Year in Review 2020 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 35 IDENTITY & COMMUNITY Bishop Shane Mackinlay visited fire-affected areas in February, celebrating Mass at Sacred Heart Church, Corryong and St Michael’s Church, Tallangatta. In his Homily, Bishop Shane observed that one of the consequences of natural disasters such as fire, is that “we necessarily regain focus on the things that matter most, on the life that stands before us … the water, instead of the fire.” Administrator of the parishes of Corryong and Tallangata, Fr Junjun Amaya was in the Philippines when the fires broke out. He was told by parishioners not to return, as he would not be allowed access to the area and, due to the imminent danger, Mass in all towns had been cancelled. The Blessed Sacrament had been consumed on 3 January and was no longer reserved at Sacred Heart Church, Corryong. Reflecting on the bushfires, Fr Amaya said One of the great things to come out of the terrible Black Summer experience was the sense of community spirit, the beauty of these small communities like Corryong, Walwa, Tolac and Tallangatta, has really shone. “They have supported each other in very thoughtful ways. Not just during the fires, but long after, continuing to check in on each other throughout the year. People from Wodonga would travel to fire-affected towns to help out; feed livestock, work on fencing, and so on,” said Fr Amaya. “I’m very proud of my parishioners.” On Ash Wednesday 2020, ashes from burnt trees in Corryong were used for Ash Wednesday Mass services in Corryong, Tallangatta and Mount Beauty. Fr Amaya said We can say we were trying to give people a sense that they can ‘rise from the ashes’. To rise from the ashes, we need to acknowledge we live in a humanised pyroscape. The average temperature of Australia overall in December 2019 was the highest ever and the Indian Ocean Dipole event, which contributed to three years of drought preceding the fires, the strongest on record; a double calamity which, according to scientists, can be attributed to climate change. It is now widely accepted and clear that we need to exercise self-initiative and agency to reduce the impact of global warming. On 17 January, the Australian Bishops announced their support, in principle, for a proposed bill on a National Framework for Adaptation and Action on Climate Change. Bishop Vincent Long, Chair of the Australian Bishops Commission for Social Justice, Mission and Service said The Bushfire crisis should serve as a wake-up call to Australia and all Australians. It should serve also as a catalyst for global action on climate change Whether we look to science, or look to the Book of Revelations, we are on the verge of an apocalypse. Across the globe, people are demanding change to the values and way of life that evidently destroy our ‘common home’ while making us seemingly more lonely and unhappy. There is a real sense that change will be forged from these fires. On 7 February, prayers for ‘rain to quench the parched land and extinguish the fires’ as exhorted by the ACBC were answered. Torrential rain helped to extinguish one third of the fires. Perhaps a sign from the heavens, that God does help those who help themselves. Blazeaid signs in Wala.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTQ0MTI=