catholicweekly.com.au 3 11, October, 2020 UNDA mourns a founding father Teen saint incorrupt Proposed school inspired by saint and Italy THE TOMB of Carlo Acutis, a 15-year-old Italian teenager who used his computer pro- gramming skills to spread de- votion to the Eucharist, was opened for veneration before his beatification in Assisi. A statement released by the Diocese of Assisi Oct. 1 said the tomb will remain open for veneration until Oct. 17. Acu- tis’ beatification Mass will be held Oct. 10 in the Basilica of St. Francis. The opening of the tomb was followed by a Mass pre- sided by Archbishop Domen- ico Sorrentino of Assisi. The diocesan statement quoted Antonia Salzano, Ac- tuis’ mother, as saying she was “overjoyed that Carlo’s tomb has finally been opened” and that those who have been touched by the young teen’s life “will be able to see him and venerate him in a strong- er and more engaging way.” “We hope that through the exposition of Carlo’s body, the A NEW independent bi-lin- gual K-12 College, proposed to be built in Sydney’s South West, has officially been named Emiliani Ital- ian College, in honour of Somascan founder Saint Je- rome Emiliani. The announcement was made by Marco Tes- ta, Chairman of the Board of Directors for Emiliani Italian College, via the col- lege’s Facebook Page and live-streamed on 3 October. MEDICAL ACADEMIC Pro- fessor Michael Quinlan AO, one of the founding fathers of the University of Notre Dame Australia, passed away in Perth last week, aged 82. Prof Quinlan passed away peacefully at his beloved St John of God Hospital in Subi- aco where he was a consultant for many years. Prof Quinlan’s contribu- tion to the initiation, estab- lishment and development of the University of Notre Dame Australia was profound. He served on its original Planning Board (commenc- ing in 1987), as an inaugural Trustee and Governor (1991), as Foundation Dean of the College of Health (1999), and the first Professor of Medicine in the first Medical School of its kind in Australia. Often referred to as a founding father and Trustee of the University, Prof Quin- lan was appointed Chancellor in 2008 until retiring from the role in 2011. He was remembered this week by colleagues and friends as a man of integrity, knowledge, skill and energy who had a sustained commit- ment to his profession and the advancement of health care generally. Fellow academics who worked with Quinlan said his guidance and counselling to hundreds of medical gradu- ates in Western Australia is legendary. He also supported medical and nursing students with annual scholarships over many years. The current Chancellor of the University, Chris Ellison said: “Michael as a former Chancellor of Notre Dame made an outstanding contri- bution to the University and particularly in setting up the Medical School. His service to medicine and the commu- nity in this State was signifi- cant and we will all miss him dearly.” Prof Quinlan held many placements at health organi- sations including a Fellowship of the Royal Australian Col- lege of Physicians; Director of the Medical Institute at St John of God Hospital, Subiaco as well as Chair of the Govern- ing Board of St John of God Health Care and Director of the inaugural board of the Sis- ¾ ¾ Junno Arocho Esteves The body of Carlo Acutis is pictured after his tomb was opened in Assisi on 1 October. PHOTO: CNS/COURTESY DIOCESE OF ASSISI-NOCERA UMBRA-GUALDO TADINO Bishop Domenico Sorrentino of Assisi-Nocera Umbra-Gualdo Tadi- no, Italy, is pictured in front of the tomb of Carlo Acutis. PHOTO: CNS faithful will be able to raise with more fervor and faith their prayers to God who, through Carlo, invites us all to have more faith, hope and love for himand for our broth- ers and sisters just as Carlo did in his earthly life,” she said. “We had the opportunity to consider various options for naming the college,” said Mr Testa. “The final choice fell on Emiliani, a personality linked to the Italian herit- age, to the world of Catholic education and to pedago- gy.” Highlighting the notable Italian figures and saints that have been educated at schools in Italy connected with the Somascan Fathers, Mr Testa spoke on the col- lege’s future relationship ters of Charity National Gov- erning Board and West Aus- tralian Director at the Child Health Research Foundation. In 2018 his work in medi- cine and clinical services over many years was recognised with an Order of Australia. While Dean of the College of Health, a pivotal role in the history of the University, Pro- fessor Quinlan wrote; “With the establishment of the University, a deliberate de- cision to make the core sub- jects of Philosophy, Theology and Ethics mandatory for all courses was taken. “We want all our students to develop their leadership talents to graduate, not just with knowledge, but also with informed intellects, in- formed minds and informed consciences – education in the true sense of that word. The potential to influence the community at large is without boundaries or limitations.” Long-time friend and Vice Chancellor Emeritus, Dr Peter Tannock recalled Prof Quin- lan as a devoted husband to Carole Waddell whom he married in 1965 and a loving father to five children. “Michael was extraordi- nary in so many ways,” Prof Tannock said. “He had such a great com- mitment to Notre Dame, its health care, nursing, physio- therapy ,health sciences and of course medicine. “Everyone who knew him saw him as an inspiration- al leader, a person of great quality, a beautiful and good man. He will be a great loss to many.” Photos of the remains of the soon-to-be-beatified teen re- vealed he was buried in jeans and a simple track suit jacket -- the attire he was accus- tomed to wearing and what is seen in many of the photos taken of him during his life. Before his death from leukemia in 2006, Acutis was an average teen with an above-average knack for com- puters. He put that knowledge to use by creating an online database of eucharistic mira- cles around the world. In his exhortation on young people, “Christus Vivit” (“Christ Lives”), Pope Francis said Acutis was a role model for young people today who are often tempted by the traps of “self-absorption, isolation and empty pleasure.” “Carlo was well-aware that the whole apparatus of com- munications, advertising and social networking can be used to lull us, to make us addicted to consumerism and buying the latest thing on the market, obsessed with our free time, caught up in negativity,” the pope wrote. “Yet he knew how to use the new communications technology to transmit the Gospel, to communicate val- ues and beauty,” he said. - CNS Michael as a former Chan- cellor of Notre Dame made an outstanding contribution to the University and particu- larly in setting up the Medical School. His service to ... this State was significant and we will all miss him dearly.” Hon Chris Ellison under the order’s charism. “The Somascans have recently settled in Sydney and we hope to develop with them a greater synergy based on the knowledge of the charism of the religious order, whose educational drive is synonymous with excellence and things Ital- ian,” said Mr Testa. “The charisma of the So- mascan Fathers will there- fore provide the students at Emiliani Italian College with a Catholic and his- torically Italian mission, unique in its nature, which we will come to know as the Somascan Tradition.” The new Independent College will have a Catho- lic focus that embraces the Italian language and in par- ticular its rich culture and heritage with an emphasis on providing a communal focus and portal to aspects of the greater community. For more information, contact the college at ital-
[email protected] or via the Emiliani Italian College Facebook Page. ¾ ¾ Mathew De Sousa Medicine professor played a pivot- al role in establishing and guiding young Catholic university NEWS