| CIAO, AUSTRALIA! |
| CHAPTER 13 Sprechen Sie Englisch? (Do you speak English?) January, 2003. Guten Tag! (Hello/Good day) God’s choicest blessings to you all for 2003. Life on this side of the world has been marvellous. I am now having to remind myself that within a flash I will be back in the bush. During the last few months, in addition to the studies (which do exist), I had the privilege of teaching (thankfully in English) at the Emmanuel School of Mission. This consisted of trying to get a bit of good old time religion into the minds, hearts and souls of 20 “young” people from a whole host of countries. Needless to say the illustrious Catechism of the Catholic Church was always at arm’s reach. I think we all learned much amid the stories and laughs. |
 |
 |
| by Fr. Paul Newton POSTAL ADDRESS: Convitto Internazionale, San Tommaso D'Aquino Via degli Ibernesi 20 - 00184 ROMA, Italy Tel: 0011 39 06 6979 1666 (Private) 0011 39 06 6979 1601 (Secretary) |
| It was a special privilege for me to celebrate Mass at the beautiful pilgrimage place of Altötting. There is preserved a miraculous statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in a tiny chapel dating from 8th century. This and many other blessings were possible due to the boundless generosity and skilled driving of a dear friend Theresia. Arriving on St. Stephen’s Day (26/12) we were delighted to be present for the traditional Blessing of the Horses (as you do). |
| My first destination is one of the country’s oldest cities, Köln (Cologne – pop. 1,000,000+). This will be the scene of the next World Youth Day (August, 2005). A famous feature is the most important inland waterway in Europe, the Rhine River (1,320km). However, the glory of Cologne is its magnificent gothic cathedral (above). This splendid place of worship dates back to 1248 but was not finally completed until 1880. The Cologne Pilgrimage, one of the largest in the Middle Ages, drew the faithful from all of Europe to venerate the bones of the Three Magi (Wise Men) enshrined in this cathedral. During my visit I was pleased to stay at Kolping House. Bl. Adolf Kolping (1813-65) was a priest who dedicated himself to the intellectual, social, and spiritual needs of working youth. |
| Mine was the joy of celebrating Christmas in the capital of Bavaria, Munich. There I enjoyed the devoted hospitality of the Franciscan Sisters of Divine Providence. Sister Maria Magdalena was my invaluable helper. Her kindness will not be forgotten. The more than 100 Sisters are an essential part of Schönbrunn Village where about 1,000 mental handicapped people receive dedicated support from hundreds of care assistants. |
| I wonder if you knew that the Easter Vigil fire in Bethlehem is carried throughout Europe (a sort of Catholic version of the Olympic torch)! One place it came to was the Carmelite chapel at the notorious Dachau Concentration Camp. Official records testify that here 31,591 prisoners - Jews, priests and so-called “undesirable elements” - died. Set up on 22nd March, 1933, this was the first of hundreds of such places of darkness. After having celebrated Mass in the chapel there I visited this shocking memorial to unspeakable suffering. It was here that Bl. Karl Leisner (1915-45) was secretly ordained a Catholic priest. His extraordinary story should never be forgotten. |
|
 |
| Well, as the Christmas holiday time drew near I had to do something with myself didn’t I? So I very happily set off for nine days to the central European country of Germany. Did you know that Germania, with its more than 80 million inhabitants, is bordered by Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, The Netherlands and, finally, Denmark? A bit like Australia isn’t it? I must say that I was pleasantly surprised by the delightfully welcoming and friendly manner of the locals. My dirt-cheap Ryan Air flight had me sitting next to Peter, an American who now lives in Germany. “I’ve travelled to many countries,” he said to me, “and have more than once felt like a stranger, not knowing anyone. However, as a Catholic, each time I entered a church I felt at home.” |
| After an over-night train trip I arrived at my final destination, the national capital, Berlin. The Brandenburg Gate, crowned with the Roman goddess of victory, is regarded as the “quintessential symbol of Berlin”. I was struck during my brief city tour by how many buildings have been rebuilt as a result of WWII which claimed 55,000,000 lives. It seems as if here that distressing chapter in history will never be too distant. Very educational, although very disturbing, was the exhibition called, Topography of Terror. It is actually located on the location of the headquarters of the Gestapo, the SS and the Security Service of Hitler’s Third Reich. Here you can see the last 200m stretch of The Berlin Wall, which used to extend for 150km. |
| In summary, my Christmas exploration of Germany was excellent. I am thoroughly convinced that travelling is the best way to discover and understand history and culture. I am tremendously grateful for this and other such blessed opportunities that God continues to send my way. And to top it all off on my last day, much to my delight, it snowed (temp. –6 degrees). Auf Wiedersehen (Goodbye) In Gesù per Maria, Padre Paolo. |
| Next on the list was to catch up with a good friend, Andreas, in Münster. Town status was granted to Münster in 1137 (not long before Melbourne). On my arrival I was very kindly treated to a traditional delicacy, apple strudel. Yum!!! A highlight was time spent in prayer in the church |
 |
 |
| The Brandenburg Gate, Berlin |
 |
| Kaiser-Wilhelm-Gedächtniskirche |
| New Year's Day Feast of Mary, Mother of God. |
| Just some of my new found friends from the Emmanuel School of Mission. |
 |
| of the conversion of Edith Stein, who was to become St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. She was a Jewish philosopher who strayed completely from religion before dying as a Catholic in a concentration camp during WWII. Her story is truly inspirational. Memorable also was a visit to the Town Hall were the Peace of Westphalia was signed in 1648 ending the 30 Years War, the greatest European war in medieval times. |
 |
 |
 |
| Theresia (my extra angel) & Padre |
| Dressed up and ready for the blessing! |
 |
| Padre & Sr. Maria Magdalena |
| What would a blessing be without a band? |
 |
 |
 |
| Block 26 at Dachau Concentration Camp was reserved for priests. |
| Women known to be in a relationship with a prisoner were publicly humiliated by having their hair shared off in public. They were then made to walk down the street with a sign around their necks saying that they had betrayed the nation. |
 |
 |
| The only surviving part of The Berlin Wall |
 |
 |
| What better way to lead the procession! |