Franciscan Friars - General

• Sebastian Camilleri, a friar of the Malta Province, returned to Malta on 30 March after five decades in Australia. He came to Adelaide in 1949 as a chaplain to Maltese migrants and, at various times, was assistant pastor at Lockleys parish.  He also worked in Toronto, Canada, 1964-1970. He served in parishes of the Port Pirie diocese for twenty years. In the decade prior to returning to Malta, he had been chaplain to retirement homes in Adelaide and Melbourne.

• Peter Clifford and Barry Kirby have recently completed the Franciscan Challenge Program, held annually in Rome and Assisi. Peter continues with his jubilee holiday overseas and Barry has returned to Star of the Sea friary, Sydney.

• Leo Curran has recently completed a parish supply at Collie WA and has moved to the friary in Maylands, Perth. Leo was pastor at Collie from 1993 until the friars withdrew at the end of 2000. However, the bishop asked Leo to return to Collie “for a year” in 2004, following the departure of the diocesan pastor. The “year” was extended by several months until the arrival of the present pastor.

• Christopher Gardiner will accompany a Harvest Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with former friar, Joachim Hamilton, 18 September to 1 October.

• Garry Hill was formally received back into membership of Holy Spirit Province in April. Garry went to the Papua New Guinea mission in 1968, initially as a motor mechanic. In the early 1970s, he changed directions, trained in medical work (Health Extension Officer) and became highly respected for his work in this field. At present, he is at Star of the Sea friary, Waverley, helping to oversee the renovations of the friary.

• John Keane spent three weeks in hospital for an operation on his knee and for physio-therapy. John appears to be moving more sprightly with the new knee, and continues his stirling work in the Provincial Archives.

• Vicente Kunrath, Guardian of the friary in Dili, East Timor, will visit Australia, 11-18 August. Vicente has been invited to visit and spend time at the novitiate with Leonel Araujo, a novice from East Timor who is making his novitiate in Australia at “Maryfields”, Campbelltown.

• Campion Murray was honoured by many academic colleagues, staff, current and former students at YTU on 3 June with a festschrift (“a publication produced by colleagues which serve as a tribute to a scholar”). Over 200 people attended the event which was held in the large chapel at St Paschal friary, Box Hill. A smaller gathering for Sydney friars, religious, family and friends was held on 10 July at the Provincial Office, Waverley. The collection of articles, compiled as a tribute to Campion and his teaching career spanning over fifty years, is titled Wisdom for Life. Published by ATF Press (PO Box 504, Hindmarsh 5007), the book is available for $30.

• Arul Sagayaraj Mariadass from Singapore has completed one year of studies in Islamology in Egypt and has returned to Singapore.

• Paul Rout, an Australian friar currently teaching in London, telephoned his mother in Brisbane immediately after the terrorist bombings in London (7 July) to say that he was safe and not in the vicinity at the time. The affected underground rail lines and stations are close to Heythrop College where Paul lectures.

Hope for the Future

In May, the Provincial and Regional Vocation Directors from Australia and New Zealand, together with Friar Mario Debattista, the Secretary for Formation and Studies, gathered in Sydney for a meeting and took some time to consider how best to carry forward their ministries. 

One day of the meeting was given to a presentation from Sr Mary Ryan RSJ, the Executive Director of Catholic Vocations Ministry Australia.  One of the principal activities was a consideration together of the recent document of the Order on the Pastoral Care of Vocations and a look at the psycho-social profiles of the upcoming “millennial” generation to see how we might best address their yearnings.

Friar Matthew Beckmann, Provincial Vocation Director, said: “Comparatively speaking, we are one of the more ‘successful’ male orders!  We are heartened by the continuing interest that young people have in the person of Francis and in the work of the friars and have a hope that this meeting helped us to target more effectively our work in accompanying new vocations into our way of life.”

St Vincent de Paul Society is Grateful for Franciscan Help

The St Vincent de Paul Society’s Drug and Alcohol Day Recovery Program ceased operations at Maryfields, Campbelltown, on 30 June. The Society has found other suitable premises in Queen Street, Campbelltown.

The St Vincent de Paul Society which has operated on the property for fifteen years expressed its gratitude to the Order for having the facility available to them at little or no cost.

“We are indebted to the Franciscans for their generosity, and for making us feel welcome in their former home. We always felt close to the spirit of St Francis of Assisi while we shared the Maryfields property. The new premises have the advantage of being more accessible by public transport for the clients, but the staff and clients will miss the rural atmosphere and tranquility of Maryfields. Your assistance has enabled a vital program to develop and continue. You have helped make a difference to many people’s lives.”

Centacare, which also had offices in the building for some years, moved out two years ago to new premises in downtown Campbelltown.

“A Beautiful Story To Be Told”

Friar Joachim O’Brien, emeritus spiritual director of the Legion of Mary Senatus, Melbourne, has written a history of the Legion of Mary in the Oceania region, 1932-2005, with the above title. Joachim sorted and researched the archives of the Legion headquarters over several years and learnt to use a computer at 88 years of age in order to write the book. It was launched on 3 July. One reviewer of the book wrote: “This beautiful story is not only one of the Legion, but of the Church within these often eventful times. It is an endeavour by a priest of now ninety years, happy to have lived through the period covered, happy with his life and his priesthood.” Copies are available for $7 each (plus postage) from Legion of Mary, 456 Queensberry Street, Melbourne VIC 3051.

Franciscans International Asia

This short phrase encapsulates a strong hope and desire of Franciscans of the Asia/Oceania regions to establish an office of Franciscans International (FI) in this region.

During the week 13-17 June, thirty-five members of the Franciscan family from ten countries of the Asia Pacific region gathered at St Anthony Friary, Singapore. With Friar John Quigley, executive director of FI, their mission was to discuss the possibilities of setting up an Asian Office of FI, in addition to its offices in Geneva and New York.

A steering committee was elected and a working party set up to conduct a feasibility study regarding location, financial resources and staffing such an office.

Holy Spirit Province was well represented by Ms Julie Morgan (Promoter for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation), Friars Stephen Bliss (Provincial Minister), Matthew Beckmann (Chair of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission) and Michael D’Cruz (Custos of the Custody of St Anthony, Malaysia/Singapore).

Padua College, Kedron, Opens a New Building

Padua College, the Franciscan Secondary College in Brisbane, had its newest building blessed and opened on Sunday 22 May by Friar Stephen Bliss, Provincial Minister. The two-storey Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) building houses a spacious library on the main level. On the lower level, there are computer classrooms and offices for particular staff such as House Guardians and Vice-Rectors.

In keeping with the building’s purpose as a centre of academic pursuits, the building was named ‘The St Bonaventure Centre’. Former Rector, Benignus Clowes, was also present and assisted with the blessing.

The building was tested on the Thursday evening before the official opening when a freak hailstorm dumped several inches of ice around the Kedron area - an unusual sight for Brisbane.

Franciscans Offer Support for World Youth Day

The Franciscan Province has assisted five young people to attend World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany, in August. Four of the young people are connected with the Deeragun parish, Townsville. The fifth donation was given to a young man from Wollongong Diocese and who has an intellectual disability which required a carer to be present with him. Each of the recipients has also raised a significant amount for themselves by fund-raising activities in their respective parishes.

Six days of “faith related events in a colourful international environment” precede the celebration of Eucharist by Pope Benedict XVI on World Youth Day, Sunday 21 August.

International Franciscan Scholar Visiting Australia

Friar Bill Short, from the Franciscan School of Theology, California USA is visiting Australia during July and August. As well as leading the friars in their annual retreat, Bill will be speaking at Masses in the Franciscan parishes in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. He will also be giving public lectures on Christian-Muslim Dialogue in Melbourne (14 July), Brisbane (27 July) and Sydney (4 August). Details available from the Franciscan Provincial Office on (02) 9369 9300.

Jubilee Celebrations

During July a number of friars have celebrated jubilees of priestly ordination: Barry Kirby, Peter McGrath, Tom Ritchie (40 Years); Lucian Armstrong, Romuald Green, Alban Mitchell, Timothy Elliott, Paul Campbell, Michael Brown (50 years); Nicholas Warne (60 years).

“Praised be You, My Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death”
(St Francis)

Since the beginning of 2005, four friars of the Province have died: Friars Sylvester Campbell (Adelaide, 3 February), Gerard Davis (Melbourne, 8 April), Bernardine Bradbury (Sydney, 26 May) and Maurice West (Melbourne, 5 June).  Friar John Liczner, originally from USA and who spent over 20 years on the mission in Papua New Guinea (1979-2003) died on 19 June in USA. May they rest in peace.

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