catholicweekly.com.au 3 5, July, 2020 PAUL AND Juliana Elarde met at Lourdes. What happened next is beautiful - and remark- able. Juliana had been wheel- chair-bound for nine years after a sciatica nerve injury when she was 28 led to reflex sympathetic dystrophy, a con- dition causing deformity and constant excruciating pain to her right leg. Paul was the tour guide for the 2008 Harvest Pilgrimages trip that included the visit to Lourdes where Christ’s moth- er appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, causing a healing spring to emerge that attracts millions of people to the famous grotto each year. “My first reaction when I heard about Juliana was ‘Oh no, how am I going to get this woman in a wheelchair on and off a coach literally 10 times a day’,” Paul recalls. “I was getting older and wondering if I was ever going to get married. “I was the guy people used to call up to do the Catholic single life talk.” Juliana was overcome with intense emotion and felt dif- ferent the moment she en- tered the healing waters at the grotto. Shortly afterwards, while being blessed with the Blessed Sacrament, she expe- rienced a dramatic reaction “like an electric shock”. Her pain disappeared in- stantly and she felt movement in her toes for the first time in years and was able to try to walk. Juliana’s healing is under investigation by the medical authorities at Lourdes, but she says the most important as- pect of what she calls her own miracle was a spiritual heal- ing from being “full of pride” and the providential gift of her lovely husband. The road after healing was not straightforward or easy. “I didn’t know what to do when I came back from Lourdes,” she said. “After six weeks rehab to strengthen the muscles in my leg, the doctors said I was well enough to work and I didn’t A Sydney couple share a remarkable tale of love andwhat they believe is amiracle ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues Love’s first steps A miracle? Juliana and Paul Elarde hold a photo of Juliana in her wheelchair at Lourdes in 2008. PHOTO: GIOVANNJI PORTELLI Father Stephen Schumacher ad- dresses protesters. know what to do. “I hadn’t worked for nearly 10 years.” She said God gave her the inspiration and grace to study for an aged care qualification and work in the sector for years. Today she is a parish housekeeper. Before her ordeal Juliana had been strictly a ‘Christmas and Easter Catholic’ for years, attending Mass only on those occasions out of obligation. After Lourdes she became “so very close to Mary”. The loving couple’s tips for happy married life is to create a space in your home “where you pray together and make it your special place”. “It has a way of dissolving the stress and birthing selfless love,” said Paul. “And lots of hugs. “Both of us have expe- rienced not being faithful [Catholics] and know that you can’t find happiness there. “But when you are faithful to how God can work in your life He literally can work mir- acles. “There’s no other way for us, our faith is a lifeline.” Couples celebrating land- mark wedding anniversaries this year are invited to the annual Marriage Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral on 12 July from 10.30am. Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP will bless couples in the presence of the relics of married saints St Louis and St Zelie Martin. Registrations are essential at sydneycatholic.org . In brief Baby sets new record THE WORLD’S young- est premature baby born at just 21 weeks gestation has gone home with his parents after six months in hospital in the US state of Georgia. Jemarius Jachin Harbor Jr was born on 20 Decem- ber weighing less than 400 grams. Doctors at Emory Decatur Hospital worked hard to fight for his surviv- al after his parents Jessica McPherson and Jemarius Harbor Sr, pleaded with themto do everything they could to save their child. “We looked at each oth- er in the eye and I told him just give it a try,” McPher- son told media. “I just want you to try. As long as you try, that’s all that mat- ters tome. “Don’t just up and say that you can’t do it. Just because you haven’t done it doesn’t mean it can’t be done.” The young fighter has beaten the record by four days to take the title of being the youngest surviv- ing preemie. FR. STEPHEN Schumacher, of the Archdiocese of St Lou- is, was among the defenders of a prominent statue of the city’s namesake as protesters called for its removal Saturday 27 June. More than 200 angry pro- testors surrounded the statue, demanding its removal claim- ing St Louis “represents hate,” with one protest organiser’s claiming “We’re trying to cre- ate a city where Black lives matter. “We’re trying to create a ¾ ¾ Benjamin Conolly Priest defends statue city where there is no anti- semitism or Islamophobia … this is not a symbol of our city in 2020.” Fr Schumacher, ordained in May 2019, stood between the shouting mob and the statue, attempting to inform them about St Louis’ life, say- ing, “St Louis was a man who willed to use his kingship to do good for his people.” St Louis, King of France from 1226-70, partook in two Crusades, restricted usury, es- tablished hospitals, and per- sonally cared for the poor and for lepers. $2 5,April,2020 READY TO SERVE AT ST CANICE KEEPING THE FAMILY HAPPY P14 Compassionate, holistic aged care, delivered with Catholic values. 1800778767 |
[email protected] |www.svcs.org.au Ifyour lovedoneneedsadditionalsupport, talk tous –oneofAustralia’s leadingCatholicagedcare and retirement livingspecialists. AUSTRALIA’S CATHOLIC hospital system has wel- comed the Federal Govern- ment’s announcement of an unprecedenteddeal tomerge Australia’s state and private hospitals tofight theCovid-19 pandemic. Itmeans that private hos- pitals,whichhave rarelybeen taskedwith treating coronavi- rus victims,will now become an integralpartof thenational healthcaresystem response. The National Coronavirus partnership will provide the certainty that the not-for- profit hospital sector needs to maintain its full capacity and shift its service offerings towards fighting coronavirus, saidCatholicHealthAustralia CEOPatGarcia. Catholic hospitals account for about 30 per cent of all private hospital patients and approximately 10 per cent of all healthcare needs across Australia. “This deal, made in con- junctionwith state and terri- tory partnership agreements, will ensure that everyone in thehealth sector – theprivate sector,Catholicnot-for-profits and thepublichospitals–will be working together to fight this pandemic,” Mr Garcia said. “Our doctors and nurses havebeen ready forweeksbut thisdeal ensures they can re- mainat theirposts. DealseesCatholic,statehospitals unite tocombatpandemic ¾ MarilynRodrigues Cathedral Easter televised Pell decision THE CHURCHES may be shut across thenation but StMary’s Cathedral’s Good Friday Passion of the Lord and its East- er SundaymorningMass will be broadcast nation- allybymajor commercial television station Chan- nel7. The partnership an- nounced this week was especially welcomed by Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP as Catholics across the nation deal withnearunprecedented churchclosures. REPORTP3 THEHIGHCourt ofAus- tralia has announced it will hand down its deci- sion on Cardinal George Pell’s appeal against his conviction in Brisbane nextweek. The nation’s highest courtwill deliver its deci- sion at 10:00am on Tues- day 7 April. Meanwhile, allegationsaboutCardinal Pellbroadcaston theABC program Revelation are not new, the Archdiocese ofSydneysaid thisweek. They were made to the police in 2016-2017, a 2 April statement from a spokeswoman for the Archdiocesesaid. Magistrate Belinda Wallington granted leave for both allegations to be tested at a Committal Hearing, the spokeswom- ansaid. Before that could oc- cur, the first allegations were withdrawn by the prosecution. The Direc- torofPublicProsecutions later dropped charges in thesecondmatter. TheCommon- wealthgovern- mentenvisaged anationwide response to thepandemic ...and thanks to thehard workbyMinisterHunt that isexactlywhatwe canachieve ...” PatGarcia Corona health merger “MinisterHunthasguaran- teed theCatholichospitalnet- work’s viability through this pandemic. “The Australian public can now take comfort that its 80 hospitals are well-placed to continue toserve thesickover the course of this pandemic, andbeyond. “The Commonwealth gov- ernment envisaged a nation- wideresponse to thepandem- ic fromallofourhospitalsand thanks to the hard work by Minister Hunt that is exactly whatwe can achieve if every- one signs up to this historic deal. “We urge the states and territories to develop nation- ally consistent agreements with theprivate sector and to consider the universally-sup- portedVictorianmodelwhen doing that. CONTINUEDONPAGE4 Bells peal five times for pandemic IN EARLIER times, church bellswouldpealout towarn people of danger, to cele- brate significant events or feastdaysor tocallpeople to prayer. When Fr Dominic Mur- phy OP rang the bells of St James inGlebe thisweek it was for the latterpurpose. In themidstof thecoronavirus pandemic the Archdiocese of Sydney has resurrect- ed the practice, notmerely to symbolise the Church’s concern andpresence to all those affected or involved with combating the disease but especially to pray for them. A number of Sydney parisheshavebegun ringing their bells five times a day, calling all to pray for those suffering thedisease. The daily occasions are allocated toprayers forpar- ticular groups of people af- fectedby thedeadlyvirus. FULLSTORYP4 P7 FrDominicMurphyOP rings thebellsof St James callingoneandall topray. PHOTO:GIOVANNIPORTELLI ca $2 ThefaithfulcankeepSundayholybysetting asidesometimeforprayer...readingthe Scripturesoftheday,watchingMasson televisionoronline,and/oraskingGodfor ...gracestheywouldnormallyreceive...” ArchbishopAnthony FisherOP IT CAME as no surprise, but it was still a heavy blow for Catholicswhen the country’s churches were ordered to closeon23March. Archbishop Anthony Fish- erOP informedCatholics ina pastoral letter issued thatday that itwaswith“aheavyheart” thathewasorderingchurches tobe shut inaccordancewith state and federal government measures. Archbishop Fisher had at- tempted to keep churches open foras longaspossibleso thatCatholics could continue toworshipand inaccordance with government distancing orders -but itwasnot tobe. Yetwhile the blowwas es- pecially hard for peoplewho are - by definition - gathered aroundChrist in theEucharist - in parishes across Sydney the focus quickly shifted to finding creativeways to con- nect the faithcommunityand bringChrist toothrs. From livestreamedMasses andpodcastsandvideoblogs, to marshalling volunteers to assist the elderly, sick and quarantined,Catholics every- where aredetermined tobe a light to others amid the esca- latingmedical and economic crisis. PublicMasses had already been suspended in somedio- ceses from18March. In the Sydney archdiocese they continued last weekend under scrupulous adherence to the Federal government’s health and social distancing restrictions, including the 100 indoor and 500 outdoor restrictions.Manyhadhoped such arrangements could continue -but itwasn’t tobe. Archbishop Fisher’s pas- toral letter specified that churches would be closed “even toprivateprayer”,while all indoor and outdoorMass- es and communal devotions wouldbesuspendeduntil fur- thernotice. Themove followed the 22 March announcement from Prime Minister Scott Morri- son that included places of worship alongside restau- rants, clubs, pubs, cinemas and other places of social gatherings to be closed as Stage 1 of the Government’s socialdistancing restrictions. Those measures were ex- tended even further on 24 March refelcting the serious- ness of the situation the na- tion faces. “As priests bid farewell to parishioners today there have been tears and bewil- derment,” Archbishop Fisher wrote. “Even as theChurch coop- erateswith public health au- thorities to ensure the safety of all, we will do our best to keep in touch and maintain (even increase)ourprayeron behalf of all, our healthcare, education andwelfare servic- es,andespeciallyourpastoral care. “I truly believe this is the time for us to shine as a Church.” Along with the rest of the country’sCatholicbishops the archbishopechoed thepope’s assurance that all Catholics except for priests are dis- pensed from theSundayMass attendance. “The faithfulcankeepSun- dayholybysettingasidesome ti me forprayerathome, read- in g the Scriptures of the day, wa tching Mass on television or online, and/or askingGod for t hegraces theywouldnor- mall y receive in Holy Com- mun ion,”hes aid. The archbishop said that theChurch’s focuswouldnow shift to helping people find ways toprayandnurture their faith fromhome. Funerals, baptisms and weddings are still possible though greatly curtailed, and even confessions, though these couldbe ‘drive-through confessions’orheldoutdoors under the2 squaremetredis- tance rulecouldstillbeheld. CONTINUEDONPAGE2 ARCHBISHOP’SPASTORALP6 No more masses Archbishop’sreluctantdecision toclosechurchestingedwithhopethat faithwillstillshine forth ¾ MarilynRodrigues SHORTLY AFTER morning Mass at St Charles Borromeo church in Ryde, parish priest Fr GregMorgan FMVD rang themidday Angelus bell and closed its largewoodendoors. It was 11.59 on 23March, 2020. Oneminute later, all of the country’s churches were re- quired to shut down by law, the latestblowwroughtby the coronaviruspandemic. PrimeMinisterScottMorri- sonmade the announcement late on 22 March tightening social distancig require- ments to include theclosingof places of worship along with pubs, clubs, restaurants, cafes and indoorsportingvenues. “This is devastating and it is heartbreaking,” Mr Morri- son said in an addres to the House of Representatives in Canberraon23March, speak- ingof thesmallbusinessown- erswhoworried about keep- ing their livelihoodsafloatand as long lines formed outside Centrelink offices of people needingfinancialaid togetby. CONTINUEDONPAGE3 ¾ MarilynRodrigues Sadnessas StCharles doorsshut 29,March,2020 A CALL WHICH BRINGS PEACE DON’T LET THIS VIRUS BEAT US P12 P24 FrGregMorgan shuts thedoorsofStCharles Borromeo church in Ryde for the last time asplacesofworship are shutdownon23 March2020. PHOTO:ALPHONSUSFOK BACK IN PRINT! Pick up a copy from your local parish from next week, just $2 After six weeks rehab to strengthen the muscles in my leg, the doctors said I was well enough to work and I didn’t knowwhat to do.” Juliana Elarde NEWS