I write to you In the middle of the Church’s season of Lent. Lent, as we are aware, is a time for reflection, repentance and renewal in our relationship with God. It is a time for members of the Church both individually and collectively to turn away from sin and believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
2010: a new chapter
I am looking forward with enthusiasm to sharing with Peter Maher the responsibility for editing The Swag for the next two years. This provides a new opportunity to offer a contribution to our lives and ministry as ordained priests across Australia and New Zealand. My own journey in life began in Toowoomba, Queensland, nearly 75 [...]
Letter to parishoners
Most of you would be aware that something is happening in the Liturgy of the Mass and that a new translation is to be introduced next year. There has also been a restoration of the Mass in Latin. There is much more to it than that. The following is a small part of a lecture given by a leading linguist and liturgist.
A plea for help for Sri Lankan refugees
Church leaders must do more to help 25 Catholic Tamil asylum seekers aboard a boat intercepted by Indonesian authorities at Australia’s request last October. It is important that Church and government bodies around the world closely monitor the actions of the Sri Lankan Government to see why Tamils are fleeing their home country.
The dangers of power, warns Timothy Radcliffe
Archbishop Diarmuid Martin of Dublin asked Timothy Radcliffe, former Master of the Dominicans, to lead the priests of Dublin in a day of reflection last December. Here are some of the challenging things he offered – they certainly warrant our reflection and discussion.
World water day: 22nd March
What a land of extremes Australia is! What a place of extremes is the whole world! Massive floods have covered western Queensland from north to south, not to mention many areas of the east coast of Queensland as well. These waters have caused damage, big damage, but also brought new life and hope to all that part of the country, and gradually to the south as well.
The hyperactive priest
Often, we priests are consumed by a destructive activism in our service of the people. Indeed, this crisis of sexual abuse may aggravate the temptation to show that we at least are wonderful priests incessantly devoted to our work, always available on our mobile phones. That is salvation by works and not by grace.
Resources for National Sorry Day
National Sorry Day 2010 is Wednesday May 26. The National Council of Churches offer some resources and reflections for each day of Reconciliation week (May 26 – June 3) on their website, which you can download for not-for-profit use.
Pioneer Australian, Rosemary Goldie, dies at 94
Rosemary Goldie was the first woman to hold an official post of authority in the Roman Curia. Rosemary, who took on a special place in Church history with her appointment in 1966 as Under-Secretary of the Council for the Laity, died at the Little Sisters of the Poor, in Randwick in Sydney’s east, aged 94.
Bishops Conference now on Facebook
Media delegate for the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Bishop Peter Ingham said that engaging with Facebook and other new digital media will more effectively share with the people of the world the love of Christ. “There are so many opportunities now available to us to be at service of the Word of God. Digital media gives us so much more scope to make Jesus Christ better known and loved,” said Bishop Ingham.
