National Briefs
Residents of Sumner House apply themselves to some serious gnocchi-making, courtesy of Fr Daniele Russo’s expertise. Photo: Bernard Caballero
FR DANIELE Russo is a godsend for those “kneading” spiritual direction. During lockdown, the chaplain of Sumner House is not only tending to the vocational needs of young men discerning God’s path in life, but also the physical ones. Drawing on his Italian heritage and the skills he learnt as a seminarian in Rome, the young priest is teaching residents of the Lidcombe centre how to make gnocchi. Like making pasta takes practice, patience and a few prayers … so too does a vocation.
Catholic Weekly
More than 70,000 students across Sydney Catholic Schools will receive this Benedictine crucifix. Photo: Giovanni Portelli
MORE than 70,000 students across Sydney Catholic schools will receive a memento to mark the 200th anniversary of Catholic education in Australia. Capuchin priest Fr Ben Johnson has blessed piles of boxes crammed with 71,000 Benedictine crucifixes with a medal embedded on each. “St Benedict saw the power of the Cross as a valuable symbol to provide us with strength and protection”, Fr Ben said after the blessing.
Catholic Weekly
Evie Ferris, the new blue Wiggle
BLUE is the new favourite colour at St Andrew’s Catholic College in Cairns after former student Evie Ferris was named the new blue Wiggle. The 24-year-old attended the college until Year 7, leaving to pursue her dreams as a dancer and audition for the Australian Ballet Company. As a Taribelang/ Djabugay woman, Evie is the second Aboriginal Australian woman to join the Australian Ballet company – and now she’s the first to join The Wiggles.
Catholic Leader
Dual Olympian Emma Tonegato
THE Tokyo Games is over but the dreaming continues for Australian Catholic University’s student and alumni Olympians. While serving quarantine in Sydney and Howard Springs in the Northern Territory, ACU’s newest Olympians were meeting course requirements. Bronze medallist rower Rowena Meredith’s thoughts have returned to prac for two Bachelor of Paramedicine units. For dual sevens rugby Olympian Emma Tonegato, her donga accommodation in the NT doubled as an office where she could perform a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy placement via Zoom.
Australian Catholic University