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!”
Category Archives: Stories
From the Peripheries to the Centre
Mario Trinidad, 9 March 2023 Mario Trinidad has had, in his own words, a “long journey”. He grew up in the Philippines in a middle class family, and went to an all boys exclusive Jesuit school. But through university, he “realised there is something more to life than amassing wealth, marrying and living happily everContinue reading “From the Peripheries to the Centre”
Liturgy, Word, Service and Funerals Close to the Heart
Sr Stancea Vichie MSS, 2 March 2023 In 2016, Sr Stancea Vichie MSS was in Rome with the International Union of Superiors General, in a meeting with Pope Francis. It was there that the question arose: as women already function effectively as deacons, could they not be ordained like those women in the early Church?Continue reading “Liturgy, Word, Service and Funerals Close to the Heart”
Liturgy – God’s Gift and Call
Angela Gorman, 23 February 2023 Angela Gorman strikes me as someone switched on to the movement of the Spirit. Her ready refrain in our interview was, “God is doing something new in me at the moment.” How could I help but be excited by this inspiring channel of hope? Angela grew up as a CatholicContinue reading “Liturgy – God’s Gift and Call”
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”
Our Greatest Wounds Are Our Greatest Gifts
Debra Zanella, 2 February 2023 As Debra Zanella ages, her understanding of ministry and liturgy have broadened, reaching across many aspects of her life in both the personal and work realms. She describes ministry as “my response and acceptance of God’s call for who I am, that gets embodied in the work that I do.”Continue reading “Our Greatest Wounds Are Our Greatest Gifts”
Diaconal Formation from the Past, for the Future
Sr Patricia Fox RSM, 15 December 2022 Sr Patricia Fox RSM has had a lifetime of education, formation and church leadership. Lately she went digging back into her history, to several years running the Adelaide Archdiocese Ministry Formation Program. It was not a long time, she recalls, but very significant both for her personally andContinue reading “Diaconal Formation from the Past, for the Future”
Mission to the Margins, in Service
Sr Bernadette Wallis MSS, 1 December 2022 Today Sr Bernadette Wallis MSS reflects on liturgy on the margins in her own words. Thanks, Bernadette! The margins, of course, are the centre of the universe for those who live in places or lifestyles that are considered ‘margins’ by others! However, when we are in those margins,Continue reading “Mission to the Margins, in Service”
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 