Answering Atheism with Dr Ed Feser

 

Answering Atheism: Dr Edward Feser Ph.D live in the Diocese The misunderstanding about the relationship of faith and science has seen increasing numbers of people "shelving" belief in God. Often it is claimed that "science is objective" whereas belief in God is "unscientific" and therefore irrational or, at least, has no rational foundation itself.  Professor and popular social commentator from the USA, Dr Edward Feser Ph.D will be visiting the Diocese of Wollongong this month to expose the fallacies of this world view including its inherent contradiction: "the claim that scientism is true is not a scientific claim!" WHEN & WHERE: Tuesday, 24 July at St John the Evangelist Parish, Jerematta St, Dapto Thursday, 26 July at St John the Evangelist Parish, Cordeaux St, Campbelltown Talk from 7.30pm-8.30pm. Q&A 8.30pm-9.00pm followed by supper. Entry by donation RSVP essential to Jane Edwards on 4253 0899 or email jane.edwards@dow.org.au You can also RSVP by replying to this email Click on the poster below for more details

 

 

The Stranger

From the internet ....


THE STRANGER


A few years after I was born, my Dad met a stranger

who was new to our small town. From the beginning,

Dad was fascinated with this enchanting newcomer

and soon invited him to live with our family. The

stranger was quickly accepted and was around

from then on.


As I grew up, I never questioned his place in my

family. In my young mind, he had a special niche.

My parents were complementary instructors: Mom

taught me good from evil, and Dad taught me to obey.


But the stranger... he was our storyteller. He would

keep us spellbound for hours on end with adventures,

mysteries and comedies.


If I wanted to know anything about politics, history

or science, he always knew the answers about the past,

understood the present and even seemed able to predict

the future! He took my family to the first major league

ball game. He made me laugh, and he made me cry. The

stranger never stopped talking, but Dad didn't seem

to mind.


Sometimes, Mum would get up quietly while the rest of

us were shushing each other to listen to what he had to

say, and she would go to the kitchen for peace and quiet.

(I wonder now if she ever prayed for the stranger to leave.)


Dad ruled our household with certain moral convictions,

but the stranger never felt obligated to honor them.

Profanity, for example, was not allowed in our home - not

from us, our friends or any visitors. Our long time visitor,

however, got away with four-letter words that burned my

ears and made my dad squirm and my mother blush.



My Dad didn't permit the liberal use of alcohol but the

stranger encouraged us to try it on a regular basis. He made

cigarettes look cool, cigars manly, and pipes distinguished.

He talked freely (much too freely!) about sex. His comments

were sometimes blatant, sometimes suggestive, and generally

embarrassing..


I now know that my early concepts about relationships were

influenced strongly by the stranger. Time after time, he

opposed the values of my parents, yet he was seldom rebuked

... And NEVER asked to leave.


More than fifty years have passed since the stranger moved

in with our family. He has blended right in and is not nearly

as fascinating as he was at first. Still, if you could walk into

my parents' den today, you would still find him sitting over

in his corner, waiting for someone to listen to him talk and

watch him draw his pictures.


We just call him 'TV.'

He has a wife now....we call her 'Computer.'

Spirit Alive Ministry & Youth Fest

 

 

 

Free lecture by Vatican representative

 

Good afternoon, everyone As you might know, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference is presenting the Australian Catholic Media Congress (Communicating the Word: Timeless Messages, New Media) in Sydney for three days from the end of April. This is a broad overview of the changing landscape of social media now, from Twitter to Facebook, Pinterest to LinkdeIn. Keynote speaker for the Congress is Mons Paul Tighe, Secretary of the Vatican's Council for Social Communications. It promises to be a comprehensive overview of this apparently complicated subject. But not too many of us have three days in our schedules to devote to the subject – no matter how much we would like to know about it. And we in the Church seem particularly to want to know about it. During the course of my interactions with many in the church, I have often been asked about social media, what it is, what it means, how to manage it. We are all a bit in the dark, I feel, about how social media can serve mission. So, Church Resources, through our flagship, faith-based publication, CathNews, is presenting Mons Tighe in an umbrella event – New Media, New Paradigms: Church Communications in a Digital Age – which will be held on May 3 at Riverview in Sydney from 7.30 pm. To view the invitation to this free public lecture Click here. It explains the event, and also includes a click-through to enable you to register for tickets. I do hope you can join us, for an insight into the new media in the new world of social communications. Apologies for the very Sydney-centric nature of the event, but Mons Tighe's schedule was both short and packed. However, I encourage you to circulate the invitation to your friends and subscribing to the event as indicated. I look forward to welcoming you, and them, on May 3 at Riverview. Peace and grace Christine Hogan Publisher

 

Diocesan Pastoral Council

          

Nominations Called for the Diocesan Pastoral Council The Diocesan Pastoral Council considers the pastoral questions of our day and makes appropriate recommendations to the Bishop. Our Diocesan Pastoral Plan, Bearers of Christ's Love , calls for the re-establishment of the Diocesan Pastoral Council. The Diocesan Pastoral Council considers the pastoral questions of our day and makes appropriate recommendations to the Bishop. It acts as a significant form of collaborative dialogue and discernment in service of the pastoral needs of the Diocese. Bishop Peter Ingham is now calling on people to nominate for the Council. These nominations include a questionnaire offering a reflective process to detail the gifts and experience that the nominee would bring to the Council. Interested applicants will need to be endorsed by the priest in their parish of worship and send in their nomination before the end of April . Then, at the beginning of May, Bishop Peter will appoint the final Council from nominations received. If you are interested in joining the Diocesan Pastoral Council or know someone with the qualities to offer a rich contribution, please contact your local priest, download a copy of the discernment and reflection ,  Constitution, and  nomination form  or ring the Bishop's Office and speak with Jane Edwards on (02) 4253 0899. Download Discernment and Reflection Download Diocesan Pastoral Council Constitution Download Diocesan Pastoral Council Nomination Form Click here to view this eBulletin on our website

 

Message sent from: Diocese of Wollongong, PO Box 1239, Wollongong, NSW - AU 2500

 

Easter Greetings

Sean Donovan

STARTING AFRESH FROM CHRIST

Dear Friend of the missionary Church

 

Thank you for attending the Bishop's Diocesan Lenten Seminar 'Starting Afresh from Christ' at the Campbelltown Catholic Club on Tuesday 6 March 2012.

 

I have pleasure in providing you with the link to Rev Dr van Thahn Nguyen SVD's published paper:

 

 

http://ctu-faculty.com/Faculty/tnguyen/Articles/Evangelizing%20Empire.pdf

 

 

The Holy Father's mission intention for the month of March directs us to Persecuted Christians 'That the Holy Spirit may grant perseverance to those who suffer discrimination, persecution, or death for the name of Christ, particularly in Asia'.

 

 

Mike Deasy

Diocesan Director

 

 

Tel   02 4284 0970

Fax  02 4283 1455

 

PO Box 1015 WOLLONGONG NSW 2500