Sr Coral Hedley RSM, 8 February 2024 In 1975, the Bishop of Armidale NSW asked Sr Coral Hedley to take care of the priestless parish of Bingara. And what was the most important part of the ministry? It was “to be a presence. To represent the Church in a person, rather than a building.” AlongsideContinue reading “Representing the Church – A Person not a Building”
Author Archives: elizabethyoungrsm
The Word Became Flesh
Leo Tucker, 25 January 2024 In this first blog of the year, Leo Tucker shares his own story. Based in Sydney, he is the Executive Director Mission and Spirituality at St Vincent de Paul Society NSW. Thanks, Leo! Elizabeth: Tell me a bit about your own ministry journey. I guess I began my ministry journey inContinue reading “The Word Became Flesh”
The open door to explore more
Deacon Tony Hoban, 21 December 2023 Deacon Tony Hoban is living his vocation to the full, working as Pastoral Director at St Luke’s, Marsden Park, Australia’s newest Catholic Church community on the north-western outskirts of Sydney. However, as he tells me, it has been “a bumpy road.” Tony started life in a traditional Catholic family,Continue reading “The open door to explore more”
Liturgy Sustaining Life – Both Beauty and Pain
Sally Neaves, 14 December 2023 When we think about ‘liturgy on the margins’, it is usually people that come to mind. But Sally Neaves also challenges us to think about the margins of creation. After all, in the Mass the priest proclaims, “all creation rightly gives you praise” (Eucharistic Prayer III). Sally truly experienced thatContinue reading “Liturgy Sustaining Life – Both Beauty and Pain”
It makes God-sense at the Stable
Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green, 7 December 2023 Recently, Bishop Columba Macbeth-Green OSPPE, was, literally, celebrating Confirmations at the back o’Bourke in outback New South Wales. The day was 46 degrees, and everyone was melting. In the evening he was scheduled to go to Wanaaring – an even more remote locality – for 5pm Mass. The BishopContinue reading “It makes God-sense at the Stable”
The “Spiritual Buzz” of Diaconal Ministry
Deacon Paul Stacy, 30 November 2023 Deacon Paul Stacy has many parish responsibilities, including serving at the altar, baptisms, weddings, funerals, home and nursing home visitations. Yet he wants to do more, and has just started a new role in visiting parishes to promote the work of Catholic Mission. Have I mentioned that he isContinue reading “The “Spiritual Buzz” of Diaconal Ministry”
Reaching out, the way of Jesus
Paul Harris, 16 November 2023 Those who identify as LGBTQIA+ are some of the people on the margins addressed at the recent session of the Synod in Rome. The Instrumentum Laboris asks, “…what concrete steps are needed to welcome those who feel excluded from the Church because of their status or sexuality (for example, remarriedContinue reading “Reaching out, the way of Jesus”
Making Sacramental What I Had Been Doing All My Life
Deacon Dr John Collins and Dr Sandra Carroll, 9 November 2023 As a ministerial couple, Deacon John Collins and Sandra Carroll are quite something. Both have done Doctorates in theology, though they don’t like to brag about the fact. They have also spent their lifetimes discerning and living out their baptismal calls in amazing intentionalContinue reading “Making Sacramental What I Had Been Doing All My Life”
The Diaconate in the Synod Synthesis
2 November 2023 On this Feast of All Souls, we have a chance to reflect on the Final Synthesis Report of the 2023 Synod on Synodality in Rome, and what it says about the diaconate. The official English version is available here. From this, I have extracted the passages relevant to our interest in exploringContinue reading “The Diaconate in the Synod Synthesis”
On the Side of the Synod
Elizabeth Young, 26 October 2023 The much-anticipated Synod on Synodality has been taking place in Rome throughout this month of October. Although the discussions have been private to allow for freedom and confidence in the Spirit, much has been happening both within the Synod hall and without. One of the side events was a “SymposiumContinue reading “On the Side of the Synod”
Liturgy on the Margins 