The Catholic faith of Supreme Court Justice Robert Mazza is so central to his life he recently found himself calling for divine intervention for his beloved Fremantle Dockers, he told a crowd of over 170 men gathered in Perth on September 12.
Justice Mazza shared this lighthearted moment at the third instalment of the Catholic Man Breakfast Series (CMBS) in Perth, but was adamant that faith has been central to his personal and professional development.
It was an understanding he found himself reflecting on six years ago after the death of his mother. “I was sorting through photos and noticed how many moments of our family life centred around the Church Sacraments,” he told the audience, including students from Trinity, John XXIII and Corpus Christi Colleges.
Moulded by the example of his parents and the Jesuit influence throughout his schooling at St Louis in Claremont (now merged into John XXIII College), Justice Mazza said he is and has always been inspired by the school motto, “I seek higher things”.
He saw it as a rallying cry against half-heartedness and a call to use whatever ability you had for the benefit of others.
These were qualities lived out by his father, an Italian immigrant who became a lawyer and was key in shaping Justice Mazza’s career.
“He was a man who understood human weakness… he was a champion for the underdog and went into each case boots and all”, he said.
“Even on his death bed he handwrote a letter for a client… he was always thinking of others”.
It was an influence that guided Justice Mazza through 15 years as a criminal lawyer, where he dealt with crimes ranging from shoplifting to wilful murder, committed by both “the deprived and the rich and famous”.
Now the father of three teenagers, Justice Mazza admitted the exposure to horrific crimes had at times shaken his faith, but had never broken it.
There were times when he would contemplate how God could allow a man to murder his wife and children or how a priest could abuse a child, but underneath he knew that people made their own choices and ultimately only God could judge them.
He said he understood Christ as the epitome of truth, honesty, integrity, mercy and justice – values he had been taught by his family and the Church and ones he attempted to incorporate into his work.
They are values that have been noticed and recognised by Justice Mazza’s colleagues and peers. On the official transcript of his appointment to the Supreme Court of WA in 2010, it was written, “Justice Mazza joins the court from the District Court, to which he was appointed on 10 February 2004.
“In the six years your Honour has served on that Court, your Honour has demonstrated the capacity to apply to judicial work personal characteristics that were evident in your legal practice prior to your appointment. Those characteristics include an intuitive sense of fairness, enthusiasm for hard work, a sound knowledge of the law, good humour, a capacity to relate to people from all walks of life and to put them at their ease in the most stressful of circumstances. These are capacities which will be of invaluable assistance in your work on this Court”.
John XXIII student William Paparo, 17, found the experience inspirational.
“It was an excellent opportunity for me to put my Catholic faith into perspective,” he said.
“It is one thing to attend church on a Sunday, but it is good to hear how others practise it in their daily lives.”
Willetton parishioner Andre Sequeira was attending the MenAlive men’s breakfast for the first time and was already looking forward to the next event.
“I hope more men will be able to experience such a wonderful opportunity,” he said.
Kim Metcalf, one of the organising team for the CMBS, was delighted with the event and the momentum building among Catholic men in Perth.
“We are hoping to host two breakfasts each year and are looking to draw more men to gather and be encouraged and inspired in their faith.”
In concluding the event, Auxiliary Bishop Don Sproxton said it was important for Catholic men to assume their roles in their families and society and thanked Justice Mazza for his example.
“We need Christ to be the centre of our Church and our lives,” he said. “We need to be meek – but not weak – and to know who we are before God and before others.”
The Catholic Man Breakfast Series is an outreach of the menALIVE ministry which has touched the lives of almost 10,000 men through seminars and retreats, since its inception in 2003.
The ministry adopted St Iraneaus’ quote, “God is glorified when men are fully alive”, and it is this intent they have taken to 23 dioceses throughout Australia, New Zealand, South East Asia and will soon be introducing to Canada.
For more information see: www.menalive.org.au.