IT IS FAITH WHICH GIVES US A
HOME IN THIS WORLD
Vatican City, 4 October 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today made a pastoral visit to Loreto, Italy, where he entrusted to the Blessed Virgin - venerated in the famous Marian shrine there - two impending ecclesial events: the Synod of Bishops on new evangelisation which is to run from 7 to 28 October, and the Year of Faith which will begin on 11 October. The Holy Father's visit today was also intended to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Blessed Pope John XXIII's pilgrimage to Loreto during which, on the eve of the inauguration of Vatican II, he entrusted the Council to the Virgin.
The shrine of Loreto, which has been a pilgrim destination since the fourteenth century, conserves the house where Mary lived in Nazareth, the which, according to popular pious tradition, was transported by the angels to Loreto in 1294, shortly after the definitive expulsion of the Crusaders from the Holy Land. Recent examinations of documents and archaeological remains (excavations under the Holy House), as well as philological and iconographic studies, are giving increasing weight to the hypothesis that the stones of the Holy House were transported to Loreto by ship at the initiative of the aristocratic Angelos family which then ruled the region of Epirus. Divine assistance in this undertaking remained as a symbol in the presence of angels. The House is the place where the Virgin was born, lived with St. Joseph, received the Annunciation from Gabriel and conceived the Son of God. It is therefore associated with the Mystery of the Incarnation.
Mary's house in Nazareth was composed of two parts: a grotto which is still to be seen in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, and a house with three stone walls. Comparative studies between the Holy House of Loreto and the grotto of Nazareth have revealed the coexistence and contiguity of the two. Another recent study on the way in which the stone has been worked - in the manner used by the Nabateans which was widespread in Galilee at Jesus' time - also confirms the popular tradition. When the three walls of the Holy House arrived in Loreto they were set up, without foundations, in a public street, but almost immediately they became the object of the extraordinary measures of care and protection afforded to a precious relic.
Benedict XVI departed from the Vatican by helicopter at 9 a.m. and arrived in Loreto an hour later, where he was welcomed by the local civil and religious authorities. He then visited the shrine where he greeted the community of Capuchin Friars before going on to adore the Blessed Sacrament and pray before Our Lady of Loreto.
At 10.30 a.m. he celebrated Mass in the Piazza della Madonna di Loreto, pronouncing a homily:
Below is the full text of his homilyYour Eminences,
Dear Brother Bishops,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On 4 October 1962, Blessed John XXIII came as a pilgrim to this Shrine to entrust to the Virgin Mary the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, due to begin a week later. On that occasion, with deep filial devotion to the Mother of God, he addressed her in these words: “Again today, and in the name of the entire episcopate, I ask you, sweetest Mother, as Help of Bishops, to intercede for me as Bishop of Rome and for all the bishops of the world, to obtain for us the grace to enter the Council Hall of Saint Peter’s Basilica, as the Apostles and the first disciples of Jesus entered the Upper Room: with one heart, one heartbeat of love for Christ and for souls, with one purpose only, to live and to sacrifice ourselves for the salvation of individuals and peoples. Thus, by your maternal intercession, in the years and the centuries to come, may it be said that the grace of God prepared, accompanied and crowned the twenty-first Ecumenical Council, filling all the children of the holy Church with a new fervour, a new impulse to generosity, and a renewed firmness of purpose” (AAS 54 [1962], 727).
Fifty years on, having been called by divine Providence to succeed that unforgettable Pope to the See of Peter, I too have come on pilgrimage to entrust to the Mother of God two important ecclesial initiatives: the Year of Faith, which will begin in a week, on 11 October, on the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, and the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which I have convened this October with the theme “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith”. Dear friends, to all of you I offer my most cordial greetings. I thank the Most Reverend Giovanni Tonucci, Archbishop of Loreto, for his warm words of welcome. I greet the other bishops present, the priests, the Capuchin Fathers, to whom the pastoral care of this shrine is entrusted, and the religious sisters. I also salute Dr Paolo Niccoletti, Mayor of Loreto, thanking him for his courteous words, and I greet the representatives of the government and the civil and military authorities here present. My thanks also go to those who have generously offered their assistance to make my pilgrimage possible.
As I said in my Apostolic Letter announcing the Year of Faith, “I wish to invite my brother bishops from all over the world to join the Successor of Peter, during this time of spiritual grace that the Lord offers us, in recalling the precious gift of faith” (Porta Fidei, 8). It is precisely here at Loreto that we have the opportunity to attend the school of Mary who was called “blessed” because she “believed” (Lk 1:45). This Shrine, built around her earthly home, preserves the memory of the moment when the angel of Lord came to Mary with the great announcement of the Incarnation, and she gave her reply. This humble home is a physical, tangible witness to the greatest event in our history, the Incarnation; the Word became flesh and Mary, the handmaid of the Lord, is the privileged channel through which God came to dwell among us (cf. Jn 1:14). Mary offered her very body; she placed her entire being at the disposal of God’s will, becoming the “place” of his presence, a “place” of dwelling for the Son of God. We are reminded here of the words of the Psalm with which, according to the Letter to the Hebrews, Christ began his earthly life, saying to the Father, “Sacrifices and offering you have not desired, but you have prepared a body for me… Behold, I have come to do your will, O God” (10:5,7). To the Angel who reveals God’s plan for her, Mary replies in similar words: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). The will of Mary coincides with the will of the Son in the Father’s unique project of love and, in her, heaven and earth are united, God the Creator is united to his creature. God becomes man, and Mary becomes a “living house” for the Lord, a temple where the Most High dwells. Here at Loreto fifty years ago, Blessed John XXIII issued an invitation to contemplate this mystery, to “reflect on that union of heaven and earth, which is the purpose of the Incarnation and Redemption”, and he went on to affirm that the aim of the Council itself was to spread ever wider the beneficent impact of the Incarnation and Redemption on all spheres of life (cf. AAS 54 [1962], 724). This invitation resounds today with particular urgency. In the present crisis affecting not only the economy but also many sectors of society, the Incarnation of the Son of God speaks to us of how important man is to God, and God to man. Without God, man ultimately chooses selfishness over solidarity and love, material things over values, having over being. We must return to God, so that man may return to being man. With God, even in difficult times or moments of crisis, there is always a horizon of hope: the Incarnation tells us that we are never alone, that God has come to humanity and that he accompanies us.
The idea of the Son of God dwelling in the “living house”, the temple which is Mary, leads us to another thought: we must recognize that where God dwells, all are “at home”; wherever Christ dwells, his brothers and sisters are no longer strangers. Mary, who is the Mother of Christ, is also our mother, and she open to us the door to her home, she helps us enter into the will of her Son. So it is faith which gives us a home in this world, which brings us together in one family and which makes all of us brothers and sisters. As we contemplate Mary, we must ask if we too wish to be open to the Lord, if we wish to offer him our life as his dwelling place; or if we are afraid that the presence of God may somehow place limits on our freedom, if we wish to set aside a part of our life in such a way that it belongs only to us. Yet it is precisely God who liberates our liberty, he frees it from being closed in on itself, from the thirst for power, possessions, and domination; he opens it up to the dimension which completely fulfils it: the gift of self, of love, which in turn becomes service and sharing.
Faith lets us reside, or dwell, but it also lets us walk on the path of life. The Holy House of Loreto contains an important teaching in this respect as well. Its location on a street is well known. At first this might seem strange: after all, a house and a street appear mutually exclusive. In reality, it is precisely here that an unusual message about this House has been preserved. It is not a private house, nor does it belong to a single person or a single family, rather it is an abode open to everyone placed, as it were, on our street. So here in Loreto we find a house which lets us stay, or dwell, and which at the same time lets us continue, or journey, and reminds us that we are pilgrims, that we must always be on the way to another dwelling, towards our final home, the Eternal City, the dwelling place of God and the people he has redeemed (cf. Rev 21:3).
There is one more important point in the Gospel account of the Annunciation which I would like to underline, one which never fails to strike us: God asks for mankind’s “yes”; he has created a free partner in dialogue, from whom he requests a reply in complete liberty. In one of his most celebrated sermons, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux “recreates”, as it were, the scene where God and humanity wait for Mary to say “yes”. Turning to her he begs: “The angel awaits your response, as he must now return to the One who sent him… O Lady, give that reply which the earth, the underworld and the very heavens await. Just as the King and Lord of all wished to behold your beauty, in the same way he earnestly desires your word of consent… Arise, run, open up! Arise with faith, run with your devotion, open up with your consent!” (In laudibus Virginis Matris, Hom. IV,8: Opera omnia, Edit. Cisterc. 4, 1966, p.53f). God asks for Mary’s free consent that he may become man. To be sure, the “yes” of the Virgin is the fruit of divine grace. But grace does not eliminate freedom; on the contrary it creates and sustains it. Faith removes nothing from the human creature, rather it permits his full and final realization.
Dear brothers and sisters, on this pilgrimage in the footsteps of Blessed John XXIII – and which comes, providentially, on the day in which the Church remembers Saint Francis of Assisi, a veritable “living Gospel” – I wish to entrust to the Most Holy Mother of God all the difficulties affecting our world as it seeks serenity and peace, the problems of the many families who look anxiously to the future, the aspirations of young people at the start of their lives, the suffering of those awaiting signs or decisions of solidarity and love. I also wish to place in the hands of the Mother of God this special time of grace for the Church, now opening up before us. Mother of the “yes”, you who heard Jesus, speak to us of him; tell us of your journey, that we may follow him on the path of faith; help us to proclaim him, that each person may welcome him and become the dwelling place of God. Amen!
Following Mass, the Pope had lunch at the local John Paul II Centre. He is due to leave Loreto at 5 p.m. and to arrive back in the Vatican at 6 p.m.
Vatican City, 4 October 2012 (VIS) - Benedict XVI today made a pastoral visit to Loreto, Italy, where he entrusted to the Blessed Virgin - venerated in the famous Marian shrine there - two impending ecclesial events: the Synod of Bishops on new evangelisation which is to run from 7 to 28 October, and the Year of Faith which will begin on 11 October. The Holy Father's visit today was also intended to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of Blessed Pope John XXIII's pilgrimage to Loreto during which, on the eve of the inauguration of Vatican II, he entrusted the Council to the Virgin.
The shrine of Loreto, which has been a pilgrim destination since the fourteenth century, conserves the house where Mary lived in Nazareth, the which, according to popular pious tradition, was transported by the angels to Loreto in 1294, shortly after the definitive expulsion of the Crusaders from the Holy Land. Recent examinations of documents and archaeological remains (excavations under the Holy House), as well as philological and iconographic studies, are giving increasing weight to the hypothesis that the stones of the Holy House were transported to Loreto by ship at the initiative of the aristocratic Angelos family which then ruled the region of Epirus. Divine assistance in this undertaking remained as a symbol in the presence of angels. The House is the place where the Virgin was born, lived with St. Joseph, received the Annunciation from Gabriel and conceived the Son of God. It is therefore associated with the Mystery of the Incarnation.
Mary's house in Nazareth was composed of two parts: a grotto which is still to be seen in the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, and a house with three stone walls. Comparative studies between the Holy House of Loreto and the grotto of Nazareth have revealed the coexistence and contiguity of the two. Another recent study on the way in which the stone has been worked - in the manner used by the Nabateans which was widespread in Galilee at Jesus' time - also confirms the popular tradition. When the three walls of the Holy House arrived in Loreto they were set up, without foundations, in a public street, but almost immediately they became the object of the extraordinary measures of care and protection afforded to a precious relic.
Benedict XVI departed from the Vatican by helicopter at 9 a.m. and arrived in Loreto an hour later, where he was welcomed by the local civil and religious authorities. He then visited the shrine where he greeted the community of Capuchin Friars before going on to adore the Blessed Sacrament and pray before Our Lady of Loreto.
At 10.30 a.m. he celebrated Mass in the Piazza della Madonna di Loreto, pronouncing a homily:
Below is the full text of his homilyYour Eminences,
Dear Brother Bishops,
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
On 4 October 1962, Blessed John XXIII came as a pilgrim to this Shrine to entrust to the Virgin Mary the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, due to begin a week later. On that occasion, with deep filial devotion to the Mother of God, he addressed her in these words: “Again today, and in the name of the entire episcopate, I ask you, sweetest Mother, as Help of Bishops, to intercede for me as Bishop of Rome and for all the bishops of the world, to obtain for us the grace to enter the Council Hall of Saint Peter’s Basilica, as the Apostles and the first disciples of Jesus entered the Upper Room: with one heart, one heartbeat of love for Christ and for souls, with one purpose only, to live and to sacrifice ourselves for the salvation of individuals and peoples. Thus, by your maternal intercession, in the years and the centuries to come, may it be said that the grace of God prepared, accompanied and crowned the twenty-first Ecumenical Council, filling all the children of the holy Church with a new fervour, a new impulse to generosity, and a renewed firmness of purpose” (AAS 54 [1962], 727).
Fifty years on, having been called by divine Providence to succeed that unforgettable Pope to the See of Peter, I too have come on pilgrimage to entrust to the Mother of God two important ecclesial initiatives: the Year of Faith, which will begin in a week, on 11 October, on the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, and the Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which I have convened this October with the theme “The New Evangelization for the Transmission of the Christian Faith”. Dear friends, to all of you I offer my most cordial greetings. I thank the Most Reverend Giovanni Tonucci, Archbishop of Loreto, for his warm words of welcome. I greet the other bishops present, the priests, the Capuchin Fathers, to whom the pastoral care of this shrine is entrusted, and the religious sisters. I also salute Dr Paolo Niccoletti, Mayor of Loreto, thanking him for his courteous words, and I greet the representatives of the government and the civil and military authorities here present. My thanks also go to those who have generously offered their assistance to make my pilgrimage possible.
As I said in my Apostolic Letter announcing the Year of Faith, “I wish to invite my brother bishops from all over the world to join the Successor of Peter, during this time of spiritual grace that the Lord offers us, in recalling the precious gift of faith” (Porta Fidei, 8). It is precisely here at Loreto that we have the opportunity to attend the school of Mary who was called “blessed” because she “believed” (Lk 1:45). This Shrine, built around her earthly home, preserves the memory of the moment when the angel of Lord came to Mary with the great announcement of the Incarnation, and she gave her reply. This humble home is a physical, tangible witness to the greatest event in our history, the Incarnation; the Word became flesh and Mary, the handmaid of the Lord, is the privileged channel through which God came to dwell among us (cf. Jn 1:14). Mary offered her very body; she placed her entire being at the disposal of God’s will, becoming the “place” of his presence, a “place” of dwelling for the Son of God. We are reminded here of the words of the Psalm with which, according to the Letter to the Hebrews, Christ began his earthly life, saying to the Father, “Sacrifices and offering you have not desired, but you have prepared a body for me… Behold, I have come to do your will, O God” (10:5,7). To the Angel who reveals God’s plan for her, Mary replies in similar words: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). The will of Mary coincides with the will of the Son in the Father’s unique project of love and, in her, heaven and earth are united, God the Creator is united to his creature. God becomes man, and Mary becomes a “living house” for the Lord, a temple where the Most High dwells. Here at Loreto fifty years ago, Blessed John XXIII issued an invitation to contemplate this mystery, to “reflect on that union of heaven and earth, which is the purpose of the Incarnation and Redemption”, and he went on to affirm that the aim of the Council itself was to spread ever wider the beneficent impact of the Incarnation and Redemption on all spheres of life (cf. AAS 54 [1962], 724). This invitation resounds today with particular urgency. In the present crisis affecting not only the economy but also many sectors of society, the Incarnation of the Son of God speaks to us of how important man is to God, and God to man. Without God, man ultimately chooses selfishness over solidarity and love, material things over values, having over being. We must return to God, so that man may return to being man. With God, even in difficult times or moments of crisis, there is always a horizon of hope: the Incarnation tells us that we are never alone, that God has come to humanity and that he accompanies us.
The idea of the Son of God dwelling in the “living house”, the temple which is Mary, leads us to another thought: we must recognize that where God dwells, all are “at home”; wherever Christ dwells, his brothers and sisters are no longer strangers. Mary, who is the Mother of Christ, is also our mother, and she open to us the door to her home, she helps us enter into the will of her Son. So it is faith which gives us a home in this world, which brings us together in one family and which makes all of us brothers and sisters. As we contemplate Mary, we must ask if we too wish to be open to the Lord, if we wish to offer him our life as his dwelling place; or if we are afraid that the presence of God may somehow place limits on our freedom, if we wish to set aside a part of our life in such a way that it belongs only to us. Yet it is precisely God who liberates our liberty, he frees it from being closed in on itself, from the thirst for power, possessions, and domination; he opens it up to the dimension which completely fulfils it: the gift of self, of love, which in turn becomes service and sharing.
Faith lets us reside, or dwell, but it also lets us walk on the path of life. The Holy House of Loreto contains an important teaching in this respect as well. Its location on a street is well known. At first this might seem strange: after all, a house and a street appear mutually exclusive. In reality, it is precisely here that an unusual message about this House has been preserved. It is not a private house, nor does it belong to a single person or a single family, rather it is an abode open to everyone placed, as it were, on our street. So here in Loreto we find a house which lets us stay, or dwell, and which at the same time lets us continue, or journey, and reminds us that we are pilgrims, that we must always be on the way to another dwelling, towards our final home, the Eternal City, the dwelling place of God and the people he has redeemed (cf. Rev 21:3).
There is one more important point in the Gospel account of the Annunciation which I would like to underline, one which never fails to strike us: God asks for mankind’s “yes”; he has created a free partner in dialogue, from whom he requests a reply in complete liberty. In one of his most celebrated sermons, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux “recreates”, as it were, the scene where God and humanity wait for Mary to say “yes”. Turning to her he begs: “The angel awaits your response, as he must now return to the One who sent him… O Lady, give that reply which the earth, the underworld and the very heavens await. Just as the King and Lord of all wished to behold your beauty, in the same way he earnestly desires your word of consent… Arise, run, open up! Arise with faith, run with your devotion, open up with your consent!” (In laudibus Virginis Matris, Hom. IV,8: Opera omnia, Edit. Cisterc. 4, 1966, p.53f). God asks for Mary’s free consent that he may become man. To be sure, the “yes” of the Virgin is the fruit of divine grace. But grace does not eliminate freedom; on the contrary it creates and sustains it. Faith removes nothing from the human creature, rather it permits his full and final realization.
Dear brothers and sisters, on this pilgrimage in the footsteps of Blessed John XXIII – and which comes, providentially, on the day in which the Church remembers Saint Francis of Assisi, a veritable “living Gospel” – I wish to entrust to the Most Holy Mother of God all the difficulties affecting our world as it seeks serenity and peace, the problems of the many families who look anxiously to the future, the aspirations of young people at the start of their lives, the suffering of those awaiting signs or decisions of solidarity and love. I also wish to place in the hands of the Mother of God this special time of grace for the Church, now opening up before us. Mother of the “yes”, you who heard Jesus, speak to us of him; tell us of your journey, that we may follow him on the path of faith; help us to proclaim him, that each person may welcome him and become the dwelling place of God. Amen!
Following Mass, the Pope had lunch at the local John Paul II Centre. He is due to leave Loreto at 5 p.m. and to arrive back in the Vatican at 6 p.m.
EUROPE : RIP FR. ALBERIC STACPOOLE OSB - AGE 81
IND. CATH. NEWS REPORT:
SHARED FROM IND. CATH. NEWS
|
SHARED FROM IND. CATH. NEWS
AMERICA : CANADA : COLF PUBLISHES MESSAGE TO FAMILIES
CCCB REPORT:
The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) has published its 2012 Message to families entitled, "The Gospel of Everyday Life: An adventure worth sharing!" The new publication focuses on families called to embrace the New Evangelization.
On the occasion of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization,
COLF hopes to help families to discover more deeply the gift of faith and get
actively involved in the mission of the New Evangelization. “Many questions
immediately arise – together with astonishment and a measure of nervousness –
when one hears that the family is one of the most effective agents of
evangelization” the Message states. In 1994, during the World Meeting of
Families, Blessed John Paul II said: “In the Church and in society, now is the
hour of the family. Families are called to play a primary role in the task of
the new evangelization.”
An initiative of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, COLF is co-sponsored by the Conference and the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus. It promotes respect for human life and dignity, and the essential role of the family.
Printed copies of the 2012 Message to Families can be ordered from www.colf.ca or by phoning 613-241-9461, extension 161.
SHARED FROM CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF CANADA
The Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF) has published its 2012 Message to families entitled, "The Gospel of Everyday Life: An adventure worth sharing!" The new publication focuses on families called to embrace the New Evangelization.
On the occasion of the Synod of Bishops on the New Evangelization,
COLF hopes to help families to discover more deeply the gift of faith and get
actively involved in the mission of the New Evangelization. “Many questions
immediately arise – together with astonishment and a measure of nervousness –
when one hears that the family is one of the most effective agents of
evangelization” the Message states. In 1994, during the World Meeting of
Families, Blessed John Paul II said: “In the Church and in society, now is the
hour of the family. Families are called to play a primary role in the task of
the new evangelization.” An initiative of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, COLF is co-sponsored by the Conference and the Supreme Council of the Knights of Columbus. It promotes respect for human life and dignity, and the essential role of the family.
Printed copies of the 2012 Message to Families can be ordered from www.colf.ca or by phoning 613-241-9461, extension 161.
SHARED FROM CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF CANADA
AUSTRALIA : MENTAL HEALTH WEEK STARTS SUNDAY
Catholic Communications, Sydney
Archdiocese,
4 Oct 2012
When Mental Health Week kicks off on Sunday, 7 October
there will be plenty of reasons for Direct Employment, CatholicCare's
government-funded program, to celebrate. In the past two years, Direct
Employment has found full-time work for 190 men and women with mental illnesses
and proved to employers that mental illness is no obstacle when it comes to
finding the best person for a job.
"Mental illness is a broad term and covers anything from mild depression to someone who may have suffered a psychotic episode. But what many employers don't realise is that with medication and the right treatment these conditions are easily be managed. People with mental illness can not only be fully functional but among a company's hardest working and highest achievers," says Chrissie Potamianos, Area Manager for CatholicCare's Direct Employment program.
Working closely with local businesses and communities in Fairfield, Liverpool, Sutherland and Bankstown, Direct Employment places men and women with mental illnesses in full or part time work and into the sort of jobs they wanted. Direct Employment also ensures that the people for whom they find jobs not only receive the same wages and conditions as a business's other employees, but are judged on their abilities and skills, not their condition.
"One of things we need to overcome and eliminate is the stigma associated with mental illness. We want to make sure employers and society as a whole understand that having a mental illness does not stop someone from being a productive employee with much to offer and contribute," Chrissie says.
Over the past decade there has been a definite turnaround in the way mental illness is regarded in society. The age-old stigma attached to mental illness has begun to change thanks, in a large part, to a long line of politicians, authors, actors and other public figures speaking out about their battles with mental conditions ranging from bi-polar disorder to panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and post traumatic syndrome.
One of the first to go
public with his longterm struggle with depression was Garry McDonald, one of
Australia's most admired and respected actors and the man who created TV's
wonderfully gormless bumbling hero, Norman Gunston. McDonald not only talked
openly about his battle with depression but continues to work tirelessly with
SANE and similar organisations to change perceptions associated with mental
illness.
"Let's face it, if they employed that sort of stigma in my business, I wouldn't have had a career," he says and insists it is important for businesses and other employers to understand that people with a mental illness can and do work and in many cases are the best candidate for the job.
Among international celebrities who have spoken out about their battle with bi-polar disorder are comedian Russell Brand, actor Robert Downey Jnr, crime-writer Patricia Cornwell, author-actress Carrie Fisher and Britain's intellectual commentator and host of QI, Stephen Fry. Among those who have gone public with their struggle with depression are actors Alec Baldwin, Jim Carrey, Courtney Cox, Ewan McGregor, singers Natalie Imbruglia and Beyonce Knowles and rock star Robbie Williams.
Australian politicians have also gone public about their bouts with severe depression. These include former NSW Premier, John Brogden, former WA Premier, Geoff Gallop and Shadow Minister for Finance, Andrew Robb. Last year, Andrew Robb wrote a book about his battle with depression. In launching the book, Black Dog Daze: Public Life Private Demons, the longtime Liberal politician claimed at least one in five of those currently serving in Federal Parliament in Canberra are on antidepressant medication.
Latest statistics reveal
20% of all Australian adults are affected by some form of mental disorder each
year while almost half the population, or 45% will experience a mental disorder
at some point during their lives.
"The person sitting next to you may well have a mental illness but they have learned to hide it so well you probably have no idea," Chrissie says.
One of the reasons many of those with a mental disorder keep this secret not only from work colleagues and acquaintances but from close friends and even family, is due to the stigma still attached to many of these illnesses. They are also fearful that if someone in their workplace found out they had a mental illness, they might not be considered for a promotion or at worst, lose their job entirely.
While attitudes are changing it is a slow process and Chrissie looks forward to the time when mental illness is regarded like any other illness.
CatholicCare's program of Direct Employment finds permanent and part time employment for those with disabilities which include people with physical disabilities, cognitive difficulties, conditions such as Down's syndrome as well as various forms of mental illness.
To have found jobs for 190 men and women with mental illnesses and the sort of jobs those they placed wanted, is no small feat particularly when Bankstown, Fairfield, Sutherland and Liverpool where the placements were made has unemployment levels that are double the national average.
Working in close collaboration with
NSW Health, CatholicCare's Direct Employment program is currently being expanded
to include St George where under a unique "co-location"system. Under this
system, Direct Employment will join forces with clinicians at the St George
Community Mental Health Service to help people find jobs of their choice.
The integration between employment and health treatment is a key factor in the success of gaining and sustaining long term employment, Chrissie says and cites international as well as national research studies which found employment played a vital role in the recovery process for those diagnosed with a mental illness.
For Chrissie and the rest of the CatholicCare team at Direct Employment one of the most rewarding and satisfying aspects of their work is seeing how a job contributes to the growth, improved confidence and burgeoning self esteem of their clients, and the positive impact this has on their families and their lives.
Earning a salary and having a regular source of income also makes a big difference and gives them hope for the future, she says.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
4 Oct 2012
Beloved as Norman Gunston and one of
Australia's most respected actors, Garry McDonald has long struggled with
depression
"Mental illness is a broad term and covers anything from mild depression to someone who may have suffered a psychotic episode. But what many employers don't realise is that with medication and the right treatment these conditions are easily be managed. People with mental illness can not only be fully functional but among a company's hardest working and highest achievers," says Chrissie Potamianos, Area Manager for CatholicCare's Direct Employment program.
Working closely with local businesses and communities in Fairfield, Liverpool, Sutherland and Bankstown, Direct Employment places men and women with mental illnesses in full or part time work and into the sort of jobs they wanted. Direct Employment also ensures that the people for whom they find jobs not only receive the same wages and conditions as a business's other employees, but are judged on their abilities and skills, not their condition.
"One of things we need to overcome and eliminate is the stigma associated with mental illness. We want to make sure employers and society as a whole understand that having a mental illness does not stop someone from being a productive employee with much to offer and contribute," Chrissie says.
Over the past decade there has been a definite turnaround in the way mental illness is regarded in society. The age-old stigma attached to mental illness has begun to change thanks, in a large part, to a long line of politicians, authors, actors and other public figures speaking out about their battles with mental conditions ranging from bi-polar disorder to panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and post traumatic syndrome.
Almost one in two Australians will have some
form of mental illness during their life
"Let's face it, if they employed that sort of stigma in my business, I wouldn't have had a career," he says and insists it is important for businesses and other employers to understand that people with a mental illness can and do work and in many cases are the best candidate for the job.
Among international celebrities who have spoken out about their battle with bi-polar disorder are comedian Russell Brand, actor Robert Downey Jnr, crime-writer Patricia Cornwell, author-actress Carrie Fisher and Britain's intellectual commentator and host of QI, Stephen Fry. Among those who have gone public with their struggle with depression are actors Alec Baldwin, Jim Carrey, Courtney Cox, Ewan McGregor, singers Natalie Imbruglia and Beyonce Knowles and rock star Robbie Williams.
Australian politicians have also gone public about their bouts with severe depression. These include former NSW Premier, John Brogden, former WA Premier, Geoff Gallop and Shadow Minister for Finance, Andrew Robb. Last year, Andrew Robb wrote a book about his battle with depression. In launching the book, Black Dog Daze: Public Life Private Demons, the longtime Liberal politician claimed at least one in five of those currently serving in Federal Parliament in Canberra are on antidepressant medication.
Author, actor, writer Carrie Fisher went public
after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder
"The person sitting next to you may well have a mental illness but they have learned to hide it so well you probably have no idea," Chrissie says.
One of the reasons many of those with a mental disorder keep this secret not only from work colleagues and acquaintances but from close friends and even family, is due to the stigma still attached to many of these illnesses. They are also fearful that if someone in their workplace found out they had a mental illness, they might not be considered for a promotion or at worst, lose their job entirely.
While attitudes are changing it is a slow process and Chrissie looks forward to the time when mental illness is regarded like any other illness.
CatholicCare's program of Direct Employment finds permanent and part time employment for those with disabilities which include people with physical disabilities, cognitive difficulties, conditions such as Down's syndrome as well as various forms of mental illness.
To have found jobs for 190 men and women with mental illnesses and the sort of jobs those they placed wanted, is no small feat particularly when Bankstown, Fairfield, Sutherland and Liverpool where the placements were made has unemployment levels that are double the national average.
Federal Politician Andrew Robb wrote a book
about his battle with depression
The integration between employment and health treatment is a key factor in the success of gaining and sustaining long term employment, Chrissie says and cites international as well as national research studies which found employment played a vital role in the recovery process for those diagnosed with a mental illness.
For Chrissie and the rest of the CatholicCare team at Direct Employment one of the most rewarding and satisfying aspects of their work is seeing how a job contributes to the growth, improved confidence and burgeoning self esteem of their clients, and the positive impact this has on their families and their lives.
Earning a salary and having a regular source of income also makes a big difference and gives them hope for the future, she says.
SHARED FROM ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY
ASIA : PAKISTAN : CHRISTIAN MARCH FOR PEACE AND FREEDOM
ASIA NEWS REPORT:
by Shafique Khokhar
Peaceful protesters take to the streets of the city calling for an end to sectarian violence. Condemnation against the blasphemous film that sowed death and destruction. Christian leader: "negotiations" for peace and greater state presence. Muslim politicians: the government must promote respect for ethno-religious "diversity".
Faisalabad (AsiaNews) - A Christian-Muslim march to demand an end to the violence against religious minorities, respect for human rights and an end to the personal attacks against journalists, women and innocent workers. It is an initiative promoted by civil society of Faisalabad (Punjab), under the motto "Non-violence for a peaceful coexistence." Supporters of the march include Peace and Human Development (Phd Foundation), led by Christian leader Suneel Malik, and the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (Awam), led by Christian Naseem Anthony.
The demonstration in the streets of the city (pictured) was held on October 2, coinciding with the celebration of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, World Day for peace and non-violence , held for the first time in 2007, according to the guiding principles of the Indian leader who was assassinated by a Hindu extremist in 1948.
The demonstrators, both Christians and Muslims, together condemned all forms of violence, torture and discrimination perpetrated in the name of religion. They also condemned the attacks on the sensibilities of the faithful, citing the case of anti-Islamic film "The innocence of Muslims" that sowed death and destruction around the world.
Speaking to AsiaNews, the leader of Phd Foundation Suneel Malik points out that "the State must promote peace and harmony" and to achieve the goal needs "a table of negotiations" between the various factions. Naseem Anthony, of Awam, denounced "the murders of journalists who try to tell the truth behind the facts" and stressed that the profession is now considered a harbinger "of death" in Pakistan.
The Muslim politician Arif Ayaz appeals to the government, to "respect and promote the of ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural diversity " that make up the country, to create a true "climate of harmony." Nasreen Bukhari, of the Muslim union, said that "a culture of non-violence can be made possible only if each individual - and all society - aims" for peace and social harmony. Finally activist Asghar Shaheen, of the Islamic faith and committed to the defense of workers' rights, affirmed "the State must ensure compliance with the law" and at the same time "protect the rights of marginalized groups such as minorities, workers, women, children and disabled. "
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS
by Shafique Khokhar
Peaceful protesters take to the streets of the city calling for an end to sectarian violence. Condemnation against the blasphemous film that sowed death and destruction. Christian leader: "negotiations" for peace and greater state presence. Muslim politicians: the government must promote respect for ethno-religious "diversity".
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Faisalabad (AsiaNews) - A Christian-Muslim march to demand an end to the violence against religious minorities, respect for human rights and an end to the personal attacks against journalists, women and innocent workers. It is an initiative promoted by civil society of Faisalabad (Punjab), under the motto "Non-violence for a peaceful coexistence." Supporters of the march include Peace and Human Development (Phd Foundation), led by Christian leader Suneel Malik, and the Association of Women for Awareness and Motivation (Awam), led by Christian Naseem Anthony.
The demonstration in the streets of the city (pictured) was held on October 2, coinciding with the celebration of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi, World Day for peace and non-violence , held for the first time in 2007, according to the guiding principles of the Indian leader who was assassinated by a Hindu extremist in 1948.
The demonstrators, both Christians and Muslims, together condemned all forms of violence, torture and discrimination perpetrated in the name of religion. They also condemned the attacks on the sensibilities of the faithful, citing the case of anti-Islamic film "The innocence of Muslims" that sowed death and destruction around the world.
Speaking to AsiaNews, the leader of Phd Foundation Suneel Malik points out that "the State must promote peace and harmony" and to achieve the goal needs "a table of negotiations" between the various factions. Naseem Anthony, of Awam, denounced "the murders of journalists who try to tell the truth behind the facts" and stressed that the profession is now considered a harbinger "of death" in Pakistan.
The Muslim politician Arif Ayaz appeals to the government, to "respect and promote the of ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural diversity " that make up the country, to create a true "climate of harmony." Nasreen Bukhari, of the Muslim union, said that "a culture of non-violence can be made possible only if each individual - and all society - aims" for peace and social harmony. Finally activist Asghar Shaheen, of the Islamic faith and committed to the defense of workers' rights, affirmed "the State must ensure compliance with the law" and at the same time "protect the rights of marginalized groups such as minorities, workers, women, children and disabled. "
SHARED FROM ASIA NEWS
AFRICA : MADAGASCAR : JESUIT PRIEST KILLED IN ROBBERY
Agenzia Fides REPORT - "Fr. Bruno was the
victim of a violent assault and suffered a brutal death. The local Jesuit
community is devastated," said to Fides the Church sources in Antananarivo,
capital of Madagascar, where on Sunday, September 30, Fr. Bruno Raharison, a
Jesuit priest of Malagasy nationality, treasurer of the congregation of John
XXIII Mahamasina, was killed during a robbery in the street.
The car belonging to the religious had been noticed by some people on September 30, parked along the road that leads Antananarivo to Tamatave, near the town of Carion. The police were alerted and they established a security service of the car. The next day a young man who tried to recover the car was brought to the police station. At the same time the police started searching the area and on October 2 found Fr. Bruno’s body, 400 meters from the site of the discovery of his car. The priest was shot several times with a weapon to the spine, chest and head. "The criminals wanted to steal the car that the priest had just received to carry out his service. Fr. Bruno was accompanied by a boy who helped him in his travels," said our source. In addition to the boy other two people have been detained in connection with the murder of the Jesuit. The funeral of Fr. Bruno Raharison were celebrated yesterday. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 04/10/2012)
The car belonging to the religious had been noticed by some people on September 30, parked along the road that leads Antananarivo to Tamatave, near the town of Carion. The police were alerted and they established a security service of the car. The next day a young man who tried to recover the car was brought to the police station. At the same time the police started searching the area and on October 2 found Fr. Bruno’s body, 400 meters from the site of the discovery of his car. The priest was shot several times with a weapon to the spine, chest and head. "The criminals wanted to steal the car that the priest had just received to carry out his service. Fr. Bruno was accompanied by a boy who helped him in his travels," said our source. In addition to the boy other two people have been detained in connection with the murder of the Jesuit. The funeral of Fr. Bruno Raharison were celebrated yesterday. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 04/10/2012)
TODAY'S MASS ONLINE : THURS. OCT. 4, 2012
| Matthew
11: 25 - 30
| |
| 25 | At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; |
| 26 | yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. |
| 27 | All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. |
| 28 | Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. |
| 29 | Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. |
| 30 | For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." |
TODAY'S SAINT: OCT. 4: ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI: DIED 1226
Francis of Assisi, Saint (1182–1226) Italian founder of theFranciscans, b. Giovanni di Bernardone. The son of a wealthy merchant in Assisi, Francis renounced his worldly life for one of poverty and prayer in 1205. In 1209, he received permission from Pope Innocent III to begin a monastic order. The Franciscans were vowed to humility, poverty and devotion to the task of helping people. In 1212, with St Clare, he established an order for women, popularly called the Poor Clares. In 1224, while Francis prayed on Monte della Verna, near Florence, the stigmata wounds of the Crucifixion appeared on his body. He was canonized in 1228. His feast day is October 4.
