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| Editorial |
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The common mission of all the ministries undertaken in the Church is evangelisation. Different ministries may concentrate on particular groups, or focus on specific functions, but they are all concerned with announcing the Gospel of Jesus.
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| Happenings |
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Witness to the Gospels in Modern Australia
Against a backdrop of recent increases in secularism, consumerism, hedonism, discrimination and intolerance, how can the church better proclaim the Gospel to the people of the 21st century?
Catholic Mission and the Australian Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes Mission Net are presenting internationally acclaimed writer, scholar and missionary Father Stephen Bevans, SVD, as keynote speaker at a series of five conferences to be held around Australia during September and October to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Pope Paul VI's apostolic exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi.
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National Gathering of Pastoral Planners
The National Pastoral Planning Network Conference will be held at BIMET Lodge Newcastle in the Maitland-Newcastle diocese from Sunday 23 October to Wednesday 26 October 2005. The theme of this year's conference will be Signs of Hope - an Emerging Church. Enquiries: Paul O'Bryan paul.o'bryan@mn.catholic.org.au
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Catholic Deaf Pastoral Conference
A Catholic conference for those working with deaf people will take place at the Holy Cross Conference Centre, Serpells Road, Templestowe, Victoria from 18 - 21 August. Topics will include: spirituality and the deaf community, religious concepts and signs, children of deaf adults, and linking youth with their future. For more information, contact Janette at: Tel (03) 9525 1337 tty; Tel (03) 9525 1158 voice; Fax (03) 9525 1191 Mobile/SMS 0411 406 152 Email admin@jpc.org.au
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Historians Assess Catholic Impact on Australia
The Australian Catholic History Association in conjunction with the Broken Bay Institute is hosting a national conference on the theme of the Catholic impact on Australia. It will take place on 3 September at the Mount St Benedict Centre, 447A Pennant Hills Road, Pennant Hills NSW. For more information click here or visit www.bbi.catholic.edu.au to register.
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| Mission & Ministry |
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Young Film Makers @ ABLAZEfest
The ABLAZEfest Catholic youth arts and music festival in Melbourne is holding a short film competition. Entries will be shown during the festival and should be no longer than 7minutes. While there is no set theme or style, organizers are particularly interested in films that look at issues facing young people. Enter before 25 August for a chance to win the $500 prize. For more information: www.ablaze.cathyc.org/GetInvolved/CompetitionsPage/
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Multimedia Exploration of Religion in Australia
Did you know that a higher percentage of Mass attenders have higher degrees than the Australian population in general? For everything you ever needed to know about Australia's religious communities, grab a copy of the Christian Research Association's CD-ROM Australia's Religious Communities: A Multimedia Exploration. The second edition is now available. It is more up to date, includes more information, has improved functionality and a more contemporary look and feel than the first edition. To order: www.cra.org.au
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| Feature |
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Augustinian Spirituality
The spirituality that is richly expressed in St. Augustine's writings is one of warmth and of love. The heart, which artists have often portrayed Augustine holding, is a key to this spirituality. For Augustine the heart is a metaphor for all that is deepest, truest and personal in one's self. He makes frequent use of the heart to signify the affective aspect of faith in God.
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| Reflection |
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Mysticism Down Under
AM I SERIOUS? A couple of decades ago one would hardly bother to give thought to the idea of Australian Spirituality; a few years back it would have been preposterous to imagine mysticism as a core to our Australian experience of God. Now contemplation, whether in a Christian or non-Christian context, is widely discussed as a respectable topic of conversation and commonly admitted as a personal practice. A kind of mystical attitude accompanies many pastimes favoured by Australians: surfing, fishing, bushwalking and gardening.
Eugene Stockton, Scripture scholar, archaeologist and priest of the Sydney Archdiocese, reflects on mysticism in Australia. Click on the focus material at www.cacw.catholic.org.au/forum/display_a_forum.asp?fid=7 and contribute your thoughts to the discussion.
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