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The Southern Cross : June 2011
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June 2011 Page 5 www.thesoutherncross.org.au The Southern Cross people | A national survey conducted last month will reveal new data on the number of regular churchgoers in Australia and assist church leaders in devising strategies to improve parish ministry. Catholic parish attendance was counted over four weekends in May in the third National Count of Attendance project conducted by the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. The final results are not expected until 2012. "This (2011) count will allow us to better understand our Catholic congregations and provide ministry to them," said ACBC president Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson. "Information collected, in addition to the number of people in attendance, includes the language and frequency of celebration," he said. In 2006, the last time the National Count was held, an average 708,618 people each weekend attended Mass, or a Sunday service without a priest. Attendance was slightly down from the previous count in 2001. The count is a simple headcount of those attending Mass at parishes and other Mass centres throughout Australia over the four weekends in May. For the first time, the count was conducted electronically, with most parishes submitting their counts online. For more information on the count contact the ACBC Pastoral Research Office on (03) 9953 3457. Catholic head count The death of a cousin as a young boy, and the hope of a reunion in heaven, was the moment African priest Father Kyumu "Michael" Musyoka began contemplating a religious life. The 43-year-old Kenyan has been appointed parish priest of Blackwood/Belair following the retirement of Father James Honner. He joins Fr Anthoni Adimai, from India, in a growing list of overseas priests working in the Adelaide Archdiocese as local clergy retire. Fr Adimai was recently appointed parish priest of Hectorville and Tranmere. "It is a very warm and friendly community," says Fr Michael of his Blackwood flock. "I feel happy celebrating Mass here and being part of the community." In Kenya, Fr Michael has been a parish priest for a decade for the Ngong diocese in the Great Rift Valley Province in the country's south. The Ngong diocese is home to 75,000 Catholics (about eight per cent of the total population) and 57 priests. Fr Michael was ordained in 1997 and last served in Kenya in 2007 before choosing to study and work as a priest in the Adelaide diocese. He said his inspiration for a religious life began at the age of seven following the death of his cousin Peter. "When he died, we had a priest come out for the burial and he talked about Peter being in a better place and that he was alive. So, I thought of him and I wanted to be with him and so I wanted to become a priest to find him." As Fr Michael grew older he came to better understand the teachings of the Catholic Church. "Since then, I have never looked back," he said. He is the eldest son of five children from a Catholic family, with two of his cousins also ordained priests. Fr Michael has completed a Masters in health and international development at Flinders University. New face at Blackwood WELCOME: African-born priest Father Michael Musyoka says of his new Blackwood/Belair parish: "It is a very...friendly community." Photo: Stephen Gray For more information and to enrol, contact Trish at Office for Worship on 8416 8477 This course is for anyone involved in the ministry of infant baptism in their parish. DATE & TIME Thursday evenings from 22 September to 27 October 7:00 - 9:00 pm VENUE: Room S1 Adelaide Theological Centre 34 Lipsett Terrace Brooklyn Park TEACHER: Sr Ilsa Neicinieks RSM COST: $50 (discount available for group bookings) Mary Schinella M: 0421 204 611 1/234 Brighton Road, Somerton Park SA 5044 sell@schinellas.com.au | schinellas.com.au Ph: (08) 8294 4484 Pat Schinella M: 0412 909 095 DeArna Schinella M: 0412 959 944 The Schinella family can guide and assist you in all your Real Estate needs.Take advantage of our innovative technology and business intellect. The Schinella family will donate $500 to a Catholic Charity of your choice on the sale of your property on mention of this ad. For your free market appraisal just call us! "Customer service is our priority." RLA:236426
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