The Catholic Weekly 31 May 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 2 NEWS 31, May, 2020 AUSTRALIA’S BISHOPS re- newed the consecration of the nation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Help of Chris- tians in honour of her feast day as the coronavirus global pandemic continues. In Sydney, Archbishop An- thony Fisher OP prayed a spe- cial prayer of formal re-con- secration to Our Lady Help of Christians before a solemn Mass in St Mary’s Cathedral which was live-streamed and viewed by more than 4000 people. Archbishop Fisher noted that Our Lady Help of Chris- tians has been Australia’s of- ficial patron since 1844 and honoured in this country long before that when Father John Joseph Therry, arriving in the colony 200 years ago, estab- lished and dedicated the first Catholic church to her. “Often in history the Chris- tian people have asked for Our Lady’s intercession on their behalf, especially in time of danger,” the archbishop said. “In this time of pandemic, when lives and health are in danger, when so much of or- dinary life has been curtailed, when even our public worship is severely constrained, we join the bishop’s conferences of many nations in reconse- crating our land and entrust- ing our people to Mary’s pro- tective prayers.” In the homily, St Mary’s Cathedral dean Fr Don Rich- ardson said that Our Lady has been loved and hon- oured in Sydney even before she appeared to St Catherine Labouré in Paris, St Berna- dette in Lourdes, and St Ja- cinta, St Francisco and Serv- Australia’s bishops renew nation’s dedication toMother of God ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues Consecration to Mary renewed ant of God Lucia in Fatima. “Are not the times of difficul- ty, of pain, of bereavement, of uncertainty of need when Catholics rightly turn to the church for support and com- fort also the times when we turn to Mary for support and comfort?” Fr Richardson said. “It is because we sense in faith that Mary is a mother for us and has time and time again over the last 2000 years shown herself to be our helper.” In St Mary’s College Hall, the archbishop celebrated the feast day Mass which was live- Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP prays renewing the archdiocese’s consecration to the Blessed Virgin. streamed to the college com- munity and a number of other Catholic schools. In his homily the arch- bishop told the students that throughout history, from the wedding feast of Cana Our lady attended with her son, “people in difficulty have sought her intercession”. “Because she’s one of us, a mother to us, we turn to her in our need; but she’s the best of us, mother to Our Lord, she gets those prayers answered.” The bishops approved the re-consecration of the coun- try to Mary under the title of Help of Christians during a plenary meeting via video conferencing this month. It comes as Catholic bish- ops in the US, UK and other countries make similar con- secrations, and Pope Fran- cis’s entrustment of the whole world to Our Lady in March. The motion read: “That the Australian Bishops entrust Australia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary under the title Our Lady Help of Christians, seeking her intercession for the safety of all our people especially in this time of COV- ID-19 pandemic.” The feast of Mary Help of Christians is celebrated on 24 May, but as this year it coin- cides with the Feast of the As- cension, the bishops agreed it could take place on the 24 or 25 May. ARCHBISHOP’S HOMILY P8 I n this edition News Streaming Archbishop’s homily World Opinion, comment 1-7 8-9 14-15 11,17-19 20-21 14 AGEISM RUN AMOK: UK’S HOMES OF DEATH EDITOR Peter Rosengren (02) 9390 5400 REPORTERS Marilyn Rodrigues (02) 9390 5410 David Ryan (02) 9390 5408 SUBSCRIPTIONS Rita Ng (02) 9390 5411 ADVERTISING AND MARKETING Steve Richards (02) 9390 5404 Paul Desmond (02) 9390 5406 DESIGNERS Renate Cassis Mathew De Sousa Our story begins in 1839 with the Australasian Chronicle, continuing with the Freeman’s Journal in 1850. Level 13, Polding Centre, 133 Liverpool Street, Sydney, NSW 2000. Phone (02) 9390 5400 | Vol 73, No 5135. The Catholic Weekly is published by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney ABN 60 471 267 587 and is printed by ACM Australian Community Media, 159 Bells Line of Road, North Richmond NSW, 2754. LEAVE A GIFT Archdiocese of Sydney Catholic CHARITIES Order your FREE Wills and Bequests Guide today 1800 753 959 or [email protected] myWill SUPPORTINGTHE MINISTRIES OF THE CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF SYDNEY Leaving a gift in a Helping build a brighter future for children and families in crisis. 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