It is just over a month since the conclusion of our national NCP convention hosted at Parramatta from the 12-16 July. Overall the convention (as recorded in the participants evaluations) could only be judged a wonderful success in gathering priests from across the nation to reflect on the Risen Christ in the changing face of the Priesthood.
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NCP Members please contact the NCP National Office at national.office@ncp.catholic.org.au for your online subscription.
Editorial
Fairly obviously, whenever two hundred and fifty people gather to share experiences and to be challenged by experienced and thought-provoking speakers there will be two hundred and fifty different responses and memories.
Something of the richness of the experience of the recent NCP convention in Parramatta is conveyed in the pages of this Spring edition of The Swag. Peter and I thank those who have taken time to write down their reflections on the convention experience and made them available to publish in our magazine. There’s a wide range of responses – all valuable.
In this short editorial section, I want to share some of my own reflections.
Congratulations Frank O’Loughlin!
The book, The Future of the Sacrament of Penance, by Frank O’Loughlin has just won First Place in the Pastoral Ministry category of the 2010 Catholic Book Awards, sponsored by the Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada.
Diamond Jubilee for Fr Denis McCarthy OMI
Fr Denis McCarthy OMI celebrated his Diamond Jubilee of Priesthood on June 29 2010. Born in County Limerick, Ireland in 1925, Fr McCarthy entered the Oblate Novitiate at Cahermoyle, also in Country Limerick, in 1943 before studying for the priesthood at Kildalton Abbey, Piltown in County Kilkenny and was ordained on June 29, 1950.
Ordination of well known Tamworth identity
Four years of study and sacrifice at Rome’s Pontifical Beda College was celebrated on 16 July as John McHugh became the first man this century to be ordained at Nicholas’ Catholic Church, Tamworth.
Friars celebrate 100 years of Priesthood
On Friday July 16th at the chapel of Nazareth House Nursing Home, Tom Murtagh OFM and Arthur Boland OFM were joined by 16 priests including the Australian Franciscan Provincial, Paul Smith OFM and family members as they celebrated their Golden Jubilee of priestly ordination.
Bishop Prowse encourages Sale Diocese Evangelisation
In June this year Bishop Christopher Prowse wrote a Pastoral Letter called “Finding Home in Jesus”. While the letter is centred on the local church, it is most interesting in the questions it raises for discussion. Developing pastoral awareness and raising consciousness around evangelisation in parishes can be done through appreciative enquiry.
If you want peace, work for justice
The website (justiceandpeace.org.au) states “The Justice and Peace Office promotes justice, peace, ecology and development through projects and activities based on the social teachings of the Catholic Church.”
Melbourne Response to abuse defended
Sexual abuse complaints in Melbourne in the past decade had dwindled to “less than a handful” and few complaints had been made about abuse that had occurred since the 1970s, according to Archbishop Denis Hart, the leader of Australia’s most populous diocese, writes Mark Brolly
Caritas appeal for Pakistan
As you are well aware 20 million people in Pakistan have been affected by the worst floods the country has seen in decades.
Caritas Australia has launched an appeal and will work with communities now and in the long-term to improve hygiene practices, provide access to clean water, repair community infrastructure and provide emergency shelter, to at least 60,000 people over the next 10 months.
