RAY COLLINS: Enriching and fulfilling experiences
In the last week I have had the opportunity, indeed the privilege, to attend and be a participant in two retreats held at the Riverwood Downs Conference Centre near Gloucester.
TUESDAYS WITH TERESA: St John the Baptist Church in Maitland reopens
170 years ago, in 1846, the people of Maitland opened St John the Baptist Church in Maitland, right next to the Hunter River. Then in 1866, Bishop James Murray proclaimed this church as the Cathedral of the Diocese of Maitland.
RAY COLLINS: An historic occasion
The celebration of the 150 years since the arrival of the first residential Bishop in the Diocese of Maitland, Bishop James Murray, came to a fitting climax on Sunday with the dedication of the former St John the Baptist Cathedral as St John’s Chapel.
Beyond Belief: How we find meaning, with or without religion
Globally, religion is on the rise. Almost three-quarters of the world’s population identify with one of the great world religions − Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism − and the graph is pointing upwards. By the middle of this century, 80 percent of the world’s population will be identified with one of those four religions.
Why resettlement is not the solution to the world's refugee crisis
Every minute of every day in 2015, some 24 people were displaced from their homes. That’s 34,000 people per day, worldwide, who were forced to seek refuge elsewhere. These large numbers of newly displaced persons further swelled the 16.1 million refugees in the world who, according to the UN Agency for Refugees (UNHCR), were already displaced.
Truth-seeking for 800 years and counting
This year the Order of Preachers (Dominicans) is 800 years old. Fr Kevin Toomey op shares something of its spirit and mission.
Sharing our faith stories with our children
In a recent Children’s Ministries newsletter published by the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle’s Office of Life and Faith, I invited readers to think about how they share their personal faith stories with the children in their lives. Why?
TUESDAYS WITH TERESA: Witnessing the human and divine on weekend pilgrimage
In this 150 Years since the arrival of Bishop James Murray in our Diocese, I have had a weekend experience of pilgrimage, beginning on Saturday with the Murray Pilgrimage, followed by the Deaf Pride Week Mass at the Cathedral and then a ‘Prayer and Ritual in Thanksgiving and Farewell' to Sr Anne Moylan and Sr Kim Barnes from St Joseph’s Toronto.