Congratulations to Daniel Magadia MSC, Master of Theology. Ceremony at the end of the YTU Mass for the Golden Jubilee.

Daniel with Formation Director, Mark Hanns and Community Leader, Philip Malone.

Presided over by YTU President, Chris Monaghan CP

Award made by Academic Dean, Ross Fishburn.

Photos thanks for Hoa Tran MSC

Today’s photo gallery from around the province

Noel Mansfield and Henk Bosman enjoy an outing from St Joseph's at La Perouse

Roger Purcell, Miision Office and orhids

Chris Chaplin after his facilitating of the Anerican Provincial Chapter

The 2022 Yarra Theolgical Union Canon Law class with Rosie Joyce CSB - and the students from a wide range of countries (Daniel Magadia MSC front right)

The launching of the YTU Golden Jubilee book, Aiming for Excellence, Peter Malone, editor, (speaking!)

Dominic Gleeson has been in Fiji for the Spiritual Exercises for our Pacific novices.

“The 30-day retreat finished this morning, and we are all quite tired and joy-filled. 

The Marist Brothers at their Novitiate centre, where we lived for the month for the 30-day retreat, were very gracious hosts, and they couldn’t do enough for us to accommodate any need we had.  They also supported us with their prayers.

(Editorial observation - with all the good comments on the meals, this table tooks very bare!)

We were all very kindly looked after by the OLSH sisters - and the Provincial of the MSC Province of the Pacific Islands (Tamati Sefo MSC) commented on how well-fed we all looked today.  He will treat us to a meal tonight to celebrate - to nourish us even more. 

 Thank you, everyone, for your prayers.  On 8 December (First Profession Day), we will have five wonderfully gifted and Spirited young MSC brothers join us on our journey.”

International Lay MSC project, Southern California

Visitors to the Facebook page will have noticed over the years a number of likes from Lay MSC of Southern California and from Danny Gmeiner and Ana Gmeiner.

Who are we?   The Chevalier Institute of Spirituality is a ministry of the Misssionaries of the Sacred Heart in the USA province, the Lay Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in the USA province and Su Misericordia, Inc. a non-profit Church recognized organization that is a missionary outreach to the Oaxacan Indians of the Maneadero area of Baja California, Mexico.

What is our Mission? The faith formation in the Spirituality of the Heart, to offer a missionary experience and to spread the love of the Sacred Heart everywhere.

Su Misericordia, a Catholic Charity, is having a clothes drive. Clothes need to be in good condition; no stains, missing buttons or dirty. We take the clothes to a company in LA, and they pay us $0.40 a pound. The money raised is used to help in our building and school programs, medicine and food outreach. We have been serving our Oaxacan brothers and sisters for the last 29 years. We go to Maneadero four times a year and we ask for your support. May the Sacred Heart of Jesus be loved everywhere,now and forever. Ana Gmeiner, Lay Missionary of the Sacred Heart.

Ana Gmeiner is the founder of Su Misericordia and received an award from the Diocese of San Bernardino for her charitable works. This is the Lay M.S.C. community connected with our religious community. Fr. John P. Kavcak, M.S.C.

The young man in the middle. Healthy husband of two with his beautiful wife. Su Misericordia helped him get open heart surgery in Mexico City earlier this year. It was a four year process. Thank you all who donated to save this young man's life.

Notification from Alison McKenzie The International Council of the Laity of the Chevalier Family:

Chris McDermott, well-known long-term Principal of Chevalier Collete.

Alison McKenzie, secretary of the International Council of the Laity of the Chevalier Family writes:

The International Council of the Laity of the Chevalier Family has created two new positions called Regional Coordinators. The primary responsibility of those who have been appointed is to prepare the member countries in the regions of Central and Southern America and Australia, Asia and the Pacific for the upcoming Assembly of Laity to be held in the Philippines in January 2024. Olguita Garcia Campos and Chris McDermott are the two appointments and I attach their biography.

Chris McDermott, Australia

I was born in 1958 in an Australian town called Goulburn in the state of NSW – about 3hrs south of Sydney.

When I left school I trained to be a teacher of Mathematics, whilst also exploring my faith position, having been raised in an Anglican family.

I commenced my teaching career in state owned schools in some of the poorer areas of Sydney and Wollongong.

My faith journey led me to Catholic schools – still in the poorer areas, and after working in these schools I eventually decided I wanted to join the Catholic Church.

My journey after that saw me leading three different Catholic schools as Principal across a 24 year period, with the last school being Chevalier College – a school owned and conducted by the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart , and where I spent 15 wonderful years. It was here I found and became committed to the way of being catholic that was shown by Fr Jules Chevalier and those who followed him.

I was fortunate to be invited to join the Australian National Council  of the Laity of the Chevalier Family and as I move into retirement from the role of Principal, I look forward to working with others in the  international arena,  as well as nationally, in Australia. I am hopeful that my small contribution remains true to the words of Fr Jules when he wrote “it is by the Heart we are Something”.

 Olguita Garcia Campos, Peru

I was born in Moyobamba, the land of the orchid, located in the Peruvian Amazon, two hours away from Lima by aeroplane.

I was formed in Christian values by my parents Antonio and María Olivia; at home there was always the image of the Sacred Heart with whom I felt identified from a very young age, I belonged to the group of the parish San Juan Masías, close to my home.

I studied psychology at a university in the capital, where I met Néstor Jesús, my husband with whom I have been in love for 32 years and married for 22 years. Together we share the same passion for promoting mental health; he from the public administration and I from the school promoted by the MSC sisters as well as in the care of patients in private practice. It is in this school that I came to know the charism and spirituality of the Chevalier Family, to which I have been committed since 2015, when the MSC sisters invited a group of people from the school, which allowed me to rediscover my childhood values and principles, strengthening my vocation to serve and help those most in need.

I began as a committed laywoman forming a new community called Corazón de Jesús in a district of Lima. Later I was elected as Coordinator of the National Council and now I am the Coordinator of the Americas. My commitment is to make the heart of God known wherever I am and to be loved everywhere.

Funeral, Jos Beelen MSC

Sharing of memories took place on Sunday evening,

the Funeral Mass at Kensington on Monday followed by the funeral at St Mary’s Towers.

Tony Arthur presided at the Eucharist.

John Frith MSC gave a eulogy, memories of Jos.

Further photos (with thanks to John Walker MSC)

100 years, Celebration, St Brigid’s Coogee

Congratulations on this celebration – we posted some history of the parish in anticipation last month, see Current News and search for November on St Brigid's.

Bishop Terry Brady was the celebrant,

assisted by Thoi Tran, PP, Chris McPhee, Provincial,

Peter Hendriks, Deputy and some previous PPs, Phil Hicks and Terry Bowman.

and the congregation

Pictures of previous parish priests

And the celebrants with local council members

and the stone

(and thanks to Trieu Nguyen for almost immediately sending the photos)

MSC Parish appointments, 2023

Pat Mara has been appointed Parish Priest of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Randwick, from 1st Jan 2023. He is at present at Randwick.

Partha Paniyadimai (Bartha) has been appointed Parish Priest of St Therese of Lisieux, Moonah-Lutana, from 1st Jan 2023. He is at present at Randwick.

Michael Nithan-Stephen has been appointed assistant priest at OLSH Randwick from 1st Jan 2023. He is at present at Kippax.

Gerard McCormick has been appointed assistant priest at St John of the Apostle Kippax from 1st Jan 2023. He is at present parish priest at Randwick.

Krish Mathavan has sought permission to spend some time in Singapore to be closer to his parents. Krish’s father is not well and has dementia. The Council concurred with Krish that time with his family is important, and he will head home early next year. Krish will minister part-time in Singapore; the exact nature of his ministry and the time he can give to it. Krish is at present parish priest at Moonah.

IN FABRIC

UK, 2018, 118 minutes, Colour.

Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Leo Bill, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Julian Barratt, Steve Oram, Jaygann Ayeh, Fatma Mohamed, Hayley Squires, Deborah Griffin, Richard Bremer, Gwendolyn Christie. Barry Adamson.

Directed by Peter Strickland.

Audiences familiar with the name of the writer and director Peter Strickland will know what to expect in content and style. He has made a number of short films but made an impact with his feature in 2009, Katalyn Varga, story of revenge. His other films include the Beerberian Sound Studios, The Duke of Burgundy, Flux Gourmet.

Words used by critics, fans, non-fans include exotic, erotic, esoteric, weird – and one expressing frustration by using the word “bonkers”.

Strickland, like Peter Greenaway and directors who are interested in how the film looks and sounds as well as its content, blends realism and fantasy, dreams and hallucinations. At the centre of this film, the fabric is a red dress and its effect on the characters, leading to their destruction.

The main settings for this film, however, are more realistic, ordinary British homes, workplaces like the bank or mechanical repairs, crowds invading stores for shop sales yet also more exclusive departments, restaurants and clubs… The settings do give some kind of anchor for the plot and the behaviour of the characters.

Two thirds of the way through the film, the first story comes to an end and a new story begins, quite different characters and way of life, yet the red dress pervading the story, and some of the characters, especially the managers of the bank and the staff at the exclusive department reappear.

The strength of the first part is in the presence and performance by Marianne Jean-Baptiste (with memories of her breakthrough and impact in Mike Leigh’s Secrets and Lies 20 years or more earlier). She works at a bank, is interested in dating services, buys the red dress for a date, has difficulties with her son at home and the constant presence of his girlfriend whom Sheila dislikes. There are various episodes with the dress, its seeming destruction, its not being destroyed, its pervasive influence, ultimately destructive.

The second story is not so interesting, the characters and their plot not as commanding as was the first story. This is the story of Reg, Leo Bill, 17 years engaged, henpecked by his demanding fiancee, Babs, Hayley Squires, and more encounters with the red dress.

Strickland uses many of the same cast in his films including Gwendolyn Christie, Fatma Mohamed, Richard Bremer who appeared in Flux Gourmet, Sidse Babett Knudsen from The Duke of Burgundy. Fatma Mohammed has appeared in most of Strickland’s films.

1. The films of Peter Strickland? Esoteric, exotic, weird? Arthouse style?
2. The British settings, ordinary homes, workplaces, banks and offices, shops and specialist departments, the rush for the shop sales, restaurants, working men’s clubs, repairs? The musical score?
3. The structure of the film, the focus on Sheila and her story, family, the red dress, dating, consequences? The shift to the story of Reg? The change in tone? The first part and characters being more compelling than the second? The culmination in the dressmaking levels of hell?
4. The importance of the red dress, the vivid red, in the shop, Sheila’s choice, Miss Luckmoore and her comments? Sheila wearing the dress to the date, the rash on her chest? Washing, the explosion of the washing machine? Yet the red dress intact? Always reappearing? Gwen and the red dress? Sheila wanting to take it back and the reaction? The walk in the countryside, the dog attacking the red dress, not in tatters? Sheila, driving, the dress, the character on the road, the crash, Sheila crawling out?
5. The shop, Miss Luckmoore and the rest of the staff, stylised manner, black dresses, the shop department, exclusive, the customers? Going into the shelf and descending, the women and the shop mannequin, the hair and the blood, Mr Lundy, managing the store, voyeurism and consequences? Sheila attempting to return the dress? The other customers, Babs and her going to the store, the dress, the interactions with Miss Luckmoore? The customers and the fight, the consequences? The role of the dress?
6. Sheila, separation from her husband, Vince at home, his attitudes, sketching Gwen, Gwen taking over the house, winning at the game, the clashes between Sheila and Gwen? Vince and the bewilderment about his mother?
7. At the bank, Sheila and her job, the interviews with Clive and Stash? Their prissy manner, questions, threats, gossip about Sheila and the toilet…? The reappearance, the interview with Reg, issues of a loan, his work, getting the description of how to mend the washing machine?
8. Sheila, dating, the advertisements, the red dress, the restaurant, Adonis and his lack of interest? The meeting with Zach, dancing, friendly, the night with him, his bewilderment about the dress?
9. The introduction to Reg, the sudden transition from Sheila, the stag party, marriage after 17 years, the dress, his wearing it, the drinking, the rowdiness, the aftermath, the rash on his chest, washing the dress, Babs and her reaction? Reg and his work, washing machines? Observed by his boss – and the visits, his boss just looking at him and not speaking? Region the interview with the two at the bank, the loan, describing how to fix the machine? Henpecked by Babs? Sitting at the television, the commercial about the sales, the red dress?
10. Babs, 17 years, her father, continually talking, demanding? At the shop, clash with Miss Luckmoore, the dress, trying it on? The rash?
11. The mayhem in the shop, the customers, their fighting, crashing and smashing?
12. And the transition to the levels of hell, Sheila, Reg, at their machines, the red dress, going lower and tables vacant for future characters coming to hell?

ROOM 203

US, 2022, 104 minutes, Colour.

Francesca Xuereb, Viktoria Vinyarska, Eric Wiegand, Scott Gremillion.

Directed by Ben Jagger.

With such a title, the expectations of the sinister room. This one has a sinister hole in the wall, containing a necklace from the past, some bad smells, eruption of the hole… There is a prologue with some workmen doing some painting in the room, experiencing the deadly hole, girlfriend wearing the necklace and dying.

Which prepares us for the arrival of the two central characters. This is very much a focus on female characters, the men being more in the background. One is a college student, wanting to be a journalist, interest in psychology, bonding with her friend who is an aspiring actress, getting some auditions but not succeeding.

They rent the room, discover the hole and the necklace, also a mysterious music box. There are some eerie happenings – as well as sinister dreams and one of the women sleepwalking.

The caretaker of the building is also something of an odd and eerie character.

The room begins to exert more power, the actress sleepwalks, the student has nightmares – but befriends a young man of college who helps her in her investigations, especially about the room and the previous owners.

And this will build up to some horror aspects, confrontations with the caretaker and the revelation of his secret, and the two women being strong in overcoming all the adversity.

1. The title, the focus, expectations?
2. The prologue, the room, the painting, the painters, the hole in the wall, the finding of the necklace, giving it to the girlfriend, the consequences at her death? The murderous hole?
3. The American city, apartment blocks, rooms and corridors, basements? College, the campus? The musical score?
4. The introduction to Kim and Izzy? Her parents leaving Kim, her not wanting anything to do with them? Plans for college in journalism? Friendship with Izzy, Izzy wanting to be an actress? Their renting the room? The landlord, his manner, forbidding the basement? The delight, the view, the stained-glass window, settling in?
5. The outing, the restaurant, Steve and his advance, Kim’s reaction, Izzy punching him? (Assertive treatment of unwanted advances?)
6. Izzy, erratic behaviour, the auditions, sleepwalking, friendship with the producer, being let down, the consequences, her drinking? Yet the bond with Kim?
7. Kim, late for the orientation, meeting Eric, bonding, his explaining the orientation, their going out, help with the investigations, going to the apartment, the stained-glass windows, their impact, his research? Kim and her wanting to write about Izzy and her mother’s suicide, to help her, the discussions about anonymity with the professor? Izzy discovering the papers, upset?
8. The research, the music box, the necklace, the family, the newspaper articles, murder and suicide? The surviving son?
9. The realisation that the son was the caretaker? The death of Eric?
10. Kim, the confrontation with the caretaker, to the basement, his threats, fighting with him, Izzy and her rival, under the spell, the necklace? Getting rid of it, the death of the caretaker? The two surviving?