Mary MacKillop and Advent
December 7, 2022
During a recent trip to Melbourne, I attended Mass at St Francis’ Church in the city. This is a special church as it is Victoria’s oldest Catholic Church, where Mary MacKillop’s parents were married, and where Mary had the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and First Holy Communion.
Visiting St Francis’ Church, which was a significant church in the life of Mary MacKillop and attending Mass there on the first Sunday of Advent, inspired me to reflect on the season of Advent and how it relates to Mary MacKillop.
Sprouting Change – planting across boundaries
It was a great community day at the recent launch of Sprouting Change – Planting Across Boundaries at Holy Spirit Catholic College Lakemba.
Kaleidoscope: Celebrating Advent
November 18, 2022
Traditionally, Advent is thought of as a time of waiting. What happens in that waiting space? Perhaps it is a time of seeing the way patterns of hope, desire and longing disperse, change and reform so that we become aware more deeply of the plans God has for Creation.
The kaleidoscope is a wonderful instrument. Originally designed as a children’s toy, it is more than that. The instrument uses the same particles in each new pattern created. With only a touch of a finger the patterns formed by those particles change and new patterns of beauty emerge.
In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop 2022
There is a quote on Mary MacKillop’s tomb which reads, “We are but travellers here”. Mary was very aware of life as a journey, made up of many smaller journeys, both actual and metaphorical.
The one great journey is that of moving toward the fullness of our relationship with God, which we call ‘heaven’. The Australian National Pilgrimage: In the Footsteps of Mary MacKillop is one of these smaller journeys.
The Time Has Come
We mark the anniversary of the meeting of Pope John Paul II with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Alice Springs, Northern Territory on 2 December. Sr Joan shares a reflection.
Thirty-six years have passed since Pope John Paul II stood in the swirling red dust on the outskirts of Alice Springs and spoke to a delighted group of Aboriginal women, men and children. He was wearing aboriginal colours. He affirmed their culture and spirituality. He knew their pain. The Pope told a parable of a tree ablaze in the bushfires, leaves scorched, bark seared and burned while inside the sap still flowed and the roots held strong. He told these people that the ‘genius and dignity’ of their race must never disappear. They understood.
Listening to Biblical Light
In late 2021, a friend who’s a theology lecturer showed me a basic Bible books diagram that he’d put together for his students. Then he asked me, “have you thought about creating a book of the Bible artwork?” My first thought was “not really, I mean, I’m no biblical scholar, how in the heavens would I… ?”
Soon, providence struck, and other people asked me about Bible resources around that time. So, I prayed, and the project stayed in my heart. As time passed, my love of stained-glass windows and traditional etching also stayed in my heart, moving me to think…
Why don’t I create an artwork poster for the Catholic Bible in stained glass and etching?
New Julian Tenison Woods Exhibition at MMHC
November 16, 2022
The Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre (MMHC) in Melbourne is proud to present a new exhibition on Fr Julian Tenison Woods. The temporary exhibition focuses on the 10 years Julian Tenison Woods lived and worked as a priest in Penola and the surrounding South Australian countryside, exploring Julian’s work as a missionary priest, his scientific endeavours and advocation of Catholic education for the poor. The exhibition also showcases highlights from the museum’s collection of Penola, Julian artefacts and activities for children to enjoy.
Celebrating One Year of Laudato Si’ Plans
November 15, 2022
From Australia to Argentina, Zimbabwe to Canada, the United Kingdom to the United States, and everywhere in between—the world’s faithful joined together on 14 November 2022 to celebrate the one year anniversary of the Laudato Si’ Action Platform.
The Josephite Community has joined and is committed to the Laudato Si’ Action Platform and has a plan titled Explore-Embrace-Embody which you can view here.
The one year celebrations included an online webinar titled Working Together on the Journey Toward Integral Ecology with special guest speakers and moving testimonials from individuals and families across the globe. You’re invited to view the recorded webinar here.