Joy and blessings for Christmas – Emmanuel, God-is-with-us.Joy and blessings for Christmas – Emmanuel, God-is-with-us.

The site is going on a holiday break and will be back with a New Year’s greeting – and the hope that 2022 will be better than 2020 and 2021.

In the meantime, a challenging Christmas cartoon from the Naked Pastor,

And back to the origins of Christmas,

SING  2

US, 2021, 112 minutes, Colour.

Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Bobby Cannavale, Tori Kelly, Taron Egerton, Nick Kroll, Garth Jennings, Jennifer Saunders, Nick Offerman, Halsey, Bono, Pharrell Williams.

Directed by Garth Jennings.

When on a good thing, stick to it…

The original Sing was popular in 2017. We were treated to an assorted collection of animals and creatures, both attractive and grotesque, in the context of a singing competition (with a background of financial obstacles). And a strong voice cast was assembled, with the strange choice of Matthew McConeughhay voicing the diminutive Buster Moon, an expatriate koala in the United States! Many candidates, many auditions, many performances, living up to its title of Sing!

Sing 2 shows how to assemble most of the cast again, and do a bigger and splashier variation on the plot. Buster Moon is still at it, this time coordinating his odd collection of performers, rehearsals, behind-the-scenes problems, and a great desire to bring a guitar-playing singer back to the limelight after 15 years absence owing to the death of his beloved wife. He is a lion, Clay Calloway (voiced by Bono), with an original U2 song, You Saved My Life – but the recurring melodies and lyrics of his I Still Haven’t Found what I’m Looking For, supported by Scarlett Johansson as the diminutive porcupine, Ash, and a huge auditorium of fans also joining in.

Buster has ambitions but the talent scout, Suki, tells him he has no talent. But, Buster is supported by his crew, an assorted range of entertaining characters, especially a full elephant called Meena. Suggestions are made as to what kind of show would be best and the suggestion comes up, Buster unwilling, of a huge extravaganza exploration of galaxies and planets. This is all endorsed by a white wolf, a sinister, loud-mouth entrepreneur, Jimmy Crystal (voiced by Bobby Cannavale). Crystal has a self-centred fashion-played daughter, Porsha (voiced by Halsey) who covets a star role.

Well, of course, everything that could go wrong does go wrong, including the star, Rosita the pig having to do a huge dive and discovering vertigo (Reese Witherspoon).

But, the show must go on, and it does, Porsha having a show-biz conversion, Buster falling and rescued by Rosita, Clay Calloway persuaded to come back, the crowds enthusiastic – and some comeuppance for Jimmy Crystal.

While the narrative is, more or less, what we might expect, it is the range of characters and their idiosyncrasies, their performances and their singing, that keeps us entertained.

BREACH

US, 2020, 92 minutes, Colour.

Cody Kearsley, Bruce Willis, Rachel Nichols, Cassandra Clementi, Johnny Messner, Corey Large, Callan Mulvey.

Directed by John Suits.

Another of the many, many small-budget action shows that Bruce Willis appeared in in his later years.

The filmmakers seem to have overdosed on Alien and the many sequels, and further imitations, especially during the 1980s.

The basic premise is that in 2242, Earth is ravaged and a spaceship is prepared to transport refugees to another planet, New Earth. The spacecraft takes on many passengers, cryogenically asleep.

The central character, Noah, played by Cody Kearsley, stows away because his girlfriend, pregnant, daughter of the admiral (Thomas Jane) is on board. At first he is under suspicion – but fairly soon becomes very much involved in all the action, finally becoming the action hero. Also on board is Bruce Willis with his usual smirk, laid-back attitude, happy to have a drink, especially from the moonshine made on board, ultimately directing a lot of the action, even in a hologram.

The action focuses on a small number of the crew, one of whom has an antipathy towards the human race and is responsible for some kind of alien being on-board, and alien his nature it is to destroy the humans. This leads to a lot of mayhem, so many of the crew and others being turned into zombie -like creatures. Rachel Nichols plays a doctor who is involved in the action. The credibility of the screenplay is tested with Noah involved in so much of the action, from stowaway to hero, resuscitating the admiral who gives his life for the passengers, resuscitating his girlfriend and their being the sole survivors of a module after Bruce Willis has exploded the rest of the spacecraft. However, the indication on New Earth is not promising with the monster appearing!

Perhaps these comments give Breach more attention than it merits. Some have even considered it Bruce Willis’s worst film – but Cosmic Sin is another strong contender.

Some Christmas Eve cheer before our celebration – and some French culture

_{End of 2021 news spots: Australia-India, Vietnam, Philippines - Typhoon Odette}

Peter Anthony msc who has been assisting the two Parish Priests at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Randwick (first Peter Hearn and then Gerard McCormick) has said his goodbyes and left for Darwin today. Peter arrived in Australia from India on the Feast of Mary MacKillop in 2018 and has been at Randwick the whole time. His plans to see parts of Australia were hampered by Covid, so while he is in Darwin, he hopes to visit different parts of the country subject to obvious restrictions before he returns to India.

Danh msc has recently returned to Vietnam. Danh arrived in Australia in September 2019 and assisted Pat Mara in the Tiwi Islands until the end of 2020. In 2021 Danh then attended the Siloam program at Heart of Life which he successfully completed.

Vietnam is experiencing easing of travel restrictions. This means that our MSC postulants can now travel to the Philippines to begin the Novitiate, which has been on hold for two years, and our six MSC scholastics are now free to return and continue their seminary studies in Vietnam.

And the sad and hard news of the Philippine typhoon.  From the MSC Irish Province.

Super Typhoon Rai, known locally as Odette, hit the Philippines on December 16^th, and has proved to be the largest storm of the year to date. Over 300,000 people were evacuated from their homes in anticipation of the typhoon, with 10,000 villages predicated to lie in its path.

Homes, businesses, farms, and livelihoods have been torn to shreds by powerful rain, and winds reaching up to 260 kph/160 mph, with gusts of up to 300 kph/185 mph. While millions have been affected, the full extent of the damage caused by Typhoon Odette is not yet known, as many lines of communication are still down and the immediate focus is on rescuing and caring for those in urgent need. As of Monday, December 20^th, the national police service announced that at least 375 people had been killed, with 500 more injured and 56 missing. Trees and buildings have fallen, many areas are badly flooded, roofs have been ripped from houses, and survivors are in urgent need of food and clean drinking water.

“Please keep the MSC, FDNSC (Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart), MSC Sisters, and all of the people of the Philippines in your prayers,” wrote Fr Carl Tranter MSC, Irish Provincial Superior.

“The central and southern parts of the country have been badly hit by the very powerful typhoon Odette, which has caused massive destruction.

We are aware of significant damage across our parishes and the schools/clinics of our sisters on Mactan island and Cebu in the central Philippines, and in Surigao and Agusan in the south.

We stand in solidarity with our Chevalier family in the Philippines and with all the Filipino people.”

As opportunities for communication are minimal in the wake of the storm, we have yet to understand the full impact of the typhoon on our extended Sacred Heart family in the Philippines. The Irish Province of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart have sent emergency funds to assist in the immediate aftermath of the storm, as MSC and FDNSC communities undertake the initial clean-up and search and rescue operations. We will continue to provide help as it is needed in the new year, and we ask that you please remember our Sacred Heart family in the Philippines in your prayers in the coming weeks, as they pick up the pieces of lives and livelihoods that have been demolished by this mighty force of nature.

_{Our students, studies then pastoral placement.}

_{Trieu and Daniel made their first vows a year ago. They have studied this year at the Yarra Theological Union – with good results. They are now on pastoral placement in Sydney, Daniel at Randwick, OLSH parish, Trieu at Our Lady of the Rosary, Kensington (and with his camera).}

_{Aspects of ministry}

_liturgy

_{zoom work}

_service

 and churches

and our photographer and his understanding PP

When were you last in the crypt in the Basilica at Issoudun?

Visiting Issoudun is probably not at the top of our places to visit.

In the meantime some compensation. Nyon Emesce has posted these photos on Facebook.

Congratulations to Anh, our MSC novice, graduating from the English language studies course at the Yarra Theological Union

 The English Language Studies for Pastoral Ministry (ELSPM), established in 2015,

Staff and Graduates

- aims to train pastoral workers and theological students who speak a language other than English as their first language.

Zoom participants - if you peer at the third row you will discern Philip Malone and Khoi

Its objective is to develop skills in English in a Christian and theological environment and to improve communication to a level which will enable them to participate effectively in a pastoral ministry of the contemporary Church.

Long - pre-novice joined  the graduation from home outside Hanoi.

Thang MSC studied at ELSPM in 2017 prior to his studying at Siloam at the Heart of Life Centre. Trieu MSC studied in 2019 and graduated earlier this year (to whom we are indebted for these photos).

Trong - pre-novice in Vietnam. He is a student in the intermediate class.

Salesian Sister, Margaret Bentley, director

Celebrating Deacon Boniface Perdjert in paint, Paul McCormack MSC

Paul McCormack MSC has painted this portrait of Deacon Boniface. It is to travel to its home in Wadeye, Boniface’s home.

Some words from an interview with Boniface, date unknown, to read and ponder as we reflect on his portrait. Re the date, there is reference to Br Pye at 87. He was born in 1906 – so, an interview in 1993 or so.

Good Morning my Brothers and Sisters of Christ, firstly I grew up at Port Keats, I was taught by the Missionary of Sacred Heart and I learnt a lot from the Priest. My Father taught me how to hunt and fish and do all the Aboriginal things but the Priest taught me the religious and catholic faith.

At Boiniface's funeral

I was born Neeple Boniface Perdjert at birth I was given my name Neeple, at Baptism I was given that name. I was the first baby baptised at the Mission 57 years ago. My Father’s name was Perdjert he was Muripatha my Mother’s name was Bullimbi, she was baptised Agatha, she is still living. My father had 4 wives. He was baptised Richard before he died same as my Mother.

My wifes name is Numple baptised Bridgette, I have three daughers Mingie, Alloygoy, Demuratug. Florence, Margaret Rose and Mary The first Mission girl was baptised on the coast due to the sandy soil, lack of water and a small tidal wave it was moved inland to where it is today.

I set the foundations at the first school, set out in the middle of the big vegetable garden; it was surrounded by working relatives and friends. They also discovered what the school was all about. No doubt they gave some support to the students by their presence it was a community school.

Brother John Pye now 87 was a better footballer than teacher the garden workers were a moving population. There were three main tribes each took their turn to stay in and do their work while the others leave and hunt back in their country. I had a longer period at school when my father and his people went bush and I joined the Moigabin Group my mothers people.

Even though there was a lot of fighting and killing between the tribes I managed to grow up in the security of the big family. We were the big family because there were 13 Muripatha Countries surrounding around the coast. We knew the name of every country and our language of course and all kinship skins. He told me how I was to address all relations as well as my blood relations. They were my tribal relation.

When I was 10 years old I was put through pre initiation called Javen, you have group of boys together from three different language groups. The old man from his group decides where the Ceremony would be and who be in it and where it would be.

The main purpose of this Ceremony was to give us our first serious introduction to the law been brought together in such a way for the sole purpose for a family bond was built up between us, both boys and men. We were taught the sacred song this song never changed they are sung in the Ceremony language that all know.

The seven Ceremonies are also for young girls they are also taught the law in the same song. Having been put through the Ceremony both Boys and Girls are given the title Jawin. A title that is content remains to each of the important of the Ceremony. The Young men Ceremony follows a year or two later the Muripatha boys are taken from their Countries and their Families. They come under the authority of several of the old men for a period of three months.

 In this period they undergo further learning of the law and discipline and establish strong discipline mainly by instruction they had to teach to learn the old men they must stay with them they also hunt with them learning the skill this was a peaceful time and a happy time for the boys they were to prepare to be responsible for their families. The dance and songs particularly from the east group would be done each night to the group.

After three months the different groups would return to their own country where the circumcision was performed in the proper ritual for this occasion all the family would come together to prepare for a special meal this was called muninum.At the Ceremony each boy receives the name according to the song and dance that was performed at his request of the family for example “wanga” forever until he dies he is called by that name the final Ceremony at Port Keats is called Pun in other places it is called Kunipipi.

This Ceremony is Mens business it is a step along the way to proceed and depending on the knowledge and the living the law in this Ceremony the young men ritually die and come to life again they now have a new life and receive higher knowledge, the Ceremony continues for several months particularly from the neighbouring and tribal groups.

After two years this Ceremony with the young men would be married, the marriage is arranged by the parents according to the promised system. The totem is something that widens a sense of family; my own totem is the black cockatoo.

They take this totem to Arnhemland and no doubt in the other places when I meet someone with the same totem I feel the same sense of family and relationship with that person. It would be wonderful to have a totem that would bring all Aboriginal people into the same big family. I would like to think in the presence of the inauguration of faith; the cross might become that totem.

 I remember clearly when our group was overseas in 1975 whenever we saw the cross no matter what country; we felt that relationship and the feeling of the family and of feeling of being at home.

From what I know of story of the Rainbow Serpent It is a religious significance extends through the whole of Australia making all Aboriginals one big family. In recent years a lot of thing has come into our lives that are doing great damage to the things I value. Let me speak briefly about some of these; after the Mission had gone several years Father Dockety noticed there were several aspects of Ceremony that in his eyes were morally wrong.

He condemned the Ceremony so there was big argument my Father and a few others took the side of Father Dockery. I had to admit the abuses that suddenly came in view of the corrupt side of the human nature. I remember clearly great tension of that time when I was preparing for a Deacon for over 20 years I was worried because I was convinced that the old way and the new ways should come together in fact to come together the old way was very much part of me.

Jesus told us we have to love God with whole hearts, mind and spirit that means the whole of me and the whole of me is Aboriginal. There is no other way for me to love him. I spoke a lot about this to Father Leary because being a Deacon meant I have to bring myself, my culture and my Faith together. I came to realise that Father Dockery did not see that condemning the abusers he was also condemning the Ceremony itself.

 Lastly let me tell you how important and necessary to proceed and strengthen our Culture in our Catholic Faith. I see remedy for what is going wrong coming from inspiration and the strength of the faith. The faith will bring us together the faith will shelter us and let us listen to ourselves and to one another at the very deep level. The faith will encourage us enlighten us and strengthen us to share and minister to one another no matter what part of Aboriginal we belong to the faith, will make us one family.

As I said earlier as a Deacon, it became my duty to bring the faith church and the culture together. I know Jesus did not come to destroy the Culture he came to fulfil it he measures his men in all Cultures his spirit allows all to reflect in their own Cultural way.

There is a special privilege that is their offering to Jesus any church rather than their way of being to Jesus and any Church. Each measures his men to show in any Culture so that what is good grows stronger and what is bad grows weaker and hopefully disappears so people of Culture properly and become strong.

WALK WITH ME

France, 2017,  Colour.

Directed by Mark J. Francis.

Walk with Me is a 2017 documentary film framed around Zen Buddhist master Thich Nhat Hanh and his Plum Village monastic community. Directed by Marc J Francis and Max Pugh, supported by Oscar-winner Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, and filmed over three years, the film focuses on the daily life and rituals of the monastics, accompanied by teachings from Thich Nhat Hanh's early journals narrated in voice over by Benedict Cumberbatch.

Allowing first time filmed access inside the Plum Village Monastery in France, the film captures the life of the monastic community who have renounced their possessions to practice mindfulness.^[3] Captured in vérité style, the film allows viewers to observe rituals and meditations, alongside day-to-day activities of people in the sungha.

The film also follows the monks and nuns embarking on a US speaking tour, where Thich Nhat Hanh is billed alongside famous cultural figures.

Walk With Me was produced by Speakit Films in association with Benedict Cumberbatch's company, SunnyMarch, with WestEnd Films handling international sales.

One third of the film's budget was crowd-funded, and its crew includes sound designer Anna Bertmark, composer Germaine Franco and additional editors Nicholas Chauderge and Alan Mackay.

In interviews, the directors discuss the challenges of establishing the film's approach of making the whole community the main character of the film, in line with Thich Nhat Hanh's wish of not making the film about him. Marc J Francis also explains how capturing the film was heavily shaped by the establishment of trust and openness with the community, and how the narrative was eventually created through the passing of the time.

 Passages from the 1960s Fragrant Palm Leaves were selected as accompanying meditations, and narrated by Benedict Cumberbatch. Benedict Cumberbatch said of the project: 'In my life I’ve been so touched by the teachings of Thich Nhat Hanh. It was a great honor to work on Walk With Me. I have no doubt that audiences across the world will be moved by this beautifully crafted film.'

Walk With Me was described by The New York Times as 'Cooling to the mind and soothing to the spirit', with The Hollywood Reporter remarking Thich Nhan Hanh's film presence as 'the elusive center ... there's little direct experience of him, but his effect on people filters through the onscreen events'. With an approach summarised by Time Out as 'the exact midway point between a documentary and meditation exercise', specialised reviews remark the film as 'A rare insight into an interesting subject' and 'a relief, and a palate cleanser’.