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”
Category Archives: Stories
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”
Walking Beside People
Deacon Josh Clayton, 14 September 2023 When Deacon Josh Clayton describes his ministry, his approach is always “besides”. He “walks beside people” rather than stands in front of them or lectures them. Josh knows what it is like to get things wrong, especially in the family; as a father he “stuffs up all the time”.Continue reading “Walking Beside People”
Showing Great Resilience
Cathy Murrowood, 17 August 2023 This week, Cathy Murrowood shares her own story. Cathy is a Liturgy Educator with the ACU Centre for Liturgy and is involved in developing online liturgy training programs for communities across Australia. She is a member of the National Liturgical Council and a liturgical consultant. Thank you very much forContinue reading “Showing Great Resilience”
The Richness and Value they bring to the Church
Annette Heinemann, 27 July 2023 What is the value of the permanent diaconate? As the Director of the Ministry Formation Program in Adelaide, it is a question Annette Heinemann grapples with every day. Her insights have developed over years of ministry and formation, and there are no easy answers. Fundamentally, she sees the diaconate asContinue reading “The Richness and Value they bring to the Church”
Liturgy on the Margins 