tranmereweb

Congratulations Fr Denis

2012-01-26T14:53:00.000+10:30

The Reverend Dr Denis EDWARDS has been awarded the Order of Australia Medal

for service to the Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide, and to theological education.

Fr Denis has been involved in:

Chairman, Adelaide Catholic Diocesan Ecumenical and Interfaith Commission, Catholic Archdiocese of Adelaide, for 5 years.
Senior Lecturer, School of Theology, Flinders University; Director and actively involved in establishment of the Centre for Theology, Science and Culture.
Senior Lecturer, Catholic Theological College within Adelaide College of Divinity.
Co-Chairman, National Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue, 1995-2009; Member, since 1983.
Member, Australian Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue, since 1992.
Established, Theology Institute in Adelaide, 1975.
Founding Member, International Society for Science and Religion, since 2002.

He is an international authority on the dialogue between science and faith and has written

extensively on science and religion subjects.

Recent research has been in the theology of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit and the Trinity, as well as in ecumenical theology, the dialogue between science and theology, and the emerging field of ecological theology.

Three recent books are Breath of Life: A Theology of the Creator Spirit, Ecology at the Heart of Faith and How God Acts.

Australia Day

2012-01-25T15:21:00.003+10:30

As the Australia Day website proudly proclaims:
Celebrate what's great!
We are certainly a very lucky country to be as well off as we are.
The latest studies show that the average Australian is wealthier than the average citizen from any other country!
How much of that wealth comes at the cost of extreme poverty in other nations?
Catholic bishops have released statements at this time to reflect on an issue that shames us.
Bishops call for humane approach toward asylum seekers
Also letters from:

BISHOPS EUGENE HURLEY AND GREG O'KELLY

WAKOU

2011-11-13T22:05:00.000+10:30

WAKOU AUSTRALIAN AID ASSOCIATION

FUNDRAISING EVENT

We aim to raise awareness and funds to support better health care and education in South Sudan.

Funds raised will be used to build new water wells and to provide water pumps in villages to reduce disease such as malaria and to provide children with much needed school supplies.

WHEN: Saturday November 19
WHERE: 1 Birkinshaw Ave, Tranmere
TIME: 6:00pm onwards
COST: $15.00 per single ticket; $20.00 per family ticket

This event will feature Awiel women and youth
Silent auction & prizes to be won
For tickets and more information please contact 0431 026 851
or atak00@live.com.au

Check out the website here

PALMS

2011-11-06T18:34:00.001+10:30

PALMS Australia is celebrating 50 years of fruitful work in Poverty Reduction

PALMS is a wonderful organisation that recruits, prepares, sends and supports skilled volunteers to reduce global poverty, at the request of partner communities in Asia, Africa and the Pacific.
About PALMS

The website has a wealth of information about the volunteers and the work they are doing.
10 Great Reasons For Supporting PALMS

The 8 Millenium Development Goals to help 'Make Poverty History'

Following Jesus - Matthew

2011-09-05T17:48:00.000+09:30

TUESDAY September 6 Online live Conference from 10:00am onwards.

The popular eConferences are a fantastic opportunity for faith formation and also provide an ideal opportunity for interaction with local faith communities.

Where The Hell Is God

2011-08-11T21:41:00.000+09:30

Rev Dr Richard Leonard SJ wrote this book as a result of the experiences and attitudes that he has met following the accident that resulted in his sister becoming a quadriplegic at age 28.
The link takes you to his own summary of the story of this book.
Where The Hell Is God

Message from Mgr John Swann

2011-07-11T22:04:00.002+09:30

Mgr John Swann, retired parish priest of Tranmere parish, emailed me the following information.

“You may already be aware of this….if not please take note.

Peter was interviewed last night ABC John Cleary, together with Fr Hal Ranger.

Please consider signing. Just click on the web link.”

This ABC program can be heard online here:

http://www.abc.net.au/sundaynights/stories/

Below is the email Mgr John Swann has forwarded:

From: Peter Johnstone [mailto:pj@pjgovernance.com.au]
Sent: Sunday, 10 July 2011 12:59 PM
To: 'Peter Johnstone'
Subject: Letter to Pope and Bishops now launched

Dear All

Every Parish in Australia will receive a message from Catholics for Renewal by post Monday or Tuesday, providing some background notes and asking that parishioners be given the opportunity to consider signing the open letter (copies enclosed). We are asking people to sign hard copies or the through the web link: www.PetitionOnline.com/adlim11/petition.html

Please encourage your friends and contacts to sign and share, especially if they are on Facebook. We particularly need to hear from the younger members of the Church.

See Comments

NAIDOC Week

2011-07-01T20:59:00.000+09:30

NAIDOC Week begins on Sunday July 3 which celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council produces resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Sunday which are useful for anyone seeking to experience the language and rituals of Indigenous Culture in a Christian context.

You can celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday in Brisbane at the following prayer gatherings:

Annual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mass
NAIDOC Mass, 11am, St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral

It helps us to read again the 2003 Social Justice Statement "A Generous Heart in the Love of Christ Challenging Racism in Australia Today".

The Poster is titled:

Road to Change

A First Australian family link hands as they step out on the road to change – proud of who they are, encouraged by what has already been achieved and united in their goal to be changemakers for a bright new future.

eConference

2011-06-01T16:56:00.000+09:30

A National eConference was held to discuss the theme:- Holy Spirit – Giver of Life

Some of the best scholars and evangelists in Australia opened up some of the mystery that is the Holy Spirit.

Two keynote speakers, Fr Denis Edwards and Sr Janette Gray rsm, explored the Holy Spirit.
They were joined by Fr Chris Ryan MGL and Mrs Jan Heath, who showed how the Holy Spirit is alive and active in our lives today.

It is a valuable source of good quality adult faith formation and can be viewed online.
The program is archived at http://holyspirit.vividas.com

Euthanasia

2010-10-07T10:19:00.002+10:30

"I ask the community to continue to love and care for those who are sick and suffering rather than abandoning
them to euthanasia or supporting them to suicide. Our ability to care says much about the strength of our society."

Archbishop Denis Hart

Read his full statement here

"In the interests of protecting the vulnerable members of our society, we must not legalise assisted suicide. We should instead deal with our deep seated fear of the dying process — this is where our real struggle for freedom lies rather than in the freedom to choose to demand that someone else end my life."

John Kleinsman
Director The Nathaniel Centre, the New Zealand Catholic Bioethics Centre.

Read his full statement here

The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has re-issued a submission it lodged with a Senate inquiry into the Rights of the Terminally Ill.

The bishops said good palliative care that recognised the value and dignity of every human life is needed – not legislation to sweep the plight of the terminally ill under the carpet of society’s responsibilities.
We need to be “a society where all can be assured that they can be accepted as people whose lives are worthwhile and where that belief is backed up by health care and palliative care."

Read the Submission here

"It is a sadness that the first moves around our nation under our new political arrangement seem to be a promotion of death and abuse of marriage."

Gregory O'Kelly

Bishop of the Diocese of Port Pirie.

Read his full statement here

Hung parliament no place to be ham-fisted on euthanasia.

Fr Frank Brennan

Read his full statement here

Prime Minister Julia Gillard said she is "conflicted" on the issue of euthanasia, finding it "almost impossible" to conceive how there could be appropriate safeguards.

Link

Social Justice Sunday

2010-09-26T17:09:00.002+09:30

This Statement is issued at the conclusion of the United Nations’ International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World and the World Council of Churches’ Decade to Overcome Violence. Key goals have been the promotion of fundamental human rights, addressing wide varieties of violence – direct and structural – in homes, communities and in the international arenas, and learning from local and regional ways of overcoming violence.

In the Statement examples are given of men and women who are making their contribution to peace as individuals, in their communities, and in response to issues of national and global importance. There are countless others who work tirelessly, and often without recognition, to bring peace where discord or violence would otherwise prevail. As we celebrate Social Justice Sunday, let us remember that every effort we take to overcome violence is a response to Christ’s call to go into the world and bring a peace that the world alone cannot give.

The statement and supporting resources are available here:
http://www.socialjustice.catholic.org.au/

Ten Steps towards being a Peacemaker:-

Acknowledge the dignity of every human being
Engage with others non-violently
Forgive
Reject violence
Support and celebrate cultural diversity
Provide a meeting place
Give help and seek support
Cultivate an attitude of gratitude
Attend to prayer and your spiritual development
Reflect on your day as a peacemaker

Ecology is at heart of Christian faith

2010-08-20T17:41:00.000+09:30

In his keynote address at the National Assembly of Catholic Religious Australia, theologian Father Denis Edwards called for an ecological conversion that involves a new way of seeing, thinking and acting.

A priest of the Adelaide Archdiocese and Senior Lecturer in Systemic Theology at Flinders University, Father Denis has written extensively on science and theology and on the emerging field of ecological theology.
Some of his most recent books are:
How God Acts: Creation, Redemption, and Special Divine Action,
Breath of Life: A Theology of the Creator Spirit,
Ecology at the Heart of Faith.
Read more here

MIGRANT & REFUGEE WEEK: 23 – 29 AUGUST

2010-08-15T14:32:00.000+09:30

An excellent resource for reflection can be found here at the Religious Leaders Institute.

The Catholic Bishops have also prepared information for parishes. It can be found here

Make Your Vote Count say Catholic Bishops

2010-08-10T10:00:00.007+09:30

Make Your Vote Count say Catholic Bishops
An election Statement from the Bishops of Australia August 9, 2010

“Catholic Bishops do not tell people who to vote for” Archbishop Philip Wilson, President of the Catholic Bishops Conference, said today, speaking on behalf of the Catholic Bishops of Australia.

“Bishops are aware that, at election time, many in the community look to church leaders for advice about relevant issues.” Archbishop Wilson said.
“We are privileged to live in a democracy such as Australia where voting matters. We urge all people to take their vote seriously. We urge them to think carefully about the issues that are relevant in their local area and nationally. We urge them to think about the issues that are not just important for them but for the whole of Australia”.

“The 2010 Federal Election is of great importance for the future and the welfare of all residents of Australia. Though many Catholics are rightly involved in the political process in all political parties, the Catholic Church in Australia does not take sides in party politics. But the Church proposes that politicians, political parties and political campaigns should all be judged against six essential criteria. Those six essential criteria are:
●The right of every person to human dignity;

●The right of every person to adequate food, shelter and protection;

●The right of every person to equality of access to education, health, employment and basic services;

●The right of every person, both present and future generations, to live in a safe, healthy and secure environment;

●The right (and the duty) of every person to contribute to society to the extent that they are able;

●The right of every person to live according to their own beliefs, to the extent that those beliefs do not impact upon the rights of others.”

Particular issues that Catholic Church Agencies see as important include:

Health: A Health System that is efficient and accessible for all; properly funded mental health services and an improvement in aged care services.
Social Justice: Human dignity demands that a wealthy country such as Australia must define its priorities so that those who cannot cope in society are helped through government spending by those who can;
Migrants and Refugees: All those seeking to live in Australia should be treated with dignity and in accordance with international law;
Overseas Aid: Increase Australia’s overseas aid to 0.7% of GNI as a step towards recognising Australia’s plenty in the midst of great need;
Women: To protect their dignity, steps must be taken to protect women from all forms of violence; pay equity should be improved and paid parental leave is an important step forward.
Indigenous Australians: Until the most disadvantaged of our Indigenous citizens move beyond 3rd world living conditions, all Australians must feel ashamed and work together to change their conditions.
Disability: People with a disability are entitled to a quality of life equivalent to that of other Australians; serious effort must be made to improve access to services for people with disabilities and their carers.
Environment: The debate about the environment must shift to consideration of the needs of future generations, not just to avoiding present inconveniences.
Education: Schools funding should be available equitably and respect parental choice.
Religious Liberty: In a society with a variety of faiths and non-faiths, we need to be respectful of others.
Human Dignity: The value of human life must be respected at every stage.

The Catholic Church in Australia seeks to contribute to building the Australian society through schools, universities, hospitals, social services, aged care, international relations and our response to poverty locally and in the developed world. Various Catholic Agencies (such as Catholic Health Australia and Catholic Social Services Australia ) have detailed Election Platforms. Specific details can be provided by contacting:
Fr Brian Lucas, General Secretary
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
ph 02 6201.9845
f 02 6247.6083
m 0419.243.959

Prayer

2010-07-23T22:44:00.007+09:30

Mother Teresa reflected on the power of prayer.

The Fruit of Prayer
The fruit of silence is prayer
the fruit of prayer is faith
the fruit of faith is love
the fruit of love is service
the fruit of service is peace.

If We Pray
If we pray, we will believe;
If we believe, we will love
If we love, we will serve.

The Final Analysis also known as "Do It Anyway"

Oscar Romero

2010-03-24T09:44:00.000+10:30

Andrew Hamilton writes:

"Thirty years ago today Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot as he celebrated Mass. His blood and the chalice were spilled together on the altar. His anniversary will be remembered around the world, for he provides one of the universal images of what living faithfully as a Christian might look like today."
Read more..
Also see a previous item on this site here...

Mount of Olives

2010-03-21T15:24:00.006+10:30

Mount of Olives is located on the east of Jerusalem, Israel. The mountain is named after the olive trees that used to cover its slopes. Mount Olives is holy to Jews, Christians and Muslims, and many religious traditions are tied to it.

Church of All Nations - The Basilica of the Agony
The Church of All Nations is at the foot of Mount of Olives. Its real name is "The Basilica of the Agony", but since the completion of the church's construction in 1924 was done through donations collected from all around the catholic world, the name "Church of All Nations" became the name mostly used.

The old olive tree garden is next to this church.

Link

The Catholic Church and Hope

2010-03-20T16:32:00.001+10:30

As agents of hope in the world, the Catholic Church must continue to challenge the non-religious world to look beneath the surface of the secular, said Bishop Greg O'Kelly SJ at the Jesuit Lenten Breakfast in Melbourne earlier this month.

Bishop O'Kelly said that the Church offers the world a vision of what it is to be a human being, challenging those who want to stay at the surface of secularism to look more deeply at their motivations and values.

‘People of little or no faith know that education without values, and knowledge without ethics, is a false education', he said. ‘If they agree with that, then what are they being invited to contemplate more deeply beneath the surface of the secular?'

This year's Jesuit Lenten Podcast Series has explored the role of the Catholic Church as ‘Voices of Hope' in an increasingly secular society. Bishop O'Kelly said the topic is an especially relevant one at a time when many are pointing at declining church attendances and vocations as evidence of religion's decreasing influence.

‘We've got people dancing on our grave', said Bishop O'Kelly, pointing to the work of popular atheist writers and commentators. ‘But I think dancing on our graves is no problem to us Christians, because the grave has never been a difficulty for Christians from the time of Jesus himself.'

He said Christians have a way of living that draws on their sense of God's presence in the universe, and His love for all of creation. It gives organisations run by the Church a stronger sense of mission, and allows Christians to live through love in God's presence.

‘What we must offer our brothers and sisters of the non-religious world is a conviction of human beings in God's likeness', said Bishop O'Kelly. ‘We must challenge any shallow description of humanity, because human nature was not made to be seduced or be restricted to economic rationalism.'

While some have sought to distance the Church from the secular world, Bishop O'Kelly said the basic tradition in the Catholic faith has been one of integration - that God loved the whole world, not just part of it.

‘The world is a theatre of God's presence, and the secular is the place of the incarnation', he said.

One challenge the Church faces is how it deals with those who have different views on issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Bishop O'Kelly said the Church cannot bully others into sharing its views.

‘Is it too much for us, as a Church, to expect that proponents of views other than ours are acting in good faith? They may not have the whole story - we must do everything we can to educate and give our vision of life - but we must respect the fact that Christ proposed, always. He never imposed.'

The Lenten Podcast Series has so far explored the role of the Catholic Church in important sectors such as education and social services, and among young people. Podcast are available at www.jesuit.org.au.

Listen to Bishop O'Kelly's talk.

Read a transcript.

Maureen Lohrey RSM

2010-03-08T10:45:00.000+10:30

Melbourne Sister of Mercy, Maureen Lohrey RSM is frustrated by the fear-mongering, sensationalism and negativity of some Australians about the number of asylum-seekers arriving in the country by boat, and believes these attitudes are based on ignorance.

Link

The starting point of Catholic Social Teaching concerning refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced people and ‘environmental migrants’, is not their legal status but rather their status as human persons made in the image and likeness of God.
Link

Xt3

2010-03-06T20:25:00.000+10:30

Have you heard of Xt3?
It's right here!

A network for young people who share in faith experiences.
It's right here!

Xt3 represents Christ (Xt) in the 3rd Millennium.
“Young people have the task of witnessing today to the faith; the commitment to bring the Gospel of Christ - the Way, the Truth and the Life - into the third Christian Millennium, to build a new civilization - a civilization of love, of justice and of peace."
It's right here!

Connect with millions.
Share the experience.
Build a better world.

The Shack

2010-03-06T16:09:00.001+10:30

This week our Pastoral Associate, Sue Wakeham wrote in our Tranmere Parish Bulletin about the book ‘The Shack’.
She also provided the following background information:
"If you are interested, there is a website www.TheShackBook.com"
Here are just a few of the comments I found there:-
When the imagination of a writer and the passion of a theologian cross-fertilize the result is a novel on the order of The Shack. This book has the potential to do for our generation what John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress did for his. It’s that good!
Eugene Peterson, Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, B.C.

Riveting, with twists that defy your expectations while teaching powerful theological lessons without patronizing. I was crying by page 100. You cannot read it without your heart becoming involved.
Gayle E. Erwin, Author of 'The Jesus Style'

Don’t miss this! If there’s a better book out there capturing god’s engaging nature and his ability to crawl into our darkest nightmare with his love, light and healing, I’ve not seen it. For the most ardent believer or newest spiritual seeker, the shack is a must-read.
Wayne Jacobsen, author of 'So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore'

It is obviously a book that has raised much interest so I have added the following comments and links in addition to Sue's link.
Comments from well-known Catholic priest Fr Ron Rolheiser:
The book has been both highly praised and severely criticized across denominational lines.
Its critics struggle with its audacity (What nerve for a mere human to attempt to speak for God!) and for the way in which it conceives of God (as too gentle and non-demanding).
Personally, I do not agree with its critics. In my view, this is an excellent book that presents a wonderfully positive and healthy theology of God. I heartily recommend it.I should perhaps qualify that with this comment: I read for essence more than for detail.
No doubt, there are parts of this book that would need more qualification, more theological nuance, but that is true for all theology, especially when it speaks about the ineffable, God.
It took the apostolic community and the early Church some 300 years to agree upon even a few basic concepts about God.
So, no doubt, anyone who risks 250 pages in trying to give this a contemporary interpretation will not always and everywhere be perfect, nor to everyone’s theological taste.
The book is not perfect, but it is excellent overall.
Read the full review here.

At Wikipedia you can read lots of background information and analysis.
On Youtube there is an interview with the author.

Mary MacKillop

2010-02-19T23:24:00.001+10:30

From the ABC News website:

"Mary MacKillop, a nun revered for her work with needy children as much as for her rebellious streak, is to become Australia's first Roman Catholic saint on October 17, Pope Benedict XVI said."

Read more here

The website of the Sisters of St Joseph

The Mary MacKillop Story

Quotes of Mary MacKillop:
“Remember we are but travellers here.”
“We must teach more by example than by word.”
“Do all you can with the means at your disposal and calmly leave the rest to God.”
“Courage, courage, trust in God who helps you in all things”
“We feel our crosses hard at times, but our courage should rise with them.”
“Let God’s Spirit guide you in your choice.”

Mary’s motto for life:-“Never see a need without doing something about it”

The Rush Hour

2010-02-14T20:32:00.001+10:30

Our Pastoral Associate, Sue, in a recent reflection wrote:
“In our everyday lives, as we go about our business, it is all too easy to lose sight of the small things that bring us joy and pleasure. If we lose sight of them, then we can forget them. We can also lose sight of the fact that God gives each of us our own particular gifts, to use for others.”

By pure coincidence I came across an article that reinforced in many ways what Sue is reflecting on.
Washington Post

It is the story of a famous violinist busking in a busy Washington railway station during the morning rush hour. The reactions of the commuters were observed and described.
In the article someone was quoted:

“If we can't take the time out of our lives to stay a moment and listen to one of the best musicians on Earth play some of the best music ever written; if the surge of modern life so overpowers us that we are deaf and blind to something like that -- then what else are we missing?”

What a powerful question!

The Stations of the Cross

2010-02-14T18:27:00.001+10:30

During Lent we invite you to contemplate the Stations of the Cross as depicted in our church.
You can download and view it as a Flash file [you may need to adjust the volume of the sound track] Click the screen to move from station to station.

Link [5.2Mb]

You can view it as a Powerpoint file. It has no sound. Click the screen to to move to the next station.

Link [2.6Mb]

You can view it as a PDF file.

Link [2.8Mb]

Lenten Study Program

2010-02-12T20:14:00.001+10:30

Spiritual nourishment for Lent!
Join with other members of our parish family for six weeks of faith development and renewal with the new Lenten program – "Remember me".

You and your group will engage with Luke’s gospel. Jesus is often portrayed at a meal in Luke’s Gospel till finally we witness Jesus at the Last Supper where he asks us to ‘do this in remembrance of me’.
Through the weeks of Lent you are invited to be fed and nourished by the Word of God.

The first session will be week commencing 15th February at 7:30pm in the Parish Hall.

The Southern Cross online

2010-02-09T23:00:00.001+10:30

This Catholic monthly newspaper from South Australia is now available in full as a digital edition on the internet.

It contains a wealth of information, great stories and photos.

Link

Examples of great and sensitive stories are:
'Communities Mourn'
'... Saintly Sites'
'Dudley defies the odds'
'Building peace in a new land'

Stories from the Parliament

2010-02-09T22:50:00.001+10:30

The Parliament of the World's Religions was held in Melbourne last December.

It is easy to dismiss the event as another 'talkfest', but the summer edition of the Australian Catholics magazine contains some wonderful and thought-provoking stories and impressions.

Definitely a very worthwhile read!

Link

Contributor Michael McVeigh writes:

"We often begin conversations with Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhists, or those of traditional Indigenous beliefs, because we want to deepen our understanding of God. Christ might not be the source of these traditions, but as Christians we believe that he is present in them, shaping them with his grace. Just as travelling to other cultures helps us better understand our own culture, looking for what is good in other faiths helps us to better understand the goodness of God."

Charter of Compassion

2010-02-07T17:10:00.004+10:30

Karen Armstrong is a British author, who writes about comparative religion. In 1993 she published her highly successful A History of God.

A former Catholic nun, she says that, "All the great traditions are saying the same thing in much the same way, despite their surface differences." They each have in common an emphasis on the transcendent importance of compassion, as epitomized in the so-called Golden Rule: Do not do to others what you would not have done to you.

In February 2008, Armstrong called for a council of Christian, Muslim, and Jewish leaders to draw up a Charter for Compassion which would identify shared moral priorities in order to foster global understanding.

The Charter was unveiled in November 2009.

Its signatories include Prince Hassan of Jordan, the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and Sir Richard Branson.

The Charter

Vatican III?

2010-02-01T21:22:00.005+10:30

This is Fr Hans Kung.
He was a very influential theologian at the time of the Vatican II Council in Rome in 1962/1965.
In December 2009 he attended the Parliament of the World's Religions, held in Melbourne, to launch his manifesto for a global economic ethic, asserting that a global economy needs a global ethic in which a fair society and the environment accompany profits.

Towards a Global Ethic: identifies four essential affirmations as shared principles essential to a global ethic.
· Commitment to a culture of non-violence and respect for life
· Commitment to a culture of solidarity and a just economic order
· Commitment to a culture of tolerance and a life of truthfulness
· Commitment to a culture of equal rights and partnership between men and women

He said the Church needs another Vatican Council to move reforms forward.
What do you think?
What would be your top reforms for the Catholic Church?

Hans Kung will be heard on ABC Radio National in the program "The Spirit of Things" at 6:00pm on Sundat February 7
Link

World Communications Day

2010-01-25T21:43:00.003+10:30

Pope urges priests to use the internet astutely.
The Pope had told priests that they should write blogs and use the internet more, saying they must learn to use new forms of communication to spread the gospel message.
In his message for World Day of Communications, the Pope, who is 82 and known not to love computers or the internet, acknowledged priests must make the most of the "rich menu of options" offered by new technology.
"Priests are thus challenged to proclaim the Gospel by employing the latest generation of audio-visual resources – images, videos, animated features, blogs, websites – which, alongside traditional means, can open up broad new vistas for dialogue, evangelisation and catechesis," he said.
Priests, he said, had to respond to the challenge of "today's cultural shifts" if they wanted to reach young people.
But Benedict warned priests not to strive to become stars of new media. "Priests present in the world of digital communications should be less notable for their media savvy than for their priestly heart," he said.
Last year, a new Vatican website, http://www.pope2you.net, went live, offering one application where you can meet the Pope on Facebook, and another allowing the faithful to see the pope's speeches and messages on their iPhones or iPods. The Vatican has long had a website, now in eight languages, and a year ago it created a news channel on the YouTube video sharing site.
Website: http://www.vatican.va/phome_en.htm
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/vatican?gl=GB&hl=en-GB

Australia Day

2010-01-25T18:15:00.010+10:30

AUSTRALIA DAY PRAYER
This Land Australia
Dear God, Thousands of years ago,
you created this land Australia.
Thank you for such a special gift.

Keep this land Australia safe and peaceful,
help us all to care for this land Australia,
to be kind to all who live in this land Australia,
and to welcome those who come
from other countries to make their
home in this land Australia.

Please, God, keep this land Australia
a good and beautiful land
for all to love and to enjoy. AMEN

From Catholic Weekly 23-01-2005

Australia painted by Mexican-born Federico Medina

The Verandah

2010-01-21T21:39:00.005+10:30

Australians often sit on the verandah and wait.
We wait, some of us, for the sun to rise; others for the sun to set.
We wait for the storm to blow over the hills and water the parched paddocks.
We wait there for a spouse to return or to watch over our children at play.
Upon its boards we wait for the passing neighbour and the grace of their greeting.

On the verandah, too, we wonder about so much…
In the quieter moments we drift into gratefulness and the prayer it sparks within us.
We feel our sorrows, our pain, and our doubts.
We shed our tears and relish our joys.

On the verandah, we’ve often held the hand of another who also knows the mystery of waiting – spouse, friend, child, parent, and yes – God.

Creation Calls

2010-01-21T21:04:00.003+10:30

Take a look at the wonder and majesty of God's creation. Set to the song, "Creation Calls" by Brian Doerksen.
Using footage from the BBC Planet Earth Series

"Creation Calls" by Brian Doerksen

I have felt the wind blow,
Whispering your name
I have seen your tears fall,
When I watch the rain.
(Refrain)
How could I say there is no God?
When all around creation calls!!
A singing bird, a mighty tree,
The vast expanse of open sea
(Musical interlude)
Gazing at a bird in flight,
Soaring through the air.
Lying down beneath the stars,
I feel your presence there.
I love to stand at ocean shore
And feel the thundering breakers roar,
To walk through golden fields of grain
With endless bloom horizons fray.
Listening to a river run,
Watering the Earth.
Fragrance of a rose in bloom,
A newborns cry at birth.
(Refrain)
I love to stand at ocean shore
And feel the thundering breakers roar,
To walk through golden fields of grain
With endless bloom horizons fray
I believe
I believe
I believe
(Interlude)
I believe
I believe
I believe just like a child
(Choir I believe..)
I believe

Remembering Rev. Edward Schillebeeckx

2010-01-18T11:24:00.006+10:30

Edward Schillebeeckx died on Dec. 23 in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He was 95.
Those of us who remember the Second Vatican Council will know him as a prominent member of a wave of Catholic theologians who helped reshape Catholicism during the Second Vatican Council.
Later he was questioned about his views by the Vatican.

He was the first Catholic scholar to take seriously all the historical research on Jesus that had been done in the 19th and 20th centuries and present it in an intelligible way.

He was a member of the Dominican order that in 2007 published a booklet for Dutch parishes.
The booklet stated that, with the scarcity of priests today, Catholic parishes should begin selecting members who would preside over the Eucharist, as was the approved method in the early church.
This view was based on some of Schillebeeckx's writings.
The following links provide more information about his life.

New York Times
National Catholic Reporter

2009-12-27T14:12:00.006+10:30

Farewell Mgr John Swann
Today is a sad day, but we say farewell with a song!

SWANNY
It's almost time for you to go away
We'd rather that you did not go.
You've been our priest
For 10 years at least
With sermons that would inspire
You've taught us how to live and pray
We're really going to miss you so
But at seventy five priests still alive
Must all leave and retire.

Refrain:
Swanny
How we love you
How we'll miss you
Our dear old Swanny
Now you are going to stay
Among the folks in K-A-P-U-N-D-A
Your family's waiting for you
Praying for you there in Kapunda
We folks down South
Won't see you too much
But please do try to keep in touch.

Swanny Swanny
You're about to leave St Joseph
Swanny Swanny
All our love goes with you

Refrain

Dear God

2009-04-22T21:59:00.004+09:30

Michael Leunig always intrigues me with his cartoons and his writing.
I would like to share this prayer with you.

Dear God,
We struggle, we grow weary, we grow tired. We are exhausted, we are distressed, we despair. We give up, we fall down, we let go. We cry. We are empty, we grow calm, we are ready. We wait quietly.

A small shy truth arrives. Arrives from without and within. Arrives and is born. Simple, steady, clear. Like a mirror, like a bell, like a flame. Like rain in summer. A precious truth arrives and is born within us. Within our emptiness.
We accept it, we observe it, we absorb it. We surrender to our bare truth. We are nourished, we are changed…we are blessed. We rise up.
For this we give thanks.

Amen.

And as we are in autumn here is another one........

Autumn

We give thanks for the harvest of the heart’s work;
Seeds of faith planted with faith;
Love nurtured by love;
Courage strengthened by courage.
We give thanks for the fruits of the struggling soul,
The bitter and the sweet;
For that which has grown in adversity
And for that which has flourished in warmth and grace;
For the radiance of the spirit in autumn
And for that which must now fade and die.
We are blessed and give thanks.

Amen.

Jesuit Lenten Series (5)

2009-04-22T21:50:00.003+09:30

If God loves us, why does he allow us to suffer - Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ

Saying God sends disasters to punish us is not only a sub-divine understanding of God, but a sub-human one, says Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ in the final of our Jesuit Lenten Podcast Series. Speaking with Michael McVeigh, Fr Hamilton explores the question, ‘If God loves us, why does he allow us to suffer?'

Click here to listen to the full interview
(Duration 11:40 To save this audio file to your computer Right Click and "Save Target As...)

Sr Sue McGovern

2009-04-14T20:39:00.002+09:30

People all over Kinglake had heard about the South Australian nun who turned up to help around their ravaged town the week after Black Saturday. They just never expected what they found when they finally met her.

Read the full article here.

Jesuit Lenten Series 4

2009-04-13T20:48:00.005+09:30

'That could easily have been us' - Robert Martini
The Victorian bushfires have brought Australians together in prayer and solidarity. In the fourth Jesuit Lenten Podcast Series, Michael McVeigh interviews Robert Martini, a farmer from Kinglake and member of the parish council from St Mary's. One of the lucky survivors of the bushfires, Robert talks about the impact of the fires on his community and their determination to rebuild their homes and church.

More information about the church here.
Click here to listen to the full interview
(Duration 11:40 To save this audio file to your computer Right Click and "Save Target As...)

Mary MacKillop Statue Unveiled

2009-04-03T15:40:00.004+10:30

More than 400 people including 100 Josephite nuns, the Governor Rear Admiral Kevin Scarce, Church and civic leaders witnessed the unveiling of the statue next to the cathedral at Victoria Square by four of the most senior Josephite Sisters in South Australia.
This year is the centenary of the death of Mary MacKillop

The full story and photos can be read in the Southern Cross paper available in the church. LINK

Find out more about the artist Judith Rolevink

Dr Mary Glowrey

2009-04-03T14:51:00.007+10:30

Dr Mary Glowrey (1887-1957)
- a brilliant doctor,
- a visionary leader,
- a person of great holiness,
- a source of life for countless thousands.

Her story is featured on the St Columban's website
LINK.

Jesuit Lenten Series 3

2009-04-03T14:42:00.002+10:30

This year's Jesuit Lenten Podcast Series looks at Reversals: Finding God in times of crisis and change. This is the third podcast of the series.

One of the most difficult things any family can experience is when someone takes their own life. In the third of our Jesuit Lenten Podcast Series, Michael McVeigh interviews Louise Flynn, from the Jesuit Social Services Support After Suicide Program, about what happens in families and communities affected by suicide and how relationships and lives can be rebuilt.

When someone takes their own life - Louise Flynn
Click here to listen to the full interview
(Duration 9:40 To save this audio file to your computer Right Click and "Save Target As...)

Mary MacKillop Centenary Breakfast

2009-03-27T17:06:00.005+10:30

Click the image to see a larger version.

For more information about the work of the MacKillop Foundation click here.

Karl Rahner, S.J. (1904-84)

2009-03-27T16:13:00.012+10:30

When Karl Rahner died on March 30, 1984, just a few weeks after his 80th birthday, he left a legacy of theological writings that is remarkable for its sheer volume as well as for the scope and variety of its contents.

The breadth and depth of his vision have led some to call him the greatest Catholic thinker of the century

Rahner's theological work was always centered on grace as the presence of God in the individual human person and in the whole created order.
For Rahner, religious experience is not to be found or sought in some separate or exotic compartment of life, but in its ordinary moments and events.
For him, salvation is available to all people of good will. The church is the sign and instrument of what a loving and compassionate God is doing on behalf of everyone, both inside and outside the Body of Christ.

[taken from: http://ncronline.org/blogs/essays-theology/saintly-figures-bowman-rahner-and-climacus]

Karl Rahner saw Christianity emerging as a “world church”. At the Second Vatican Council, the Church “appeared for the first time as a world Church in a fully official way.”
For the first time a truly world-wide episcopate was present at the Council, and this episcopate gathered not “as an advisory body for pope but rather with him and under him the final teaching and decision-making body in the Church. For the first time a worldwide episcopate came into existence and functioned independently”

In addition to a worldwide episcopate, signs of the Church's emergence as a world church can be seen in various decrees of the Council, including the Church's allowance of the vernacular in liturgy. Rahner says that “the documents on the Church, on the missions, and on the Church in the modem world proclaim a universal and effective salvific will of God which is limited only by the evil decision of human conscience and nothing else”

As a world church Christian proclamations would be different from region to regions but at the same time would be source of unity in the church in that they would “criticize and enrich one another”
Vatican II was “the active subject of the highest plenary powers in the Church” The question that must be asked, however, is a question of how this plenary authority can be able to act and exist. Rahner warns that the Church has yet to fully answer this question and that if the Church does not act on the reforms mandated by Vatican II then the Church risks falling back into a status of a European and Roman Church.
[taken from: http://www.shc.edu/theolibrary/resources/rahner.htm]
Rahner warns that the Church has yet to fully answer this question and that if the Church does not act on the reforms mandated by Vatican II then the Church risks falling back into a status of a European and Roman Church.

Rahner was a prophet! How unfortunate that his words have never been fully appreciated and now we are "falling back into a status of a European and Roman Church.

More information: http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/bce/rahner.htm

Jesuit Lenten Series 2

2009-03-21T14:54:00.006+10:30

This year's Jesuit Lenten Podcast Series looks at Reversals: Finding God in times of crisis and change.
This is the second podcast of the series.
Catherine Marshal speaks with Michael*, a father of two who last year lost his home and his business and has found himself without a job amid growing economic uncertainty. He talks about how he's coped in the face of these difficulties, finding his faith and family bonds growing stronger even as the rest of his life got more difficult.
*Surname withheld.
God on my side - A family faces economic uncertainty.
Click here to listen to the full interview
(Duration 10:40
To save this audio file to your computer Right Click and "Save Target As...)

World Water Day 2009

2009-03-21T14:43:00.004+10:30

Whether we live upstream or downstream,

we are all in the same boat.

View this very interesting website by clicking the picture.

Jesuit Lenten Series

2009-03-17T14:52:00.007+10:30

This year's Jesuit Lenten Podcast Series looks at Reversals: Finding God in times of crisis and change.
The Victorian bushfires and floods in Queensland have reminded us how vulnerable our communities are to disaster. The rebuilding of lives for those affected is only just beginning. But many others are also facing uncertainty in their lives, either through economic hardship as the result of financial crisis, or personal issues such as relationship breakdown and life-changing illness.
Facing these challenges requires faith and hope. The promise of Easter is that God is present in these difficult times, and that He shares in our pain and offers us solace. But how do we experience this presence?

The first of the Jesuit Lenten Podcast Series
Understanding trauma and the path to healing - Fr Peter Hosking SJ
Catherine Marshall talks to Fr Peter Hosking SJ, a psychologist and counselor with experience working in refugee and other communities that have experienced disaster and upheaval. He talks about what families affected by bushfires will be going through, and how communities respond in these situations.

Click here to listen to the full interview
(Duration 10:38
To save this audio file to your computer Right Click and "Save Target As...)

Holy Week at Tranmere Parish

2009-03-05T17:34:00.004+10:30

Planning ahead for Holy Week at Tranmere Parish.

Project Compassion

2009-02-26T17:30:00.004+10:30

"We are most truly Australian, most truly Christian, and most truly Catholic when we reach out across borders of nation states and churches, giving of ourselves," Jesuit Fr Frank Brennan told the 2009 Project Compassion appeal launch.

Read Frank Brennan’s appeal launch address .....LINK

Project Compassion is Caritas Australia’s major annual fundraising and education campaign. It starts the week of Feb 23 and runs during the six weeks of Lent.
It is a time to reflect upon and engage with significant issues of peace, justice and development.

News from the Mary MacKillop Centre

2009-02-19T15:07:00.002+10:30

The first edition of 2009 of the Gazette is available here.
It includes many dates for diaries!

Why Do Bad Things Happen?

2009-02-19T12:21:00.007+10:30

At this time of fires and flood and other tragic events the question is often asked.
Somebody has to be blamed.
Fr Chris Middleton SJ, principal of St Aloysius' College, Milsons Point, has written a reflection.
Read it here.

Bushfire Appeal

2009-02-11T15:14:00.003+10:30

You will have the opportunity to donate to the St Vincent De Paul Bushfire Appeal this weekend at the parish church.
Please be generous.
To make a donation online follow this LINK

Instruments of Peace

2009-01-31T22:11:00.002+10:30

Christ expects us to be “instruments of peace”

Do You Know Where You Are Going?

2009-01-28T14:58:00.006+10:30

Here is a prayer to accompany you on the journey.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.

And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.

Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Thomas Merton

LINK

Fr Noel Connelly of the Columbans wrote this:

Recently I was struck by the statement in Acts 15:28 “We and the Holy Spirit have agreed …”
I admired the audacity and the confidence of the statement. It came at the conclusion of the first Council of the Church, the Council of Jerusalem. The Apostles and elders were trying to decide how Jewish the new Greek Christians had to become. It was a very difficult question. Their whole understanding of God and what he wanted was at stake.

Another example was the conversion of Cornelius [Acts 10].
This story is misnamed because it is really Peter who is being converted. Cornelius was a just man and faith in Jesus came naturally to him. It was Peter who had to argue with his conscience and his God as to how this could be. Going to Cornelius’ house was against everything Peter had been taught was precious to God. But he also knew that the Holy Spirit was telling him that this was what God wanted. Eventually he baptised Cornelius, but when he returned to Jerusalem he was given a terrible time by the Jewish Christians. The Council of Jerusalem was largely provoked by incidents like this and by Paul’s outreach to the Gentiles.

We often claim that we are living at a point of history where old approved solutions do not seem to work anymore. It is true. We are living at a time when the old certainties have been eroded and the new solutions are not yet convincing enough. Many find they cannot rely on past certainties and have to struggle to find out what God is asking of them today.

I find consolation in the Acts of the Apostles. It is a book of searching. The early Christians could not rely on the past and they didn’t have clear instructions from Jesus. They didn’t even have the Gospels which were yet to be written. They had to read the signs of the times and trust in the Spirit. We too have to trust in the Spirit, stay with the questions, pray, and use our imaginations and intellects to find the way. Maybe then we will also be able to say with peace and confidence, "We and the Holy Spirit have agreed…. "

Fr Noel Connolly

LINK

Australia Day

2009-01-24T22:40:00.005+10:30

We celebrate Australia Day on January 26, because it was on that day that Governor Phillip raised the British flag at Sydney Cove in 1788; the day that the colony of New South Wales was proclaimed.
Understandably, many Aboriginal people don’t see 26 January as a cause for celebration. In fact it is referred to as ‘Invasion Day.’
The various colonies were united into one nation, Australia, on Federation Day – January 1, 1901
What date could we have instead to celebrate our Australian identity, our nationhood
Perhaps we should wait a bit longer and shift Australia Day to the day when Australia becomes a republic.
What do you think?

Second Vatican Council announced 50 years ago

2009-01-21T15:12:00.006+10:30

Pope John XXIII announced the Second Vatican Council on Sunday 25 January 1959.
Silence greeted his announcement: a frozen silence some thought, an ‘impressive and devout silence’ others later wrote.
Archbishop Giovanni Montini was shocked. ‘This holy old boy doesn’t seem to realise what a hornet’s nest he’s stirring up," he told a friend.

The Vatican II Council eventually opened in 1962 and ended in 1965. Pope John XXIII died in 1963 when the Council had barely begun. Archbishop Montini became Pope Paul VI and accepted the responsibility to complete the Council’s program and implement its resolutions.

We welcome your thoughts and memories about the Council. Here are some focussing questions.
1. What do you remember about the Vatican II Council and its conclusions?
2. Do you think that the Council’s decisions helped you in your faith journey?
3. How well has the Church adopted and developed the recommendations of the Council?

Gaza Again

2009-01-12T22:03:00.001+10:30

Two articles about the Israel v Palestine question caught my attention today.
Both are published by Eureka Street Online magazine. Eureka Street is an Australian Jesuit publication.

“Thoughts from a Gaza voyeur”
Quote:
“The whole Islamic world is in uproar, and the focus there is much less on the immediate issue of the Hamas missiles, and the grossly disproportionate Israeli response, than on the longer term strangulation of any economic, cultural and social life in Gaza by the land and sea siege.”
Read the article here.

“Gaza conversations”

Quote:
“In recent days events in the Gaza Strip have demonstrated that power finds it easier to use force than to begin or maintain conversation. Hamas' mission is to engineer situations which will bolster its support in the Gaza Strip and perhaps also on the West Bank. And Israel's assault confirms the conviction amongst Palestinians (many of whom have already suffered from the blockade of Gaza) that Israel is their bane.”
Read the article here.

The Big Issue

2009-01-10T22:35:00.006+10:30

The Big Issue is an independent national magazine that publishes quality articles and images on a range of subjects including arts and entertainment, current affairs, street culture and lifestyle.
Our aim is to help people help themselves. The Big Issue provides a way for people who have experienced homelessness and long-term unemployment to participate in society as independently as possible.
As a not-for-profit organisation we’re working towards becoming self-sufficient by increasing sales and advertising revenue.

I really enjoy reading this magazine. There are street vendors in the city. There is a website as well.

'ADELAIDE VOICES'

2009-01-10T21:57:00.001+10:30

‘ADELAIDE VOICES’ is an independent, social justice newspaper published every two months.
Subscription:- $ 10.00 per year
Contact Editor: Adelaide Voices Inc, PO Box 6042, Halifax Street SA 5000, AUSTRALIA.

The ‘ADELAIDE VOICES’ presents opinions on community issues that are frequently ignored by the mainstream media.

The current edition contains two articles that especially have drawn my attention.
The first is an edited copy of a speech made by Prof. Fiona Stanley AC at the Adelaide Town Hall on 6/11/2008 about the need to acknowledge Aboriginal people as equal partners in addressing their problems and future.

The second is a speech by Julian Burnside QC at the University of SA on 13/11/2008 about the question of an Australian Federal Bill of Rights. In light of the events that have occurred in Australia during the last decade or so this issue is being looked at with a new perspective.

Both of these issues are about responsible Australian citizenship and very much worth reading and discussing.

The Gaza War

2009-01-09T23:31:00.003+10:30

There are more and more reports coming from the Middle East that criticise the Israeli campaign. The Red Cross and the United Nations agency that runs schools in Gaza are two recent examples.
A British journalist with significant knowledge of Middle East politics etc. is Robert Fisk.
Here are links to two recent articles by him.
Link 1
Link 2

World Day of Prayer for Peace

2009-01-02T21:05:00.003+10:30

Every year, January 1 is designated as the World Day of Peace, and the Pope issues a special statement. The title of Pope Benedict’s message for January 1, 2009 is Fighting Povery to Build Peace.

The Pope asks for:

an “ethical approach to economics on the part of those active in the international market,

an ethical approach to politics on the part of those in public office, and

an ethical approach to participation capable of harnessing the contributions of civil society at local and international levels.”

Newgrange and 'The Light of the World'

2008-12-26T22:00:00.007+10:30

In 2007 we had the wonderful experience of visiting the ancient burial site at Newgrange, Ireland. Situated on a rise near the River Boyne this large passage tomb was constructed around 3200BC. This makes it more than 600 years older than the Giza Pyramids in Egypt, and 1,000 years more ancient than Stonehenge.

We weren’t there for the Winter Solstice, but every year on December 21, just after 9am, the sun begins to rise across the Boyne Valley and the sunlight strikes the front of the Newgrange mound which is faced with white quartzite rock. Above the entrance is an opening called ‘the roofbox’, which was specially designed to capture the rays of the sun.
The beam of light stretches into the 18m passage of Newgrange right into the central chamber of the 12m high mound, where, in Neolithic times stone basins held cremated human remains. With simple stone technology, these wonderful people captured a very significant astronomical moment in a most spectacular way.
It has been suggested the human ashes were placed there so that the path of the sunlight beam would allow the dead to communicate or connect with the sun god or that their spirits could travel up to the god along the path of sunlight.
So at the darkest time of the year the people found a way of using the sun to connect their spirits with their god.

I was thinking that Christmas is about a similar concept. Christ is the Light of the World sent by God to personally communicate with humanity – our guiding light.
We were taught that burning a candle would sent our prayers "up" to God. We still light candles, not to attract God’s attention, but as a tool and a reminder for ourselves that we are praying and communicating with our God.
And just as important, it is also a reminder that Christ is our light always ready to hear what we have to say even though God knows what is in our hearts without us having to speak it.
Prayer helps us to change for the better!

Newgrange

Earthrise

2008-12-26T19:40:00.013+10:30

It's 40 years ago when the Apollo 8 astronauts took this famous photo of Planet Earth as they orbited the Moon. It made us think of our place in the universe in a whole new light!

Astronaut Frank Borman’s Prayer:
Give us, O God, the vision which can see thy love in the world in spite of human failure.
Give us the faith to trust the goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness.
Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts, and show us what each one of us can do to set forth the coming of the day of universal peace.
Amen.

18 years ago Voyager 1 took this photo of Planet Earth seen from 6.4 billion km away! It is known as the Pale Blue Dot almost obscured in a beam of scattered sunlight.
Scientist and astronomer Carl Sagan :-

“Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader", every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner, how frequent their misunderstandings, how eager they are to kill one another, how fervent their hatreds.
Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the Universe, are challenged by this point of pale light. Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity, in all this vastness, there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves.
The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet. Like it or not, for the moment the Earth is where we make our stand.
It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.”

Isn't it totally awesome!!
Link

The Adelaide Achievers Aktion Club

2008-12-21T17:43:00.010+10:30

Each year, just before Christmas the Tranmere Conference of the St Vincent De Paul Society receives a friendly phonecall from Mr Denis Molyneux informing them that Adelaide Achievers Aktion Club would like to help with the Christmas Hampers for the needy. Would they like that?!!

The Adelaide Achievers Aktion Club, a club for intellectually challenged young adults, is sponsored by the Burnside/East Adelaide Kiwanis. The club provides activities for members to promote skills and opportunities for personal growth and undertaking community service. The members strive to return to their communities the benefits, help, and caring they have received, as well as develop important skills in the process.
Tranmere St Vincent De Paul has been the grateful recipient of their generosity at Christmas for many years. We thank them sincerely.

The Adelaide Achievers Aktion Club members are quiet achievers of the highest order and so is Denis. He will probably cringe if he ever reads this but his dedication and passion to the cause of encouraging young people with disabilities is outstanding.
On Australia Day 2005 Denis was awarded an AM - Member of the Order of Australia - for service to people with a disability through the development of sport and recreation opportunities.

Link:- http://www.aktionclub.org/
Link:- http://www.australianoftheyear.org.au/pages/bio.asp?pID=63
Link:- http://www.kiwanis.com.au/

The Annunciation

2008-12-20T12:50:00.007+10:30

Henry Ossawa Tanner (June 21, 1859–May 25, 1937) was an African American artist who studied with Thomas Eakins and was the first African American painter to gain international acclaim.I was intrigued by his painting of The Annunciation.....
Link 1
Link 2

"See how they care for one another"

2008-12-14T23:15:00.009+10:30

In his message this week Mgr John refers to the “New Evangelisation.”

“You know, in a way we need a John the Baptist today, or someone like him to bring about a new awakening to the purpose of Christ’s coming among us. It is what is being called the 'New Evangelisation' – bringing the true joy of the light of Christ to a world in which there is so much darkness and pain.”

I came across an article by Sydney Catholic, Harvey Smith, and it prompted the following reflection.

Much is said and written about the relevance of Christianity, of the Church, in the modern world. Many ideas and theories are tossed around trying to address that issue.
One of the great challenges for Christians today is the cynical, sceptical portrayal of ‘church’ in secular society. It has been suggested that a most effective way to respond to that portrayal is to do what the early Christians were praised for: “See how they care for one another".
Caring for one another requires energy, awareness and commitment. Our personal example, our committed involvement, is a powerful form of evangelisation.
Harvey Smith is active in the Lay Apostolate in Sydney. He is engaged in Gospel Study Groups and has been an active evangelist in the Archdiocese of Sydney for many years.

We welcome your thoughts.....

Australian Catholic website about Evangelisation_ Link

World AIDS Day 2008

2008-12-01T21:31:00.003+10:30

Do you remember Eve van Grafhorst?
Her name was in the headlines of Australian media in July 1985 when she was 3 years old.
Eve died 15 years ago, aged 11, in New Zealand, a country that welcomed her and allowed her to lead a relatively normal life.
LINK: Wikipedia

Journalist Brian Haill working for the ABC at that time was very much involved with Eve’s predicament.
It was described as one of the darkest pages in Australia's HIV history. The family was chased right out of Australia by a hysterical and terrified Gosford (NSW) community that couldn't — and wouldn't — cope with HIV...into the arms of generous New Zealanders on the other side of the Tasman.

Brian has been a very active person in the fight against AIDS in many places. He set up The Australian AIDS Fund and it has been doing fantastic work. The website is very much worth a visit.
LINK: aids.net.au

Spot On Pauline Connelly!

2008-11-30T21:24:00.001+10:30

On page 5 of the December issue of ‘The Southern Cross’ newspaper Pat reflects on the relationship between the media and truth!
The manner in which the death of Daniel Awak was reported by the media included much creative speculation and innuendo. Truth played a very minor role.
The “sensationalism and clanging rhetoric of the daily media was well and truly laid bare!”
Should we accept this form of reporting?

Last year media companies published a report, “Right To Know,” in order to highlight the difficulties they claim they are experiencing in getting access to factual information from governments and public institutions.
In the report the government is accused of all kinds of control, manipulation and spin that diminish the rights of the public to accurate information.

Yet these same media companies continually display incredible hypocrisy by perpetrating exactly such manipulation and spin themselves!
Their focus appears to be not on reporting public events and controversies, but on trying blatantly to create controversies, often with hurtful consequences.

The coverage of Daniel’s death was another embarrassing example of journalists manipulating, distorting and spinning in order to beat up controversy, innuendo and public distrust.

Do ‘journalists’ ever reflect on journalistic ethics?
Aren’t readers, listeners and viewers entitled to have news and comment presented to them honestly and fairly, and with respect for the privacy and sensibilities of individuals and communities?
Doesn’t the media have a public duty to provide fair news reports about matters of public interest?

Related story:
http://www.adelaide.catholic.org.au/sites/SouthernCross/top-stories?more=9635

Oscar Romero on Advent

2008-11-26T14:52:00.003+10:30

An Advent reflection from Archbishop Oscar Romero.

Advent should admonish us to discover
in each brother or sister that we greet,
in each friend whose hand we shake,
in each beggar who asks for bread,
in each worker who wants to use the right to join a union,
in each peasant who looks for work in the coffee groves,
the face of Christ.

Then it would not be possible
to rob them,
to cheat them,
to deny them their rights.

They are Christ, and whatever is done to them
Christ will take as done to him.

This is what Advent is: Christ living among us.

Who was Oscar Romero?
Archbishop Oscar Romero was murdered on March 24th 1980 as he was saying mass in his home town in El Salvador.
El Salvador had been ruled by a succession of corrupt and violent governments and the military organised 'death squads' to murder and terrorise people that worked for justice. When a Jesuit priest was murdered because of his work for social justice, Romero was deeply affected. He underwent a personal transformation and became a champion for justice and human rights.
In spite of constant threats from other bishops and Government he continued to protest and spoke about the need for the Church and Government in El Salvador to bring the gospel values to life.
Romero appealed to the military in the following speech: "The peasants you kill are your own brothers and sisters. When you hear the voice of the man commanding you to kill, remember instead the voice of God. Thou Shalt Not Kill …. In the name of God, in the name of our tormented people whose cries rise up to heaven, I beseech you, I beg you, I command you, stop the repression".
But they did not listen and the next day Romero was shot dead as he was saying Mass.

The links below provide more detail about the life and times of Oscar Romero.

http://www.catholicaustralia.com.au/page.php?pg=mission-aid1
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/file_on_4/4376733.stm
http://salt.claretianpubs.org/romero/romero.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93scar_Romero

Heart Life VOICE

2008-11-08T14:27:00.004+10:30

"Heart Life VOICE" is a new album of songs that challenge us to live out our faith radically through our speaking, giving, praying and doing.
The Heart Life VOICE album includes:

Songs designed for worship and personal listening

Biblical background material on the issues of justice and poverty

10 things you can do to reflect God’s justice and compassion

Find out more here... LINK

You are invited to the Adelaide launch of the Heart Life VOICE album – a compilation of songs that seeks to reflect God’s justice through music.
The launch concert is happening on Saturday November 15 at the Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre behind Fowlers Live on the corner of Morphett Street and North Terrace, Adelaide, 5000 (please note the change of venue).
7pm to 10.45pm.
It will feature live music from Andrew Kitchen (Antiskeptic), Josh Spier and band, Winters Lament, Dan Cameron and Catherine Mackinroth.
Tickets cost $10 and can be obtained from Venuetix, 8225 8888 or http://www.venuetix.com.au/
The ticket will get you a half price CD on the night ($10, normally $20).
Drinks can be purchased from the bar and snacks will be available.
Heart Life VOICE includes new songs from Australian and overseas artists including Phil Laeger, Andrew Kitchen, Steve Bevis, Scott Reed and Michelle Kay. If you believe that our worship should be linked to our action, then this is the album for you.
Find out more and preview the songs at http://www.heartlifevoice.org/ and http://www.micahchallenge.org.au/

The Basilica of St John Lateran in Rome

2008-11-08T13:03:00.005+10:30

Read in detail about the basilica here...LINK

Reflecting on Mgr John's message in this week's bulletin reminded me of the famous thought from St. Teresa of Avila:
"Christ has no body on earth but yours;
no hands, no feet on earth but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which He looks with compassion on the world;
yours are the feet with which He walks to do good;
yours are the hands with which He blesses all the world.
Christ has no body now on the earth but yours."

Centering Prayer

2008-11-01T13:16:00.003+10:30

Fr. William Meninger OCSO
Australian Tour 19—23 Nov 08

Centering Prayer

In 1974, Fr. Meninger, an American Trappist monk, began to teach retreats based on a 14 c spiritual classic, The Cloud of Unknowing. He recognized the book as a teaching manual for laypeople. St. Gregory the Great called this kind of prayer “resting in God”.

Southern Events:
“Centering Prayer”
Thurs 20 Nov, 7pm—9.30pm, St. Joseph’s Hall, St. George St. Willunga &
Fri 21 Nov, 10am—12.30, St. Martin’s Berwick St. Pt Noarlunga
Both sessions $15 or $10 concession
Contact: Tim Deslandes 8556 4686 or roysretreat@gmail.com

Adelaide Events:
“Julian of Norwich”
Fri 21 Nov, 7.30—9.30pm—$15 or $12 concession

“Introduction to Contemplative Meditation”
Sat 22 Nov 10am—4pm (with lunch & refreshments) $30 or $20

“Forgiveness as Fruits of Contemplation”
Sun 23 Nov 1—5pm, $20 or $18(with refreshments)

All 3 Adelaide events will be held at St. Phillips (Anglican), Cnr Galway Ave & Staffa St. Broadview

Contact: Elizabeth Connolly 8223 7499 ec@connollylegal.com
or Rev Caroline Pearce 8344 5255 chpearce@adam.com.au

LINK

The Word of God

2008-10-27T14:09:00.003+10:30

On Friday the Synod of Bishops released a final message about their discussions on "The Word of God.”
The message focussed on four aspects
· The Voice:- The voice of the Creator speaks to us through the wonders of creation and through scripture.
· The Face:- The face is Jesus, who through his teaching brought new universal meaning to scriptures.
· The House:- The house is the Church, the community of faith, where the Word of God is reflected on and put into action.
· The Road:- The spiritual road map for us individually and for all humanity to achieve a way of life that we learn from the Word of God and that prepares us for our reunion with the Creator.

Link: the full message
Link: the message summary

The Moral Demands of Affluence

2008-10-27T12:23:00.003+10:30

Philosopher and ethicst, Professor Garrett Cullity, of Adelaide University, has tackled an age-old question: “To what extent are we morally obliged to help those in need?” and developed a new and compelling answer, in his latest book, The Moral Demands of Affluence – the book also recently won him the $10,000 Australian Catholic University (ACU), Eureka Prize for Ethics.

Cullity argues that the altruistic model of restricting one’s life in order to aid another is flawed; that it is not morally wrong to live a life of rich personal fulfillment. In fact, this is exactly what it is to be human. But, helping others is also part of being human and must be done with perspective, the book says.

Not letting the affluent off lightly, Professor Cullity states: “If you are not making an effort to find an effective way of helping the poor, then you are acting wrongly”.

Link: Eureka Prize Media Release
Link: ABC Radio program-Life Matters-interview
Link: Audio recording of the interview

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

2008-10-23T21:47:00.004+10:30

In Australia, approximately 400 events were held to Stand Up and Take Action against povertry.

202,186 Australians joined with 116, 993, 629 people around the globe who stood up to let their Governments know that they want them to meet their commitments to the Millennium Development Goals and people living in poverty.

The Word of God

2008-10-18T17:21:00.004+10:30

After 2 weeks of speeches by participants at the Synod of Bishops on the topic of "The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church", all the proposals have been summarised into a set of 19 issues or questions.
These questions will be addressed by the bishops in groups during the next few days.

These are the questions:

1. How can we help the faithful to understand better that the Word of God is Christ, the incarnate Word of God? How can we go deeper in the dialogue dimension of Revelation in theology and in Church practice?
2. What implications are drawn from the fact that the liturgical celebration is the ordinary place for and the summit of the Word of God?
3. How can we educate people in a living hearing of the Word of God, in the Church, for all people and every cultural level?
4. How can we educate people in lectio divina [a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures]?
5. Is there a need for a compendium to help those preaching homilies better serve the Word of God?
6. Is it possible to revise the Lectionary and modify the selections of the readings from the Old and New Testament?
7. What place does the ministerial character of the Word of God have, and what importance must be attributed to this?
8. How can we help people to better understand the intrinsic link between the Word and the Eucharist?
9. What means should be adopted for the translation and spreading of the Bible among the greatest possible number of cultures, in particular among the poor?
10. How can the relationship between exegetes, theologians and pastors be healed and their collaboration be stimulated?
11. How can we go deeper in the sense of Scripture and its interpretation, in the respect for and the balance between the word, the Spirit, the living tradition and the magisterium of the Church?
12. What is thought of the idea of a world conference on the Word of God promoted by the magisterium of the Church?
13. How can the search for the unity of Christians and dialogue with the Jews be developed more around the Word of God?
14. What is understood by a biblical animation of all ministry?
15. What questions merit a more detailed examination from the magisterium of the Church (inerrancy, pneumatology, relation of inspiration-Scripture-tradition-magisterium)
16. How can interreligious dialogue and the dogmatic affirmation of Christ, sole mediator, be reconciled?
17. How can knowledge of the Word of God through other means besides the biblical text be fostered (art, poetry, Internet, etc.)?
18. What philosophical formation is needed to better understand and interpret the Word of God and sacred Scripture?
19. What interpretive criteria of the Word of God ensure an authentic inculturation of the Gospel message?

International Day for the Eradication of Poverty

2008-10-17T21:13:00.012+10:30

Today is the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

We know that every single day some 25,000 children die from preventable causes.
This is tolerated by the world’s leaders! Unless we protest we are condoning the intolerable!

U2 lead singer, Bono: "It is extraordinary to me that you can find $700 billion to save Wall Street and the entire G8 can't find $25 billion to save 25,000 children who die every day of preventable treatable disease and hunger. That's mad, that is mad."

During the last 4 weeks the world’s rich nations have spent $ trillions to save corrupt banking systems – just like that!
In that time 700,000 children have died of preventable treatable disease and hunger!
Isn’t such neglect evil?

In Victoria Square, Adelaide, South Australians, including a considerable number of students from Catholic colleges, were Standing Up in support of the ‘Eradication of Poverty’ in the world.

We are standing now with millions around the world on this symbolic day, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, to show our commitment to the fight against extreme poverty and inequality.
We are standing because we refuse to accept more excuses in a world where 50,000 people die every day as a result of extreme poverty and the gap between rich and poor is getting wider.

We are standing because we want our leaders to honour their promises to meet the Millennium Development Goals – and we ask them to exceed these goals.

We join in solidarity with people from hundreds of countries to say: To the leaders of the wealthy countries – We urge you to keep your promises on poverty – debt cancellation, more and better aid, trade justice and gender equality.

To the leaders of poorer countries – make it your first responsibility to save the lives of your poorest citizens.
We ask you to tackle inequality, to be accountable to your people, to govern fairly and justly, to fight corruption and to fulfill human rights.

Today, and every day, we will STAND UP and SPEAK OUT against poverty.
We will continue the fight against poverty and inequality and to hold our leaders to their promises.
We are asking not for charity but for justice. We are millions of voices standing in solidarity to say, no more excuses - end poverty now.

Find out more....

Fr Julian Tenison Woods

2008-10-08T16:33:00.009+10:30

Yesterday was the anniversary of the death of Fr Julian Tenison Woods, 7/10/1889.

He greatly inspired and encouraged Mary MacKillop to found the Sisters of St Joseph.
His story.....

The Mary MacKillop Centre, Kensington, is an interesting place for a visit. Sr Patricia Keane at the centre has a wealth of knowledge and has available a variety of mementos in stock for the Christmas season, including the 2009 Josephite Calendar @ $5.50

Link....

Sr Pat also publishes The MacKillop Centre Gazette which provides a wealth of information.

The October 2008 edition is available here....

The Word of God

2008-10-06T09:45:00.005+10:30

The historic Synod of Bishops on the Bible, "The Word of God in the Life and the Mission of the Church", began on Sunday.
Apart from the 278 representatives from Catholic dioceses from around the world there will be 25 representatives from the Vatican and religious orders.

Also present will be 41 experts from 21 countries and 37 auditors from 26 countries. 25 women are included amongst these experts and auditors.

Representatives from the Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Communion, the World Lutheran Federation, the Church of the Disciples of Christ and the World Council of Churches will also be present.

Pope Benedict has also invited three special guests to address the synod, who will each present a unique perspective to the bishops.

Chief Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen of Haifa, Israel, who will speak about how the Jewish people read and interpret Sacred Scripture.

Rev. A. Miller Milloy, secretary general of the United Bible Societies

Frere Alois, prior of the Taize Community.

Link

The Draft Guidelines, or ‘Lineamenta’, for the Synod provide a comprehensive outline of the many questions that the representatives are invited to address.

Link

Only 32 of the 250+ participants will have voting rights.
Three Australian voting representatives are Cardinal George Pell, Bishop Michael Putney and Bishop Peter William

Previous information on this topic entered on September 11, 2008

Catholic Social Justice Teaching

2008-10-02T10:43:00.002+09:30

Bruce Duncan writes:
“God will judge us on how we have responded to the needs of the poor, sick, hungry and imprisoned. Jesus meant to shock his hearers. Piety is worthless in God's eyes if it ignores one's social responsibility, since God identifies intensely with people in distress."

In his article ‘Reality Check For Antisocial Church’ he suggests that most Catholics do not know the basics of the Church’s social justice teachings or what the Millennium Development Goals are all about.
Is he right?
Read the full article here.....

Celebrating Mass

2008-10-01T11:22:00.010+09:30

Carmel Pilcher RSJ has written about the celebration of Mass in today's communities. She wrote:

"At our Sunday Eucharist we gain strength from each other by sharing Christ’s Word and Eucharist. The Mass is less about spending my personal hour with Jesus and more about committing my life to Christ and the community with whom I worship. It is about gathering with others to focus on the life of our faith community in relation to Christ’s sacrifice. The Mass is the clearest sign of unity and love, and there is no room for division or anger. We can only truly get to know each other and become one body if we gather regularly with the same community." Link

While mulling it over I was reminded of the words of Pope John Paul II when he visited Alice Springs in 1986:

“All over the world people worship God and read his word in their own language, and colour the great signs and symbols of religion with touches of their own traditions. Why should you be different from them in this regard, why should you not be allowed the happiness of being with God and each other in Aboriginal fashion?”

That same message would surely apply to any local faith community?

Social Justice Sunday

2008-09-27T20:53:00.002+09:30

I came across a weblog from Steve Goodier that contained some interesting quotes that, I feel, are very appropriate for this Social Justice Sunday.

Someone asked the comic, Flip Wilson, about his religion. He answered, "I am a Jehovah's Bystander."
"A Jehovah's Bystander?" remarked his friend. "I never heard of a Jehovah's Bystander."
Flip said, "Well, they asked me to be a witness, but I didn't want to get involved."

Edmund Burke: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Edward Everett Hale: "I am only one, but I am still one; I cannot do everything, but still I can do something, and because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."

Amanda McKenna

2008-09-24T22:42:00.001+09:30

Stand Up Against Poverty Day

2008-09-24T21:41:00.004+09:30

In 2007, 43.7 million people worldwide participated in Stand Up events (including Over 107,000 Australians), setting a new Guinness World Record for the largest single coordinated movement of people in the history of the Guinness World Record.
Let's join the action!

Lowitja O’Donoghue

2008-09-23T15:03:00.003+09:30

Lowitja O’Donghue announced her retirement from public speaking at a Reconciliation Week gathering at St Peter’s Cathedral on May 27.
In her swansong speech she sang!
You can find her speech here.....
You can view highlights of the speech here.....

Her biography can be read here....

Hesed Community Celebrating

2008-09-21T14:08:00.004+09:30

We were privileged to have been able to join in 25th anniversary celebrations of the 'Hesed Christian Community' at St Joseph's Parish, Tranmere.
Fr Peter Galvin celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving and spoke beautifully about the Community in his homily.
A good number of supporters and past and present community members attended and enjoyed a lunch in the parish hall.
We were particularly impressed by the large number of people who spoke during the lunch about the Hesed Christian Community and especially the past and present members, all of whom spoke from the heart.
Link
To contact Sr Pat: phone 8333 2837
14/19 Ellis St, Magill

Bravo Peter Goers!

2008-09-21T13:41:00.006+09:30

I won't bore you with my opinion of the 'Sunday Mail', but I must commend columnist Peter Goers, for his education story.

What a refreshing change to get such a positive story about schools, and in this case, a number of Catholic schools.

Peter's article is entitled:

"Bravo! You're a class act - Lessons learnt in the spotlight."

Link

Social Justice Sunday, September 28

2008-09-17T13:37:00.005+09:30

Each year on the last Sunday of September the Australian bishops release a Social Justice Statement.

We are asked to read the Statement and to discuss and understand the issues presented.

More importantly, we are asked to act to the best of our ability and circumstances to address the issues of Social Justice.

This year's statement is: 'A Rich Young Nation: The challenge of affluence and poverty in Australia.'

You can download your copy here
The text only version (MS Word) is a small download - 171kb

The illustrated version (pdf) is 1212kb

Word of God

2008-09-11T14:12:00.010+09:30

A world Synod of Bishops on the Bible has been called by Pope Benedict XVI

The Synod will take place from October 5-26 in Rome to discuss:

the importance of the Scriptures in the life of the church,

look at the Bible’s role in Catholic prayer and liturgy,

evaluate its role in ecumenical and interreligious relations and

discuss ways to improve biblical literacy at every level of the church.

Pope Benedict XVI has named six female scholars to be among the 41 experts to serve as resource people for the synod members, making it the largest number of women ever participating in a Catholic synod.

Pope Benedict also named 19 women to be among the 37 synod observers; the observers attend all synod sessions, participate in the synod working groups and are given an opportunity to address the entire synod assembly. Like their male counterparts, most of the women observers are professors or leaders of religious orders, Bible-based Catholic lay movements or large Catholic organizations.

Fair Trade Reduces Poverty

2008-09-08T21:01:00.004+09:30

On August 1, 2008 international trade talks seeking a new era of economic cooperation collapsed in Geneva after seven years of negotiations.
This is very bad news for the world’s poor.
Global cooperation is essential to make trade fair, to address poverty and to curb global warming.

U.S. and European farm subsidies distort world commodity markets and undercut subsistence farmers overseas.
U.S. agricultural subsidies have grown out of a political system that rewards big money and defies reason.

Chinese and Indian protection measures are aimed at protecting farmers that live at levels often not far removed from subsistence.

Buy Fairtrade products

The easiest way to support Fairtrade is to buy Fairtrade! The next time you visit your local supermarket look for Fairtrade Certified products – they’re easy to find, just look for the Label. Main products stocked include; coffee, tea and chocolate.

Victorian Abortion Bill

2008-09-08T17:01:00.007+09:30

Fr Frank Brennan SJ AO is a professor of law in the Institute of Legal Studies at the Australian Catholic University and Professorial Visiting Fellow, Faculty of Law, University of NSW.

He writes about the Abortion bill in 'Eureka Street' magazine.

Fun keeps you close to God

2008-09-05T23:13:00.001+09:30

It is worth thinking for a moment of all the people who bring fun into our lives. They give us life, and we should thank God for them. What we laugh at we can rise above. Humour and hope are inseparable companions.
Some who profess to be Christians believe, mistakenly and sadly, that there is no place for fun in religion. So steeped in their attachment to sin are these unfortunates that they overlook religion as our connection to God and others. Fun connects us. Sin disconnects. It's the wrong focus and it shows in their demeanour. Instead of coming to Communion to partake joyfully in the Hospitality of God the Host, their faces reveal the sort of misery and gloom that envelops constant watchers of television news. They have forgotten that Christians are meant to be people of the Resurrection, incurable optimists who keep on believing, trusting, hoping, and working for the possibility of change. - Fr Chris Gleeson,

Link:- Province Express

Abortion Legislation

2008-09-05T23:05:00.003+09:30

The Australian Catholic Students Association has condemned legislation currently before the Victorian Parliament which will decriminalise abortion up to 24 weeks as well as forcing medical professionals to perform an abortion if the mother's life is at risk.

Patrick Giam, ACSA's Media Officer, attacked the portions of the bill that violate medical professionals' right to conscientious objection as totally unacceptable.

Link: ACSA

Credo - The Nicene Creed

2008-08-28T13:19:00.005+09:30

The Nicene Creed is a summary or 'symbol' of our Catholic faith.
This link takes you to a website that provides an interesting commentary and reflection on every part of that Creed.
When you open the link you will find the start at the bottom of the page, so scroll all the way down to the beginning.

Link:- Commentary on the Creed

God of Second Chances

2008-08-19T18:22:00.002+09:30

In the words of Gandhi, “we are drops in the limitless ocean of God’s mercy.”

"There are a lot of prodigal sons and daughters among us, people who leave, return, and perhaps even leave again, but are always welcomed back by the God of second and third and fourth chances."

I came across this article at CathNews and it can be found here

Survey of World Youth Day pilgrims finds out who went and why

2008-08-15T11:59:00.002+09:30

Although this research is still an on going project this report provides some interesting information. Over 12,000 pilgrims responded to the survey!
Read it here

Micah Challenge

2008-08-14T13:28:00.003+09:30

Who are we?
Micah Challenge is a global movement of Christian agencies, churches, groups and individuals which aims to deepen people’s engagement with the poor and to help reduce poverty as an integral part of our Christian faith.
Micah Challenge takes its name from the prophet Micah, who wrote, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” Micah 6:8.
Jesus and the Old Testament prophets spoke about God’s deep concern and compassion for the poor. As followers of Jesus, we must work together to deepen our own commitment to justice and kindness.

Why not explore their very informative website here

99227 Australians have signed up

"Going for Gold"

2008-08-14T12:44:00.002+09:30

"It is estimated that the 25 gold medals won by Australian Olympians between 1980 and 1996 cost taxpayers in the order of $37million each, according to a study published in the Journal Of Science And Medicine In Sport."

Wow!!
Read the whole article here

Poultry Parable for Homeless Youth

2008-08-12T13:08:00.002+09:30

Yes, what an intriguing title for a story!
It is a well told story that provides much food for thought.
Read it here...

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

2008-08-06T15:44:00.003+09:30

I came across the poem below, written by Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
At dawn on of Monday 9 April, 1945, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was taken from Flossenburg Concentration Camp to a place of execution and hanged. He wrote the poem while imprisoned by the Nazis.

Who am I? They often tell me
I would step from my cell’s confinement
calmly, cheerfully, firmly,
like a squire from his country house.

Who am I? They often tell me
I would talk to my warders
freely, and friendly and clearly,
as though it were mine to command.

Who am I? They also tell me
I would bear the days of misfortune
equably, smilingly, proudly,
like one accustomed to win.

Am I then really all that which other men tell of?
Or am I only what I know of myself,
restless and longing and sick, like a bird in a cage,
struggling for breath as though hands were compressing my throat,
hungry for colours, for flowers, for the voices of birds,
thirsty for words of kindness, for neighbourliness,
trembling with anger at despotisms and petty humiliation,
caught up in expectation of great events,
powerlessly grieving for friends at an infinite distance;
weary and empty at praying, at thinking, at making
faint, and ready to say farewell to it all.

Who am I? This or the other?

Am I one person today and tomorrow another?

Am I both at once? A hypocrite before others,

and before myself a contemptibly woebegone weakling?

Or is something within me still like a beaten army,

fleeing in disorder from victory already achieved?

Who am I? They mock me, these lonely questions of mine.

Whoever I am, thou knowest, O God, I am thine.