The Catholic Weekly 2 August 2020

catholicweekly.com.au 6 NEWS 2, August, 2020 IT WAS the string of missed phone calls from the Apos- tolic Nuncio that told Bishop Mark Edwards OMI a new ap- pointment was on the cards. “My phone was flat so I charged it and went to work in my office,” the former teacher said. “At noon I checked my messages and had missed calls from Archbishop Adolfo Tito Yllana at 9am and 10am and a text message at 11am. The Nuncio doesn’t ring very often so I had a fair idea. “I was absolutely shocked and delighted. The welcome and openness from the peo- ple in Wagga Wagga has been deeply moving.” Bishop Mark’s installation Mass took place on 22 July (see opposite page) with the Nuncio assisted by Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher OP and Apostolic Administra- tor Archbishop Christopher Prowse. A composed and con- sidered man, Bishop Mark said it was wrong that the diocese had been without a bishop for almost four years. “It’s been an enormously long Conventional labels don’t fit Wagga’s new Bishop. He’s interested in Heaven first ¾ ¾ Felicity de Fombelle Cricket, bridge and God what I have left of my life to being with the people.” Bishop Mark said he un- derstood there were challeng- es in the diocese and would approach the role with an open mind. “I’m not that enamoured with labels like conservative and progressive,” he said. “The right terms are faithful and unfaithful, loving and unlov- ing. The question is, are you prepared to grow? “My hope for the church and clergy is to build us as a faithful and flexible and mer- ciful body.” Born in Indonesia where his father Graham worked for the Shell oil company, Bish- op Mark attended primary schools in Adelaide and Dar- win before the family settled in Melbourne. High school was Mazenod College run by the Oblates of Mary Immac- ulate. “I was in Year 12 and filling out my university preferences and then I thought, what do I really want to do next year,” Bishop Mark explained. “I thought, this school has been wonderful and I’ve had great priests as teachers. It would be good for others to have that experience. “But that would mean someone has to join the Ob- lates. I didn’t think I’d be a great teacher but the congre- gation were just starting to send men to begin a mission in Indonesia where I was born. “I thought I could join the Oblates and be a missionary in Indonesia, but they then sent me to become a teacher!” Bishop Mark has also been a seminary rector and his ed- ucation and seminary expe- rience will stand him in good stead at Wagga with its 31 schools and Vianney College seminary. The enthusiastic bishop enjoys cricket (he played F-grade at university) and is a bridge fanatic. “I started bridge at uni and almost failed first year be- cause I was playing 20 to 30 hours a week,” Bishop Mark confessed. “I didn’t play for 25 years and since I’ve gone back I’m loving it. It’s good intellectual fun.” With permission. www.catholicvoice.org.au In brief Vocations dinners ARCHBISHOP ANTHO- NY Fisher OP will be host- ing a series of dinners at Cathedral House for men aged 18-35 to discuss top- ics of faith, youth and vo- cational discernment. The first dinner will com- mence on the evening of Tuesday 4 August. Regis- tration is free but essen- tial. RSVP vocations@ sydneycatholic.org or to 9307 8424. There is a strict quota on attendees and it is advisable to book ASAP. time and I thank the people of Wagga for their faithfulness and perseverance,” he said. “I’m very keen to go and look forward to dedicating Papal Nuncio Adolfo Tito Yllana displays Pope Francis’s decree of appointment of Bishop Edwards. PHOTO:WAGGA DIOCESE Bishop Edwards delivers a feisty talk at the Australian Catholic Youth Festival held in Sydney in 2017. PHOTO: GIOVANNI PORTELLI Cathedral to be same THE FRENCH Govern- ment has announced that Notre Dame Cathedral will be restored to its ex- act state before the 2019 fire which destroyed its roof and spire. A state- ment from the Élysée Pal- ace read “The President of the Republic became convinced of the need to restore Notre-Dame de Paris as closely as possible to its last complete state.” ‘Jesus!’ students tell Plenary CATHOLIC STUDENTS from The Australian Catholic Stu- dents Association (ACSA) have submitted an open let- ter signed by over 150 young Catholics to the upcoming Plenary Council voicing their hopes and concerns on the decisions to be made. “The Australian Catho- lic Students Association welcomes the Fifth Pleanry Council of Australia as an op- portunity leading to deeper communion and cooperation among Catholics at a national level,” wrote ACSA President Alexander Kennedy on behalf ¾ ¾ David Ryan of the national association. “We submit this open letter as our humble contribution for the ongoing discernment process.” The letter expressed the im- portance of young Catholics and their faith being ground- ed first and foremost in Christ. Also voiced in the letter were concerns over opinions regarding the role of clergy and the role of women raised in Plenary discussions. “Young people desire an authentic relationship with Christ; this will not be facili- tated by a committee,” wrote Mr Kennedy. “We believe true reform of the Church will not come from merely shifting resourc- es from one committee to an- other, but in the rediscovery of, conviction about, and love for the Catholic faith by every faithful Catholic. “We recommit ourselves to prayer to God, for the good of the members of the Plenary Council and for the partici- pants in its sessions.” In recent years ACSA has taken increasingly vocal and public positions on a range of matters affecting Catholic stu- dents and issued a number of letters to bodies such as 2018’s Synod on Youth on behalf of members. THE FEAST OF MARY MACKILLOP On the Feast Day of Mary MacKillop Saturday 8th August 2020, Mary MacKillop Place will be CLOSED. IMPORTANT NOTICE This decision has been made in the light of the outbreak of COVID-19 in Melbourne, the increasing number of cases in Sydney and the unpredictability of the spread of the virus, particularly where large groups gather in a confined space like the Chapel. With the usual number of pilgrims visiting on the Feast Day up to 5000, it is important that we act responsibly in the interests of community health and take every precaution to avoid any spread of the virus. PRAYER REFLECTIONS suitable for prayer at home will also be posted on the website for three days 6th, 7th and 8th August. The Chapel is open for private prayer only from 9am-1pm Monday to Friday. It remains closed on Saturday and Sunday until further notice. Mary MacKillop knew what it was like to face unknown and unpredictable times in her life. May she companion us as we live through this pandemic which is affecting all aspects of our family, work and community life. I thank you for your cooperation in accepting these unprecedented changes and leave you with Mary MacKillop’s words – God is good and has brought light and help when all was very dark. 1899 Sincerely yours Colleen Keeble rsj Director Mary MacKillop Place MASS IN THE MARY MACKILLOP MEMORIAL CHAPEL WILL BE LIVESTREAMED AT 10.00AM 8th AUGUST FOLLOWED BY A TIME OF PRAYER AT THE TOMB The details will be posted on the website marymackillopplace.org.au