October 04, 2016
I scribe this message from the Gold Coast on this October long weekend. I have spent the past week assisting my daughter, her newborn and her family. Last week, Tracey Edstein filled you in on the celebration of Religious in our diocese over the past 150 years.
September 20, 2016
In this Year of Mercy I hope you are mindful that this Wednesday, 21st September, is International Day of Peace. This day was established in 1981 and is observed each year, corresponding with our Spring Equinox. I first became aware of this day when I was Religious Education Co-ordinator at St Joseph’s College, Tweed Heads. Its motto was Peace through Justice. This school was established in 1993 and had no connection with a religious congregation or an associated charism, so we chose our motto as our way of being.
September 13, 2016
Once again the weekend is upon me and I contemplate my message in the light of the Integrity in the Service of the Church formation which I was part of on Saturday, along with the canonisation of Mother Teresa and the upcoming Celebration of Religious as part of the 150 Year celebration of our diocese.
September 06, 2016
You would have to admit that the past week has been a big week for the Catholic Church in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle, for those who have appeared before the Royal Commission, for the broader community and most especially for those who have been harmed by the perpetrators of child sexual abuse and a system which failed to act.
August 30, 2016
Once again this message is being written on Sunday evening after spending the day at the Upper Hunter Regional Gathering and then going to Mass at the Cathedral for my parish commitment.
August 23, 2016
On Sunday night at the Cathedral, we experienced the joy of being joined by about 20 children for our singing at Mass. Their parents formed part of the congregation along with others who were there with their young families. These children were clearly excited to be there and to learn some of the words and indeed actions to our responses and hymns. Their parents were delighted at the joy which exuded from their children. In my experience children do not have any difficulty with religion or in expressing their faith as something beyond us.