Issue 12 :: August 2012

Inspiration

“What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops”
– (Mt 10:27 - Inspiration for Proclaim 2012)

"The Gospel is the “good news” that God loves us and that each of us is important to him. Show the world that this is true!
- (Message of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI for the Twenty-Seventh World Youth Day 2012)

From the Bishops

Theology for the Third Millennium
In early July this year Archbishop Bruno Forte from the Archdiocese of Chieti-Vasto in Italy presented at a variety of events in Melbourne. Along with Cardinal Pell, Archbishop Forte is one of twenty members of the Pontifical Council for Promoting the New Evangelization. A noted theologian, Archbishop Forte is also a member of the Papal International Theological Commission. Whilst in Melbourne the Archbishop presented at the Orientale Lumen Conference Australasia, engaged in a public conversation with Professor Tony Kelly CSsR from Australian Catholic University at the Helder Camara Lecture and presented a public lecture on the New Evangelisation at Australian Catholic University. As part of his busy schedule Archbishop Forte engaged in a conversation with delegates at the Australian Catholic Theological Association Conference. Take up and read this engaging and thoughtful text prepared and presented by one who is at the heart of the Church’s mission to engage in a New Evangelisation. At the very end of the article you will find a link to the text of another of the Archbishop’s presentations in Melbourne, ‘Theology of Beauty: a way to unity?’ This may also be of interest to some readers.

Martyrìa - Koinonìa - Diakonìa
The transformation of the planet into a “global village”, which has been enormously accelerated by the experience of virtual reality made possible by the multimedia and in particular by the web, also influences the religious and spiritual sphere. Phenomena such as “New Age” or the “Age of Aquarius” have had a tremendous impact, especially on North and South American cultures, although their influence is not negligible in other contexts as well. These phenomena, by providing a kind of “gnosis” for the people, seem to answer the need for security produced by fast-paced changes. Read the complete article here.

Testimony of Faith

St John of Avila & St Hildegard

In October this year, Pope Benedict will declare St. John of Avila and St. Hildegard as Doctors of the Church.

St John of Avila is patron saint of the secular clergy. He was born around 1500 in the Spanish town of Almodovar del Campo and studied Law before being ordained a priest in 1526. During his ministry he was noted for his love of God, his generosity, detachment from material possessions and his work in promoting vocations in the Church. He celebrated mass with great devotion, and his sermons attracted many crowds. His preaching on the dangers of wealth saw him accused of refusing heaven to the rich, for which he was imprisoned. However he was later declared innocent and released. St John of Avila also formed a number of colleges and among his helpers were St Theresa of Avila and St John of God. He died in 1569 after lengthy illness. His feast day is 10 May.

St. Hildegard was born in 1098 in Bockelheim, Germany. She suffered much illness as a child so she didn’t receive much of an education. She became a Benedictine nun and later founded a number of convents. St Hildegard led a great interior life and experienced visions and divine revelations. She is known for her writings and her great wisdom, which attracted crowds of people who would seek her advice and counsel. She had a great love for the church, and even despite advancing age and poor conditions she would travel far to speak to God’s people. Her love of music saw her compose many hymns which brought much joy to her monasteries. St Hildegard died in 1179. Her feast day is 17 September.

From St Hildegard and St John of Avila

If you have a story of how God has brought you back to Himself, and would like to share it in a following issue of this newsletter, please contact us.

Upcoming events

August 2012

• 9-11 Aug - PROCLAIM2012
  National conference empowering the church in Australia in the new evangelisation.
  See proclaimconference.com.au
• 17 Aug - Real Power
  What is the real power in being a man? Townsville, QLD. See menalive.org.au
• 25-26 Aug - New Life Seminar
  Experience a personal encounter with Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Dulwich, SA. See schoolofevangelisation.org.au

September 2012

• 27-30 Sep - Ignite Conference
  A dynamic contemporary Catholic conference for adults, teens and kids. Brisbane, QLD. See igniteconference.com.au

Do you want more people coming to your events? We would love to promote your event here but we won’t know about it unless you tell us. Contact us with your event information for free promotion!

Prayer

Most Holy God, in every age you form a people for yourself. Your Holy Spirit dwells in the hearts of men and women and from their midst raises up prophets to proclaim the Good News with boldness. Draw us deeper into the mystery of your boundless love. Call us to ongoing conversion and transformation into Christ. Put fresh hearts within us that we may share with all people the Good News of your compassionate and saving love and bring them to know the hope with which you grace us. May the fire of your Holy Spirit fill us so that the Pentecost flame may burn ever more brightly in your Church. We ask this through Jesus Christ, Your Son and our Lord. Amen Prayer Source: Proclaim 2012 Conference Prayer Illustration by Sharon Apted, ‘A colourful Cross’, (public domain)