At Yaruman or Ringer Soak, a remote community south-east of Halls Creek. These community women, from left, Sheila Walker, Angela Gordon (back) and Ruby Ungiya relax after a celebration that commemorated the gift of Aboriginal people to Australia.
Photo: CAS

“Let your spirits rejoice in the mercy of God, and be not ashamed to give Him praise. Work at your tasks in due season, and in His own time
God will give you your reward.
Sirach 51:29-30

Issue 3, June 2009, Highlights:

Editorial

A memorable 60 years

Viewpoint

Youth News and WYD

Kimberley Volunteers

Kimberley Kitchen

Billard Summit - A new beginning

Respect - Walking the fine lines

The Year of St Paul

NATSICC Assembly

Kimberley Community Profile

Viewpoint

VOCATIONS. LIVING AN AUTHENTIC LIFE.

By Bishop Christopher Saunders DD

I am most grateful to the priests of this Diocese and those from elsewhere who have been helping to supply Mass and Sacraments to Kununurra, Wyndham, Halls Creek and their associated remote communities. It has not been easy for the people, the Principals of our schools and the Pastoral Associates from those Parishes either and I appreciate their patience with the situation. This is a good moment to speak about vocations to the priesthood and the shortage of priests our parishes are presently suffering.

What do we need to do about the shortage of vocations? What can we do about it? The first thing we must do is to name this insufficiency for what it is. The shortage of priests is due to a crisis of faith and it is not a peculiarly Catholic problem either as similar circumstances are lamented in Protestant denominations. At a time when every society on earth is suffering a major cultural upheaval, western nations are being especially affected, ours included. People are regularly and falsely encouraged to aspire to the heights of material acquisition much to the detriment of an uncomplicated life driven by Christian spiritual values. That the call to ministry too often falls on deaf ears is no surprise in these secular times.

Pope John Paul’s New Evangelization is a call to the Church to renew itself, to become more like Christ. It is a call to authenticity, encouraging us to live dedicated lives as followers of Christ. In this context the church of the Apostles as recorded in Acts demands our urgent attention. Three aspects of their lives distinguished the believers in that early community in faith: Firstly, they were united in mind and heart. They identified as believers, convinced followers of Jesus the Christ. They were bound together by prayer and they met for the breaking of the bread, an action that drew them profoundly to a communion with the divine and with each other. Their hearts were restless for God as they strived to help each other to be brothers and sisters under the sign of the cross.

Secondly, they cared for the poor, those who were cast aside and marginalized – the widows and the orphans. Their faith was lived out in justice and concern for the well-being of others. Finally, they witnessed to the faith without fear. By their actions they were defined and recognized in the crowds, set apart by the matter of what they said and the manner of what they did.

We will have an increase in vocations to the priesthood when we pray for vocations, when we endeavour to act justly and when we courageously say who we are and what we believe. When we are content to present ourselves as a people who yearn for unity in Christ instead of being peddlers of negativity and division, when we acknowledge that justice is not an optional extra in the treasure-house of belief, when we act in concert boldly proclaiming the Good News as precisely that – then will the ground have been turned and the seed germinated that brings forth in abundance the vocations to the priesthood we so urgently need in order to become more fully the community to which God has called us.

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his own wonderful light." 1 Peter 2:9

The Priest

To live in the midst of the world without desiring its pleasures;
To be a member of each family, yet belong to none;
To share all sufferings, to penetrate all secrets, to heal all wounds;
To go from man to God to offer Him their prayers;
To return from God to man to bring pardon and hope;
To have a heart of fire for charity; and a heart of bronze for chastity;
To teach and pardon, to console and bless always.
My God, what a life! And it is yours, O priest of Jesus Christ.

Lacordaire

Prayer for Vocations

O God, we pray, You who desire that all should be saved and should come to the knowledge of the truth, send forth labourers into the harvest; inspire many young people with the generous desire of devoting their lives to Your service; grant that there may be a great increase in the number and sanctity of vocations to the Priesthood and to the Religious Life, so that Your Holy Name may be glorified and people may be brought to know and serve You, the One True God and Him whom You have sent, Jesus Christ Your Son, Our Lord. Amen.