Clontarf Ecumenical Conference Ecumenism: Reimagining the Future of the Irish Church. Date: Saturday 13th October 10.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. Venue: Church of St. John the Baptist, Seafield…
Seamus Ahearne visited his neighbours in Finglas West for the closing of their church.
“The symbolism of today was very moving. The closing of a Church brought people to Mass! ……..
A new world of God, is opening up. We do need to be very creative. Buildings help it happen. It will occur in a very different way. We can knock down some of the structures of religion and become architects of a very new and simple faith. Pope Francis expresses it well how our Church has to grow and develop. We need to focus on faith-building rather than brick-building.”
October is Mission Month. In two weeks time we will honour the work of missionaries on Mission Sunday; throughout the month, we remember that ‘Christian Families are Missionary Families’. And we praise God’s constant care for all people, at home and abroad.
Invitation to the AGM of the Association of Catholic Priests (ACP) in
The Bounty, Dubarry Park, Athlone
on Wednesday 10th October
2.00-5.00pm.
Report of the Northern Regional Meeting of the Association of Catholic Priests held in Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny, Tuesday, 11 September 2018.
The address of Vincent Long Van Nguyen, Bishop of Parramatta, to the Concerned Catholics of Canberra and Goulburn Forum on the topic of “The Role of the Faithful in a post-Royal Commission Church in Australia” has relevance not just to the church in Australia but to the universal church.
“If the priesthood has a better future, it has to be humanized; it has to find expression in better mutual support, collaboration and partnership. It has to free itself from the variant strains of clericalism such as sexism, paternalism, narcissism and superiority complex.”
“So long as we continue to make women invisible and inferior in the Church’s language, liturgy, theology and law, we impoverish ourselves as if we heard with only one ear, we saw with only one eye and we thought with only one half of the brain…”
Seamus Ahearne binges on TV (three programmes in a week!) and recommends it as a great escape, but not to be indulged in too often!
“In my frivolous mood, I wish that we as Church people might learn from the three Shows and be motivated to do something very new. …. We need creativity and imagination to produce new Churches (not the buildings), new Parishes and new ways of being Dioceses. We need experiments. We need a new structure. We need to think outside the box. We need dreamers. We need visionaries. If only all were prophets!”
Saints in October 01 October St Therese of the Child Jesus, Virgin, Doctor of the Church Born at Alençon (France) in 1873; died of tuberculosis at Lisieux on 30 September…
All are welcome in this place: anyone who is not against us is for us. All may gather here to worship God our Saviour.
Paddy O’Kane offers a personal reflection on his ministry of being priest to people who are hurting.
Peter McVerry SJ draws our attention to a document from the Jesuit Centre for Faith and Justice about the homeless/housing crisis which Ireland finds itself in.
“there is no version of holiness that satisfies itself with doctrinal rigour, or liturgical purity, but does not act for the sake of the marginalised:”
Sean O’Conaill invites us to look again at our understanding of sin and our need for transformation as expressed in the liturgy of the eucharist.
We gather to remember the passion and death of Jesus, and to celebrate his resurrection with joy. He calls us to move beyond rivalry and conflict, to be true followers of the Christian way.
Maire Lawless voices her concerns with the on-going difficulties people experience with the “new translation” of the missal.
“The issue is very serious because some deeply spiritual people …… have found this to be the last straw of a power driven authoritarian church which now touched directly on their highly valued prayer life. As a result they no longer have attendance at Roman Catholic Eucharist as a part of their practice.”
Val Rogers draws attention to a short report by Brian Vale, in a bulletin from the Columbans in Australia, about an Acculturation Programme Brian Vale and others provided for overseas priests who have come to serve in Australia recently.
As artificial intelligence and automation is increasingly taking over and replacing workers, Sean McDonagh alerts us to the fact that it is not just governments and trade unions that need to plan for the future.
“Most Churches have not considered how they will organise pastoral care if 40% of the people in the parish are not involved in paid employment, which seem to be where this technology is taking us.”
Seamus Ahearne shares one of his reflections on life and God being revealed in the reality of the world about us; “God is not dead. The beauty of our gift as faith-people is magnificent. We cannot tolerate the dark, the dull, the dreary, the deluge of overwhelming sadness.
We have to sensitize our minds, hearts and imaginations to the world of God. We are ministers of the Gospel. We have the ‘joy of love.’ That enthusiasm has to burst out from us. Whatever gets in the way of this; has to be pushed aside.”
Chris McDonnell, writing in the Catholic Times, states what should be obvious to all; “Renewal and repair is not only a clerical task, for clericalism has been one of the deep seated roots from which have grown our present dysfunctional state. The laity must willingly accept the burden of reformation, bringing their skills, talents and experience to the service of faith. And they must be listened to, not brushed aside as an inconvenient irritant as has so often been the case. Parish councils, Diocesan councils are not an optional feature but play an essential part of our journey, they facilitate meaningful exchange.”
In our journey through life we walk the path Jesus walked, so it is hard for us to escape suffering, no more than he could. We remember his suffering and death, knowing that it brought him glory and that it will do the same for us.
Tim Hazelwood reviews John E. Ryan’s ‘Priesthood imprisoned: A crisis for the Church.’
Tim says of it “we experience an insider’s look and honest appraisal of priesthood that greatly adds to this book’s authenticity and attraction.”
Tim’s review first appeared in the The Furrow, June 2018. With thanks to the Furrow and to Tim.
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