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The
Wisdom from Dee Why
May
2007
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PFGM
Directors |
Canberra-Goulburn
Mary & Dennis Morris
Lismore:
Carol & Norm Heyhorn
New South Wales:
Mary Ingham
Assistant Directors NSW
Dennis & Elizabeth Farrar
Tony & Annette Guterres
Queensland:
Gwen & Russell Winterscheidt
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New Zealand - North Island
Lynn & Rob Hill
New Zealand - South Island
Murray & Aileen Straight
New Zealand - Northern
Frances & Clive Bleaken
South
Australia:
Chris & Tom Wilson
Victoria:
Maree & Bernard Metcalfe
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We all
gathered together on the weekend of the 4th to the 6th
of May in the upper room beside the Norfolk Pines and the thundering
surf of the Dee Why beach.
Our gathering began on a sad note. Our co-workers and precious friends, Val & Terry Carrigg,
had died tragically within 6 weeks of each other. Maree and Bernard
Metcalfe were still overcome with shock and grief. At evening prayer we
all hoped that our time together would bring them comfort.
I hasten to add that we missed the
presence of Lynn & Rob Hill. Rob was celebrating his 65th
birthday with his own extended family. Not only did we send our loving
congratulations to him and his child bride (Kiwi males are renowned for
capturing beautiful fair maidens), but many a glass of red wine was raised
in their honour at the table.
| Saturday morning brought
together our full complement, where we were able to welcome Clive
& Frances Bleaken (NZ), Annette & Tony Guterres (NSW) and
Dennis & Elizabeth Farrar (NSW): brand new Directors.
Tony &
Annette Guterres, Mary Ingham
and Dennis & Elizabeth Farrar |
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CHARISM IN ACTION
- My overall impression was that St.
Paul’s admonition to his little communities was fulfilled.
“Be of one mind and one heart. Put others before you, listening to all
with respect. May you have the mind of Christ Himself.”
Brian
Traynor summed it up in
a nutshell -
“Our meeting certainly brought great people
together and it was very positive.
It was like the year before when at our combined meeting,
people spoke of ‘encountering the Charism’. As you say, it’s
already in people’s hearts. It was what attracted us when we
joined.
It looks and sounds a bit different and is expressed very
differently from Paul of the Cross’ day, but it’s from the
seed he had and that we each have.
I really appreciate when the General Chapter said, ‘The Charism
is lived in relationships’”.
Clive Bleaken,
Murray Straight, Fr Brian Traynor cp,
Aileen Straight and Frances Bleaken |
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“Mary
Ingham made the wise
comment -
As I reflect on my
understanding of the Passionist Charism, I find myself drawing on
my experience of over 35 years as a co-worker. It’s the way we
do things, the attitude we have to people, the goal we have of
creating FAMILY that expresses the Charism for me. I believe that
this gift is compassion.”
Fr Peter McGrath
cp
and Mary Ingham |
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Lynn
& Rob Hill’s report
expressed the following wisdom –
“We remember what we owe those in Australia and throughout New
Zealand, who have helped us to shape where we are today. We stand on
their shoulders!
“A new stage of life of the
PFGM has begun in NZ, with the commissioning of our Directors.
Flexibility is a main theme in our approach. We need to keep
assessing; we recognize that what suits one parish, region or
Diocese, will not necessarily suit another. We need to be aware that
we are not so much looking for solutions, but general directions.”
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Flexibility
certainly was one of the hallmarks of our gathering!
PRACTICAL MATTERS
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Prager
Bequest: PFGM
Fund
There
was general agreement to accept the Norms prepared by the Provincial
and his Council for the administration of this wonderful financial
assistance that has been given for our Ministry. All of us are
extremely grateful and regard the gift as coming from the Lord.
We were enlightened by
two excellent explanations given by
John Burford, the Executor of the Prager Estate and Terry
Petry, Province Finance Manager.
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Contributions to the
Provincial Chapter
Tony
Egar cp sought suggestions for the coming Provincial Chapter.
He began with a very touching account of a
Pastoral situation he had recently been in. We were moved by his
compassion, that was a living example of our Charism.
Fr
Peter McGrath cp
with Fr Tony Egar cp
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Passionist
Youth Encounter - Melbourne
Having experienced
the Passionist Youth Team at our gathering last year, it was a
further bonus to experience
John Pearce cp.
He enthusiastically promoted our
two Passionist events associated with World Youth Day
2008 -
"Younger Religious Encounter and the Passionist Youth
Encounter to take place in Melbourne
from the 7-13 July, 2008 www.passion8.org.au
and World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008 www.wyd2008.org
Our
Passionist Directors have a strong commitment to Youth and
it’s great to be able to record that the Passionist Youth
Movement in Queensland had its beginnings with the youth
retreats from the PFGM. |
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BLESSINGS
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Kevin
Hennessey cp Vicar Provincial, who had generously given up his
time and been with us through the whole gathering, encouraged each
one of us to continue our Ministry. He stressed that it was vital
and was at the heart of the Good News – building the Kingdom of
God. His words were deeply appreciated. We knew that he spoke for
the Provincial, Denis Travers cp and his Council.
Kevin blessed our new Directors together with Murray & Aileen
Straight, South Island, NZ,
Carol & Norm Heyhorn, Lismore NSW. They were given
lighted candles as a symbol of the Light of Christ.
Maree
and Bernard Metcalfe were
also given a Candle of Remembrance. It had been the candle burning
throughout the whole of our gathering and shed its light upon our
prayers and the special Eucharist in that upper room.
It was
fitting that this candle had painted upon it the Cross of Christ and
the Crosses that His followers carried in His footsteps. Once again,
the Charism was there in person and symbol.
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Fr Kevin Hennessey cp,
Maree and Bernard Metcalfe,
Fr Brian Traynor cp and Dennis Farrar
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Leo Ingham
with Bernard & Maree
Metcalfe
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Aileen & Murray
Straight
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Carol & Norm Heyhorn
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THANKSGIVING
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Throughout
this time, the SPIRIT was gently present in the laughter, the
sharing and the tears. We gave thanks for all those who had made
this a time of renewal and encouragement for us.
All the helpers that Mary Ingham and Barbara Lunnon had mustered
came from our Family Groups. They bore witness to the service that
is the sign of our Family Groups and Christ’s followers – A
Family for All.
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Fr Peter McGrath cp,-
Founder PFGM, and
Barbara Lunnon - Assistant to Fr Peter
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Mary & Dennis Morris
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Annette Guterres, Gwen
Winterscheidt,
Carol Heyhorn and Elizabeth Farrar
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Chris & Tom
Wilson
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Our thanks
go out to them, as we ask God’s blessing upon them and all we serve as
we turned our heads for home.
Peter
McGrath cp
17
May 2007
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