Vicky Gonzalez Burrows, 19 June 2025 There is so much to the ministry journey of Vicky Gonzalez Burrows, even as a young woman, that it is hard to do it justice. Suffice to say that she has been an outstanding person of faith, gifted and called as a Catholic faith leader. However, her uncommon journeyContinue reading “Empowered to Minister”
Category Archives: Chaplains
The Public Face of the Church: Finding where God is Present
Deacon Adrian Gomez, 21 March 2024 Deacon Adrian Gomez takes me back to the dawn of the reinstitution of permanent deacons in the Western Catholic Church… a dream that emerged in the concentration camps of World War II, as Lutheran and Catholic priests looked to renew the diaconate. “There are images of Christ the kingContinue reading “The Public Face of the Church: Finding where God is Present”
The Tables in My Life
Sr Jwan Kada IBVM, 18 May 2023 Sr Jwan Kada’s experiences of faith and ministry have been centred around tables, and for her, they are always eucharistic. It all started as she grew up in Iraq, fully immersed in the Chaldean Catholic Church. Before she was a teenager, Jwan would perform ‘Mass’ for her family,Continue reading “The Tables in My Life”
Handing Down the Ministry
Rev. Nicholas Rundle, 11 May 2023 For Rev. Nicholas Rundle, church ministry is in the family. Quite literally, his mother Rev. Beryl Rundle has handed down her example. And now, Nicholas serves others in a spiritual way, with special attention to their hands. That story will come later, but let’s start with some of theirContinue reading “Handing Down the Ministry”
Crumbs from the Banquet Table
Robyn Presdee, 30 March 2023 As COVID started to loom large, more and more restrictions came into place. The South Coast Correctional Centre decided that everyone over a certain age had to work from home. This affected one of the chaplains, Deacon Peter Presdee, who was working inside full-time. His wife, Robyn Presdee, was doingContinue reading “Crumbs from the Banquet Table”
The ‘Religious Dude’ and Much More!
Deacon Mark Kelly, 23 March 2023 From the navy to the power industry to the education system to the Church, Deacon Mark Kelly has had an interesting journey. Yet all of his experiences have made him who he is, and he “absolutely believes” that the Holy Spirit has been involved in spades. After growing upContinue reading “The ‘Religious Dude’ and Much More!”
It’s Already Here; It’s Alive and Well!
Cathy Jones, 16 March 2023 Some of our readers may recall the story of Sr Gerri Boylan, Administrator and Pastoral Leader of the remote Western Australian gold-mining towns of Mount Magnet, Cue and Meekatharra. Well, recently I had the privilege of hearing from her successor, Cathy Jones, who appears to be the perfect candidate. CathyContinue reading “It’s Already Here; It’s Alive and Well!”
Finding Meaning, Extending Hope
Fr Darryl Mackie, 16 February 2023 In liturgical ministry, says Fr Darryl Mackie, “we need to speak in a language that all may understand.” And so his liturgies are a result of relationships, listening and making choices that have meaning for the people he serves. Life began for Darryl in Branxton/Greta (Hunter Valley), NSW, andContinue reading “Finding Meaning, Extending Hope”
Serving the Community brings Happiness
Deacon John Cinya, 25 November 2022 Deacon John Cinya has been with people experiencing material poverty and material wealth. Yet he has found that what really brings happiness is connected instead to our spiritual needs. It is grasped by individuals, “but also exercised in the community”. No matter what you have, when you know thatContinue reading “Serving the Community brings Happiness”
Ministry of the Words
Deacon Mick O’Donnell, 17 November 2022 Deacon Mick O’Donnell is a novelist, but his life makes a compelling and inspiring story of its own. Ordained in 1991, he has had 31 years as a permanent deacon and “is still in love with the ministry.” Back in the 80’s, there were few such deacons in AustraliaContinue reading “Ministry of the Words”
Liturgy on the Margins 