The title of the National Assembly was Australian Religious in a Multi-Faith Society: Reality, Gift and Challenge. The conference was tremendously insightful and very relevant to the situation that many of us find ourselves within a pluralist Australia living and ministering to a broad diversity of cultures and faith traditions. Perhaps the most beneficial session for me was listening to four young people – Sadiq and Mahsheed Ansari, a brother and sister Muslim;  Judith Levitan, an orthodox Jew and Chantelle Ogilvie, a Catholic speaking honestly and enthusiastically about their faith journey and their involvement with inter-faith dialogue. I wish to congratulate CRA for again facilitating a first rate conference and dealing with a critical issue in the life of the Australian church. For a detailed account of the conference and transcripts I refer you to the CRA website http://catholicreligiousaustralia.org/en/549

I recently visited the office of The Tablet in London and expressed my gratitude for the nourishment it has given me over many years in my faith journey. I spoke with the publisher, editor and marketing manager and commented how important its independent Catholic voice has been for many of us. My thanks to Rob Egar and Bob Wilkinson for their continuing guest editorship of The Swag. We are still searching for a more permanent editor. Whilst not precisely comparable to The Tablet ,The Swag attempts to give voice to a plurality of views within the church, particularly amongst clergy Please contact the NCP office if you would like to be considered for this position or you could nominate a suitable candidate.

I was saddened recently, as were many priests, at the news of the arrest of a brother priest for alleged offences committed over the Internet. Without making any judgements in this particular case, one can only wonder at the state of mind of people who commit such an offence and whether stress, isolation and loneliness contributes to such an activity. Perhaps, as brother priests, we have a special responsibility to look out for one another and to make it a priority, even in the midst of our busy lives in ministry.

Another issue, which has also been raised in the past, is the process by which some of our brothers make the difficult decision to leave active ministry and depart their parish and diocese. Some disappear mysteriously into the night leaving communities and friends grieving and in the dark; others share openly their departure and are acknowledged by the diocese/religious order and the community where they minister. Whilst all individual circumstances differ it would be the signs of a mature church to acknowledge with gratitude particularly the service that they have given (for some 30 or 40 years) and to support them where necessary. One diocese during the Jubilee year invited a priest who had left the active ministry to return for a meal and convivium. While we don’t want to downplay the importance of commitment in ministry nor do we wish to close the door on those who have made a wonderful contribution to our church.

Plans are well under way for the NCP next biannual convention which will be held in the Diocese of Parramatta from the 12-16 July 2010. Our topic: The Risen Christ in the Changing Face of the Priesthood. Guest speakers include: Fr Donald Cozzens author of The Changing Face of the Priesthood, Freeing Celibacy and Faith That Dares to Speak and many other reflections; Rev Richard Lennan, priest of the diocese of Maitland, now lecturing at Boston College, his specialty is ecclesiology; and Dr David Tacey, associate professor at La Trobe University, teaching literature, spirituality and Jungian psychology author of the book Edge of the Sacred and ReEnchantment: The New Australian Spirituality. A copy of the registration form for this convention in enclosed – please return the form and payment to the NCP office as soon as possible. This convention is open to all priests whether they are NCP members or not. We especially welcome newly ordained and religious priests and particularly international priests recently arrived in Australia. For those wishing to come to the convention, but may be reluctant for financial reasons, some subsidy may be arranged. Please contact the NCP office. I look forward to seeing as many of you in Parramatta.

Ian McGinnity