The Catholic Weekly 26 July 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 4 NEWS 26, July, 2020 In brief Dismay at Turkish decision EASTERN CATHO- LICS in Australia are dis- mayed at the decision by the Turkish Government to turn the Hagia Sophia into a mosque. Fr Simon Ckuj of the Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Aus- tralia shared on social media the dismay many faithful Eastern Christian are feeling over the deci- sion. “We weep as to what is happening to our mother Church in Constantino- ple. May God protect the Christians of Ancient Byz- antium whose forefathers passed the faith to our forefathers in Kyiv.” The Hagia Sophia – or Church of Holy Wisdom – was the historic seat of the Constantinople Patri- archate, and was erected in 537 by Roman Emperor Justinian. After the Ottoman con- quest of Constantinople in 1453 by Sultan Me- hmed II it was turned into a mosque. Confirmation age raised ¾ ¾ Marilyn Rodrigues BISHOP ANTHONY Randaz- zo of Broken Bay has raised the age of children receiving the Sacrament of Confirma- tion in the Diocese of Broken Bay from seven to around eight years old. Formerly, children receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in the diocese were typically in Year 2. Bishop Randazzo an- nounced last week that from next year candidates will be at least eight years old or are in Year 3. The order of the sacra- ments of initiation would re- main the same: Baptism, Con- firmation and first Eucharist. The additional year means that children’s first Reconcilia- tion and Eucharist in the dio- cese will also be celebrated at age nine or during Year 4. In a letter to clergy the bish- op said the year’s delay would enable children to better ap- preciate the significance of their Christian initiation. He said the change was made after consultation about the sacrament and after dis- cussions with the Council of Priests. It comes as confirmations were paused this year due to the uncertainty around the pandemic which delayed the current cohort. “I wish to use the circumstances afforded us negatively by the pandemic to place our practice of Sacra- mental preparation, positively, on a new footing going for- ward,” Bishop Randazzo wrote in a letter to clergy. “The practice of celebrating the Sacrament of Confirmation with those who have reached the age of seven, typically those in Year 2, seems early for the most meaningful reception of the Sacrament.” In the Archdiocese of Syd- ney, first Eucharist is usually celebrated by children in Year 3 or above, followed by Confir- mation typically in Years 5 or 6. catholicsuper.com.au We’re here to help you For information contact Steve on (02) 9390 5404 Faith school priority BISHOP ANTHONY Randaz- zo has launched a renewed vi- sion for Catholic education in the Broken Bay diocese. The name of the plan, To- wards 2025 , maps the vision for Catholic schools in Bro- ken Bay for the next five years, making evangelisation and catechesis priorities in the curriculum. Bishop Randazzo said the vision supports “a strong, vi- brant and authentic Catholic education system promoting learning for life, and the flour- ishing of human and faith de- velopment.” “Education is central to the mission in Broken Bay and you principals, school and CSO staff are among my clos- est collaborators,” said Bishop Randazzo. “The Church is not a build- ing, it’s a community.” The plan lists two overall strategic priorities: evange- lisation and catechesis, and student achievement, cover- ing academic growth and suc- cess in all aspects of learning. The plan also emphasises governance, enablement of staff, financial viability and infrastructure as priorities in ¾ ¾ David Ryan Bishop Anthony Randazzo has issued a far-reaching plan for school renewal in the Broken Bay diocese. an approach focused on both spiritual and educational out- comes. Bishop Randazzo encour- aged staff to inspire the hearts and minds of their students to know Christ, to love learn- ing, and to use their talents to be the best persons they could be. “The person of Je- sus Christ, and his message of Good News is central to who we are and all that we do,” he said. The Interim Director of schools for Broken Bay, Dan- ny Casey, described the plan as a blueprint for excellence in all aspects of education. “We are committed to maintaining focus on our purpose of collaborating in the mission; to applying ev- idence-based practice in all our endeavours and to deliv- ering the vision as we strive to be at least as good as the very best,” he said. Broken Bay diocese pro- vides schooling for 17,000 stu- dents in 44 schools. The Diocese of Broken Bay stretches from the city’s north shore and northern beaches, to the central coast. Education is central to the mission in Broken Bay and you principals, school and CSO staff are among my closest collaborators ... The Church is not a build- ing, it’s a community” Bishop Anthony Randazzo