Noticeboard Update

Not too many words on the noticeboard this week.

Check out some amazing works by photographers who captured images of chaos and beauty. Sometimes issues of social justice radiate from untouched, real photographs.

Also, starting next week, COSDU will be starting some outreach work. So to prepare ourselves for it, read about the soup van and their volunteers who reach out to some of the most unique people.

Noticeboard Update

Melbourne's water crisis isn't anything new, but reports this week that we may be out of water by the month of May is naturally worrying.

What should our response as Christians be to the water shortage? Do we even have a responsibility as Christians toward this crisis? Find out more from the noticeboard.

And because we're on the topic of the water shortage, the issue of climate change should be not too far from our minds. Read what Kairos has to say about our Christian responsibility to climate change.

Finally, the forgotten voices from Iraq: The doctors. Those among us who read and watch the news would realise that bombings in Iraq is becoming a daily occurance but few of us actually know what these doctors are facing everyday.

What you missed out

If you didn't manage to participate in the Scavenger Hunt about two weeks ago, you can still have a sneak peek into what happened.

First of all, big KUDOS! to Jon and Hobart for masterminding the entire event, including planning out the three different routes for the three teams and then having to physically try out the routes to ensure that transport and time needed to complete the journeys are within a reasonable range.

Besides the usual parishes, the check points visited by the Scavenger Hunt teams also include the Elvis memorial at the Melbourne Cemetary, the Shrine of Remembrance, and the Queen Victoria Market.

Ask any one who attended and we will attest to the incredible fun and fellowship effervesing among the participants. The level of excitment was hightened with the intense rivalry between oppponent teams.

Like in Amazing Race, the level of intensity climaxed as the teams converged towards the final checkpoint. Having spotted the rival teams, each group picked up pace and literally raced each other till fatigue.

The interesting twist to this Scavenger Hunt is the requirement of the whole team to enter a row boat and paddle to 30 metres from the Studley Park Boathouse where our game masters tasked us to perform a final mission. Try to discern what this mission entails from the pictures.

The Scavenger Hunt concluded with a very sumptous BBQ lovinly prepared by Janan, Maria and Derek which involved gourmet mexican and garlic & herb sausages while we could finally sit back, relax and enjoy each other's company in the environs of Studley Park.

Enjoy the pictures!

Social Justice Update

Big news this week:

• The key suspect of the September 11 attacks, the Bali bombing and 30 other bomb attacks confessed that he did indeed plan and carry out the bombings. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed confessed this from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where he has been held since his 2003 arrest.

Why would a man confess to his crimes after being help captive for nearly 4 years? To understand more, read the article on the noticeboard about Guantanamo Bay and the ordeal of 3 men who spent 2 years there.

• The Zimbabwean president, Robert Mugabe has warned anyone against his regime. The week saw many opposition supporters badly beaten, including those who were attending the funeral of a fallen opposition supporter. Mugabe's latest warning was against western diplomats, warning them that if they were supporters of the opposition, they would face explusion from the country.

What is and has been happening in Zimbabwe? Who is Mugabe? What is wrong with Mugabe's regime? Find out more from the noticeboard.

COSDU TURNS 20 TODAY!

On this day 20 years ago, the Catholic Overseas Students Down Under officially became an affiliated club of the University of Melbourne. Because most international students graduate and return to their home countries within 3 years, it can be a challenge to see a continuous line of this extended family-away-from-home. Therefore to commemorate Cosdu's 20th anniversary milestone, we've managed to find an alumni Cosduan, Terence Kesavan, to share his memorable experience with us. To find out more about Terence, check out his blog in the sidebar.

I arrived in Melbourne in Feb 2001, and one of the first things that I did at the Uni clubs and societies day was to look for a Catholic group to join. My intention was fundamentally self-centred. Firstly, because I knew that at that point in my life, without Catholic friends to go for mass with, I would find it so easy to just lapse in my faith. Secondly, being in a foreign land, I naturally wanted to find a bunch of friends to hang out with, and surely Catholics will make the best friends.

So I found the COSDU booth. At first I was thinking that the Catholic group would be one with mostly Aussies, so I was quite surprised to find that the group was all Asian. That made it a whole lot more welcoming and easier to fit in. I still remember going for the first group mass, being greeted by Wen Kit who was the president then, and more surprisingly discovering that he wasn't even baptised yet.

COSDU was a major part of my life in Melbourne Uni, both socially and spiritually. After enjoying my first semester in COSDU, I found myself elected to the post of Sessions Co-ordinator. This was a real challenge for me, as back in Singapore, I was always on the receiving end, at most helping out with some logistics. But to be organising the spiritual input for the whole year was really a whole new experience, and forced me to focus on the spiritual aspects of sessions.

Despite my short stay of one and a half years in melbourne, COSDU definitely played a part of not only keeping me going to church, but in challenging me to grow in faith and discovering myself. Coming to Melbourne pulled me out of the comfort and familiarity of home, but COSDU made the stay so much more enjoyable, a place where I could feel at home and loved. And it was a group of people not gathering for any other reason, than to share our common faith, and love of God.

I am currently in the seminary in Singapore, undergoing my formation to the priesthood. Something quite ironic, seeing that during the session on vocation that I organised, I purposely brought in a married couple to try to show that marriage was also a vocation. But God works in His mysterious and wonderful ways, just as He guided me to COSDU, He has also guided me down this road, to serve His people. And looking back retrospectively, I will definitely say that my time in COSDU, the appointment of Session Co-ordinator has given me much valuable experience and confidence for my future ministry.

My wish for COSDU as we celebrate its 20^th Anniversary, is that it will continue to be a place which welcomes everyone, and gives them an experience of the Love of God. And that it will be where all who are on this journey towards God, will find support, encouragement and a place to both give and receive.

May God pour forth His grace to all the members past, present and future, and use them for the building of His Kingdom and the Glory of His name.

Father Paul Newton - Catholicism: Beyond Blind Faith

Cosdu is unequivocally glad to have had Father Paul Newton speak to us about the very interesting topic of Catholicism: Beyond Blind Faith at the recent session. Father Paul Newton was lively and engaging from start to finish and very successfully steered us through controversial waters.

Although not everyone's personal questions could be answered within the time constrain, we all had a fruitful time of discussion pondering upon thought-provoking questions. What is the basis of my faith? To what extent is my faith based on knowledge compared to what my feelings dictate? How do I make decisions in life or take moral stands in areas of my life that require me to do so? Do we tend to compartmentalize our faith and intellect? As a Catholic, do you you ever feel that you should not question the beliefs that you've been brought up with? That to question is to show a lack of faith?

Father Paul Newton summed up by reminding us that at the crux of all our musings, we have to actively know more about Faith, pray for our faith while always keeping a loving relationship with God.

He also provided us a list of websites that provide good material to chew on.

Catholic Answers
Envoy
Scripture Catholic
Catholic Exchange
External Word Television Network
This Rock Magazine
Universalis - Liturgy of the Hours
Peter Kreeft
Conversion Stories
Catholic News Australia
Catechism of the Catholic Church

and last but not least, his own website; www.frpaulnewton.com

But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

1 Peter 3:15

Notice Board - Social Justice Awareness (Sem 1 Edition 1)

Welcome to a new year and new semester!

As most of the older COSDU-ans would know, there is a noticeboard in the Chaplaincy's kitchen which would be updated every Friday on issues of justice and peace.

You are all more than welcome to go to the Chaplaincy, visit Sister, have a cup of tea and gaze at the noticeboard. It's quite a nice way to update yourselves with the events of the world if like me, you're finding it harder and harder to make it back in time for SBS World News Australia.

Anyway, the articles on the noticeboard this week coincides with International Women's Day which was on Thursday, the 8th. International Women's Day is not only about empowering women but to make us realise that there are large numbers of women in the world experiencing poverty and oppression. Read about the women in Afghanistan and Iran.

Also, this being the season of lent, why not think about contributing an amount you can afford to Project Compassion? This Catholic organisation does some pretty amazing work and you can read about the people and communities they are supporting on the noticeboard.

Oh, and don't forget to look out for Mother Teresa's lenten message too.

- Celine

Cosdu on CathNews and updates to this Website

"CathNews is a service of Church Resources. It is a daily news service with prayer, meditation and Catholic website reviews. It is the most visited Catholic website in Australia, providing a mix of news and prayer updated daily, which is also available free of charge by email. As of February 2004, there were more than 10,000 email subscribers and almost 9000 visits to the site each day." CathNews has also recently featured this Cosdu Website in their March edition.

Click the above image to view other featured websites. Besides being updated of the latest happenings in Cosdu, please do take some time to browse through our achives and pictures of past events. The photos sections in the side bar has been expanded to include quick links to previous key events such as Sports Day, Festival of Nations and Easter Camp. Stick around and you will soon find yourself leaving a pictorial legacy in these pages as well.

A synopsis of upcoming sessions for this semester has also been updated (see side bar). Do check back nearer the dates to be updated of changes or contingent plans.

And lastly, this website has interactive capabilities i.e. the comment field is enabled. So feel free to to leave comments in the posts or email them directly to us. Some suggestions of comments include after thoughts of a particular session that struck a chord with you or reviews of social activities like the coming Scavenger Hunt. If you would like to have your personal blog included in our blogroll, do drop us an email too.

Looking forward to seeing you at this Friday's session at West Hall lead by Father Paul Newton on a very interesting topic : Catholicism - Beyond Blind Faith.

The Semester in full swing

The Cosdu committee spent an intensive weekend together at our bi-annual retreat to plan for a fun and meaningful programme just for you in this exciting semester.

A big thank you to everyone who came along last week's Welcome Mass. We had a really good time catching up with old friends and breaking the ice with new ones. Do continue to keep your friday evenings free for more fun and fellowship.

Please be informed that at this Friday's session there will be some administrative matters to attend to. We will be requiring everyone to fill up a Membership Form as well as to make payment for the membership fee at a nominal cost of $5 a year ($2.50 for Student Union members).

Also, do indicate your attendence at the Scavenger Hunt that will be taking place this Sunday. It will be a great way to get to know the environs of Melbourne City while bonding with new friends. The Scavenger Hunt will officially kick start after the 9am Mass at St Francis Church. Check out some of the photos taken at last year's event.