Brian Gleeson CP, a doctor of theology and Passionist priest, has been teaching theology in various theological schools in Australia and PNG since 1978. He discusses bridging the divide between laity and clergy and the implications for the Plenary Council.
John Hannon, parish priest Essendon, Victoria, offers a homily on divorce and the Church given on the 27th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B (Mk 10/2-16).
As Brendan Byrne SJ, scripture scholar, comments on today’s Gospel: “Any pastor would be aware that no Sunday Gospel read throughout the year… will require more careful handling than this one… To simply read out the rulings of Jesus in the Gospel without comment or nuance would be to turn Gospel into Law, and simply add to a burden of guilt that may already be oppressive.” So, here goes, for my take!
Bernard Moylan, retired priest living in Sydney, asks the big questions facing priesthood in the light of the Royal Commission: the clerical culture, mandatory celibacy and married priests.
In an interview recently published in The Tablet, world-famous classical pianist, Stephen Hough, revealed that upon realising his homosexuality at an early age he decided to enter the Catholic priesthood. It was only the subsequent advice from a priest that he possessed an exceptional God-given talent, which he should use to its fullest extent, that finally dissuaded him from entering a seminary.
Bishop Pat Power offered these words at the funeral of Professor John Molony (pictured) on 21 Sept 2018 at St Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Aranda, ACT.
The 1989 Synod of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn was the first diocesan synod in Australia since the Second Vatican Council. It was convoked out of the genius and vision of Archbishop Francis Carroll. Its theme was ‘Coming Home in Christ’. I chaired a number of the sessions over the three days and for me one of the most moving of the contributions was made by John Molony. He had made a couple of incisive interventions in earlier discussions, but towards the end of proceedings, he said simply: I would like to thank Fr Geoff Lloyd for nominating me as a delegate to this Synod and Archbishop Carroll for accepting that nomination. After many years, I feel that I have finally come home.
Archbishop Emeritus Leonard Faulkner was buried on 14 May 2018 at St Francs Xavier Cathedral, Adelaide. Fr Maurice Shinnick offered this reflection on the occasion.
When he returned to Adelaide as a young priest following his ordination in Rome in1950, Father Leonard Faulkner was appointed as assistant priest to Monsignor William Russell, in the newly establish and expanding Woodville Parish in the Western suburbs. There he found so many migrants from post-World War Two Europe, striving to establish themselves in a new environment of culture and language. To that ministry he brought his life experiences.
