July 31, 2018
As I look out from my desk at home, I find myself gazing at our beautiful Magnolia tree which is in full bloom. When I see this, I sense the change of seasons has begun and that feels good because the sun is ‘starting to get warmer’ and winter is beginning to fade. The changes of seasons are like life, some I find more pleasing, while others are challenging and yet we must get through them. In many ways we are blest to live in a part of the world that does have four seasons to experience and celebrate, and to provide us with a corollary for life.
July 24, 2018
I have returned home from being up north where I welcomed a new grandson into the family and where I spent just over a week at the Proclaim Conference. The past week of caring for two little ones and ensuring our daughter was supported once she arrived home from hospital has been very busy and yet at the same time life-giving. There is nothing quite like being in the role as key nurturer to take you mind off ‘work matters’. I think I call this the spirituality of presence or, as Pope Francis calls it, the art of accompaniment. I recognise it takes a good deal of energy to live in the moment.
July 17, 2018
I am scribing this message from my daughter’s home on the Gold Coast, as she has just given birth to another son and I am caring for the other two boys. As you can imagine the schedule is a busy one and so I don’t imagine this will be a lengthy message, as I write between pick-ups and hospital visitation and preparing meals and doing the washing!!! Mum and baby are doing well and we thank God for the blessings of the safe arrival of another member of our growing family.
July 10, 2018
I recognised during this past week that it would be difficult for me to put thoughts to paper because of our local news headlines coupled with those national headlines of family violence, the rescue of the young boys in Thailand and some personal family matters. These have left me feeling flat and sad, without words, really. I imagine many of you are able to identify with what I am trying to say and I had contemplated just using the word ‘silence’ for the message.
July 03, 2018
There are weeks when this message gradually unfolds and last week was one of those occasions. One of the big topics emerging for the Australian Plenary Council of 2020/21 is around the role of women in the Catholic Church. For most of us this does not come as a surprise - and yet I sense a degree of resistance, particularly from those in leadership.
June 26, 2018
I hope your consciousness was raised during Refugee Week in Australia. On Thursday, 21 June, our shortest day, I stood in silence and in solidarity with over one hundred others, on King Street, at Civic Park, in support of Refugees across our globe. This is a weekly event, however more gathered on this day because of Refugee Week and World Refugee Day (June 20). I also hope some of you attended the Unity in Diversity Festival at Hamilton, or other events that may have been held across the diocese. Those people who come to our shores show great courage in choosing a new way of life, away from their homelands, their culture, language, food, work, and all that is familiar to them.
