We are all created in God’s love

Just a few thoughts

·        "Listen to your inner voice for it is a deep and powerful source of wisdom, beauty and truth, ever flowing through you. Learn to trust it, trust your intuition, and in good time, answers to all you seek to know will come, and the path will open before you." -- Caroline Joy Adams

·        Dear, oh dear, from reports I have seen/heard it seems that the Plenary Council assembly lost its respectful listening mojo and as a result there were signs of misogyny and denial of recognition of minority groups. The role of women in the church was not empowered. How will the Plenary Council deal with this failure of “spirit-filled” process?

·        ‘Witnessing to the Equal Dignity of Women and Men’

·        Plenary Tracker-episode 3 – video of a Zoom conversation about Tuesday afternoon’s Council Session-About inclusivity of women and minorities

·        Observations from John Warhurst – Tuesday’s session

·        Observations from Francis Sullivan – Tuesday’s session

·        Late News - Back to the drawing board: The Members of the Plenary Council have spent Wednesday afternoon working together to reconsider a pair of motions that were not passed earlier in the day.

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Recognising Indigenous knowledges is not just culturally sound, it’s good science

Ø Pope Francis and Vatican II: It’s not a battleground, but the future

Musical Reflection

¯ Let Justice Roll Like a River

¯ A Change Is Gonna Come

¯ One Voice

God’s church must be big enough for everybody.

Just a few thoughts

·        Tuesday’s Mass at the Plenary Councils had as its theme Christian Unity

·        Day 2 Media Briefing --  video discussion of Monday’s highlights

·        Observations from John Warhurst – Monday’s session

·        Observations from Francis Sullivan – Monday’s session

·        Plenary Tracker-2 – video of a Zoom conversation about Tuesday’s Council Session.

·        To find out the voting results each day go here

The Signs Of The Times

Ø This synthesis describes the diocesan phase of the synod on synodality between November 2021 and March 2022, seeking to capture the essence of what emerged from the unprecedented participation by the People of God in England and Wales in a world-wide synod process. It is drawn from over 700 pages of reports from the dioceses and other church organisations, associations and movements that were sent to the national synthesis team

Ø In conversation with Andrew Hamilton SJ

Musical Reflection

¯ Go To the World!

¯ Christians, Let Us Love One Another

¯ Lead Me Lord -- Virtual Choir

The Plenary Council – our future

Just a few thoughts

·        Opening address to second Council assembly – a summary;  a video

·        Sunday’s Opening Mass – Indigenous acknowledgement introductions – see video

·        There is also a daily Zoom meeting organised by a Catholic Church Reform Movement. It provides opinions and commentaries about what is happening at the Plenary  Council. Each evening’s Zoom meeting is posted as a video the following day. You can find them here

·        There is also an observing commentary on Facebook called Plenary Matters

·        There is so much happening and to be absorbed I won’t include Reflections during the days of the Plenary Council sessions.

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Towards a new hopefulness

Ø Towards inclusivity: Can the Church learn from the Federal election?

Musical Reflection

¯ Hearts on Fire

¯ Lead Me, Lord | John Becker

¯ 'Laudibus in Sanctis'

The gospels are full of humanity

Just a few thoughts

·        Our parish bulletin included a notice about NAIDOC Week. It included the following: We strongly encourage each parish to include an Acknowledgement or Welcome to Country on this Sunday.
Sadly that did not happen. I wonder what stopped that from being done?

·        Could we not have a simple statement in our bulletin - We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, culture and community. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

·        Kaurna is the language of Aboriginal people from the lands and waters of Tarntanya (Adelaide) and surrounds.

Reflection

ü The Opening Mass for the Second Assembly of the 5th Plenary Council of Australia was celebrated yesterday

ü Watch the Plenary Council Livestream (Monday, 04 July 2022)

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Members set to gather for second Plenary Council assembly

Ø Towards a new hopefulness

Musical Reflection

¯ Seek Ye First

¯ Lead me Lord

¯ Wiyathul – [Longing for place]

Every Christian is an apostle

Just a few thoughts

·        May NAIDOC Week see us respond to the Bishops’ challenge to personally endorse the Uluru Statement from the Heart, including a First Nations “Voice” to the Australian Parliament and a commission to supervise a process of “truth-telling” between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This year we are being called to “Get up! Stand up! And Show up!” and ensure that our homeland is what Jesus wants her to be, for our first peoples, and all of us.

·        The Plenary Council - Will we have the courage of Jesus Christ?

Reflection

ü Australian Women Preach

ü Sunday Homily-Frank Brennan

The Signs Of The Times

v  Explore Common Grace - a movement of people pursuing Jesus and justice.

v  NAIDOC in the Mall – Tuesday, 10:30am,
Join us under the Gawler Place canopy from 10:30 am for an official Kaurna Welcome to Country Ceremony and Smoking Ceremony followed by the unveiling of this year’s artwork by emerging Aboriginal artist Iteka Ukarla Sanderson-Bromley of Malka Wiri Wiri. More entertainment and activities will follow from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm

v  'Inspire' by Safina Stewart --  Have a go!

v  Write a letter requesting action to RaiseTheAge of criminal responsibility

Ø Race relations

Musical Reflection

¯ Amazing Grace

¯ The Blessing (feat. Australia's First Peoples)

Tradition is always continuing to evolve.

Just a few thoughts

·        ”At a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act”. -- George Orwell

·        May God continue to bring his grace upon human actions, so that where there is deception and cheating, God will cause justice and truth to prevail.

·        May we be united in prayer with the Members of The Plenary Council as they prepare to gather tomorrow for the Second Assembly.

Reflection

ü There are still, however, people who try to live in the post-Vatican II Church with a pre-Vatican II mentality.

ü Seeing All the Things

The Signs Of The Times

Ø “Now more than ever, divided Christians must reconcile with each other and become signs of peace in a time of war.” -- Pope Francis

Ø The bold vision that underpins the synodal process in Australia

Musical Reflection

¯ The Kingdom Of God

¯ We Come to Your Feast

¯ Lift Up Your Hearts

Tables for everyone

Just a few thoughts

·        Collaboration, creativity, and respect build lifelong connections that matter and make a difference, propelling us to work together across all boundaries. -- Diane Luna

·        "Success is a little like wrestling a gorilla. You don't quit when you are tired -- you quit when the gorilla is tired." -- Robert Strauss

·        May the Church always reveal the mercy of God, never imposing unnecessary burdens on people.

Reflection

ü Do we have to balance our books before we set out on the Gospel path?

ü Is it also not true that those most in need of experiencing Christ’s love and healing may be found in places where we are hesitant to go?

ü Who Sits At Your Table?

The Signs Of The Times

Ø Ever-Widening Circles

Ø This year’s NAIDOC Week theme of ‘Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!’ is a rallying cry for all.

Ø A Vatican-inspired theological revolution

Musical Reflection

¯ God be in My Head

¯ All God's Children

¯ Let Justice Roll