We hope you enjoy this joyful and uplifting virtual recording of the St Francis Youth Choir, Melbourne, featuring our own Br Matthew Tonini (in the beard) who also edited the video.
On 17 September Carmelites celebrate the Feast of the author of the Carmelite Rule, St Albert of Jerusalem. Albert did not impose all his own ideas on the group of hermits who came to him - he listened to what they told him about their way of life, and he adapted it and gave it structure. He was careful not to be too demanding or rigid and stressed the importance of common sense in interpreting what has to be done. This openness and flexibility gives a great "human feel" to the Carmelite Rule. Read more
Today Carmelite, Fr Paul Sireh is celebrating the 45th anniversary of the independence of Papua New Guinea. Originally from Manus Island, the smallest province in PNG, Paul proudly shares his memories of the first Independence Day and the story of PNG since. Happy Independence Day to Paul and his fellow country men and women! "This day 45 years ago, was the year I started my primary schooling in grade one and I remember this special day was a moving and exciting experience for me. We were dressed in our traditional costumes, danced to the beat of garamut(drum) and marched with hundreds of people from five villages who gathered in my village. Read
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Paul's reflection
Have you ever stood on an unspoiled beach wondering at a spectacular sunrise and felt that your God was part of you and the creation? At a time of loss or tragedy have you sought the peace of solitude, a quiet place? Does the flight of a bird lift your spirit “on eagles wings”? We are aware of what Patriarch Bartholomew calls sin (Laudato si ) as the human species overfishes the oceans and pollutes them with river of plastics. As the lungs of the earth, the great forests of the Amazon and Congo basins are clear-felled or burnt.
There is no doubt that genuine forgiveness, forgiveness ‘from the heart’, is a real challenge. The more personally we are hurt by another person the harder it is to forgive them. Forgiveness is often more a movement than a moment. Often we only come to forgiveness step by step over a long period of time. If we can pray for those who hurt us we have already taken the first step on the road to forgiveness. Forgiveness does not imply that what a person did was OK. Read more and download Lectio Divina for this Sunday.
Celebrating At Home for 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time PDF
Celebrating At Home for 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time EPUB
Today in Australia is R U OK? Day. It is our national day of action when Australians are reminded that every day is the day to ask, “Are you OK?” if someone in your world is struggling with life’s ups and downs.
2020 has been a challenging year for everyone and circumstances have made it even more important for us all to stay connected and, for those who are able, be willing to support those around us. Read more
Today is traditionally the day on which we celebrate Our Lady's Birthday. No one knows, of course, when Mary of Nazareth was born, but like all families we celebrate important events in the lives of those close to us. The birth of her son Jesus was the hope and dawning of salvation for the whole world.
Mary has long been considered the model of the Christian person: one who allows the Word of God to take root in their hearts and who gives that Word human shape and form in loving actions.
We are squeezing out the planet’s goods. Squeezing them out, as if the earth were an orange. Countries and businesses from the global north have enriched themselves by exploiting the natural resources of the south, creating an “ecological debt.” In addition, this “ecological debt” is increased when multinationals do abroad what they would never be allowed to do in their own countries. It’s outrageous. Today, not tomorrow; today, we have to take care of Creation responsibly. Let us pray that the planet’s resources will not be plundered, but shared in a just and respectful manner. No to plundering; yes to sharing.
Celebrating the 2020 liturgical Season of Creation is a key centrepiece of the 5th anniversary of LAUDATO Si. It's a time to join in this call to prayer, for integral ecological conversion and extensive action planning.
We invite you to prayerfully ponder these weekly reflections prepared by our Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Commission. Enjoy the magic of technology with amazing Youtube clips to lift your spirits and wherever possible take your dreams, prayers and love for creation outside into nature.
This Sunday is Fathers’ Day. Due to COVID many of us will not have the opportunity to gather with our fathers and other family members to celebrate. We will, of course, find ways of being in contact with them or to spend some time quietly remembering those who are no longer with us. We are very conscious of those fathers who have died because of COVID-19. We hold them and their families in our prayer.
Whatever your circumstances, you might like to pray this prayer for all the fathers you know.
