Message from Bishop Peter - Vat II

 

Updated Diocesan Calendar October / November 2012 We have updated the October / November 2012 Diocesan Calendar. The updated calendar includes revised dates as well as venue details for the upcoming Vatican II e-Conference at Chevalier College in Bowral. You can download the updated October / November Diocesan Caldender here. The link in the October Faith and Life E-Newsletter that was emailed out last week has also been updated for the new calendar. Click here for details on the upcoming Vatican II e-Conference and to download a flyer. Message from Bishop Peter Ingham on the 50th Anniversary Vatican II I want to highlight the 50th anniversary of that great ecclesial event, the II Vatican Council and the opening of the Year of Faith.  Our Year of Grace neatly dovetails with both of the above especially when you remember Bl John Paul II called Vatican II "the great grace of the 20th Century" (NMI 57) and indicated the Council was a compass by which we can set our direction for the 21st Century. Pope Benedict said on 11 October, "Living faith opens the heart to the Grace of God which frees us from pessimism". I hope and pray that we will all renew our acquaintance with the 16 Documents of Vatican II. Again the Pope said, "The true legacy of Vatican II is to be found in its texts....draw from them the Council's authentic spirit." The Council documents are a vast treasure chest into which we have all dipped, but as Bishop Michael Putney said, "not everyone took out the same treasures". So he suggests we look at the total Gift of Grace the Council was. Bishop Michael prefers we look at Vatican II as if it were a tapestry.  We need to stand back and see the whole picture lest we see only the parts we like, but miss how those fit into the whole picture.  We also need to look at Vatican II through the lens of our long and rich tradition of Catholic Faith and Culture.  Pope Benedict said the Council sought "to proclaim the truths of the Faith in a renewed way all the while keeping intact their perennial content." Council Items The Council offered us a new way of relating to God, of deepening our relationship with Jesus Christ plus a new way of thinking about the Church.  Bl John XXIII had a beautiful vision of our loving mother, the Church, offering us the medicine of mercy not of severity!  He indicated that the sacred deposit of Christian Doctrine....which is to be faithfully respected, needs to be explored in a way which responds to the needs of our times. Vatican II told us we are the "pilgrim People of God" journeying through history - meaning we have to go forward together to the future God holds out for us.  To go on ahead on our own is not the way, nor is it to circle the wagons and be defensive. The Pope also said "The journey is a metaphor for life, and the wise wayfarer is one who has learned the art of living and can share it with others".  He also referred to the thirst for God, a thirst for the ultimate meaning of our life. Jesus is the Light of the Nations (Lumen Gentium) leading us, the People of God.  We belong together, we are the Body of which Jesus Christ is the Head or we are adrift, we are the building of the Holy Spirit. The Council re-focused us on the rich understanding of our Triune God and made the role of the Holy Spirit clearer for us. Communio Vatican II helped us to understand Communio which is exemplified in the interrelationship of the Persons in the Holy Trinity.  Our own Communio in our personal relationship with God in Christ through the Holy Spirit should keep us in Communio with one another and co-responsible with all the baptised for the mission of Jesus Christ.  We Christians serve the wider world by sharing this Communio with others. Dialogue Vatican II also helped us to focus on Dialogue.  Do you recall that Paul VI in 1964 wrote a positive Encyclical "Ecclesiam Suam" on the meaning of respectful dialogue within the Church and with all sectors of our world?  It is still very relevant and practical for today.  When we truly listen to another to understand their point of view, we discover not only who they are, but we can also discover who we are! Often in such an exchange, we utter things really important to us that perhaps we had never articulated so clearly before.  Ecclesiam Suam deserves re-reading! When we look back there were four purposes why Bl John XXIII called the Council: - to invigorate our Christian living by strengthening our relationship with God; - to adapt the Church's structures to the needs of the times (aggiornamento); - to foster unity (within the Church, with other Christians, with people of other faiths, with all); - to be in mission, to evangelise. On the Council's 50th Anniversary, Pope Benedict XVI said: "The true meaning of Vatican II was and remains faith in Jesus Christ, the Apostolic Faith, animated by the inner desire to communicate Christ to individuals and to all people in the Church's pilgrimage along the pathways of history". With my best wishes and blessings for a happy anniversary.   Most Rev Peter W Ingham DD BISHOP OF WOLLONGONG

  

Help me reach my target :-)

Hi

Support and/or join my team for the Seven Bridges Walk to raise money for the NSW Cancer Council :-)

http://www.everydayhero.com.au/steam

 

 

I am taking part in The 2012 Cancer Council 7 Bridges Walk, and will be participating to raise money for Cancer Council NSW and the 1 in 2 Australians that will be diagnosed with cancer. You can help me reach my fundraising goal by donating to this important cause! All you need to do is go to the above link and click the Donate Now button on the page, give what you can and if you want to, leave me a message of support.

 

Thanks!

Sean

 

You Don't Have To Look Like Me To Be My Friend--

You Don't Have To Look Like Me To Be My Friend--

 

You Don't Have To Look Like Me To Be My Friend:           Thank goodness!  Otherwise this would be a very dull world.

 

Invitation 7 Sept: Peace with People, Peace with our Planet - AFranciscan Perspective

Dear friends

 

On Friday 7 September, the Archdiocesan Justice and Peace Office, in collaboration with the Franciscan Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office is hosting a seminar with Fr Joseph Rozansky OFM at the Polding Centre in the City. Fr Joe serves at the Franciscan General Curia in Rome as Director of the Secretariat for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC).  He co-ordinates activities in JPIC around the globe and animates Franciscans and others in JPIC. Joseph was the leader of the Franciscan group at the Rio +20 Summit this year.

We would love you to join us for what we're sure will be an valuable conversation on the topic Peace with People, Peace with our Planet : A Franciscan Perspective. More information will follow but in the meantime, please claim the date in your diaries and pass this notice and flyer attached on to your your networks.

 

Warm regards

Chantelle

 

 

Chantelle Ogilvie-Ellis

Promoter of Justice and Peace
Justice and Peace Office

Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney

T: 02 9390 5319

F: 02 9261 8312

M: 0439 584 221

Level 12, Polding Centre,
133 Liverpool St, Sydney, NSW 2000

 

P Please consider the environment before printing this email

 

 

 

Peace with People, Peace with our Planet : A Franciscan Perspective.

Friday 7 September, 6:30-8pm (including supper)

Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, Level 5, Polding Centre,133 Liverpool St, Sydney

 

 

Joseph Rozansky OFM serves at the Franciscan General Curia in Rome as Director of the Secretariat for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC).  He co-ordinates activities in JPIC around the globe and animates Franciscans and others in JPIC. Joseph was the leader of the Franciscan group at the Rio +20 Summit this year.

 

Joseph has a background as a missionary, having spent many years among the landless of Brazil in Goias and in formation work for his home Province accompanying young friars prior to making their final commitment of vows.

 

RSVP: Chantelle (9390 5319 / chantelle.ogilvie-ellis@sydneycatholic.org) or Sarah (9369 9309 / jpic@franciscans.org.au)

 

Anti-Bullying Video on ACA!

 

Diocesan Anti-Bullying video featured on A Current Affair tonight A Current Affair is airing a story tonight on the Catholic Education Office's Anti-Bullying DVD resource, Fix You . This resource was released in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Wollongong in February this year. The response from students, teachers and parents has been overwhelmingly positive and has subsequently generated significant media interest nationally. The story features interviews with three young people from Catholic schools in our Diocese, as well as comments from the Director of Schools, Peter Turner. Peter Turner said: "I'm delighted that A Current Affair has decided to focus on the Anti-Bullying resource. This is more than just a good news story. We are aware that this video has already had a profound effect on the lives of a number of young people and I am hopeful that this resource will have a positive impact on the lives of many more. Our aim is that many young Australians will view this video clip and take a positive stand against bullying, in all its forms. "I encourage all involved in our Catholic schools, and all in our Diocese, to raise awareness about tonight's show amongst their family, friends and work colleagues. I also urge people to promote and share the video clip through their social networks. You can watch the video clip in full at www.youtube.com/ceowollongong." It is anticipated that more than 1.5 million Australians will view tonight's screening. Using the music of Coldplay's, Fix You, the three minute video clip was produced by students for students, to focus on the deep and lasting impact of bullying and to provide practical strategies for youth to deal with this complex issue. It is designed to engage young people to be courageous and take an active stance in their response to bullying in their school and in the wider community. The video resource is part of the Catholic Education Office's Student Anti-Bullying Policy that was launched this year in response to the growing concern in schools relating to bullying and the impact on our young people. The story is scheduled to be aired tonight, Tuesday 31 July, on A Current Affair (ACA) on the Nine Network at 6.30pm (Channel 9 Sydney). Unfortunately, ACA is not airing on WIN TV due to the Olympic Games coverage. For those living in the Illawarra and South Coast, you can view the story online at 7pm on ACA's website: www.ninemsn.com.au/aca CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE ANTI-BULLYING VIDEO CLIP NOW! - ends - For comments and further media information contact: Tim Gilmour Professional Assistant to the Director of Schools Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Wollongong 02 4253 0938 0438 669 677 Tim.Gilmour@dow.catholic.edu.au

 

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.'