There is the story of a former Prime Minister visiting a nursing home during an election period and going up to one of the elderly residents, bending over and asking the lady, “do you know who I am?” The resident replied, ‘no, I don’t, dear, but if you go over to the nurse at the desk, she will probably be able to tell you’.
All around us are signs of the season of spring, for which we have looked forward to. We have left behind us the sometimes grey, dull and cold days of winter and may even have a spring in our steps as we look forward to more natural warmth and light, and the energy that comes from them.
All roads lead to Rome, they say. And from all the corners of the earth we came – Australia (just me), Macau, the Philippines, Latin America, United States, Canada, Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, Western Europe and Rome itself – to learn about ‘covering Catholicism in the age of Francis’.
Apostolic Administrator Bishop Greg O'Kelly SJ asks why Catholics should stick with the Church in challenging times in his message this month.
In the past 50 years lay people have taken on many liturgical ministries, from extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and readers, to visitors to the sick and collection counters. For many parishes the ministry of hospitality holds a special place because hospitality is – or ought to be – the hallmark of every Christian. We might think that hospitality at Mass is limited to providing a warm greeting as parishioners and visitors arrive, or handing out parish bulletins, but in fact it is much more than this: it is the ministry of the whole community.
Letter to the editor
Opinion
At a time when many would say the Catholic Church is on the decline, it is interesting to note that the latest Census statistics show that the Catholic population in Australia has increased from 4.8 million to nearly 5.3 million over the past 10 years.
As Catholics celebrate the feast of Saint Mary MacKillop today, August 8, Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ reflects on her work and how the Church of today can continue to learn from her example.
Millions of people around the world were transfixed in recent weeks as they watched the television accounts of the World Cup, and of 12 boys and their coach in a cave in Thailand.
When the announcement was made by Pope Francis that Adelaide’s very own Father Charles Gauci was to be the next Bishop of Darwin, it was a welcome relief to have some good news to spread.
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