Mary MacKillop to become Australia’s First Saint
Australia will have its first Roman Catholic saint after Pope Benedict approved a decree recognising a second miracle attributed to the intercession of Mother Mary MacKillop.
The approval means Blessed Mary is likely to be formally declared a saint at a canonisation ceremony next year.
Blessed Mary (1842-1909), who founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph, is revered by Catholics for her work, especially with needy children, former female prisoners and prostitutes.
She was beatified by pope John Paul II in 1995.
The miracle approved on Saturday involved the healing of a person who had cancer and was cured after praying to Blessed Mary.
Sister Anne Derwin from the Sisters of Saint Joseph says many have been inspired by Blessed Mary’s work in education and with the poor.
“It’s not only the sisters, but many other people, men and women, who love the way Mary MacKillop lived her life,” she said.
“They try and live in that spirit too, and do great things for people.”
Sister Derwin says the Pope’s decision is a significant event for the church in Australia.
“Mary herself wouldn’t have expected this sort of limelight, but it makes us feel excited that the gift she was given for the church, for the world, is being recognised as valuable,” Sister Derwin said.
“And that was a gift to focus on those most in need in our society.”
Mary MacKillop was born in Melbourne, worked throughout South Australia and died in North Sydney.
She co-founded the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1866 but was excommunicated from the Church at one stage for allegedly disobeying authorities.
However she continued to spend her life caring for those less fortunate.
Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/12/19/2776743.htm
Patriarch Calls for End to Bloodshed In Iraq
DAMASCUS, Syria, MARCH 2, 2010 (Zenit.org).- The Patriarch of Antioch and of All the East is urging Arab leaders, the United Nations and the international community to help put an end to the bloodshed in Iraq.
Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, who is also the Supreme Head of the universal Syro-Orthodox Church, posted a statement today on the Web site of the Patriarchate, urging “the governments of the world to uproot the terrorism and abuses that are blooding Christians of Iraq.”
“With great pain and grief,” the patriarch said, “we follow all that is happening in Iraq and especially to Christians of Iraq, victims of persecutions, killings, looting, kidnapping and sacrilegious acts: It seems the devil has enlisted these men to spread chaos in the country and among the people.”
“We do not know why those who were always faithful to their homeland and attached to the heritage of their beloved Iraq are now being targeted. We have already published other criticisms against this inhuman behavior which is very far from religion,” continues the letter.
“Unfortunately, these criminals carry out their acts in the name of religion but Islam is completely foreign to them,” he added.
Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas asked what could be the reasons for such violence: “Is there perhaps a plot to empty Iraq of Christians who are natives of that country? Or are there projects sponsored by unknown hands that some call one day Zionism and another a feud, or perhaps a group of outlaws that has as its religion the abuse and damage of others?”
“There is nothing that convinces us on why the state is not able to arrest and dole out just punishment to these rebels and outlaws, who are far from the principles of religion, of power, of the state, of the law and of humanity,” continues the letter. “This makes us doubt the intentions of the authorities to whom we request, individually and collectively, to obtain justice for the oppressed.
“We cannot look at our innocent children while people are being slaughtered, killed, looted without any one putting an end to it.”
[Tony Assaf contributed to this article]
© 2010 Zenit. All rights reserved. Terms of Use available at www.zenit.org
Source: http://www.zenit.org/article-28519?l=english
“Truth does not fear dialogue,” says Ecumenical Patriarch
Indifference in regard to Christian unity is not an option for the disciples of Jesus, the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has stated in an encyclical issued on the occasion of the Sunday of Orthodoxy.
“It is not possible for the Lord to agonize over the unity of His disciples and for us to remain indifferent about the unity of all Christians,” Bartholomew wrote in the encyclical. The Sunday of Orthodoxy is commemorated this year on 21 February.
The encyclical refutes “fanatical” challenges brought against theological dialogues among different Orthodox churches and against ecumenical contacts with the wider community of Christians by “certain circles that exclusively claim for themselves the title of zealot and defender of Orthodoxy.”
“They speak condescendingly of every effort for reconciliation among divided Christians and restoration of their unity as purportedly being ‘the pan-heresy of ecumenism’ without providing the slightest evidence that, in its contacts with non-Orthodox, the Orthodox Church has abandoned or denied the doctrines of the Ecumenical Councils and of the Church Fathers,” Bartholomew criticizes.
“The truth does not fear dialogue, because truth has never been endangered by dialogue,” the encyclical letter states. “When in our day all people strive to resolve their differences through dialogue, Orthodoxy cannot proceed with intolerance and extremism.”
“I am very grateful to the Ecumenical Patriarch for his strong commitment to dialogue and the unity of the church, despite the many pressures from fundamentalist circles among Orthodox believers” said the Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) in response to the encyclical on 18 February.
“This encyclical,” Tveit said, “reminds me of another famous text: the 1920 encyclical letter in which the Ecumenical Patriarch proposed the foundation of a fellowship of churches, providing a major impulse for the formation of the WCC.”
The Feast of Orthodoxy is celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent in the Eastern Orthodox tradition. Originally commemorating the defeat of iconoclasm in the 9th century, the Sunday of Orthodoxy has gradually come to be understood in a more general sense as a feast in honour of the true faith.
Church leaders voice concerns for wellbeing of asylum seekers on Christmas Island
President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev. Alistair Macrae and Anglican Archbishop of Perth, the Most Rev. Roger Herft have voiced concerns for the wellbeing of asylum seekers on Christmas Island following a recent visit.
A delegation of church leaders visited Christmas Island last week to see first-hand the conditions under which asylum seekers are detained, and to meet with key personnel and asylum seekers.
Rev. Macrae described the facilities as “basic but adequate for short-term needs. Accommodation overcrowding was clearly evident.” Rev. Macrae said, “It is disturbing to approach the detention centre, which is surrounded by a high fence topped with electrified wire. It looks like a high security prison.”
“Asylum seekers being processed at a reasonable speed appeared to be happy enough,” said Rev. Macrae, “however there is a high level of anxiety amongst those whose cases have taken longer to process. Those most distressed have been detained on Christmas Island for seven to eight months and more.”
The Uniting Church in Australia is a strong advocate for closing the detention centre on Christmas Island and processing asylum seekers on the mainland. While recognising the Detention Centre is unlikely to be closed in the short term, Rev. Macrae called for families and unaccompanied minors to be immediately transferred to the mainland for processing. “There is no reasonable justification for vulnerable children to be held in such a remote facility,” he said.
Archbishop Roger Herft said it was encouraging to see that asylum seekers were treated with dignity but the remote location makes it difficult to deliver the necessary services, such as pastoral and spiritual care for detainees and the staff, legal aid, translation services and regular visitation. “How we [as Australians] receive people is of utmost significance,” he said.
He said the group was concerned that, despite Australia still having a relatively small number of people seeking asylum by international standards (in 2008 Australia received 4,750 asylum seekers compared with 35,200 in France and 30,500 in the UK), there was increasing fear-mongering about ‘boat people’.
“Under no circumstances should we ever use a group of people for political point scoring. The fact that asylum seekers come to us fleeing terrible situations asking us for protection only increases our responsibility to care for them,” he said.
The delegation will now seek to meet with Minister Chris Evans to discuss specific issues arising from the visit.
The Christmas Island delegation included Rev. Alistair Macrae, President of the Uniting Church in Australia, The Most Rev. Roger Herft, Archbishop of the Anglican Diocese of Perth and Rosemary Hudson Miller, Associate General Secretary (Justice & Mission) for the Uniting Church Synod of WA and Chair of CARAD — Coalition for Asylum Seekers, Refugees and Detainees.
Free Greenhouse Audits
WACOSS is providing a fantastic opportunity for Churches to get free Greenhouse audits. They are very keen to have organisations sign up for this, and priority will be given to organisations where there might be more than one building/agency/service on site.
The audits are free, and there can be minor retrofitting done too.
Download the Information and Application Form, and contact Luke van Zeller on (08) 9430 8200.
News for the Heart and Mind – 10 March
The Deaths In Custody Watch Committee (WA) Inc urgently needs your support at an urgent public protest action at Parliament House on Wednesday 17th March 2010, 12.30pm.
It has been two years since Mr. Ward’s horrific and wholly avoidable death in the back of a prison van not fit to transport humans in. Justice delayed, is justice denied!
The State Government’s has failed to deliver three key demands from the Australian community in what can only be described as one of the worst human rights tragedies in Australian living memory.
Compensation to Mr. Ward’s family, extended family and community – Mrs. Ward is distressed and is virtually destitute. This can only be described as a disgraceful situation!
Termination of the government contract with G4S – The Attorney General & Minister for Corrective Services, Mr. Porter claims that the contract with G4s cannot be terminated. This is not true! It can and must be terminated!
Charges have not been laid against those responsible. This is outrageous!
ACT NOW!
Join the protest on the steps of Parliament House at 12.30pm, Wednesday 17th March 2010;
- Organise your family, friends and work colleagues to join the protest;
- Send the attached flyer out to all your networks, now;
- Send this email and attached flyer to your unions, student, community, political and religious organisation asking them to distribute to all their members as a matter of urgency;
- Email your local members of parliament and ask they distribute to their constituents;
- Print the attached flyer and hand out in your workplace, on trains, buses, street corners and public events;
Bring Placards & Banners
STOP DEATHS IN CUSTODY
JUSTICE FOR MR WARD
COMPENSATION NOW
G4S OUT
NO MORE DEATHS IN CUSTODY
GOVT SHAME
JUSTICE NOW
NATIONAL SHAME
WESLEY UNITING CHURCH IN THE CITY — ‘The Stations of the Cross Art Exhibition’
The opening night of the exhibition will be on Friday, 26 March at 6.00pm. The exhibition then opens daily from 9.00am to 5.00pm from Saturday, 27 March to Monday 5 April. For a list of participating artists
Please go to www.perthunitingchurch.com.au/viewStory/Wesley. For further information please feel free to contact Rev Don Dowling at 6103 4222 or email dond@ucic.org.au
Centre for Ecumenical Studies – Looking Beyond Division
The Centre for Ecumenical Studies, based at Charles Sturt University Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture is offering a Five Day Winter School introducing the study of Ecumenism entitled “Looking Beyond Division.” The intensive will be heald in Canberra at ACC&C, 15 Blackall Street, Barton from the 5th to the 9th of July, and in Sydney at UTC, 16 Masons Drive North Parramatta from the 13th to the 17th of July 2010.
This course unit will introduce students to the study of ecumenics by:
- examining the biblical and theological basis for ecumenism
- studying the history of the modern ecumenical movement
- discussing issues pertaining to the Unity of the Church and to Mission
- exploring problems and possibilities relating to ecumenical worship
- considering matters relating to justice, reconciliation and ecology
Send Application Form to:
The Reverend Dr Ray Williamson
Centre for Ecumenical Studies
ACC&C
15 Blackall Street
BARTON 2600
Ph: 02 6272 6213
E-mail: raywilliamson@csu.edu.au
by 1st May 2010
Pace e Bene – Spiritualiy and Practice of Nonviolent Leadership
Pache e Bene Australia, in associaition with a grant from the Glenburnie Programme, is presenting an 8 day residential program that will explore a different way to funtion as a leader. Exploring questions of self-care, integrity, power and hierarchy, the program affirms that we can expand self-knowledge and deepen leadership skills through a disciplined and sustained practice of reflection on inner work.
The 8 day retreat will be offered in two modules: Module 1 is entitled “The Inner Journey of Non Violent Leadership” and is a 5 day residential retreat to be held at nathanael’s Rest in Mundaring, WA, and is offered twice, once from August 8 to 13 and again from August 29 to September 3.
The Second Module is entitled “The Tool-Kit for Nonviolent Leadership” and is a three day residential retreat to be held from November 14-17 at a location to be confirmed in Sydney or Melbourne.
The Retreat will be facilitated by Brendan McKeague, George E. Trippe and Stacie Chappell.
Download the flyer and application form to find out more. Applications are to be fully paid by the 14th June, 2010.
Mainstreaming Nonviolence Retreats
This year we will be offering the Mainstreaming Nonviolence, the Daily Practice of Peace five-day residential retreats at Nathanael’s Rest in Mundaring:
Sunday evening April 25 – Friday April 30
and
Sunday evening November 28 – Friday Dec 3
Each of these programs will be limited to eight participants – see attached brochure.
We hope you will consider attending and passing the information on to those who might also be interested.
With peace
Brendan, George and Stacie
Pastoral Care Course – A program of formation for ministry with the Mentally Ill
This program is intended for those wishing to undertake personal formation and practical training in the pastoral care of those with a mental illness.
It consists of elements offered by clinical staff at Graylands Hospital, the Mental Health Services chaplaincy team and speakers from mental health associations.
Program times
Day: Each Friday for 17 weeks
Time: 8.45 a.m. to 3.30 p.m.
Begins: Friday 2nd July 2010
Ends: Friday 22nd Oct. 2010
Course Donation
A donation of $100.00 is invited to cover costs.
Applications close 11th June 2010. Contact Robert Milne on Robert.Milne@health.wa.gov.au for more information.
Old Laptops for Sale
The Council of Churches have two laptops which are of no further use, and hope to pass these onto people who could use them better.
First up is a Toshiba Tecra, containing a 36GB hard drive, a 1.66ghz Intel Centrino processor and 512mb RAM. Any reasonable offer accepted.
Secondly is an LG P1 Pro Express, containing an Intel Core 2 T550 1.66Ghz, 1GB RAM, and an ATI X1400 512MB Graphics Card. $800 or highest offer $500 or highest offer
Neither Laptop contains an operating system, however we are willing to install the following options:
Ubuntu 9.10 (or other Linux platform of your choice) – $25 for installation
Windows 7 Home Premium – $122 for software, $25 for installation = $147
To register interest or to make an offer, e-mail us or call 08 9274 3888.
World Day of Prayer 2010
The World Day of Prayer is a global ecumenical movement which brings Christians of many traditions together to observe a common day of prayer each year. Through preparation and participation in the worship service, we can come to know how our sisters of other countries, languages and cultures understand the Biblical passages in their context. We can hear their concerns and needs and can feel ourselves in solidarity with them as we pray with and for them. In this way, it is possible to enrich our Christian faith as it grows deeper and broader in an international, ecumenical expression.
In 2010, March 5 is being observed as the World Day of Prayer, as the women of Cameroon invite us to come with them to the Land of Promise, Land of Glory; to come together with confidence: Let everything that has breath, Praise God.
We have a list of churches hosting World Day of Prayer services across the state. We strongly encourage you to join them. WDP Church Venues for 2010 service
Oaktree Roadtrip
On the 8th – 15th May 2010, young Australians are uniting to MAKE POVERTY HISTORY in a road trip that will rock the entire nation. Departing from every capital city, 1200 Ambassadors will lead a week long campaign that will raise awareness of global poverty and encourage all Australians to join their call for change.
At schools, businesses, churches, community organisations and sporting clubs we’ll spread one message: that poverty can be ended, if only we have the will. In newspapers, magazines, radio interviews and television stunts we’ll speak with one voice: our generation can be the one to end extreme poverty.
In WA, we are calling on 100 young people aged 16 to 26 to get on board the trip of a lifetime and lead the movement to MAKE POVERTY HISTORY. Get on board for a great cause and a real adventure; at times crazy and fun, at other times challenging.
We’re uniting a generation to create a sustainable world free from the devastation of poverty. Australia must meet its promise to give 0.7% of our national income. We won’t accept 1.4 billion people living in extreme poverty, where over 24,000 children die from preventable causes every day. Help us create this world, as we journey across Australia to MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY.
To apply: www.theroadtrip.com.au (applications close March 15th)
Questions: Call Jody Lightfoot – 0404 491 494
Desert Spirit Journey for Young Adults
A SPIRIT JOURNEY IN THE WESTERN DESERT
June 19-25 2010
Come and connect with the great inland desert of Australia. Travel with the Aboriginal custodians and understand who we are. Learn to find our way through the challenges that the planet is facing. God has often summoned his people to the desert, so this will be a pilgrimage and not a tour. The impressions and fears of ‘desert’ by early explorers can reveal an avenue for your own spiritual values.
You will have the opportunity to sign up for a guided desert spirit journey.
We will get out of our:
City, Church, Colony and Culture.
We will get into:
Christ’s story, Country’s Story, Pioneer’s story, Indigenous’ Story, Community Custodian story & Our stories.
Mr Josh McGuire will be our host to help us understand Indigenous issues. Rev Dr Ian Robinson will enable us to integrate biblical knowledge with our desert experience empowering us to apply this knowledge to our life. We will be exploring land near the largest Salt Lake in WA North West of Kalgoorlie.
Cost $700 Max- payable to TEAR W.A. RSVP & $200 deposit to wa@tear.org.au by March 1st 2010 or enquiries on 94435100.
Desert Spirit Journey for Young Adults 2010
« Older blog posts
