Fix this text
THE NEWCASTLE AND MAITLAND
Fix this textCatholic Sentinel
Fix this textThe Official Organ Of The Diocese Of Maitland
Fix this textVol. XXXIII. No. 4.
Fix this textREGISTERED AT THE G.P.0.. SYDNEY. FOR
Fix this textTRANSMISSION BY POST AS A NEWSPAPER.
Fix this textJANUARY 1 1965
Fix this textRev. Harold Campbell, Editor
Fix this textPrice 6d.
Fix this textBishop Toohey Returns
Fix this textFrom
Fix this textVatican II
Fix this textHISTORIC PLACE
Fix this textOF MEETING
Fix this textHis Lordship Bishop J. Toohey, D.D., returned to the
Fix this textDiocese of Maitland from Rome at the beginning of Advent.
Fix this textWe are pleased to publish his impressions of the Council,
Fix this textwritten especially for the “Sentinel.”
Fix this textIMPRESSIONS OF THE COUNCIL
Fix this text(BY BISHOP TOOHEY)
Fix this textThe Third Session of the
Fix this textVatican Council began easily and
Fix this textwithout any grand ceremony.
Fix this textThe Bishops proceeded to their
Fix this textallotted places in the long banks
Fix this textof seats more than two
Fix this textthousand of them. It was as if
Fix this textour absence had been but a brief
Fix this textinterruption of the work left off
Fix this textnearly a year ago.
Fix this textThe Commissions of Bishops
Fix this textin charge of the various subjects
Fix this texthad worked assiduously in the
Fix this textmeantime, co-ordinating the
Fix this textspeeches and written submissions
Fix this textof the last Session.
Fix this textThere had also been for their
Fix this textconsideration the many sugges-
Fix this texttions received in the recess from
Fix this textmany individual bishops and
Fix this textnational conferences.
Fix this textThere were presented, as our
Fix this textagenda, a dozen and more drafts
Fix this text(or “Schemata”) for considera-
Fix this texttion and voting in this Third
Fix this textSession of the Council.
Fix this textHis Holiness Pope Paul VI was
Fix this textthere to open the proceedings.
Fix this textThe observers from other reli-
Fix this textgious denominations were pro-
Fix this textminent in increased numbers,
Fix this textoccupying their special tribunal
Fix this textnear the table of presidency.
Fix this textAfter two months of com-
Fix this textbined effort the Session came
Fix this textto its conclusion. Although the
Fix this textdiscussions were not yet com-
Fix this textplete, there was satisfaction in
Fix this texthaving accomplished so much.
Fix this textEvery draft had received some
Fix this textattention. Three were completed
Fix this textby the final voting and signing
Fix this texton the Session’s last day. Others
Fix this textwere almost ready for a last
Fix this textpresentation to the Council.
Fix this textThe rest were still in the
Fix this texthands of their respective Com-
Fix this textmissions, getting those delicate
Fix this texttouches in keeping with the
Fix this texttenor of debate and voting, or
Fix this textbeing completely re-written on
Fix this textaccount of the Council’s
Fix this textrejection.
Fix this textCHURCH, ECUMENISM,
Fix this textEASTERN RITES
Fix this textJust as in the previous Session
Fix this textthe Constitution on Sacred
Fix this textLiturgy has been finally
Fix this textapproved, so this assembly had
Fix this textfinally approved by almost
Fix this textunanimous vote the Constitu-
Fix this texttions on the Church, Ecumenism
Fix this textand the Eastern Rites.
Fix this textThe nature and mission of the
Fix this textChurch is newly described, and
Fix this textthe roles of its members are
Fix this textoutlined.
Fix this textBishops share with the Pope
Fix this textthe guidance and government of
Fix this textthe Church.
Fix this textUnited with him they have
Fix this textfull and supreme authority to
Fix this textteach, sanctify and rule as
Fix this textsuccessors to the Apostles.
Fix this textIn this document some like
Fix this textto think that we have a land-
Fix this textmark for history.
Fix this textWith the new ecumenical
Fix this textdecree the Church has officially
Fix this textopened a dialogue with “the
Fix this textseparated brethren,” a term
Fix this textconsecrated by this Council.
Fix this textA post-conciliar commission,
Fix this textlike the one for Sacred Liturgy,
Fix this textwill guide the promotion of its
Fix this textprinciples and set the pattern of
Fix this textits dialogue.
Fix this textThe Council’s third document
Fix this textopens up yet another path of
Fix this textecumenical accord for the
Fix this textEastern Rites of Catholicism
Fix this textwith Orthodoxy in the East.
Fix this textCLOSING SESSION
Fix this textThe closing function was grand
Fix this textwith some majesty in the occa-
Fix this textsion. The Basilica was thronged
Fix this textfor it was a public congregation
Fix this textof the Council.
Fix this textThe Sistine Choir and the
Fix this textsilver trumphets from the cupola
Fix this textadded to the holy atmosphere, as
Fix this textPope Paul ’with twenty-four
Fix this textBishops from as many countries
Fix this textconcelebrated at the Papal
Fix this textAltar.
Fix this textThe final voting on the three
Fix this textdocuments took place. • Each
Fix this textbishop present signed them and
Fix this textthey were proclaimed by His
Fix this textHoliness.
Fix this textPope Paul, at ease and accus-
Fix this texttomed now to the demands of
Fix this texthis office, preached at length
Fix this textwith joy of this Sessiou, with
Fix this texthope for the spiritual and
Fix this textmaterial good of mankind and
Fix this textwith a plea for charity.
Fix this textHe prayed for fervent charity
Fix this texttowards our brothers, in the
Fix this textpromotion of love for the poor,
Fix this textin dedication to justice and in
Fix this textthe defence of peace.
Fix this textThere are a hundred incidents
Fix this textto recall like the address of Mr.
Fix this textPatrick Keegan of London,
Fix this textspeaking in his native tongue on
Fix this textthe role of the laity and gaining
Fix this textthe loud applause of his hearers,
Fix this textor the presence among the repre-
Fix this textsentative lay-women of several
Fix this textnations of Miss Rosemary Goldie
Fix this textof Sydney.
Fix this textBut I must speak a private
Fix this textword to the Archbishop of
Fix this textWarsaw. Cardinal Stephen
Fix this textWyszynski. The Polish residents
Fix this textof Newcastle and Maitland asked
Fix this textme to convey a message to their
Fix this textmuch revered compatriot. So
Fix this textbefore “school” one morning I
Fix this textwaylaid His Eminence and gave
Fix this textmy greetings from the New
Fix this textAustralians back home and
Fix this textreceived in turn his amiable
Fix this textblessing. A passing photographer
Fix this textrecorded our meeting.
Fix this textSOTTO IL MONTE
Fix this textAway from the Council one
Fix this textSunday, I visited the birthplace
Fix this textof Pope John XXIII. The
Fix this textnotoriety that has descended
Fix this textupon Sotto II Monte has not
Fix this textspoilt its charm nor robbed the
Fix this textRoncalli family of its simplicity.
Fix this textXavier is much like his eminent
Fix this textbrother. It was a good pleasure
Fix this textto converse with him and to
Fix this textshare his coffee.
Fix this textOn another week-end I ful-
Fix this textfilled a long-felt wish. In 1946
Fix this textI flew over Malta. Now I enjoyed
Fix this texttwo days in this island of the
Fix this textGeorge Cross. The destruction of
Fix this textwar is not obvious any more.
Fix this textThese wonderful people are busy
Fix this textin their new independence in
Fix this textnlanning the future of their
Fix this textisland no longer a fortress
Fix this textbut surely a tourist centre of
Fix this textgreat attraction.
Fix this textWhen Pope Paul received the
Fix this textAustralian Bishops in audience
Fix this texthe spoke with affection of our
Fix this textland.
Fix this textHe would extend through us
Fix this textto our fellow Australians his
Fix this textheartfelt eood wishes and his
Fix this textfatherly blessing.
Fix this textI am happy to convey his
Fix this textgenerous sentiments through the
Fix this textcolumns of the “Sentinel.”
Fix this textA Christian
Fix this textChristmas
Fix this textWhen the Church began its mission of spreading the good
Fix this texttidings, it showed tolerance towards many existing national and
Fix this textsocial customs, and the emotions which had gathered around
Fix this textthem in the lives of the people. Their myths and ceremonies were
Fix this textretained in their better elements. The excesses soon perished m
Fix this textthe new atmosphere. Singing and dancing, feasting and merry-
Fix this textmaking were channelled into a consciousness of the brotherhood
Fix this textof mankind and the fatherhood of God.
Fix this textAnd so, when the commemoration day of Christ the Saviour’s
Fix this textbirthday was approved by the Church, the date chosen coincided
Fix this textwith the Northern Hemisphere’s celebration of the winter solstice.
Fix this textThis had long been a special, if pagan, time of rejoicing at the
Fix this textapparent rebirth of the sun after the dark and cold winter.
Fix this textAs the sun’s return gave promise of increasing warmth and light
Fix this textand renewal in nature, so did the coming of the Son of Justice
Fix this textassure triumph over idolatry, sin and death which had for so
Fix this textlong darkened the souls of mankind.
Fix this textThe fact that He had come, and not the actual date of his
Fix this textcoming was what mattered; and that fact was surely good cause
Fix this textfor expressions of joy, for merrymaking and feasting within
Fix this textreasonable limits. After all, there had not been many fitting
Fix this textoccasions for universal rejoicing in the world’s sad history.
Fix this textIf the pagan influence of the solstice had been eliminated,
Fix this textthe festivility has been retained. Christmas has become the season
Fix this textof widespread goodwill; old hostilities are at least temporarily
Fix this textsuspended; generosity extends far beyond friends and relatives
Fix this textto the underprivileged and the lonely; greetings and good wishes
Fix this textare exchanged in areas where the light of the Star of Bethlehem
Fix this textis rarely seen to shine.
Fix this textIt is unfortunately true that the emphasis on goodwill has
Fix this texttended to diminish the giving of glory to God. This is the
Fix this textreverse of the light, the intended order. The Church gave Chnst-
Fix this textmastide to the world as essentially a religious festival to be observed
Fix this textfor religious motives, since in Bethlehem of Juda, unto us a
Fix this textChild was born, unto us a Son was given God the Son, the
Fix this textSecond Person of the Blessed Trinity, the Word who from the
Fix this textbeginning was with God, was God and was made flesh and dwelt
Fix this textamongst us for our redemption. It was not the intention of the
Fix this textChurch that the conventional celebrations involving the Christmas
Fix this textrush should corrupt Bethlehem into Bedlam, and leave tired
Fix this textminds with no room for Mary’s Son wrapped in swaddling clothes
Fix this textand laid in the manger.
Fix this textThat there was no room for the Holy Family in Bethlehem s
Fix this textinn has become the classic example of inhospitality. But the
Fix this textpeople of that humble village did not suspect the real identity
Fix this textof the travellers. They did not realise that the baby soon to be
Fix this textborn was the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Mighty One
Fix this textof God. They did not dream that the newest name to be added
Fix this textto the census-sheets was the Name above all names.
Fix this textBut we know the real truth; and that is why the Church
Fix this textgives us the season of Advent as a time of soul-searching, of
Fix this textspiritual house-cleaning so that room can be made for the
Fix this textChristmas Child. At the right time, by all means, let us have
Fix this textChristmas trees, gifts to be given and received; but not forget
Fix this textat least some thought of Him who made Christmastide and all
Fix this textits happy associations possible for us.
Fix this textHe is the great gift. He was given that we, believing in Him,
Fix this textshould not perish but should find eternal life through Him.
Fix this text• The interior of St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, the scene of Vatican II.
Fix this text• POPE PAUL VI
Fix this text• BISHOP J. TOOHEY
Fix this textIt's easy and takes two shakes of a lamb's tail!
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(2016). The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel : the official organ of the diocese of Maitland Retrieved August 12, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-324303346
The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel : the official organ of the diocese of Maitland Canberra: National Library of Australia, 2016. Web. 12 August 2025 <http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-324303346>
2016, The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel : the official organ of the diocese of Maitland National Library of Australia, Canberra viewed 12 August 2025 http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-324303346
{{Citation
|
| title=The Newcastle and Maitland Catholic Sentinel : the official organ of the diocese of Maitland.
| year=2016
| section=online resource : illlustrations
| issn=2206-5466
| issue=Vol. XXXIII No. 4 (1 January, 1965)
| location=Canberra
| publisher=National Library of Australia
| url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-324303346
| id=nla.obj-324303346
| access-date=12 August 2025
| via=Trove
}}
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