CARDINAL JOHN RIBAT MSC, A PNG PERSPECTIVE AT THE SYNOD OF THE AMAZON

Cardinal John Ribat of Papua New Guinea is participating in the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon, said he plans to take the idea of forming a church network back to the Pacific.

By Barbara J. Fraser  CNS) — When Cardinal John Ribat of Papua New Guinea was young, he and his neighbors noticed that their well water tasted of salt. Crops also failed as the soil became salty.

Papua New Guinea consists of a large island in the Pacific Ocean surrounded by smaller islands and atolls. Residents of the island where his family lived moved inland to higher ground. They did not realize that they were early climate refugees, displaced as rising sea levels turned their fresh water brackish.

Other people have been less fortunate. Many who lived on lower-lying islands have been forced to take refuge on the large island. The Diocese of Bougainville resettled some on a plantation it owned.

“But local people are asking how long they will be there,” said Cardinal Ribat. He wonders where thousands more will go as they are displaced and what conflicts might arise as a result of resettlement.

For Pacific islanders like those in his country, “the real issue is climate change,” said the cardinal, who is participating in the Synod of Bishops for the Amazon here from Oct. 6 to 27.

Villagers in his country risk displacement for other reasons, as well. Companies persuade them to sign away the land on which they traditionally have lived, and to which they have customary rights that are not recorded on paper.

Those companies then destroy the forest by cutting down trees for timber, opening mines or installing oil palm plantations, robbing people who traditionally use forest products of their livelihood, Cardinal Ribat said.

The companies give villagers “false hope” by offering them money, but even if the payments are made, they do not compensate for the loss of the forest or for the destruction of the land that is a fundamental part of people’s identity, he said.

Mining has also been controversial in Papua New Guinea. Church leaders have spoken out against efforts to start seabed mining off the coast, Cardinal Ribat said.

And on Oct. 18, the government shut down a Chinese-owned nickel mine in the wake of an Aug. 24 accident that dumped more than 50,000 gallons of toxic slurry into a bay in the coastal Madang province. The spill turned the water red and poisoned an important fishing area, he said.

For people who live along the coast, “the sea is home,” the cardinal said. The toxic spill has made that home — and the food it provides — unsafe.

Although Papua New Guinea is a fraction of the size of the Amazon, it poses special challenges for pastoral work.

Roads are few and poor, so church workers travel to remote communities on foot or by small plane and to islands by boat. Many villages see a priest only once every month or two. At one mission station where he worked, he and other priests would spend a month at a time walking from village to village.

Catholic missionaries now minister to several groups deep in the forest who traditionally have been semi-nomadic, and which only recently have come into contact with wider society. The church would like to offer them the benefits of services like health care and education, but still “allow them to live their life as they are,” the cardinal said.

One important message from the synod, he said, is that the church plays a crucial role in promoting respect for the culture and the dignity of original peoples.

Unlike the Amazon, where indigenous people are a minority, most of Papua New Guinea’s population is indigenous. And unlike both Latin America and Africa, where church workers who defend local communities’ rights often come into conflict with government officials, political leaders in Papua New Guinea tend to listen to the bishops on issues affecting people’s lives, Cardinal Ribat said.

The regions are similar, however, in that there are not enough priests to administer sacraments in such widely scattered communities. While the island nation once received missionaries from Europe, Ireland and Australia, it now has more from Asian countries like the Philippines and India.

The synod has convinced the cardinal of the need for the church to work across borders on common issues, especially in promoting an integral ecology. Upon returning home, he said, he plans to talk with bishops throughout the Pacific region about launching a network similar to those that have formed in the Amazon, Mesoamerica and Africa.

Copyright ©2019 Catholic News Service / U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. 

HEART OF LIFE CENTRE, CELEBRATING GRADUATIONS

November 25^th, celebration of Heart of Life graduates at St Paschal’s chapel, Box Hill.

Director, Paul Beirne welcomed graduates, staff, families and visitors. Presiding at the Eucharist was Kevin Hennessy CP.

The principal graduates were those for Siloam, the one year full-time program for Spiritual Directors. They included participants from China, Philippines, Korea, Vietnam and Australia. The two graduating from the two year part-time Siloam program were both from Australia.

There were five graduates from the Spiritual Leaders’ program (one day a week) including a participant from Tanzania.

Those graduating were presented with their certificates from the staff members responsible for the programs, Lis Teggelove and Michelle McCourt for the fulltimers, Kathleen Spokes for the part-timers, Michelle McCourt and Paul Castley for the Spiritual Leaders.

2019 marks the 40^th anniversary of the Siloam Program, established by Brian Gallagher MSC in Sydney in 1979 and continued after that in Melbourne.

CHALLENGE TO THE CATHOLIC CHURCH: GRACE a DIEU/ BY THE GRACE OF GOD 

France, 2019, 137 minutes, Directed by François Ozon.

SIGNIS STATEMENT
World Catholic Association for Communication.

 This very topical film, for the Church, the Churches and all institutions with cases of sexual abuse of minors.  This is a French story from the 20^th century but actual cases from 2014 in the city of Lyon: survivors, families, abusive priest and the case against Cardinal Paul Barberin of Lyon and his pastoral care.

Here is a text that has been circulated around the Church.

The first thing to say about François Ozon’s contribution to the cinema focusing on clerical sexual abuse is that it is quite a significant contribution. It is based on real-life characters, an abusive priest, Father Bernard Preynat, the Cardinal- Archbishop of Lyon, Barberin, lay assistants, and a number of men who raised issues from their past, their experiences of abuse, leading to criminal investigations into the priest. An epilogue indicates that no date for the trial has been set, although there has been work on the investigation for several years, and that the Cardinal and one of his lay assistants have been on trial for not passing on information about the abuse –  on March 7^th, the courts found the Cardinal guilty, an appeal has been entered.

 Catholic consciousness about clerical sexual abuse has undergone quite some transformation in the last three decades, in some cultures much more developed than in others. The word used by many is that the Catholic response is evolving. And this film will contribute to the evolution. There are early references to Pope Francis and his stances about abuse, investigations by Cardinal O’ Malley for the Vatican, protocols changing concerning trials, priests being laicised, penalties, civil cases and imprisonment. This film, with its focus on serious misdeeds, insufficient response from hierarchy and authorities, is a helpful opportunity for Catholics (and members of other denominations who have experienced abuse as well as other institutions) to acknowledge the realities of the past, express regrets, move towards greater openness.

While Ozon focuses on one diocese and one priest, he highlights the events presented as something local and solitary, in comparison with many of the cases that have occurred in France. The screenplay scarcely acknowledges that there have been cases right throughout the world and for so long. We could be reminded that many other countries have been pursuing the issues of abuse, attempts to rectify situations honestly, acknowledge guilt since the 1990s.

Cases were raised in Canada in the 1980s and 1990s. The first protocols from the official church in Australia were published in 1996. In fact, Ireland has had a national investigation into abuse, Australia had a governmental Royal Commission into institutional abuse, with a thorough examination of the Catholic Church, from 2013 to 2018, with extensive airing by the media. Although the Oscar-winning film Spotlight, 2015, almost seems to indicate that the Americans discovered abuse and dealt with it in the media, their focus was on the years up to 2002. So, for outsiders to France, to see this case coming up in the middle of the second decade of the 21st century seems comparatively late – and it would have been interesting had the men in Lyon had contact with organisations in other countries.

This can be confirmed by the cinema history of films about clerical sexual abuse, the American film, Judgement, 1990, about cases in Louisiana, The Boys of St Vincent, 1992, quite forthright about Canadian cases, and a number of British and Irish films since 2000, and the miniseries from Australia, The Devil’s Playground, 2014. In fact, the film Our Fathers, 2005, was quite explicit in basing the screenplay on actual characters, survivors, lawyers, clergy, and quite specifically naming the Cardinal-Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Bernard Law.

A note about the screenplay’s use of the word, ‘victim’. Another development over recent years, especially in some English-speaking countries, is the substitution of the word ‘survivor’ for ‘victim’. Victim highlights the perpetrator as well as the abused, while survivor highlights the life of the abused person (acknowledging that so many abused have committed suicide), a more positive perspective on going ahead with life.

As regards the film itself, it is very much a verbal film, voice-overs describing experiences, the texts of letters and emails, words of interviews, reports to the police, family discussions. This means that the director is able to be less detailed in visual representations of abuse situations, relying on the flashbacks, on the age and innocence of the child, the child being selected by the abuser, his taking the child away from the group. In this way, the director is able to avoid any prurient response to the story.

The film is also an effective in its principal focus being on the particular survivors, four of them, one, devoutly Catholic, wife and five children, discovering the offending priest is still in ministry, wanting to act, communicating with the archdiocese, going to interviews, even a meeting with the offending priest. But, with ecclesiastical delays, his growing more concerned and, approaching the police, setting a criminal investigation in process. Another man, now atheist, wife and children, has been moved into action because his mother wrote to the then Cardinal and other clergy in the early 1990s and has kept a file which the police use. This man has another friend who remembers abuse in the past, at the scout camp sponsored by the priest. The fourth man, high IQ but not able to fit into society so well, also joins the group which establishes a website, and an association as more and more survivors emerge.

Again, it would be interesting to compare the networks of survivors in other countries and how they operate, cooperate, and have been significant in giving witness into investigations, especially government investigations as in Ireland and Australia, for instance. This film gives the (perhaps unintended) impression that this website and network was a first in dealing with abusive clergy.

Ozon takes a fair perspective on the events and the characters. There is certainly criticism of the Cardinal, his hesitations, some contradictions in his testimony in press conferences. Worthy of note, is the Cardinal’s faux pas in responding to issues concerning the ending of statutes of limitations, God be thanked (Grace a Dieu), the title of the film. The Cardinal is challenged, acknowledges his loose use of words, apologises (and mistakes like this, unthought-out comments by the hierarchy, have plagued investigations and stirred media upset, flowing over for the public).

In fact, there has been great rage in many of the survivors, the years-long hurt and wounding, the disastrous effect on life, relationships, ability to cope and lead a fruitful life. However, this film has its protagonists angry but more objective, less raging but earnest for justice to be seen and justice to be done, possibilities for reparation, hesitations concerning forgiveness of the offender.

It is interesting that in this film, while there are some lawyers, they play subsidiary roles, different from lawyers’ work in more litigious cultures, with a focus on financial compensation, and a criticism of the church in using lawyers, legal action before expressions of compassion.

One of the directions for another film would be to take up the presentation of Father Preynat (for English-speaking audiences it is ominous that his surname begins with ’prey’, a man who was a prolific predator), his admitting his guilt and responsibility, his apologies to the survivors, but his acknowledgement of his psychological condition which needed much more attention, his attraction towards children, even seen in his emotional response to meeting the survivors, wanting their support and forgiveness, speaking affectionately (until reprimanded by the lawyer), his willingness to pray with the survivors, his affectionate smiles as he left the meetings. We need more probing of the characters, motivations, mental and emotional conditions of the abusers.

This is not a review of the film. That would go into the quality of the screenplay and the direction, the fine performances of the central characters, the relying on strong dialogue to communicate perspectives.

But, for audiences from other cultures, it is a dramatisation of historical and contemporary events, issues for survivors, challenges to churches, which must continue.

Peter Malone MSC for SIGNIS.

PAUL CASTLEY MSC, BOOK LAUNCH, A TIME TO HOPE.

St Thomas’ parish, Blackburn, and its PP, Terry Bowman MSC, hosted the occasion of the launching of Paul Castley’s new book, A Time to Hope.

Brian Gallagher was MC and launching the book was Greg Bourke of Melbourne Archdiocese, Executive Secretary of the Bishops Commission for Church Ministry and Director of its Office for Clergy Life and Ministry.  Paul responded as did publisher Hugh Mc Ginley of Coventry Press. (This is the 7^th book in the last 18 months by MSC authors published by Coventry Press.)

Greg began by remembering the contribution of the MSC to the Northern Territory, the time of Cyclone Tracey…

This is our time…it is in the threshold of paradox that we stand. This is what we hope for and this area of paradox is where, I feel, Paul pitches his book. Is it mere optimism or a matter of cheering up? What is Hope? Is Christian hope a pious form of denial?

Paul suggests and quotes many mystics who describe this paradox of our times. That it is not a matter of pressing the resurrection button and all the lights go on. Rather, it is a mature process of a life-long  acknowledgment of becoming more aware as he says in Chapter 7 when we are paralysed, to pray as we are, and not as we think we ought to be, to be open to life experience, feelings and thoughts. Here the missionary spirit of the heart is expressed by Paul. To move away from the scandal of harshness in spirituality to the qualities of Jesus (according to the MSC perspective) tenderness, affection, loyalty, courage and challenge.

I loved the encouraging comment by Julian Norwich that God is grateful to us.

We are encouraged by Paul to lament the aging of our congregations, the declining numbers, the absence of the young, the lack of influence the church has, indeed the end of Christendom.

Paul paints a picture for us imagining Baruch, Jeremiah’s secretary writing his lamenting texts sitting in the ruins of Jerusalem after the Babylonians left, at another stage he invokes psalm 22… My God My God, why have you abandoned me, which concludes with calm, praise and mission.

Brian Gallagher

It made me think of the MSC spirituality which oozes from his book, of the destruction of the church in France post revolution.

Another image of the cyclone which, yes, brings destruction but therefore great change, a death but paradoxically a birth; a flourishing of new vitality, new spirituality of the heart. A time for hope.

This book had its genesis in addressing the hearts of priests. The request to publish came from their sense of connection, that somewhere hope was stirred, by Paul, a hope that is more than optimism. Using some of the chapter titles of Paul’s , these are Pastors who know well what it is like ‘When the Well Runs Dry’ but who still find a reason to hope, in the middle of lament, and when feeling a paralysis in ministry remember they are being united to the Passion of Christ, knowing once again that He is Risen. And so the men asked for publication. Why wouldn’t they?

Hugh McGinley.

Walter Bruggeman, the scripture scholar says there are three signs of a prophet…1. One who weeps, laments…2. One who offers a vision of the Gospel… 3 one who suffers and dies and grows.

In this sense the book is prophetic.

I loved the scene described by Paul when, he after walking from Canterbury to Rome, finds himself welcomed into St Peter’s sacristy, standing in the smelly, dirty rags only a pilgrim knows in the presence of prelates and princes of the church who welcome Paul’s humility and vulnerability. Earlier in the book, Paul described a Mr Robinson, equally dirty and smelly who came to Paul’s door, hopefully. Is this the face of Christ?

Michael Casey of Tarrawarra , describes the School of Christ as…1. Following  2. Imitation…3. Likeness…4. Participation in the heart of God

Paul through his writing demonstrates he has been well formed in the School of Christ.

Paul’s book A Time to Hope, with encouragement, reminds us that these are truly exciting times to be a Christian. This is so because we stand on the threshold of a new time, God’s graciousness is alive. We can nod in agreement with Julian of Norwich… all shall be well and all manner of things shall be well.

This is not an optimism. There is a saying… where there is life there is hope… but this is not true because sometimes life is hopeless. Rather, what is true is that where there is hope there is life. This is a Time to Hope.

AN INVITATION – TO A SOMEWHAT SAD EVENT, DARAMALAN MSC RESIDENCE

The invitation is to a farewell Mass, 8^th December, McCowage Hall, Daramalan College, 10.30 am.

The souvenir photo below is well worth studying – many moments for nostalgia.

Our veteran MSC who have lived at the Residence for many years, Fr Harold Baker, Fr Jim Littleton, Br John Walker, will be moving out, transferring to the Sacred Heart Monastery, Kensington.

The Residence has been the residence for MSC personnel for over 50 years. In fact, in 1966-1967, the editor of this site can avow, while on the staff, he never lived there, because it was full and three confreres lived in a unit in the Sharpe Wing.

The Residence has a long, very long, list of MSC who have lived there.  End of an era.

Thanks to Bernard Kane, Daramalan.

RIP, SISTER PATRICIA RUSH MSC

Sister Trish Rush MSC died on November 15^th. Recently, she celebrated 100 years of life and over 80 years of religious profession.

Her Requiem Mass was presided over by her Franciscan brother, Theophane (Paul) Rush. A eulogy was presented by Sister Francis Baum MSC.

“Our Sister Trish was born, the third eldest in a family of 10 children to John and Ellen (Nellie) Rush of Ivanhoe, September 24, 1919.

Having excelled in her studies at Primary School, she obtained scholarships to St Itaa’s in North Fitzroy and then to the Academy of Mary immaculate, where, after obtaining her Leaving Certificate she dreamt of fields further away. Having heard through a neighbour who had recently had a baby at Mena House that a Sister had been farewelled to work among lepers in PNG, she knew immediately that that was the Order she wished to join. Like Damien of Molokai she would go there. She did join our MSC Congregation in 1936, taking the name of Sister Damien. With Annie Glaven (Sister Marie Therese), they were the first Australians to join the congregation here in Australia.

Trish’s heart was on fire with the future purpose of her life. It was a fire enkindled through her parents and family, of deep faith and love for the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary, and it remained her constant leitmotif as her missionary calling led her through fields of Profession in Nursing and Nurse Education, Leadership in these fields and the opportunity to give employment in the many fields connected. This, especially, to seminarians, refugees and others disadvantaged. She remained active in her companionship with others right throughout life.

In 1974 Trish was led by the Spirit to deepen her commitment through the Charismatic Renewal Movement, which set her heart on fire with renewed purpose. The opportunity for a year at Gaithersburg, Maryland, in 1978-79 also fed her heart and spirit. Trish always freely gave from her many gifts and opportunities. She always had a heart and a place for others, especially those living on the fringe of society. And her missionary dream was fulfilled when she did have the opportunity to teach nursing in PNG for a year.

In these latter years, Saint Catherine’s home became her home and friends.

Go now in peace and joy to the God you loved and served so faithfully.

FROM JAPAN TO RANDWICK

 From the OLSH Randwick Parish Bulletin.  A migration and conversion story.

Kaoru Kagami-Chua completed the RCIA program and became a Catholic at the Easter Vigil in April this year.

I was born and raised in Japan and attended an Anglican school from Year 1 to 12. It has a beautiful chapel with a pipe organ and we always visited the chapel during school days. Although my parents weren’t Christian, they attended the school’s Sunday family Mass. One of my earliest school memories was bringing colorfully painted and decorated eggs for Easter when I was in Year 1.

I arrived in Australia to study at UNSW in 1997. After graduating, I went to Singapore to start my career as an Accountant and married my husband, Edmund, there in 2002. We had decided to migrate to Australia as we thought this would be the better place to have a family.

When we arrived in Sydney, we initially lived in Kensington – it was familiar to us from our University days and we later rented an apartment in Randwick. Without having a job, it was not so easy to fi nd a place to rent.

Finding a job wasn’t easy either as neither of us had working experience in Australia. After a few months of endless interviews and visiting recruitment agencies, I secured a position at KPMG, coincidentally the same firm where I worked in Singapore. Long hours and hard work for both of us was needed for building our careers as Accountants.

I still clearly remember when I found out I was expecting. The thought of becoming a mother frightened me  more than the joy of starting a family. I asked Edmund if he could also stay at home to look after our baby as I wasn’t confident that I could handle the newborn baby by myself. People, including our parents, were quite surprised by our decision to be both stay-at-home parents. We had a wonderful time watching our daughter, Tessa, grow and spending precious time with her. We still believe we made the best decision.

After one year we both resumed fulltime work. Raising Tessa without any family help was very challenging. We would rush from work to get to the daycare centre in time to pick up Tessa. I felt guilty when Tessa complained that she was always the last one to be picked up! When Tessa was sick (often and normal for a young child) it was not easy to decide who needed to stay at home with her.

Tessa was nearly 7 years old when  Alexander was born. People say the second child is easier to manage. I agree to a certain extent, but I often struggled after Alex was born but Tessa is a wonderful sister to Alex and helps me greatly. Tessa is now 10 years old and attends an Anglican school. Having a child and becoming a mother was a very special experience. I had never imagined how hard it is to be a parent, but it is extremely rewarding. The hardest thing I’ve ever done!

Time has passed so quickly since Tessa was born. Many things happened in my life, some good, and some bad. I was just surviving day by day with not having enough time to stop and think where I was going in my life. That was when Edmund and I happened to walk past OLSH. It must have been just after a Sunday Mass. I saw many people, young and old and families gathering outside the church. I did not pay much attention then except for vaguely remembering how amazing it was to see so many people there. The next weekend we saw a similar crowd of people mingling after Mass.

Afterward I started to wonder what it would be like to join such a community. We don’t have family here in and I thought it would be nice if we have somewhere to belong. I become curious about the church so one Sunday I decided to attend the Mass. It was a peaceful time and I felt more relaxed and calm. When I told my friend, a Catholic, that I was occasionally attending the church, she mentioned that I might consider the RCIA. After thinking about it for a while I decided to join the RCIA. It was a wonderful enjoyable and faith filled experience. It also made me think what I value in my life and what I should be focusing on.

Well, this is me and I hope to see many of you at church.

RIP, PAUL STENHOUSE MSC

Steve Dives, MSC Deputy, has sent the following message:

"It is with great sadness that I advise that our dear confrere Paul Stenhouse died very peacefully at 1.27 pm this afternoon. He has been unconscious for the last few days. He has been very comfortable and very gently passed away.

He has had a long battle with cancer but faced it all with great courage and great faith."

Paul was born and grew up in Cobbitty, near Camden, not far from Douglas Park. After working in a printer, he entered the Apostolic School, made his novitiate in 1956, professed on February 26, 1957. All his studies for the priesthood were done at Sacred Heart Monastery, Croydon, Victoria.

After his ordination to the priesthood, July 20, 1963, his first appointment was to Sacred Heart Monastery, Kensington, moving into a room which was his for the next almost 56 years. He was appointed to work as the assistant editor, to Father Aloysius English MSC, on the Annals of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart.

In early 1966, he became the full-time editor of Annals, renaming it has Annals Australia, and, in 1967, making a breakthrough in religious education, introducing the Catechetical Supplements and their notes and guides. He was assisted by a number of fellow MSC but also extended the invitation to a wide number of religious sisters and religious brothers who formed committees preparing these supplements. They were very successful and widely read and used during the first half of the 1970s.

Paul had a talent for languages and began studies at Sydney University with Hebrew, then moving to specialisation with Samaritan, appointed to Rome in 1977 to do doctoral work, editing, annotating, translating, Samaritan Scriptures. At the same time, he served as a personal assistant-secretary to the then superior general, Fr Jim Cuskelly.

On his return to Australia in 1981, he assumed the editorship of Annals again, later renaming it Annals Australasia, and adding the subtitle, Journal of Catholic Culture.

November 2019 sees the 130th anniversary of the establishing of the Annals and Paul was preparing a celebration as well as the final issue of the magazine. After completing his work on the magazine, he moved into care at the Sacred Heart Hospice, where he died.

Paul was committed for many years to Aid to the Church in Need, working for it in Australia and a member of the International Central Committee for a long time. He was also very active in ministry to Asians in Australia, in Sydney, at the University of New South Wales, often visiting Asian countries.

Paul was in many ways an old-style apologist for the Catholic Church, evident in the thrust of the Annals in recent decades, apologetics, the explanation and defence of the faith. He was also an avid antiquarian in the sense that he loved the history of the church, from the patristic era (many volumes in his room), to the Middle Ages and the Reformation and had a great devotion to Catholic authors of the early 20^th century like G.K.Chesterton – which drew him to Campion College Australia.

Over the last almost 40 years, Paul has written a great number of books and booklets on apologetics themes, a thesis on his ancestor John Farrell, and, more recently, many books and articles on Islam.

Paul had many contacts overseas and in Sydney, especially through the Journalist’s Club. There will be a great number of people who will miss him.

May he rest in peace.

DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE MSC HISTORY IN TENNANT CREEK, NT?

Googling turns up some news and history items.

During the 1930s Tennant Creek was in the midst of a gold mining boom. In 1934, to cater to the growing non-Aboriginal population, approval was granted for the establishment of a Catholic Mission Station in the Tennant Creek area.

The church building was originally constructed in 1904 in Pine Creek, which is 760 km north of Tennant Creek, but by the mid-1930s the church had fallen into disrepair. In 1935 Reverend Father W.J. Dew, M.S.C. of the Darwin Parish, was asked by Bishop Francis Xavier Gsell to assess the needs of the Tennant Creek parishioners, who numbered approximately 300. Dew later wrote:

I was appointed to Tennant Creek in 1935. I went to Darwin in 1936 and discussed the whole situation with Monsignor Gsell. He suggested me taking the P.C. (Pine Creek) church to T.C. (Tennant Creek). So there and then I arranged for Brother Andrew Smith M.S.C. (skipper of our Mission Boat serving Bathurst Island and Port Keats) to come with me to Pine Creek for a fortnight and managed in that time to dismantle the Church that was there.

Father Dew undertook fundraising for the project in Adelaide and was reportedly frustrated by the lack of generosity he encountered there, particularly on one occasion when a wealthy woman replied to his request for a donation by simply saying, "Give my love to the miners".

The dismantled church was railed to Birdum and then trucked the remaining distance. The trucks carrying the dismantled church were caught in floods at Daly Waters and parts of the loads were left on the roadside. Spread out along the route for some time, it became known as the "longest church in Australia". While the church was reconstructed, mass was held "in the residence of some local Catholic". The relocation was expensive, and by the time it was opened on 21 November 1937 by Bishop Raible had cost "many hundreds of pounds". The church was reconstructed in a different layout that in its original location. An office and verandas were later built "on two sides to serve as accommodation for the priest".

During World War II the church became a social centre for troops travelling the north-south road. Father Dew stayed in Tennant Creek throughout the war and was Chaplain to the 55 Australian Camp Hospital in 1944.

Rev. Father Wilfred Dew had been a science master and was very fond of books. This young man was appointed to Tennant Creek in 1935, after only ten years of teaching, and evangelised the mining community. He had abandon­ed the comfort of a professor’s chair to plunge into the bush with neither church nor presbytery and only a car for his home, and his ministry to support his spirit.

For the first six months mass was celebrated in the homes of some parishioners.  The dining table was pushed to the end of the room, clothes were removed from nails, and the best was made of the circumstances. The small congregation knelt on the ant-bed floor (possibly Weber’s residence at the Rising Sun Mine).  Also Scott’s Hall, next to the Tennant Creek Hotel was made available, but this was unsuitable as the dance which was held there on Saturday nights left the hall in confusion.

Father Dew designed the building which was re-built differently then had been at Pine Creek, which he described as virtually a 60 foot by 20 foot hay shed. The building comprised of the Church and Sacristy, which was the office and Confessional, front and inside verandas with a bathroom and windmills, one to pump rain water to the overhead tank. There were three water tanks on site providing a total of 5,400 gallons. Wooden louvres were imported from Queensland whilst all church and residence furniture was brought up from Adelaide. Father Dew designed the church seats and alter which were made to order. Windows, wall and ceiling lining, guttering and all plumbing was also purchased interstate. A wind driven generator provided electricity by charging batteries. The majority of the costs for the building were borne by promoters from the southern states plus locally by the Dwyer and Weaber families and also T Kelley. The relocation of the church was expensive, the overall cost was over £3,000.

“The Longest Church in Australia” In the early 1930’s Tennant Creek was granted approval  for the establishment of a Catholic Mission Station. Father Moloney M.S.C. came from Alice Springs at irregular occasions to celebrate mass.

The Reverend Father Wilfred J. Dew, Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.) of the Darwin Parish, was asked by Bishop Francis Xavier Gsell to assess the needs of the Tennant Creek parishioners, who numbered approximately 300.

Northern Standard (Darwin NT 1921:1955) – Tuesday 29th September 1936

The Reverend Father Dew cleared the town this morning in his motor van for his headquarters at Tennant Creek. Brother A. A. Smith of the mission staff is making the journey with the Reverend gentleman to Pine Creek, where the Catholic Church at the mining township is to be pulled down and removed to Tennant Creek. The materials will be trucked by rail to Birdum and then by motor truck to the site of re-erection.

So from an the abandoned mining centre of Pine Creek, no less than four hundred and fifty miles distant, Father Dew brought a church whose iron framework was dismantled in two weeks.

It was then railed from Pine Creek to Birdum (Larrimah) and the Tennant Creek trucking firm of Dave Baldocks carried out the move the remaining distance, in conjunction with Snowy Renfrey.

The trucks carrying the dismantled church were caught in flood waters at Daly Waters and parts of the load were unloaded when the trucks became bogged and left by the roadside, some being washed away.

Because the building was spread out along the route between Pine Creek and Tennant Creek, some four hundred and fifty miles for quite some time,  it became affectionately known by locals as the:- “longest church in Australia”.

Parish Priests during the 40 years of MSC presence:

1935 – 45 … Rev. Fr. Wilfred J Dew MSC

1945-46 … Rev. Fr. A Guest MSC

1947-51 … Rev. Fr. John Cosgrove MSC

1951-54 … Rev. Fr. Dallas J Cox MSC

1954-55 … Rev Fr. A.J. Collins MSC  (relief)

1955-56 … Rev. Fr. Dallas J Cox MSC

1956-57 … Rev. Fr. Fred Mordaunt MSC

1957-70 … Rev. Fr. George Vincent Taylor MSC

1970-71 … Rev. Fr. Maurice McPhillamy MSC

1972-73 … Rev. Fr. John Fallon MSC

1973-74 … Rev. Fr. John O’Carrigan MSC

MSC INTERPROVINCE COLLABORATION: US - WITH FR JOANE SIGARARA AND FR CORNEILLE BOYEYE.

FR JOANE SIGARARA MSC – FROM FIJI, PACIFIC UNION. MILITARY

The second is from 2014.

The Reverend Ioane Sigarara of Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Hillsdale, once a Fijian military man, will enter the United States Navy in January to serve as a chaplain.

Ioane grew up in Fiji-the islands where there are only two seasons: cool and dry or warm and wet. Ioane said he would describe Fiji as the place where fish and octopus are eaten raw for increased flavour, electricity is almost non-existent and "running water" is the creek out back.

Another unique characteristic of the Fiji Islands is the love of rugby that they inherited from British colonisation. Ioane said he played quite a bit growing up, and when he came to Hillsdale in 2007, he visited the college rugby club practice to provide insight into how to better their rugby game.

"He was an incredibly holy and personable man – and a great rugby player," Ian Faley '10, captain of the college rugby team in 2007, said. Ioane's passion was not limited to this sport, however. He said the Catholic community in Fiji is very strong, and even as a young boy, Ioane said he desired to become a priest.

As soon as he graduated high school, Ioane joined the military, as was expected by his family. His dreams of becoming a priest were put on hold. Ioane spent six years in the Fijian Navy. His duties ranged from serving on a minesweeper vessel to guarding the Israel/Lebanon border. During his time in the navy, Ioane said he felt again the call to pursue priesthood.

As he encountered countless young men and women returning from battle permanently scarred by the sights they had beheld, Ioane said he also developed a passion for counselling. Ioane returned home to become a priest.

Ioane said that this was a revolutionary decision in Ioane's family since everyone in his family was either a teacher or part of the military. They had trouble accepting this decision, he said. "They thought I was mad to become a priest," Ioane said, Nevertheless, Ioane followed through with his education, keeping his ties with the Fiji Armed Forces so he could minister as a chaplain.

On a visit to see his uncle – who was assisting at St Anthony – Ioane said he was introduced to Hillsdale. In August 2007, his uncle returned to Fiji, and the Rev. Tom Butler, current pastor at St. Anthony, asked Ioane to take his place.

Ioane said that, within the first five minutes of their meeting, Butler convinced Ioane to stay in Hillsdale. Ioane has remained here for the past few years, leaving a few times to return for short sabbaticals to Fiji.

But the next chapter of his life will unfold in the Navy.

And in 2019 the photos.

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FR CORNEILLE BOYEYE, FROM CONGO, CHAPLAINCY

On Saturday, October 20, 2019, Fr. Corneille Boyeye, MSC, was unanimously recommended for board certification by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains at a national interview which was held at Mercy Hospital in Rockville Centre.  Fr. Corneille has been working and studying for this achievement for three years.

Ordained in 2002, Father Corneille was Pastor of Sainte Marie Madeleine Parish in Kinshasa, DR Congo before coming to the United States.  He is a member of the MSC’s Pennsylvania Community and resides at St. Patrick’s Parish in Smithtown, NY. 

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