Sydney
23 June 2002
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St Pio – newest saint
US calls in Australian archbishop
Order pays $3.6 million
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Shame and sorrow for all in Church, says schools head
‘Humble, but delighted’
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‘Humble, but delighted’
A husband and wife from Holsworthy have been chosen by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference as Australia’s delegates to the Fourth World Meeting of Families in Manila next year.
Anne and Peter McGowan (pictured right), parishioners of St Christophers, felt “a bit of disbelief at first” when they heard of their selection.
“It is certainly an honour,” says Anne. “We’re really quite humbled and delighted.
“It’s quite exciting as we’ve worked for the Church all our married lives, and even before. We sort of see it as a reward, but it’s a growth opportunity, too.”
Anne and Peter, who have four grown-up children, are heavily involved in Church activities, as both employees and in an honorary capacity.
Anne is employed by Natural Family Planning Services as a supervisor of Natural Family Plannning teachers and family life educators.
Peter is a pastoral care worker at St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst.
Both have been involved in work with developmentally delayed people and have had a long-time involvement with the Catholic Society for Marriage Education. They were also founding members of the pre-marriage program, Together as One.
Bishop Eugene Hurley, chairman of the Bishops’ Committee for the Family and for Life, said: “I am sure the McGowans will be worthy representatives for Australian Catholic families at this gathering.”
The theme of each World Meeting has been chosen by the Pope to reflect his belief in families and his view, expressed in his apostolic letter, Familiaris Consortio, that “the future of humanity passes by way of the family”.
The theme for Manila (January 22-26) is The Christian Family: Good News for the Third Millennium.
Bishop Hurley said the Pope is highly committed to the World Meetings and has always attended them.