I have always felt slightly uncomfortable when I see a group of evangelical Christians set up for the day with their Bible and brochures, often at a suburban beach or some other popular public venue.
Recently it seemed that Australia had a ‘Swift’ mania moment, with the visit of the American singer Taylor Swift. While knowing nothing about her music, the effects of her visit on so many are extraordinary.
I must confess I didn’t know anything about Frances Xavier Cabrini, despite the fact she is the first American citizen to be canonised a saint, before I watched this film.
When we leave on a journey we must know where we are going. So with Lent. Above all, Lent is a spiritual journey and its destination is Easter.
Sixty years ago The Southern Cross invited South Australian Catholics to ‘share their Lent’ with the Indigenous community of Bathurst Island, Northern Territory.
If Lent has become routine or hollow for you, consider these ten forms of penance from the tradition and what they might look like for you today.
The school year has begun and with it new ideas and opportunities as well as the natural excitement for any teacher keen to explore new thinking and projects.
There is something refreshing that happens when a new year begins. It presents the opportunity to participate more deeply in God’s mercy as we set the counters back to zero and begin again. We can rule the line under the previous year and deepen our hope that the new year will be better, or at least different. We may express this hope in making new year resolutions; we may express this in just wanting this year to be better than last year.
As a child I was under the impression that Lent was primarily a season of mourning.
As we enjoy the usual summer smorgasbord of sport it might seem frivolous of us Aussies to be so obsessed with our sporting heroes when there is such terrible suffering in other parts of the world.
As students across the state begin the 2024 school year, Catholic Education South Australia executive director DR NEIL MCGORAN welcomes families and looks forward to the year ahead.
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