VATICAN MEETING ON CLERICAL SEXUAL ABUSE OPENS TODAY

For the first time in Catholic history, nearly 200 church leaders from around the world, including more than 100 bishops, will gather at the Vatican starting Thursday to confront the scourge of clergy who sexually abuse children.

The unprecedented four-day summit, convened by Pope Francis last September, will include two speeches by the Pope, talks outlining best practices, small group discussions among bishops and a penitential ceremony involving abuse survivors.

Vatican officials say the meeting’s themes will be responsibility, accountability, and transparency, and they hope that it will be a turning point. But they’ve also tried to manage expectations, saying that while the gathering is an opportunity for discussion and reflection, it might not yet yield concrete measures.

Charles J. Scicluna

“This is not going to be a three-day wonder, and we’re not going to solve all the problems. Follow-up will be of the essence,” Monsignor Charles J. Scicluna, the archbishop of Malta and one of the Vatican’s longtime top investigators of sexual-abuse cases, said on Monday. Before the meeting begins, and before the crisis can be solved, here are some questions that still need answering.

Federico Lombardi SJ

Prior to the meeting, the leaders of religious congregations, of both women and men, issued a letter which opens:

“As the meeting on safeguarding and protection of minors begins we, the Major Superiors of Religious Orders and Congregations around the world, unite in support of this initiative of Pope Francis.

In our work as religious, we come across many situations where children are abused, neglected, maltreated and unwanted. We see child soldiers; the trafficking of minors; the sexual abuse of minors; the physical and emotional abuse of minors. They cry out to us. As adults, as Christians and as religious we want to work so that their lives are changed and that the situations in which they are brought up are improved.

The common theme across all of these issues is vulnerability. Children are the most vulnerable in our societies. Children who are poor, who are disabled or destitute, or who are on the margins, who belong to lower social classes or castes may have a particular vulnerability. They are considered dispensable, to be used and abused.”

Francis has blamed the sexual-abuse crisis on what he calls “clericalism,” or an abuse of power by priests.

Structurally, the distribution of responsibility between local dioceses and the Vatican has meant that blame and accountability for abusive clerics have been constantly deferred, creating a system for plausible deniability and fertile ground for cover-ups.

Church officials have talked of the need for better screening procedures for priests, but some people involved in tackling the abuse crisis believe that it’s time for an even deeper reckoning. “For me, the major issue that needs to be addressed is: What is it in the clerical culture that attracts these men who abuse youngsters? And what is it in the clerical culture that leads these men to protect the abuser?”

Hans Zolner SJ

Cardinal Blase Cupich

“My hope is that people see this as a turning point,” Cardinal Blase Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, said at a Vatican news conference. He said he hoped the meeting, titled “The Protection of Minors in the Church,” would be a “rallying moment” to make sure all the bishops were on the same page. 

Our local representatives:

President of the PNG-SI Bishops Conference is Rochus Tatamai MSC

President of the Australian Bishops Conference is Mark Coleridge.

The four-day meeting, which begins on Thursday, will bring together 190 participants, including 114 presidents of bishops’ conferences or their delegates, representatives from 14 Eastern churches in communion with Rome, female and male leaders of religious orders and the chiefs of several Vatican congregations.

GOD EXISTS, AND HER NAME IS PETRUNIJA

Now, here is a heading go get some attention, if not (I hope).

This is the tile of the film which won the Ecumenical Prize at the 2019 Berlin Film Festival last week.

The Berlinale provides an opportunity to highlight some of the Church’s worldwide activities with cinema, the work of SIGNIS, the World Catholic Association for Communications. This organisation is a merger of two Catholic organisations, the fruit of Catholic Action in western Europe in the 1920s. 2018 saw the 90^th anniversaries of these organisations, OCIC (Organisation Catholique du Cinema) and Unda (Catholic Association for Radio and Television) who merged in 2001 as SIGNIS. A third organisation, UCIP (International Catholic Union of the Press) also established in 1928 has also become part of SIGNIS in recent years.

About Petrunija…  This is a film from Macedonia, a look at aspects of the Orthodox Church, its hierarchy and male dominance.  In the story, Petrunija is an out or work 30ish historian who, when the bishop casts the cross into the water for the men to dive and retrieve it, jumps in on impulse and wins.  The men are outraged, mysogenistic to say the least!  So, a wry comic look at men and women in the churches – the persecution and vindication of a female figurehead.

Each year in Berlin, members of SIGNIS meet with their Protestant counterparts in Interfilm, to review the year’s activities (especially with 16 Ecumenical Juries throughout the world) and plan the coming year.

The German Media Bishop with Guido Convents, secretary SIGNIS Cinema Desk, Peter Malone, Australia.

The German Churches are outstanding in their support of cinema ministry. In Berlin there is a public gathering on the Sunday evening (one year at the Catholic centre, the next at the Protestant centre). The Catholic media Bishop always speaks, an opportunity of solidarity for those who work for the Churches in media.

On the final day, there is an award ceremony for all the independent juries, including the Ecumenical Jury. One of the Catholic jury members of 2019 was Sister Dominic Dipio, pictured, a film lecturer and maker for the church in Uganda.

RIP, SR MONA ISOBEL SACKLEY OLSH

24th April 1927 – 6 December 2018

This site offers memorials of OLSH Sisters who have died. Their stories are personal but also illustrate the wide history of the mission heritage of Jules Chevalier.

“My song will be for you, forever, You the music of my heart.
With your voice you sing within me; You, the One who knows me well. You, my joy, my life and blessing. When you call you know my name.”

On December 6 Jesus called Mona’s name and took her to Himself to sing a new song forever in heaven. Now she can truly sing, “My song will be for you, forever, you the music of my heart.”

Mona Isobel Sackley was born on 24th April 1927. She was the middle child of Edward and Mary Sackley. Her older brother, Keith, and her younger sister, Veronica have predeceased her. Mona’s father was a dairy farmer and she spent the first years of her life on farms in Albion Park, and then Avoca. Her father had served in France in the Air Force in World War 1 and as a result suffered chest complaints. Mona’s mother, Mary, was a good housekeeper and manager. Both Edward and Mary were practicing Catholics and always supported the Church. In her memories Mona wrote: “We had a good Catholic atmosphere in our family and attended Mass every Sunday, also on First Fridays and Holy Days. Our parents both taught us as much as they could from their own experience and good example.”

Growing up during the Great Depression and World War 11 affected Mona’s family as small farms were not viable, and so in 1930 the family moved to Moss Vale where her father kept a good vegetable garden and worked on local farms and with the Council. Mona noted that a few days after the attack on Pearl Harbour her father enlisted and was away for a year, while her brother, Keith, was called up and took part in the Kododa Campaign in PNG. As Mona’s Mother was not well and very worried at this time much responsibility fell on young Mona’s shoulders. Mona wrote:
“Growing up during the Great Depression and its aftermath, then the experiences at home during World War 11, gave me a sense of the value of family life, and the importance of the main things in life, eg education.”

Mona commenced school in 1933 at St Joseph’s, Moss Vale, which was run by the Dominican Sisters. She wrote in her memoirs
it was “during primary school I knew I wanted to be a nun. We had a wonderful Sister [teaching us] and I used to think I would like to be like her. Up until almost the end of 1944, [when Mona was 17], I thought I would like to be a Dominican but the thought of going to the missions made me think of entering the OLSH instead.”

Mona’s secondary schooling was at “Elm Court”, Moss Vale, where again she was taught by the Dominican Sisters. Here she completed her Intermediate Certificate in 1941. Mona’s teaching life began early as she was only 14 when she was asked by the Sisters to help in the Infants school. Having done well at this task she was then asked to teach years 3 and 4 in the Boarding School under the supervision of a Sister. She remained in this position for a further two years.

Mona entered the OLSH Novitiate at Bowral on 2nd February 1945. By then her younger sister, Veronica, was old enough to be a companion and support for her mother, and her father and brother, though not yet home, were out of danger. Mona wrote: “I have thought in later years that I was called to the Spirituality of the Heart.

My first retreat was given by Fr Goodman msc in 1945 and what he said then was the basis of my spirituality for the whole of my life.

Mona made her first profession of Vows at Bowral on 6th January 1947 and began teaching music at the Boys’ College there and playing the organ at the Parish Church. From there Mona went to Daceyville, again teaching music and being the Church organist. In 1948 Mona went to Darwin where she taught in the primary school. On January 6th 1950 Mona made her Final Profession of Vows as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart at Bathurst Island and the following year her dream was realized when she was sent to Papua New Guinea. Here she joined the community in Rabaul and for the next five years taught music and was the Church organist. Wherever she went and there was a church with an organ Mona played it! Her musical gifts were well used at both liturgical and social events. Concerts were a joy for Mona to prepare and organize, for the students to perform and for the delighted audiences.

We follow Mona as she moved around the OLSH communities in PNG – to Vunapope and the OLSH Teacher Training College, to St Therese’s Mission at Pililo, back to Vunapope, then to Kabaleo as Principal of St Joseph’s School, back to the Training College at Vunapope, the Sacred Heart School Rabaul, the OLSH Teachers College at Kabaleo where she was Acting and Deputy Principal and Lecturer, back to Rabaul where she was Principal of the Sacred Heart School and, as always, playing the Church organ. From 1974- 1980 Mona was a teacher and lecturer at Goroka Teachers College and OLSH Teacher College at Kabaleo.

Because of ill-health Mona returned to the Australian Province towards the end of 1980 and joined the community at Leura where she taught Catechetics in the local state school. She then taught for a year at OLSH College, Enfield in South Australia before returning to Darwin again and working at the Catholic Education Office and playing the Cathedral organ. Then it was off to Alice Springs in Central Australia, Elmore in country Victoria, Tara in outback Queensland, Bowral in the Southern Highlands and Kilburn in Adelaide. In all these places Mona continued supervising and teaching catechetics and music, working in Parish Offices, in the Adelaide Archdiocesan Archives , with the OLSH Associates, on the OLSH Vocations Committee, managing community finances - and playing the organ!

In 2007 Mona joined the Holy Family Community at Kensington. She soon took her share in preparing the liturgy and playing the beautiful Chapel Organ. As well, Mona composed the music for every Sunday’s Gospel Acclamation.

Wherever she went Mona brought with her a cheerful spirit and a sense of fun, such important ingredients in the making of community especially in the missions and in isolated areas of the apostolate.

Mona always had a great respect for education and a deep interest in many areas of life, particularly religion, liturgy, music (of course), history, and she enjoyed reading and writing. She was the editor of our very popular Province Magazine, “Home and Heart”.​Mona had a fund of general knowledge and the ability to share it in an interesting manner. Over the years of her religious life Mona continued to study and learn. As well as attaining her Matriculation and Teacher’s Registration, Mona had a Bachelor of Arts from the Queensland University, A. Mus from the London Trinity College and a Graduate Diploma in Theology and Scripture from Flinders University.

Mona’s last ministry was as Provincial Archivist, a role she really enjoyed and for which she was so admirably suited. Her love of the Congregation, sense of history, and literary skills were all put to good use as she delved into the stories of our Sisters and the journey of the Australian Province both here and in the mission countries.

Because of ill-health Mona joined St Joseph’s Aged Care Community in 2016 where she spent her final two years. Here Mona continued to be a most pleasant community member, with her sense of fun, her musical skills and interesting conversation. Mona retained her interest in local and world affairs and always had informed comments on news items. During the past months she had enjoyed playing for the weekly community sing-a-longs. The last two days of Mona’s life were spent making a retreat with other members of St Joseph’s community. What a beautiful preparation for her sudden but gentle meeting with the One to whom she had given all. When the Nurse came to check her at 10 pm on Thursday 6th December she was already with her Beloved in Heaven.

Thank you, dear Mona, for your life of love with us as a Daughter of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. May you rest forever in the Heart of Jesus and sing your song of love to Him who captured your heart so long ago.

FOR THE RECORD: PHOTOS OF ADRIAN MEANEY'S REQUIEM AND FUNERAL

With thanks to our correspondent at Kenstington and Douglas Park.

Requiem Mass: Fr Adrian Francis Meaney MSC OBE CSM

10:30am Friday 15^th February 2019

Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Kensington

Main Celebrant: Provincial Fr Chris McPhee

Homilist: Paul Castley

Concelebrants: Frank Dineen, Alo Lamere, John Kelliher, Fabian Manukiaola (PNG), Robati Tebaiuea (PU) 

Eulogy: Damien Meaney (younger brother)

Burial Service, Douglas Park

Celebrant: Frank Dineen

DARAMALAN MEMORIES, BEGINNINGS TO THE PRESENT

This is a special posting for past staff and students of Daramalan MSC College, Canberra - and for the present and those in-between.

This note was written on October 22^nd 2018, the day after Chevalier Day (the anniversary of Jules Chevalier’s death).

As part of Chevalier Day celebrations, Daramalan’s two original female teachers came back to revisit and reconnect with the school after fifty-six years. Mrs Jean Reid (seated) – who will be 103 next month – returned to be part of Chevalier Day along with Mrs Mary Barton, both of whom commenced work at Daramalan on 2 February 1962 the opening day of the College. At the time they were the only women on staff as the remainder of Daramalan teachers were all men, mainly MSC priests and brothers.

A snap of Jean Reid at only 100

Both women went on to develop a dedicated Learning Support unit at Daramalan, which at the time, was quite revolutionary for the less enlightened 60s. Jean and Mary are pictured here with the current head of Inclusive Education at Daramalan Ms Dale Seaman. Between the three of them they represent an unbroken line of inclusive education support at Daramalan College since 1962.

______________________________________________

MSC MISSION OFFICE, AUSTRALIA

The main legacy of Adrian Meaney is the Mission Office with its large outreach across the world. The challenge now is for it to continue and grow. Some acknowledgements of the Mission Office have arrived. Here are some quotations and some pictures.

Fiji, Chevalier Hostel

THE PACIFIC UNION

 I know and we are all aware of Adrian's love, support and generosity to the Pacific Union in so many areas. This is very hard for us to forget. We agreed for Fr Robati to represent the Pacific Union. Robati is our Local superior (Fiji) and he is a very active member of the Mission Office here in Fiji. Robati is one of the many of our members who is very close to Adrian but also benefited a lot from his generosity and love.

Fabian MSC, PNG

Bishop Rochus Tatamai MSC, PNG

I PAY TRIBUTE ESPECIALLY TO REV FR ADRIAN MEANEY MSC FOR HIS PRIESTLY AND PASTORAL MINISTRY ESPECIALLY IN PORT MORESBY AND BEREINA AND THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND REGION THROUGH HIS MOST GENEROUS CONSIDERATION THROUGH THE MSC MISSIONS OFFICE THAT HE WAS ABLE TO COORDINATE THE GENEROUSITY OF THE PEOPLE OF AUSTRALIA TO TOUCH AND TRANSFORM MANY LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH CLEAN WATER, YOUTH AND FORMATION OF MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN IN FORMATION HOUSES.

TO HIS CREDIT HE WITH HIS TEAMS SUCCESSFULLY COORDINATED TWO PAPAL PASTORAL VISITS TO PNG(1984 & 1995). FR ADRIAN MEANEY MSC HAD MANY TAKENTS AND GIFTS AND HE UTILIZED THEM WELL TO COORDINATE AND INVOLVED SO MANY PEOPLE TO DO THINGS TOGETHER TO ASSIST OTHERS WHO ARE IN NEED. THOUGHT HE HAD HIS OWN EXPECTATIONS AND INSISTING IN CERTAIN STANDARDS AND VALUES, WHEN IT COMES TO ASSISTANCE HE ALWAYS HAD AN OPEN HEART,OPEN HANDS AND OPEN BOOKS.

OLSH Sisters, South Africa.

We acknowledge that father Meaney was supportive to us in funding our projects for our different missions among the poor and the needy in Africa.  Besides the funding from the office, his kindness and encouraging words in the newsletters helped us to go forward with our mission. He was just a “father” to us… Sister Madeleine Dione and the Provincial Council.

Sr Sally Duigan olsh writes from Holy Family Care Centre Ofcolaco in South Africa: The donors of the MSC Mission Office have again assisted Holy Family Care Centre to continue caring for the most vulnerable and ill children and for this we are forever grateful. Thank you and blessings to the MSC Mission Office and donors.

And, the Philippines,Mindanao.

And Vietnam

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ADRIAN FRANCIS MEANEY MSC (1933-2019)

This pen and photo portrait of Adrian was sent by a correspondent for this site

Born: 15^th December, 1933 (Teneriffe, Brisbane)

Parents: James Aloysius Meaney (Bauple, Qld) & Margaret Mary Whelan (Koroit, Vic)

Siblings: Basil (d), Carmel & Damien

Childhood homes: Teneriffe, Harrisville, Tully, Ingham, Mt Isa, Nambour & Mackay

Novitiate: 1954 (Douglas Park)

Magnificent Seven: Russell Andersen, Kevin Barr, Paul Castley, Michael Fallon, Adrian Meaney (d), Patrick Sharpe, Brian Taylor (the only year to have all members, ordained and intact until Adrian’s death)

Novice Master: Fr Paddy “Brickie” McGuane

Profession: 22^nd February 1955 (Fr Mortimer Kerrins)

1955-1961: Croydon Monastery (received during this time at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne: tonsure and the minor orders of porter, acolyte, exorcist, sub-deacon and deacon)

Ordination: 29^th June, 1961 (St Stephen’s Cathedral, Brisbane with brother Basil, Paul Castley, Russell Andersen and other QLD religious and diocesans)

Pastoral year: 1961-62, Sacred Heart Monastery, Kensington (attached to Annals office, part-time tropical medicine course at Sydney Uni with Brian Taylor)

1962-1971: Port Moresby, PNG (first appointment)

1971-1972: Darwin (secretary to Bp. O’Laughlin)

1972-1981: PP, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Alice Spring

1981: EAPI course, Manila, Philippines

1981-1982: Gerehu, PNG

1982-1989: Boroko, PNG (PP and Vicar General. Papal visit of JPII in 1984)

1989-1990: Bereina, PNG

1990-1997: Koki Point, PNG (2^nd Papal visit of JPII in 1996)

22^nd March, 1998 – 6^th February 2019: MSC Mission Office, Kensington

MSC Mission Office

Had it not been for that fateful letter with the papal seal, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart would most likely never have arrived in Australia. In 1881, the Society still in its infancy with only a handful of men at his disposal, Father Founder Jules Chevalier, in his reply to Cardinal Simeoni, humbly submitted to Pope Leo XIII’s request and formally accepted the mission to Melanesia and Micronesia. The rest, as they say, is history. Many great missionaries have since come and gone, giving of themselves selflessly to grow and develop the MSCs into the largest male religious order in Australia. Much is owed to those that have come before us, yet amongst these greats, perhaps none has kept his eyes as firmly fixed or maintained the level of zeal for the founder’s original vision as Adrian Francis Meaney - the man affectionately known across the MSC world as ‘Fr Christmas’ - to deliver the Good News and minister to the needs of some of the poorest and most marginalised people on earth. The following is an excerpt from one of the earliest editions of the Mission Outreach Newsletter in which Adrian explains the origins of the movement:

“Five years ago, a group of MSC Priests and Brothers spent a week together at a retreat centre near Cairns. They came from Japan, India, Papua New Guinea, Kiribati, Fiji and the Northern Territory of Australia. Among the recommendations made was to establish a ‘MSC Mission Office’, whereby our missionaries might be supported by prayer, co-workers and financial assistance. At the same time there was the desire to inform and support others in their missionary calling. Now after three and a half years, with the help of volunteers and the support of the Provincial Office, we are up and running. We work with the people of good will, and assist others no matter what is their creed. Of course, we are Catholic to the core and seek inspiration from the Holy Spirit who led Jesus.” AFM

Having already served with distinction a total of thirty-six years in PNG and the NT, Adrian single-handedly devised, built and marketed the most efficient not-for-profit Catholic charity organisation in the whole of Australia - all in his retirement from the monastery in Kensington. In just over twenty years, the Mission Office has raised in excess of $20million for Clean Water, Disadvantaged Youth, and Health projects; extending his outreach beyond our pacific neighbours to include South East Asia, the Sub-Continent, Africa and parts of Central and South America. It has truly become a global movement, impacting on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people in the margins.

To call Adrian ‘colourful’ would be an understatement – he had certainly established a formidable reputation as being one of the most polarising MSCs in the entire province. Although he talked the talk, he most certainly backed it up by walking the walk. He was one of the hardest working and most compassionate of men, often showing more concern for the missions than the MSCs born and raised in those countries. He celebrated private mass early each morning, giving thanks to all the generous benefactors who made his work possible. He was renowned for taking on work others shied away from: raising money for the poor, organising functions and events, caring for sick and ailing missionaries, looking after visiting confreres, supplying to any parish, wherever and whenever. To the volunteers and staff: he was a fiercely loyal and most generous leader. He shouldered all responsibility, and accepted the idiosyncrasies and personal circumstances of each individual with understanding and care. A man with a mission – driven by a flame that burned so bright, it was impossible not to catch fire.

In his later years he suffered terribly from a long list of illnesses and ailments. Each time he was struck down he bounced right back up, bigger and better than ever. Adrian was a true fighter – not a silky-smooth tactician but a brawler who had the stamina to go the distance. It was his way or the highway, yet the Spirit was with him because he did it for the right reasons. To the people in the missions he was their life-line – a guardian angel, giving them a fighting chance at a better life. Who, now, will care for the poor?

Although his earthly flame is now extinguished, Adrian’s Spirit burns brighter than ever as a star in the heavens, watching over us and urging us all to “have a go!”.

He has run the good race. May he rest in peace.

Did you know?

• He worked part-time at Pleystowe Sugar Mill in Mackay before entering
• He always had a high regard for Muslims
• He attended Nudgee College, Brisbane
• He once preached before former President Robert Mugabe and gave First Communion to his daughter in South Africa
• He loved listening to James Valentine on 702ABC
• Pope John Paul II used to call him ‘Adriano’
• Was awarded ‘Companion of the Order of the Star of Melanesia’ for services to the people of PNG
• His favourite foods: soups and omelette
• His favourite fruit: chilled PNG pawpaw (preferably from Daru)
• His favourite city in the world: Jerusalem
• He loved the spirituality of Francis de Sales
• He looked up to and respected John Savage, Darcy Morris, Mortimer Kerrins, as well as Jim Cuskelly and Dennis Murphy
• He is related to Terry Bowman

“My advice… is that we should either not utter words of humility, or else use them with sincere inner feeling that matches our outward words. Let us never lower our eyes except when we humble our hearts. Let us not appear to want to be the lowest unless we want it with our whole heart. I take this rule to be so general that I allow no exception to it.” – Francis de Sales (Introduction to the Devout Life). 

MSC BURIED IN TOOWOOMBA

In recent years, this site has featured MSC who are not buried at Douglas Park.  Brian Scrivener is buried in Kiribati; Bishop Jim Cuskelly is buried in Brisbane; we featured the names of those buried at Croydon. (For details, type in names in the Search Engine on the Current News page.)

Gerry Burke has kindly sent photos of the headstones of those buried in Toowoomba, mainly members of the Downlands community. Archbishop Virgil Copas is buried in the Copas family plot. Bishop Eddie Kelly is also buried in Toowoomba where he was bishop.

Listed below are the headstones with photos.

Thomas Dray- Daniel Hawe

Alphonsus Parrott - William Rigney

William Dirou - John Dempsey

William Graham - Vin White

Thomas O'Brien- John Tyler

Virgil Copas (Family plot)

Edward Kelly

And,noting the number of Brothers buried in Toowoomba, here are two more, Brother Vogt working in PNG for many years.

Joe Vogt- John Powell

A CHEVALIER COLLEGE STORY, DROUGHT, POEM

This month sees students returning to school. We have featured Downlands and Monivae on the site.

Here is a Chevalier story sent by Gerry Burke MSC, a Chevalier student and his poem: Darcy Howard.

Darcy has a twin brother who has been dux in year 10 and 11 This year is his last year.

Press story: 'I have to say I’m sorry to my little boy, I know that this is not the answer, but at the moment it’s all I can employ.'

You can feel Darcy Howard’s sensitive nature from a mile off.

He describes himself as a “normal 16-year-old” who has a passion for agriculture, enjoys bush ballads and spending time on his grandparents’ farm in the Southern Highlands of New South Wales.

And yet this 16-year-old student from Bowral speaks of the devastating plight of drought-affected farmers with a haunting maturity well beyond his age.

 “Well, my grandparents, they’re struggling up there. They haven’t had any decent rainfall for a while,” he told ten daily.

“But there are people in much worse situations than they are,” he said, nodding to some of his friends who are facing mental battles of their own.

“I was talking to a mate the other day, and he said he wanted to get out. I’d say a lot of people would be in that situation, thinking they can’t keep going when there is no rain.”

It felt natural for Darcy to write a poem for an English assignment at his school in Bowral. In it, he sensitively sheds light on the mental battle faced by a rising number of farmers who are gripped by anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

Though it is fictional, he has “heard a lot of stories.”

“I didn’t intend for it to be anything special,” Darcy said. But the response from his agriculture teacher and mother, among others, has been just that.

 “I cried the first time I read it,” his mother Wendy said, telling ten daily her son just wants to help others.

“I think we can move through this,” Darcy said. “Every new day of drought, there’s always rain around the corner.”

And so his poem begins and ends.

Darcy Howard's poem

He had nearly had enough of this life upon the land,

His bore had all but given up and the water trucks were banned,

he had no big dams left they had all turned into a puddle,

and his stock were dying left, right and centre, he knew there’d soon be trouble.

He was trucking in hay from interstate, and buying wheat from Britain,

but now that his water had run out, his fate was all but written,

Two hundred thousand was now his debt some stock would have to go,

but the market price had fallen through, and his cattle were as poor as a crow.

See he couldn’t ask his kids for help, they had gone off and married,

and his wife, you see, she was crook, everywhere she had to be carried.

A riding accident was all it took, almost a year ago,

it was up to him to run the farm, no longer the deadly combo.

His last hope, you see, would be the bank, his fate was in their hands,

but he’d missed his last four payments, so he decided to make some plans.

He couldn’t ask for help, from his mates within the town

pride had taken over, he didn’t want to be a let down.

So he sent his wife to a nursing home, there she would live out her days,

no longer could he care for her, he knew he’d love her always.

He would burn the house, and shoot the poorest of the cattle,

and take his fats to next-door, this was his final battle.

He saddled his horse for one last time, and gave old Jack a pat

he knew this was his best ever horse, no better mount he had sat.

He drove his final 100 steers along the dusty road, when he came across a dreaded sight,

a ute was wrapped around a tree, and it was well alight.

The saddest part about this was, he had seen the ute before,

it was Bruce’s ute from down the road, a man that he cared for.

Well he raced down to the scene and let his horse loose,

the smell of burning diesel led to the finding of Bruce.

Well he got back on his horse and raced back to Bruce’s homestead

to discover a disturbing scene, in the corner of his woolshed.

The sound of a crying baby led him to a terrible sight,

a child lying with a handwritten note, and so he began to recite.

'To whoever finds this little poem first, I have to apologise,

but I will pray for you, from the highest heights of the skies.

My wife just upped and left me with a child to care for,

she’s been gone for about a month now, and I couldn’t do it anymore.

My property’s been in the family since back in 1876,

and now I’m in so much debt, it’s too much for me to fix.

Will you see that my little son grows up with a happy, loving face,

and that one day he returns, to his rightful place.

I have to say I’m sorry, to my little boy,

I know that this is not the answer, but at the moment it’s all I can employ.

The bank won’t give me another loan, and your mother’s taken my money,

this life I’m living at the moment, nothing is ever funny.

I’ve been shooting sheep every day, for they are too poor to survive

and I can’t afford hay to feed, and the bores are in overdrive.

This life is tough upon the land, but don’t let it ever get you down,

because I did the selfish thing, up here in Cape Town.

The old gum tree on Jim’s creek road will be my final resting place,

I wish you the best my son, I hope you win your race.

Look after our property, with all that you can muster,

and never do what I have done, my beautiful little buster'.

He wept the tears from his dreary face, and looked down towards the cries,

a gleaming, beautiful little face, innocence in his eyes.

Well he did his duties, called the police and the ambulance then came,

and he swung his horse for home and with the cattle did the same.

He realised that there was no purpose, in ending it like Bruce did,

because tomorrow is a new day, and now he’s gotta look after a little kid.

He realised now that he’s not the only one who's been in drought and in debt,

'cause rain is always around the corner, so don’t do something you might regret.

MSC PRESENCE IN JAPAN

MSC ministry in Japan began in the late 1940s, supported by Fr Archie Bryson MSC who had been a war chaplain.

Brian Taylor with Chris McPhee.

The three Australian MSC now in Japan, Fr Brian Taylor for over 50 years, Fr Keith Humphries (who was in Australia last year celebrating his Golden Jubilee of ordination) and Fr John Graham who have been there for many decdes.

John Graham with Chris

The MSCs in Japan, who have come from Australia, the Philippines, India, and Indonesia, have been engaged in the following ministries: administration of parishes, teaching at universities, and working for immigrants' welfare among many others.

The superior, Fr Pryo Susanto MSC has just been renewed as Superior for another term.

Fr. Rey Thibon, MSC  is to be the next Secretary for the next APIA conference in two years time.

He has been a missionary to Japan for more than two decades. He is currently the Parish Priest of a rural parish in the Diocese of Nagoya which has been a home to a minority Japanese Catholic population and immigrants from Brazil, the Philippines, Viet Nam, and Peru.

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