Easter – Part And Parcel Of Our Lives

At a recent Seminar on the Sacraments the participants viewed a DVD called “Journey of the Universe”. It gives much information about the size and ever expanding universe with billons of galaxies. It spoke about such lofty realities of our ever expanding universe in down-to-earth terms making it very understandable to unscientific minds.

The end result was to be filled with wonder and awe at God’s creation.

The more we appreciate God at work in creation and nature, the more we can appreciate the God / Man, Jesus, at work, not only in the Sacraments, but in the Seasons / Celebrations of the Liturgical Year. For example the natural elements of water, bread, wine and oil have such a privileged position in our close relationship with God through the Sacraments.

Sadly the celebration of Easter in the Southern Hemisphere is somewhat deprived of the visual display of nature that assists those in the Northern Hemisphere to enter into the Season. Those in the north have passed from winter to spring. The more the severe winter the more appreciated is spring. The more evident also is the power and beauty of new life bursting forth in nature. Very apt for the Easter Season, where we celebrate Jesus bursting forth from the tomb in the Resurrection.

We in the Southern Hemisphere are capable though of using our imagination. We have experienced many seasons of Spring ourselves and can therefore draw on those memories. This helps us in some way appreciate the Paschal Mystery – the deep and profound reality of Jesus passing from death to life.

Our  memories of Spring are not the only good tool to aid our appreciation of the Paschal Mystery.  Equally important are our own life experiences to help us enter into this most profound season.

Bishop Bianchini’s Homily at the Ordination of Tai Trinh

It is a great joy for me tonight to Ordain Tai a priest for our Diocese of Geraldton. It reflects and is in tune with the joy that we all feel this evening. Deacon Tai you will have some nerves but I know deep down that you experience this joy as well.

As a Bishop I reflect quite often and pray about the Church and having a healthy Church. We need many things for a healthy Church – good Lay people (young, as well as middle age and older), good married couples and families, as well as good single people and good Religious. Essential to the Church are good Priests. 

 Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 

I am writing to you on behalf of all the Bishops of Australia, giving thanks to God for your faith and witness. We now share with you a message of hope.

We call the Catholic people in Australia to a Year of Grace, to span the time from Pentecost 2012 to Pentecost 2013. Like the disciples at the first Pentecost, we commit ourselves to start afresh from Christ.

Click here to read more from the ACBC Media Blog

I was struck by Bishop Greg O’Kelly’s reflection in his Port Pirie diocesan magazine “The Witness” of August 2011 and have asked his permission to reprint it in our Sower. I invite you to read and reflect on his words.

He speaks of the growing division for many between Church and life. While many of us connect and integrate faith, and life as in weekend church and living during the week, many do not.

While in our homes so much Christian love is expressed and lived, I think we need to ask how much nowadays is being done to express our faith as families by praying together.