Daily Notes and News
The Month of May 2000
Monday, 1st
Even though today was supposed to be a 'day off' (I was heading for the Clergy Boat Trip down to Bruny Island) it took me some time to get started and I was almost missed the boat. Thankfully they waited for me.
It was a very pleasant day with a little bit of wind at times but the weather was glorious, the company pleasant and we even caught some fish. The whole day was also very relaxing - sadly there were fewer there than usual so our numbers were depleted. We enjoyed a BBQ lunch in a little sheltered bay where we have been able to find shelter for howeever many years the trip has been on.
But it was back to work as soon as we had arrived back at Kettering as I headed for the car and raced to the other side of the river to visit the family of the late Marjorie Brownell. Marjorie was a parishioner of Lower Sandy Bay/Taroona whom I had known during the time of my appointment there in the mid 80's.
Monsignor Phil Green is away at present and the other past priests of the Parish are unavailable so I am the most recent available one who recalls her. The funeral is to be celebrated on Wednesday so seeing the family tonight was the best chance for me.
I've just arrived home and with the combination of the fresh air and everything else I'm really ready for bed - made even better by the fact that Collingwood have been beaten by Fremantle - it makes up a little for the fact that Geelong were beaten by Richmond yesterday. Time now for bed.
Tuesday, 2nd
I was sitting at the desk working away at the uploading my page for today when I suddenly remembered that I had promised to collect a CD from my parents for use at a Funeral this morning and I was late - I had just over 45 minutes to get to Claremont and back before Mass and before Greg left to go to the funeral at 9.30am. Thankfully it all worked out and I was only a few minutes late.
I was able then to work away at the booklet for the Funeral of the late Marjorie Brownell which will be celebrated tomorrow at Holy Spirit, Sandy Bay. The whole process is a little different from normal because we are having a service at the Crematorium first and then having a memorial service at the Church - it means two leaflets and the second I mucked up because I didn't proof read before I printed it and had to throw out the lot and start again.
I managed to get down to school and arranged to do some printing on Friday afternoon for the Journey program so will collect some A3 paper when I go to town today to use for the printing.
This afternoon I washed the car (in preparation for the funeral tomorrow) as the trip down the 14 Mile Road on Sunday on the way to Bronte for Mass had made it look as if it had been through a Rally Cross - I know that if I had reappeared at Mum and Dad's tomorrow poor old Dad would have flipped that it was so dirty.
I had two appointments tonight - the second has just finished and now I'm heading for bed and another good night's sleep.
Wednesday, 3rd
I woke up early this morning - before 4am so today - my birthday - has been a very long day.
After Mass this morning I had a cuppa before heading for town to collect the new computer for the Parish - the just in case I get moved in August computer - before continuing on to the crematorium for the private funeral of the late Marjorie Brownell. There were a few more than I thought and so we ran out of leaflets for the service. I then headed back to Graham's for a birthday lunch that was very pleasant with a little wine which was very very nice.
Then it was off to Sandy Bay for the public Memorial Service for Marjorie Brownell. There was a good gathering of people - especially acquaintances from my time as an assistant priest in the Sandy Bay Parish. Monsignor Green, who had been away, arrived home last night and was available to do the funeral but nobody told me so we concelebrated the Memorial Service.
After joining the gathering for a small reception following the service I headed off to St John's Hospital to visit Peter deGroot, the brother of a school classmate and parishioner of Glenorchy, who is suffering from bowel cancer and only has a short time to live. Unfortunately Peter was asleep so I will head back there on Friday afternoon.
I called to see Mum and Dad on the way home and had a cuppa with them before continuing home to collect the mail and check the remaining things that needed to be done before the PPC meeting tonight. I am working on these notes before the meeting starts so I'm not certain how long the night will be but I hope that the meeting doesn't go too long as I need some sleep before my Navy Medical in the morning.
The meeting finished a short time ago and most everyone stayed for supper and we were joined by two of my friends from Glenorchy who came up especially to wish me Happy Birthday.
Now, however, it is time for bed.
Thursday, 4th
Today was an interesting day. When I arrived for my medical at the Defence Centre at 9.15am my papers weren't there so after a bit of running around I managed to have the medical. On the way home I called into Glenorchy Parish to download a graphic that was playing up for an advert in parish newsletter. After getting that all finished I arrived home just in time for the midday Mass.
I then had lunch with Sr Kathleen, an English Nun who visits her sister and brother-in-law for some time every couple of years. She is here for another week or so and had invited me to have a meal with them at one of the local tourist spots - The Oast House. It was a pleasant lunch and very enjoyable company.
Whilst we were having lunch the mobile rang and it was Mrs McKay, the mother of Fr John McKay, asking if I could contact her son as there had been a death in the family and he was on holidays. After some unravelling of contacts I managed to track down a friend of his and hopefully the message will have got to him sometime today - I haven't heard so will wait until tomorrow to find out what else happened.
Next on the agenda today has been the rehearsal at the Cathedral for the Marriage on Saturday afternoon. The couple and the bridal party are a really lovely group of people - I met the bride's parents many years ago and have had a lot to do with other members of the group at various times.
From there I headed for Bridgewater and the Cluster Committee Meeting. Sr Louise Cotton, the co-ordinator of the project was there and gave us some good feedback on the original proposal. It seems that the proposal has caused some extra thought amongst some cluster groups which hadn't really thought outside the square.
The meeting has finished and it is now time for bed.
Friday, 5th
After Mass here in the Church I headed off to the local Aged Care Facility to celebrate Mass for First Friday. It was extra important today because the lady who organises the Mass is Mrs McKay whose husband, Walter, died yesterday. Later when I had returned home I finally spoke to her son and there is to be a Memorial Mass here at St Peter's on Thursday for Walter.
After being at Corumbene I visited the District Hospital and then went to take Communion to Gordon Batchelor who is recovering from a cataract operation earlier in the week. He is getting better but, well into his 80's, still has a way to go before he is fully recovered.
My morning had started a little differently to the way I had planned it. As I had been preparing to upload the Daily Notes & News the phone had rung to say that Peter deGroot had died last evening. I spent a deal of the afternoon and time early this evening helping the family prepare for the funeral as well as making arrangements for some support for his daughter Julie who is to fly in from London tomorrow morning. She knew her Dad was ill but no one was expecting that he was not likely to be alive when she arrived home. I managed to contact Qantas Management at the airport in Melbourne and they were going to ensure that she had some support as she departed the Customs Area. I will check with the family tomorrow to see how she got on.
I collected my mobile from the re-seller this afternoon and it is not working any better so I will be taking it back to see if something can be done about it tomorrow - otherwise it will go back on Monday. This afternoon I also did some work down at school to print some of the material for the Journey program so that we have books to work with for our weekly Scripture groups. There is more to do but between Mary and Debbie the work can be done quietly in the background at school as soon as the original pages are set up for the printing.
I've just returned from having tea with my Bellerive friends and it was an enjoyable evening. Once upon a time we would have returned to someone's home and played cards and chatted from some time but twenty years after we started having the meals it tends to end shortly after the meal and we leave for our different homes.
Saturday, 6th
This morning started with a trip to town for the 58th Commemoration of the Battle of the Coral Sea at the Cenotaph. This service is celebrated here in Tasmania every year at this time and we are always joined by some one from either the US Embassy in Canberra or a senior Naval Officer of the US 7th Fleet. After the service we headed off for Morning Tea at the Navy Club hosted by the American-Australian Association and as usual there was a good gathering of members of both groups who were there - I think this is my 15th Coral Sea Service so I am almost a veteran as well.
I stopped off after the Morning Tea to return my mobile to see if it might get repaired properly - the repairs guys were really angry that the phone hadn't been tested because the fault was so obvious. I recollected the 'loan' phone which I have had for the past fortnight and now I am back on air.
I then headed off to Taroona for lunch with the Clergy - Brian Rosser has generously fed us for two weeks in a row although he was saying last Saturday that he will not be able to do it for much longer as the facility he has been using is being reassigned within the facility structuring but we were able to enjoy his hospitality today so that was good.
I called to see Annie Graham at home and chatted with her about some things that are happening at the moment before heading off to the Cathedral for the wedding. Luckily I went early because there was a muckup with the book and it took a few minutes to get everything sorted so that the ceremony could take place without a hitch.
After the wedding, which started a little later than scheduled, I headed back here to finish the newsletter - I needed to include the results of the football game which was a real sadness because Geelong was playing and we lost by 25 points - someone else's $40 win was my loss.
I finished printing the newsletter and decided to defrag the computer and that has taken much longer than usual so I'll need to check it in the morning. Time for The Bill and bed.
Sunday, 7th
Life wasn't meant to be easy and the fact that the defrag hadn't completed overnight made things a bit more difficult.
After Mass at New Norfolk I headed for Ouse (missing Sr Lorraine who is at a Congregation Meeting all weekend) - there was a good crowd there and some old faces that haven't been there for awhile which was good.
I headed for Pontville after Mass for a Baptism - stopping off at New Norfolk to collect the certificate) before continuing on to Old Beach to have a cuppa with the family of Daniel Warwarek, the young lad whose Baptism we celebrated. I had hoped to get to see mum and dad before heading home but that had to wait until after the evening Mass.
It was all a bit of a rush because after Mass I also had to catch up with the de Groot family with the cover of the funeral leaflet for tomorrow for them to check out before I started printing. It is actually going along now while I typing this so hopefully it will all work out. The family are struggling at the moment and tomorrow is going to be a difficult day for them all.
I managed to catch Dad and Mum so that was good - I'll try and see Dad tomorrow afternoon in Hospital. I've almost finished the leaflet so I will let the last lot go through and head for bed and check what happened in the morning.
Monday, 8th
I was disappointed with the front cover of the leaflet for the funeral of the late Peter de Groot - sadly the colour cartridge in the printer ran low on one of the colours and the photo was washed out. The rest of the ceremony and everything else that went with it worked out all right so that was good.
This morning started with the preparation of the minutes of the Police and Community Consultative Group which needed to be sent out today for a meeting later in the week. Hopefully they weren't too late for people to know what was happening.
The two Journey sessions went well although there were a couple of phone calls during tonight's session that were distracting - I have just finished on the phone in response to one of the calls and have been talking for well over half an hour.
After the funeral this afternoon I spent some time with the de Groot family before visiting Dad in Calvary Hospital where he has been admitted in preparation for an operation tomorrow afternoon. He seemed in good spirits so hopefully he will remain so over the next few days.
After all the running around today the best thing for me is bed.
Tuesday, 9th
This morning started with a meeting of the Diocesan GST Task Force meting in town so it meant an early on the road trip for me. I managed to get there in plenty of time and at the end of the meeting, even managed to arrange to have another meeting next Tuesday to look at some of the issues facing the Sick & Retired Priests Fund.
I then headed for Glenorchy to look at the setting up of their new finance software - and found that they had been sold the wrong package so spent time heading for town to get the right program. After spending some time with them and fixing it up I headed back to Sandy Bay to spend time with David O'Neill, the Anglican Navy Reserve Chaplain, to look at some possible Community Relations Programs for the visit of the USS John C Stennis in the middle week of June. We'll need to do some work on that and ensure that everything happens as well as it should.
I have just spent time with a young couple who are preparing for their marriage early next year. I am frightening myself a bit because I am so well prepared - we have finished most of the work that we need to complete and the wedding is some 8 months away. The same thing happened last night - the couple then are getting married in February next year.
During their visit I had a phone call from one of my classmates from Melbourne who is the co-ordinator of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations for later this month. Chris was checking to see if all the arrangements were satisfactory and if there was anything else that needed to be done. He seems to have everything in order and it looks as if it will be a great event on the 29th May.
Now I am heading upstairs for some quiet time before my sister rings and tells me how Dad got on with his operation this afternoon.
Wednesday, 10th
Today was a funny day. I had Mass at School at 10.00am but there were a number of things I needed to complete before heading down there. I also needed to collect some information from town (via the phone) on a possible meeting for the Sick & Retired Priests Fund to be held during the Priests Plenary but I still have some work to do on that.
After lunch I headed off to Ellendale to see the family of the late baby Sarah-Jayne Franklin who lived only three days. Her funeral is tomorrow and there are some things that needed to be done today. They are struggling as might be expected so tomorrow is going to be a difficult day for them.
The funeral of a member of the Anglican Parish here in New Norfolk was just starting as I arrived home - they needed to use St Peter's Church because there is major roofing work being done on St Matthew's at the moment and it won't be finished for another three to four days.
I called down to school to drop off some material and have been working on the newsletter for the weekend although the phone has been going non stop with different requests for letters of recommendation to the Catholic High School as well as some apologies for the Police & Community Consultative Meeting to be held tomorrow.
Now, however, I'm heading for bed.
Thursday, 11th
This morning started with the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the Gr.5's down at St Brigid's. As soon as that was completed I headed up to the local Police Station for the Police and Community Consultative meeting. There was a good turn up there with some new representatives of the High School joining us. We have now set the dates for the remaining meetings for this year so I will need to send out the minutes for that meeting ASAP.
It was then a quick dash back to the Church for the Memorial Mass for the late Walter McKay, the father of Fr John McKay, a priest of the Archdiocese who was PP here prior to my arrival and who now works in Launceston. John's father died in Melbourne on Thursday morning and his funeral was celebrated there on Tuesday. There was a good representation or apologies from the priests around the place which was good for John and his elderly mother who was also able to join us today.
Then it was off to Ellendale for the funeral of Baby Sarah-Jayne Franklin who had only lived a few days. It was a sad occasion for al concerned but it was good to see the wonderful support that the community extended to the family - hopefully it will continue into the future. I joined the family for a short time at the home of one of the close family friends and it was a simple pleasant gathering on a calm sunny autumn afternoon.
I've been home awhile and I still have one more thing to finish tonight before I hit the sack. I need to send out a Notice of a Special General Meeting of the Sick & Retired Priests Fund to be held during the Priests Plenary in a fortnights time. Today is the last day it can be sent in order to comply with the constitutional requirements for 14 days notice.
Then it will be time for bed.
Friday, 12th
Today started early with the cooking of scones for Australia's Biggest Morning Tea (or at least the New Norfolk version) - a venture of the Cancer Council of Australia to raise funds for Cancer Research. I managed to celebrate Mass at 9.00am and then headed off to the District Hospital to take Holy Communion to Eileen Taylor.
A good number of the normal Business Morning Tea people turned up for our effort and we raised $47 for having a "cuppa" - not a bad effort.
I then headed for Bellerive to have lunch with Sean Gill, Principal of St Brigid's, George Toepfer, Principal of St John's Richmond and Fr Terry Rush, PP of Richmond. There are some issues facing our two schools that needed to be discussed so it provided a good opportunity for discussion and, hopefully, a resolution has been found.
There were a couple of things I needed to collect from town, including my mobile phone, as well as some card for future raffle tickets for the Parish - there is some concern about the availability of 140gsm card in the quantities we need.
I managed to catch up with Dad in Calvary and he is making a good recovery from his operation - there is now reasonable blood flow to both legs although the surgeon wants to do some more work next Wednesday to correct the flow at a past graft site so that will mean a few more days in hospital for him.
The front page of the newsletter is being printed at the moment - I will need to wait until tomorrow night to print the inside pages because that has the details of the football to be included. I have to print some copies for Lorraine for Ellendale and the Communion Service for Sunday Morning and she will collect them tomorrow morning - I will take the rest up on Sunday for Maydena and the rest of the Parish.
I am also printing off the copies of the ITIM Report for the TCC Annual Meeting tomorrow - it was supposed to have been at the office by the beginning of last week to be included in the pre-Meeting papers. I'm not certain how long the day will be tomorrow but I'll have to wait and see.
Tonight will be a reasonably quiet night so I will be heading for an early night.
Saturday, 13th
It has been a long day. I headed off early to attend the Annual Meeting of the Tasmanian Council of Churches - thankfully it was in Hobart so that meant the travelling for this year was minimal. The guest was the Rev David Gill, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Australia, and it was a good meeting although there were a fewer number of people than in previous years.
After the meeting I headed off to see Dad and find out how he is getting on - he has to have another operation on Wednesday to open up an older vessel graft which has closed over and which would jeopardise the success of this most recent operation.
I just arrived home after having a meal which followed with David Gill and members of the Executive of the TCC and staff which was a very pleasant little event and the 21st Birthday Bash for Mary Graham at Rockerfeller's. One was in a little pub/restaurant and the other was a black tie do - both were great but I am really tired now so heading for bed is a high priority.
I am a little bit subdued as well because Geelong only managed a draw against Port Adelaide - they didn't play well enough to win so that is a little bit frightening for the rest of the season.
Sunday, 14th - Mother's Day
It was raining gently on the way to the TCC Meeting yesterday and the rain has continued today which has been a real relief but we need heaps more because everything is so dry. It meant the trip to Maydena this morning was a little bit slower than usual because of the slippery conditions.
I had expected a larger crowd than normal this morning because Targa Tasmania hits New Norfolk this afternoon and it means that many of the streets are closed off and many of our Sunday night regulars will not be able to get out to come to Mass. As it turned out there was a very small congregation who managed to get here.
The one baptism that had been booked in for today has postponed because of family sickness so it meant that I was able to join my mother at Michele and John's for some of Mothers Day - the dessert part of the meal and then afternoon tea when Sean and Rowena and the girls arrived. Mum seems in fine form and it was good because Mel had managed to get her up to the Hospital to see Dad earlier in the day so that was good for both of them.
I am having a quiet night and am going to take some time out to watch the Bill from last night and Jonathan Creek from the previous night before heading for bed and an early night.
Monday, 15th
Much of today was spent completing, rather belated, backup copies of most of the files on the computer - I hadn't done it for some time and because I was using a combination of CD as well as tape it took quite a deal of time.
After Mass this morning I also finished off the work from the weekend before the first of the two Journey Sessions for the day. This is the last time I will be doing the program until 7th August because I will not be available next Monday because of the Priests Plenary and then the school holidays start and they don't return until I am in the Navy so time is quickly moving on.
I headed for town to drop off the mobile phone (again) and then collected from the Office of Business Affairs the information in case we need to change the nature of the Sick & Retired Priests Fund Inc. We have a meeting tomorrow morning so things will be clearer after that meeting.
I have also been working on the invitation lists for the Parish Celebrations for my Silver Jubilee but I need to get some information from Debbie, the PPC Secretary, to know whether the function venues are available on the days and times we would like before the letters can go out.
I thought about, rather than rushed into, doing some work on the leaflet that will be used during the Liturgical Services that will be held here at St Peter's on Sunday nights during my Navy Time - we have an appropriate leaflet but there are several alternatives which are offered. Beryl has the original on her computer so she is doing some work on it and we will go from there.
The second Journey session has just finished so now I can head to bed and have an early night.
Tuesday, 16th
An early start to the morning with the need to get my car to the service centre of a major dealer before collecting a friend's car to use for the morning. It meant that I was able to get around without too much effort.
From there I headed to the Church Office for a meeting regarding the Sick and (soon to be renamed) Aged Priests Fund - it seems that we will need to dis-assosciate the Fund in order not to attract GST implications. The questions will need to be discussed at the Priests Plenary next week.
I then headed for a meeting of the Awakening 2000 Advisory Group seeking reflections on the Easter Events (the March, Festivals and Prayer Vigils) as well as questions regarding the future efforts before the whole process closes down after Pentecost 2001.
Then it was off to see Dad to learn that he had a slight set back after having the staples removed. It seems that the wound split and he needed some quick response to reseal the wound and so will not be able to have any further surgery for a few days. I called into Graham's for a few minutes to see how they had got on yesterday - they had their biggest day ever with seven funerals as well as all the ancillary activities. They seemed to be OK but I will catch up with Ann tomorrow.
I have just returned from St Brigid's where we had a meeting of parents whose children will be involved in preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation later in August. It was not a good turn out and if the number of parents reflected the numbers of children to be confirmed it will not be too many to work with.
Now it is time for bed so another day is over - only 14 more working days in the Parish before I head off to the Navy.
Wednesday, 17th
I was lucky this morning because when I rang Tom Young at Computers + More he said that it was highly likely that he would be able to get a laptop for me to take when I go to the Navy in a few weeks time. I haven't managed to complete all the work for the Community Relations effort of the crew of the USS John C Stennis when it arrives for its port visit in June - I'll need to get that done tomorrow.
After Mass this morning I worked on the newsletters and Calendars for June & July whilst waiting for some friends who called to visit on their way to Russell Falls. They had been in Tassie for the 21st birthday bash for their niece which I attended last Saturday night.
Shortly after they left I headed for town to visit a lady in hospital before having a coffee with a friend who is facing a little bit of a dilemma at the moment and asked whether I could give them some advice - I'll have to keep an eye on that over these next few weeks.
From there I headed for my barber to get a hair cut - I looked in the car window when I had got back to the car and I looked a fright - I suspect that I don't look that much better at the moment but at least my hair is cut.
I've just returned from the Board Meeting down at school and there were some issues that arose that took longer than usual so I am cooking some tea at the moment because I am starving - I just realised that all I had had at lunch time was the two cup of coffees - no wonder I am feeling hungry,
I've just had a phone call from Denis Allen, the Dean of the South, to say that Fr Maurie Walsh, a Marist priest who has been the PP of Scottsdale for several years had died whilst on holidays in NSW. May God have mercy on his soul.
We will get some details in the next few days but now it is time for bed.
13 working days until I leave for the Navy.
Thursday, 18th
Some of the things I needed to do today got done but there were things that didn't - the USS John C Stennis community relations projects haven't been done and will need to be done tomorrow. I still need to check with the Business Affairs Office to ensure that the Resolution to be presented to the Clergy next week meets the requirements of the Incorporations Act.
I did manage to get my response to the Call to Change Task process started and some further work needs to be done in the morning. which needs to be with the co-ordinator by tomorrow at the latest.
The meeting of the Christian Leaders Association this morning went well although it will be my last meeting until sometime in August. There are likely to be some changes in the group because the Uniting Church Pastor will be retiring although he will stay on until a new minister/pastor is appointed.
Mass today was at midday and was the final time that we were able to celebrate with Sr Kathleen, an English Religious, who has been staying with her sister and brother-in-law at Lachlan for the past couple of months. She has been here a few time previously and easily fitted into the community and will be missed.
After a quick bite to eat I headed to Claremont to collect Mum to take her to see Dad who is recovering in hospital after second operation to improve the blood flow for his legs. He didn't do too well suffering some cardiac problems after the operation and will be in the HDU for the next few days before returning to the ward. I dropped her home and had a cuppa and talked about some of the family things that need to be organised for events later in the year.
I then called to see the family of the late Trevor Martin who had died yesterday at the age of 42 after a short fight with cancer. His funeral is to be celebrated at Glenorchy on Saturday morning - at the same time that the Mass of Thanksgiving after the ordination of Michael Tate is being celebrated - but sometimes pastoral care comes before other things.
I arrived home with half an hour to spare before the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation with the children from St Brigid's and their families. It was their First Reconciliation and it was a good night with a wonderful turn out of families and friends.
I've just been working away at the newsletters and the material for the calendars for the time I am away but now bed beckons.
Friday, 19th
The early start didn't mean that everything managed to get completed.
After Mass I headed for the Hospital to take Communion to Eileen Taylor and to see some of the other patients. Then it was home to check whether Gordon was available for the Liturgy of the Word with Holy Communion during this coming week. I managed to contact Tony Davis who helped draft the Special Resolution that will be presented to the Meeting of the Sick & Retired Priests Fund during the Plenary next weekend.
By the time I managed to send details of the resolution to various members of the Committee and Church Office Staff much of the morning had disappeared I then attempted to get a few other things started before heading to town to collect the photo for the front cover of the funeral leaflet for the late Trevor Martin. When I got home I had some trouble opening the image file, and because I was tired I didn't notice that the file didn't have an extension and I didn't think to add the .tiff. After phoning the image people I managed to complete a draft of the leaflet before heading to town to see the Martin family and calling to see Dad in hospital before arriving at the Cathedral for the big event.
The Rev Michael Tate AO, former Senator for Tasmania, Minister for Justice in the Hawke Government, Ambassador to the Holy See and the Netherlands, was ordained a Priest at St Mary's Cathedral in the presence of a large crowd of people of national and international stature. These included a former Governor General; a former Prime Minister, former Ministers of State, the Premier and three former Premiers of Tasmania together with lots of local ordinary people. After the Mass we travelled to a major reception centre for supper and it was a good night but now I am tired and I need to head for bed - tomorrow is going to be a bigger day.
Saturday, 20th
This morning started early with the photocopier working overtime printing the leaflet for the funeral of the late Trevor Martin. There was a good crowd at the funeral held at St John's Church Glenorchy and people from all over Southern Tasmania were there because of his involvement in the Scouting Movement.
When I had got that started I completed preparations for the Ecumenical Prayer Breakfast. It was my turn to host it today so cooking porridge and toast for 16 people as well as all the setting up took a little bit out of me and I was not really looking forward to all the things that needed to be done today.
I then headed for Derwent Park to collect some toner for the photocopier because there were some extra pages I needed to print tonight and I really would not have coped with the things drying up on me before I had finished.
Then it was off to Glenorchy for the Funeral. Then, just before the service began, my mobile rang (or at least it vibrated) asking whether I might be able to call to see the family of the late Bob Chadwick - he had died a short time earlier in the ICU at Calvary. I completed the funeral and internment before arriving at the hospital to see the family and to pray with them. Unfortunately, because of the Plenary this coming week I will not be able to be involved with the funeral which will be arranged tomorrow when both sons living on the mainland have returned home.
I took the chance to see Dad before heading back to Glenorchy to see the Martin Family for a short time before coming back here to New Norfolk for a Baptism at 2.00pm. I arrived a few minutes late but managed to get it all together so that was good.
Then when I got back to the house there was a message on the machine to say that I would have an appointment this afternoon at three o'clock - except I had hoped that I would have time to complete the newsletter and Call to Change Material as well as commence the preparations for the meal that I had with the Vout's this evening - a result of the bets I had with Damian for the past two Geelong-Hawthorn games. Sadly Hawthorn had won both so it was a meal and the wine as well. It was a good night but by the time I cleaned up (they had to take their children home) and finished the newsletters and run off the Special Resolution for the meeting next week and have started stapling the newsletters and the Call to Change material together I am more than a little bit tired.
I am now heading for bed - knowing that I still have to upload the Football results as well as this weekend's newsletter - and I haven't even started the internet version of the newsletter yet.
Sunday, 21st
Today was a long day - by the time I got to the Cray Drop Inn I was really tired after having been to Hamilton for Mass, back to New Norfolk for a Baptism and then to town to visit Mum. I didn't mind doing all of these things but I was tired when I finally got to the Conference Centre.
The first night has been reasonably quiet with not too much happening although the material for the week looks as if we will be busy most days. People have been arriving at different times so I'll have to wait until tomorrow to see if everyone turns up. My room mate is Fr Noel Fauth OFM from the Riverside Parish. The accommodation was prepared along the lines of the last Plenary with the only changes to rooms being where/when one of the priests has moved or died or being elevated to being Archbishop, as my last room mate was!!
Monday, 22nd
Today we listened to five guys talking about the Church at the time of their ordination - Clem Kilby speaking about the 50's; Graeme Howard talking about the 60's; Geoff Jarrett the 70's; Brian Nichols looked at the 80's and John Roach spoke about the 90's. Each of them added something to the story and it was interesting to see how there had been great changes in our Diocesan story during these 50 years. At the beginning the ratio of priests to people was 1/629 - it dropped to a low of 1/590 in 1970 before reaching out to 1/2286 in 2000.
The next session was three priests - almost 60, just 50 and a forty year old speaking about their fears and dreams about the present and into the future. Then we broke off into small groups and began the exploration of what we saw as the parts of our story that might cause some fears and anxieties as well as provide us with hope for the future.
The meal tonight and the chatting afterwards was really rewarding and the sharing has been very special as we/I listened to men I hardly ever see talking about their story and their lives. But now it is time for bed.
Tuesday, 23rd
Today has been a day of reflection and recollection.
When I first saw the program for the week I, with a number of others, thought that the timing was all wrong but having completed a very special day I have to say that I think that it was at the right time.
An opportunity for an early night which I will now take.
Wednesday, 24th
Today started with a talk from our Archbishop, Adrian Doyle, speaking about his hopes and dreams for the Church and for the future. It was really special listening to him as he journey through some of the thoughts he had sat with yesterday during the day of recollection. It is so useful having a Bishop who is really part of all that is happening.
His talk set the theme for the rest of today as he have spent a deal of time in small groups processing some of the 'chapter' headings from his talk and setting themes for the next stage. Bill Egan and I have been listeners today - ensuring that what the Plenary was saying is being reflected back in the next topics for discussion. It meant three extra meetings today as we shared with the committee some of the things we have been hearing in the small groups and at lunch so it has been good.
Tonight we drank the second bottle of the Orlando 1984 wine that I spoke off back in January when we had tea at Penna for John Williams Birthday - it was just as good and was well supported by one of the wines that I hope to be able to use at the Silver Jubilee Celebrations. It is much later than I would have hoped so I'm heading for bed.
Thursday, 25th
Travelled with three other guys, Denis Allen, Terry Yard and Dan McMahon up the East Coast as far as Eddystone Point Lighthouse as well as visiting Anson's Bay and Musselroe Bay along the way as we had a quiet day - a day of recreation. Some guys played golf, others visited some of the local walking spots and others just took it very easily.
I've just arrived home from having a Meal with Graham and Adrienne Galloway at Ivory Farm - it was a great night with lot's of talk and laughter. It was a very different Graham than the one I had coffee with last Wednesday afternoon so that was good. It will be a long day tomorrow so I'm heading for bed.
Friday, 26th
Some people have to leave today so there was quite a big effort this morning to deal with a whole range of topics and reflections about the week. One of the things that was suggested was that we have a communiqué to read to the people in the Parish this weekend so a small group have been working on that during the day. The final session was really valuable with some great input from +Adrian again as he put his touch to the final part of the story.
Tonight we had a great Plenary Dinner with a great deal of laughter and fun - I suppose that there would be some who wondered about the fact that we seem to be able to laugh and enjoy ourselves when everyone else seems a little more refined but what the heck.
I've just arrived back in the unit with a very sore wrist after taking a short cut through an open space that actually had a BBQ right in the middle of it. It was very dark and I managed to hit it with my knee and hand but there doesn't seem too much damage so off to bed.
Saturday, 27th
When I woke this morning my wrist was really aching after the fall last night but not bad enough to stop me tidying up and packing the car. The drive down the East Coast was difficult because of all the twists and turns along the way but I managed it driving much of the way left handed. Before I left the Four Mile Creek area I called to collect some Herbs from the Galloway's that I dropped off to a fruit and vegetable wholesaler here in Hobart so it was good to see them again before I headed home.
I then visited Tom Young at Computers + More and collected a Toshiba Satellite Pro 440CDX which runs Windows 3.11 so I will need to go back to school to relearn some of the things that I will need to be able to work the programmes to run it with. While there I looked for my diary and I can't find it so I am more than a little concerned about what might have happened to it.
I rang the Cray Drop Inn to see if I had dropped it when I fell into the BBQ last night but so far haven't heard from them so hopefully that will mean that they found it and that they will drop it off to Paul Connolly at St Helen's when they go to Mass tonight and I can collect it from him when I see him at Scottsdale on Friday for the Memorial Mass for the late Fr Maurie Walsh who died in NSW last week but who had been PP of Scottsdale for the past 8 or 9 years.
When I arrived home today I went to see the family of the late Leo Broomhead who died on Tuesday evening. Thankfully Fr Bill Egan can come back to the Parish to do the funeral on Monday as I will be in Melbourne for the Silver Jubilee Celebrations and I have not been able to change my flight arrangements.
I did a reasonable amount of work on the funeral booklet tonight but there will be a whole lot to do tomorrow. I'm also managed to complete the weekly newsletter which took some time but thankfully it is now printed - as well as the Calendar for June and the letter from Archbishop Doyle to the people after the Plenary.
Now however, it is time for bed.
Sunday, 28th
Things haven't worked to well today although I hope that everything is now already for the rest of the week.
This morning the printer wouldn't work when I tried to print the leafletr for the funeral of the late Leo Broomhead, whose funeral will be celebrated tomorrow. Then I couldn't get any information regarding my organiser from the East Coast although later this afternoon I managed to learn that it will be at Scottsdale when we arrive there on Friday for the Mass for the Repose of the Soul of the late Fr Maurie Walsh who died recently.
The Country Community meeting, which followed the Mass at Ellendale when we celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation for Ann Donaghy, went well. This means that there are some good vibes surrounding the work that needs to be done for the future during the Call to Change process.
Mass this evening is over and we have recited the Rosary for the late Leo Broomhead in preparation for the funeral tomorrow but I have some packing to do and some stapling to finish before I head off to my bed for an early night in preparation for my trip to Melbourne tomorrow morning.
Monday, 29th
Monday morning and a quick dash to the airport in the dark of the morning to catch the 6.05am flight to Melbourne. I ran into a friend on her way to Adelaide for work so we chatted before boarding our flight and then spent a short time in the lounge in Melbourne as she waited to head off on her next flight.
I then headed downstairs to the baggage collection area to get my things before catching a bus to town. I rang Mick Wheeler soon after I arrived in town and found that he wasn't playing golf today as it looked as if were going to rain heavily later in the afternoon - which it did in spades. I walked down to the Wine Society to look at what they had in stock waiting for him to arrive before we headed off to tour the new Catholic Theological College campus closer into the city from the old campus at Clayton.
We then checked out the new Seminary in Carlton and had lunch with some of the staff and a couple of students before heading off to look at and that a room. I also caught up with John Harmon and Josh Martin, two of the Tasmanian students studying for the Priesthood.
After calling in to one of the shopping centres Mick dropped off at Simmonds Hall where we had our celebrations for the Silver Jubilee of our Ordination to the Priesthood. Seven of us concelebrated Mass before another 10 joined us for the meal - three arrived with partners, Terry Laidler brought a friend who later on provided some wonderful entertainment as 'Sister Sal' as she ran an Trivia Quiz for us. The meal was excellent and even though there were many of the guys I hadn't seen for years it was almost as if we'd really kept in touch since leaving Clayton at the end of 1975 and not been in separate parts of Australia in the ensuing years.
It has been a long day and a great night and I'm heading for bed.
Tuesday, 30th
It was a slow start this morning and I was pleased that we didn't decide to do anything too quickly. Mick arrived about 11.30am at Simmonds Hall and we headed towards Wheelers Hill stopping at Chadstone to get Anna Brereton's 21st birthday present. I felt a little bit bad because today is my sister-in-law Maree's birthday and last week my niece Elizabeth's birthday and I haven't sent them anything yet - I'm using the excuse that I have don't have my diary and will have to wait until after the Memorial Mass at Scottsdale on Friday.
After having a bite to eat we headed for the presbytery and chatted for awhile before having a pasta supper and now I'm heading for bed. I managed to see most of the Bill but have been dropping off every few minutes.
Wednesday, 31st
Today Mick had a Mass at Nazareth College, the local Catholic College so this morning I spent time with Sharon in the office - after Mick and I had framed Anna's present - it looks really good and I hope that she will be happy with it.
During the morning my mobile rang and it was Ann Graham asking if I might be able to celebrate a funeral on Friday morning at their Chapel for a former Naval person. I've spoken to the family and arranged to see them tomorrow afternoon at 3pm - I hope that the plane is on time otherwise I will have to get my skates on when I arrive home to make sure that I can get to see the family to make the arrangements and get the booklet printed in time.
We called into some of the Mega Shops on Warrigal Road and looked at the types of printers that are available for laptop computers and whether they run with Windows 3.11 - the small Canon's do so that is a possibility but I'm still not certain about taking mine away with me yet so I'll need to talk to Tom at some stage over the weekend.
We have just arrived home after seeing the film '28 Days' at Chadstone - it was a good film and I surprised myself by not going to sleep during the showing. The time in Melbourne is almost over so I'm heading for bed as I will be busy tomorrow both before I get home and after as well.
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