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Emmanuel CentreA SELF HELP CENTREFor People with Disabilities25 Windsor St Perth WA 6000Tel: (08) 9328 8113 (Voice)/(08) 9328 9571 (TTY)/
0421 036 581 (SMS)/Email: [email protected]
Website: www.emmanuelcentre.com.auFacebook https://www.facebook.com/CADHOPWA
EMMANUEL NEWS – JULY 2020 (Check before coming, could be changed. Look inside for more info.)
MONDAY TUESDAY WED THU FRI SATURDAY SUN20 Jul
9 -10.30am: Mosaic11-12.30pm: Cooking/ Spinning/
gardening1-2pm: Dancing/ Boardgames
21 Jul9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)Topic: Shades11am-12.30: Cooking/ Gardening1-2pm: Outdoor games
22 Jul 23 Jul 24 Jul 25 Jul6.30pm: Mass at St Denis Church (Interpreter & Power Point)
26 Jul
27 Jul9 -10.30am: Worry Dolls11-12.30pm: Cooking/ Spinning/
gardening1-2pm: Languages/ Boardgames
28 Jul9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)Topic: Shades11am-12.30: Cooking/ Gardening1-2pm: Languages/ Boardgames
29 Jul 30Jul 31 Jul 1 Aug6.30pm: Mass at St Denis Church (Interpreter & Power Point)
2 Aug
3 Aug9 -10.30am: Straw Weaving11-12.30pm: Cooking/ Spinning/
gardening1-2pm: Dancing/ Colouring
4 Aug9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)Topic: Eyes11am-12.30: Cooking/ Gardening1-2pm: Outdoor games
5 Aug 6 Aug 7 Aug 8 Aug6.30pm: Mass at St Denis Church (Interpreter & Power Point)
9 Aug
10 Aug9 -10.30am: Emmanuel tiles 11-12.30pm: Cooking/ Spinning/
gardening1-2pm: Dancing/ Boardgames
11 Aug9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff) Topic: Nose11am-12.30: Cooking/ Gardening1-2pm: Scrapbooking
12 Aug 13 Aug 14 Aug 15 Aug6.30pm: Mass at St Denis Church (Interpreter & Power Point)
16 Aug
17 Aug9 – 10.30am: Button Bowl11-12.30pm: Cooking/ Spinning/ Gardening1-2pm: Outdoor games
18 Aug9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)Topic: Ears11am-12.30: Cooking/ Gardening1-2pm: Colouring/ Boardgames
19 Aug 20 Aug 21 Aug 22 Aug6.30pm: Mass at St Denis Church (Interpreter & Power Point)
23 Aug
24 Aug9 -10.30am: Bumble Bee’s 11-12.30pm: Cooking/ Spinning/
gardening1-2pm: Colouring/ Dancing
25 Aug9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)Topic: Mouth11am-12.30: Cooking/ Gardening1-2pm: Dancing/ Colouring
26 Aug 27 Aug 28 Aug 29 Aug6.30pm: Mass at St Denis Church (Interpreter & Power Point)
30 Aug
31 Aug9 -10.30am: Placemats11-12.30pm: Cooking/ Spinning/
gardening1-2pm: Languages/ Outdoor games
1 Sep9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)Topic: Face11am-12.30: Cooking/ Gardening1-2pm: Languages/ Outdoor games
2 Sep 3 Sep 4 Sep 5 Sep6.30pm: Mass at St Denis Church (Interpreter & Power Point)
6 Sep
7 Sep9 -10.30am: Rope Rug11-12.30pm: Cooking/ Spinning/
gardening1-2pm: Colouring/ Boardgames
8 Sep9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)Topic: Feet/ Shoes11am-12.30: Cooking/ Gardening1-2pm: Scrapbooking
9 Sep 10 Sep 11 Sep 12 Sep6.30pm: Mass at St Denis Church (Interpreter & Power Point)
13 Sep
14 Sep9 -10.30am: Butterflies/ Parrots11-12.30pm: Cooking/ Spinning/
gardening1-2pm: Boardgames/ Colouring
15 Sep9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)Topic: Birds11am-12.30: Cooking/ Gardening1-2pm: Outdoor games
16 Sep 17 Sep 18 Sep 19 Sep6.30pm: Mass at St Denis Church (Interpreter & Power Point)
20 Sep
21 Sep9 -10.30am: Tie Dye11-12.30pm: Cooking/ Spinning/
gardening1-2pm: Dancing/ Colouring
22 Sep9.30-10.30am: Painting (Geoff)Topic: Trees11am-12.30: Cooking/ Gardening1-2pm: Outdoor games
23 Sep 24 Sep 25 Sep 26 Sep6.30pm: Mass at St Denis Church (Interpreter & Power Point)
27 Sep
NO PROGRAMS DURING THE TERM HOLIDAY. ACTIVITIES WILL START AGAIN ON MONDAY 12TH OCTOBER 2020
DID YOU KNOW THAT EMMANUEL CENTRE RECYCLES NEWSPAPERS AND CANS?
PLEASE DROP THEM OFF ON THE VERANDAH ANYTIME AND HELP US KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN
Recently I was asked by some of my friends who are deaf "Did God create the corona virus? Did God make the virus spread all over the world? Is the virus a punishment from God?"It is easy to focus on an intellectual level on the corona virus in the world, but these questions made me think more deeply and widely about not only my personal experience of the effect of the corona virus but the impact on the world and people's lives.I first head the words "corona virus" in February. My husband was overseas. Friends of mine were in Germany. Would they be able to return to Australia and under what conditions? There was a scramble for earlier flights. Media reports were prolific. "Scientists strongly condemn rumours and conspiracy theories about origins of corona outbreaks.". The sheer horror of the fast-moving infection is joined to the almost physical shock from its sudden onset. Rising death tolls, rows of coffins. It was like a horror movie, but I could turn off the horror movie if it is too disturbing!
Australian borders were closed to all non-residents on March 20th. Social distancing were imposed on 21st March and State Governments started to close non-essential services. This included Churches. Planned events and programs at Emmanuel Centre were cancelled including the blessing of the garden of Remembrance and the placing of Fr Paul ashes. Personally, I realised that my own plans and Emmanuel Centre plans were not within my control. How would this affect me? As Government and Church restrictions went through various phases I have realised that I can reflect on what I can learn about myself, how I can listen and be silent.
What I can learn from God’s gift of time for reflection, even if I can’t answer the questions that I was asked by my deaf friends.I mention previously that I felt I needed to be silent and listen. With so many thoughts running through my mind this took some time for me to adjust too. I needed to recognise that in all things I need to let go and hand the control to God’s timing to put me in this space. Waiting,
waiting, waiting……………..I found myself going back to my roots. “God can do anything! God is all powerful! Yes, For God, nothing is impossible. God is the creator of all! How God uses power is a mystery. “My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways (Isiah 55:8). I thought of Jesus, (God made visible in the world) hanging on the cross totally venerable! That was not what I thought was power, or was it?An old priest once challenged in my early twenties all my faith when he said “Listen! God does not make mistakes!”I then thought about my connections over many years with Emmanuel Centre. The word Emmanuel means “God is with us” and I could write a book or two about how many times God has been walked with us in our ups and downs.
Emmanuel has three statements which we refer to constantly and try to live in our lives. We are all made in the image and likeness of God
We are all part of the Body of Christ We are all on a journey home, walking with each other and with Jesus
I have not been able to gather physically as church. Is God perhaps helping me to appreciate the vital importance of the church community?Is God helping me to look at my self-dependency and helping me to question if I live by faith and prayer?Is self-isolation a time to reflect on vulnerability? Whose needs do I put first, my own or others?How much time do I give to thinking about the people who live next door to me at home?Have I a true sense of what matters in life or are my thoughts on consumerism?Is God asking to evaluate who my heroes are? When I meet people at Emmanuel Centre, do I admire those I feel comfortable with or people who challenge me?Do I fear death and the frailty of life? Do I appreciate the assurance of the hope of resurrection?As I begin to understand that the lockdown is going to last longer than I first imagined, God is perhaps training me in patience and long suffering?Have I thought about the impact that the virus will have on my brothers and sister in the world who struggle for food, who live with wars, droughts? Perhaps God is training me to regain my passion for world mission and to care for my brothers and sisters around the world. The list and thoughts continue as we go to press. ……..
From the Archdiocese of Perth: Phase 4 of Western
Australia’s COVID 19 Roadmap
On Saturday, 27 June 2020, Western Australia went into Phase 4 of the COVID-19 roadmap. Under Phase 4, the restrictions are relaxed a bit more. What does it mean for our churches? Following are some of the rules for Phase 4:
Churches (and chapels) are allowed to open. The number of people that can enter is based on at least 2 square metres of floor space per person.
Clear guidelines must be available to direct people on how to enter and exit the church.
Hand sanitizers must be available at each entrance. Churches are no longer required to keep an
attendance register. Holy Water fonts/stoups in all churches and chapels
remain empty. Each person must keep 1.5 metres distance from
persons of other households. Seats must be marked to help maintain this distance.
Pews, seats, seatbacks, top rails, kneelers, doors, door knobs, microphones, sacristies, toilets/bathrooms and all other communal areas are to be cleaned, wiped down and sanitised regularly.
Parish newsletters or bulletins should not be re-used, they must be taken home or thrown out after use.
Hymnals or shared copies of texts are not to be used. Persons who feel unwell, who have flu symptoms,
or who have been in contact in the previous fourteen (14) days with persons suspected to have, or who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, are not permitted to enter churches or chapels.
Masses: Parish Priests must decide whether to conduct public
Masses. It may be necessary to revise weekday and weekend Mass timetables.
The faithful continue to be dispensed from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass. Parishes are encouraged to continue live streaming Masses.
We are very strongly encouraged to receive the Holy Communion in the hand, not on the tongue.
Offertory processions and Gospel processions are not allowed. Offertory gifts are to be in closed or covered vessels.
The Sign of Peace is to given without physical contact.
Collections are not to be taken up during the Mass. Churches and chapels can install boxes or containers for offerings at the entrance or somewhere in the church.
All priests and Ministers of Holy Communion must wash their hands in soap and water or use hand sanitiser immediately before and after the distribution of Holy Communion.
A distance of 1.5 metres between people in the Communion Procession is to be observed. Ushers may help the movement of people at the time
Communion is distributed. The Precious Blood is not to be shared with the
parishioners and is drunk by the celebrant(s) only. The pulpit, lectern, credence table, ministers’ seats
and anything handled by multiple people is to be wiped down and sanitised regularly.
Celebration of the Sacraments of the Church First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion:
Preparations for, and the celebration of, First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion (school-aged children) may continue.
Confirmation: Confirmation (school-aged children) is still suspended, except for those in danger of death. This will be reviewed again before Phase 5 of the Western Australian COVID-19 roadmap which is scheduled for Saturday, 18 July 2020.
RCIA: Parishes may choose to celebrate the Rite of Initiation with RCIA Elect and candidates. Please contact Dr Carmel Suart, Director of the Office of Christian Initiation, on 6104 3696 or [email protected] for any questions about RCIA.
Baptism: Baptism is allowed. Fresh baptismal water must be used for each candidate. Full immersion baptism is not allowed unless the water in the baptismal pool is drained between candidates. The baptismal pool must also be cleaned and disinfected after each full immersion.
For the anointing with Chrism at RCIA or Baptism, the celebrant should use cotton balls with a separate one for each candidate. These cotton balls must be thrown out after the celebration.
Confessions: The Sacrament of Reconciliation, according to the First Rite is allowed in a well-ventilated space and with social distancing. The Sacrament can be celebrated in the sanctuary but provision for anonymity should be made.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick: Priests will respond to requests to anoint people, and will continue to celebrate the sacrament on an individual basis, with strict compliance with restrictions in place within nursing homes, aged-care facilities and hospitals.
Weddings and Funerals: Churches and chapels are permitted to celebrate weddings and funerals. There should be two (2) square metres of floor space per person excluding the people required to conduct the service.
To read the full directive from the Archdiocese of Perth, go to http://perthcatholic.org.au/Our_Archdiocese-Archbishop-Latest_News-2020-COVID19_Update_Directives_for_Churches_and_Chapels_Ref_20208.htm
Discerning God’s plan for each of us(Written by Clara Geoghegan, Co-Director of the Catherine of Siena Institute/.
If you would like to receive Emmanuel Centre’s Newsletter; give us your name and address and in what format you want it: *Mail, *Email, *Braille, *Large Print, *Audio, Auslan, Simple English. Email: [email protected] Website: www.emmanuelcentre.com.auSMS: 0401 016 399 VOICE: 08 9328 8113 TTY: 08 9328 9571
Published:on CathNews.com on 26 June 2020)
Every baptised Christian has a vocation. There is therefore no shortage of vocations in this sense, but there is a need for discernment of one’s particular vocation. God has a plan for our life, and in calling us to a particular vocation God provides the gifts to help us fulfil that call.There are a number of ways in which we can discern how we are called and gifted by God for a particular mission in the world. Prayer is central to this, and the closer we are to God, the clearer will be our sense of mission and our ability to identify the clues through which we can discover the plan for our lives.One of the key things we can do is discern our spiritual gifts or ‘charisms’. By discerning our charisms we can seek out situations where God calls us to stand – in his presence – and serve him by being a channel of God’s love to others.
The word ‘charism’ means ‘gift’ and comes from the Greek ‘charis’. Charisms refer to the gifts of the Holy Spirit which have been with the Church since apostolic times. St Paul teaches that all Christians receive charisms at Baptism. St Thomas Aquinas also teaches that each baptised Christian is given at least one gift. Some Christians receive more spectacular gifts such as healing or prophecy, but most of us receive less spectacular gifts such as teaching, mercy, administration or service, amongst many others. Most Christians exercise their charisms in quiet, inconspicuous, but marvellous ways. Discipleship and the exercise of charisms are normative for Christians.A charism is a supernatural gift and it has supernatural effects. Charisms are supernaturally empowered ways in which God’s mercy, love, healing, truth, beauty and provision will reach others through us. Charisms, unlike skills or talents, can never be kept to ourselves or used deliberately for evil.The best way of illustrating this is to look at the lives of the saints. We do not have to look too far back in history if we use the example of St Teresa of Calcutta. Most Christians are moved to compassion by the sight of a starving child or an emaciated old person, and they might make a donation to one or other worthy cause. But Mother Teresa’s gift of mercy was extraordinary in every way. She was able to reach out to the whole world with her example and to millions both personally and through the work of the Missionaries of Charity. She was able to identify that gift and allow the Holy Spirit to work through offering her life in its service.Closer to home, Caroline Chisholm rescued thousands of young women from the streets of Sydney and found them meaningful work across the early colonies. She assisted in the settlement of thousands of poor families from England to a better life in Australia. She was married and the mother of nine children – six of whom attained adulthood. Her charism of wisdom enabled her to find solutions to contemporary social problems. In explaining her vocation she wrote: “I was impressed with the idea that God had, in a peculiar manner, fitted me for this work ... On Easter Sunday I was able to make an offering of my gifts to the God who gave them ... I felt my offering was accepted and God’s blessing was on my work.” Caroline had, through prayer and fasting during Lent, arrived at the idea that God had ‘called’ and ‘gifted’ her for the task at hand.Charisms grow as our relationship with Jesus grows. Further evidence of the supernatural nature of charisms is that they always manifest after the point in our life where our faith becomes more personal, or they manifest for the first time when we meet a person or situation where a particular gift is needed. Or, to quote Sherry Weddell, the author of the Called and Gifted Workshop: “Charisms tend to show up at the mysterious intersection where the Church and the world cry out to God in need, and a disciple takes up his or her call to follow Jesus.”The Called and Gifted Workshop is one tool for spiritual gift discernment. The Workshop helps people identify patterns in their lives that may indicate a charism, and the process for discernment.There is a saying attributed to Catherine of Siena: “If you become who God intends you to be, you will set the world on fire.” In many ways this is a good standard for measuring the effectiveness of our discernment. In the Called and Gifted Workshop there are three criteria. The first is subjective: how does it feel? There is a sense in exercising our charisms that “we were made for this”. Our actions flow easily and we are often surprised by the results. The other criteria are objective. Does the charism achieve what it is meant to achieve? And, is it recognised by others?As baptised Christians, we are called to actively participate in the Church’s mission to the world. It is the laity who are entrusted with applying the faith in the world by healing and transforming its people, culture and structures with the Gospel so that it fosters all that is truly human, and thereby fulfil God’s plan. A difficult undertaking. But through fidelity to Christ and his Church, the power of the Holy Spirit and exercising our charisms, it is achievable. It is a fulfilment of Pope Francis’ call to be missionary disciples.
SAVE THE DATE!
Emmanuel Centre’s Christmas party this year is planned to be on Tuesday, 15th December 2020, 11am to 2pm.
Mass. Celebrated with Monsignor Kevin Long with Christmas Carols 11am–12pm
Bring a plate of food to Share 25 Windsor Street, Perth WA 6000
Mark your diary We’ll have Mass, shared lunch, and free gifts!
.
*What it means where it says Spinning in the calendar activities at Emmanuel Centre*
On the Monday of the program Judith comes in to spend some time with the members getting them involved in learning how to spin wool into yarn. This is a very calming exercise which the members love participating in and also seeing what their efforts are created into when Judith uses the yarn.
*What it means where it says Scrapbooking in the calendar activities at Emmanuel Centre*
Once a month we spend the Tuesday afternoon scrapbooking. Every week we take photos of all the activities we do, and of any celebrations that occur and we scrapbook them in to our own books to create memories of the time we spend here.
*What it means where it says Gardening and Cooking in the calendar activities at Emmanuel Centre*
Members of the program have the opportunity to help with sowing seeds/seedlings and tending to the growth of an assortment of vegetables and herbs in our
wonderful new Garden Pods. We then watch and tend to them as the weeks pass until we can harvest what we have grown.
We then collectively work together to create a healthy shared meal for the day.
KEVIN AND PHIL MASLEN ARE THE BRAINS BEHIND THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ‘RED SHED RELOCATION
HERE THEY ARE WORKING WITH GEOFFREY SCOTT IN ORGANISING BENCHES AND SORTING TOOLS
EMMANUEL MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID COURSES
MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING<by Rachel Felix>
One useful definition of Mental Health is that - Mental Health is the emotional and spiritual resilience, which enable us to enjoy life and survive pain, disappointment and sadness. It is a positive sense of well-being and an underlying belief in our own worth, and the dignity and worth of others.Like physical health, all of us need to take our mental well-being seriously and take steps to protect it, whether or not we currently have a mental health problem. Mental health is not simply a characteristic of individuals. Whole neighbourhoods, organisation such as schools or workplaces or specific groups of people, for example asylum seekers, may have low levels of mental health. There are links between poor mental health and poverty, deprivation, exclusion, isolation or low status. Poverty and social exclusion are both a cause as well as a result of mental health problems.There are individual and family risk factors for poor mental health, as well as life
events and community and cultural factors that increase risk.Good Mental Health can be encouraged by reducing risk factors or intervening at points of greater risk. The Key factors for good mental health includeIndividual factors – problem-solving skills, good coping skills, optimism, moral beliefs, values, social competence, feeling respected, valued and supported, having a sense of hopefulness about the future.Family-social factors – good parenting, secure stable family, strong family norms and morality, supportive relationship with another adult.Life events and situations – good physical health, positive school experiences, financial securityCommunity & cultural factors – strong community networks, participation in church or other community group, strong cultural identity and pride, access to support services, sense of belonging.Individuals with positive mental health show a number of characteristics:
Feeling of some control over their life An ability to learn, grow and develop Feeling loved, trusted, understood, valued Having an interest in life Autonomy (independence) Self-acceptance and self-esteem Optimism and hopefulness Resilience
Religious and spiritual beliefs play an important role in the lives of people with experience of mental and emotional distress and religious involvement is increasingly associated with positive mental health outcomes.In general about 25% of women and 12% of men suffer major depressive disorder during their lifetime. But people with a spiritual or religious affiliation are up to 40% less likely to get depressed than people who do not have such affiliation.
Emmanuel Centre hopes to offer scholarships for people who are from Parishes and who are interested in supporting Parish Priests to improve their understanding of Mental Health First Aid. People in Parishes must be nominated by their Parish Priest. Parish Priests can also nominate themselves for the course. S successful applicants must attend the two days of the course dates which are listed. If you are interested, please contact Barbara Harris at Emmanuel on 9328 8113 for information and application forms. The Courses will be run in accordance with Government regulations regarding Covid 19 restrictions in number etc. Places are limited so please make contact early.
The Mental Health First Aid Course teaches participants how to provide initial support to adults who are developing or experiencing a mental Health crisis until they can connect with professionals. The course covers the signs and symptom of common health problems such as depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, alcohol and drug dependency and other mental health conditions.
NEW DIRECTORY FOR CATECHESIS RELEASED<By Vatican News>
The long-awaited updated Directory for Catechesis released in the Vatican was approved by Pope Francis on 23 March - This comes as a follow-up to the “General Catechetical Directory” of 1971, and the “General Directory for Catechesis” of 1997 both of which were issued by the Congregation for Clergy.The new Directory underlines that every baptized person is a missionary called to
find new ways of communicating the faith with commitment and responsibility..
The first part of the book, emphasis the training of catechists. It points out that in order to be witnesses of the faith, catechists must be “catechized before being catechists.” The catechist needs to have faith and try to live his/her faith with actions.The second part of the Directory “The process of catechesis” – talks about encouraging the use of art, beauty as a way of connecting with God, and sacred music as a way of connecting with love for God in the heart of people.The role of the family is very important so we can live the faith in a simple and spontaneous way. It is also where people can receive Christian education. In a family, Christians are called to listen and understand in order to restore hope and trust to all.The Directory highlights the importance of “welcoming and recognizing” the differently abled. They are witnesses to the truths of human life and are to be welcomed as a great gift. Their families also are deserving of “respect ”.Catechesis should focus on acceptance, trust and working with migrants, who, far from their homeland, may experience a crisis of faith. Migrants are to be supported against prejudices and the serious dangers they may face. The Directory calls for attention to be given to people in prisons. It proposes that for prisoners, catechesis should be the proclamation of salvation in Christ, as well as caring listening which shows the maternal face of the Church.As regards the poor, catechesis should educate people about evangelical poverty. It should also promote and foster indignation among the faithful against situations of misery and injustice suffered by the poor.
The third part, Parishes, are highlighted as “examples of community” which should provide creative catechesis adapted to people’s lived experience. Other Church associations are also recognized as having “a great evangelizing capacity” that adds to the “Church's richness”.Regarding Catholic schools, it proposes a movement from being "scholastic-institutions" to becoming "scholastic-communities" of faith with an educational project based on Gospel values. It also notes that teaching religion is distinct from, but complementary to, catechism. Stressing that “the religious factor is an existential dimension that should not be overlooked,” the Directory affirms that “it is the right of parents and students” to receive an integral formation that takes the teaching of religion into account.Ecumenism and interreligious dialogue with Judaism and Islam is a special area for catechesis. It must “encourage the desire for unity” in order for it to be a true instrument of evangelization. Dialogue must do away with anti-Semitism, and promote peace and justice with Judaism. At the same time, it urges the faithful to avoid superficial generalizations in order to foster dialogue with Islam.In our contemporary context of religious pluralism, the Directory calls for catechesis that can “deepen and strengthen the identity of believers”, promoting their missionary impetus through witnessing as well as “friendly and cordial” dialogue..
The Directory reaffirms that science and technology are at the service of the person and should be directed towards improving the living conditions of humanity. It proposes that catechesis should be directed towards educating people in the proper use of the digital culture, which has both good and bad elements. Catechesis should also focus on helping young people distinguish truth and quality amid the “culture of the instantaneous.”Other themes highlighted by the Directory include the call to a “profound ecological conversion”. Catechesis promotes this conversion through attention to the safeguarding of creation and the avoidance of consumerism.It also highlights that catechesis is to inspire labour according to the Social Doctrine of the Church with special attention to the defense of the rights of the weakest. In addition, it encourages the development of catechetical material produced on the local level and organization at the service of catechesis including the Synod of Bishops and Episcopal Conferences.
The document is written in language that is academic. If you would like an easy read copy please contact Emmanuel Centre 9328 8113 or [email protected]
STORIES FROM FORMER SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER SCHOOL STUDENTSHi, my name is Patrick Troy and I turned 80 years old in May 2020. I was born in Darwin but it was bombed out during the 2nd world war. My great grandfather owned a house on Chapman Street, East Perth; so we moved there.I arrived towards the end of the war, maybe the year 1944 or 1945, I was about 4 years old then. I remember I could hear children playing two streets away on Windsor Street. We found out that they were children from a school. The Nuns came out of the school and invited me and my sister Janet, who’s 18 months younger than me, to join their school, so we did.There were three rooms. The little kids were in the room we call ‘the hall’ now. The blackboard was in the same place it is now. The room we now call the ‘resource area’ were divided into two rooms then: the middle room that was used for dancing, and the big kids classroom with the door at the end of the veranda. The little kitchen off the hall was the Nuns’ room. We never went in there; we just know the Nuns were in there. There were two toilet blocks; one for boys [where the garage is now] and one for the girls [where the sheds are now].I started school on one side of the little kids classroom at 5 years old, then after a year or so moved up to the other side of the classroom. After that, I moved to the big kids classroom on one side (near the windows) and at the end of my school time here, I moved up to the other side of that classroom and I remember I used to sit near the door, looking out across the veranda and daydreamed.The middle room as I mentioned was a dancing room. There was a big circle on the polished wooden floor where we did our dancing. The Nuns were into music so we had a piano and a violin too. A girl named June Ann Jackson and I learnt the piano,
and a boy named John Miller learnt the violin at school. June and I took turns playing the piano when it’s time for the kids to march into class. The kids had to line up and when we’re ready the Nun would call out ‘Forward!’ and the kids would march into the classroom accompanied by the piano music.There were snippets of memories that came to me when I visited Emmanuel Centre recently. One of them is that there used to be a recess in the wall in front of the Nuns’ room and that’s for the bakery to put the bread they delivered. Another memory is about how we used to play rounders(similar to baseball) in the school yard [current parking area]. I’ll mention one last memory about Christmas time: we had to clean all the windows and we’d have cordial for our Christmas party. There was no fridge or airconditioning, so the drinks was not cold.I moved away from Perth for some time and lived in Sydney and Melbourne; but now I am back living in the same house on Chapman Street! I visited Emmanuel Centre with my sister before and today I am visiting with my friend. It’s so good to be able to visit my old school for the memories.On the left photo, I indicated how tall this tree was 75 years ago! On the right photo is the Church door where I used to line up with the other altar boys.
Another visitor shares his memories of his old school days when he visited the Emmanuel Centre
One Thursday In June, we had an unexpected visitor knock at our door. He said his name was Michael. He told us that he went to school 60 odd years ago in the building which is now the Emmanuel Centre. Emmanuel Centre was a Parish school of St Xavier Church which is located next door.
He was in the 1st or 2nd grade at the time. He was reminiscing about the good old days. One story came to mind about a nun who was canning students from a higher grade for bad behaviour. Michael was in the queue for a canning too. He saw the tears in the eyes of the older kids and decided that he had to save his skin. So he pretended to hold the palm of his hand as if in severe pain and walk back to his desk. Michael was asked if he could write an article for our newsletter and said he was happy to do that. So stay posted. We are hoping to publish Michael’s article in our next newsletter.
THE CENSUS IN 2121 WILL HAVE A DIRECT QUESTION ADDED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIA THAT USE AUSLAN
GOSPEL REFLECTIONS
EMMANUEL COMMUNITY LIVING HOUSE RISES FROM THE RUINS
Builders, Bianchini Brothers and workers under the watchful eyes of Architect Tim Lanigan have achieved, despite the restrictions in supplies, social distancing and corona virus rules have made remarkable progress in constructing the newEmmanuel Community Living House on 27 Windsor St next door to Emmanuel Centre. Rising from the rubble left from the demolition of the old house is a six bedroom house, each has their own facilities which is the envy of passers by and neighbours in the street.
THE HOUSE IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED BY CHRISTMAS
When the Government ordered that all Church services must close during the Covid-19 pandemic, we at Emmanuel Centre have been putting each week on our facebook,
page thoughts about the readings that are used at church.
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CADHOPWA
WE HAVE PUT SOME HERE THAT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO SEE, IF THEY ARE HELPFUL FOR YOU. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THEM SENT TO YOU, EACH WEEK PLEASE LET US KNOW BY EMAIL emmanuelcentre@westnet,com.au or
by SMS 0421 036 581
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A) Matthew 13:24-4319th July 2020
Jesus tells us three stories about the Kingdom of Heaven.In the first story Jesus talks about us a man who plants wheat in his field. But his enemy comes along and plants weeds in the field
too. The weed looks like wheat.
In the second story, Jesus saysthat the Kingdom of Heavenis like a mustard seed. The mustard seed is very very small but it grows to be a big tree. When the tree grows big, birds can rest in its branches.
In the third story, Jesus says the Kingdom of Heaven is like the yeast. A woman can mix the yeast with flour to make bread.
Thinking about the Gospel this week:o Why do you think Jesus tells stories
and not just tell us what to do?o Try and write your own story about
the Kingdom of Heaven.o Who explains things to you when
you don’t understand? Do they ever tell you stories to help you learn?
o When we understand Jesus’ stories, we can try to live as Jesus asks us to. We are asked to use the gifts and talents that God gave us and to help other people. We are asked to be kind and loving. It means sharing what we have.
