A new book by Joan Chittister OSB, The Monastery of the Heart – An Invitation to a Meaningful Life, 2011, Blue Bridge. Chittister continues to bring Benedictine spirituality into everyday life for our time. Reviewed by Kevin Murphy.

Openings to Renewal, Letters to the Church by Peter J Cullinane, Adelaide 2011, ATF Theology. Reviewed by Peter Maher.

Chris McGillion and John O’Carroll have published their findings on a survey of over 500 Australian Catholic priests. Our Fathers – What Australian Catholic priests really think about their lives and their Church (John Garratt Publishing, 2011) is reviewed here by Anne and Bill Byrne who have spent a life time working in and for the Catholic Church in Australia. Their comments from a lay perspective highlight particular issues – priests may see others. We look forward to hearing Chris McGillion in person at the NCP Convention next July when he will be a keynote speaker.

Peter Brock reviews Mary MacKillop and a Nest of Crosses, Correspondence with Fr Julian Tenison Woods 1869-1872. Arranged and edited by Sheila McCreanor rsj, Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, North Sydney. E: info@sosj.og.au A paper by Peter on Mary MacKillop available at http://tinyurl.com/3wek6qo

Clericalism, the Death of Priesthood is published by Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota. Reviewed by Hal Ranger.

Tony Doherty, Sydney priest and past director of Catholic Adult Education, Sydney, began with his So You’re … series as friendly guides to the Catholic faith for various contexts. He continues with A Friendly Guide to the Mass published by John Garratt Publishing and reviewed by Peter Maher.

Edmund Campion’s review reminds us that Muslim and Christian women are constantly doing multifaith theological reflection about their lives and this book records it. Women and Fundamentalism in Islam and Catholicism: Negotiating Modernity in a Globalized World, Patricia Madigan. (Religions and Discourse Series, Volume 53), Oxford: Peter Lang Publishers, 2011. Details for orders: http://tinyurl.com/3hamj8j ‘Catholic women cannot [...]

Michael Whelan SM explores the world of metaphor and poetry as a way into the questions of life in this review of Stephanie Dowrick’s book, In the Company of Rilke, Allen & Unwin, 2009. About thirty years ago I read a lifechanging statement: “Live the questions now.” (See Rainer Maria Rilke, Lettersto a Young Poet, W W Norton [...]

The Past and Future of Remote Kimberley, Brigida Nailon, Brigidine Sisters, Echuca (2010), tells of a rich and diverse history of the relationship between Aborigine and Missionary. Review by Peter Maher. Brigida Nailon has produced a book that feels like a family photograph album with commentary and letters from important people in that family or to [...]

Traveller to Freedom, The Roger Pryke story Francis Harvey Freshwater Press, Australia 2011 Review by Peter Maher Having been recently removed from my post as University chaplain at the University of Technology, Sydney, by receiving a photocopy of the letter of appointment to my successor, I was not surprised to read the way Roger Pryke [...]