning Parish, Fr Blasco remains a commit-ted and devoted shepherd of God’s people, much to the delight of his parishioners.

The 50th anniversary of Fr Blasco’s priestly ordination was celebrated at his parish on 7 February 2016, as more than 200 people, including Emeritus Archbishop Barry Hickey and members of Fr Blasco’s current and for-mer parishes, attended both Sunday Mass and the social gathering which followed.

Manning Parish Priest celebrates 50th anniversary of priestly ordination

Blasco Fonseca is surrounded by youth from St Pius X Parish in Manning at the celebrations of his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. From left to right: Emily Carvalho, Ryan Gonsalves, David Handojo, Fr Blasco, Brittany Carvalho, Jason Gonsalves and (in front) Nathan Gonsalves. PHOTO: SUPPLIED

By Marco Cccarelli

While Fr Blasco had a few chances to speak about some of his life-experiences as a priest throughout the morning, the post-liturgical celebrations saw Emeritus Archbishop Hickey and Chairman of Parish Council, Philip Goes, say a few words about Fr Blasco’s life.

In his speech, the Emeritus Archbishop recalled the time of his own priestly forma-tion at the Pontificio Collegio Urbano de Propaganda Fide in Rome, and highlighted that Fr Blasco must have been enter-ing the same Collegio just as the Emeritus Archbishop was graduating from it.

Fr Blasco was in fact formed at the same mission-ary Collegio in Rome and had the privilege of being ordained by Pope Paul VI in St Peter’s Basilica on the Feast of the Epiphany in 1966.

His life as a priest, however, began far from Rome and took its first steps in rural Kenya, where he was sent to be of ser-

vice to an area in the diocese of Machakos.

Fr Blasco spent two years serving many outstations in his first Mission and fondly remembers riding on the back-seat of a religious Brother’s scooter during in order to be initiated into visiting small church groups and schools.

Secondary education at the time in post-independence Kenya was being initiated by the churches on a self-help basis and the mission where Fr. Blasco was posted had started

a high school. Fr Blasco, who had no knowledge of teaching, was swiftly put into a class-room by the priest in charge to teach English in the mornings before going out to the villages.

The first years of Fr Blasco’s priesthood were spent prepar-ing children in rural schools for baptisms, saying masses in small rural churches and interacting with the catechists of the area.

Four years into his minis-try, Fr Blasco was offered the opportunity by his Bishop to

attend a short international ecumenical training course in India where he was exposed to evangelization.

Fortune smiled on Fr. Blasco again a year later when he was offered a scholarship to study rural development in the UK in order to become a Diocesan Development Coordinator in the new diocese of Machakos.

After two academic years in the Swansea and in Reading (UK), Fr Blasco was called back to the diocese of Machakos in 1974 to take over the Cathedral mission (par-ish) and was asked to be the Diocesan Education Secretary. During this time, he developed the Cathedral mission, tending to the numerous outstations under his care, creating new outstation worshipping cen-tres and building small “bush churches” with the assistance of the local people.

Full Text available at www.therecord.com.au

WALKING THROUGH a Holy Door is more than just crossing a threshold; it is a chance to pray and reflect on our personal experience of the Extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy, says Sister Joanne of the Carmelite Monastery in Nedlands.

The Monastery’s chapel is one of eight locations in the Archdiocese of Perth to open a Holy Door as a destination for pilgrimage during the Holy Year.

Sr Joanne, who has been at the Monastery for half a

century, said it was an excit-ing time because there had never been a Holy Door at the chapel in her memory.

“We really didn’t expect anything. It was only a cou-ple of weeks before (the Holy Door) was opened in the Cathedral that we were offered the opportunity to have a Holy Door in our chapel,” she said.

“We were happy to do that; it was quite a privilege.”

The 14 nuns at the Monastery live in an enclosed community, enabling them to lead a quiet life of prayer and contemplation. However,

the Holy Door and chapel are open to anyone who would like to make the pilgrimage.

Sr Joanne said the front door of the chapel was con-sidered for use as a Holy Door, but exposure to the elements made it unsuitable, since the door must remain permanently open for the duration of the Holy Year.

Instead, the Sisters at the Monastery settled on using the side door to the chapel, adorning the adjoining pas-sage with mercy-themed images and quotations, in the hope of enriching the experience of pilgrims wish-

ing to pass under its arches.“The pilgrimage is meant

to be a time of prayer and reflection, not a happy wan-dering,” she said.

“If people come across the passage prayerfully and qui-etly, to get the feeling of not just going through a door, but a Holy Door, I think it will have worked out quite well.”

The Holy Door was blessed and opened by Parish Priest Father Joseph Sobb SJ on 20 December last year, during a Mass with the Carmelite community.

Recalling her experience of walking through the Holy Door that day, Sr Joanne said the act couldn’t be separated from her reflections on the Year of Mercy.

“Basically, it’s more than just crossing a threshold; it’s the whole experience of the Mercy Year and that was sort of a solemn beginning,” she said.

“I think having the Holy Door in our chapel certainly has made a bigger impact than having just the Holy Door in the Cathedral, because we don’t go out, except for necessities, so I wouldn’t have made a pilgrimage through a Holy Door in that case.

THE e-RECORD IS PRODUCED BY THE Archdiocese of Perth Communications and Media Office21 Victoria Square, Perth WA 6000 | Ph: 9220 5900

Email: communications.media@perthcatholic.org.au

JAMIE O’BRIEN Communications Manager/Editor editor@therecord.com.au

FEBY PLANDO Production Officer feby.plando@perthcatholic.org.au | MARCO CECCARELLI Journalist marco.ceccarelli@perthcatholic.org.au

CAROLINE SMITH Journalist caroline.smith@perthcatholic.org.au | RACHEL CURRY Journalist rachel.curry@perthcatholic.org.au

FAYANN D’SOUZA Digital Media Officer fayann.dsouza@perthcatholic.org.au | CHRISTINE JAQUES Proofreader christine.jaques@

perthcatholic.org.au | BIBIANA KWARAMBA Administration Officer bibiana.kwaramba@perthcatholic.org.au

Holy Door has deeper meaning for Discalced Carmelites

The passage leading to the Holy Door at the Carmelite Monastery’s chapel in Nedlands has been adorned with mercy-themed images and quotations, in order to enrich the experience of pilgrims. PHOTO: RACHEL CURRY

Full Text available at www.therecord.com.au

By Rachel Curry

1 EDITION #69 | 18 February 2016

PANORAMAWhat’s happening around the Archdiocese

THU, 18 FEBTHE RITE OF ELECTIONThe Rite of Election will be celebrated on Thursday 18 Feb 2016, 7.30pm at St Mary’s Cathedral. The Rite of Election of Catechumens and Formal Recognition of Candidates, occurs in every corner of the world during the Lenten Season.The particular joy of this solemnity is the recognition that God is indeed calling people into the life of the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation.This year 165 new members seeking full membership into the Catholic Church will be presented to Archbishop Costelloe SDB and his delegates. Further info; Karen Hart 9207 3350 or rcia.cfl@perthcatholic.org.auHOLY MASS AND HEALING: TALK BY ALAN AMESThe evening will start at 7pm with Mass and healing at St Bernadette’s Catholic Church, Jugan St, Glendalough followed by talk and prayers. Alan has been speaking and praying for healing around the world since 1994 and has spoken in more than 40 countries. Alan will speak after the Holy Mass and share his unique conversion experiences. Alan has the permission and support of Archbishop T Costelloe for these talks. Further info: Keith 0411 108 525.THURS, 18 FEB - 3 MAR LIVING THE FAITH IN THE MODERN WORLDThursdays from 18 February - 3 March, 7pm-9pm, at Sacred Heart Parish, 50 Ovens Road, Thornlie. Would you like to explore ways of creating time for connecting with God in your everyday life? Do you sometimes wonder how to live your faith with those close to you who don’t share your faith? Have you ever felt embarrassed to be a Catholic, or found your

personal beliefs to be different to those of the Church? This short Centre for Faith Enrichment course, presented by Deacon Greg Lowe, will explore these vital topics – and more! Cost: $20. Further info; or to register: www.cfe.org.au, cfe@perthcatholic.org.au, or 08 9241 5221.THUS, 18 FEB - 10 MARLENT IN THE YEAR OF MERCYThursdays from 18 February - 10 March, 10am-12pm, Newman Siena Centre, Doubleview. Presented by Mr Terry Quinn and Sr Shelley Barlow, RNDM, this short Centre for Faith Enrichment course will explore the four great passages in the Book of Isaiah known as “The Songs of the Suffering Servant”. These “songs” call both Jewish people and Christians to contemplate God’s merciful love in our lives. Christians see this merciful love poured out in the person, mission and suffering of Jesus. Cost: $30. Further info: or to register: www.cfe.org.au, cfe@perthcatholic.org.au, or 08 9241 5221.SAT, 20 FEBCHILDREN’S LITURGY OF THE WORDThis workshop prepares and supports those involved in presenting the Good News to children in the best way that they can come to know Jesus. Held on Saturday, 20 February, at the Centre for Liturgy, 28 Marda Way, Nollamara from 10.30am-12.30pm. Registrations essential. Further info: and to register: http://liturgy.perthcatholic.org.au.SAT, 20 - SUN 21 AND TUE, 23 FEBCARITAS PROJECT COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER FROM MALAWIBe inspired by international guest speaker Martin Mazinga National Programmes Coordinator of the Catholic

Development Commission (CADECOM), Caritas Australia’s local partner in Malawi. Hear Martin talk about his work with local communities that tackles inequality at its roots at Sacred Heart Church, Thornlie on 20 February from 7-9pm (Mass at 6pm); 21 February from 11.30am at Redemptorist Monastery, 190 Vincent Street, North Perth and Notre Dame University, Fremantle on 23 Feb from 6 pm. RSVP is essential: perth@caritas.org.au or 08 9422 7925 by Friday 12 February.SUN, 21 FEB RETREAT - LIVING IN THE DIVINE WILLFr Doug Harris will conduct a retreat - Living in the Divine Will on Sunday 21 February, 10am-3pm at Glendalough Parish Hall 49 Jugan Street, Mt Hawthorn. Further info: frdough33@gmail.comTUE, 23 FEB NOTRE DAME - INTERNATIONAL SPEAKER FROM CARITAS AUSTRALIA (MARTIN MAZINGA)Notre Dame warmly invites you to the launch of Project Compassion 2016, featuring a conversation with Martin Mazinga from Caritas Malawi. Hospitality 6pm, presentation 6.30pm at The University of Notre Dame, Australia, Tannock Hall of Education (ND4/301), cnr Cliff and Croke Streets, Fremantle on Tue 23 February. Further info: http://www.nd.edu.au/university/projects/project-compassionTUES, 23 FEB - 8 MAR DIVE DEEPER: EXPLORING FAITHEvery Tuesday from 23 February to 8 March, 8pm-8.30pm. Online – live and interactive! This short, user-friendly online Centre for Faith Enrichment course, presented by Rev. Dr Charles Waddell, explores questions of life, faith and meaning. You don’t have

to be a “good” Catholic (or a Catholic at all) – and you can take this course individually or with a group of friends. Cost: $15. Further info or to register: cfe@perthcatholic.org.au, or 08 9241 5221.FRI, 26 FEBPRAYING OUR EXPERIENCES - GROWING AWARENESS OF GOD IN MY EVERYDAY The prayer time will be presented by the Ministry of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart, under the theme: Lent: turn away from sin and turn to God. Friday, 26 February, 10.30am-12noon and 6.30pm-8pm at Mary MacKillop Centre, 16 York Street, South Perth. This focused prayer time is assisted with talks on the theme, followed by personal time for prayer and contemplation. Optional sharing of our faith with others on the journey, adds to the richness of this prayer time. RSVP Essential by Wednesday 24. Further info: Secretary 08 9334 0999 or laura.mccarthy@sosj.org.au.

FRI, 26 - SUN, 28 FEB BENEDICTINE EXPERIENCE WEEKENDSBenedictine Spirituality is more readily experienced than defined. Beginning in February, with other weekends available in April, June, August, October and December at the New Norcia Monastery Guesthouse. Beginning with Vespers at 6.30pm on Friday, concluding after lunch on Sunday, the weekend will provide the opportunity to enter fully into the monastic rhythm and balance of prayer, work, Lectio Divina, hospitality, and community life. There will be opportunities to ponder the riches of the scriptures and monastic literature, both in group discussions and personal silence and solitude, bringing

2 EDITION #69 | 18 February 2016

from the ‘storeroom, things both new and old’. Suggested donation: $250 (for those who can afford it), includes accommodation, meals and entry into the Museum and Art Gallery. Further info: and bookings: Guesthouse Manager, 08 9654 8018 or g u e s t h o u s e @ n e w n o r c i a .wa.edu.au

TUE, 26 - SUN, 28 FEBMASTER CLASS: YOUTH LEADERSHIP TRAINING 2016Youth leaders in a parish, group or community are invited for a weekend away to be inspired and better equipped in your ministry. Enjoy some time out on the beach and to connect with other youth leaders. Master Class 2016 will take place in Busselton from the evening of Friday, 26 February to Sunday, 28 February. Cost: $80 including accommodation and meals. Further info: or to register: Catholic Youth Ministry 08 9422 7912, admin@cym.com.au, or www.cym.com.au

SAT, 27 FEB RETREAT – THE VALUE OF SPENDING TIME WITH JESUS IN THE BLESSED SACRAMENTFr Doug Harris will conduct a retreat, The value of spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, on Saturday 27 February at Glendalough Parish Hall, 49 Jugan Street, Mt Hawthorn starting with Mass 9am-4pm. Further info: frdough33@gmail.comSUN, 28 FEBTAIZE STYLE EUCHARISTIC ADORATIONA Taize style Eucahristic Adoration for Lent will be held in the Ordinariate Parish of St Ninian & St Chad, 11 Susan St, Maylands on Sunday, 28 February at 7pm. All are welcome to come and participate in this act of Catholic devotion. Further info: 08 9422 7988.MON, 29 FEB LEADING SINGING WITHOUT ACCOMPANIMENTMany parishes have difficulty finding organists, keyboard players or guitarists to accompany and support

the singing of the assembly. The Centre for Liturgy will be holding workshop on 29 Feb, at Infant Jesus Parish, 47 Wellington Rd, Morley. This workshop will consider strategies and techniques for leading the assembly in sung prayer without accompaniment and present examples of music suitable for unaccompanied singing. Cost $10 per person and registration essential. Closing date, 26 February. Registration forms; cfl@perthcatholic.org.au, or www.liturgycentre.com.au Further info: 08 9207 3350

TUE, 1 MAR DAWSON SOCIETY SPEAKERS FORUM: ‘EDUCATION AS IF PEOPLE MATTERED: UNDERSTANDING THE LIBERAL ARTSAll are cordially invited to the first Speakers Forum for 2016 hosted by the Dawson Society for Philosophy and Culture. The evening will feature a presentation titled ‘Education as if people mattered: Understanding the Liberal Arts’ given by Dr David Daintree, Founding Director of the Christopher Dawson Centre for Cultural Studies, Hobart, and former President of Campion College, Sydney. Rosie O’Grady’s, 205 James St, Northbridge.Tuesday, 1 March; Arrival 6.30pm, dinner 7pm followed by presentation of paper and discussion. Cost: $30 (+ booking fee) online at http://www.trybooking.com/KFZX or $35 at the door. Limited seating/dinner spaces. Further info: Tom Gourlay 0434 402 884; thomas@dawsonsociety.com.au, www.dawsonsociety.com.au

WEDS, 2 - 16 MARTHREE EVENINGS WITH JULIAN OF NORWICHWednesdays, 8-8.30pm, Online – live and interactive! Although she lived in profoundly troubled times, Julian of Norwich professed a beautifully positive understanding of God and the human person. These sessions, presented by Dr Michelle Jones of the Centre for Faith Enrichment, will explore some of the key themes in

Julian’s writings, such as the tenderness of God’s love, God’s mercy, and the motherhood of God. Cost: $15. Further info; or to register, www.cfe.org.au, cfe@perthcatholic.org.au, or 08 9241 5221.

THU, 3 - SAT, 5 MAR BR MATTHEW - ECUMENICAL WORSHIPBr Matthew from Taize will be in Perth from 3-5 March and is scheduled as follows: 4 Mar, High School Students event, 9.30am-11am, Sacred Heart School, Sorento. Contact; Chris Kan, kan@sacredheart.wa.edu.au. 4 Mar, 6.30pm, Rooftop Youth Service by Candlelight, St George’s Anglican Grammar School, Perth. Target group 18-35 year olds, returned pilgrims and Taize Worship Coordinators. Contact: Peter Hotchkin: peter@hotchkin.com.au. 5 Mar, 11am-5pm, Day Retreat, Mt Pleasant Uniting Church. Contact Rev Trevor Waters; trevor.waters@mp.unitingchurch.org.au or Rev David Lord; dlord@stgeorges.wa.edu.au. 5 Mar, 7pm Prayer Service, Mt Pleasant Uniting Church; Contact Rev Chris Bedding; rector.darlington@live.com.au. Further info: Rev David Lord, dlord@stgeorges.wa.edu.au or Amanda Sturrock, amanda.sturrock@outlook.comTHU, 3 AND 10 MAR MORAL ISSUES WORKSHOPS ON MARRIAGE; DIVORCE; RE-MARRIAGE AND ANNULMENT; SEXUALITYTwo evenings: Thursday, 3 and 10 March, 7-9.30pm. Facilitator: Rev Dr Joe Parkinson STL PhD, Director of LJ Goody Bioethics Centre, 39 Jugan St, Glendalough. The two evenings provide opportunities for personal faith formation as it explores moral issues and current Church teaching. All Catholics would benefit from attending this course. The moral issues presented are of particular interest to those involved in the ministry of RCIA. Cost: $20. Registrations essential. Further info or to register: Centre for Liturgy 08 9207 3350; rcia.cfl@perthcatholic.org.au.

FRI, 4 MAR ANNUAL ECUMENICAL WORLD DAY OF PRAYERThis year’s service has been prepared by the women of Cuba under the theme; Jesus said to them “Receive children, Receive Me”. The project of the Bible Society in Cuba, we are supporting with this year’s programs ‘Building Healthy Relationships’ within the family. The Cuban Bible Commission sees the need to educate parents and children in a culture of non-violence in order to curb the growing rate of violence in their country. The prayer service will be held at over 95 venues in Western Australia and the city service will be held at The Perth City Lutheran Church, 16 Aberdeen St, Perth at 11am. District service venues and times will be available on our website; www.worlddayofprayeraustralia.org . Further info; Susette Bakker; wa@worlddayofprayeraustralia.org

SAT, 12 MAR LEGION OF MARY – HALF DAY REFLECTIONThe Legion of Mary is offering a Half Day Reflection, for the “Jubilee Year of God’s Mercy”, presenter Dr Michelle Jones, Director of the Centre of Faith and Enrichment, on Insights into God’s Mercy from Julian of Norwich. Edel Quinn Centre, 36 Windsor St, East Perth from 9am with Rosary and concluding at 12noon, followed by a shared lunch. All are invited. Further info: Rosemary 0421 580 783 or Mignonne 0478 598 860.THE ERECORD UPDATELocal news from across our parishes, agencies, schools and organisations can be delivered weekly directly to your inbox via the e-Record e-newsletter. It contains the latest news, events and photos from the Archdiocese. Parishes receive a PDF copy of the e-newsletter to print off and distribute for those who don’t have or don’t use email. Subscribe to the e-newsletter by sending details to communications.media@perthcatholic.org.au. Further info: Jamie O’Brien 08 9220 5900.