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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.
Also we have grown up with religious symbols in our homes. This is less evident nowadays in many homes. Carl Jung said “If people lose their symbols their culture will die”. We can likewise say that without our religious symbols our faith will be affected and run the risk of dying.
Faith and life – the two fit together so well and enrich each other. Faith, as we know, offers so much to our understanding of life and its practical living.
I thank Bishop O’Kelly for his thought provoking article.
In regard to Faith I wish to announce something special for the whole of our Church in Australia. A “Year of Grace” is being planned and will begin Pentecost 2012 and conclude the following Pentecost. Fr Michael Morrissey has readily agreed to coordinate this in our Diocese. Its aim is to focus on Christ and our personal Faith in Him, which in turn affects everything else. It will not be a new programme but will be a time to focus more on “Contemplating the Face of Christ”, as Pope John Paul II often said.
Finally as you read this I will be in Rome for the Australian Bishops Ad Limina. It is a time to report on our diocese to the Pope and to the central offices called Dicastries. It is also a time (and I really like this) as a body of Australian Bishops in union, with our Holy Father and the foundation stones of St Peter and St Paul, to strengthen our Faith in Jesus.
Please keep praying for us the Australian Bishops so that we may grow in Faith and help lead the people of God in Australia to the best of our ability in the forthcoming Year of Grace.
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