When we don’t want to understand it or even look at it.

Just a few thoughts

·       Aboriginals as the original peoples of the land of Australia were wrongly dispossessed of their sovereignty over it by the British colonisers. Aboriginal people’s human rights have been grievously abused and denied ever since colonisation. As clans or tribes they claim perpetually the right to self-determination in accordance with international law. Their legitimacy in this respect rests upon the fact that they have done nothing wrong. -- Spencer Zifcak, Professor of Law at the Australian Catholic University

·       “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good is better and your better is best”. – St Jerome

·       Charity is the cement which binds Communities to God and persons to one another -- Vincent de Paul

Reflections

ü To lie is to look away from the truth, because I'm afraid of it.

ü God's Justice

ü St Jerome

The Signs Of The Times

Ø The Voice to Parliament – Bishop of Parramatta

Ø The Voice reveals the urgent need for truth reforms

Musical Reflection

¯  We Shall Overcome

¯  Voice!

Divine messengers

Just a few thoughts

·       Noise makes no good, good makes no noise. -- Vincent de Paul

·       Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it. -- Oprah Winfrey

·       May the approaching Synod of Bishops with its lay, religious and priest participants, be watched over by the Angels of God.

Reflections

ü The word ‘angel’ comes from the Greek, aggelos, a messenger.

ü Show Hospitality To Strangers

ü What Do You Think? – Next Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Referendum ‘a crucial turning point for Australia’

Ø World Day of Migrants and Refugees 2023 – Josephite reflection

Musical Reflection

¯  By the Rivers of Babylon

¯  Listen To Our Hearts

St Vincent’s “five virtues essential for promoting love and respect for the poor”: simplicity, humility, gentleness, selflessness, and zeal

Just a few thoughts

·       Let us do our duty well; let us go straight to God; let us work to become very humble, very patient, very mortified, and very charitable. -- Vincent de Paul

·       "Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?" -- L.M. Montgomery

·       We pray for those who care for our churches – sacristans, cleaners, flower arrangers, laundry and maintenance people and gardeners – that they may be rewarded for their generosity of time.

Reflections

ü When Christians get bad press it is mostly because of our failures

ü Taking Notice

ü The labourers in the vineyard -last Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Let us be grateful today for the companions we assist for they reveal to us the face of God. – Reflection on Feast day of St Vincent De Paul

Ø Towards the Referendum: A statement from Australia’s Catholic Bishops

Ø Reflection On Pope Francis’ 109th World Day Of Migrants And Refugees Message

Musical Reflection

¯  Sent Forth By God's Blessing

¯  Ngarraanga (Remember)

St Vincent De Paul

Just a few thoughts

·       To achieve goals you've never achieved before, you need to start doing things you've never done before. -- Stephen Covey

·       If God is the centre of your life, no words are necessary. Your mere presence will touch hearts. -- Vincent de Paul

·       May the members and volunteers of the St Vincent de Paul Society always see their opportunities to assist the poor and needy in the community as moments of great grace.

Reflections

ü Mahatma Gandhi was deeply impressed by Christ, but not by Christians

ü Sent With Faith

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Migrant crisis requires wisdom, not alarmist propaganda: Pope Francis

Ø Bishop Vincent’s address at the 2023 Diocesan World Day for Migrants and Refugee gathering

Ø Richest 5 per cent hold one-third of country’s wealth

Musical Reflection

¯  Whatsoever You Do

¯  God of the Poor

¯  Will you come and follow me

¯  Do Something

Those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.

Just a few thoughts

·       "Make sure you don't start seeing yourself through the eyes of those who don't value you. Know your worth even if they don't." -- Christopher Morley

·       "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream." -- C.S Lewis

·       May this International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons help nations to take steps toward this goal, acknowledging that Pope Francis is a committed champion of this cause.

Reflections

ü Who are my mother and my brothers?

ü Hear the word and act

ü More than fair – Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø The Voice and the importance of truth-telling

Ø Indigenous constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament is:
Fair - A fair-go for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Practical - Will help close the gap / Will help improve the quality of life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Simple - Something Australians intuitively understand
Unifying - An opportunity to bring our nation together

Musical Reflection

¯  As Christ Is for Us

¯  That I May Serve You

Radiating our Christian discipleship

Just a few thoughts

·       You simply have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. Put the blinders on and plow right ahead. -- George Lucas

·       “It is truly overwhelming to look out over this crowd and see you. To know where your hearts are, to know where your spirit lives. And that you, like us, want to embrace this opportunity to move this country forward together.” -- Linda Burney

·       May our prayer accompany all who are making their way to the Synod at the Vatican, so that under the guidance of the Holy Spirit they will listen and share with each other in charity.

Reflections

ü This sounds perfectly unjust.

ü To be a Christian is not to reach a certain level and stay there.

ü Sunday homily by Frank Brennan

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Listen to the heart

Ø Bishops say issues surrounding Voice are ‘moral, political and ethical’

Musical Reflection

¯  Sent Forth By God's Blessing

¯  We Are Called

A universal basic income?

Just a few thoughts

·       "Just because you've made mistakes doesn't mean your mistakes get to make you. Take notice of your inner critic, forgive yourself, and move on." -- Robert Tew

·       May people in great need because of war and violence,  poverty and natural disasters to seek new lands of safety and opportunity, be supported in their decision with understanding and respect.

·       May every Australian, preparing for the referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, seek the Lord through prayer, so that their vote is sincere and true, respecting the dignity of every person.

Reflections

ü Australian Women Preach

ü God's justice IS his mercy.

ü Just Imagine

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Embittered Moralizing

Ø What Could a Voice to Parliament Achieve?

Musical Reflection

¯  There's a Wideness in God's Mercy

¯  Peace My Friends

The seed is the word of God.

Just a few thoughts

·       Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me. -- Carol Burnett

·       “Countries only get to make decisions like this once in a lifetime. And it’s your decision. I think all of us know that this cannot be wasted. It must be understood as one of the most important things that we, as a fair nation, can ever do.” -- Peter Garrett

·       May those who have heard the word, but have found it difficult to respond with full hearts, be helped by the Holy Spirit to accept and understand it.

Reflections

ü Then I may hear the word of God.

ü Consistency Over Intensity

ü What Is Owed to the Laborers – Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø NATSICC Voice Prayer

Ø "I'm voting Yes, and I'm asking that all Australians do too." – Cathy Freeman

Ø Brisbane Archdiocese has unveiled the second iteration of its Reconciliation Action Plan, which covers the period 2023–2025.

Musical Reflection

¯  We Are Called

¯  Voice!

What we do with what we possess.

Just a few thoughts

·       "No matter how dirty your past is, your future is still spotless." – Drake

·       "Confidence is the only key. I know a lot of people who aren't traditionally 'beautiful' - not symmetrical or perfect-bodied or perfect-skinned. But none of that matters because all that shines through is their confidence, humour, and comfort with themselves. I can't think of any better representation of beauty than someone who is unafraid to be herself." -- Emma Stone

·       May Australia increase its sense of justice and generosity and enable more refugees from places of conflict to settle here in peace.

Reflections

ü There is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.

ü An amazing group of women

ü God's Justice – Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø History Is Calling

Ø Earthday.Org - Fact Sheets

Ø Singing a new song together

Musical Reflection

¯  The Summons

¯  Let Love Rule

Follow me

Just a few thoughts

·       "We should deal with one another not as classes but as persons, as brothers, sisters. The more closely we work together, the more effectively [we can] contribute to the better health of all mankind; this should be our common objective and its achievement would make the world a happier place in which to live." -- Milton S. Hershey

·       No bird soars too high if he soars with his own wings. -- William Blake

·       May professionals who honour St Matthew as patron - accountants, tax collectors, customs officers and security guards - carry out their duties with honesty and fairness.

Reflections

ü Matthew wrote his gospel to convince Jews that Jesus was the fulfilment of their prophecies.

ü Grace For All

ü Love, Finally – next Sunday reflection

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Imagine a day when the whole planet was at peace

Ø Where are we getting our values these days?

Musical Reflection

¯  Come to the Water

¯  O How Blessed